Linda_Z

Kudos to Abbi Waxman,Author of "Other People's Houses" for weaving such an intriguing and captivating story. This story has a "Peyton Place" feel, and I almost feel like a voyeur in these neighbor's homes. Actually I have a front row seat.The genres for this story are Fiction and Women's Fiction. The story takes place surrounding a few neighbors homes. Within the main story are the stories of the neighbors involved.

Abbi Waxman describes her colorful cast of characters as complicated, complex, diverse, and confused. One of the central characters is Francis Bloom, a good-hearted soul who loves to help other people. Frances drives all the kids from the block back and forth to school in a carpool. Needless to say, on a small block in a small community, everyone seems to be aware of everything. On this particular block Francis goes back to her neighbor's house to pick up toilet paper holders that the daughter has forgotten to bring to school. When Frances enters the house she finds her neighbor Anne, embarrassingly busy, but not with her husband.
Can secrets survive in a neighborhood like this? When Anne's husband, Charlie finds out about this, he throws her out of the house.

This has a major effect on all the characters in this story. Within each home, the characters have their own problems, happiness, sadness, hope and dreams.The children are discussed as well.

The author describes each character in detail. Could this be similar to your neighbors?

I appreciate that the author brings up diversity, questions of self-worth and growth, depression, secrets, betrayals and adultery. On the other hand, there is the discussion of the importance of family, friends, neighbors, love, faith and hope.

I received this book as an Advanced Reading Copy for my honest review.

I love the vivid descriptions of the setting and the characters in "As Bright As Heaven" by Susan Meissner. The genres for this story are Historical Fiction and Fiction. The story setting for this story is mostly in Philadelphia, and some other areas as described in the story. The timeline of the story is around 1918, when there is the Spanish flu epidemic and carries through the Great War, World War One, and after.

The characters are described as complex complicated and confused, mostly dictated by the devastating times. The Bright family moves to Philadelphia to hope for a better life, where the husband will be working in his Uncle's Funeral Home. Pauline Bright has lost her baby son, so this move for her family looks like it could be positive. Despite the fact that men are headed to fight in The Great War, the possiblility of the new move for Pauline, her husband and three daughters seems like a wonderful chance and new beginnings.

The Spanish flu epidemic has grasped hold of much of the country and soon schools and public places are closed. There are many deaths. The funeral home doesn't have space for all the deceased bodies. Moving to Philadelphia, where the population is greater, and there are so many sick people may not have been such a great choice.

Pauline volunteers to go to the poorer part of town to deliver food and materials to sick people. Her daughter accompanies her. While Pauline goes to one of the apartments, Maggie hears the cries of a young baby. She sees that the mother is dead, and brings the baby to her mother Who will care for the little boy?

Despite the heartbreaks and challenges, the family looks at the choices they have to make. Are there really all good choices, or all bad choices?

I appreciate the historical research that Susan Meissner has done for this time period. The Spanish Flu doesn't discriminate between the rich and poor, or the young or old. I also love that the author discusses the importance of family, friends, good neighbors, loyalty, courage, kindness, being helpful, love, hope and faith. I would highly recommend this book for readers of Historical Fiction. I received an Advanced Reading Copy for my honest review.

Marisa Silver has written a number of genres in her book"Little Nothing".  This novel seems to have symbolic meanings for things on a deeper level. Perhaps it is the difference between good and evil. Perhaps it is dealing with the old and the new, or superstitions, magic, and even the timing at the turn of the century were there is a difference between ancient and modern. The genres for this book could be Fiction, "Subversive Fairy Tale", Thriller, and Folktale. Be warned  this is a very dark, at times frightening, disgusting, horrific story. I certainly had trouble falling asleep after reading it. I found it to be disturbing, and I have to ask myself why I didn't stop reading. The easiest explanation is that the author has a way of telling a story, and I really wanted a happy ending.

The author describes her characters as complicated and complex. I find some of the characters despicable. I find some of the parts of this story despicable. Some of this story is very dark and twisted. Pavla is probably one of the innocent characters both to two elder people who had tried for years to have a baby.  Desperate the mother turns to a witch or gypsy for strange tonics and strange prescriptions.  Pavla is born with a physical deformity and it really takes a long time for her parents to accept her. Or do they? They turn to a charlatan claiming to be a doctor, and will do anything to fix this situation. Can Pavla be fixed? Do you want to know what happens?

It seems that only one person really cares for Pavla, and that person is an outcast as well.

There is  some dark magic and superstitious beliefs that seem to surround the story.

I found some parts of the story unexplainable, or confusing. The timeline and plot seemed to jump around. For those people that like a dark and twisted tale I recommend this for you. If you like to look for symbolism and deeper meanings, this would be for you as well. I received a copy of this book for my honest review? Was there a happily ever after? You'll have to read this book to find out!

Kudos to Heather Harpham for retelling her story in such a captivating and intriguing way. The author does an amazing job in describing all the people in her life. It was refreshing to see the author's honesty. I feel that it was brave and courageous for the author to share her emotional journey.

The author describes her relationship with the man she falls in love with. They are totally opposite in many ways. When she gets pregnant, I quote , "If I wanted to have children with anyone, it would be with you." He doesn't want children but he does help her financially.

Heather returns to her original home in California and is determined to be a single Mom. She is very alone and frightened, but does have the support of her Mother, family and good friends. Heather gives birth to a little girl. Unfortunately, the baby has a condition that requires transfusions and medical intervention. Heather does keep Brian, the father aware of what is going on from afar.

I like the way Heather discusses the importance of family, friends, and support. Heather meets many people on her journey, who show the importance of love, faith and hope. The author also describes all the emotions that she is forced to face in a positive way.

I would recommend this as a well written, informative and intriguing memoir of love, family, life and hope.

I would like to thank BookBrowse for a copy of "The Opposite of Everyone" by Joshilyn Jackson. The author writes about family, betrayal, trust,traditions.love and growth.The story centers around a character ,Paula Vauss a successful divorce attorney, and her journey to discover her relationship with her mother, family, and boyfriend. Paula's roots start with a dysfunctional young mother,Kai, who tells stories using Hindu as well as southern tradition. Kai makes many wrong choices, and goes to jail leaving Paula to grow up in a foster system. The children and the foster system contribute to Paula's poor self esteem. Paula feels guilty that she is separated from her mother, and believes that she betrayed her. This starts a pattern when Paula is constantly trying to make amends with Kai. As a successful attorney Paula sends money to Kai, to try to make amends, and mend their relationship. Paula has no address for her mother,just a post office box, and at one point Kai sends the money back with a cryptic note. The story starts off very slowly, but picks up and there are different twists and surprises. Many of the characters in this novel and Paula's life are broken and dysfunctional. I do like Paula and feel that she does show courage and growth. In my opinion this novel has many layers , and is very deep. I would recommend "The Opposite of Everyone", but please keep in mind it is a heavy read.

I would like to thank BookBrowse and Flatiron Books for the Advanced Reading Edition of "The People We Hate at the Wedding" by Grant Ginder for my honest review.

The genres of this book are Contemporary Adult Fiction, and Humor and Satire.

I find that the author describes his complex and complicated characters as completely dysfunctional as a family unit. Their relationships with others and their relationships at work are also dysfunctional.

This novel is witty and there is satire surrounding one of the half-siblings weddings. There are three siblings in total. Two have the same mother and a different father and live in a comfortable home in America. Their father has just died and there is anger and resentment towards their mother.

The other sibling lives in England, and is getting married. She shares the same mother, but her father, who is still living, is very wealthy so she has had many opportunities in education and travel that her siblings have not. There is a tremendous amount of jealousy.

There is going to be an elegant wedding and the family from America has RSVP'd. There are mixed feels of resentment, jealousy, and confusion. Don't ask about their significant others, please don't.

Grant Tinder describes family dynamics, with love and hate, encouragement and support,emotional feelings and hope, learning self worth, and learning to communicate.

Is it possible that one can love and hate at the same time? The author discusses many modern issues such as being gay, adultery,and abuse in relationships.

I would highly recommend this intriguing and humorous book.

WOW!! Kudos to Laurie Frankel, author or "This is How it Always Is". The genre of this book is Fiction, but in the author's notes she courageously writes that the motivation comes from her living with a family member with the same issues.

Rosie and Penn have five children. Rosie is a Physician and Penn is a writer, and tells the children made up fairy tales. The baby of the family Claude is different. Claude loves to wear dresses, play with dolls, wears jewelry, Barrettes in his hair,and approaches life differently than his brothers.Claude is happiest when can do this.Rosie and Penn want to see their children happy. Claude draws himself with long hair and dresses.At first his parents feel that all children go through phases.

This is a controversial topic that ?is spoken about currently, but I feel that many of these issues just have always existed but never were addressed as openly. Children(and adults) can be devastatingly cruel, be bullies, and do not accept whatever the "norm" should be. It is not often that we speak of transgender children, sometimes as young as three.

Laurie Frankel gives me much to think about. Should answers be black and white, yes or no? Does a person have to make up their mind if they feel they are a girl/boy? Is it so simple? Should society force families to keep a "secret" if their feelings don't conform to what is supposedly expected?

I love the way that Laurie Frankel writes about family, love, support and acceptance I also feel that the hardest job in life is to be a parent. Of course, we want to see our children happy, but can we admit that we have certain expectations that might be or not be in our children's best interest?

I highly recommend this intriguing novel. It is so very different and unique, and Laurie Frankel's descriptions are amazing!

Especially with the recent news of immigration, this is a timely read. The genre of this book is fiction. The author writes of Solimar, an undocumented Mexican, who has a treacherous journey to America and gives birth to a baby boy. Kavya an America Indian woman, has faced fertility issues and wants a baby more than anything. When Solimar is in an accident in America, her baby boy is placed in a foster situation with Kavya and her husband. Solimar finds herself in a detention center ,not certain of her future. Solimar only wants her baby. At the same time Kavya and her husband have fallen in love with their foster child. As the description of the book describes:There are no bad guys in this story,no single obvious hero." I find that the author describes issues of heartbreak and frustration of infertility. as well as immigration, and non documented people.The detention centers are described as almost lawless, providing no legal rights , as well issues of deportation. What rights does a foster or natural mother have? Shanthi Sekaran has written a very emotional novel that gives me much to think about.

I would like to thank BookBrowse and St. Martin's Press for the Advanced
Reading Edition of "Extraordinary Adventures" by Daniel Wallace. The genres
of this book are fiction, humor and satire.

I find that the author introduces us to some intriguing, quirky, and
complicated characters.

The main character, Edsel Bronfman can be described as a predictable,
boring, unimaginative and appears to have an uneventful life. Edsel's job
and his mother seem to be the constant factor in his life.

One day, Edsel gets a call from a company called "Extraordinary
Adventures", and the operator tells him he has won a weekend by the beach in
Florida. The only strings attached is he has to sit for a speech on condo
opportunities and he must bring a companion. Now Edsel is in a pickle. He
really has no friends, or girlfriends.

Edsel's mother is quite a "firecracker", and highly spirited.

Some complications appear in Edsel's life. His mother seems to be getting
dementia, making her unpredictable.

Edsel hires help for his mother and is determined that somehow, someway
he will find a companion to take on his free vacation.

Edsel has some interesting adventures.

At times I found myself feeling sorry for Edsel, or frustrated that he
seemed like an "afterthought". As Edsel gets more confidence, he has more
hope and is optimistic. He feels anything can happen. There are positive and
negative things that occur.

Daniel Wallace uses subtle satire and humor through his descriptions, and
I find that I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it. Does Edsel get to
Florida? You will have to read this to find out!!

A typewriter according to the Oxford English Dictionary is " 1. A writing machine 2. One who does typewriting,esp. as a regular occupation.

In this historical fiction genre, Michiel Heyns discusses the typewriter as someone who does typewriting as an occupation. Enter the fictional main character, Frieda Wroth, who becomes Henry James typewriter, or his "amanuensis".(Dictionary:"A literary or artistic assistant, one who takes dictation or copies manuscripts.")
The author uses much of Henry James' history, family and friends as part of this novel. The story takes place in the early 1900's at his estate ,Lamb House in Rye. Henry James writes and dictates his stories to the typewriter, Frieda Wroth. Frieda is an intelligent woman, but shows her naivete in many ways.
Frieda is witness to all the company at Lamb House, and meets the James family, Morton Fullerton, Edith Wharton, and other characters. Frieda is charmed easily by Morton Fullerton, who has his own agenda. He would like Frieda to "retrieve" letters that he wrote to Henry James.

Frieda often thinks of Henry James' words , "Live all you can, it's a mistake not to." from his novel ,"The Ambassadors."

I find that the author writes about loyalty, betrayal, friendship, family and love.

What I like best about the novel is the aspect of telepathy which is observed when Frieda uses the typewriter(machine) to have telepathic conversations with Morton Fullerton. Telepathy and mediums are evident and gives a mystical feel to the novel.

The author also discusses quiet Rye and travels to France, and America, and the new mode of transportation "the motor car".

I would recommend "The Typewriter's Tale" as an intriguing historical novel.

I would like to thank BookBrowse for a copy of "The Opposite of Everyone" by Joshilyn Jackson. The author writes about family, betrayal, trust,traditions, love and growth.The story centers around a character, Paula Vauss, a successful divorce attorney, and her journey to discover her relationship with her mother, family, and boyfriend. Paula's roots start with a dysfunctional young mother,Kai, who tells stories using Hindu as well as southern tradition. Kai makes many wrong choices, and goes to jail leaving Paula to grow up in a foster system. The children and the foster system contribute to Paula's poor self esteem. Paula feels guilty that she is separated from her mother, and believes that she betrayed her. This starts a pattern when Paula is constantly trying to make amends with Kai. As a successful attorney Paula sends money to Kai, to try to make amends, and mend their relationship. Paula has no address for her mother,just a post office box, and at one point Kai sends the money back with a cryptic note. The story starts off very slowly, but picks up and there are different twists and surprises. Many of the characters in this novel and Paula's life are broken and dysfunctional. I do like Paula and feel that she does show courage and growth. In my opinion this novel has many layers, and is very deep. I would recommend "The Opposite of Everyone", but please keep in mind it is a heavy read.

Dr. Mengele's torturing physically and mentally twins,especially ones with Aryan features. The effects and affects of Auschwitz horrors and its characters are explored. The author's amazing use of vocabulary and description is evident. The premise of hope and promise during this history's can be seen.

I enjoyed reading "Karolina's Twins" by Ronald H. Balson, author of "Once We Were Brothers" And "Saving Sophie". The genre of this book is Historical Fiction. The fictional story is the retelling of the Holocaust and life in Poland,by Lena, one of the characters. Lena wants to hire Liam Taggart private investigator and Catherine Lockhart, attorney to help with the discovery of past secrets. Lena is now in her eighties, and is determined to put her mind at ease. The author writes about hope, faith, strength,courage,family at such a terrible time in history. I did have some Kleenex moments, and would highly recommend this book.

Lillian Boxfish is a novel of fiction based on Margaret Fishback's life, that Kathleen Rooney researched. Margaret Fishback was the highest paid female advertising writer for R.H.Macy's in the 1930's as well as a poet who wrote and compiled books.
In my opinion the genre is historical fiction, but has the feel of a non-fiction genre and biography of the main character.
I found the main character, Lillian Boxfish, enterprising, adventurous, witty, creative, brave and liberal. Lillian is a workaholic, and enjoys the recognition and financial rewards. The author compares Lillian in the past and present, through an emotional journey, and a walk through her beloved New York City, where we see the physical changes that have occurred , as well as Lillian's memories through the years. The characters that Lillian meets during her journey are diverse and interesting.
I feel that the author writes about the challenges and changes through our lives, loneliness, friendship, and acceptance.
The book was entertaining, and I enjoyed the author's description of the historical times and landmarks in New York. I also was intrigued by the comparison and contrast of the times, the 1930's to 1985. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.