The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women
by Kate Moore
Very important book (9/29/2018)
This is one of the most educational books written recently, in my opinion. It was sad how some women went to work for the company in spite of the possibility of being injured in some way. They chanced it because the money was better than most other jobs of the day. This book will always be on the top shelf of my memory as I was affected by it.
The Travelling Cat Chronicles
by Hiro Arikawa, Philip Gabriel
The Travelling Cat Chronicles (4/26/2018)
One of those books to be treasured.
This book was about an unforgettable journey taken through the eyes of Nana the cat. The protagonist Saturo had a best friend that walked beside him on four legs.
I loved this book - who wouldn't?
The Gypsy Moth Summer
by Julia Fierro
The Gypsy Moth Summer (4/30/2017)
The story takes place in the summer of 1992 on Avalon Island, an islet off of Long Island where the working class inhabits the west end where Grudder Aviation controls the island and employs many of them. The affluent and owners of the Aviation firm inhabit the east end where the grand estates lie.
Prior to the aerial pesticide spraying to suppress the outbreak of the gypsy moth whose life cycle is well documented in the book, the island had an invasion of these disgusting pests which began their annual defoliation.
The story is told from the point of view of six different characters of all ages. It is told with an overkill of vulgarity in both bad language and sexuality and for that reason, I have to say that I didn't love this depressing book.
Our Short History
by Lauren Grodstein
Our Short History, Lauren Grodstein (2/25/2017)
It is difficult to write a review of Our Short History without giving away some of the story, so I'll begin by saying that being the single parent of a son, I went into the second chapter already in tears. Like Karen, I was never married to his father and unlike her, I never loved his father, Tom. We were young and eager to experience sex, unaware of the responsibilities that it involved. I decided to proceed with the pregnancy alone, which wasn't a popular choice in the late 1950's, I gave birth to a beautiful son.
As i read more of Karen and Jake's story, I realized that I had experienced many of the same feelings that I was reading on those pages - her intense need to be all that she could be to him and so certain that it would be enough.
Being that, tragically, Karen's life was uncertain as she was diagnosed with inoperable ovarian cancer, she decided to start writing notes to 6 yr. old Jake to be read when he was old enough and commenced writing down her feelings hoping that it would help him to know her better. She, valiantly, made that the focus of her life from then on. As sad as this book was and as hopeless as the situation was, the author, thankfully, was able to inject a bit of humor into it here and there.
If I could say I enjoyed this book, I can not, but I must say that is because reading it awakened in me so many familiar feelings and I related to the honesty with which is was written in that so much of it was difficult.
A Piece of the World: A Novel
by Christina Baker Kline
A Piece of the World (12/8/2016)
This historical fiction entitled "A Piece of the World" is about Christina's World, which is situated along the Maine coast in the town of Cushing. High on a hill is the 18th century farmhouse is where Christina's story takes place.
Christina suffered from a debilitating, undiagnosed, neurological disorder which began when she was young and progressed to a fully paraplegic condition in her fifties. She was a severely crippled woman who didn't have the use of her legs, but had to crawl wherever she wanted to go as she was tough, proud, very stubborn and determined.
Young Andy Wyeth came to Olson House, loved it and eventually set up studios in an upstairs room. From his window, he could see Christina maneuvering herself on the grass and developed an affinity for her as he had a slight balance problem, too.
The story of their friendship and his respect and love for her was instrumental in his famous masterpiece, Christina's World. I have greatly benefited from this wonderfully written educational book. It was very well written and I felt like I could breathe the Maine air and hear the waves crashing while reading it. I will definitely recommend it to my very well-read book group.
Les Parisiennes: How the Women of Paris Lived, Loved, and Died Under Nazi Occupation
by Anne Sebba
Difficult Read (7/16/2016)
This was a difficult read for me. I had to force myself to go back to where I had left off, although interesting, very depressing and sad. Although I must admit that the research that went into the writing of this book is commendable, I just didn't enjoy reading it and didn't finish it.
North of Crazy: A Memoir
by Neltje
A life well lived (6/7/2016)
I read this book about the trials and tribulations of a woman born into a moneyed publishing family who endured without the one thing that she needed - maternal love which was to have a profound effect in her life from childhood on. I did enjoy reading this book with all the people and place references that it contained and rejoiced in that she became stronger in spite of her unrequited longing.
Inasmuch as her sense of duty clashes with the deep resentment she feels for her mother's many years of absence, neglect, and drinking, she put it all aside to care for her in her final days.
Florence Gordon
by Brian Morton
My kind of woman (9/3/2015)
Loved this book - she reminded me of the way I feel and would like to be. I loved that she hung up on the silence created on the phone when she was put on hold by her doctor's secretary awaiting his picking up the phone. Wouldn't we all feel like doing that?
The Well
by Catherine Chanter
Destined to Become a Modern Classic (2/24/2015)
I liken this book to the creation of a quilt, stitched together with different dark shades of cloth which, upon completion, became a story so deeply moving and sad, but one which, I believe, is destined to become a modern classic. I so loved the author's talent in communicating the relationship between Sister Amelia and Ruth by omitting any graphic details. I swallowed this book in three gulps and I loved every one of them.
All the Old Knives
by Olen Steinhauer
All the Old Knives (12/4/2014)
I am a new reader, but wish I had started so much sooner.
I did like this book and read it in two sittings. My favorite kind of a mystery book is one in which there is a romance. I thought it was very well written and the ending asked a question whose answer could have been the beginning of a whole new book.
There were so many hints dropped along the way that if one wasn't paying absolute attention to every word, name, association, etc. one would be lost. I had to re-read many paragraphs to totally "get it". I wish to re-read this book to cement all the elements into my memory. This, I found, is not light reading.
This is my first "Olen Steinhauer" book, but certainly won't be my last. Thank you.
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