Edgar and Lucy
by Victor Lodato
Lovely and compelling (12/29/2016)
This is a compelling read, easy to get into and stay into. The story is bizarre; and all the side stories are as strange as the main plot. The characters are weird and all damaged in some way, but they are well developed, so I feel like I understand them, regardless of the fact that I'd hardly be able to imagine them on my own. Edgar is inspiring in his direct reactions and honesty. The best part is the writing! It is ethereal; here and there imagining and describing feelings and viewpoints with phrases that are almost magical - you get wisps of the ideas from the words. Beautiful. I will definitely look for Lodato's other works.
Karolina's Twins
by Ronald H. Balson
Difficult subject, lovely story (7/3/2016)
I really enjoyed this story. It was constructed in a way that kept my interest - going back and forth. Before the story within the story got to be too much to bear, Blason pulled back to the present story. It was a nice balance and a relief, making it easier to bear the excruciating inner story. A big secret kept things interesting, and the fact that I guessed the secret before it was revealed didn't diminish my appreciation for this book. For me, it was a page turner, an easy read for someone who needs to be really engaged in order to keep reading. I finished it in just a few sittings. The author provided good historical context about possibly the worst time in the history of humankind. And a happy ending. Elie Wiesel's recent passing makes this story all the more poignant and important. I'll look for more of Balson's books.
The Children
by Ann Leary
The Sins of the Fathers... (5/16/2016)
The Children was an easy read - it flowed easily, moved fast and had interesting characters. Everyone was flawed in some way, so it was realistic. The dialogue was funny, especially when the two daughters were talking with the mother and calling her on her stuff. The dark underbellies were disturbing, and the biggest villain was truly without conscience or heart. My only complaint would be that the story stopped short, that the conclusion seemed hurried. I would have liked to have the story be more complete, to have a better picture of where the sisters ended up - perhaps this could lead to a sequel? Overall, this was a well-crafted and balanced story with characters that I cared about, and exposing some of the sadder sides of humanity.
Tuesday Nights in 1980
by Molly Prentiss
Total Enjoyment! (1/22/2016)
What a fascinating, fun book! The writing was really enjoyable to read – creative, often ethereal, and full of information about synesthesia and the art world of the 1980. Prentiss has a way of presenting a whole lot in a few words. She can evoke a huge memory or a strong feeling with just one well-crafted sentence. Great story – varied characters, tension, resolution, nothing redundant or boring or unnecessary. I'm a fan, waiting for the next one from Molly Prentiss.
Hunters in the Dark
by Lawrence Osborne
Floating in Cambodia (11/21/2015)
I enjoyed this mystery, a fascinating look at Cambodia and its mysteries and enigmatic culture that westerners could never fully understand. The book is full of rain, ruins, ghosts, and superstitions. The pacing is sometimes erratic, but there is some gorgeous writing and very cool turns of phrase, with an ending that is full-circle and satisfying, if somewhat rushed. I will search out his previous books.
Home by Nightfall: A Charles Lenox Mystery
by Charles Finch
More color, please (9/27/2015)
This is a light read with a complex, original plot that surprises at most turns. I wish the characters had been better developed, for there were some interesting ones. Unfortunately, one of these (Edmund's wife Molly) was dead. Another, a very funny Dallington, was only a minor player. Instead of a plethora of potentially interesting but underdeveloped characters, I would have preferred fewer characters with a better understanding of each. A satisfying book, but rather like watching a black and white movie when I would have preferred color.
Dangerous When Wet: A Memoir
by Jamie Brickhouse
A brave and funny memoir (3/25/2015)
Dangerous When Wet is written in a flowing, amusing way that made it an easy pleasure to read. Brickhouse is one brave raconteur, giving us a glimpse into his alcohol-ridden, gay life, with enough details to inform and fascinate, but not so many as to make the reader too uncomfortable to continue. He gives a very clear picture of what it's like to be an alcoholic. The book centers on his relationship with his mother, but it didn't need to. Mama Jean was a force, but I was left with a much clearer picture of the author than of his mother. Perhaps the void I felt in her persona stemmed from an inability of any person to truly know their parent. Regardless, I enjoyed the book very much, and feel grateful to Mr. B for allowing me a glimpse of his life. I am left hoping that he is doing well and wishing him the very best.
Whispering Shadows
by Jan-Philipp Sendker
Interesting story but..... (1/19/2015)
Whispering Shadows has much to recommend it. It's full of facts about China's history, culture, mores, and politics, and the mystery is maintained well until the end. My main criticism concerns the lack of subtlety and nuance. In a nutshell, in many instances, the author belabors his descriptions of how a character is feeling and what s/he doesn't understand or struggles with. The characters are more black and white than I would like, and the author leaves little to the imagination. If you're just looking for a yarn, this one is fine. I was hoping for more.
The Paris Winter
by Imogen Robertson
An imaginative story about the slippery nature of reality (7/15/2014)
This was a fun read – full of history and art and intrigue. Robertson surprised me with plot twists. She provided easily processed information about gender politics and expectations in the 1900s, as well as Parisian and art history. She created full characters, varied and understandable and real, as well as humorous national stereotypes. There is a strong theme of the perpetual question of what is real in life and in art. The author's technique of including descriptions of paintings from a particular collection to coincide with the story seemed so realistic, I went on line to see if the collection actually existed. Mirroring her story line, I found myself questioning what in her book was real and what was fictitious. This story was very neatly created and complete. I will look for more of Robertson's books, based on this delightful read.
Island of a Thousand Mirrors
by Nayomi Munaweera
Gorgeous Writing (5/12/2014)
Munaweera's writing is exquisite. It flows so smoothly it seems casual. There are no wasted words or dull prose. Each sentence is a new structure and complete idea, yet it flows seamlessly between the one before and after. She presents vividly the breathtaking beauty found in Sri Lankan nature and the heart-wrenching joys and sorrows found in human relationships. Matter-of-factly interspersed are intense, brutal, numbing depictions of the unnatural and inhuman actions of civilian warriors. I experienced some difficulty following the characters and their relationships. I am not at all familiar with Sri Lankan names, and I had to write down family trees and notes as I read to keep them straight. I would recommend reading the book in as few sittings as possible. I will reread this book soon, with pleasure, and I look forward to more of her work.
The Spirit Keeper
by K. B. Laugheed
A Delight (10/1/2013)
I hope this is the first of many by Ms Laugheed. She has created a fun and compelling story with a strong heroine and vast travels across unsettled lands. There are many important themes, including the power of communication both practiced and withheld, the transforming influence of belief, and the peaceful logic of the divine natural world. My favorite lines, spoken by a Native American, are these: "Life is not perfect anywhere. People are not perfect. But my people do not seek perfection. We strive for balance. We enjoy life as we find it, the good and the bad. We are grateful for all." I'm grateful for this book and would like to read more of Katie O'Toole's adventures, for which the tale is well established.
To the Moon and Timbuktu: A Trek through the Heart of Africa
by Nina Sovich
The Feel of Travel (7/10/2013)
Sovich is one brave woman and offers us honest explanations of the motives and motivations for her extreme travel. They are understandable, if you have ever traveled on your own. There is appeal to being so in-the-moment and slowed down that when the little store selling Fanta is unexpectedly closed, you sit down to wait, and two hours pass before you consider leaving. The restlessness, the appreciation of the loveliest aspects of African life, the lack of personal care, the proximity to losing self and sanity, the unbelievably understanding husband – all these are parts of a great and haunting story.
The Jericho Deception
by Jeffrey Small
Fun and Creativity Outweigh Flaws (3/10/2013)
This was a fun and interesting read, despite belabored elements. The premise is fascinating – that a machine can trigger divine revelations. Deeper understanding of the relationship between physical and spiritual worlds results from epileptic seizures or their replications by human-directed energy, via machine. Mr. Small's story line about the use of this ability is wild – to convert different religions to Christianity through machine-created mystical experiences to promote world peace, and to change the balance of power in terrorist countries, not through commerce or war, but through religion. I forgive Mr. Small for beating me over the head with the romantic and personal dilemmas, where the obvious is stated and then restated, because I enjoyed his crazy story and his nuggets about God. One such offering is that God is in a dimension that we humans can't understand, and that "Art, nature, beauty, love, peace, and the mystical states associated with religion may be our glimpses at this divine reality."
Next to Love
by Ellen Feldman
I'd like to read more by Feldman (4/13/2012)
Next to Love is well-written, which makes the potentially maudlin subjects presented here interesting and thought provoking. With Feldman's clean, spare writing, the reader is allowed to think independently. Her writing is varied and interesting, and she does not repeat or spoon feed, for which I was very grateful. Babe, the main character, is the least babe-like woman in the book, and she suffers for her intelligence. And in a different way, so do the women who blindly conform to expectations. Feldman's portrayal of prejudice and its effects in the USA in the 1940s and 1950s, especially against women and Jews, is heart-breaking. I applaud her choice to include a couple of really decent men. I hope she is in the process of writing her next one.
Until the Next Time: A Novel
by Kevin Fox
Probably Won’t Be a Next Time (3/11/2012)
This book covers interesting themes and is redundant. There are two parallel stories that I found confusing (perhaps because I picked the book up and put it down too many times). I got tired of the women calling the men “eejits” and “amadans” (Gaelic for “eejits”) and telling them to “shut yer gob”, which they did every couple of pages. People being told that they just weren’t looking at what was in front of them, they weren’t asking the right question or hearing what was being said - that got old, too. The concept of reincarnation is fascinating, and Fox’s explanation of the destruction wrought by non-believers in it rings true. I also like his premise that fiction and stories hold truths (because they are fluid and open to interpretation by the beholder) as opposed to written history, as in the driving force behind this story, for example – the journal – because it is dangerous and offers only the writer’s point of view. “Lie to illuminate the truth” – certainly something to consider. Fox’s take on the Celt’s strengths and weaknesses was entertaining (drinking often, using unpredictability and individuality to win wars). But the icing was his invitation to show up at Inchmore on December 9 – I wonder if he actually goes, and if anyone thinks they’re his Kate…actually, I really don’t want to know.
Little Black Dress: A Novel
by Susan McBride
Light summer reading (7/29/2011)
This is a summer book, but that's about it. The story line was fun, which is the only reason I kept going to the end. The writing was obvious and heavy handed. So much spoon feeding, I felt slightly nauseous! But that's summer books are all about, right? I lowered my expectations and finished the book. That's about all I can say.
The Sweetness of Tears: A Novel
by Nafisa Haji
Some pearls of wisdom (4/1/2011)
This book moves ahead in interesting ways. Unlikely topics and worlds combine authentically. It teaches while entertaining – a great mix. By reminding us of our shared humanity, the author offers transcending links between two cultures that we have been taught are diametrically opposed. There are some real pearls. Haji proposes that “the messy complicated nature of truth” is essential to well-being; that grief is a better choice than anger because it “ages better”; and she describes the “rare gift” of the chance to atone. I shed a few tears myself reading this book, and each one was sweet.
Adam & Eve: A Novel
by Sena Jeter Naslund
Fiction as entertainment and education (10/3/2010)
Sena Jeter Naslund has created yet another wonderful combination of philosophy, history and magic. Like Ahab's Wife, Adam and Eve is compelling, informative and thought provoking. While I happen to agree with the philosophy that she proposes here (divinity lies within each of us, ego prevents understanding), Naslund also made me comprehend fanatacism to the point of sympathy for the first time. The knowledge she exhibits of many challenging topics such as astrophysics, ancient theology, mathematics and prehistoric cave art makes reading her work an opportunity to learn and think in addition to the entertainment value.
Accessible intellect and challenge are what she provides. I now know what boustrophedon means and what Gethsemane is - the tangents of looking up her references provide interest beyond simply reading her words. Her humor is all the better for its subtlety and tongue in cheek qualities. A few of my favorite lines: " 'Your exactness lacks precision, my friend' " and "Some of his smaller, weaker fingers were afraid, but his hand as a whole was confident."
Naslund uses many examples of the yin and yang that makes up all of us humans: past and present, past and future, dark and light, thick and thin, above and below, the immediate and the infinite. This is a great story which provokes thought on the part of the reader as entertaining and important as the story itself.
The Lovers: A Novel
by Vendela Vida
Great descriptions, abrupt ending (4/9/2010)
Ms Vida's writing is absolutely beautiful - simple yet thorough, easy to read while evoking rich and complex feelings and ideas. She nails feelings and sentiments perfectly, from jet-lag to loss of a loved one to cultural misunderstandings, in such a beautiful, simple way. I love her writing style.
The plot and the pace of the book were not as satisfying. Her slow, exquisite descriptions in the beginning of the book gave way to a real change of pace as the plot sped up. The ending was abrupt and seemed contrived to me. It seemed like the author ran out of steam. While I appreciate short books like this one, I would have loved for The Lovers to go on much longer - so I could wallow in more of her writing and perhaps read a more balanced story. On the strength of what I have read here, I will definitely read Ms Vida's other books. She has left the door open for a sequel, it seems, which I would also read.
The Secret of Everything
by Barbara O'Neal
Good looking recipes... (11/15/2009)
This is a fun, easy read with enough mystery, heat and drama to keep me turning the pages. It is also easily forgettable, as the characters are black and white, albeit cool and appealing, and the dialogue and story line are soap operatic. But it was fun to read - just don't expect nuance or reality. And while I haven't tried the recipes scattered throughout the book, I surely will - they look delicious. THEY are what I will take away from this book.
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