The Story of Arthur Truluv: A Novel
by Elizabeth Berg
Another Winner (6/22/2017)
Elizabeth Berg has done it again! She has created another loveable character, Arthur Truluv. Having lost his wife a number of years ago, he continues to visit her grave daily. He brings a stool to sit on and proceeds to eat his lunch while he talks out loud to his deceased partner. It's such a sweet thing for him to do that it makes him an endearing character whom I grew to love. There is a subplot which also demonstrates his love and kindness. I have been reading Elizabeth Berg's novels for thirty years and she never fails to enthrall me with her unusual characters and their development. She makes them come alive on the page and reading her novels is such a pleasure.
The Book That Matters Most: A Novel
by Ann Hood
The Book That Matters Most (6/27/2016)
I think that The Book That Matters Most is one of Ann Hood's best. The plot was interesting, especially to a reader, and while there were multiple characters, it was very easy to distinguish one from the other. There were several subplots and and they were introduced and returned to regularly. My favorite section was the plot revolving around the main character's daughter. Once I began reading this book I could not put it down. It is a book to be treasured.
Accidents of Marriage
by Randy Susan Meyers
Accidents of Marriage (7/2/2014)
I got taken in by this book very early on. I was halfway through before I knew it. The characters were well described and each one had his/her own idiosyncrasies and needs. This meant that rather than thinking of the characters as a family, I saw them as individuals. Because of the horrible accident which occurs early in the book, the family disintegrates as such and instead we see each personality as real and feeling human beings. My sympathies were for Maddy, the mother of three children and wife of Ben. Ben was the perpetrator and evoked no emotion from me. I felt that everything negative that happened in the book was his fault. I was definitely on the side of the debilitated family. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a book with lots of drama. One problem follows another as the story evolves and picks up speed. It would also be a good choice for a women's book group.
Her
by Harriet Lane
Her, A Novel (5/30/2014)
I was puzzled by the book Her. The alternating chapters, about one character and then the next were confusing at first. But once I got into the rhythm of that pattern, I began to enjoy the book. Of course once I got into the body of the book, I began to wonder why Nina is making such an effort to befriend Emma. They have almost nothing in common; Nina's daughter is finishing high school and Emma has two young children that she struggles with. Nina begins to make serious efforts to arrange circumstances that involve Emma. So there was an air of mystery that moved the story along and I got caught up with it. I enjoyed the book very much but when I got to the end, I found it hard to believe the direction it headed in. I thought it a little far-fetched. Despite this, I recommend this book and give it four stars.
Precious Thing
by Colette McBeth
Precious Thing (1/21/2014)
Once I began reading this book I found it difficult to put it down. The plot demanded that you continue right to the surprise ending.The story involves two women who have been friends since they were children. There's a secret about their closeness that is not revealed right away. It is part of the mystery that keeps you reading. What happens to them as adults is the bulk of the novel. It is highly dramatic, very dark and scary in some parts.I don't usually read from this genre but it was a well written book and it kept my attention right up to the very end. I frequently read two books concurrently but could not do so once I began this book. It demanded my attention so that I couldn't concentrate on anything else. I needed to finish this and find out what was happening to these women. When I got to the end I wanted to go back and read the book again so I could remain in the atmosphere that was created in the book. I'll give this book a 3 and a half rating.
One Minus One: Nancy Pearl's Book Lust Rediscoveries
by Ruth Doan MacDougall
One Minus One (5/2/2013)
I was prepared to like this book, based on the previews of it. I, too, grew up in the same era as the main character, Emily and expected to be able to feel a sense of affinity for her and the time that the book represented. By the time I was half-way through the book, I began to feel bored with her. She seemed to be obsessed with her ex-husband, who had divorced her. She becomes a one- dimensional figure. Everything that happens to her revives her memories of David and what they once shared. There was really no plot; the book was mainly a character study of Emily and she was not an interesting person. I was disappointed that the book was not as exciting as I was led to expect.
The Homecoming of Samuel Lake: A Novel
by Jenny Wingfield
The Homecoming of Samuel Lake (8/2/2011)
I had mixed feelings about this book until I was about one third of the way through. I felt that it was too quiet for me. but then 'the plot thickens' and it picks up speed and races to the finish. I was breathless when I got to the end. I'm glad that I persevered!
The Art of Saying Goodbye: A Novel
by Ellyn Bache
The Art of Saying Goodbye by Ellyn Bache (4/18/2011)
I loved this book; I couldn't put it down. It was full of characters who lived in a neighborhood that provided the setting for this absorbing story. The characters were real people; Ellyn did a wonderful job in fleshing out their personalities. For me, it was one of those books that I hated to see come to an end because I wanted to spend more time with them. I think this would be an excellent choice for any book club.
The Girl in the Green Raincoat: A Novel
by Laura Lippman
The Girl in the Green Raincoat (11/15/2010)
I was very excited when I found this book in my mailbox, because although I had heard of Laura Lipman as a well-known writer of crime fiction, I had never read anything written by her. I'm sorry to say that the story did not grab me the way I expected it would. It was an interesting enough story, but it just wasn't a compelling read. I found some humor in some sections but overall it never became the page-turner that I had sought.
The Clouds Beneath the Sun
by Mackenzie Ford
The Clouds Beneath the Sun (7/12/2010)
I began reading this book while I was in the middle of another novel that I was enjoying; I thought I would read them concurrently. Surprise! Once I began "The Clouds Beneath the Sun" I couldn't put it down! The setting of an archeological dig in East Africa was unfamiliar to me but it was well-described. While controversy about the dig is getting more involved, the book begins to deal with the lives of the main characters and it becomes a love story. This is definitely a book you won't be able to put down!
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