Cart
|
|
my account
|
wish list
|
help
|
800-878-7323
Hello, |
Login
MENU
Browse
New Arrivals
Bestsellers
Featured Preorders
Award Winners
Audio Books
See All Subjects
Used
Staff Picks
Staff Picks
Picks of the Month
Bookseller Displays
50 Books for 50 Years
25 Best 21st Century Sci-Fi & Fantasy
25 PNW Books to Read Before You Die
25 Books From the 21st Century
25 Memoirs to Read Before You Die
25 Global Books to Read Before You Die
25 Women to Read Before You Die
25 Books to Read Before You Die
Gifts
Gift Cards & eGift Cards
Powell's Souvenirs
Journals and Notebooks
socks
Games
Sell Books
Blog
Events
Find A Store
Don't Miss
Creatives on Creating Sale
Spotlight Sale
Picture Book Sale
Powell's Author Events
Oregon Battle of the Books
Audio Books
Get the Powell's newsletter
Visit Our Stores
Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
(0 comment)
Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
Read More
»
Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
(0 comment)
Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
(0 comment)
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
Customer Comments
W S Krauss has commented on (76) products
Imagine Me Gone
by
Adam Haslett
W S Krauss
, May 06, 2018
This is a beautifully written novel about the effect of mental illness on a family over the course of many decades. The very beginning of the book tells us something about how it will end and then introduces us to the characters in the family. We first meet Margaret and John when they meet in England. Margaret falls in love with John and understands almost immediately that he has a mental illness. Eventually, they have three children- Michael, Celia, and Alec- and move to America. As we get to know each of the children in alternating chapters narrated in the first person, we find out that Michael also suffers from mental illness, especially anxiety and perhaps depression. The effect of these illnesses on the rest of the family shapes how they grow into the adults that they become. It is difficult material but rendered lovingly and heartbreakingly by Haslett.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Joni Mitchell In Her Own Words
by
Malka Marom
W S Krauss
, March 02, 2018
This book is from the transcripts of interviews of Joni Mitchell by Malka Marom, a former folk singer, radio broadcaster, and documentary maker. The interviews took place from 1975 through 2012. Joni discusses her influences, her beginnings as a young folk singer, her childhood, aging, and her career as a musician, composer, lyricist, and painter. Also included in this book are some of her paintings, album covers, lyrics, and photographs. This very fine book discusses in detail the arc of Joni's career and the maturation of an artist.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(4 of 5 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane
by
Lisa See
W S Krauss
, February 25, 2018
An epic story of a girl, Li-yan, who lives in the remote hill countryside of China in a family that makes their living picking tea leaves. They are Akha minority and live according to ancient customs of their people, with no contact with the outside world. She grows up to be a tea expert and changes the lives of her family and those in her village. It is also the story of a Chinese adoptee in America, Haley, who longs to find out about her birth family. Lisa See does thorough and remarkable research and knows her subject well. Her writing is captivating and poetic, with very detailed character development. I highly recommend this book.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Just Mercy
by
Bryan Stevenson
W S Krauss
, January 30, 2018
Attorney Bryan Stevenson opens a law center in Alabama called Equal Justice Initiative to assist inmates on death row. Eventually, the center also helps juvenile offenders who are on death row or sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Through stories of his individual clients, he demonstrates the many ways that the justice system victimizes those accused of and convicted of crimes. EJI frees many innocent people who had been sentenced to death and who were on death row in prison awaiting execution. These stories show the vulnerability of the poor and racial minorities in our justice system and the possibilities for corruption and error in law enforcement.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
End We Start From
by
Megan Hunter
W S Krauss
, January 16, 2018
With spare prose and phrases from ancient mythology, a young mother narrates this story of a fateful flood that causes her and her husband to abandon their home and head north from London with their newborn baby. Using first initials only in place of names, we learn that they end up in a shelter, where the mother meets other women with babies. After a short time in the shelter, her husband R leaves for a "break" from shelter life. It seems that he couldn't tolerate living there. Forced to move on from the shelter, she loses touch with R. The mood of the book is bleak and joyless, despite the fact that there is a growing baby with his milestones and smiles. The title implies that these people have reached the end of the world and survived to start over.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
American Dervish
by
Ayad Akhtar
W S Krauss
, November 20, 2017
A very thoughtful novel about Muslims in America. The story follows a young boy named Hayat, whose family moved to America from Pakistan. Eventually, the mother's best friend from her home country, Mina, comes to America with her young son Imran. Mina had been divorced by her husband, who threatens to take the boy when he is older. Mina and Imran move in with the family. Hayat loves Mina, who tells him stories from the Quran. She begins to teach him verses of the Quran and he is determined to memorize them and learn what these verses really mean. Mina begins to date a Jewish man, which causes much upheaval in their lives. This is as much a coming-of-age story as the story of a Muslim woman and her place within Islam.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories
by
Marina Keegan, Anne Fadiman
W S Krauss
, May 08, 2017
Marina Keegan was killed in a car accident just after she finished college at Yale. She most likely would have gone on to have a wonderful career as a writer. She had a job awaiting her at the New Yorker and a play that was about to be produced in New York. This is a collection of her work and it is touching to read her thoughts as a young writer. Included are essays and short stories that show the promise she displayed so early in life.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Good Girl
by
Mary Kubica
W S Krauss
, April 27, 2017
Mia Dennett goes to a bar to meet her boyfriend. When she doesn't show up, she goes home with a stranger. Colin Thatcher kidnaps her and takes her to a remote cabin in Minnesota. Mia's mother Eve and Detective Gabe Hoffman search for her and follow leads. Her father James, a judge, is strangely detached from the situation. The book is separated into chapters from the point of view of Eve, Gabe and Colin before and after Mia's return, and during her absence. When Mia is returned to her parents, she has amnesia. She is taken to a psychiatrist to try to learn what happened to her. What follows unravels the mystery of her disappearance and the ending is indeed surprising. The characters of Mia, Colin and the detective were well developed, while I felt that Eve and James were somewhat underdeveloped. I did enjoy it as a mystery and thought the pace and the plot were good.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves
by
Karen Joy Fowler
W S Krauss
, April 23, 2017
Rosemary Cooke was raised with a father that was a psychology professor at Indiana University and who studied primates. When she was born, her parents acquired a chimpanzee, Fern, nearly the same age. They were raised together as sisters until Rosemary was five when suddenly Fern was removed from the family. Her mother falls into a deep depression. At that same time, her teenage brother, Lowell, leaves home and never returns. Rosemary, who had always been a non-stop talker, suddenly stopped talking. After a friendless childhood, when she finally leaves for college, the issues of her brother and Fern resurface. She goes to college in Davis, California, the last place her brother was seen. He is now wanted by the FBI. She longs to see her brother again and find out if he knows what happened to Fern after she was forced from their family. This novel explores the lines between human and animal, and what it means to be a family. The author includes bits of the history of primate study within human families. The story is told in a nonlinear fashion. Rosemary's memories are sometimes clouded by the fact that she was so very young when Fern lived with the family. At times, the story is heartbreaking, at other times humorous. It is clear, however, that this brief experiment caused overwhelming grief for all members of the Cooke family, grief that would take a lifetime to heal, if ever.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Prodigal Summer
by
Barbara Kingsolver
W S Krauss
, October 16, 2015
Three stories weave together to form this wonderful portrait of a farming community in southern Appalachia. Deanna is a wildlife biologist who lives alone in a cabin on Forest Service land maintaining trails, protecting the forest and preventing hunters from hunting illegally. She has been tracking a family of coyotes that have moved south to settle the area. She meets a hunter, Eddie Bondo, in the forest and they begin a passionate affair. Lusa, an entomologist, met her husband Cole at her seminar on pest management at the University of Kentucky. They married, but now she is a widow and struggling to keep the farm. She also struggles with her place in Cole's extended family. Garnett, an old man who has his heart set on the revival of the American Chestnut tree, struggles with his neighbor, Nannie Rawley. She grows everything on her land organically and tries to convince Garnett of the correctness of this practice. Kingsolver seeks to impart her knowledge of the natural world and warnings of environmental catastrophe into her novels. While occasionally this can be heavy-handed, for the most part it's done beautifully and seems natural. The characters are interesting and fully drawn, with flaws as well as redeeming characteristics. I cared deeply about these people and I was anxious to find out how the book turned out. This is another in a long list of excellent novels by Kingsolver.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Children Act
by
Ian McEwan
W S Krauss
, August 17, 2015
A quietly profound novel about a judge, Fiona Maye, whose marriage is on shaky ground. Her husband Jack has left her for a much younger woman, claiming a need for passion that Fiona lacks. As she struggles to make sense of life on her own, she takes on the case of a young Jehovah's Witness with leukemia who will die soon without a blood transfusion and whose religion will not allow it. The young man is nearly 18, but she must decide if he will be forced to accept the transfusion, against his own and his parents wishes. Ian McEwan's writing is straightforward, but the characters are well developed. We are not given many details about Jehovah's Witness or any of the other faiths involved in her cases, but rather a line is drawn between the religious and the secular in dealing with the difficult judgments she faces in court. As she works on these decisions, she reflects on her own life and her marriage.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
The Martian
by
Andy Weir
W S Krauss
, August 07, 2015
Imagine you're an astronaut, a botanist and a mechanical engineer. Now imagine you are on a mission to Mars. On your sixth day on Mars, a severe storm threatens the mission and the crew of six must abort and leave immediately. The ascent vehicle (the MAV) is about to tip over. As you and the crew make your way to the MAV, you are struck by an object and knocked unconscious. Your commander tries to find you but cannot see through the storm. Your biostats are flat; they presume you are dead. They must leave immediately or there will be no escape for the five remaining crew members. And then you wake up. Somehow, you have managed to survive. But you are alone on Mars. Somehow you must figure out how to survive. Exciting, riveting, and scientific, yet very readable and accessible, the novel sweeps us along on a tale of survival against all odds. Mark Watney shares his thoughts with us through the log that he keeps, as much for himself as for NASA or those who will find it if he perishes. We follow along as he solves problems, makes mistakes and, through it all, keeps his humor intact. Limited by the tools at hand, we witness this ingenious man as he struggles to survive until he can be rescued or dies. As with all grand human endeavors, we hope for his survival and the acquisition of knowledge that his survival will ensure.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Enchanted Forest: An Inky Quest and Coloring Book
by
Johanna Basford
W S Krauss
, July 29, 2015
What a fantastic idea! I loved coloring as a kid. I'm not good at drawing, so this book does the drawing for you and lets you enjoy filling them in with colored pencils, markers, crayons, whatever you want. It's fun and relaxing. The drawings are beautiful and detailed. I feel like a kid again!
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(3 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
To Kill a Mockingbird
by
Lee, Harper
W S Krauss
, July 23, 2015
Such a beautiful book. I wanted to read it again before I read the new Harper Lee novel. I hadn't read it since junior high school. The characters and the town were so vivid to me. I love the way Scout and Jem grow and change over the years. The story is told through the eyes of young Scout. It is a coming of age story but also a story about racism in the south in the 1930s. It is a timeless story and hasn't lost any of it's power even after 55 years.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(4 of 7 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
The Girl on the Train
by
Paula Hawkins
W S Krauss
, May 31, 2015
Solid mystery with an ending I didn't see coming. I liked the unreliable narrator, Rachel, and the way the author uses the first- person point of view of the other characters as well. A good summer read!
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
How to Build a Girl
by
Caitlin Moran
W S Krauss
, May 26, 2015
Actually kind of a fun story about a girl growing up in a poor family outside of London who longs to make a difference in the world and sets out to change her life. Only it doesn't quite work out the way she'd planned...........A different kind of "coming of age" story.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(2 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Face At The Window
by
Dennis Mcfarland
W S Krauss
, May 12, 2015
I had read somewhere that this was a truly scary read and I'm always looking for movies and books that scare me. Unfortunately, nothing ever does. But, I thought I'd give it a shot. It was well-written and engaging as a story. But, though it had surprises and was populated with spirits, it failed as a thriller for me. However, it is interesting that the character flaws of the main character, Cookson Selway, are reflected in the situations and characters of the ghosts and Cookson's experiences with them.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Station Eleven
by
Emily St John Mandel
W S Krauss
, April 14, 2015
Arthur Leander, an aging actor, dies onstage and shortly after, a deadly flu pandemic kills most of the population of the world. Fast forward twenty years. A group of musicians and actors travel by caravan from town to town performing Shakespeare and playing music for the survivors that remain. The thing that ties these characters together is a comic book series called Station Eleven, written and drawn by Arthur's first wife, Miranda. Mandel weaves the stories of these characters together into a novel that is chilling and beautiful in its realism.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Zone One
by
Colson Whitehead
W S Krauss
, March 27, 2015
A fun read for zombie genre lovers. Gory, descriptive and at times funny. Colson Whitehead can craft a sentence!
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
The Good Lord Bird (National Book Award Winner)
by
James McBride
W S Krauss
, March 18, 2015
What a wonderful, wild and touching account of John Brown and the fictional Onion, a young light-skinned black boy who spends years with Brown passing as a girl. History and fiction intertwine to create a brilliant narrative of John Brown's war on slavery, leading up to his battle at Harper's Ferry, which instigated the Civil War. Onion narrates the story in his distinctive dialect, as he describes all that happens to him in John Brown's company, and the band of men that join him to fight slavery in Kansas,Missouri and eventually to Virginia. Along the way, Onion learns to drink alcohol, falls in love twice and see his share of violence. John Brown treats Onion like family and in return Onion gives his loyalty to Brown. The characters are beautifully portrayed by McBride, especially the religious and fervent John Brown. Do not miss this excellent novel, my favorite James McBride novel to date, and winner of the National Book Award for 2013.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
The Dog Stars
by
Peter Heller
W S Krauss
, February 04, 2015
It's the end of the world as we know it and Hig has found a place for himself at an airport in the middle of nowhere, Colorado. He and his unlikely friend, an old man named Bangley, live at the airport and protect each other from people who stumble upon them and mean to cause them harm. Bangley has lots of firepower and Hig has his dog, Jasper, and a Cessna. Hig patrols the surrounding countryside with the plane to watch for intruders. I don't want to give any of the plot away but things happen to change the lives of these two survivors. It's a beautiful, hopeful story and I loved the stream of consciousness style of writing.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Paying Guests
by
Sarah Waters
W S Krauss
, January 24, 2015
In this gorgeously written novel set just after the First World War, a young woman and her mother are forced to take in boarders when they find themselves in debt and with serious financial problems. Mr and Mrs Barber move into the upstairs rooms and turn the lives of Frances and her mother upside down. But Frances eventually starts a passionate affair with Lilian Barber, practically under the noses of Lilian's husband Leonard and Frances's mother. A tragedy unfolds and the affair is put on hold, as others are drawn into the upheaval. The plot is well-paced, the characters are beautifully drawn and the writing is exceptional. I will not soon forget the descriptions of the love affair between these two women. I held my breath waiting for the conclusion to the story, which doesn't come until the final few pages of this wonderful book.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Sister
by
Rosamund Lupton
W S Krauss
, December 02, 2014
What at first seems like a standard mystery, becomes a letter from a woman to her missing sister. A powerful novel about love and family bonds.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(0 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Wool (Silo #1)
by
Hugh Howey
W S Krauss
, November 06, 2014
I loved the story and the main character Jules. The air outside is toxic. People live in an underground silo where they work, live, reproduce, die. When a resident breaks certain laws, they are sent outside in a suit that only lasts long enough for the criminal to clean the sensors outside that give the residents of the silo their only view of the outside world. Some of the residents have discovered that there are lies that form the basis of their existence and are determined to bring the truth to light. But it is a dangerous mission they are on, one that may threaten the very existence of the silo.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(5 of 10 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Euphoria
by
Lily King
W S Krauss
, October 16, 2014
Euphoria refers to the emotions felt by an anthropologist when she/he feels they begin to understand and make sense of a culture. According to this novel, it occurs somewhere around two months of living with a tribe. The plot of Euphoria is loosely based on a trip Margaret Mead took to New Guinea with her second husband, where they collaborated with another anthropologist who later became her third husband. The characters in this story are Nell Stone and her husband Fen, who are fleeing the tribe they are studying, the Mumbanyo, who practice infanticide. Nell has a broken ankle, broken glasses and malaria. Fen has a bruised ego resulting from the fact that his wife's recent book was a rousing success. At a government station Christmas party, they meet Bankson, a fellow anthropologist living with a tribe on the Sepik River. He persuades Nell and Fen to travel to a site 7 hours from the tribe he is studying, to study the Tam. This is in part because he is lonesome, but also because he is taken by Nell Stone. He wants her to be near him. Bankson visits them by canoe and the three of them have lively discussions that result in what they feel is a very important theory they come upon. But as time goes on, Nell and Fen's marriage begins to falter. The story is told retrospectively from Nell's journal entries and Bankson's narration. It is as much a novel of intellectual pursuit as it is of the romantic and erotic. The descriptions are lush, sensual and exotic. The book is an excellent and satisfying read.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
All the Light We Cannot See
by
Doerr, Anthony
W S Krauss
, October 05, 2014
This novel is epic in scope, told through the eyes of a blind French girl, a young German soldier and a dying German officer determined to find a priceless jewel from a French museum during WWII. The stories of these characters come together to form an unforgettable portrait of this time in history. Doerr's images of the war are riveting; his writing pulls you in and does not let go. These particular characters provide unique perspectives of the war and shed light on the motivations and lives of those caught up in this tumultuous period.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
An Impartial Witness
by
Charles Todd
W S Krauss
, August 01, 2014
This is the second in the Bess Crawford series. Bess, a young English woman, is a dedicated nurse during WWI. She solves mysteries when she is home on leave and finds herself in situations where her intelligence and curiosity are tested. I enjoyed this book nearly as much as the first, Duty to the Dead.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(0 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Harbor
by
John Ajvide Lindqvist
W S Krauss
, June 24, 2014
Swedish author Lindqvist has been compared to Stephen King. While I can see the comparison, I actually think Lindqvist may be the better writer. The novel Harbor is a blend of horror and fantasy, with wonderful descriptions of the tiny island town and landscape where the story unfolds. Anders, his wife Cecilia and their six-year-old daughter Maja go out on a frigid sunny day to walk across thick ice to a nearby lighthouse. When they are briefly preoccupied , Maja disappears. After two years goes by, during which Anders and his wife divorce, Anders returns to the home they had occupied on the island. He is comforted by the presence of his grandmother and her long time partner, Simon. After more than two years of heavy drinking, Anders finally sobers up enough to begin trying to figure out what happened to Maja. I don't want to give away all the interesting subplots, but I will just say, strange things are happening with the sea. This was a fast-moving and fun book. Like most of Stephen King's novels, you read this sort of book for entertainment and diversion. Don't take it too seriously. This would be a perfect book for the beach or vacation.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
& the Mountains Echoed
by
Khaled Hosseini
W S Krauss
, June 22, 2014
Hosseini's writing seems to get better with each book, and his stories more involved. This novel, set in Afghanistan, Paris and California, centers on Abdullah and Pari, siblings in a small impoverished village in Afghanistan. The history of Afghanistan provides the backdrop for the book. From there, the story branches out to extend to other family members over time and place. We see how actions affect others and choices that are made change lives. The characters are deeply developed and the stories emotional. A very satisfying read!
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
1Q84
by
Haruki Murakami, Jay Rubin, Philip Gabriel
W S Krauss
, June 21, 2014
1Q84 crosses genres. It is a love story, speculative fiction and fantasy. The two main characters meet briefly as children and affect each other's lives until they finally meet again. That said, there is a very long road to travel before they see each other again. Aomame stumbles into a parallel world she names 1Q84. Tengo is called upon by a friend in the publishing industry to edit a story written by a high school girl for entrance into a literary contest. These actions create a cascade of events that lead the characters to each other. It is an astonishing book, full of themes and imagery. I enjoyed this book immensely and see why it is being called Murakami's masterpiece.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Carry the One
by
Carol Anshaw
W S Krauss
, May 10, 2014
After a wedding, a group of people in a car strike and kill a 10-year-old girl. This book is about grief and guilt and how it affects people in different ways. I enjoyed the writing, the characters, the humor and the way Anshaw brings leftist politics of the time period into the story. It also shows how tragedy can bring people together in a very lasting way, while others are torn apart by it.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Stone Arabia
by
Dana Spiotta
W S Krauss
, March 08, 2014
This book tells the story of Denise, a forty-something divorced woman, and her older brother Nik, a musician and artist. Denise takes care of her mother, whose memory is declining. She also watches out for her brother, who hasn't really made much money, but who has put out a string of albums, most of which are heard only by close family and friends. He records every nuance of his life as a musician in The Chronicles, a series of books that detail every move in his career, some of it fake. For example, there are fake record reviews that Nik has written included in the books. There are many themes in the novel including relationships with family, memories, our reactions to world events and the meaning of art. It begs the question whether one is an artist if the art is not shared with the world. This novel doesn't answer many of its questions. It does, however, get you thinking about these issues. The structure of the book is as unconventional as its characters. I came to care about the people in the book, but did not really understand them. I found this frustrating; but, at the same time I found it impossible to put down. I wanted to see where the story went and if there was any resolution for Denise and Nik.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
The Round House
by
Louise Erdrich
W S Krauss
, February 28, 2014
An amazing coming-of-age story! The central character is a thirteen-year-old Native American boy, living in North Dakota on the reservation. A terrible crime is committed against his mother. Joe and his father, a tribal judge, struggle to help her survive the ordeal and seek justice for her. Woven in the narrative are stories and myths of the Ojibwe Indians. Joe and his friends, Cappy, Angus and Zack try to investigate the crime on their own, having become frustrated with the official investigation. They find some possible clues near the Round House, a place of worship for those on the reservations. There is some uncertainty whether the crime was committed on the reservation and who would prosecute the case. As a result of this crime, Joe faces difficult situations and choices that demand he begin to see things with a more adult perspective. The characters in this novel were completely real to me, especially Joe with his inner thoughts brought to light by the author. Erdrich excels at bringing the experiences of living on the reservation to her novels and exposing some of the problems that exist between Native Americans and whites living nearby. The novel is really Joe's story, how he deals with tragedy and sorrow and how he learns to deal with the uneven application of justice in his world.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(4 of 6 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Telegraph Avenue
by
Michael Chabon
W S Krauss
, January 04, 2014
Having some familiarity with Telegraph Avenue and the Berkeley/Oakland area, I could definitely picture in my mind Brokeland Records and its diverse and eccentric customer base. The owners, Archy Stallings and Nat Jaffe, are longtime partners in the venture, as well as close friends. Their business is threatened by the impending opening of Dogpile Records, a large chain of successful stores started by ex-football player and celebrity Gibson Goode. Goode even has a zeppelin bearing the name Minnie Ripperton that flies over the Bay area advertising the stores. But, Goode's success in opening the store lies with the City Council and there are members who must be convinced that Dogpile will be good for the community. Goode tries to convince Archy to close Brokeland and come to work for him. Meanwhile, Archy and Nat's wives, Gwen and Aviva, who are midwives in practice together, are in hot water at the hospital where they have privileges. This is not so much because there was a problem during a home birth where the mother had to be transferred to the hospital, but rather because Gwen was angry that they were not allowed in the delivery room once they arrived at the hospital. Gwen spoke "disrespectfully" to the OB in charge after he insulted the midwives. We also follow the story of Nat's son Julius, or Julie, who is in love with another boy, Tutus, he meets at a film class. We also meet Archy's father, Luther Stallings and his partner Valletta Moore. There is so much to this book, both in terms of characters and story. It is comical and full of family drama. Yet also has some seroius points to make about life. Chabon's writing is dazzling at times and carries you along on his many plot twists. In one part of the book, we follow a parrot from place to place as it flies over Oakland, and over scenes inhabited by the book's characters. It's quirky and brilliant. Telegraph Avenue comes to life on the page with color and humor and a sweetness to it that can't be denied.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(2 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Night Film
by
Marisha Pessl
W S Krauss
, January 02, 2014
This book is an unconventional literary mystery, a masterpiece of a plot, with wonderfully crafted characters. Despite the dark subject matter, I enjoyed spending time with these characters. Scott McGrath, a discredited journalist, is investigating the apparent suicide of Ashley Cordova, the daughter of a famous cult film director. It was this director that was the subject of Scott's writing that caused the destruction of his reputation. It's five years later and Scott sees the opportunity to try to revive his career by finding out more about Cordova and why his daughter would want to kill herself. Along the way, he teams up with Nora, a coat checker from Florida who was the last person to see Ashley alive, and Hopper, who Scott found at the scene of Ashley's death. All three are caught up in the strange and frightening world of Cordova's mind-bending films. The investigation leads to dangerous and mysterious places, where all is not as it seems. Pessl will have you in her spell until the end. I highly recommend this book.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
& Sons A Novel
by
David Gilbert
W S Krauss
, December 28, 2013
David Gilbert is an amazing writing; his prose is brilliant. I felt that characters were real. While sometimes I tire of novels about men and their sons, and this is a familiar story, the device he uses to narrate the book is clever. Phillip Topping, our narrator, is the son of Charles Topping, who has just died as the book opens. Charles Topping was the best friend of Andrew Dyer since they were boys. Andrew Dyer is a famous writer in the same vein as J.D. Salinger. A.N. Dyer, as he is know as a writer, is a somewhat reclusive and gruff old man, with a teenage son who supposedly is the result of an affair with a woman other than his wife. Dyer and his wife are divorced because of the affair and Andrew Dyer is raising the boy, Andy Dyer. Andrew has two other grown sons, Richard, a recovering drug addict and playwright, with a wife and two kids living in California, and Jamie who is single and a filmaker of unusual films. Andrew summons his sons to his New York home for a reason as yet unknown to them. What follows is a series of events that comprise the bulk of the novel. It is interesting to see how Gilbert uses the narrator Phillip, who has always envied the Dyers and wants to be a part of them, to get inside the heads of the characters and follow the events that occur. He is an unreliable narrator exactly because the story is colored by his point of view. One of A.N. Dyer's books, Ampersand, is integral to the story because it is essentially about Phillip Topping's late father Charles. The Dyers' and the Toppings' lives have always been intertwined, but it is clearly the Dyers that have shined in the world because of Andrew's success. There are many themes in this book- memory, time passing, mistakes made, the desire to pass your traits on to your progeny, the meaning of a life lived, the accumulation of life's work, and what it means to have fame. It is a very rich book, full of ideas, and though there are some unusual parts of the story, it all adds up to an incredibly rewarding read.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Duty to the Dead
by
Charles Todd
W S Krauss
, December 17, 2013
I loved the character of Bess Crawford, a nurse in WWI. She's a tough cookie, smart and brave. A dying soldier makes her promise to take a message to his brother. What she endures just getting back to England is amazing. Then, when she finally delivers the message, the brother reacts with seeming indifference. What follows is a brilliant mystery, with the backdrop of a small village in England during the war. The writing is lovely and the characters are well written. I look forward to reading other Bess Crawford mysteries.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Circle
by
Dave Eggers
W S Krauss
, December 17, 2013
The Circle is a tech company like Google or Facebook, where the employees young and tech savvy. Mae joins the company after working for a utility in her hometown, a job she hated. She was recruited to the Circle by her college friend Annie. Mae quickly fits into the company and her job in Customer Experience, where all of her transactions are rated immediately. She does well and begins to succeed, rising through the ranks of the company. She begins an affair with a mysterious man named Kalder, who is not on the list of company employees. She and Annie think he may be a spy. The Circle founders begins to talk about the need for "completion", where everyone is transparent and required to have a Circle account. Meanwhile, Annie gets involved in a project that uncovers some shocking news. We all see where this book is headed; it is no surprise when things go as we expect. Yet it was a good read and it does make you think about privacy and how much information is out there. We have been warned….
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
The Light Between Oceans
by
ML Stedman
W S Krauss
, November 21, 2013
This is a heartbreaking story of love, forgiveness and redemption. Tom Sherbourne, recently returned from WWI in Europe, takes a job as a lighthouse keeper on the remote island of Janus, a hundred miles off the coast of Western Australia. Before he leaves the town of Partageuse, from which he will be taken to the island, he meets a young woman named Isabel Graysmark and they begin a relationship that cuminates in marriage. Ultimately, Isabel and Tom move to Janus together to begin their married lives. After a series of miscarriages, Isabel and Tom are grieving. One day, they find a boat that washes up on the shore of the island. A dead man and a living baby are found in the boat. The decisions that Tom and Isabel make on that day impact them, and others, for the rest of their lives. I was very uncomfortable reading this book at times. I had grown to love these characters and yet was appalled by their choices. However, without giving too much away, I felt the book resolved some of these dilemmas by the conclusion. It is not a storybook ending, however, and it is a novel of difficult themes. I will say that it made me think a lot about the lengths we will go to for those we love, and the balance of right and wrong with what is in our hearts. I will not soon forget this story.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Where'd You Go, Bernadette
by
Maria Semple
W S Krauss
, September 28, 2013
Bee Branch is a middle-schooler in a second tier private school in Seattle. Her mother, Bernadette, was an up-and-coming architect in LA until something happened that ended her dreams and future. Bee's father, Elgin, works at Microsoft, where he is considered a "rock star". After a series of hilarious events, Bernadette disappears. The story of Bernadette's disappearance and how she is found is told through Bee's narration, as well as letters, emails, FBI files, FAXes, transcripts and an emergency room bill. You don't have to be from the Pacific NW to appreciate the biting sarcasm and humor about Seattle culture. The characters are funny, complicated and often transcend their stereotypes. Semple has affection for her characters and ultimately leads them to an emotionally satisfying conclusion.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(3 of 6 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
World Without You a Novel
by
Joshua Henkin
W S Krauss
, September 14, 2013
This novel got good reviews. I think I liked the idea of the book more than the actual book itself. The story and setting were good ones. A family is meeting in Massachusetts for the one year memorial of the death of Leo, a journalist in his early thirties that died in Iraq. At their summer house, Leo's mother and father, his widow and his three sisters arrive, along with the husbands of two of the sisters and several children. Each character's relationship with one another is teased out and Leo's character is developed through the eyes of these family members. We see how the family is coping with Leo's death and to the unraveling of relationships within the family. Some of the characters are not well developed, such as the mother, father and one of the sisters. The idea is that when a family is struck with a huge blow such as a death, the members of the family each deal with it in their own way. Adjustments occur, not always for the better. They must learn to carry on in the world without the person who has died. The crux of the story is that changes occur in these characters and the event of the memorial serves to unveil a new balance in the way they relate to one another. While I admire the approach to the story, I didn't really like these characters very much and so did not feel much affinity to them. Without affection for the characters, I found myself not caring much how it turned out. And while it did have a hopeful ending, I wished the author had made me feel more emotion about it.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Canada
by
Richard Ford
W S Krauss
, September 01, 2013
In beautiful language, Ford tells the story of his narrator, Dell Parsons. His parents rob a bank and set Dell on a course he never imagined his life would take. He is a victim of circumstances beyond his control and the novel is really about his character and reactions to the chaotic adult world around him. Ford's writing is extraordinary; this book is not to be missed!
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned
by
Wells Tower
W S Krauss
, April 05, 2013
An excellent batch of short stories from a talented writer, Wells Tower. Tower has a real knack for description. Each of these stories was a world itself, which is, I suppose, the point of a short story. The real challenge is to make the reader care about these characters in just a few pages. Sometimes he merely sets the scene and the story ends, leaving the rest to your imagination. Many of these characters seem slightly damaged, marginal and vulnerable. I'll look forward to reading some of his other work.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(5 of 10 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Elegy for April
by
Benjamin Black
W S Krauss
, February 25, 2013
Benjamin Black's (AKA John Banville) third book in the Quirke series finds Quirke just out of rehab for alcoholism. His daughter Pheobe comes to him concerned that she has not seen or heard from her friend April, whom she is fairly close to and speaks to daily. The story unfolds slowly as we learn more about Quirke, Pheobe and her friends. The suspense builds as Quirke and Hackett confront April's family, who don't seem to care what has happened to her, and that they have disowned for her wild lifestyle. Black describes 1950's Dublin as a city of beauty and atmosphere, but also prejudice, class and religious divides and conservative social mores. You will want to keep reading late into the night to find out how this one ends.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Life Itself A Memoir
by
Roger Ebert
W S Krauss
, January 28, 2013
Roger Ebert has written a thorough account of his life. Faced with a severely disfiguring cancer and the subsequent inability to speak, eat or drink, he perseveres through, or rather he transcends, his disabilities to make use of his talents through the medium of writing, which has always been a big part of his life. I enjoyed reading about his family and how his life was shaped by his upbringing. The chapters on some of the actors and directors he has known were very personal and unearthed some interesting aspects of these celebrities. Especially poignant were the chapters on his wife Chaz, his Sneak Previews co-star Gene Siskel, and those about his cancer, his many surgeries and facing his own mortality. It's a very personal book and I quite enjoyed his style of writing. I would recommend this to anyone, regardless of their interest in the movies or movie critics. It has as its focus the human condition, or "life itself".
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Silver Swan
by
Benjamin Black
W S Krauss
, January 09, 2013
This is the second book in the series by Irish writer Benjamin Black, AKA John Banville (the Sea, for which he won the Man Booker prize in 2005). This book follows the further adventures of Dublin pathologist Quirke and his complicated family. Quirke has quit drinking, which has made him grumpier than usual and on edge, as he confronts the circumstances of an old acquaintance from college. His curiosity gets the better of him when he is pulled into the mystery of the apparent suicide of this man's young wife. His daughter is involved in the events as well, which puts her in great danger. The descriptions of Dublin's streets, atmosphere and climate combine with the action and mystery to create a haunting sense of place. The writing is brilliantly suited to the crime genre, yet a step above most I've read. I look forward to following these characters in many books to come.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Mortality
by
Christopher Hitchens
W S Krauss
, January 01, 2013
As with all of his writing, Hitchins approaches his own mortality with wit, wisdom and inquisitiveness. He talks about getting diagnosed with "the big C" and being in the hospital. He wonders at the illogical thinking of some who say they will pray for him, others who have bet he will suddenly become a believer in God. He describes having a terminal illness as if he has entered another land, traveling to the world of the sick from the world of the healthy. We, the reader, cannot travel there with him really, but we see glimpses of what he discovers there. I greatly admire Hitchins's writing and he does not falter here. I only wished he had been able to finish the book. The last few pages consist of fragments and notes; he was planning a much longer book when he died unexpectedly. Still, it is a worthwhile read, especially if you, like me, are a fan of his work. A fitting last offering from a fine writer.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children
by
Ransom Riggs
W S Krauss
, November 12, 2012
A very Peculiar book indeed! A novel with photographs. This book is soon to be a movie. A young man hears scary tales from his grandfather, who later died a mysterious death and leaves his grandson a trail of clues to follow to an island where the grandfather grew up in an orphanage. What follows is a fantastic tale of Miss Peregrine's orphans and the world in which they live. A young adult book that will entertain adults as well.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Submission
by
Amy Waldman
W S Krauss
, November 10, 2012
In this "what if" novel, a jury is convened to decide on the design for a fictional memorial for the site of the Twin Towers after 9/11. As the anonymous submission is chosen, it is revealed that he is an American Muslim. When the result is made public, all sides weigh in on what becomes a national controversy. This is a fascinating look at American culture in the time after the attack, when all Muslims became suspect and the true nature of bigotry and religious division in the US is revealed.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Wire to Wire
by
Scott Sparling, Tin House Books
W S Krauss
, September 10, 2012
What happens to Michael Slater when his forehead accidently comes into contact with a power line? He pushes his friend from the moving boxcar they are standing on, ends up in Arizona in rehab for a brain injury, hallucinates, accidently gets involved in criminal activity, and drives across country back to his home state of Michigan after nearly killing a man. And that's just for starters. Then the real story begins. Populated with losers, cops, burnouts, users and dealers, Slater's story jumps from Michigan to Arizona to New York and back to Michigan. Keep up! It's a wild ride!
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Mr Rosenblum Dreams in English
by
Natasha Solomons
W S Krauss
, September 09, 2012
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Rosenblum, German Jews, left Germany just before WWII to live as refugees in England. Jack has a list of things he feels he needs to do to become a proper Englishman. Their daughter has left home to attend Cambridge, while Jack runs a successful carpet factory in London. His wife Sadie is lost in her sadness about those left behind in Germany and their fates. Jack has one last item on his list to accomplish to become English; he must join a golf club. He buys a set of clubs, but because he is Jewish, no club will accept him. So he and his wife move to the countryside and Jack sets about trying to build his own golf course, which he insists will be the best in England. What follows is a magnificent fable, where a man and his wife build a life for themselves in their adopted land and dreams come true despite all odds. It was a magical tale and I loved these characters, flaws and all, because this writing really felt like it reached their souls. I believed in them, even when they lost their way, and hoped and cheered for them as they found their path through their sorrows. This is not about a golf course, but about a course through life where Jack and Sadie find their home and their hearts.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Gone Girl
by
Gillian Flynn
W S Krauss
, July 31, 2012
*Spoiler Alert* I liked the slow undoing of the husband, Nick, and the revelation of the wife, Amy, as a psychopath. And the ending. Well, nightmarish, to say the least. Creepy in it's own way and yet there is humor there as well. Nick and Amy tell their own stories and so we understand their motivations and intimate thoughts. We learn how their lives were affected by the supporting characters- Nick's father, Amy's mother and father, Nick's sister, Amy's classmates. This book could have been just another mystery, but it rises above it's genre by offering up the inside story on a marriage, and lives, gone horrible wrong. A great summer read!
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(0 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Art of Fielding
by
Chad Harbach
W S Krauss
, July 15, 2012
It's summer and what better topic to read about than- baseball! Although the book is ostensibly about baseball, it's really a character study of a young man who wants nothing more than to be drafted into the majors. Henry is a very talented shortstop who is spotted by Mike Schwartz, the baseball team captain of Westish College in northeastern Wisconsin, on the shores of Lake Michigan. Schwartz, makes sure that Henry is accepted into Westish and plays on their team. Henry improves dramatically under Schwartz's training and baseball scouts begin to come around to see Henry play. But as the frenzy over Henry's talent begins to mount, it all begins to fall apart. We also follow the stories of Henry's roommate Owen, gay and also on the baseball team. The president of the college, Affenlight, welcomes home to Westish his daughter Pella, who married before she even finished high school and he has not seen in four long years. What follows is the story of how these characters affect one another and nothing less than the resiliancy of the human spirit. It is ultimately a hopeful narrative and, despite the difficulties and disappointments these characters experience, one that exemplifies the building of the human soul. This is a must read!
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Homecoming of Samuel Lake
by
Jenny Wingfield
W S Krauss
, June 23, 2012
Wonderful storytelling, good characters and a good story. Although it comes down to a good versus evil storyline, I loved this tale of the Moses family of southern Arkansas and the return of the daughter Willadee and her husband Samuel Lake, along with their three children. The events that follow change this family forever, yet also bring them closer together. With humor and a fondness for the characters, Jenny Wingfield brings these people to life on the page. These are characters I will not soon forget.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
OBriens
by
Peter Behrens
W S Krauss
, May 22, 2012
This novel of historical fiction covers the time period of 1887 to 1960, from the Canadian wilderness to California to Montreal. It is the story of Joe O'Brien and the love of his life, Iseult Wilkins. We meet Joe as a boy, caring for his younger siblings. As a young man, he learns to succeed in business and begins to win railway contracts in the wilds of Canada. He meets Iseult and they begin their future together. We follow the family up to 1960, with the backdrop of two world wars and of the changes in the world during that time period. The story pulls us forward through time and follows a marriage that, while far from perfect, provides an anchor for the family members that guides them through their lives. The writing is descriptive, rich and imaginative. It gets into the heads of the characters; we feel their motivations and doubts, experience their pain and happiness. I felt as if I knew this family and finally saw how things would turn out. I greatly enjoyed spending time with this book and will be exploring other books by this author.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Leftovers
by
Tom Perrotta
W S Krauss
, May 10, 2012
I was willing to suspend belief and accept the premise of the story. But, it was not a terribly engrossing story, or particularly imaginative. I liked some of the characters, but did not really understand their motivations. For example, I never really understood why Laurie left her family to become a Watcher. There is just not much insight into why any of the characters acted as they did, with the exception of with Nora. I was disappointed in Perrotta, who has written some great books, like Little Children. My advice is to skip this one!
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Green Shore
by
Natalie Bakopoulos
W S Krauss
, May 03, 2012
This is a wonderfully written book, full of interesting and passionate characters. It takes place in 1960's Athens. Greece is undergoing enormous political upheaval as a coup takes place. The Green Shore is based on actual events in Greece during this time period. The story follows an extended family, as each character is affected by the changes in their country and the changes within themselves. I highly recommend this book.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Our Kind of Traitor
by
Le Carre, John
W S Krauss
, April 20, 2012
I read this book for my book club group. It's not a genre I normally read and I was curious how spy novels were being written in the post-Cold War era. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed the book and the characters in it. An English couple, Perry and Gail, take a holiday in Antiqua and find themselves wrapped up in international intrique and danger. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to Dima and his Russian family (and a cast of pseudo-family members). Later, Perry and Gail meet with members of the "Service" and tell their story. What follows is an entertaining caper through Paris and Switzerland, as well as a deepening of the relationships between the characters. The stress of the situation begins to wear on the participants as all of them anticipate how it will end. For me, the ending was somewhat unexpected, although I did consider that it might end this way. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a light and quick read. It is well written and entertaining.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Mockingjay
by
Collins, Suzanne
W S Krauss
, February 05, 2012
I enjoyed the book and the way the series ended, with one exception. The explanation about why Katniss ended up with the man she did (I'm omitting the spoiler) is vague and incomplete. I felt the author glossed over the reasons and feelings behind her choice or her lack of choice. After reading three books, it seemed that Collins owned us more time and effort than was given to this part of the book. Other characters were dealt with thoroughly, even though they had smaller roles. For example, I felt Prim was given a large and important role in the last book, even though her actual time on the page is small. The theme of Katniss's love triangle is a major part of the series. Everyone I talked to about the books wanted to know who she would choose. It seemed to me more a matter of convenience that she ended up with the man she did, rather than a conscious choice on the part of Katniss. She had even said at one point in the book that she would be able to survive without either one of them. Still, I would have liked for her to sort out her feelings and her love for both Gale and Peeta. After the events that she has endured, it would seem likely that she would take such life choices quite seriously.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(9 of 12 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Oryx and Crake (Maddaddam Trilogy #1)
by
Margaret Atwood
W S Krauss
, January 14, 2012
I've always enjoyed end-of-the-world tales and this one doesn't disappoint. The story involves Jimmy (aka Snowman) and his brilliant friend Crake, who goes to work for a company in the near future that works on genetic and science applications. The other main character is Oryx, who both Jimmy and Crake have fallen in love with. The story is told from Snowman's perspective in the aftermath of a catastophic plague that kills (nearly) every human on earth. This book is the first in a trilogy written by Atwood. The second book, Year of the Flood, won awards and I'm looking forward to reading it.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Paris Wife
by
Paula McLain, Paula McClain
W S Krauss
, January 05, 2012
This can be considered a work of historical fiction, as Paula McLain has done extensive research on Hemingway and his four wives. This is the story of Ernest and Hadley, his first wife, and their lives together in Paris in the early 1920's. The novel is written primarily from Hadley's point of view, with occasional short chapters from Hemingway's vantage point. We see his literary career unfold and Hadley's influence on Ernest's writing. It feels as if we are there, at the parties, in the cafes, during the private moments, and with the circle of illustrious friends they cultivate. The book follows the couple to Spain for the bullfights of Pamplona, the Alps and the Rivieira, events that will feed Hemingways stories and novels. We witness the painful unravelling of their marriage, which Ernest will come to regret. We feel as if we know more about this important writer and his early years after reading this fine novel.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Before I Go to Sleep
by
S J Watson
W S Krauss
, December 09, 2011
Christine wakes up every morning not knowing where she is, who her husband is, and thinks she is much younger. Every day her husband tells her the same basic story and she struggles through her days, confused and shocked. When a doctor offers to her try to recover her memory, she begins to see him secretly and begins writing in a journal. She begins to realize that all is not as it seems. As she heroically faces every day, her true history and circumstances are revealed. I found this book to be interesting on several levels- as a mystery, as a medical case study and as the story of a woman trapped in a devastating mental hell from which she may never recover. Yet somehow she manages to carry on, at times with amazing bravery and grace. Even though the ending does not provide easy answers, we are left to hope along with Christine, that tomorrow will be a continuation of her life, with her memories of yesterday and her entire past intact.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Origin
by
Diana Abu Jaber
W S Krauss
, November 25, 2011
I found this novel to be satisfying on several levels. It is a mystery surrounding a series of apparent SIDS deaths involving babies living near Syracuse, NY. The main character, Lena Dawson, is a fingerprint expert and supposedly intuitive about evidence, especially in cases involving children. As she helps investigate whether a baby killer is lurking around Syracuse, Lena is drawn into the mystery of her own beginnings. Taken in as a foster child by her parents as a very young child, she is haunted by memories of an ape mother comforting her before her rescue. Lena has many questions to investigate about the deaths of the babies and of her own history. The story did have a few flaws; but, overall I enjoyed the mystery and the characters.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Gourmet Slow Cooker Simple & Sophisticated Meals from Around the World
by
Lynn Alley
W S Krauss
, November 19, 2011
This is an excellent slow cooker cookbook. I have several, but refer to this one often. The book is divided into sections based on which country the recipes represent. They may not be authentic; but, all the recipes I've tried are delicious. The directions are clear and easy to follow. They don't use conveniece foods like canned soups, as many slow cooker books do. I highly recommend this book for people who are serious users of their slow cookers.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Dreams of Joy
by
Lisa See
W S Krauss
, November 13, 2011
Dreams of Joy is the sequel to Shanghai Girls and continues where that book left off. Joy is angry at her mother and aunt for the secrets they've kept from her for her entire life. She's also full of guilt about Sam's suicide. Because she believes strongly in the New China, she decides to go there to help build the new society and escape her family. She also plans to find her father Z.G. Li, who is a famous artist there, and the love of her Aunt May's life. Joy lives through great catastrophe before she understands important lessons her life has to teach her. This unforgettable story has its roots in the recent history of China, of the failures of Mao's Great Leap Forward and the ensuing famine that killed millions. It would be best to read Shanghai Girls before reading this. This is a meticulously researched historical novel, a breathtaking tale about escape from a brutal life and a wonderful story of the bond of mother and daughter.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Solar
by
Ian McEwan
W S Krauss
, October 29, 2011
Michael Beard, physicist and womanizer, is resting on his laurels after winning the Nobel Prize decades ago. He lets life happen to him and we are along for the ride. An accident in his home provides him the means and opportunity to advance his floundering career and enables him to work on a project that could save the world from climate change. I found myself quite fond of Beard, even though he sabatages everything in his life. He never learns from his mistakes and remains true to himself to the very end. This was my fourth Ian McEwan novel and, I think, my favorite.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
House of Leaves
by
Mark Z. Danielewski
W S Krauss
, October 10, 2011
A book within a book about a film about a house. The house, by the way, is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. The book was found by a guy named Johnny Truant, who found the notes for the book within the book, and who wrote the footnotes for the book within the book. These footnotes take up roughly half of the book, and his story is of equal importance to the story of the family who lived in the house. The man who wrote the notes for the book within the book, Zampano, is also an important figure. The house is an important character in the lives of all- the family who lived in the house and the man (Navidson) in the family who made the film, the man Zampano who wrote the notes for the book within the book and Johnny, who found the notes and arranged them into a book and wrote the footnotes for the book within a book. It sounds complicated, but it all makes sinister and dizzying sense. House of Leaves is a "novel" novel, a wonderfully complex, form-bending, experimental book within a book about a film about a house. With footnotes, appendices, photo collages and an index. Read this book and you'll be hooked.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(5 of 8 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Signal
by
Ron Carlson
W S Krauss
, August 28, 2011
I would give it 3 1/2 stars if I could. Carlson reminds me of Hemingway at times, with spare writing and wonderful descriptions of the natural world. It is a literary mystery as well. The actual object of the mystery was kind of a mystery to me. I didn't quite understand the criminal aspect of the story very well. But, that didn't stop me from enjoying the plot and the resolution of the story. It's a fast read and satisfying in many ways.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
When Will There Be Good News
by
Kate Atkinson
W S Krauss
, July 21, 2011
I enjoyed this novel the best out of Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie trilogy. Literary crime novel, good summer read! Enjoy!
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
The Hunger Games - Library Edition
by
Collins, Suzanne
W S Krauss
, June 19, 2011
I wanted to read this because it's something everyone is reading and it sounded interesting in the reviews. I didn't even realize it was YA fiction until I had the book. I was almost instantly absorbed in the story and couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Science Fiction/post-apocalyptic stories. It has some interesting messages to consider. It was done just right, without going over the top or boring the reader with too many details. The main characters were believable and likable, even the minor characters interesting and sometimes funny (Haymitch and Effie). I'm looking forward to the next two books in the trilogy!
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(0 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
The Beach Trees
by
Karen White
W S Krauss
, April 24, 2011
I really loved this book. There are two parallel narratives from the perspectives of Julie and Aimee, the two main characters. Julie Holt has recently lost her friend Monica, who gave Julie custody of her five-year-old son Beau. She also left Julie the key to her beach house, River Song, in Biloxi, Mississippi. Julie arrives with Beau, first in Biloxi, then New Orleans, to search for Monica's family. Aimee, Monica's grandmother, tells the story of the Merciers and the Guidrys, the mysteries and secrets that led Monica to flee to New York ten years earlier. I admire White's ideas about what makes people cling to their homes and their land, even after the devastation of hurricanes and oil spills. The characters, even the minor ones, are beautifully drawn and the descriptions of Biloxi and New Orleans are full of wonderful details. I felt I had been to River Song and the beach in Biloxi. I could hear the creak of the stairs and howl of the wind during the hurricane. River Song and these characters will stay with you long after you finish this fine novel.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Gimme Refuge The Education of a Caretaker
by
Matt Love
W S Krauss
, March 23, 2011
Matt Love writes an enjoyable personal narrative about teaching and being the caretaker of a wildlife refuge on the Oregon coast. He imagines quitting his teaching career to live a writing life. I found his writing to be immature at times, but I did find the book engaging nonetheless. I especially appreciated his descriptions of his life on the refuge, as well as his adventures as a teacher at a private school. I do think this book is valuable beyond just being a local writer. I think teachers might find his ideas interesting. I found his development and growth as a human being to be an absorbing part of the book, and the ending to be quite unexpected.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Border Songs
by
Jim Lynch
W S Krauss
, February 02, 2011
Humorous and witty, the story is centered around Brandon Vanderpoole, large and dyslexic, who becomes a border patrol agent. It shows how he affects those around him in the community in which he lives, the border towns of Washington state and British Columbia, Canada. The character of Brandon is finely crafted and Lynch's descriptions of the birds and natural areas of northern Washington are amazing.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(2 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
The Girl Who Fell From the Sky
by
Heidi W. Durrow
W S Krauss
, November 30, 2010
This is the story of Rachel, who survived a family tragedy, and went to live in Portland, Oregon with her African-American grandmother. The truth of the event that changed her life slowly unfolds, as each character reveals their own story. Many issues are tackled in this book, race, family, protecting one's children and death. Although I was a little disappointed in the abrupt ending, the story has stuck with me and I won't soon forget it. There are some very moving and disturbing images created within these pages.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(5 of 10 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Tinkers
by
Harding, Paul
W S Krauss
, July 04, 2010
I liked this book and thought the writing was lovely. I don't know why it received a Pulitzer Prize. The descriptions of nature were beautiful and there were interesting ideas about clocks. For example, the idea that a clock is like the universe (read the book to find out why). There were many details about clock mechanisms and clock repair. We learn about a man, George, on his deathbed reliving parts of his life, and his father's life as well, from his memories. He tries to put the pieces of his life back together before his death. It was a pleasant read, but not astounding.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(10 of 22 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Those Who Save Us
by
Jenna Blum
W S Krauss
, May 13, 2010
This is the story of Anna and her daughter Trudy. Anna is trying to forget her past life in Germany during WWII. Trudy is trying to remember and understand what happened when she was a little girl. The book alternates between Anna's experience as a young adult in Weimar, Germany, and Trudy's present life as a history professor as she embarks on a research project in which she interviews Germans about their experiences during the war. As she uncovers the truth about her and Anna's past, Trudy stuggles to understand how rememberance can profoundly affect people's lives. This is an excellent book and a very moving story.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(7 of 14 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment