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Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
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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...
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Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
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Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
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Customer Comments
Bookwomyn has commented on (140) products
When You Are Engulfed in Flames
by
David Sedaris
Bookwomyn
, June 03, 2018
David Sedaris’ new book, “Calypso” brought to mind his “When You are Engulfed in Flames” for me. I remembered laughing until my stomach hurt at some of his essays - especially the cough drop on the plane. So, I found a copy and started reading it again last night. I kept thinking “I have to get to sleep!” But then I’d read one more chapter. I did this until I was bleary-eyed and my stomach was aching. Now I realize that some of his memories are not for everyone (the one about autopsies for example) but there is something for everyone. There’s even a chapter devoted to an old neighbor that will bring you to tears. I belong to a group of senior women who meet weekly to chat and read to each other bits and bobs from books we like. I intend to read some of this book and Calypso when it’s my turn. Thank you David for sharing your life with us!
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84 Charing Cross Road
by
Helen Hanff
Bookwomyn
, March 04, 2018
I read this book many years ago and recently revisited it. The second time around (or third or fourth) it was just as sweet as the first. It reminded me in a way of the pen pal relationship I have had with a Portuguese friend. We started writing when he was 16 and I was 14 as a school project. Here it is 62 years later and we are still writing albeit now via email. There is something special and precious about writing letters and that is the format of this book. Easy to see how such a relationship can develop and sad that our practice of writing letters has so declined. We used to rush to the mailbox to see who wrote to us, now we loathe to open the box because it only contains bills and circulars (mostly). And even the bills seem to come via email now or are charged directly to our credit card or checking account - untouched by human hands. Write a letter to someone you care about - surprise them when they open their mailbox and find a little missive from YOU!
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Anything Is Possible
by
Elizabeth Strout
Bookwomyn
, May 15, 2017
What fun! I loved "Olive" and "Lucy" and now here's a brand new, shiny Strout book for me to enjoy. I only let myself read this at bedtime so that I can have this lovely companion around for a while. It's gentle but emotional and harkens back to gentler times while being very contemporary. The synopsises say all you need to know - from me all you need to know is that it's a wonderful book and will not disappoint. If you choose the audio version you also get a wonderful narrator.
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The Last Painting of Sara De Vos
by
Dominic Smith
Bookwomyn
, May 13, 2017
What an unusual book! I thourughly enjoyed learning something about art while acompanying these people on their journey. It's part love story, part mystery, part tragedy. It is set in three different times and countries. Each person has their own story to tell and the author weaves their lives seamlessly. Read the reviews then enjoy the book!
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Edgar & Lucy
by
Victor Lodato
Bookwomyn
, April 27, 2017
It would never have occurred to me that I'd love a book written from the viewpoint of an 8 year old boy. But love it I did. Edgar and Lucy is sweet, terrifying, sad and happy at the same time. Edgar is a boy on the spectrum, who adores his grandmother, is in turn adored by her and his mother, who succumbs to 'stranger danger.' The struggle to get home and survive the trauma is written without gore or physical trauma but reading between the lines is horrifying. If that all sounds awful to you believe me - while it is, it isn't also. It's a wonderful book.
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Aquarium
by
Vann, David
Bookwomyn
, April 14, 2015
Ugh ... such unpleasantness. For me, the book started out well - I was interested so kept reading but had to stop because of the turn the book took. Sorry dear author - I read for pleasure and choose not to let my eyes and brain dwell on the words you wrote.
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Constellation of Vital Phenomena
by
Anthony Marra
Bookwomyn
, February 21, 2015
Once in a while one comes across a book so wonderful that one is saddened by turning the last page. So it was for me with "A Constellation of Vital Phenomena." I did not allow myself to read this book during the day so that I would hop into bed early in anticipation of another hour - or more - with the people in the story. While the setting does not seem to be one that anyone would want to visit, the story is so compelling and the lives lived so vivid that the reader feels she is a kindly aunt or grandmother sitting beside the characters as they tell of their hardships. I wanted to hold and comfort them and make it alright. Of course these stories were lived by so many in so many countries that I weep just thinking about them. We are so blessed to live in a peaceful country - untouched in our times by war and true hardship -the very least we can do is to try to understand what it must be like for those who have lived in a war-torn country and reading this book has helped me do that. Thank you Mr. Marra.
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Nora Webster
by
Colm Toibin
Bookwomyn
, December 02, 2014
Just in time for holiday giving - a new book from Colm Toibin! I know I'd be happy to find among my gifts - except I already have it and have read it. Although - it's good enough to read twice. Buy one for yourself while you're at it. You'll want to loan it to family and friends. If you have not read Toibin yet you are in for a treat. "Brooklyn" is a good one too!
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Man Called Ove
by
Fredrik Backman
Bookwomyn
, October 07, 2014
I totally agree with the other reviewer's comments and pray that Mr. Backman writes many more books. I so enjoyed the book that I will be giving it to unsuspecting people for Christmas and other occasions. The story is so simple, sweet and charming ... I cried one moment, scolded him another for being such a scrooge and totally loved him the next. I hope that the book was based on a character that the author knew and wish that I could have known this person as well. I can't imagine that such a person could have been dreamed up!
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Dismal Science
by
Peter Mountford
Bookwomyn
, March 20, 2014
Excellent! A very different plot! (And a nice change from murder mysteries.) A peek into the workings of the World Bank. A realistic peek into the mind of a man who faces huge changes in his life because of a snap decision. Lessons to be learned!
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Goldfinch
by
Donna Tartt
Bookwomyn
, January 09, 2014
What an amazing book! I resisted starting this book because as a 'woman of a certain age,' what interest could a young boy's tale be to me? Wow was I wrong. My interest was peaked from the first page. I loved Tartt's "The Secret History" and the reviews of this new book were favorable so I thought I should at least try it. I am so very glad that I did. Highly recommended.
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Sense of an Ending
by
Julian Barnes
Bookwomyn
, January 05, 2013
Previous review: I found "The Sense of an Ending" to be of particular interest because I think that as we age, we all have some regrets about things we failed to do. This book offers wisdom about how one can avoid those lost opportunities - and how the life lived in a safe little cocoon is not always the most rewarding. Life is to be lived! Fully. At the top of your lungs! Dance til your feet fall off. Ah well ... at least live each day as if it were your last because sometimes it is.
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Panther
by
Nelson Demille
Bookwomyn
, January 01, 2013
I gave up mid-way & read the last chapter. Can honestly say I don't think I missed a thing. DeMille's books were good when he first started being published but are now, so it seems to me, paid by the word. They just go on and on and don't say a thing. I don't think I'll bother with any more of his novels.
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Buddy How a Rooster Made Me a Family Man
by
Brian Mcgrory
Bookwomyn
, December 12, 2012
As a person who appreciates chickens and a former chicken 'mom' I was curious about this book. The only rooster I had taught me to walk carefully and carry a big broom. It's a fast read and one which gives a good chuckle from page to page. Very cute. Literary masterpiece? No. But I liked it.
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Game Change Obama & the Clintons McCain & Palin & the Race of a Lifetime
by
John Heilemann
Bookwomyn
, October 07, 2012
I wasn't going to read this book because I am too prejudice against republicans but ... BUT ... it was very interesting. Back stories of the 2008 election - made even more interesting because we are at it again with the 2012 elections. I hope this one ends up the same way as 2008 & that the author writes a book about this one. I think that would be just as interesting as Game Change.
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This Is How It Ends A Novel
by
Kathleen Macmahon
Bookwomyn
, October 07, 2012
I read a review of this book and thought it looked good. It was! A 50 year old man loses his job just ahead of the 2008 elections. He decides it is time to search for his roots in Ireland. He meets some of his cousins and falls in love with one (distant). I won't tell you how it ends. Their love story is at the heart of the book & it is charming. This is not a heavy duty read but it is most enjoyable.
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Hypnotists Love Story
by
Liane Moriarty
Bookwomyn
, August 04, 2012
This is my kind of book. From page one I was interested and made excuses to sit down and read far too often. Moriarty's prose is uncomplicated and the story is *very* different. She's Australian - which was interesting for me. Not many Australian authors have best selling books so I figured she must be something special. She is. It is the first book of hers that I've read but I'll remedy that soon. Highly recommended.
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Then Came You
by
Jennifer Weiner
Bookwomyn
, August 04, 2012
I enjoy Weiner's books. She writes of contemporary problems and gives the reader insight into the crux of the issues. This book is kept interesting as the stories are told from different women's lives. The characters are believable and even though Weiner writes "chick lit" - her books are a notch above. Perfect for a light, summer read.
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Newlyweds
by
Nell Freudenberger
Bookwomyn
, July 20, 2012
What a great book!! It seems a little ordinary at the start and then things start to happen which are not at all ordinary. Some reviews say it is too predictable but I found that the novel unfolded just right. Who are we to pick apart an author's interpretation of a new immigrant trying to assimilate into our culture? It was a peek into the problems that all immigrants face and the family dynamics of welcoming someone from another culture into the group. Highly recommended.
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Red House
by
Mark Haddon
Bookwomyn
, July 20, 2012
This is very different from my usual fare. At first I though ... eh ... will probably not finish it. However, I could not stop reading it. Told from the pov of all the different members of a family, it is so intimate that one feels as if one is violating the person's private life - and you are. Still, Haddon is spot-on with how each of the people would feel in the circumstances. Highly recommended.
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Heading Out to Wonderful
by
Robert Goolrick
Bookwomyn
, July 02, 2012
I was so touched by the characters in this book. Goolrick paints them all in a sympathetic light. One wants for these good people to live happily ever after and yet things don't always turn out that way. There is little about 'Charlie' before he shows up in town and becomes part of it. His gentle ways and good deeds win a good opinion of him by the townspeople. Of course something happens to change that. His struggle and the struggles of those around him - those who hold him dear is heartbreaking. I liked this book a lot and have recommended it to friends and family already.
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Expats
by
Chris Pavone
Bookwomyn
, May 28, 2012
I would not rate this book quite as high as the other reviewers did only because it needed a really good editor which is interesting because Pavone is a book editor. The story itself is good and certainly different than most of what is on the market currently. I found it interesting that Patricia Cornwall did a jacket blurb for the book because some of Pavone's writing that I found exasperating is very similar to Cornwall's. Many times there are strings of repetitive actions which don't contribute to the story at all and just get annoying after a while. But, that said, it's worth your time and a nice way to spend a quiet afternoon on the beach. I certainly would not compare this author to LaCarre!
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By Blood
by
Ellen Ullman
Bookwomyn
, May 14, 2012
This is the second book I've read recently which has someone listening in to a psychiatrist while she listens to her patients (both were women). In "By Blood" this situation is THE main event and then some. The listener proceeds to 'help' the patient and become quite paranoid about her. [The other book "Blue Monday" has a listener also but he does not get as involved with the patient.] "By Blood" kept me interested to the end although I found some of the novel to be repetitive and feel it could have been edited better. I didn't like or sympathize with the protagonist but could not stop reading - had to find out how it ended.
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Blue Monday
by
Nicci French
Bookwomyn
, May 14, 2012
I'm looking forward to more from the team of Nicci and French. Their voice is the same. Perhaps someone else could tell when one stops and the other begins but I cannot. Who cares? I just enjoyed the book immensely. It is one of those books that makes you stay up too late at night because you cannot stop reading. There are lots of characters but the most important is Frieda and she's compelling. If you like mysteries with a psychological twist, this is the book for you.
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Drift the Unmooring of American Military Power
by
Rachel Maddow
Bookwomyn
, May 09, 2012
I am not a political junkie but feel one should have a certain amount of interest in what's going on in the world. To that end I watch Rachel (and others) and read blogs, papers, magazines like The Economist and several websites just to keep up. Nowhere else have I read about the topics that Rachel raises in this book. She has done an enormous amount of research and put it together in a way that allows non-mensa people such as myself - to truly understand what is happening (and happened in the past) in our country. It's shocking and informative and I think every person from high-school kids up should read this book. I can't wait for her next one - and bet there will be one. Maddow is without a doubt one of the most important political analysts we have today. I would wish that she'd run for congress but to place her in the room with all those other not-so-smart people would be unfair to her.
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1Q84
by
Haruki Murakami, Jay Rubin, Philip Gabriel
Bookwomyn
, March 04, 2012
Murakami is an amazing and totally unique author (and thinker). Who besides he could have thought up such a totally different story, such brilliant characters, and then been able to spin the web in a way that makes one want to do nothing for days but to read this wonderful book?
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Available Man
by
Hilma Wolitzer
Bookwomyn
, February 07, 2012
What an enjoyable read! As a woman 'of a certain age' who did her share of dating after being widowed, many of the situations in this book strike a chord. Edward is such a likable character and the women in his life know it. I started this book on a lazy morning and didn't stop reading til I finished. It's a lovely companion for a rainy day - or a plane ride - or bedtime read.
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Imperfectionists
by
Tom Rachman
Bookwomyn
, January 30, 2012
It took me a couple of chapters to realize how much I was enjoying this book. It was a different subject ... no murders or other drama messing up the pages - just little vignettes of people's lives and interesting people they are. I love when I find a book that is totally off the 'norm.' And I loved this book.
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Boy in the Suitcase
by
Lene Kaaberbol, Agnete Friis
Bookwomyn
, January 08, 2012
Wow! This is one of those books that makes you put down all of your chores, eat peanut butter sandwiches instead of roasting that chicken - and read late into the night. The book grabs your attention from the first few pages. There's no doubt, these authors are great - I'll look forward to many more good books from them. Fans of Steig Larsson - check it out. It's a gripping story - well told.
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The Marriage Plot: A Novel
by
Jeffrey Eugenides
Bookwomyn
, January 08, 2012
I could not get excited about this book. I did finish it but it got tiresome about mid-way and so it was a struggle to do so. I think the author put way too much stuff in the book about being bi-polar. It was almost a textbook about the illness. I'm sympathetic tho those with the illness and hate that mental illness has so much stigma attached to it however I read for fun and didn't find much of that in this book.
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Death Comes to Pemberley
by
P. D. James
Bookwomyn
, January 08, 2012
I didn't love it but it was a fun twist on Austen's P & P. I've read James for years but feel her last few books have missed the mark. What a shame. But she's had an amazing run. I read her old stuff all the time.
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Boomerang Travels in the New Third World
by
Lewis, Michael
Bookwomyn
, January 08, 2012
Another very readable book by Lewis. He has a knack for making even the most complex information understandable to 'average' humans. Although I am a news junkie and have read a lot about the European and US financial mess, I learned a few things from this book. It's a quick read and I think everyone should do what they can to understand what is going on in the world. It's a mess - that's for sure. Scary!
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Sense of an Ending
by
Julian Barnes
Bookwomyn
, January 01, 2012
I found "The Sense of an Ending" to be of particular interest because I think that as we age, we all have some regrets about things we failed to do. This book offers wisdom about how one can avoid those lost opportunities - and how the life lived in a safe little cocoon is not always the most rewarding. Life is to be lived! Fully. At the top of your lungs! Dance til your feet fall off. Ah well ... at least live each day as if it were your last because sometimes it is.
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Buddha in the Attic
by
Julie Otsuka
Bookwomyn
, October 18, 2011
I finished the book only because it is very short. I was running out of patience after the first few chapters ... kept waiting to feel engaged with the story/characters. It is a sad part of our history - an important, shameful part but I did not like the writing style. I dislike rhetorical questions in literature and this author would string 10-20 together at a time. It was probably just me or my mood today but I cannot recommend this book. I'm sure there are better books about the topic.
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Absolute Monarchs A History of the Papacy
by
John Julius Norwich
Bookwomyn
, July 11, 2011
I think this is a 'must read' for all who have any interest or affiliation with the Catholic church. As a 'collapsed' catholic myself, I got this book to try and understand why the Church does some of the things it has done - in my lifetime. Reading about the men who have formed the faith is revealing and enlightening. It's not a fun book to read but compelling. Norwich has done an outstanding job of research and his book is going to be widely read and held by many as an important history of the church.
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Tigerlilys Orchids
by
Ruth Rendell
Bookwomyn
, July 11, 2011
I was so thrilled to find a new Rendell book. I rushed out and bought a copy and devoured it this weekend. I will say it is up to her standard. Her prose as usual is perfect. The characters are 'real' and the story is creepy. I'm glad I don't live in that house! So, I've gobbled up her latest . . . guess I'll go find some of her old books and reread them. I never tire of Rendell.
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Stretching Lessons
by
Sue Bender
Bookwomyn
, July 11, 2011
I have returned to this book many times over the last few years. It helps me focus on what is important and what I can let go of. It's a fast read but filled with practical information for people of all ages. Sometimes one only needs to read a chapter. Open the book and read a few pages ... there is something to take away in every page. I'm older and life has changed in the last several years - the physical limitations of aging, the loss of friends due to death, the shrinking world of availabilities. These challenges which help one focus on the near and dears and one's own self. I highly recommend for those who just need a lesson in how to live a more authentic life.
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Upright Piano Player
by
David Abbott
Bookwomyn
, July 06, 2011
I'm so glad I happened on this book. It's not a 'best seller' so not on the lists that you see in the papers - but it should be. In the beginning - a horrible accident. In the middle, random acts of violence along with normal life of a retired British businessman. And the end ...well, read it for yourself. It is worth the effort. It's not a big book but it's a very good one. I hope this new author has many more good novels in him.
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Cutting for Stone
by
Abraham Verghese
Bookwomyn
, June 29, 2011
"Cutting for Stone" will be among my top favorite books for this year. It should be listed as a 'modern classic.' I purchased this book for my daughter - who loved it as well and passed it on to friends who agreed with our review. I also bought copies for a couple of friends when they could not find it in their libraries yet. Buy this book! Read it!! It's wonderful.
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Gift of Rain
by
Tan Twan Eng
Bookwomyn
, February 18, 2011
I second all the great reviews of this book. It is simply wonderful. I was sucked into the story from page one and was never bored with the story or tempted to quit reading it. I am easily distracted if a book is not great and don't bother with books that are just so-so. There are too many truly good ones - why waste the time and effort? It's not a premise that I would have thought would entice me but it certainly did. My adult daughter and a friend also read and loved the book.
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Swan Thieves
by
Elizabeth Kostova
Bookwomyn
, January 01, 2011
I already reviewed the book - but must comment here in order to nominate.
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Jan Karon's Mitford Cookbook and Kitchen Reader: Recipes from Mitford Cooks, Favorite Tales from Mitford Books
by
Jan Karon
Bookwomyn
, December 04, 2010
What fun to visit with friends from Jan Karon's books and cook up the yummy recipes she has mentioned along the way. I can't wait to make the orange marmalade cake for one! In between recipes of real old fashioned comfort food are little vignettes of the Mitford family and friends. This would be a sweet gift for your friends who enjoy cookbooks with a twist.
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In the Company of Others
by
Jan Karon
Bookwomyn
, December 04, 2010
I had not read any of Jan Karon's books about Father Tim for a long time. I happened to notice this one and read it with delight. I felt as if I was reuniting with old friends ... his wife, his adopted son and all of the familiar family that he has gathered around him. PLUS - a fine array of new friends in Ireland where he has taken his patient bride after many years of promises. It's a delightful little book - the perfect sort of book to read before sleep - guaranteed to NOT deliver nightmares. It's very sweet. I also noticed "The Mitford Cookbook and Reader" - and picked it up. I can't wait to try some of the comfort food recipes.
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Lets Take the Long Way Home A Memoir of Friendship
by
Gail Caldwell
Bookwomyn
, December 04, 2010
If you are lucky, you have a best friend. If you have a best friend (or had one at one time) this little book will bring back sweet memories of the relationship. Gail writes of her friendship with Caroline Knapp - her best friend. It takes a lot of courage to open up and bare one's soul to another - but it's necessary if one is to cultivate a close relationship. Having a best friend is more intimate than marriage I think - but just as rewarding. A best friend can help you through all sorts of trauma - but when your best friend dies, a part of you dies also. Gail's best friend does die and her book is part of the grieving process. It's a wonderful, touching story - one that you will not soon forget.
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Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk A Modest Bestiary
by
David Sedaris
Bookwomyn
, November 20, 2010
If one could look inside David Sedaris' brain we would find the most amazing landscape ever seen! In his new book "Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk" he takes us on a wild ride of imagination ... peeking into the rectum of a hippo or attending AA meetings with cats and a naked mink. How does he think up these things? Sedaris is a national treasure and I adore him.
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Great House
by
Nicole Krauss
Bookwomyn
, November 15, 2010
I loved Krauss' books "The History of Love" & "A Man Walks into a Room" - and her latest does not disappoint. Krauss is a preeminent storyteller. Her plots are intricate, the characters fully formed and the pace of the story unrelenting. The editor does a great job here as well - although I suspect s/he doesn't have much work to do on a novel by Krauss. She's a superb author and I look forward to many more books from her in the future.
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Charming Quirks of Others
by
Alexander McCall Smith, Alexander McCall Smith
Bookwomyn
, November 15, 2010
Isabel Dalhousie is my favorite character created by McCall Smith. She's smart and independent - a woman who has a much younger man in her life (and a son by him) and also does investigative work on the side. She's an editor of an ethics magazine and applies ethical solutions to every day problems. Others may prefer the series about the African female detective (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency)but I enjoy the Philosophy stories too. These gentle stories contain no violence, profanity, murders or other unpleasantness. They're refreshing and sweet. Ok so he's not the world's best author but his stories make for a pleasant Sunday afternoon session on the couch with your dog and a cozy blanket. At least they don't give you nightmares!
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Katie Up & Down the Hall
by
Glenn Plaskin
Bookwomyn
, November 13, 2010
I love books about dogs and their people. This one misses the mark for me though. It is mostly about the author - and his celebrity interviews. He is a terrible name-dropper - his claim to fame I guess. The parts about the dog can be charming. Katie was a remarkable girl in many ways. It was upsetting to me that he confessed to posing as a deaf person - bringing his 'hearing dog' on airplanes. Those who abuse the ADA are reprehensible.
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Being Martha: The Inside Story of Martha Stewart and Her Amazing Life
by
Allen, Lloyd
Bookwomyn
, October 29, 2010
The author starts this book by saying he wrote it because people were saying such bad things about Martha and he wanted to set things straight - to tell the world that she is not 'that bad.' Then he proceeds to go on and on about how smart, beautiful, energetic and perfect she is to the point that one thinks she must be closely related to God. But then he shows a little passive-aggressive side - even using the 'B' word that has so frequently been associated with her. He confirms that she's a perfectionist, has a bad temper, frequently loses her temper and berates employees. It's kind of interesting to see that aspect evolve. I got the book because I was genuinely interested in the woman but I'm not sure this book tells the truth. One cannot deny that she is a smart and successful business woman. Certainly she also has courage - to go to jail and make friends with the inmates and then come out and begin her life anew. I think I will search for another biography - and hopefully she'll write her autobiography one day so we can get her side. Perhaps we can find a middle ground between the good and bad that has been written about her. Even though he doesn't say so, one suspects this author has a little ax to grind with Martha. She apparently agreed to work with him at first and then withdrew. Interesting as some of the book is, I don't know what to believe. And I don't really care all that much.
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Oprah A Biography
by
Kitty Kelley
Bookwomyn
, October 10, 2010
I am not an Oprah fan ... I will state that up front. But - I happened to see this book on my library's e-audiobook page so, a little curious, I downloaded it. I would have been embarrassed to order the print version or the CD audiobook lest the library workers think badly of me. Well - I was not able to listen to much of it - not only because of the 'dirt' that Ms. Kelly dishes out but because she chose to read the book herself rather than pay a professional reader. She does a horrible job - part of the time she sounds as if she has a mouthful of mush - she is unable to articulate clearly - and often places the periods (spoken) in the middle of sentences which makes it very hard to follow. Also, I was offended because she chose to use 'transvestite' rather than the proper term 'transgender' in reference to the person who won an 'Oprah look-alike contest.' Shame on you, Kitty. I won't ever pick up another of your books.
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Freedom
by
Jonathan Franzen
Bookwomyn
, September 27, 2010
A lot has been written about the characters in this book not being 'likable' and for sure they have their individual problems but on the whole I thought they were just fine. People are not perfect. Even the most 'perfect' seeming person has something unlikable about them - or a secret that would make others think twice about their opinion of the person. I like Franzen because he does not follow a formula like so many popular novelists do - nor does he write for the public. I feel he develops the character as it reveals himself or herself to him. Characters take on a persona that the writer does not necessarily invent or foresee. Franzen is an intelligent writer - one who is popular despite this rather than because of it. One must pay attention to the novel - listen to the unspoken message as each person is introduced and as that person grows, ages and changes. I'd say it's a dynamite novel and one which deserves a second look. Also, salon.com has an interesting discussion about the book in their Book Club. Do read "Freedom" - not because it's a best seller ... but in spite of the fact that it is. Books on the best seller lists are not necessarily 'good' - they're there because the author is popular, they've been well publicized or are on Oprah's list (yeah, I know this one is also). But the point is - just because a book is on lists does not make it a good book. A lot of good books never make it to any list. In this case, a good book is also a best seller.
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Lovers
by
Vendela Vida
Bookwomyn
, August 17, 2010
I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked the premise - the writing is okay - but(SPOILER) the relationship with the little boy and the angst that she felt about his death did not seem to me to fit the story. There are those who will argue the point but it seemed contrived. The ending was rushed and not explored fully. The reunion with the daughter was deserving of a chapter - it was an important event. The daughter's miraculous 'cure' was not totally believable. But - on the whole I rather enjoyed the book. It is what the author meant it to be - who am I to say otherwise?
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Invisible Bridge
by
Julie Orringer
Bookwomyn
, June 27, 2010
I enjoyed this book more than any other that I've read recently. The innocent favor asked - the poor Jewish boy - the love interest - the times - all mix together and create a fascinating book. I really loved it.
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Beautiful Blue Death
by
Charles Finch
Bookwomyn
, June 25, 2010
The detective in this book is along the lines of a Sherlock Holmes without all the hoopla. I enjoyed the book a lot. It's perfect for a bedtime book ... nothing to get one too upset or even too enthralled so as to spoil the sleep but interesting enough to keep a person reading til the eyes grow heavy. I liked it.
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Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder
by
Rebecca Wells
Bookwomyn
, May 27, 2010
Just could not get into this book. It's probably all my fault. My daughter (adult) liked it a lot.
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Help
by
Kathryn Stockett
Bookwomyn
, May 27, 2010
I resisted reading this book but people kept telling me to do so I finally gave in and am very glad that I did. While it is a shamefully true rendering of the south in the 60's (and in many cases still true in many homes) it is also a tale of courage. It's hard to believe that as recently as the 60's hateful employers such as these were common. We can pat ourselves on the back and remark "how far we've come" but the truth of it is that there are still black people (as well as others) all over the world who are serving white people and being treated as less than human. It makes me angry - and not just a little sick. Getting the message out - exposing the wrongs in the world in how we treat our fellow humans ... is a good thing. Perhaps some will read this and make a change in how they think and act ... or can convince a parent or other that their exploitation of people is wrong. I pray for a world that is a mixture of colors - so that black and white don't exist anymore - just shades of brown. Perhaps then we can do the back patting.
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The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest
by
Stieg Larsson and Reg Keeland
Bookwomyn
, May 26, 2010
I hope that the legal battle between Larsson's brother and father and his former partner gets resolved so that we can have access to the book that's still on his laptop. What a shame that families have to fight and destroy each other this way. It's the "you always hurt the one you love" syndrome I guess. Or something. It's a good lesson to us all to get our wills and wishes in order - one is never sure when death will come. I liked the end of the trilogy - will probably go back and read them all again. I don't usually enjoy reading books about such violence but accept that violence is a part of our modern world. I do like that there is some revenge - and justice. I saw the first movie and am anxiously awaiting the second and third. I think the actress is perfect for Lisander - she fits the image I had of her. This is intelligent writing - from a man who many said was not a good writer - that he was a better reporter than writer. Well - I guess he showed them, eh?
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Man From Beijing
by
Henning Mankell
Bookwomyn
, March 09, 2010
I love Mankell's writing and was excited to start reading his new book. Unfortunately, for me, without Wallander in charge to manage the process and tie all the loose ends of a mystery together, the story was overly complicated for the genre. This one has too many characters, too many deaths, too many suspects, too many locations, no strong central protagonist and no real purpose. In all fairness to Mankell, the book is well written, the prose exemplary and the plot compelling. It could have been pared down or even made into two or three books but I'm not Mankell so he can do it his way. I should not diss him just because he did not put my favorite policeman in charge of this one. I'm still a fan. And I applaud him for creating a strong woman sleuth.
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Three Weissmanns of Westport
by
Cathleen Schine
Bookwomyn
, February 18, 2010
I love this book! Divorce amongst the elderly ... family issues, problem adult 'children' - wicked 'other woman' ... what's not to love? As reviewers have mentioned it is akin to Austen's "Sense and Sensibility" - but in the 21st century. It's a great book! It's a follow up to "The New Yorkers" which was very good also.
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Waters Edge
by
Karin Fossum
Bookwomyn
, February 18, 2010
I am a great fan of Steig Larsson's work and this book was touted as being like his books. So, I happily chose it for a long weekend read. I did enjoy it - not quite as much as Larsson's stuff - but since he's dead now and not able to give us any more "The Girl Who" books, I'll settle for some from Fossum. The story was just a tad disjointed I thought - and I did not develop as close a connection to the police involved, but that said, I liked the book just fine.
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Bloodroot
by
Amy Greene
Bookwomyn
, February 18, 2010
The story is certainly different yet all too familiar - domestic abuse, child neglect, etc. But it's an interesting read - spinning a tale of a family's drama as told by six people. The author does a good job using local dialect of the Appalachian Region - something that would normally turn me off but it seems necessary in this book. The reader of the audio book (if you choose that format) is very good.
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Unnamed
by
Joshua Ferris
Bookwomyn
, February 08, 2010
I could not get 'into' this book at all though I did try several times.
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Swan Thieves
by
Elizabeth Kostova
Bookwomyn
, January 20, 2010
I agree with the other reviewer. I loved "The Historian" and one would think that it would be hard to top it but she's done it again. The author weaves the different points of view between the characters flawlessly - providing the reader with insights that would not be possible if their individual stories came from another person. This fine author has just started and has an amazing talent - she'll be back and it looks as if her books will just get better and better.
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Old Filth
by
Gardam, Jane
Bookwomyn
, January 01, 2010
I already reviewed this book but apparently must say something else in order to nominate it for 2010 Puddly Awards. This was a great book - undiscovered by many but those who did read it loved it. Her latest book "The Man in the Wooden Hat" (a prequel to "Old Filth" is just as wonderful.
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Lost Symbol
by
Dan Brown
Bookwomyn
, October 30, 2009
Bleah.
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Somewhere Towards the End
by
Diana Athill
Bookwomyn
, April 29, 2009
I enjoyed this book a bit more than than the first reviewer but perhaps that is because I am also a woman 'of a certain age.' I'm not quite as old as the author but found her experiences in the aging process and the losses which follow to be poignant. She, not surprisingly, is a good writer and the spare prose is welcome when compared to some modern writers who tend to go on and on. I liked it.
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Among The Mad Maisie Dobbs
by
Jacqueline Winspear
Bookwomyn
, April 13, 2009
Winspear delivers again. The Maisie books are wonderful and I enjoyed this one very much. Far from simplistic, as could be the case with books which follow one after the other based on the same character, this protaganist has intelligence, depth and personality.
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Floor Of The Sky
by
Pamela Carter Joern
Bookwomyn
, April 13, 2009
I agree with the other reviewer ... this book was wonderful. I so appreciate intelligent writers and Joern has done a great job of telling an inter-generational story with all the angst, joy and love that abounds in families.
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Birthday Present
by
Ruth Rendell, Barbara Vine
Bookwomyn
, April 13, 2009
I think when Ruth Rendell writes as Barbara Vine that her books are better! This book was very riviting ... lots of intrigue, insider views of British politics, class issues and human frailty. Mystery readers will love this book.
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Still Alice
by
Lisa Genova
Bookwomyn
, February 16, 2009
I listened to the audio version of this book which may have been my mistake. It was the author's mistake to read the book herself instead of paying a professional reader to do so. Her reading 'performance' is not up to what readers expect from an audiobook. The story - is fiction (not true as the other reviewer seems to think as she describes the author as the 'victim') but compelling. Alzheimer's is a dreadful diagnosis to receive and the author has the credentials to make the fictional account believable.
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Northern Clemency
by
Philip Hensher
Bookwomyn
, February 10, 2009
It was a bit of a struggle for me to finish the book - bogged down a bit as the author changed from one time period to another but overall I liked it. The author sometimes let go with rambling sentences also which I had to read a time or two to keep straight but that's probably more the fault of my aging brain than his.
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A Treasury of Royal Scandals: The Shocking True Stories of History's Wickedest, Weirdest, Most Wanton Kings, Queens, Tsars, Popes, and Emperors
by
Michael Farquhar
Bookwomyn
, February 01, 2009
Indeed, some of the stories are sort of amusing and about scandals. However, more are about beheadings gone wrong, royalty rotting in prisons and being subjected to torture and humiliation. I could do without this book in a heartbeat - and did. I read a lot of the first half and then flipped thru the last half. What a relief to close the covers. It made me have bad dreams!
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Reservation Road
by
John Burnh Schwartz
Bookwomyn
, December 27, 2008
Sad, interesting, realistic. I can imagine such a sad accident happening and the people involved behaving as these people did. It's a no-win situation for everyone but a good study of human nature - especially when faced with 'Doing The Right Thing' or 'Ruining Your Own Life' ... Who knows what we would do if faced with the same dilemma.
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Book of Animal Ignorance Everything You Think You Know Is Wrong
by
John Lloyd
Bookwomyn
, December 20, 2008
I enjoyed reading the book - the author included some unknown (to me) animals which was also interesting. I did find though that it wasn't so much 'everything you know is wrong' as it was, a few facts that you didn't know about animals. Still, it was an enjoyable bedtime book - no sex, violence, murder, etc.
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Private Patient
by
P D James
Bookwomyn
, December 13, 2008
Inspector Dalgliesh is a favorite of mine and so I look forward to new books by P.D. James so that I can once again spend time with my old friend. Actually, he figures less in this book than in some past but he does give us 'quality time.' We spend a lot of time in the beginning of the book getting to know the victim . . . at least we think we know something of the victim ... til we learn that she's not the ONLY one who's going to suffer in this tale. It was a good read ... good for several nights of insomnia and then some.
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Good Thief
by
Hannah Tinti
Bookwomyn
, November 23, 2008
As they said, it's Dickensonian ... a poor boy, an orphanage, cold bed, little food, one hand missing ... and then his 'brother' comes along and 'saves' him. They join another fellow and do some unholy crimes but he experiences his first true kindness also. This is an enchanting book and is sure to become a classic.
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English Major
by
Jim Harrison
Bookwomyn
, November 23, 2008
It's funny to me how I, an older woman, enjoyed so much the tale of this poor fellow. I guess, in part, it's because he shares some of his insecurities, foibles, longings and regrets. Okay, so it's not a perfect book (as the other reviewer pointed out) but I really enjoyed reading it and have recommended it to some other people who are certain to enjoy it as well. Society is not very kind to its elders - thinking them to be uninteresting ... boring ... and not worthy of consideration. This slim volumne celebrates the last chapter of life and leaves the reader feeling hopeful instead of depressed. I loved the book.
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Story of Edgar Sawtelle
by
David Wroblewski
Bookwomyn
, November 11, 2008
I truly loved this book. I was not expecting to love it so much - after all, it's the story of a young boy and dogs and I'm an older woman - BUT the book just grabs the reader and will not let her go. I would reach for it during the night when I had insomnia (big mistake as I stayed awake reading into the wee hours), take it with me to appointments, read at bedtime ... Why can't all books be this good? I felt so badly for Edgar ... what a hard life in so many ways but full of riches along the way.
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Indignation
by
Philip Roth
Bookwomyn
, November 03, 2008
I just finished this book also ... though I listened to the audio book from the library. I enjoyed it but the reader often shouted the text causing me to jump out of my boots sometimes. Really! There are other ways apart from shouting to convey emotions. Roth is reliable as an author and while I would not say this was his best book, it was good and presented emotions from a youth's pov which were compelling.
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America America
by
Robertson Dean
Bookwomyn
, September 27, 2008
What a wonderful, wonderful book and the audio version's reader, Robertson Dean, is perfect. It's especially interesting now because of the election and Ted Kennedy's illness. I loved this book.
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Silver Swan
by
Benjamin Black
Bookwomyn
, September 01, 2008
I loved this book! "Christine Falls" was great so I didn't hesitate to grab Banville's (Black's) new one. It's as good as "Christine Falls"- the gentle Quirke is very appealing as protagonist and the story is immediately compelling.
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Wednesday Sisters
by
Meg Waite Clayton
Bookwomyn
, August 31, 2008
I'd call "Wednesday Sisters" intelligent chick lit ... It has some bits of the ordinary and chick-lit-light but also enough depth of character development and inventive story-line to keep it readable.
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When You Are Engulfed In Flames
by
David Sedaris
Bookwomyn
, August 31, 2008
Sedairis does it again ... amusing how he can find humor in the most mundane things. Especially endearing to me was his less-than-successful attempt to learn Japanese as a stop-smoking strategy. He's perhaps the only person to have done so! I also loved his description of the Japanese electric toilet and the apartment's neighborhood. Can't wait for the next one ...
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Beach House
by
Jane Green
Bookwomyn
, August 25, 2008
I really, really wanted to like this book but could not. Maybe I'm just not that in to 'chick lit.'
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Hit & Run
by
Lawrence Block
Bookwomyn
, August 04, 2008
Not the sort of thing I usually read but good enough if you need a mindless time-waster ... like an airplane trip or even insomnia. It's sort of an amusing look at a paid killer's struggle to get from point A to point B after getting set up for a killing he didn't do. Lawrence Block writes readable stuff - not great literature but much better than much of what's on the Best Seller's List any given Sunday. I prefer his Burglar books but read this one anyway.
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Rain Before It Falls
by
Jonathan Coe
Bookwomyn
, July 09, 2008
I liked this book very much - looked forward to bedtime each evening so that I could read my chapters. It is written in a unique fashion and one needs to pay attention and remind one's self of who's who frequently - there are lots of characters and at least I had evenings when I had to page back to refresh myself on the relationships. Having said that though, it was a very good book. I like Coe and appreciate his work.
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Careless In Red
by
Elizabeth George
Bookwomyn
, July 04, 2008
I totally agree with the other reviewer ... this is not George at her best ... The best part of the Lynley/Havers partnership is the interactions between them - their relationship. This book has zilch of their charisma. And, having Lynley show up as a stinky bum in the beginning is totally unbelievable. Bleah. I wish she wouldn't bother if she's not going to write a better book than this.
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Little Heathens Hard Times & High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression
by
Mildred Arms Kalish
Bookwomyn
, June 08, 2008
My father grew up on a farm in Iowa - much like the one that Ms. Kalish recalls here from her childhood. I found the book very readable, and have made some of the recipes she includes in this slim volume. New York Times mentions it as one of the best books of 2007 and while I might not go quite that far I do heartily recommend it. For a depression era family one could never call these folks 'poor.' Now I know a bit more of what made my father such a unique and loving man - people who are surrounded by family, hard work, and a sense of belonging certainly do better when launched out into the wider world.
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Dog Days
by
Jon Katz
Bookwomyn
, June 08, 2008
I love dogs and have an affinity for farms and farm life so I thought I'd love this book. I didn't. Mr. Katz is way too self-absorbed for me and the book, to have any redeeming qualities, needed a very strong editor. It's repetitive and self-serving and good manners prevent me from saying more.
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Certain Girls
by
Jennifer Weiner
Bookwomyn
, June 07, 2008
Weiner's novels are not great literature but they always have a good message and are entertaining. This one will strike a chord with mothers and daughters alike. Ok so they are 'chick lit' but I don't mind a good dose of chick lit from time to time.
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Jane Austen in Boca
by
Paula Cohen
Bookwomyn
, June 07, 2008
This slim novel is perfect for lazy summer afternoon reading. Cohen is a gifted writer and it shows in how she weaves the interpersonal relationships of these elders living in a fancy retirement conclave in Florida. The new 'boomer fiction' novels appeal to a wide variety of people but especially to women 'of a certain age.' Since I am one of them ... I liked it.
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Year Of Fog
by
Michelle Richmond
Bookwomyn
, May 23, 2008
I really wanted to like this book as I live in SF and the story took place here but geesh ... it just went on and on. The story of a woman who has lost her fiance's little girl on a walk on the beach on a foggy SF day. Relationship struggles ensue, she hands out piles of flyers and in the process visits virtually every tourist spot, street, coffee shop, restaurant in San Francisco. All of the mentions are familiar to me as I live in the City but after a while it just seemed as if she was trying too hard to get all these spots into the book. The name of all these places had little to do with the story but she just kept on and on ad nauseam. The resolution to the story is not plausable either ... Had she concentrated on the plot a little more it might have been an enjoyable read.
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Tenderness Of Wolves
by
Stef Penney
Bookwomyn
, April 25, 2008
It didn't take me long to fully engage with this book. I love the relationships that develop as this community searches for a lost boy and a murder. The author is a master storyteller weaving back and forth between the past and present.
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Person Of Interest
by
Susan Choi
Bookwomyn
, April 03, 2008
One need not read the first fifty or hundred pages to get caught up in this book. It is so well written that by page two you don't want to put it down. Choi weaves lots of characters into the story to support the intriguing old math prof, Lee. They are all intertwined with the horrible bombing of Lee's next-door professor and there's enough intrigue to have made the front pages of the newpapers ... It's a really fine modern novel.
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Lonely Passion Of Judith Hearne
by
Brian Moore
Bookwomyn
, April 03, 2008
Oh dear ... what a sad, pitiful person is that lonely Miss Judith Hearne. She's lived her life for everyone except herself and trying desperately in her 'golden-ish' years to find a little happiness. Unfortunately, she seems to be surrounded by a bunch of other losers. Beautifully written ... tug-at-your-heartstrings sad.
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Sweet Shop Owner
by
Graham Swift
Bookwomyn
, March 29, 2008
Poor old Willy. Told in flashback - it's the story of a sad old soul. He had a self-absorbed wife who finally had the decency to die - leaving him with a brat of a daughter who, on this day in Willy's life, only wants her inheritance. She does not care for her father though he always longed for a real relationship with her. His employees are nothing special either though one woman would gladly 'adopt' him. (Spoiler alert) He finally just puts his life in order, gives his employees something extra in their pay envelopes and goes home to die. It's a sad book but also a peep inside the life of one (really many) old solitary man - and a very interesting one.
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Exit Ghost
by
Philip Roth
Bookwomyn
, January 31, 2008
I love Mr. Zuckerman ...and certainly hope there are many more volumes in his and my future. I wish I knew someone like him who was so tender and vulnerable ... with an intellect and soul. He's a mighty fine fellow and I love peeking into his life at regular intervals to see how he's doing. As a women it's also interesting to get a glimpse of a man's take on such things as declining health, incontinence and impotence. I'm familar with women's issues and men are not often as willing as Zuckerman to share the insults that illness and age carry with them. I trust Mr. Zuckerman to speak for those men who are silent on such matters and thank him for the insights. The book is a wonderful character study and highly readable.
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Austenland
by
Shannon Hale
Bookwomyn
, January 28, 2008
Ho hum. The idea appealed to me more than the actuality of this novel. The premise is rather fun - to have a holiday and return to the time period about which Jane Austen wrote so lovingly. The resultant slim volume though is one, which if I owned it, (I read the library copy) would be destined to the used book stalls or donated to the library's book sale box. It amused me for a few moments - c'est tout. I'd rather read about the period with Jane Austen as my guide.
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Free for All Oddballs Geeks & Gangstas in the Public Library
by
Don Borchert
Bookwomyn
, January 27, 2008
I agree with the librarian reviewer ... good but not great. I have a friend who is a librarian so also had some insights into the daily world of librarians so maybe I too am not the best reviewer for this book. However, it amused in the beginning and then flailed and failed to hold my interest. I never got around to doing a review, I guess because the book is not compelling and I tend to only review books that I do love - or at least finish. I hope though that it makes others aware of how put-upon our librarians are - with homeless and mentally ill seeking sanctuary in our libraries and parents dumping their children for 'free child care.' I think we ask way too much of our librarians and they graciously serve our communities in more ways than is intended. I'm a daily user of library services and applaud them heartily and those who work there.
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Our Lady of the Lost & Found A Novel of Mary Faith & Friendship
by
Diane Schoemperlen
Bookwomyn
, January 04, 2008
Someone gave me this book years ago - because I am catholic - and all I can remember of it is that I didn't finish it. Could not get into it at all. I guess I'm just not that into whimsy.
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Kennedys Brain
by
Henning Mankell
Bookwomyn
, January 03, 2008
Mankell's new book is very good - maybe not excellent but still worth reading. It is riviting, interesting and sad. One wishes the things in this book could not possibly be true but sadly it is very believable. Wallander is not present in Mankell's latest and one misses his presence but it's still a very good book and I recommend it highly.
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Meaning Of Night
by
Michael Cox
Bookwomyn
, December 10, 2007
Yahoo!!!!!!!! I love it when I discover (by virtue of a good book review!) a book that becomes my companion for days on end. I refused to let myself even look at other books whilst I had this one open. It grabbed my attention from the start and led me thru a complicated but thoroughly enjoyable adventure. I wish all books were as good as this one. Sadly we may never get another out of author Cox but if he does write one I'll certainly read it.
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Run
by
Ann Patchett
Bookwomyn
, November 28, 2007
It's no Bel Canto ... I wanted to love this book but it was not possible. Oh, there's a lot to love - Patchett could not write a book that wasn't at least a little lovable but this one misses the mark a bit. I thought my book was missing pages towards the end ... so much time had passed between the body of the work and the ending but apparently that's what she intended. Still ... it's a good book and she's a good author - certainly better than many who are steady visitors to the "Best Sellers Lists." One can hardly call them authors - they're machines who simply re-tool their work (Patterson, Steele, etal). Patchett is a good author and I look forward to her next book.
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Fair Game My Life as a Spy My Betrayal by the White House
by
Valerie Plame Wilson
Bookwomyn
, November 17, 2007
I rented this book from my library on CD and just wanted to warn readers to not buy the CD version. The publisher, in its 'wisdom,' chose to insert a very annoying audio "tone" at the interval in the book where the CIA censors removed text. It made it impossible for me to listen to the book. Now I'll go buy the print version from Powell's.
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Nature Girl
by
Carl Hiaasen
Bookwomyn
, November 08, 2007
Revenge against telemarketers! If you've ever been annoyed about being disturbed by a telemarketing call just as you're sitting down to dinner with your family then you MUST read this book. You'll get some ideas about how to 'get even' with them and have a great romp in the process. Hiaasen is always entertaining and "Nature Girl" is no exception - I laughed out loud more than once and thoroughly enjoyed this book. Read it and laugh yourself.
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The Custodian of Paradise
by
Johnston, Wayne
Bookwomyn
, September 23, 2007
This book is simply wonderful. Johnston has done it again - his prose grabs you from the first page and insists that you take a personal day from work, leave the dishes in the sink and the bed unmade while you read it from start to finish. The strong central character, Sheilagh, is a woman I'd love to know - I'd sit at her knee and sip her wisdom like a fine glass of wine. I'm already rereading passages and, of course, telling all my friends who read that this book needs to be on their list.
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Eat Pray Love One Womans Search for Everything Across Italy India & Indonesia
by
Elizabeth Gilbert
Bookwomyn
, August 23, 2007
I didn't seek out this book, it found me. Several friends kept telling me that I "had to read" it. So I did. I expected to read a few pages then donate it to another friend. Instead, it became my bedtime meditation - easing me into sleep when insomnia has been my closest friend. It teased me back into a meditation practice which I had overlooked for years. I got copies for friends and gave one to my daughter. It's not perfect but neither am I - and that's okay.
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Night Watch
by
Sarah Waters
Bookwomyn
, July 03, 2007
I have not cared much for her earlier work but I did very much enjoy this novel. While it takes a bit of concentration to keep everyone straight in the beginning, it's not a problem after mid-way. Each character becomes important to the reader and leaving one to attend to the other is a sad leave-taking. I highly recommend this book.
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Folded World
by
Amity Gaige
Bookwomyn
, July 03, 2007
This is a wonderful book, one which I will reread over the years or maybe even tomorrow. I'm buying another copy to give as a gift - which is what Gaige does for us everytime she pens a new novel. If you are looking for a different sort of book - certainly NOT 'formula' fiction then choose this one ... You will not regret it.
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Old Filth
by
Gardam, Jane
Bookwomyn
, June 25, 2007
What a wonderful book . . . intelligent, compelling story of an old lawyer mulling over his life and memories. It's funny and sad. Filth stands for "Failed in London, Try Hong Kong." Gardam is a unique author and she's done a bang-up job on this book.
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Animal Vegetable Miracle A Year of Food Life
by
Barbara Kingsolver
Bookwomyn
, June 09, 2007
Wonderful, wonderful. A friend gave me this book for my birthday knowing how much I love Kingsolver. I loved it and placed it carefully on my shelf next to her others to return to again one day like old friends. The part about turkey sex was hilarious - sad too though when you learn that none of the turkies that grace our tables these days can produce naturally. I wish I could return to the land the way Kingsolver and her family have done.
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History Of Love
by
Nicole Krauss
Bookwomyn
, June 09, 2007
This is one of my all-time favorite books and one which I will reread - which is a rare thing for me to do on purpose. I loved the characters and missed them when I had to park them on my bookshelf ... but I will revisit them again and await another book by Krauss.
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Truth & Consequences
by
Alison Lurie
Bookwomyn
, June 09, 2007
Oh, I don't think she's Jane Austin but she's a good writer and this book offers a realistic glimpse into a marriage and two lives. As a matter of fact, a friend is currently going through *some* of the issues Ms. Lurie wrote about (caregiving a husband with a bad back) and I suggested she read the book. It got a little tiresome towards the end but overall I enjoyed the book.
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Lost Constitution
by
William Martin
Bookwomyn
, June 02, 2007
This is sort of a "Da Vinci Code" for the constitution. It's a good mystery but also an interesting examination of our constitution. It hasn't gotten a lot of hype but I'll bet you word of mouth will kick this book up on the best seller's lists in the weeks ahead.
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Skin Tight
by
Carl Hiaasen
Bookwomyn
, May 11, 2007
A quick, fun read . . . perfect for packing in a briefcase for the commute, the airplane for a flight or the beach bag for ... well, a day at the beach. Lots of action, some fun and lots of humor. Hiaasen's books are always fun and "Skin Tight" is one of the funnest.
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Whole New Life
by
Betsy Thornton
Bookwomyn
, April 27, 2007
Very disjointed . . . I could not get into the book at all and gave up halfway through.
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Innocent In Death
by
Robb, J. D.
Bookwomyn
, April 27, 2007
The story is trite as usual - typical Robb. If you must read it because you really like Robb, don't buy the recorded version - the reader is awful ( she screams as a method to communicate a different 'voice').
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Where Have All The Leaders Gone
by
Lee Iacocca
Bookwomyn
, April 26, 2007
We should all read this book and take to heart the message that Iococca is delivering. I can't help but think that we'd have a more wonderful world if he had run for and been elected way back when. It would be a different world anyway and that would not necessarily have been bad. He's a thinking man, an intelligent one and a great leader . . . hmmm ... How old is he again? I guess *too* old but still ...
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Weatherman
by
Steve Thayer
Bookwomyn
, April 18, 2007
I liked this book a lot. I had seen it on the shelf but passed it by several times because I'm not all that interested in weather or weathermen. HOWEVER this is a really suspensful book and I enjoyed it and am recommending it to my suspense-loving friends.
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Weatherman
by
Steve Thayer
Bookwomyn
, April 15, 2007
Ok so it's not War and Peace but it's a very suspenseful novel and one that kept me up late at night, followed me like a dog during the day and put me in a state of ... um, peeking out of curtains before taking the actual dog for a walk. Whew!
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Fourth Sacrifice
by
Peter May
Bookwomyn
, April 05, 2007
Very intriguing story along with lots of insights into Chinese culture and criminal investigations. He's written other 'in China' books too so I'm looking forward to more of Peter May!
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Independence Day
by
Richard Ford
Bookwomyn
, March 04, 2007
I missed this book when it was first published but it's been on my reading list for years. I'm so glad I finally got it. It's amazing. The central character goes through a lot on an Independence Day weekend as he examines his own life as a middle-aged man and father. I can see why it won the Pulitzer Prize. It deserves a place on everyone's bookshelf and should be given to male family & friends as they mature - and women too.
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Mistlers Exit
by
Begley, Louis
Bookwomyn
, February 27, 2007
I really enjoyed this book. Begley is a good author and has told an interesting story using wonderful prose - it's a step above most modern popular fiction.That it takes place in Venice is an added bonus. I recommend it highly.
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Crimes of Jordan Wise
by
Bill Pronzini
Bookwomyn
, February 24, 2007
Not Pronzini's best but "The Crimes of Jordan Wise" is worth reading - if for no other reason than to enjoy an afternoon on the couch with a fire in the fireplace, a dog at your side and a cuppa close by. I picked up this book for a trip but made the mistake of reading the first few pages to make sure I'd like it. Now I have to get another book for the trip. It's a case of "watch out for the quiet ones!" as well as "Be careful what you wish for." Easy reading, not compelling but certainly better than a lot of stuff out there.
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Corpse In The Koryo
by
James Church
Bookwomyn
, February 08, 2007
A facinating peek into the world of North Korea! This book takes its reader on a journey to mysterious places, tosses in dangerous people, tasks its central character, Inspector O, with an impossible assignment and we get to come along for the ride. It left me breathless and wanting more from Church. He's lived in Korea so we're left wondering how much of this is fiction.
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Jar City
by
Arnaldur Indriðason
Bookwomyn
, January 30, 2007
I read this book because I happened to pick up "Silence of the Grave" (a sequel to "Jar City") and liked Arnaldur Indridason's writing and characters so much. It's been fascinating too to learn a little bit about Iceland along the way - tidbits like how people there go by their first names only instead of first/middle/last as others do. Indridason weaves a complex tale of murder and rape and along with a personal story of a father's love for his troubled adult daughter - and how the two intertwine. He's a very good writer - I look forward to more of his books!
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Water for Elephants
by
Sara Gruen
Bookwomyn
, January 30, 2007
When I saw the reviews for this book I was tempted to read it but did not do so because I thought "I don't care about circus books!" But, I kept seeing it reviewed favorably and then a friend recommended it (we give each other tips on books so she knows my tastes) and I said "Ok, I'll try." WELL!!!! I am so glad I did. It is NOT a circus book. It is a book about personal journey, growing up, life and death, poverty and riches, new and old. It is a fascinating tale, sweet and funny and sad and loving and tender and intelligent . . . I think it would make a wonderful movie too!
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Emperors Children
by
Claire Messud
Bookwomyn
, January 28, 2007
What a delightful, intriguing romp of a book! The characters are stand-alone but when you put them all together they sizzle. This extended family, friends and friends of friends created an intrigue that sucked me in from the first chapter and kept my attention to the end - never wavering. I didn't want it to end but couldn't wait to finish.
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Gentlemen and Players (Large Print) (Thorndike Core)
by
Joanne Harris
Bookwomyn
, January 01, 2007
Ooooh! Nasty, nasty little kids who grow up to be even nastier adults. This book is a peek inside an exclusive boys' school - all the angst and sexual awakenings of youth, the frustrations of old age, the divide between boys who attended this school and the children who could not. Harris spins a compelling tale - one which will catch you up in the world of St. Oswald's and take you on a ride that will keep you awake into the wee hours. Highly recommended!
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Silence Of The Grave
by
Arnaldur Indridason
Bookwomyn
, December 31, 2006
Never mind that you can't pronounce any of the names in this book - just immerse yourself in the story. It's a sad but compelling tale with a satisfactory finish written by a master storyteller. This book made me go search for all the other books Indridason has written. (I love it when I discover a hitherto unknown - to me - author) The Icelandic setting is an interesting aspect for me also. I'm in reader heaven.
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Ash & Bone
by
John Harvey
Bookwomyn
, December 31, 2006
I was thrilled to find a new Charlie Resnick book! Harvey's a good author, Resnick a believable character. The police officer, Maddy, a former flame of Charlie's, join ranks to solve the crime of the day. She brings to mind "Prime Suspect" though this book is not quite up to that standard. Actually, his first book about Resnick, "Flesh and Blood" was better than this one but this one ain't bad. Why are British mysteries so intriguing?
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History of Love
by
Nicole Krauss
Bookwomyn
, December 16, 2006
What a wonderful, wonderful book! I'm sad that I've finished . . . it was one of those books that you can't wait to finish but don't want the experience to be over. Krauss has woven a complicated tale that captured my attention from the first page, kept me awake at night and has left me with a smile on my face. I adored the characters, the premise and how the author wove the tale together in the most enjoyable way. Books like this come along rarely and I envy those of you who still have not experienced this story. Kudos to Krauss . . . hurry and write another great book!
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Wild Fire
by
Nelson Demille
Bookwomyn
, December 05, 2006
The reality of the premise of this book is truly frightening. I listen to audiobooks when I can't sleep and am often lulled back to sleep (especially with a good reader such as Scott Brick, the narrator for this book) but this story kept me awake! It is about a group of people in power who decide the best way to solve the terrorist problem is to create a nuclear incident and blame other so that the US can retaliate. The good guy, John Corey and his FBI Agent wife, Kate, get involved and the chase is on. I like the characters although he is sometimes demeaning to his wife. There's some wise-cracking humor too - sometimes a bit too much of that - to ease the tension. I wouldn't marry the guy but I'll look forward to the next book about Detective John Corey and FBI agent Kate Corey. DeMille is a master of this genre and his fans will not be disappointed. Readers who have not yet read his stuff will be happy to find he's written lots of other books.
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Thirteenth Tale
by
Diane Setterfield
Bookwomyn
, November 28, 2006
Setterfield is a wonderful storyteller! I love complex tales that switch back between past and present and her "Thirteenth Tale" does it with skill and grace . . . and intrigue! This amazing story captured me from the first page to the last. I can't wait for her to write another book. Read it, you'll love it!
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Echo Park
by
Michael Connelly
Bookwomyn
, November 14, 2006
I love Connelly and his character, Harry Bosch. This book will not disappoint fans. Poor Harry just can't let this one case go - he's determined to solve it and that speaks well of our guy. Connelly is one of the better mystery writers - one who can actually write! I'm never bored by his books, always finish them, never get annoyed by poor writing, run-on sentences, etc. He's a good, solid writer and produces enjoyable fiction for those of us who like a good mystery. Yay!
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Philosophy Made Simple
by
Robert Hellenga
Bookwomyn
, November 13, 2006
As an older woman, and a widow, I can relate to many of the feelings that come up for Rudy in this book. (But so could younger readers!) He's a kind, sweet and gentle man - doing the best he can do as he ages. He bravely strikes out to reinvent himself and has some great fun and heartache along the way. I bought this book because I loved "Sixteen Pleasures" and am glad I did. It will be a book I read again, pass on to friends and put in a special place on my bookshelf. It will be among other dear friends there.
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Organic Inc Natural Foods & How They Grew
by
Samuel Fromartz
Bookwomyn
, November 13, 2006
This book changed the way I look at "organic" food. It's a real eye-opener! I feel as if I am a well-informed consumer but I learned a lot by reading this book and doing some subsequent research. If I had small children I'd be very diligent about every mouthful of food they consumed. While one can say that organics are not as important for us 'oldsters' I'd disagree with that too because the stuff that is in our food is scary. While this is just one person's take on things I feel it's a very important book - one which everyone should read. I have friends who say they cannot afford to eat organic foods . . . I feel we can't afford NOT to eat organic. Read this book, read other books like this and tell your friends!
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Audacity Of Hope
by
Barack Obama
Bookwomyn
, November 13, 2006
After the Democrats swept the election I have to agree with Barack Obama . . . we now really do have the audacity to hope! This guy is riveting. He reads the book and if you've ever heard him speak you know that he's a good speaker. So many times when authors read their own books I am disappointed. I was not disappointed with Obama. I think we can expect great things from this young man. I'm so impressed with his politics, his personal ethics and intelellect - can't wait for the future . . . It's lovely to have some hope at last! Books on CD are great for trips, even for short commutes and trips to the market, to listen to while cooking or in bed at night when you can't sleep. I'm never without an audio book close at hand. This one is certainly worth the effort.
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Bookmans Promise cliff Janeway
by
John Dunning
Bookwomyn
, November 04, 2006
Dunning does it again with another Bookman book. These light but well formed novels are great for the bedside, the airplane, the couch on a rainy afternoon or the deck on a sunny Sunday morning. You'll not want to move til the tale is told. Janeway's a good guy. Wish he lived next door so we could have a cuppa.
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Spot Of Bother
by
Mark Haddon
Bookwomyn
, November 04, 2006
What a pleasure to read a good book! I read a lot and am so often disappointed in current fiction but this book does not disappoint. Poor George . . . life is so hard for him right now. All of the characters are very real - their struggles so familar they seem like friends of the family with whom one can immediately care about. Read it - you'll love it.
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