DISCLAIMER: The author of the book reviewed below and I are members of the same early morning writing group. I looked forward to her book when it first came out and finally got around to reading it. Had I thought I could not offer an honest review of her book, I would not write oneContinue reading “Review of “Chapel Bay Secrets” by Julie Snider”
Tag Archives: books
Review of “The Notting Hill Mystery” by Charles Warren Adams
Plot: In January of 1858, insurance agent Ralph Henderson finally sends his report to the secretary of the — Life Assurance Association he works for. He is investigating the death of one of the insured, Madame R**. Her husband, Baron R**, has a policy for her for £ 5,000 (?). He had four such policiesContinue reading “Review of “The Notting Hill Mystery” by Charles Warren Adams”
Review of “Mansfield Park” by Jane Austin
Long ago and far away, a friend of mine in high school read all six Jane Austen novels and loved them. I wasn’t interested in reading them then. However, in her memory, I picked up Pride and Prejudice a year or two ago and discovered how much fun it is. Yes, there’s the stilted language,Continue reading “Review of “Mansfield Park” by Jane Austin”
Review of “The Seven Who Were Hanged” by Leonid Andreyev
I read this novella in an anthology of horror and ghost stories and would normally include it in my Countdown to Halloween series, but it struck me as misplaced. It lacks a supernatural element, and the horror is from human beings. Only two of the condemned are criminals in the traditional sense. The rest areContinue reading “Review of “The Seven Who Were Hanged” by Leonid Andreyev”
Review of “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe
Plot: This novel follows the fortunes of our hero, Okonkwo, in the 1890s in the (fictional) Ibo (modern spelling Igbo) village of Umuofia in what would become Nigeria. Okonkwo wants to be nothing like his father, Unoka, who is lazy and cannot support his family. Unoka likes to play his flute. Okonkwo, on the otherContinue reading “Review of “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe”
Review of “James Monroe: The Quest for National Identity” by Harry Ammon
The Stuff: This book is a biography of the fifth U.S. President, James Monroe (1758-1831; in office 1817-1825). He’s probably best known to those of us who went to school in the US for the Monroe Doctrine, which grew out of a State of the Union address he delivered in 1823 and warned European powersContinue reading “Review of “James Monroe: The Quest for National Identity” by Harry Ammon”
Review of “Crazy Horse and Custer: The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors” by Stephen E. Ambrose
A word upfront: when I bought this book at a used bookstore and started reading it, I was unaware of allegations of plagiarism, fabrication, and misstatements of fact made against this author. Some of the oopsies include the following book, so I can’t in good conscience recommend it, even if it were a fantastic read.Continue reading “Review of “Crazy Horse and Custer: The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors” by Stephen E. Ambrose”
Review of “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Plot: This book is more of a character study than a narrative with a plot. Ifemelu is a young Nigerian woman who comes to the United States for a postgraduate education. The book begins as she is about to return to Nigeria and stops in a hair salon to have her hair braided. This isContinue reading “Review of “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie”
Review of “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Plot: In 1945, Barcelona, Spain, Daniel Sampere’s father, a bookseller, allows him to choose one book from the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. The father does this to comfort him after Daniel realizes he can no longer remember what his late mother looked like. He chooses The Shadow of the Wind by Barcelona author Julián Carax,Continue reading “Review of “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafón”
Review of “Family Lore” by Elizabeth Acevedo
Plot: Widowed and about 70, Flor Marte asks her family for a living wake so she can enjoy it while she’s still here. She’ll get to see everyone again, especially her three sisters, Matilde, Pastora, and Camila. They are originally from the countryside of the Dominican Republic and immigrated to the United States at differentContinue reading “Review of “Family Lore” by Elizabeth Acevedo”
Reviews of Old and New Stories. Mostly Old 