Poetry of Reading

Well-written book about a girl who grew up in foster care and communicates through the language of flowers. Well researched with significant character development. Thought provoking. A little too idealistic of an ending for me, but thoroughly enjoyed it.

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman (****)

There were some pleasant surprises when the 3 stories connected, but, mostly, the book went on and on, was boring and I couldn’t wait until it was over. The ending was also a disappointment.

The Man with No Borders by Richard C. Morais (✬✬✬)

This book was filled with life lessons, but the delivery was fragmented and often slow. It left me hoping for more throughout the novel.

The Queen’s Man is an intriguing mystery with interesting plot lines and characters. It is an enjoyable read.

The Last Secret of the Temple by Paul Sussman (✬✬✬)

The book was hard to follow sometimes because several main characters were looking for answers to the same puzzle. I enjoyed the story itself but got lost in the interactions of the characters.

Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa (✬✬✬✬)

Very interesting fiction, yet allowed an understanding of historical events in the middle east since the end of WWII. Initially, a little hard to get started, but once into it, I  wanted to see what happens next!

The medieval history lessons were very illuminating as well as entertaining, in a time when honor was all. I look forward to the last installment.

Secrets of a Lady by Tracy Grant (✬✬✬✬)

One of the best series I have read. As usual, there are many plot twists and turns. Thoroughly enjoyable. 

“A dog’s purpose” by W. Bruce Cameron. If you are a dog lover, you simply must read this book! It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will make you appreciate the dog(s) that you currently have as well as the ones that you have had in the past. The author’s ability to get inside the head of a dog and create such an interesting point of view experience for the reader is amazing.

Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney (✬✬✬)

An interesting read that kept my attention, but I found the characters annoying and very difficult to like. They were, of course, meant to be flawed, but they just became annoying!

I found the book interesting from a historical perspective and while the characters and the story have great appeal, some parts of the story are not believable.

Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia (✬✬✬)

The book started brilliantly but didn’t quite hold it together. There are some wonderful narratives in the book, but it felt too disjointed.

Call Me By Your Name  by André Aciman (✬✬✬)

The story is beautifully and descriptively written. However, I found it to be rather slow and the main characters to be selfish, inspiring little sympathy for the reader.

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers (✬✬✬✬)

This was an engrossing story. The characters were developed in a way that I felt like I knew them. There was plenty of suspense and unexpected occurrences to keep me turning the pages.

Dark Road Home by Elizabeth Ludwig (✬✬✬✬)

I found this novel to be exciting, convicting, and enjoyable, and I would highly recommend the series to anyone looking for an interesting historical series that has both romance and mystery.

Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah (✬✬✬✬)

The book was truly an amazing read. From the moment I picked it up, it had me engrossed in the story and had me wanting to know what would happen next and what would happen after that.

The Parisians by Marius Gabriel (✬✬✬✬)

Gabriel does a wonderful job of mixing history and fiction. His characters are fleshed out, and he weaves real historical people with his fictional characters seamlessly. The storyline makes you want to delve deeper into history to get more information about the events and the people.

This fascinating historical tale provides a fresh look at Casanova through the eyes of his first love. Her trials and tribulations turn her into a strong, intelligent woman during an era when females were not expected to show any wit. The period is vividly described, though the window into the mid-eighteenth century overwhelms the battle of the sexes. Still, Arthur Japin provides a solid gender war that humanizes the legendary lover as he competes in a fierce skirmish of the mind and the body against his greatest opponent, his first love.