Review Date: 8/14/2023

I was looking forward to reading this book as I love just about everything Paris! Having read The Paris Apartment, I hoped this box of mementoes would shed light on the life of Louise Brunet, who lived through both WWI and WWII. The concept sounded so interesting but the American professor who investigates the contents was just so boring. It was difficult to follow storyline and to determine who was sharing their memories. I couldn't finish this one.

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Review Date: 8/18/2014

Very inspiring book! An easy and enjoyable read. Kralik is really at the end of his rope, living in a small apartment, his law firm failing, his love life on the rocks.....life sucks. He decides to show appreciation to clients who have paid their bills, friends who have shown him kindness, employees who have worked so hard for him. These thank you notes are hand written, in this age of emails and texts. Gradually his life improves, more clients are paying their bills, his sons repay loans, his attitude toward life is cheerier. It's a very uplifting book. Even inspired me to write a few thank you notes myself.

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Review Date: 4/11/2008

Helpful Score: 1

Great book! I felt like I was listening to Billy instead of reading his words. I could hear his intonation, his voice was in my head during the entire reading (one day)! And how profound to put your time with your father in perspective with Sundays. That was the only day the whole family spent together-a time they SHARED each other. My favorite passage was when Billy stated, "Time is a bastard. When you're sad there's too much of it, and when you're happy, there's not enough." This story reminds all of us of how precious time is and how we must not waste it. We only have a limited number of Sundays.

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Review Date: 5/7/2016

This is not a novel, just a cute little book on how to deal with being in the hospital, and visiting patients in the hospital. It's light, funny in a few spots, nothing memorable except now I know if I ever need a hip replacement, it's a breeze....ha-ha. I'm happy to pass this book on to next reader.

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Review Date: 5/24/2018

Another intriguing Lippman novel! Love the way she twists the plot and keeps you guessing. Thought I had it figured out but she always throws a surprise at the end. She's such a great story teller, developing the characters so well that she makes you feel as though you know them. Her style always flips though different time frames so you have to pay attention to dates, but it all works! Great writer!

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Review Date: 9/12/2016

Had a hard time getting into this book, almost quit reading a few times but based on reviews I kept at it. Am so glad I did as the story finally became interesting and believable. It is, of course, historical fiction so while most of the info is factual, there is a bit of fiction involved. Very well written. And I appreciated Melanie Benjamin's explanation of how she structured the story and filled in the blanks.

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Review Date: 5/6/2014

Having read Trillin's tribute to his wife, Alice, I thought this book might be as funny and perhaps as tender. It was somewhat enjoyable, and Alice plays a major part in the stories, but I was amazed, nay, appalled at the amounts of food this man would eat in a day. I felt as though my arteries were clogging as I read his daily intake; so much so that it distracted from the pleasure of reading as I was so concerned about his health! Overall an enjoyable book, and if I EVER want to throw caution to the wind, I have some new restaurants to try when traveling.

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Review Date: 11/3/2023

DNF-I really tried to get into this book, four times! I was confused most of the time, and it became a chore. I read to enjoy not to aggravate myself. Hope someone else figures out what happened to these missing girls. Will try another Megan Miranda book as I like her style, just not this one.

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Review Date: 7/8/2012

I don't understand why the author claimed with was 'fiction' while telling readers who he was writing about throughout the book. His constant reference to "the subject" was so annoying, I had to put the book down several times in order to read something more enjoyable. I'd pick it up again, trying to get in to the story, but finally gave up. I was a teen when JFK was President, so am familiar with many news items of that time; even the speculation of his affairs, but I was so disgusted by JFK's apparent sense of entitlement to have sex because he 'needed' it, I just couldn't finish reading it. What a despicable husband and father. Jackie deserved better. This book was not worth my time.

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Review Date: 5/6/2021

Helpful Score: 2

Couldn't finish this one. Didn't care for storyline, definitely didn't care for writing style. Wanted to read it because of all the buzz about 'white American' writing about the plight of illegal immigrants. It certainly doesn't portray the immigrants we see coming over our borders on a daily basis. Most of them don't have thousands of pesos tucked in their bags, nor friends and contacts to help them along the way. And the whole convoluted emotional affair she has with cartel leader....please!

I just wasn't interested in seeing what happened. Too many other great books to read.

Best sentence: No quiet slashing of ink on paper can resuscitate her dead mother, her husband.

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Review Date: 8/19/2017

I looked forward to read this uplifting book, especially in these tumultuous times of riots and picketing. The true stories are enlightening but Dotson's writing style needs help. Very choppy, little distinction between one story and the next so got confusing more than a few times. Overall, these wonderful Americans give hope that our country is full of truly caring individuals.

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Review Date: 2/3/2019

Such a strange story! I don't need to recap pbs summary, but I will add that this is definitely not a book for everyone. If you enjoy far-fetched stories with totally ridiculous events, this is for you! I must be too stable for Ms. Bender.
My first question was, "What school system hires a 20-yr old without a teaching certificate to teach math to 2nd graders?"
And the HUGE questions was, "Who in hell brings an AXE into a classroom and hangs it on the wall?!?!?" Oh, the weirdness goes on and on.
I finished the book, only because she hooked me into wanting to know what happened to Mr. Jones. And the ending was too neatly wrapped up. So overall I would say I liked her writing style but story was too weird.

Favorite line: Through the trees, a tiny albino eyebrow of moon waxed high and far on the blue.

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Review Date: 2/5/2013

What a peculiar little book. Very well written, this diary starts in the womb. Story of twins, the writer being the underachiever with his brother being the overachiever. Quick read. Gives you an inside look at people we've all met in life that just don't seem to fit in, don't meld with the masses. The kind of person you walk away from thinking, "I wonder what went wrong? What made him/her just give up on their life?" Surprisingly, it was not depressing; instead, it made me open my mind to being more accepting of the losers I've encountered, giving them credit for coping with such a debilitating lifestyle. As Dorothy Parker said, "What fresh Hell is this?"

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Review Date: 9/19/2018

A sweet and poignant novella sharing the fear of losing one's mind to old age. Written with warmth and care, showing us how love can make the end of life so much easier to bear. The imagery was perfect as I could feel myself sitting in the square with Grandpa and Noah, feeling the wind on my face. Or crouched in the green tent in the hospital hallway. Backman has great talent in describing feelings and wrapping them into family hearts.

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Review Date: 5/3/2020

Helpful Score: 1

Kit Noonan is a lost 40-something art historian, lost his job, married to strong woman who pushes him out of the house in order to find out who his biological father was. Definitely a family story, with lots and lots of characters. I almost wrote out a chart as I was losing track of everyone. Names would pop up pages later and I'd have to strain my brain to remember who this person was attached to or why he/she was in the story.

Overall, a good read. I like Julie Glass' storytelling style, altho she adds details and side stories that didn't really give strength to the story. I'll try a few other books of hers, based on this one.

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Review Date: 6/24/2014

Another gripping Lippman novel that kept the pages turning! Story of abused teen who turns to men for acceptance and love, and the world's oldest profession. Helen parlays this into a business that affords her a 'normal' life for her son. But she's feels she owes her mentor and that financial, ethical obligation may bring her death. The story twists and turns with interesting pieces of Helen's life revealed. And I won't spoil the ending, just make sure you read to the last page!

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Review Date: 8/27/2012

I adhere to Nancy Pearl's Rule of 50, except I'm a little more forgiving and will read 100 pages before deciding if I like a book enough to continue. I made it to page 111 and am sending it out through pbs.com for someone else to hopefully enjoy.
Angry Fat Girls is about fat women, weight loss, self discovery, etc ad nauseam. Really, in this age of reality shows and internet, we don't know WHY we eat? And I hope you find the humor, as I didn't. Too many great books out there to waste my time on this one:(

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Review Date: 3/14/2019

Loved this book for the warmth and love these friends shared. I would have loved to have had Annie Freeman as a friend.
I was afraid it was going to be Chick Lit, but it truly is a story of friendship, deep and loving friendship. And the travels were hilarious, fun, exciting. So many laughs, and tears, and just comforting feelings. So glad I read it, and I think you will be too.

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Review Date: 7/2/2011

Helpful Score: 2

Interesting subject, and I agree with most reviewers that almost all families have secrets. When the secret holder dies, it leaves the rest of the family wondering. Luxenberg writes well, and is thorough in his investigation so you get the feeling his journalism kicks in when it could have been so simple to let the personal, family snooping take over. I appreciated all of the digging he did, especially in the old country. My impression was that the reason for the secret was not so much shame or embarrassment as it was fear. Fear of not being a viable bride if her family was 'tainted' by defect. Well worth the read!

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Review Date: 6/15/2021

Anxious Peopleâ is a thought provoking and heart-wrenching novel that leaves your heart warm. Backman at his best. At its heart, this book deals with human connection and the impact people have on each other.

At first, I felt it was just too s-l-o-w, but after the 3/4 mark, the character development grew and I was truly looking forward to the next pages. I'm so glad I finished as Backman gives us hope for human nature.

Story deals with desperation, suicide, and the kindness of strangers. Gives us all hope!

Great line: as unsteady as a spider on an ice cube

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