Sunday, July 17, 2016

Review: The Wild Girl

The Wild Girl The Wild Girl by Kate Forsyth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This Historical Fiction love story grabbed me. The writing provides vivid images of life in the time of Napoleon's reign in Europe. Life was such a struggle for most. This is the story of Dortchen Wild who lives next door to the young and handsome fair-tale scholar Wilhelm Grimm. The author weaves many "tales" throughout the novel. My only critique is the length - it could have been shorter without losing any of the magic.

Hart Park Bookclub September 15, 2016 - Karen

View all my reviews

Friday, July 15, 2016

Review: The Nazi Officer's Wife: How One Jewish Woman Survived the Holocaust

The Nazi Officer's Wife: How One Jewish Woman Survived the Holocaust The Nazi Officer's Wife: How One Jewish Woman Survived the Holocaust by Edith Hahn Beer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just noticed this is available today as an Amazon E-Book for $1.99 if you're interested.

Never thought I'd like, or even bother reading another Holocaust book; however this nonfiction book was well worth my time. This story is told by a Jewish woman survivor who took numerous chances to hide her identity in order to survive. It provides background on ordinary people during extraordinary times. It reads much like an historical novel but knowing it is nonfiction gave it more credibility. This is a Hart Park Book Club selection to be discussed April, 2015.

View all my reviews

Monday, July 11, 2016

Review: The Sandcastle Girls

The Sandcastle Girls The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Reading something new will always grab me. None of my history books covered the genocide of the one and a half million Armenian people in 1915-1916. So terrible it makes today's Syrian refugee crisis seem trivial in comparison. I am looking forward to the Hart Park Book Club discussion on October 20, 2016 (Laurie). I took several pages of notes to keep track of the many characters as they moved in and out of the story. The title doesn't make much sense; and while well researched, I find the writing style a bit fractured. Nevertheless it deserves 4 stars because of the subject matter.


View all my reviews

Review: The Sandcastle Girls

The Sandcastle Girls The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Reading something new will always grab me. None of my history books covered the genocide of the one and a half million Armenian people in 1915-1916. So terrible it makes today's Syrian refugee crisis seem trivial in comparison. I am looking forward to the Hart Park Book Club discussion on October 20, 2016 (Laurie). I took several pages of notes to keep track of the many characters as they moved in and out of the story. The title doesn't make much sense; and while well researched, I find the writing style a bit fractured. Nevertheless it deserves 4 stars because of the subject matter.


View all my reviews

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Review: Three-Martini Lunch

Three-Martini Lunch Three-Martini Lunch by Suzanne Rindell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Highly recommend this interesting story about New York City in the late 1950's. Three young people trying to make it in the world of publishing. Do not judge this book by its title...the author should have come up with something much better. The ending has some surprises which I do enjoy.

View all my reviews

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Review: Little Big Man

Little Big Man Little Big Man by Thomas Berger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 Stars - I really enjoyed this. Will be watching the movie again later in month on TCM.

View all my reviews