Book Reviews and Recommendation

By Kate White, 2025 – Fiction (★ ★ ★ ★ ★)

Entertaining and original.

The author navigates from past to present brilliantly, maintaining the flow of the plot while keeping each story independent and intriguing.

The pace of the book is excellent. The main idea comes out early enough and develops naturally. The main character is very likable and realistic. She had suffered a significant life crisis, and the relationship with the mother is irreparable.

The other characters are well developed from the friends to the foes and the cat. Good descriptions of NYC and its suburbs. The weaker part of the book is the finances, but it’s not that much of a setback.

The ending is not a total shocker nor predictable, but fits well in the narrative.

By Jamie Brenner, 2018 – Fiction (★ ★ ★ ★)

The beginning was slow paced and I almost put it down. Then it became interesting and was captivated by how it would end, though it was fairly clear it would have a happy ending.

It brought good awareness of the effects of head injuries / concussions on pro-athletes and combat and soldiers that got it the fourth star.

At times the subplots were improbable and became a distraction. The family dynamics were well imagined though one was too far-fetched and a central one to the story as was the romance that develops between the main characters, but it’s fiction after all.

The subtle messages were not subtle at all.

Overall, I finished it so just that merits three stars.

By Prabal Gurung, 2025 – Memoir (★ ★ ★)

Prabal is the embodiment of the American Dream! He came to the US with the clothes off his back and ten years later was launching what would become a very successful fashion label. You would think this memoir would be a window into the fashion industry and full of gratitude for his achievements. It is not.

It is a slow-paced narrative extremely egocentric continually whining about racism, the sexual abuses of his youth, and the complete devotion to his mother. Not to say those are not valid points but mention them several times and also focus on the positives obtained. The voice is monotonous and mostly telling the story, not showing. It’s hard to sympathize with the main character, though the story is inspirational.

By: Audrey Ingram, 2025 – Fiction – (★ ★ ★ ★) 

There are many hidden messages, some more subtle than others but the story flows naturally. At times predictable but still has some unexpected twists.  

At times the language used by the characters teenage years is out of context and sounds more like messaging than narrative. It made it less believable and I almost lost interest but it quickly recovered back to their adult narratives.  

It evolves into an open discussion about the right of life but it presents the merits of both the Pro-Choice and Pro-Life arguments and doesn’t lecture about which one has greater validity.  

It also has many messages about parenthood, the difficulties of married life, love and the stressfulness of political campaigns.  

Overall suspenseful enough to want to finish it and sees how it unfolds. Glad it didn’t have a Hollywood happy ending. 

River Selby, 2025 – Memoir – (★ ★ ★)

This book reads more like a PhD thesis for forestry, American Indian history and climate change than a thrilling memoir of a female Hot Shot with a tumultuous past.  

The pace is brutally slow with the overabundance of facts, for which the author did thorough research. There is little connection with the protagonist due to this overwhelming side stories. It would have been better to write two books; one with all the side facts and a true memoir.  

The stories of sex abuse, homelessness and other meaningful parts of her life are brushed over while going into in-depth about indigenous rituals and sidetracks into completely unrelated topics that add little to the story, i.e. mentions to Mark Twain’s cabin or Japanese-American detention camps after the attack on Pearl Harbor.  

I learned some interesting facts about controlled-fires, life of a Hot Shot, misogyny in the forestry department and beautiful vivid imagery but fell short to keep my interest. I finished just to see what happened to her life which she relates superficially then ends with a righteous criticism of the system she belonged to.  

Overall disappointing to what I expected from the book and the publisher’s description of it.

Vicky Nguyen, 2025 – Memoir – (★ ★ ★ ★)

A positive upbeat memoir that’s a refreshing change from the typical doom-and-gloom of the genre.  

 “Boat Baby” reads more like “Dear Diary” instead of a memoir that its title hints about the struggle of the Vietnamese refugees that risk their lives to get out of the communist run country. Though it addresses the journey at the beginning of the book brushes over it then becomes a chronological narrative about the author’s life.  

I wished there was more about the struggles of adapting to the American life than chapters on being a high school cheerleader and a first-time mom’s struggles with breast feeding. A more in-depth description of the father’s American Dream collapse would have been nice than just it being a friction of their father-daughter relationship.  

52 chapters, really?! At the end the “Letters to my Daughters” was corny and egocentric. The “Acknowledgement” was almost as long as Coach Bellichick’s one in “Art of Winning”, it just left out thanking the cashier at the supermarket for bagging her groceries.

John Seabrook, 2025 – Biography Memoir – (★ ★ ★) 

The subtitle is misleading: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty. I think the author should have borrowed J.D. Vance’s subtitle on his book or be inspired by it: A Memoir of a Family in Culture in Crisis. 

There is no “fall” like the Vanderbilts that squandered a fortune, here’s a very dysfunctional functional family with a strong-minded cruel patriarch that prefers to sell the company and give the money to charity than to his kids that helped grow the business.  

The first half was very entertaining with amusing stories about wine and other unrelated issues but halfway through it became a page-filler with prolonged descriptions that added little to the main plot. There’s three-four chapters about the 1934 strike that could be a revelation to the author about his family’s history but just boring to the reader. There’s a couple of chapters about Grace Kelly’s wedding, interesting to those that follow the royals but not to other people. Great details about the Gabor sisters, not that interesting either.  

Strange that there are three-four chapters AFTER the epilogue!  

Other confusing elements of the writing is the continuous jumping back and forth in time. Also, that the many ways he refers to his father, sometimes it’s “father”, other times “Jack”, or “JMS”. Just stick to one.  

The ending is bizarre with his admittance of being an alcoholic. It would be nice to have included that sooner so we can relate to the character earlier.  

It’s hard to relate to any of the characters, surely not the author that seems more whinny than anything else. The patriarch definitely not. The dad was a playboy then at best a distant father. Maybe the mom, but she was just an afterthought in the narration. His siblings barely mentioned. 

It seems this book was homework from his therapist to find peace with his upbringing. 

Bill Belichick, 2025 – Biography – (★ ★ ★) 

FULL DISCLOSURE: 

I’m a NY Jets fan and Coach Belichick is on the top of my Most Hated List. However, I recognize that he deserves and will be enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame on his first ballot due to his eight Super Bowl rings and being the SECOND winningest coach in the NFL.  

This would have been a great book is he had retired after the 2019 season with his 8th SB ring, but he did not and went four seasons with a losing record which got him fired and no one gave him a job so he will start coaching at the college level.  

The tone is very arrogant. He tries to not take all the credit but somehow, he manages to do so. Who won all those SBs Brady or Belichick? Let’s see Brady won another one when he left for Tampa and Belichick got fired.

Stephen Starring Grant, 2025 – Memoir – (★ ★ ★)

Great Prologue and first couple of chapters but the meat and bones were boring. Way to granular about the day to day of the mailman and the intricacies of the USPS.  

Barely any time was spent on explaining how he managed to drive a car from the passenger seat. That would have been more interesting than endless amount of time explaining how to sort the mail.  

The last couple of chapters are good too but the second to last one about religion was a little weird.  

The premise of the story is to have a job in order to have medical insurance because of his cancer but that never comes up again in the book. Treatment? Cured? Nothing.  

Some parts have sublime righteous messages that are not so sublime. Also, best to keep it politically neutral but more than once there are jabs at Trump and his reaction to the COVID pandemic.  

He claims to be down to $200 of his reserve fund when accepting the new job but though he mentions his financial troubles in some parts there’s not enough emphasis on it. Why doesn’t the wife find a job in that year? True that opportunities are scarce but if he managed to bite the bullet and be a mailman, she could be a waitress or any other blue-collar job.  

The last chapter buttons up his revelations and discoveries about himself, the problem is that the 80% of the book doesn’t really dive into all these self-doubts.  

Another issue is that his mailman experience only lasts a year.  

There were some funny anecdotes and vivid imagery but few and far between.

Michelle Zauner, 2025 – Memoir – (★ ★ ★ ★)

A heartfelt mother-daughter story whose relationship is centered on food. Well written with vivid descriptions of places and, of course, the food. Also, an eye opener for Korean cuisine.  

The pace is good in first half but slows down in the second half. The food descriptions that were so refreshing earlier start to become overwhelming with such detailed analysis of their preparation.  

Unfortunately, like many memoirs the story focuses 90% of the principal character and the doom-and-gloom of her life with little mention of other aspects, specifically her successful singing career.  

The seven years of separation and minimal contact with the mother are glanced over. Definitely a caring daughter in the last months of the mom’s life but there should be more explanation of those absent seven years.  

The relationship with her father is unclear. It seems antagonistic but there are moments of kindness and love but then it concludes without resolution. However, in the Acknowledgment she tanks her in-laws but not her father. Question answered.  

The character of the husband is barely developed though it is the love of her life and well mentioned in the Acknowledgment.  

The ending was weak. It just ended. 

Amy Griffin, 2025 – Memoir – (★ ★ ★)

Tragic story that sadly happens too often by individuals in position of trust to innocent girls / young ladies.  

The narrative is too self-centered and leaves questions unanswered: 

What happened to the abuser? 

What did she do with the proceeds from the book? She’s already rich why not donate to a charity for abused women? 

It seemed selfish to try to drag another possible victim that will not affect the outcome as her case had also surpassed the statute of limitation.  

The incident in London was disturbing not for the occurrence but for the narrative. By then she was an adult. She’s on a date. She drinks too much. She knows it’s a bad idea to go to his apartment but does so anyway. It’s consensual. Then she thinks she was taken advantage of and brings it up several times in the book. What did she think was going to happen? 

The three stars is for the topic and not the writing. 

Jeremy Renner, 2025 – Memoir – (★ ★ ★ ★)

A MIRACLE! 

It’s a fascinating story and truly inspirational. The fact that he survived such an incident was incredible and that he recovered in just three months was amazing. There are some very touching moments, specially towards the end.  

Jeremy must love the song “Monday Monday” because he uses the word “love” throughout the book more often than the Mommas & Papas use “Monday” in that song.  

The writing was a bit righteous as times, but after what he went through who can blame him. The beginning with a letter written by his daughter was a bit cheesy, but again who can blame him.

Henry Winkler, 2025 – Memoir – (★ ★ ★)

How can you not love The Fonz? 

The 1H was very funny and it was amusing to learn about his childhood.  

The story jumps around and that keeps it entertaining. Obviously, there were going to be many references to Happy Days. Great show! 

It’s amazing how much he accomplished being dyslexic.  

The 2H started being repetitive and the stories long, so I started losing interest.  

I would have loved to hear more about his roles in Waterboy and Here Comes the Boom, where he plays very subdued individuals, very different than The Fonz.  

Fonz is you’re reading this: we know you went to Yale. After the 10th mention it became annoying.  

Scary Acknowledgment chapter. He had a lot of help writing this book.

Susan Lieu, 2025 – Memoir – (★ ★ ★)

INTERESTING especially the anecdotes about Vietnamese culture and food but it dragged on and there were many subplots that were mere page fillers.  

The book starts with her excruciating abdominal pains and that her uterus was being strangled then it’s not mentioned again. Why was it necessary to start there? 

The ending is a positive interaction with her semi-strained father but there’s no hint of that softer side throughout the book, so hard to believe such a breakthrough.  

The Vietnamese spoken passages throughout became annoying after a while. A little here and there would have been more than enough. 

Emilia Hart, 2025 – Fiction – (★ ★ ★)

The writing was good but the plot got lost in the excessive vivid imagery. It was a rib-eye steak with 80% fat and 20% meat. I lost interest half way through because of it.  

Some may consider unique and interesting running parallel stories with 100 years apart, I found it annoying.

Kimberly Heckler, 2025 – Biographical Nonfiction – (★ ★ ★ ★) 

FASCINATING.  

I didn’t know anything about Margaret Heckler before picking up this book and what I learned was astonishing.  

I was unaware that women could not get credit in their names until the mid-70s and only afterwards thanks to legislation she championed.  

The work she did at HHS was noble is the fields of AIDS, veterans and hospices. She seemed to have done well as Ambassador to Ireland as well.  

The book was a little dry in the beginning and lacked an insight to who she was as a person and with her inner family, specifically since it was written by her daughter-in-law, that should have great sense to that. The research on her life was remarkable though.

Kristen Kish, Stef Ferrari, 2025 – Memoir – (★ ★ ★) 

Interesting story, but the writing style was not.  

This was a 10 hour monologue consisting of 95 “tell” and 5% “show”, and I’m being generous with the 5%.  

The first 1/3 was in certain way captivating as she struggled to cope with the realization she was gay and how to maintain the appearance of a normal life as a teenager. The rest of the book was a struggle as she did not try to build a bond with the reader but kept lecturing about her life.  

Before I lost complete attention to the narrative I was surprised that her description of a successful meal consisted in “contrasts”, a soft texture needed a crunchy element or acidity needed to be added to complement sweetness. However, she did not apply that concept to this book. This was a meal of plain white rice with mashed potatoes. 

I held on to the hope that the last chapter would tie everything together but instead it was just another chapter in her life. 

Stephen Kingery, 2025 – Christian Fiction – (★ ★ ★)

Uplifting story but the writing is too simple and very repetitive. The characters are not well developed and there is no attachment to any, but Pastor Samuel.  

The subtle references to Christian values are anything but subtle. They keep repeating the same ones over and over.  

If the author wanted to highlight the virtues of faith and hope best not to name one of the main characters Faith and the main frame for the story as Hope Hallow. Just me thinking.

Adrienne Young, 2025 – Fiction – (★ ★ ★)

WRITING: 5 Stars. STORY: 2 Stars. 

My first Adrienne Young book and loved her vivid imagery, so much that the slow pace of the first half was delightful.  

The second half or last third were rushed and seemed forced. The plot was thin, very thin. The romance between Micah and James did not come through as real. The James character did not resonate with me. Maybe it was so many short answers to so many queries or just that it was not developed fully.  

The catalyst of the story was very weak. Even the most incompetent law enforcement officer would have done a better than the one mentioned. The father of the victim was also not a credible character.  

Overall, none of the characters were well defined or that one could identify with. The saving grace was the vivid imagery of the narrative.  

What parent names their daughter James? Even if so, how does she not have a feminine nickname? That tarnished the story as well. 

Alafair Burke, 2025 – Fiction – (★ ★)

The first half was excruciating slow pace with an overabundance of descriptions of the main characters that were unnecessary.  

The second half was a rushed ordeal to come up with someone with a motif for the murder and the resolution took a nano-second.

Bill Gates, 2025 – Memoir – (★ ★ ★) 

Bill Gates might be a genius writing computer code, but English, not so much.  

The book spends an excruciating amount of time reviewing his elementary school years and generations of his family.  

It becomes slightly more interesting when he arrives to Harvard and launches Microsoft. Then it loses focus again.  

It’s Bill Gates so it can’t be lower than three stars but anybody else would be.

Jonathan Allen, Amie Parnes, 2025 – Investigative Reporting – (★ ★ ★) 

Why is this story a Best Seller?  

It was a simple recount of the 2024 presidential election. The only inside scoop was behind the scenes trivial conversations laden with profanity, that have no place in a historical narrative of non-fiction events.  

It completely sidestepped the major blunders of the Harris campaign. Very disappointing. Good thing I didn’t pay full price but would like a refund.

Bill Clinton and James Patterson, 2025, – Fiction – (★ ★ ) 

The book has 142 chapters. Really?! That’s just laziness. It brings to mind Mark Twain’s quote: “I apologize for such a long letter, I didn’t have time to write a short one.” 

The premise of The First Gentleman going on trial for murder in New Hampshire with only circumstantial evidence and a lost original case file is razor thin, after this is not Trump in New York, but it’s a work of fiction so I allowed it. The plot was flimsy but Patterson knows how to keep the reader engaged. Figure he wrote 95% of the book. By 3/4 of the way it was clear who had done it, so the suspense was over.  

Without spoiling it, the end is ridiculous to put it mildly. It’s already a thin premise but the legalities are absurd and then a perfect storm of out-of-the-blue circumstances change the outcome and finishes with a Hollywood happy ending.  

What did Clinton contribute? Very little, I presume. 

Julie Leong, 2024 – Fiction – (★ ★ ★ ★)

ENTERTAINING!

The first half is better as the second half is trying to tie up all the loose ends.

Some passages are more interesting than others as the encounter with the phoenix vs the troll.

The four main characters are well defined and very likable. The narrative is well paced. The ending a little too Hollywood style, but OK.

The sublime messaging lacked the sublimizes and took away from the story.

Greg Buenzli, 2024 – Biography Memoir– (★ ★)

This story is like being on a boat without a rudder. It was wandering about without purpose or direction.

It is a painfully detailed description of the idea and the purchase of the boat but left vague the actual plan. There’s no mention of the finances involved, only that it’s expensive.

It should have been a fun story but instead it dragged on forever and then ended suddenly. A red flag was the title describing it as hilarious.

Shawn Cohen, 2024 – Investigative Reporting – (★ ★ ★ ★)

The story was objectively written and if the author would have kept himself a little less out of it, I would have given it 5 stars.

This is a parent’s worst nightmare when sending their kids off to college. Obviously, daughters are at greater risk but sons can commit stupid actions that will haunt them for the rest of their lives.

I lived in Westchester County in 2011 and don’t recall the incident. The Gaby Petito gathered greater national attention but also the internet played a greater role.

The author presented the facts and then went out of his way to try to get the real story from those that were present that night.

Someday, far in the future, the culprit(s) will have a moment of conscious clearing and fess up. Sadly, it will be too late for Lauren’s parents to hear the truth.

No parent should go through the pain of losing a child. God bless the Spierers for their courage.

Becca Day, 2024 – Fiction – (★ ★)

The premise sounded very interesting, but the story was far from it. The pace was very slow in the first three quarters and then some extremely improbable twists. The plot has huge logistics holes that crumbled the entirety of the story. A tear jerk ending saves the book.

It’s well written otherwise I would have given it only one star.

Rae-Wynn Grant, 2024 – Memoir – (★ ★ ★ ★)

INTERESTING.

I enjoyed the first third of the book the most. It had a conversational tone and shared a good deal of information.

Afterwards the pace started to slow down and then the tone changed to a more lectured one where she seems to be imposing her ideas on racism and environmental coexistence.

It was courageously honest about her affair and how it ended her marriage. Then the extensive narrative about her lover sounded more like justification than a narrative, but the email about the relationship with Fiona and her lover seemed a stretch. I don’t think things would have unfolded in Madagascar if that was the case.

I’m sure all events were as truthful as possible but some seemed to put in question her astute intelligence. In Madagascar she is left alone to run back to camp to do the evaluation on the lemur while two of her party stayed behind to mark the spot. Wouldn’t you think that two would take the monkey and only one stay behind? As that was the most important part of the mission for being there. Same with the accidental death of the momma bear in the party were two highly educated PhD scientists but the actions taken were led by the two volunteers in the party.

The financial aspects seemed a little off. She claims to be on a tight budget despite having a 2-year Master’s degree and a five-year PhD, both from Ivy’s. Good thing she obtained scholarships otherwise she would be bankrupt! Additionally, she divorced a high-power lawyer but there’s no mention of alimony or child support.

The book starts by indicating a close relationship with her brother but he’s not mentioned again in the book.

The brief mention of being offered the Head of Fish and Wildlife position by the Biden administration was self-indulging and did not add to the story. If she didn’t take the job, why mention it?

Regardless of these flaws the story was entertaining.

The Acknowledgment Section was scary. She had a lot of help writing this book!

Pope Francis, 2024 – Memoir – (★ ★ ★ ★ ★)

A remarkable man and life told humbly as was his nature by setting the frame to historical events.

Addresses many issues head on without any fear. It covers caring for the poor, world peace, abortion, walls, his frugality, the environment, COVID, sexual abuse by the clergy, same sex marriages, human rights abuses during the Argentine dictatorships and more. His humorous character comes through.

A must read for all, regardless of one’s religious beliefs or political standings.

Henry Wise, 2025 – Fiction – (★ ★ ★)

Well written but a convoluted story with too many characters early on not well defined and excessive florid descriptions made it even more confusing.

The plot had some inherent flaws that made it hard to digest and the author did not make any of the main characters likable or at least to bond with. The dead guy was probably the most charismatic of all.

I understand that people from the South are God fearing but there was too much of it that distracted and added little to the story line.

The ending was a letdown, but it had drifted so far off course that it was hard to give it a good ending.

Tulsi Gabbard, 2024 – Memoir – (★ ★ ★)

Some valid points but needed much softer tone.

Frederick Rutland, 2024 – Narrative Non- Fiction – (★ ★ ★ ★)

Very good investigative reporting. It must be extremely difficult to convert thousands of pages of material into an accurate description of events without an overwhelming amount of data.

I learned some interesting facts along the way about the era.

Susan Tate Ankeny, 2024 – Narrative Non- Fiction – (★ ★ ★)

A remarkable life that is well presented by the author with good investigative reporting.

The beginning is entertaining but the meat-and-bones of the story is granular with a ton of names thrown in with little relevance and slowing down the pace considerably.

The ending tribute was emotional but then became corny with the author throwing herself into the story.

Unnecessary.

Lauren Fleshman, 2023 – Memoir – (★ ★ ★)

Interesting story but the writing was dry and monotonous.

My daughter competed in a D1 track team in the mid-distance events so I was looking forward to hearing stories from an elite professional runner. I learned a lot but unfortunately it lacked to captivate me.

The story could have gone deeper in many aspects on her life instead of the world tour of competitions and repetitive nature of various topics, though key could have been better organized.

The main message could have been conveyed better.

There were confusing or missing parts of the narrative:

The relationship with her father. In the beginning chapters she refers to him by his given name and described his dependency on alcohol and his erratic behavior but throughout the book she tells about her admiration and by the end she’s seeing his ghost.

Coach VIN Lananna. He goes from being the Head Coach at Stanford to Oberley University in Ohio. Why? That’s a big downgrade and should have been explained. I Googled and saw he was the Athletic Director, but it’s still a step-down.

The mother and sister. In the Acknowledgements she mentions her mother is a private person but the relationship with those two individuals should have been explored deeper.

Trans athletes. There’s a couple of brief mentions but never details her views on the matter. Does she endorse Trans individuals competing in women sports or against it? If she’s not going to explain her position then why mention it?

Her finances. She solely focuses on her wages from Nike but then started a business and then moved to be a partner with another company. Those incomes are not mentioned just how unfair Nike is with their sponsored female athletes.

The acknowledgement is scary. She got a lot of help writing this book!

Carmen Maria Machado, 2019 – Memoir – (★ ★)

Domestic violence is atrocious regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Any awareness on the subject is encouraged.

Unfortunately, this book did not accomplish the goal. It’s written like an MFA assignment about using opposite standard methods. It is the first memoir I’ve read that is in the third person. It jumps around continuously from past-to-present and engages in so many movie side-stories that is confusing. I was so confused that I flip back to the back cover to verify if this was a memoir or a fictional story.

The high and low are too subtle that can be easily missed and definitely do not highlight the moment. There’s some good vivid imagery in the wrong places or times. The book is a lust-fest that is also distracting from the message.

The ending is weak. It just ends without giving much sense if there’s been anything accomplished.

James Byrne, 2022 – Fiction – (★ ★ ★ ★ ★)

ENTERTAINING and HILARIOUS.

The plot is paper thin, if that, but it holds up with a shoe string. It’s fiction and it’s nice to see an outrages idea that maintains the interest of the reader.

The book is well written with in depth characterization of the main players. Dez, the hero, steals the show. He’s a brut with an uncanny sense of humor that made me laugh throughout. I imagined someone like Connor McGregor in the movie “Road House.”

The action scenes are well described and though, at times, the odds are overwhelming the scenes are described vividly and with a reasonable probability of accuracy for someone that possesses those skills.

The love scenes were G-rated at best, and could have been more explicit but that wasn’t a setback. The ending was on the lite-flavor, but again did not derail the story.

I found myself captivated and eager to see how it the story would unfold, therefore found it entertaining regardless of how far-fetched it would be in real life.

James Byrne, 2025 – Fiction – (★ ★ ★ ★ ★)

BRILLIANT!

Just as good or better than Gatekeeper, the first book in the series.

It’s entertaining, suspenseful, funny and has a ton of tidbits of information. The narrative is engaging with detailed descriptions of all the characters and vivid imagery of the surroundings.

You can’t help but fall in love with Dez. The other characters also stir love or hatred. Subtle touches on real issues without being overbearing into the story.

The author brings in elements of the first book without having it been required reading.

Marie Lu, 2012 –Fiction – (★ ★ ★ ★ ★)

EXCELLENT!

It takes a lot of imagination to create a fictional world and make it believable with its many different nuisances.

The story has enough intrigue to make it interesting and want to know what happens next. The characters are well formed and one can relate to the main ones though initially on opposing sides. The secondary characters are well defined as well and the feeling they generate.

It was so well done that I’m looking forward to the follow-up book to see how the story develops from here.

Marie Lu, 2013 –Fiction – (★ ★ ★ ★)

Entertaining but not as good as first book in the series, “Legend”. Can’t read this one without having read the first one.

The plot seemed a little forced and unrealistic at times. The ending was stupid and forces one to read the third if you want to find out how it really ends.

Charlie Donlea, 2021 – Fiction – (★ ★ ★ ★ ★)

Originally combines two major events that happened in New York City and putting a positive spin on them. I’m not a big fan of anything that has to do with 9/11 but the author addresses the issue carefully. The other event, not dramatic, but very well-known is the financial scandal involving Madoff.

The book has subplots that are interesting as well and do not distract from the main one. The characters are well defined and the main ones are very likable, though an improbable romantic relationship develops, though unlikely its fiction.

Overall entertaining though some parts are predictable.

Amelia Kingston, 2019 – Trashy Romance – (★ ★ ★ ★)

You need to be in the mood for a trashy romance novel to enjoy this book. Fortunately, I was and I did. Don’t think I’m the target demographic the author intended but once in a while it’s nice to break away from the norm.

Otherwise I don’t think I would have enjoyed it. The sexual content is over the top. The plot is razor thin and quite improbable. A popular jock falling for a 21yo virgin nerd after an “American Gigolo” type agreement but it’s fiction and it was entertaining.

It was original, at least for me as this is not what I normally read. The plot had some good twists and some good natural interaction between two young individuals. Some bad ones too, so that brought it back to reality. It kept me interested to see how it would end though a happy ending was a given.

It’s a modern take on Rapunzel and I’m OK with that.

Evie Woods, 2014 – (★ ★ ★ ★)

The title and the publisher’s summary are deceiving. The bakery was part of the story line but not the central idea.

This is a pool side romance novel disguised as something with magical qualities. It was entertaining but the ending was obvious. The subtle messages about life were not subtle at all.

There are some major flaws in the plot, especially those dealing with finance as that became a secondary plot. The main characters lacked empathy and hard to relate to. The secondary characters were more likable.

The waiting list on the library was huge and continuous to be, so guess the vast majority differ from my opinion.

Camilla Trinchieri, 2020, – Fiction – (★ ★ ★ ★ ★)

Beautifully written with vivid descriptions of the characters and the setting. Sprinkles of Italian recipes and Tuscan wine are well sewn into the narrative. Flawless plot that keeps the reader in suspense. No impossible twists or hidden facts to spoil a logical, but unpredictable ending.

A well-deserved ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ rating.

Camilla Trinchieri, 2021 – Fiction – (★ ★ ★)

Murder in Chianti was great. This follow up book lacked the originality and the plot was irrational with a surprised confession that was dull.

Michelle Theall, 2023 – Fiction – (★ ★ ★)

Started well and seemed poised for an entertaining story. Then the poor protagonist got bombarded with low probability scenarios that upended her life.

Once the story got into a rhythm then the life of the brother is explained in detailed, unnecessary as he’s an auxiliary character.

The story manages to stay afloat but then the author decides to give it a Hollywood happy-ending and it becomes another trashy novel.

Turney Duff, 2013 – Memoir – (★ ★)

The book has the three basic elements of a novel: a flawed hero, transformation of the hero and the serenity of accepting the new-self.

The problem is that it’s hard to have sympathy for the protagonist. He’s an immature adult that rises to Wall Street fame and glory off his charm and favorable circumstances. He squanders millions and his family life because he can control the extravagant party life of Wall Street.

The tone of the book is arrogant instead of repentant or reflecting his past mistakes. As if the environment caused his demise and not his actions.

Danielle Steel, 2018 – Fiction – (★ ★ ★ ★)

Excellent but the final chapters were corny.

The characters are well described, the interactions among them are logical, and the action is intense.

Danielle Steel, 2018 – Fiction – (★ ★)

Highly improbable even for a fiction novel so it took away from the enjoyment of the book.

Agatha Christie, 1926 – Fiction – (★ ★ ★ ★ ★)

BRILLIANT.

Whenever I want a sure-thing book I go back to Agatha Christie. I wish more current authors would follow her guidelines. It’s simple, she gives a good description of the characters, then Monsieur Perot goes methodically step-by-step and figures out who did it. There’s no last-minute introduction of a key element that solves the mystery.

This story took me by surprise. Most of the times I can narrow it down to several characters but this time I was happily shocked by the ending.

Agatha Christie, 1936 – Fiction – (★ ★ ★ ★ ★)

Brilliant, but different than other Hercules Poirot crime novels. This one his brilliance is toward the 3Q of the book. Unfortunately, the popular movie Jack Reacher hints to how the plot will unfold.

Agatha Christie, 1939 – Fiction – (★ ★ ★ ★ ★)

BRILLIANT.

It kept me guessing who the murderer was and I kept on getting it wrong.

Agatha Christie, 1920 – Fiction – (★ ★ ★ ★ ★)

It’s impressive that this was Agatha Christie’s first book and was written in 1920.

The thought process is brilliant. The beauty about her books is that she does not hide the piece of the puzzle that will solve the mystery at the end of the book. She gives out the information and Hercule Poirot solves it with methodically analysis.

Marcus J. Borg, 1994 – Non- Fiction – (★ ★ ★)

Interesting but not what I expected. I figure it was more about the teachings of Jesus, but it was a contemporary take on the life of Jesus.

I learned a couple of things but less than I expected.

Anna Weiner, 2020 – Memoir – (★ ★)

Interesting if you want to get a behind the scenes look at a tech startup in San Francisco with some insights into her personal life. If you’re looking for a memoir that sheds light on the tech world this is not it.

It is one long monologue of a chapter.

Ernest Hemingway, 1952 – Fiction – (★ ★ ★ ★ ★)

BRILLIANT.

I had read this book in high school, but I needed to find something quick to listen to and I picked up on somethings I missed as a teenager.

Beautifully written. A heartwarming relationship between the old man and the fish as well as the old man and the boy.

Ernest Hemingway, 1926 – Fiction – (★ ★ ★)

It breaks my heart to give Hemingway only three stars, but I couldn’t get into this book, and I had to take breaks to read other ones.

The writing is beautiful, and one can see that Hemingway loved bullfights. The dialogue was confusing at times as was that lifestyle.

Maybe I just missed the point.

Finn Murphy, 2017 – Memoir – (★ ★)

INTERESTING.

Good detailed description of the life of a long-haul mover, but that’s about it offers and could have been much better if it was written more as a memoir detail more about his life outside of trucking. There’s a gap of 20 years missing in the story. What happened?

Some things are an exaggeration as that “bed buggers” get worse treatment at truck stops than other truckers.

Who drops out of Colby College after their Junior year to become a trucker? I’m with his dad, I would charge my kid the three years of tuition if they did that to me. He finds that shocking.

Norma Cobb; Charles W. Sasser, 2000 – Memoir – (★ ★ ★)

INTERESTING.

The pace is slow, and some anecdotes are excruciating detailed.

Too much focus on the difficulties and not enough on the good.

Not enough focus on the children.

Paulo Coelho, 1988 – Fiction – (★ ★ ★ ★ ★)

MARVELOUS!

Superbly well written, quite simple but with excellent descriptions of the main character and the secondary ones.

A beautiful story of determination, perseverance and following one’s dreams. Subtle messages about life’s obstacles, love and much more.

Amusing with some passages of pure laughter. Great ending.

Audiobook narrated by Jeremy Irons, which is a huge plus!

Jon Krakauer, 1996 – Narrative Non-Fiction – (★ ★ ★ ★)

INTERESTING.

The author did a nice job on researching enough material to make it into a book, as the last two years of the protagonist’s life were skimpy.

The timeline chosen was confusing. Since he did so much research a chronological timeline would have been easier to follow. The prologue already set the tragedy so no reason to start chapter one with it again.

The story about the author’s climb to the Devil’s Thumb was uncalled for self-adulation serving only as page-fillers, though interesting, it did not add anything to the main story.

Ian McEwan, 2005 – Fiction – (★ ★ ★)

Good writing but the plot was convoluted. The book was published in 2005 so figure it was written in 2003, just as the US was invading Iraq. Throughout the book there’s an undertone about terrorism and said invasion. It seems the book is built around it as camouflage.

The plot is razor thin and there’s subplots that seem to be simple page fillers. The squash game was surprisingly very accurate. The author either plays or did good research but the entire exchange was unnecessary and did not add anything to the story.

The beginning with the excruciating details of brain surgery was complete overkill and made me loose interest from there on.

John von Sothen, 2019 – Memoir – (★ ★ ★ ★)

ENTERTAINING.

An inside look at daily life by an ex-pat in Paris, married to a French woman and with two kids. It describes the daily routines.

Written in a conversational tone with funny anecdotes.

It lacks depth on the other main characters and though the last chapter tries to wrap it up the book does not really focus on the many aspects that are being wrapped up.

Selma Blair, 2022 – Memoir – (★ ★ ★ ★★)

POWERFUL.

It proves correct the old cliché “you don’t know what happens behind closed doors.” I’m a fan of Selma Blair’s movies and never suspected she had such an addiction to alcohol and her sexual abuse history.

She opens up and is very vulnerable. The 2H jumps around too much in time and it becomes confusing. Also, she seems to be romantically involved with three different Jason’s, which is also confusing.

She should have hired a pro to narrate the book as she becomes emotional much too often.

Her dealings with MS are inspirational.

Brad Taylor, 2015, – Fiction – (★ ★ ★ ★)

Entertaining book with insights of Delta Force operation placed in fictional terms under the name of the Task Force.

The tale jumps around various countries as they are chasing one of their own that has gone rogue. Fun operation descriptions and how they overcome unexpected twists.

Amor Towles, 2021, – Fiction – (★ ★)

The writing was good but the story was not. I was debating whether two or three stars and the awful ending sealed the fate.

There were too many side stories to stay focused on the main plot. It seems the author needed to fill the pages instead of leading the reader on an entertaining story.

The religious references did not add any color to and, instead, came through as blasphemy.

Annabel Monaghan, 2022, – Fiction – (★ ★ ★ ★)

ENTERTAINING.

Good summer reading.

The plot, though lite with some unlikely scenarios, flows nicely and held my attention. Happy ending, which is expected of summer readings.

Lisa Brennan- Jobs, 2020, – Memoir – (★ ★ ★)

I was surprised how beautifully written with vivid imagery that took me the places being described. At the end of the book, the author mentioned that she later got an MFA and during the story her Harvard education.

Vivid imagery is used sparingly, like salt and pepper on a meal, adds much flavor but its excessive use spoils the story, as excess salt and pepper spoil a meal. Only Garcia Marquez can get away with it because he never loses track of the plot.

I had three problems with this book:

1. It drifts aimlessly from one anecdote to another without a concise path of where it’s going.
2. The story reeks with resentment toward Steve Jobs for being a deadbeat dad, but she never openly says her feelings. Therefore, the ending feels fake.
3. The vivid imagery was beautiful, but the first half is of memories of a child 2,3,7,10 years old. There’s no way that a woman in her 30s can have such vivid memories of her early childhood. I’ve come across this same issue with other memoirs and since I’m older it can be a biased reflection, so I asked my kids, that are in the 20s how far back their memories go back and they agree that they only have scatter ones of when they were single digit age.

The author fails to make a connection with the reader for not opening up about her true feelings toward both of her parents.