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4 | Excellent, well-researched view of the women beside the men | I definitely recommend this engaging and historically fair fictionalized story centered on the abolitionist John Brown's second wife, his daughters and daughters-in-law. Although we learn about the various Brown children in general, Higginbotham focuses on Mary, on John Junior's wife Wealthy Hotchkiss Brown, and on th... | [] | 1737474905 | 1737474905 | AEZ26WGWJ3EOQ4KWSHG77HJAG4EA | 1,641,224,741,694 | 2 | false |
5 | Captivating (fictional) Oral History of a Child Vaudeville Act | This captivating story unfolds as an oral history of a family, a mother, Maude Foster Szasz from Ohio, father, Lenny Szasz, a Jew from Eastern Europe and their twin daughters Harriet and Josephine. The story hopscotches from as early as 1889 to the mid-1930s, but not in a linear fashion. Nor is it confusing. The novel ... | [] | 1984801546 | 1984801546 | AEZ26WGWJ3EOQ4KWSHG77HJAG4EA | 1,640,722,100,050 | 1 | false |
5 | Try the audible audio! This is a wonderful "listen" | Yes, it took me a month to listen to all 16.5 hours of this beautifully produced and cast audiobook, because I limited my listening to long car trips. For once, flying through this engaging, mesmerizing story was not as good as putting it aside for a bit here and there and chewing over what I had heard. "The Lincoln ... | [] | B08WVLSDDR | B08WVLSDDR | AEZ26WGWJ3EOQ4KWSHG77HJAG4EA | 1,639,538,581,789 | 0 | false |
4 | Locks and Fires and Power and Politics | I used to read every Lincoln Rhyme novel and then got out of the habit. That was a mistake. "The Midnight Lock" is a very satisfactory entry to the series, with a clever, clever villain dubbed, "The Locksmith," whose voyeuristic behavior terrifies women he has watched on the Internet; a blunder on Lincoln's part that... | [] | B08ZGPFVZV | B08ZGPFVZV | AEZ26WGWJ3EOQ4KWSHG77HJAG4EA | 1,638,748,446,048 | 0 | false |
4 | What you never knew about a New York City mover and shaker of the late 1800s | Andrew Haswell Green (1820-1903) is the protagonist of this fascinating historical fiction novel. He was christened the father of New York City for a considerable array of accomplishments including early work to encourage and support the creation of the amazing space that became Central Park and later heading the Centr... | [] | 0525658491 | 0525658491 | AEZ26WGWJ3EOQ4KWSHG77HJAG4EA | 1,637,269,166,997 | 2 | false |
4 | Engaging Memoir- Holocaust Survivor and her Granddaughter | This is a memoir about Cerrotti's grandmother, Hana Dubova, a Holocaust survivor. What I really love about We Share the Same Sky is the degree to which Cerrotti had access to her grandmother's journals and even to some of the people/relatives of the people who helped Hana or journeyed with her. This is also a memoir ab... | [] | B08XWJWB4F | B08XWJWB4F | AEZ26WGWJ3EOQ4KWSHG77HJAG4EA | 1,637,017,857,293 | 1 | false |
5 | It's 1913. You are a 17 year old man child. What do you choose to do when you kill a white man? | In 1913, David Walker lived with his Gramps, his Mama, his Papa and his Catahoula Hound, Huck, "obedient only to David." in one moment along the Pigs trail, while David is duck hunting with his grandpa's wartime Sharps .22 rifle, his life changes dramatically. He kills a white man, and the fact it is in self-defense w... | [] | 1736203002 | 1736203002 | AEZ26WGWJ3EOQ4KWSHG77HJAG4EA | 1,637,007,908,410 | 0 | false |
5 | The most serious and funniest book you'll read this year! | Here's what I personally love about Jenny Lawson: She is unafraid to write about the darkest side of anxiety, ADD without the H, depression, chronic diseases, and the absolutely horrifyingly CRAPPY health care system that denies people the care they need, with absurd rules and denials. She illustrates this in ways an... | [] | 1250077036 | 1250077036 | AEZ26WGWJ3EOQ4KWSHG77HJAG4EA | 1,622,392,608,688 | 0 | false |
5 | A wonderful coming of age memoir of a young Freedom Rider | This is the single best coming-of-age memoir I have ever read. I have read and enjoyed many. It is 1961, and eighteen-year-old Charles Person needs his parents'' permission to become the youngest of the original Freedom Riders of 1961. James Farmer of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) led up the plan to test the... | [] | B088MHLDJ6 | B088MHLDJ6 | AEZ26WGWJ3EOQ4KWSHG77HJAG4EA | 1,622,260,075,025 | 0 | false |
4 | Rachel Marin is an original character - good series. 2 good entries. | his is the strong second entry in the Rachel Marin series. DO read the first, "Hide Away" before you read this! In "Hide Away", Rachel, a brilliant mother of two, recalls what she did after her husband's gory murder and the ongoing danger to her family. To protect them she learned extreme self-defense, set up a house i... | [] | 1542005949 | 1542005949 | AEZ26WGWJ3EOQ4KWSHG77HJAG4EA | 1,620,959,390,089 | 0 | true |
4 | A Memoir Worth Reading - | I almost didn’t get into this book. At first, Sam Hart’s writing, in two or three sentence paragraphs, jarred me. I didn’t know if there would be a story, yet what she was saying in bits and pieces engaged my attention. I read some reviews – both positive and negative and decided to read on. Now, I cannot stop think... | [] | 1648710107 | 1648710107 | AEZ26WGWJ3EOQ4KWSHG77HJAG4EA | 1,618,000,151,379 | 4 | false |
5 | Up and Coming Author! Debut thriller | Suzanne Foster worked for over two decades for Victor Kemp, ostensibly as his chief of security in a legitimate company but more importantly as one of the contract killers for his illegitimate enterprises. She didn't expect to fall in love and has every reason to expect Victor would take her choice of a life partner p... | [] | 0999548700 | 0999548700 | AEZ26WGWJ3EOQ4KWSHG77HJAG4EA | 1,521,907,750,231 | 0 | false |
5 | Wanda's Better Way is a story of a little girl finding ... | Wanda's Better Way is a story of a little girl finding herself-- for now.. Wanda drifts from activity to activity and the adults in her life notice she is bored. But in each activity, Wanda finds and solves a problem, through her own invention, using the scientific process. The book is beautifully illustrated and no... | [] | 1682750140 | 1682750140 | AEZ26WGWJ3EOQ4KWSHG77HJAG4EA | 1,521,907,530,018 | 0 | false |
5 | Another winner in children't literature | Love, love, love the three books about creative, thinking, problem-solving children. | [] | 081091106X | 081091106X | AEZ26WGWJ3EOQ4KWSHG77HJAG4EA | 1,498,490,561,443 | 0 | true |
2 | The title alone should have clued me in: This author can't write! But... | Clunky narrative; stilted dialogue; attempts to fit factual historical detail into the novel with a shovel and ten adjectives where one would do. Despite this, the story is a good one and the writer could be very readable if he were properly edited. There's a good book in this book. I don't remember what made me buy... | [] | 1450263852 | 1450263852 | AEZ26WGWJ3EOQ4KWSHG77HJAG4EA | 1,309,145,386,000 | 1 | false |
4 | Model Trains of the Mind | This dark comedic mystery was well worth the suspension of disbelief it required a bit too often. After a car accident in his rental the much misunderstood and notably annoying Denny Braintree finds himself mistaken for a long time resident of a small Vermont town. This turns out to be convenient for our hero, sort o... | [] | 1590204417 | 1590204417 | AEZ26WGWJ3EOQ4KWSHG77HJAG4EA | 1,309,011,790,000 | 1 | true |
5 | Painful but powerful | This is an "anatomy of a murder," and not an insight into the aftermath of a crime. In What Came Before He Shot Her, George tells a tale of a family of children, left on a single aunt's doorstep. Their mother is institutionalized. Their father is dead. Their characters, morals, outlooks are shaped by many influences, ... | [] | 0060545623 | 0060545623 | AEZ26WGWJ3EOQ4KWSHG77HJAG4EA | 1,168,814,967,000 | 20 | false |
5 | Works as it should... | Great bookmark! | [] | 1441322590 | 1441322590 | AFB2YVTRAJW2GCUQMBBNHEPNXCGA | 1,532,632,317,249 | 0 | true |
5 | Everything you need in one easy book! | I loved the meal ideas, vitamin intake needs, and making sure you have staple treats. Being Vegan 4 years now it still helps to keep healthy ideaa fresh in mind. There are different levels of help in different countries and a good thing to know is options really vary. Or even being vegan a long time you find out that a... | [] | B09FFM5RFV | B09FFM5RFV | AGBBEKOCKHTCQ673LZBRD464EZ5A | 1,632,583,381,845 | 0 | false |
5 | Hard to put down! | I enjoyed this book. The main character, Darby, is very clever in dealing with her situation, and it was hard to put this book down. There were challenges and surprising plot twists all along the way, and just when you think it can't get worse for Darby, it does. Great book! | [] | 1912106949 | 1912106949 | AFKHUTFTFFBJCYIOLYCGZDPNMNNQ | 1,508,363,608,116 | 1 | false |
2 | Dan Brown or AI? | As a Dan Brown novel, Origin is just okay, certainly no Da Vinci Code. As one reviewer noted, the novel felt "unauthentic," and for several reasons I agree. It did not have the same flow as other Dan Brown novels. And most of the plot elements seem to be pulled directly from the news of the past few years, not part... | [] | 0525563709 | 0525563709 | AEDHXXX2F66EMWOSSPCQHS62UKNQ | 1,540,569,210,851 | 0 | false |
5 | Excellent Book | This book is a shining example of how a mediocre person can rise to the pinnacle of success. Being at the right place at the right time and doing exactly what is required has earned Mr. Brown accolades, awards, praise, and financial success from an extensive network of well-placed supporters. As a Dallas resident m... | [] | B01N4VZGJT | B01N4VZGJT | AEDHXXX2F66EMWOSSPCQHS62UKNQ | 1,511,596,855,034 | 0 | false |
5 | Wonderful book | This book was recommended by a friend and I'm very pleased with the purchase. The CD wasn't enclosed but the book is great. | [] | 007287841X | 007287841X | AFX4ROM4BGEA6KAV6JKX2CDVPP3A | 1,311,769,970,000 | 0 | true |
1 | Ann, She-Wolf of the SS | I compare this pundit and her followers to what PETA members are to the left: Pure stupidity and mindless forcing of unproved beliefs upon others who have already learned that one can pick and choose their poltical beliefs based on informed decision making.<br /><br />If you like to pidgeonhole yourself as a conservati... | [] | 1400054184 | 1400054184 | AFX4ROM4BGEA6KAV6JKX2CDVPP3A | 1,098,211,600,000 | 44 | false |
4 | nice | Good for me. | [] | 1250622778 | 1250622778 | AGRKTMF2N365CHSX3HZDFII2EXDA | 1,596,760,871,780 | 1 | true |
5 | Awesome book & excellent service! | Awesome book & excellent service! | [] | 1681445026 | 1681445026 | AGRKTMF2N365CHSX3HZDFII2EXDA | 1,557,792,873,391 | 0 | true |
5 | Love it! | Such a fun read! I loved seeing the growth and the world the author created | [] | B09JJKH7XC | B09JJKH7XC | AGCCFLGNMV6ABDOO4O6SUJW65ICA | 1,651,360,597,578 | 0 | false |
1 | Bleh | Arrangements too convoluted, sounds nothing like the originals. Easier than other level 4s I own. | [] | 0739004034 | 0739004034 | AGCCFLGNMV6ABDOO4O6SUJW65ICA | 1,576,640,653,560 | 0 | true |
5 | Cutest book! | Cute animals, flaps, learning colors, verbs and so many other things. Can’t ask for anything more!<br />This was a second purchase after my Emily wore out the copy we got at our baby shower. She (and I) loved it so much it was worth buying again. | [] | 014056716X | 014056716X | AGCCFLGNMV6ABDOO4O6SUJW65ICA | 1,576,640,580,004 | 0 | true |
4 | Good guide, just not a lot of photos!! | Good info, directions, descriptions to everything/ everywhere just NO nice photos ! | [] | 0770432050 | 0770432050 | AFUB7CHTXRPD447QVQCHBZVN2IPQ | 1,658,436,986,819 | 0 | true |
5 | Excellent and all inclusive ! | Excellent, thorough info travel guide! even has a section on Gotland (sp.?) the beautiful island with such amazing history and scenery to offer and astound travelers to Sweden ! a must experience in my opinion! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | [] | 1741047757 | 1741047757 | AFUB7CHTXRPD447QVQCHBZVN2IPQ | 1,623,720,230,712 | 0 | true |
4 | an informative and entertaining audiobook! | as an Audiobook, it’s very affordable… this is a riveting, informative and entertaining account of international cycling 🚴♀️ ! why the actual book 📕 so darn expensive is a mystery! But, it’s well done as an audiobook!! | [] | B00DJFS7JY | B00DJFS7JY | AFUB7CHTXRPD447QVQCHBZVN2IPQ | 1,622,470,600,060 | 0 | false |
5 | great book… cover all bent up … supposed to be NEW! | Great book for Chess instruction but this copy came with the cover pretty bent up… like a used book might be!! I am just picky enough to want my paperback books in perfect condition!☺️ | [] | 111928001X | 111928001X | AFUB7CHTXRPD447QVQCHBZVN2IPQ | 1,621,724,935,536 | 2 | true |
5 | Extraordinary… Engaging…Brilliant! | If you like/love Chess ♟, this is such an amazing, extraordinary account of Bobby Fischer’s life as A ChessMaster of the World! Even if you don’t play Chess, this book is riveting!! | [] | 0571214118 | 0571214118 | AFUB7CHTXRPD447QVQCHBZVN2IPQ | 1,621,207,760,491 | 0 | true |
5 | Excellent, worthwhile instructive “ How to Play” Chess book!! | This brilliant young lady / Chess Master, has written a worthy guide for self- teaching or teaching others, young and old, to learn and become passionate about playing Chess !! Excellent purchase!! 😄 | [] | 1641522577 | 1641522577 | AFUB7CHTXRPD447QVQCHBZVN2IPQ | 1,613,022,308,110 | 1 | true |
3 | just Big Cities detailed! | usable guide book if you are primarily interested in just the major cities in the Scandinavian countries covered in this guide book !🥱 | [] | 1543236049 | 1543236049 | AFUB7CHTXRPD447QVQCHBZVN2IPQ | 1,601,564,391,253 | 0 | true |
5 | fascinating! | well written... excellent historical references throughout every chapter! I love Viking/ Scandinavian history, literature and films!! | [] | 078646044X | 078646044X | AFUB7CHTXRPD447QVQCHBZVN2IPQ | 1,594,097,461,261 | 0 | true |
1 | Print too small! | Too small print to read even with reading glasses! | [] | 0486496368 | 0486496368 | AFUB7CHTXRPD447QVQCHBZVN2IPQ | 1,592,182,235,321 | 1 | true |
5 | This is Graphic Art .. well done—tells the tale ! | If you appreciate great graphic artwork for a classic dystopian novel, this book is way cool! Extraordinary artwork! This is NOT the Novel for reading , but does have text along with the great illustrations!!!!! | [] | 038553924X | 038553924X | AFUB7CHTXRPD447QVQCHBZVN2IPQ | 1,589,352,202,330 | 0 | true |
5 | Love this Book! | Love this book! Her approach to organizing is inspiring and definitely has an end in sight! | [] | 1607747308 | 1607747308 | AHBTMFDWLT4AQHPZBMHFXMGFWOVA | 1,420,484,904,000 | 0 | true |
5 | Ordered man years ago | I ordered this book several years ago and reviewed it at that time. However, Vine tells me that I did not review it. I actually do remember liking this book a great deal, though I do not recall any specific details. It is properly called "women's fiction" and is a light, enjoyable read. | [] | 0307887804 | 0307887804 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,665,344,805,299 | 12 | false |
3 | Ordered long ago | I ordered this book many years ago and reviewed it at that time. However, Vine tells me that I did not review it. I really cannot remember what it was about, but my guess is that it isa middle grade book aimed at boys. I am sure it is an acceptable YA book. | [] | 0061934364 | 0061934364 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,665,344,645,307 | 0 | false |
3 | Ordered long ago | I ordered this book many years ago and reviewed it at that time. However, Vine tells me that I did not review it. I cannot recall it, but I am sure it was an acceptable YA book. | [] | 0545381827 | 0545381827 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,665,344,504,139 | 1 | false |
4 | Ordered long ago | I ordered this book many years ago and reviewed it then. However, Vine tells me that I did not review it. I am sure it was a perfectly acceptable YA book for teen girls, but to be honest, I cannot remember it. | [] | 0385737734 | 0385737734 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,665,344,382,354 | 8 | false |
3 | Good introduction | I ordered this book many years ago and reviewed it at that time. However, Vine tells me I did not review it. I think I got it for my husband when he purchased an iPad, and it was probably very helpful and a great, simplified introduction. If I remember correctly, it was as good for seniors as it was for kids. | [] | 0789748649 | 0789748649 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,665,344,061,591 | 2 | false |
5 | An excellent book on an important topic | First of all, I must note that this book dealing with children's emotions was published by DK, a publishing company rightly noted for its superb travel books. I love the clear, wonderful colors used in the book, and the DK logo attracted me and set up my expectations. I was not disappointed.<br /><br />That said, thi... | [] | 1465473327 | 1465473327 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,544,549,365,040 | 0 | false |
5 | An excellent cookbook | Like all of the cookbooks in the Pioneer Woman series, this one has stunning photos of every recipe at every stage, in addition to excellent commentary and little anecdotes of family life for which Ree is so well known. I purchased this cookbook for my niece, who is a busy working mom, and she was delighted. For that... | [] | 0062225243 | 0062225243 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,542,485,149,331 | 13 | true |
5 | An eye-opening look at what high school students are capable of | Anyone who thinks that all high schools are created equal, or that it doesn't much matter where your child goes to school or who his or her teachers are, will be quickly disabused of that myth upon reading this wonderful book. In its pages, the reader will meet a dedicated teacher and his amazing students, all of whom... | [] | 0399181849 | 0399181849 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,541,526,091,305 | 0 | false |
5 | A book you won't soon forget | "Sadie" is the story of a nineteen year old young woman whose younger sister, Mattie, has been murdered and who is determined to find her sister's killer and bring him to justice. In that sense, it is a journey story--the "hero" leaves home on a quest, going out of his or her comfort zone, confronting challenges and o... | [] | 1250105714 | 1250105714 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,538,234,202,688 | 0 | false |
4 | Touching memoir of an appalling childhood | When I first received this book to review, I saw that the author had written a previous account of her early childhood in foster care, "Somebody's Someone." I ordered this book from the library, thinking it would give me insight into the current book, and it does. If you have time, I urge you to read "Somebody's Some... | [] | 1572842229 | 1572842229 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,538,233,163,439 | 1 | false |
4 | A Family Full of Secrets | "The Latecomers" is an interesting if overlong family saga tracing the interrelationships of two young women of roughly the same age but far different circumstances, their ancestors, and their descendants. Bridey Molloy comes to the United States from Ireland in 1908, beginning her journey with her fiancé, Tho... | [] | 0316476862 | 0316476862 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,533,570,297,761 | 9 | false |
5 | A superb book for junior high and early high school students | As a former junior high school English teacher, I am always on the lookout for books that will appeal to reluctant readers, books with a strong positive message and engaging, relatable characters. Randy Ribay's "After the Shot Drops" delivers on all accounts. Though basketball is an ongoing theme in this book... | [] | 1328702278 | 1328702278 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,529,765,034,126 | 5 | false |
3 | Definitely not my favorite book | I have to say that I did not care much for this novel at all. The pace is glacial, and when the narrative finally gets to the point, the reader really does not care anymore. The characters are not very likable, and while there are a number of twists and turns, I was frankly impatient for this book to end already. I ... | [] | 0553448099 | 0553448099 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,529,512,769,024 | 0 | false |
5 | Very enticing! | This cookbook was a gift, so I have not actually made any of the recipes in it. However, the recipient was thrilled with the cookbook. I thought the photographs were wonderful; they made you want to get into the kitchen and start making delicious food. I think if you like Roger's tv show and Youtube videos, you will... | [] | 1770500642 | 1770500642 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,524,590,558,123 | 1 | true |
4 | An approach to life when you are faced with death | I was drawn to this book because I hate the common maxim that "Everything happens for a reason." I do not believe that God has some grand plan and that suffering and misfortune are part of it. I was happy to learn from the title that the author agreed that this saying is a "lie" we tell ourselves to g... | [] | 0399592067 | 0399592067 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,515,098,765,029 | 20 | false |
3 | A disappointment | I was drawn to this book because of its timely subject matter, online bullying and harassment. It does cover that subject in excruciating detail, but it has several flaws as well.<br /><br />"Too Close to Home" is set in the south of England in the present day and centers around a family of six: Jenna and Jack... | [] | 0345549538 | 0345549538 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,510,942,600,875 | 1 | false |
5 | A delightful and unusual book | This ABC book is sturdy and attractive. The idea of this board book is to introduce children to some of the more unusual colors that exist, beyond the primary colors and their near relations. Each page highlights two colors, such as onyx, fuchsia, or burgundy. The accompanying artwork is done primarily in the colors... | [] | 1633223361 | 1633223361 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,510,157,258,377 | 0 | false |
3 | A disappointment | I was drawn to this novel because in our family we have three wonderful adopted children (now young adults), all from Russia. I was interested to see how the author would handle the topic of international adoption in a fictional setting.<br /><br />The novel is set in an upper middle class suburban community in the No... | [] | 1455541915 | 1455541915 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,508,340,621,479 | 4 | false |
5 | An invaluable guide to a timely encyclical | This little commentary/guide has been very helpful to our social justice study group as we consider Laudato Si'. The summaries of almost all sections are written in more user-friendly language (not that the encyclical itself is not, but the summaries are more concise), and the study questions are thought provoking. W... | [] | 1627851224 | 1627851224 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,504,364,646,707 | 2 | true |
4 | The value of literature | I was drawn to "Reading with Patrick" because I love books about teaching and the impact teachers can have on students. Michelle Kuo, a recent graduate of an Ivy League school, is a bit undecided about what to do with her life. She decides to sign up for Teach for America and is assigned to an impoverished sc... | [] | 081299731X | 081299731X | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,496,856,171,000 | 0 | false |
5 | A Delightful and Unconventional Family | I was drawn to this book because I read and appreciated Emma Donoghue's first book, "Room," and I was interested in what she would do in the YA genre. "The Lotterys" is a horse or a completely different color, but it is excellent in its own way, and I enjoyed it very much.<br /><br />The story is narrat... | [] | 0545925819 | 0545925819 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,495,644,613,000 | 6 | false |
5 | Another wonderful book by Elizabeth Strout | I am a big fan of the writing of Elizabeth Strout, and I was delighted at the opportunity to review her latest collection of interrelated short stories, "Anything Is Possible."<br /><br />First, however, it must be said that in order to fully enjoy and appreciate this book, you really must have read her previou... | [] | 0812989406 | 0812989406 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,488,302,473,000 | 23 | false |
3 | A well written but flawed book | I am very conflicted about this novel. In some ways, I liked it very much. The point of view is interesting, and the writing is good, especially the rendering of nature.<br /><br />However, this novel could not make up its mind what it wanted to be. Is it a domestic family tale, the story of an abusive husband stalk... | [] | 1937402983 | 1937402983 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,486,585,313,000 | 0 | false |
4 | Love and Death and What I Learned in My Twenties | I was drawn to "The Life of the World to Come" by the fact that the author, Dan Cluchey, was a speechwriter and advisor for President Barack Obama, whose speeches were, in my opinion, excellent. This is Cluchey's first novel, and it is an interesting if uneven read.<br /><br />The narrator of this book, Leo Br... | [] | 1250077168 | 1250077168 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,485,629,845,000 | 1 | false |
4 | The Challenges and Rewards of Having a Child with Autism | I chose to review "A Boy Made of Blocks" because my cousin and his wife have a little boy who has just been diagnosed with autism. I have had a little experience with students who have had Asperger's Syndrome, but none with a child as young as my cousin's son (4) or even the title character of this book, Sam (... | [] | 1250111595 | 1250111595 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,484,414,942,000 | 3 | false |
5 | Wonderful new cookbook! | While I am not a sports fan, I do entertain a lot and thought that this cookbook might give me some easy and creative ideas. I was right. This new book by Daina Falk is full of wonderful food photography (some call it food porn, and I can see why) and recipes that range from super easy to somewhat complex, feeding an... | [] | 0848745833 | 0848745833 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,483,980,707,000 | 1 | false |
2 | Definitely not recommended | I was drawn to read this book by the promise that it was similar to Celeste Ng's "Everything I Never Told You" and Curtis Sittenfeld's "Prep," both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortunately, this book has almost nothing in common with them except that they are both about high school students.<br /><... | [] | 0812997271 | 0812997271 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,475,603,845,000 | 7 | false |
4 | A fine debut novel | "All the Time in the World" is a debut coming-of-age story of Charlotte, a gifted young composer whose work has been plagiarized by one of her professors. This plagiarism immobilizes Charlotte professionally, and she all but stops composing music altogether. As she tries to come to terms with what has happene... | [] | 1627794018 | 1627794018 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,465,244,872,000 | 5 | false |
3 | A Flawed Book | "Don't You Cry" is a psychological mystery narrated by two young persons. Quinn is a young woman in her early twenties living in Chicago whose roommate has gone missing. Alex is a teenager whose mother abandoned him when he was only five and whose father is an alcoholic; he works in a diner in Michigan. The ... | [] | 0778319059 | 0778319059 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,462,997,301,000 | 134 | false |
5 | A stunning debut collection | I have just finished "Beasts and Children," and I sit here absolutely blown away. I knew at the outset that this was a set of interconnected short stories, and I really enjoy this approach to fiction, a la "Olive Kittredge." However, halfway through the book, I was perplexed: these stories did not se... | [] | 0544370139 | 0544370139 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,460,923,401,000 | 3 | false |
4 | A Good, Fast-Paced Mystery | Anyone who reads "She's Not There" will instantly be reminded of the Madeleine McCann kidnapping in Portugal in 2007. The set-up is almost exactly the same: upscale hotel resort, upper middle class parents, child left in hotel room sleeping as parents have dinner in the hotel restaurant, child is abducted, pa... | [] | 1101966874 | 1101966874 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,456,079,521,000 | 19 | false |
5 | A Stellar Debut Novel | "Make Your Home Among Strangers" is one of the best new novels by a first-time author that I have read. It tells the story of the first year (actually from November to August) of college for Lizet, a bright Cuban American young woman who gained admission to Rawlings, a very competitive liberal arts college (th... | [] | 1250059666 | 1250059666 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,455,916,918,000 | 5 | false |
5 | Not so much about how to die, but how to live | "When Breath Becomes Air" is one of the best books I have read this year. This memoir tells of the life of Paul Kalanithi, the son of Indian immigrants, who attended Yale School of Medicine and trained as a neurosurgeon. On the cusp of an outstanding career, Paul is diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer.<br /><... | [] | 081298840X | 081298840X | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,451,322,753,000 | 2 | false |
4 | A Sensitive, Poetic Book about a Horrific Time | Like several other Vine reviewers, I am finding it somewhat difficult to review "Anna and the Swallow Man." Set in Poland in 1939 and the few years following, the story follows 7-year-old Anna, whose father, a professor of linguistics, is taken captive by the Nazis and eventually killed. We learn all of this ... | [] | 0553513346 | 0553513346 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,449,597,523,000 | 2 | false |
5 | Excellent Help for Owners of iPhone 6 and 6s | My husband and I just purchased our iPhones about a year ago, and we love them. However, we realize that we do not use a great deal of the phone's capability; in fact, we probably use only about 1% of what we could use. In addition, the iPhone 6 does not come with a written user's manual, and I wish it did.<br /><br ... | [] | 1119173922 | 1119173922 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,449,595,259,000 | 12 | false |
5 | Superb Help for iPhone 6 Users | My husband and I each purchased an iPhone 6 about a year ago. We have grown to love them (these were our first smartphones), but we both realize that we use only about 1% of the phone's capability. Add to this the fact that iPhones come without written instructions. Yes, I know that I can use the phone itself for he... | [] | 111917371X | 111917371X | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,449,594,155,000 | 5 | false |
5 | A Sensitive and Perceptive Search for Oneself | I have loved Elizabeth Strout's writing ever since I read--and reread--"Olive Kitteridge," so I leapt at the chance to review her new book, "My Name is Lucy Barton." This latest of her books is shorter than the previous two, and I think it is more personal as well, though I have no way of knowing how m... | [] | 1400067693 | 1400067693 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,447,787,340,000 | 2 | false |
5 | Charming, Attractive, and Moving ABC Book | This is a charming little ABC book for preschoolers. It is subtitled "A Natural Alphabet," and I found that it was true to that in many ways. First, the animals and other items named in the book are somewhat unexpected. For example, E is for egret, and Y is for yellow-bellied sapsucker. I can imagine kids h... | [] | 1632170396 | 1632170396 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,445,707,077,000 | 0 | false |
4 | Delightful and Compelling | "All Dogs Go to Kevin," a clear reference to "All Dogs Go to Heaven," is a delightful book that will be loved and appreciated by anyone who loves dogs and has ever had a dog share his or her life. Jessica Vogelsang, the author, details her own coming of age and her relationships with the three dogs she... | [] | 1455554936 | 1455554936 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,439,571,169,000 | 0 | false |
5 | A Delightful Read as well as a Delicious Collection of Recipes | I love cookbooks and have far too many, even after having donated several dozen to our local library booksale. My favorite kind of cookbook is one that you can read like a real book; one that has comments about each recipe and personal stories to accompany them. "Goldie's Kitchen Cookbook" is exactly the sort... | [] | 0062194046 | 0062194046 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,439,570,177,000 | 1 | false |
3 | Somewhat tedious; not amusing | As a retired English teacher, I am always looking for interesting and amusing ways to teach language concepts. The title of this book, "My Teacher Is an Idiom," suggests that it will introduce young children to the concept of idioms, and indeed it does. It describes what an idiom is, gives many examples, and ... | [] | 0544056809 | 0544056809 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,439,050,939,000 | 1 | false |
5 | Excellent, Absorbing, and Psychologically Astute | "The Year She Left Us" by Kathryn Ma is the story of a multi-generational Chinese American family told from multiple points of view. At the center of the story is the youngest member, Ari (short for Ariadne), a very young adult who is trying to come to terms with having been abandoned as an infant on the steps... | [] | 0062273345 | 0062273345 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,437,840,478,000 | 2 | false |
4 | Heartbreaking in so many ways | I really enjoyed Laura McBride's "We Are Called to Rise." Set in Las Vegas, this novel uses four interrelated narrators to tell an unforgettable story. Avis, the first narrator, is a 53-year-old woman who is suddenly left by her husband. As her story unfolds, we see her love for her child has blinded her to reality.... | [] | 1476738963 | 1476738963 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,422,044,825,000 | 7 | false |
4 | A Look Inside the Foster Care System through the Eyes of One Teen | As a fan of the ABC Family show "The Fosters," which is about a family made up primarily of foster children and which deals sensitively and realistically with some of the issues they face, I was eager to read this book. "Returnable Girl" is narrated by Ronnie (Veronica), a teenager who has lived in nin... | [] | 0761455922 | 0761455922 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,410,283,162,000 | 1 | false |
5 | Meltdown: Nuclear and Personal | "Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands" is a book you will not soon forget. Set in the present (or possibly near future) in Vermont, it concerns a meltdown at a nuclear plant (think Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi in 2011) that has a predictably searing effect on the main character, 16-year-old Emily Shepard, whose parents a... | [] | 0385534833 | 0385534833 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,405,890,931,000 | 2 | false |
5 | Superb and Concise History of Railroads Around the World | I ordered this book because my husband is a railroad enthusiast, and I knew that he would be able to help me review it honestly. In addition, the is a DK book, and for those unfamiliar with DK travel books, they are a delight. Although other books may provide more text, DK books offer a wealth of photos, maps, and dr... | [] | 1465419535 | 1465419535 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,403,709,773,000 | 15 | false |
5 | Beautiful and poetic first novel | I am stunned that this is Celeste Ng's first novel. I was instantly drawn into this book, with its beautifully drawn characters and superb writing. On its surface, the story is a mystery: What led to the death of Lydia Lee, a sixteen-year-old honor student with (supposedly) everything to live for? In reality, the m... | [] | 159420571X | 159420571X | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,403,462,960,000 | 424 | false |
4 | Superb exploration, but no final answers | Katherine Howe's "Conversion" is an exploration of two parallel stories: the Salem, Massachusetts witch trials of the late 17th century, and the appearance of a mysterious "illness," or symptoms that come suddenly upon the (mostly) senior girls attending an exclusive Catholic prep school, loosely based ... | [] | 0399167773 | 0399167773 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,401,561,960,000 | 7 | false |
5 | Engaging and compelling | Count me among those who were immediately involved in E. Lockhart's "We Were Liars." Readers both young and old will be captivated by the characters and the superb writing, which combines everyday life with a hint of magical realism.<br /><br />As other reviewers have noted, the plot revolves around the Sinclair famil... | [] | 038574126X | 038574126X | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,401,295,590,000 | 78 | false |
5 | Perfect "Welcome to the World" gift for parents of a new baby | I was confident that National Geographic would do a stellar job in presenting a unique baby book, and I was not disappointed. The photography alone makes this book a treasure, in itself well worth the price; the accompanying quotations and poems are of highest quality as well. Everything you would expect to find in a... | [] | 142621314X | 142621314X | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,397,927,667,000 | 2 | false |
5 | Fantastic gift for a new baby | I absolutely loved this picture book. With starkly lovely illustrations and a minimum of words, the author takes us through the first year in the life of a baby robin, and by analogy, the growing up and launching of a child. As I "read" this book, I marveled at the ways a parent or teacher could engage a child in its... | [] | 1442489715 | 1442489715 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,394,379,753,000 | 8 | false |
5 | Thank goodness for old textbooks | In a recent purge of our bookshelves, my husband, a retired math teacher, donated his copy of this book to our local library. Of course, six months later he wanted it back, and we were fortunate to find this copy on Amazon. It has no bells and whistles, no colorful pictures or cutesy approaches, just clear, direct ex... | [] | B0000CJ5M5 | B0000CJ5M5 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,393,955,572,000 | 9 | true |
4 | Very good, but know what you are getting before you buy | "No Book but the World" is a a very thoughtful, philosophical novel that is on its surface a family saga/crime story, but is in reality a meditation on the limits of human freedom and the existence of free will. The main characters, all adults, are brother and sister Ava and Fred, and their childhood friends K... | [] | 1594486034 | 1594486034 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,390,407,053,000 | 29 | false |
5 | Well-written Hospital Suspense Drama | "Doing Harm" is Kelly Parsons first novel, and it is the best novel I have read since "Defending Jacob."<br /><br />Steve Mitchell is a chief resident in surgery and is the supervisor of a group of medical students at Boston University Hospital, a teaching hospital associated with BU. Steve, who is in ... | [] | 1250033470 | 1250033470 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,388,622,677,000 | 3 | false |
5 | Fascinating book for Everyone | I have been a huge fan of Lonely Planet guidebooks ever since I first ordered one on Rome with kids as the target audience. I like the adult Lonely Planet guides, too, but when it comes to children, no one does it better than Lonely Planet. So when I had the chance to review this book, I jumped at it, and I was not d... | [] | 174321734X | 174321734X | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,384,964,536,000 | 5 | false |
5 | Excellent guidebook | I ordered this guidebook, Lonely Planet Hawaii, because my husband and I took an all-too-short trip to Hawaii earlier this year, and we are both eager to go back and experience our 50th state in a little more depth than we did the first time around. I was hoping that this guidebook would help, and I was not disappoint... | [] | 1742204155 | 1742204155 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,382,451,410,000 | 11 | false |
5 | Superb supplement to your new Apple laptop | Like the many other "Teach Yourself Visually" books, "MacBook Pro" is an excellent book for anyone who has or is planning to get an Apple laptop but may want some help finding out about and navigating all that it has to offer.<br /><br />"MacBook Pro" is set up logically, and the reader can easi... | [] | 1118383273 | 1118383273 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,380,386,247,000 | 3 | true |
5 | Simply fantastic | This is the latest of several "Teach Yourself Visually" books that my husband and I have ordered to help us use our electronic devices more fully. Like the others, "iPhoto for iPad" does not disappoint. In my opinion, these books are all you will ever need to help you use your devices more effectively.<br /><br />Fir... | [] | 1118443608 | 1118443608 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,380,311,907,000 | 1 | false |
5 | Heartwarming tales for dog lovers | Anyone who loves dogs will love and appreciate this book. "Devoted" tells the brief stories of 38 dogs and their human companions, and each one celebrates the bond that we humans have with our dogs.<br /><br />I enjoyed all the stories, but I was especially touched by the story of Schoep (which I think is pronounced "... | [] | 1426211589 | 1426211589 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,380,310,163,000 | 69 | false |
5 | Inspiring story of a gifted teacher | Let me say at the outset that I am a retired English teacher, and I love books about school and inspiring teachers. When the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book was offered, I accepted with enthusiasm, and I was not disappointed.<br /><br />"Drama High" is the story of the kind of teacher any parent wishe... | [] | 1594488223 | 1594488223 | AGWGMDSRIXUSGG3AVYX65RVPWCLQ | 1,379,777,272,000 | 6 | false |
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