There is just something about this novel that sticks with me. I read an audio version that was extremely well narrated by Michelle H. Lee. Park has a double meaning. It's the name of the ritzy street in Manhattan and the name of the obscenely wealthy and, if possible, the more obscenely dysfunctional family that … Continue reading Park Avenue – Renee Ahdieh (Audio Narrator Michelle H. Lee)
Category: Book Reviews
My Friends – Fredrik Backman
Fredrik Backman is a stunning writer. I rarely highlight what I am reading, even when I love the writing and even though, because they are e-books, I am not damaging a paperback or hardcover version of a novel. There is something about the way Backman thinks as he creates, once again, unforgettable characters that makes … Continue reading My Friends – Fredrik Backman
The Red House – Mary Morris (Audio Narrator – Alyssa Bresnahan)
The Red House is a story about trauma and a child's search to learn about her mother's experiences during WWII in Mussolini's Italy. Laura was born in post-WWII Italy to Viola, an Italian woman and her American father. The family eventually moved to New Jersey. Viola was an artist, who frequently painted a red house … Continue reading The Red House – Mary Morris (Audio Narrator – Alyssa Bresnahan)
The Mantis – Kotoro Isaka (Audio narrated by Brian Nishii and Pun Bandhu)
I am so sad to read the last of the Assassin series by Kotaro Isaka. I came upon them on Audible and each was original, funny, gruesome but not graphic, and found a way to both make us appreciate good versus bad assassins, We ansi learn about the way they become "stuck" in this career. … Continue reading The Mantis – Kotoro Isaka (Audio narrated by Brian Nishii and Pun Bandhu)
Didn’t You Used to be Queenie Bee? – Terri-Lynne DeFino (Audio Narrator – Eva Kaminsky)
Didn't You Used to Be Queenie B. exceeded my expectations! I liked the concept, but how Terri-Lynne DeFino writes this story kept me engaged in listening to the audio version in the car in front of the house. Eva Kaminsky did a nice job with the narration. Gale Carmichael lives with his childhood friend, Kyle … Continue reading Didn’t You Used to be Queenie Bee? – Terri-Lynne DeFino (Audio Narrator – Eva Kaminsky)
The Road to Tender Hearts – Annie Hartnett
Annie Hartnett just blew me away again with her story about a 63 year old guy kind of on his last legs, a cat named Pancakes, two little kids he unexpectedly acquires due to a tragedy and his ex-wife and younger daughter. The whole story turns into a ridiculous roadtrip that happens on a whim … Continue reading The Road to Tender Hearts – Annie Hartnett
Daughters – Kirsty Capes (Audio narrators Ryan Laughton and Amber Gadd)
Daughters is a well told story about a dysfunctional family. As far as the reader can tell, putting everything together, Ingrid Olssen never wanted her two daughters. Lots of evidence supporting this comes through in this story that takes place two years after Ingrid's death but involves a lot of stories from many perspectives about … Continue reading Daughters – Kirsty Capes (Audio narrators Ryan Laughton and Amber Gadd)
The Impossible Thing – Belinda Bauer
The characters and the story crafted around wild bird egg collecting are stunningly well written. It opens in the present day with someone named Garrett trying to catch a man named Barr as he digs up some sort of contraband. They show up much later on and all is explained. Then, we are on a … Continue reading The Impossible Thing – Belinda Bauer
The Heartbeat Library – Laura Imai Messina (audio narrator Kenichiro Thomson)
The Heartbeat Library is a lovely novel centering on Shuichi, a well-known children's book illustrator, who returns to his childhood home after his mother's death. Along with the home, he seems to have inherited an 8 year old neighbor, Kente. The little boy was close to Shuichi's mother, who helped him with homework. His parents … Continue reading The Heartbeat Library – Laura Imai Messina (audio narrator Kenichiro Thomson)
Nobody’s Fool – Harlan Coben
Harlan Coben brings us a second novel starring Sami Kierce, a former Manhattan detective who lost his job because of inappropriate approaches to his investigations. I really enjoyed the plot, characters and writing in this novel. Coben never disappoints, but this time, he wowed me! Sami graduated from a prestigious private school where he was … Continue reading Nobody’s Fool – Harlan Coben
They Called me Bookworm 