Our Book Review List
At Cents & Sensibility we are all avid readers. The book swapping is fast and furious in our office. We thought it would be fun for us to share our thoughts on some of our favorite books with you.
The Saving Graces by Patricia Gaffney
Reviewed by Laurie Rea
My thanks to Liz Hatch for her recommendation of this book. I just loved it. It’s a great story about four women who have been meeting each week over the last ten years. They call themselves the “Saving Graces” and have become the best of friends. These are real women with flaws and all. Each chapter is narrated by one of the “Graces” giving us their own unique perspective. It’s difficult not to become emotionally involved in this story because you can relate to each of their ups and downs. They help each other through all the significant events of the lives: marriage, divorce, sickness, etc. You’ll definitely laugh with them and you’re definitely going to cry with them as their incredible bond will eventually be put to the test. These are four very unforgettable women. I actually didn’t want this book to end.
When the Elephants Dance by Tess Uriza Holthe
Reviewed by Sharon Almeida
This story unfolds in the Philippines towards the end of World War II as a group of neighbors huddle in a basement trying to avoid detection by the patrolling Japanese army. As they struggle to survive, these neighbors begin to tell of their life stories including the influence of the Spanish occupation and the Catholic Church. The author cleverly weaves in the stories of a brother and sister and a guerilla fighter who bravely try to save their family members and friends. This is a beautiful story showing both the good and bad side of humanity as well as the devastation of war. This was one of my favorite books this year.
The Book Of Joe by Jonathan Tropper
Reviewed by Laurie Rea
The reviews are pretty much right on target with this book. You’ll either find Joe selfish or just misunderstood. I weighed in at misunderstood.
Joe wrote a best-selling novel based on his teen years in Bush Falls, Connecticut. It was so successful that it was also made into a movie. Unfortunately for Joe, the townspeople from Bush Falls don’t appreciate that he revealed their deep dark secrets and when he returns to his hometown, years later, to see his dying father, he has to face their animosity head on. It starts with a flying milkshake thrown by the coach’s wife and ends with a cockatoo calling it like it is. (You’ll have to read the book!)
Despite the laugh out loud moments, this book really does have a serious side. There are some very touching moments between Joe, his family, and friends. Joe wrote his scathing novel for a couple of reasons: because he felt like an outcast in his family and for what happened with his two buddies. When he left his hometown, he was hurt. You can agree with his motives or not. Joe is still trying to come to terms with that himself.
The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant
Reviewed by Sharon Almeida
This story was riveting from the initial preface of the story. (My thanks goes out to Gail van Adelsberg for her recommendation.) Less than three pages into it, I literally could not put down this book. The protagonist is the daughter of a wealthy merchant in Italy during the Renaissance. Alessandra is initially sheltered from the real world. Like most teenagers, she wants to be all grown up and escape from her cloistered life and the control of her parents. But all too soon she is thrust into an arranged marriage to a wealthy, older man even though she pines after a poor artist she thinks may be her soul mate. As Alessandra matures, she experiences life with all its complications and emotions and makes decisions that kept me captivated page after page with an ending that I did not see coming (even though the book starts at the end!)
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Reviewed by Laurie Rea
If you like a good mystery, then you’ll enjoy this book. It’s a mystery within a mystery with lots of twists and turns. I must admit when I first started reading this book, I wasn’t sure I was going to finish it. It started out a pretty slow for me as it was setting up the premise and I just couldn’t figure out where the author was going. As it turned out, I was pleasantly surprised.
Daniel Sempere’s father takes him to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books where, according to tradition, he must choose a book so that it will always stay alive and never disappear. He chooses “The Shadow of the Wind” by Julian Carax. Daniel becomes fascinated with the book and its author. When he tries to find other books written by Carax, he discovers that most of the books have been stolen and burned. Daniel is determined to find out why and to find out what happened to the mysterious author.
Adding an element of humor to all of the suspense is Fermin Romero de Torres, Daniel’s friend, who is helping him in his search. I’m not exactly sure how to describe Fermin, except to say that I think he’ll keep you quite entertained with his very colorful “turn of the phrase”.
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