Reviews

Want to know what our librarians and staff are reading? Browse through a variety of reviews added to our catalog from a variety of genres.

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Across the Nightingale Floor by Hearn, Lian

★★★★★

Reviewed by Teresa G on Dec 30, 2010

Excellent! Set in an imaginary land based on feudal Japan--Takeo is saved from the evil Iida Sadamu by Shigeru Otori who then adopts Takeo. Planning revenge for the deaths of family members both Shigeru and Takeo move closer to Lord Iida in order to carry out their plan. However, Takeo is claimed by the mysterious and powerful Tribe. This was a marvelous book--full of strong characters, strong emotions and unusual plot twists.

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The saskiad by Hall, Brian, 1959-

★★☆☆☆

Reviewed by Teresa G on Dec 30, 2010

At times a humorous and entertaining story of a young girl growing up in rural New York state. Her mom lives on an ex-commune and her dad has long abandoned them. Saskia and Jane Singh become good friends and, when Saskia's long absent father returns to her life, the two girls take a trip with him. Jane and Saskia's dad become lovers (Saskia is 12 and Jane is 13) and when they return to New York trouble begins.

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The weight of silence by Gudenkauf, Heather.

★★★☆☆

Reviewed by Teresa G on Dec 30, 2010

Told from various viewpoints, this book chronicles what happens when two young girls go missing from their homes on the same day. One of the girls has been taken into the woods by her abusive father. Readers are not sure what has happened to the other girl. Very good, but went on perhaps a bit too long. Well done ending--the abusive husband/father is shot, but not by the Sheriff who was the childhood sweetheart of the mother of the child (who is selectively mute) who is taken into the woods by her father. Both children live although one has been brutally beaten and raped by a family friend.

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A virtuous woman. by Gibbons, Kaye.

★★★★☆

Reviewed by Teresa G on Dec 30, 2010

This short, but moving, book is about two people who live in the rural south. Ruby is twenty years younger than her husband, Jack. At age 45 she dies of lung cancer. The story of their marriage and life together is told in bits and pieces. One chapter is told by Ruby, the next by Jack. from the beginning it is known that Ruby is dead so the stories are even sadder. It is a touching and bittersweet story.

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Bonjour, Bette?-Lu by Ghirelli, Florence Mary Sanson, Countess.

★★★★☆

Reviewed by Teresa G on Dec 30, 2010

Countess Ghirelli,a Chestnut Hill native, writes about the winter she took her cat, Bette-Lu, to vacation in the South of France.

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In pursuit of the proper sinner by George, Elizabeth, 1949-

★★☆☆☆

Reviewed by Teresa G on Dec 30, 2010

Mostly long and boring mystery set in England. A beautiful young woman and a teenage boy are murdered out on the moor. What is the connection between them?

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The serpent's tale by Franklin, Ariana.

★★★★★

Reviewed by Teresa G on Dec 30, 2010

Dr. Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar is back again, this time to determine who poisoned King Henry II’s mistress, Rosamund. Was it Henry’s Queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine? Full of wonderful historical detail, this book continues the exploits of Adelia, her Arab servant, Mansur and other wonderful characters introduced in Mistress of the Art of Death.

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Grave goods by Franklin, Ariana.

★★★★☆

Reviewed by Teresa G on Dec 29, 2010

Dr. Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar is, once again, commissioned by King Henry II of England to investigate a mystery. This time Adelia must determine if the skeletal remains found in the recently destroyed Glastonbury Abbey are those of Arthur and his queen, Guinevere. Once again the historical details make the story as does the strong female character, Adelia. Not as compelling as the other books in the series, this is still an interesting and fun read.

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Mistress of the art of death by Franklin, Ariana.

★★★★★

Reviewed by Teresa G on Dec 29, 2010

Dr.Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar is commissioned in secret by King Henry II of England to investigate a series of child murders in Cambridge. Adelia has been trained as a doctor in her home of Salerno. Her unorthodox techniques which include close scrutiny of the bodies of the victims are unusual, but lead to the murderer. While the mystery is thoroughly engaging it is the unique and memorable character of Adelia that makes this book compelling to read. The historical setting is well-researched and the other characters are also well-drawn. I can’t wait for more of Adelia’s adventures.

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Girl with a pearl earring by Chevalier, Tracy.

★★★★★

Reviewed by Teresa G on Dec 29, 2010

One of the most beautifully written books I've ever read, this is the story of Griet who goes to work in the household of the famous painter, Vermeer. She is awed by the master's art and eventually he allows her to assist him in his studio. Griet is one of those characters who stays with the reader long after the book is finished. Deeply moving, this is a book that isn't to be missed.

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In a dark wood by Cadnum, Michael.

★★★★★

Reviewed by Teresa G on Dec 29, 2010

A new twist on the legend of Robin Hood, this beautifully written storu is told from the Sheriff's perspective and makes him a good guy and Robin Hood even better. Loved it!

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Blood harvest by Bolton, S. J.

★★★☆☆

Reviewed by Teresa G on Dec 29, 2010

A bit of a horror tale with incest and child murder set in a British town. Interesting love interest between the new-to-town Vicar and a physically disabled psychiatrist. Some tense and suspenseful moments, but not enough to compensate for the outlandish ending.

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Midnight in the garden of good and evil : a Savannah story by Berendt, John, 1939-

★☆☆☆☆

Reviewed by Teresa G on Dec 29, 2010

Supposedly a gripping true tale of murder in Savannah in 1981, this book actually isn't centered around the murder at all. In fact only about 25% of it actually deals with the crime. The rest of the book drones on endlessly about life in Savannah and the exploits of several eccentric characters who live there. I found it boring, stupid and offensive. I can't believe it was on the NY Times Bestseller List for over two years.

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Witchcraze : a new history of the European witch hunts by Barstow, Anne Llewellyn.

★★★★☆

Reviewed by Teresa G on Dec 29, 2010

Fascinating, well-written and thoroughly researched this book details the mass persecution of women in Europe from 1560-1760. Political, social and religious causes are discussed.
Bittersweet by Barr, Nevada.

★★★★★

Reviewed by Teresa G on Dec 29, 2010

Beautifully written, Nevada Barr's first novel, set in Pennsylvania and Nevada in the 1870s, is the story of Imogene and Sarah and their love for one another. At a time when women were not allowed to function on their own and love between women was socially taboo, Imogene and Sarah have to be creative and daring in order to share their life together.

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Aquamarine by Anshaw, Carol, 1946-

★★★★★

Reviewed by Teresa G on Dec 29, 2010

Jesse, a silver medalist in the 1968 Olympics, is shown as three different people, living three different lives. Thought-provoking and original, the reader can’t help but wonder, “How would my life be different if I had made different choices?”

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The Wolf Hunt by Bradshaw, Gillian

★★★★☆

Reviewed by Teresa G on Dec 29, 2010

Set in medieval France (1099) this story is full of strong, well-developed characters, intrigue, and suspense. Tiarnan of Talensac is a werewolf. When his shallow new bride discovers his secret, she conspires with a former suitor to trap him in his animal form. The two then have him declared dead, marry, and take over his land. A bright, independent young woman, Marie Penthievre, who once was rescued by Tiarnan is the only person who can put all the pieces together in order to expose the plot and save Tiarnan.

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Seven moves by Anshaw, Carol, 1946-

★★★★★

Reviewed by Teresa G on Dec 29, 2010

Christine Snow is a Chicago therapist whose partner of four years, Taylor, just vanishes one morning. Taylor, a photographer, walks out of the house one morning and never returns. As Chris searches for her she begins to understand that she never really knew Taylor. The Taylor she lived with, shared a house, a dog, a life with was only one small projected image of the real Taylor. Their relationship, which seemed so solid, makes the thought of Taylor just disappearing seem unbelievable. The reader is compelled to be with Chris as she hunts for clues to the mystery. Compact and stunning writing make for a powerful book with characters that are not soon forgotten.
Doomsday book by Willis, Connie.

★★★★★

Reviewed by Teresa G on Dec 29, 2010

Time travel done right. Historians from 21st century Oxford must undergo rigorous training before traveling back in time so they can fit into the time and culture they are researching. Kivrin has traveled back to 14th century Britain, a time devastated by the bubonic plague. A crisis, also the result of an pandemic, in Oxford strands Kivrin in a dangerous and dark time period.

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All clear by Willis, Connie.

★★★★★

Reviewed by Teresa G on Dec 29, 2010

Polly, Michael and Eileen must somehow figure out a way to get back to 2060 Oxford from WW II Britain. Mr. Dunworthy must find a way to get to WW II Britain to rescue Polly and the other time travelers. Because of events changed by their presence, the three historians wonder if they have, somehow, changed the outcome of the war. Just as well researched and written as Blackout, this book keeps the reader breathless with anticipation. Will Polly, Michael, Eileen and Mr. Dunworthy make it back to Oxford?

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Reviews

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Across the Nightingale Floor by Hearn, Lian

The saskiad by Hall, Brian, 1959-

The weight of silence by Gudenkauf, Heather.

A virtuous woman. by Gibbons, Kaye.

Bonjour, Bette?-Lu by Ghirelli, Florence Mary Sanson, Countess.

In pursuit of the proper sinner by George, Elizabeth, 1949-

The serpent's tale by Franklin, Ariana.

Grave goods by Franklin, Ariana.

Mistress of the art of death by Franklin, Ariana.

Girl with a pearl earring by Chevalier, Tracy.

In a dark wood by Cadnum, Michael.

Blood harvest by Bolton, S. J.

Midnight in the garden of good and evil : a Savannah story by Berendt, John, 1939-

Witchcraze : a new history of the European witch hunts by Barstow, Anne Llewellyn.

Bittersweet by Barr, Nevada.

Aquamarine by Anshaw, Carol, 1946-

The Wolf Hunt by Bradshaw, Gillian

Seven moves by Anshaw, Carol, 1946-

Doomsday book by Willis, Connie.

All clear by Willis, Connie.