Book Review: The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet
Jacob de Zoet was a young Dutchman, a clerk, who fell in love with a beautiful young woman. They planned to marry, but her wealthy
March 11, 2013
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Gilead and Home, two books by Marilynne Robinson
Gilead is a Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Marilynne Robinson. The book has been around for some time, published in 2004. I remember people talking
September 24, 2012
Beginner’s Greek
by James Collins Beginner’s Greek is a romantic comedy. It is light and frothy and requires that you take leave of the humdrum, everyday world
August 12, 2012
The Orphan Master’s Son
Adam Johnson Citizens, here is an important message for everyone to hear. Run; do not walk, to your favorite bookstore, web site, or library,
May 17, 2012
Pigeon Enlgish
by Stephen Kelman “Advise yourself.” This is a book that may break your heart, but you will enjoy every minute of it. When I read
May 8, 2012
To The Lighthouse by Virginia Wolf
To the Lighthouse is a story in three parts. In Part I the Ramsay family have traveled as usual to spend the summer at
April 29, 2012
The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold by Evelyn Waugh
Gilbert Pinfold was a British writer of some renown. In his younger days he was very engaged with life and enjoyed being out and about
April 16, 2012
Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier
Tracy Chevalier is a writer of historical fiction. She has a fine ability of bringing to life various periods of history, joining real people and
March 20, 2012
The Night Train by Clyde Edgerton
Larry Lime (Real name: Larry Lime Beacon of Time Reckoning Breathe on Me Nolan) was a teenager from a small town in North Carolina called
March 12, 2012
The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht
Somewhere in the Balkans soon after the end of a recent war, two young doctors make their way across the new border in the middle
February 22, 2012
I, Claudius From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius Born B.C. X Murdered and Deified A.D. LIV by Robert Graves
I have been reading about political corruption, malfeasance, immorality, nepotism, child abuse, cruelty… No, it wasn’t the latest edition of The Washington Post. It was
February 13, 2012
90 Minutes In Heaven by Don Piper
90 Minutes In Heaven is not the kind of book I would usually read, much less review. Although I believe in life after death, I
February 3, 2012
Bel Canto
by Ann Patchett In the novel Bel Canto we are introduced to a diverse cast of characters: Mr. Hosokawa is the CEO of a
November 8, 2011
A Fraction of the Whole
by Steve Toltz About the most concise and accurate assessment I could give about this book is: It is really, really funny. I laughed and
October 17, 2011
The Blind Assassin
by Margaret Atwood “Ten days after the war ended, my sister Laura drove a car off a bridge.” Suicide? Accident? What happened? This intriguing book
October 3, 2011
Corduroy Mansions
by Alexander McCall Smith It is always good news when Alexander McCall Smith creates a new series. I am a big fan of this writer
September 27, 2011
The Gravedigger’s Daughter
by Joyce Carol Oates Jacob and Anna Schwart escaped Nazi Germany with their two young sons and made the arduous trip across the Atlantic in
September 19, 2011
Death in Holy Orders
by P. D. James St. Anselms is a seminary of the High Anglican church located on a wild and lonely stretch of coastline in East
September 5, 2011
Parrot and Olivier in America
by Peter Carey Parrot & Oliver in America is a wonderful book. The writing is incredible. It jumps off the page and wraps itself around
August 18, 2011
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less
Author: Terry Ryan Review: Cathie H. The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio is a wonderful story of strength and courage in the face of serious
August 8, 2011
The Forgotten Garden
by Kate Morton A little girl, four years old, arrives in Australia on a ship that has come from England. She is alone and has
July 12, 2011
The Stolen Child
By Keith Donohue When a child is stolen by the fairies, he remains forever a child until the time comes—maybe 100 years later—when he can
June 28, 2011
Let the Great World Spin
by Colum McCann The year is 1974. It is morning on a hot August day. People are rushing to their workplaces or rushing home from
June 23, 2011
The Ice Road
by Stefan Weydenfeld On August 23, 1939, Germany and Russia signed a secret non-aggression treaty known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. According to the terms of
March 29, 2011
The Middle Heart
Bette Bao Lord Three unlikely friends forge a bond of loyalty and duty to country that they will remember all their lives in this poignant
March 21, 2011
the Library: Wolf Hall
by Hilary Mantel The world of the English Tudors, particularly that of Henry VIII, is well-known to most of us. We studied about it in
February 15, 2011
Christmas Reads!!!
A few days until Christmas, and Cathie H provides you with a great list of novels and short stories to keep you in the spirit!
December 14, 2010
The Mystery of Holy Night
Dietrich Bonhoeffer Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German theologian and pastor who is probably best known for his courageous opposition to Adolph Hitler in Germany. He
December 6, 2010
Reading Lolita in Tehran
In this season when we focus on all the blessings we have received, we can never forget or take for granted the freedoms that we
November 22, 2010
The Tale of Hill Top Farm
By Susan Wittig Albert Picture the English Lake District; the rolling hills and sparkling lakes under a vivid blue sky. Of course, plump white sheep
November 7, 2010
Noah’s Compass
“Face it: I haven’t exactly covered myself with glory. I just don’t seem to have the hang of things somehow. It’s as if I’ve never
August 30, 2010
The 2½ Pillars of Wisdom (The Von Igelfeld Trilogy)
by Alexander McCall Smith The summer will soon be over. You have read mysteries, novels of romance and intrigue. You have even read some fine
August 9, 2010
A Movable Feast
“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man then wherever you go for the rest of your life it
July 19, 2010
The Lacuna
“Laguna? The lagoon? No, lacuna. He said it means a different thing from lagoon. Not a cave exactly but an opening, like a mouth that
June 30, 2010