Member Profile
| Name : | Peggy K. |
| Gender : | Female |
My Reviews
Book depicts long-term effect of decisions made and actions taken--whether purposeful or unintended. Written with humor, self-deprecation and vulnerability it shows the consequences of secrets kept and those confessed.
Historical fiction about Texas at the turn of the 20th century and one girl's journey to her true self.
A story both beautiful and frustrating, as Stevens devotes his life to professional commitment and formality at the loss of intimate and loving relationships.
Fiona is a gifted woman--genius as a judge and artistic as a musician, but has somehow lost her ability to connect with compassion and empathy on a personal level. This leads to a life crisis and tragedy.
Ripped from the headlines story of a young woman's kidnapping and confinement for seven years as told by her 5-year old son.
Compelling historical fiction that brings together two women from different time periods who share similar experiences. Their intertwining stories inspire each to resolution of past hurts and optimism for the future.
Not for the faint of heart. A graphic, disturbing novel of damaged characters attempting to eradicate the invisible monsters within themselves and those who have caused them pain.
Parents trying too hard to realize their dreams through one child at the expense of the others, never explaining their motivations and oblivious of needs of all. Tragedy ensues. A study in how-not-to-parent.
Not well written, but dramatic depiction of the life of a woman in the Mideast--lack of opportunities, freedom, and potential of extreme punishment are way of life.
Beautifully written coming-of-age story involving two young people from diverse backgrounds set during the time of WWII.
Not one of Anne Tyler's best efforts. The usual quirky, dysfunctional family slice of life, but without the thread that draws them all together. The title is hardly touched on. It probably should have been named "The Whitshank House".
Ove appears to be a grumpy, intolerant, anti-social man, hiding his true nature of generosity, kindness and sacrifice. Laugh out loud funny at times and heart-rending at others, this is a story of redemption and love.
Group felt this book's story was overshadowed by writer's ego, that is was a bit too "textbook", and overly detailed--so slow.
Entertaining book with many twists and turns. Suspend reality and logic for best reading experience.
An historic account of the building of the Chicago World's Fair and the serial killer who lurked in its shadow--a very detailed, but informative account of that period in history.
The 20th book in the China Bayles mystery series and a departure from lead character China to Sheila. I prefer the story of China and her family and friends, but I have read the entire series and enjoy the mysteries and the setting in central Texas.
A life-changing walk across England changes Harold's perceptions of his life, marriage and friendships.
A book with many twists and women characters who are both unlikable and compelling.
An interesting story of the experiences of women living in the compound of Los Alamos during the secret development project that resulted in the atom bomb.
One woman's journey to find her true self and discover a family she didn't know she had; a wonderful story of family life leading up to and during WWII.
A book written in short stories that bring all the characters together in an epic dinner.
Characters and location very well described; loved Paris location. Intriguing story though some elements left unresolved. Plan to read additional books in series.
A dark story about slavery in many forms--addiction, unscrupulous businesses, and self-imposed. Not an easy or comfortable read, but very well-written and characters well-developed.
A beautifully written story of love, betrayal and hope coupled with medical drama in a place and time of cultural and historical significance.
An adventure story of one man's quest to understand and improve the lives of the working elephants in Burma after WWI.
A beautifully written book about two sisters who experienced life in occupied France during World War II--one as a member of the Resistance and one who stayed home and tried to maintain a sense of normalcy for her children. It is an emotional story filled with horror, sacrifice and triumph.
Our book club found the book tried to cover too much information and yet left out a lot of Cal's story after his transition. Less than 50% would recommend to a friend. The discussion, however, was more robust and energetic than usual.
The idea of an actual underground railroad was implausible. Writer did well painting mental picture, although style was disjointed and didn't flow. Characters didn't come alive. Disappointing.
A very graphic and disturbing start to the novel leads to a story of murder committed long ago and at present. Setting of drought in Australia and its effect on the characters is central to the story. Told in flashbacks and true to most mysteries there are a lot of potential perpetrators. Many twists and turns.
A difficult book to read with two parallel stories; one of a Jew Shomer who is former writer of pulp fiction and Wolf, a private eye in London, who just happens to be Hitler after the "fall". It is very violent, explicit sexually and scatological to an extreme. Some members felt the writing was exceptional, but the subject matter shocking.
Family struggles in 1930's Texas during depression and dustbowl highlight the perseverance of three strong and brave women who take risks to support one another. Writing was not as focused as "News of The World" and there were some geographical errors, but overall an optimistic and satisfying story.
Zafon's writing is exquisite; so many quotable quotes. The story was a compelling mystery, sometimes graphically brutal. There is much to be learned in this novel about the history of Spain during Franco and the impact of that brutal regime on each of the characters. The central themes of the book are the importance and value of love and literature.
Book not well written and disjointed in places, but is an eye-opening revelation of the repression of women in Iran. Masih is a feminist/activist/web crusader who displayed bravery and perseverance in the pursuit of personal freedom. She is not a particularly likable character, somewhat a klutz and not cut out for motherhood, but she is driven to find independence and her own special place in the world.
Characters well developed; story well-written. Plot rolled out in very readable chronology. There is much to be learned about eating disorders from the characters and the treatment facility staff.
The Cottage Readers Book Club gives this book 4 stars and recommends this historical fiction novel. Some members were unable to get into it, but those who did found it compelling and intriguing with multiple story lines and a strong main character.
The Balcones Book Club's did not feel this was a good book club book: negative stereotypes, hopelessness, contrived plot, graphic violence and rough language. On the positive side, characters looking for place in changed world with no support system, descriptive expression of the urban Indian experience, and beautifully written, but not for the distracted reader.
Book was well written and very description. Characters were well developed and relatable. Story might have pushed plausibility a bit, but the book club found the book very readable, engaging, and touching.
Book written from three perspectives. It is thought provoking, educational and visceral. Raised awareness, changed perspective. Will never look at a band-aid the same again. Liked the title and the quote that was its basis. Excellent treatise on racism and bias. Ruth very believable character; proud prickly and controlled. Kennedy becomes Ruth's student on the black experience.
Some of the members of our group were offended by the explicitness of the widow's stories, while others found the book delightful. There were many elements of the book--coming of age, cultural enlightenment, mystery, and finding the strength to face fears. Writing the erotic stories allowed the widows to express themselves more deeply; their actions were symbolic of their repression. The widows were funny, endearing, and very creative. Liked the growth in Nikki's character as she learned to accept, empathize and embrace these women.
Most could not finish the book; writing style was difficult and presentation offensive. It is a book about the politics of racial betrayal. There is a lot of vulgarity; the book if not for the faint hearted or light hearted. Lots of great quotes, e.g. "I plead human." It was a hard read; crafting of the book was brilliant.
Book is modern crime fiction overlaid by racial issues. Main character (Daren) has conflicted identify between his black culture and his role as a Texas Ranger. Writer's style calls to mind jazz and the blues. Uncles who raised Daren were on opposite ends of the law ideologically--lawman and lawyer... Plot was complex with many characters, twists and historic connections. Those who did not like the book felt there were too many characters and obscure connections.
Really liked the way the author told each character's story. Identified with Simon and that era in time. Interesting family and sibling dynamics. Thoughtful concept on fate, if we can control our destiny and if there is always an opportunity to change. Some members found the plot confusing and implausible.
This was not a favorite. The members found the plot contrived and the characters unlikeable. Felt that there have been too many recent books in which the female protagonist is an alcoholic, whiny and incapable of making good decisions. On the positive side, some found the mystery intriguing and liked the writer's style of interspersing e-messaging in the story.
Captivating, compelling story with twists, turns and surprises. Issues of PTSD, domestic abuse, and living off the grid. Characters well-developed and writing very descriptive. Large Marge a favorite character. Character of mother immature and selfish. Title very appropriate to the content.
In general the club did not like the book; unrealistic plot and characters. A self-help book on family dynamics. Mystery was like a scavenger hunt created by unsympathetic mother. Dialogue was catchy. Liked all the mystery book references.
The book club was split on book. Some felt is was an unrealistic depiction of the holocaust. The book was written as a screenplay and many of the trite expressions did not fit the era. Basically a love story about a determined man who would do whatever necessary to save himself and his love.
The group liked this suspenseful, psychological thriller and felt the twists and turns kept the reader guessing. The house and the family unit disintegrate in equal measure during the telling of this story. However, the ending indicated chance for hope and family connection.
The group felt the book moved rather slowly until about midway. Characters were well developed and very human. Beautifully written with vibrant prose. Very much a book for music lovers. Would make a great textbook for creative writing class.
Those who listened to the book really like Tom Hanks as narrator and the voice of Danny. Many thought the story sometimes confusing because of the moving back and forth in the timeline. Book is about the relationship between the siblings and their connection to their home (The Dutch House). Characterizations and relationships were very thought provoking. Her writing is very descriptive. Liked the resolution at the end.
A sensational page-turner, heart-rending and brutal--a tale of escape, abandonment, subordinate roles of women and finally of overcoming and self-awareness via education. Sometimes difficult to read because of brutality. Some readers found story exaggerated and implausible. All were impressed with author's tenacity and accomplishment.
Book club members found the book a difficult read due to long stream of consciousness sentences and paragraphs describing the inane. Main character conflicted in all aspects of his life while searching for his identity and place in the world. Some did find nuggets of inspiration--just like visit to dentist, can be painful but rewarding.
Members of the book club found the book well-written, the characters well-developed. We found the writing descriptive and her story believable. We identified with Lydia and were empathetic to her and the other migrants she encountered in her journey. Agreed that it is better to read the book first and form one's own impression before considering the criticisms and controversies of many.
Most members of the book club enjoyed the nostalgic elements of the book, the writing style, the growth of the characters from the beginning of the book and the interweaved stories of each. Criticisms were that it was somewhat of a soap opera, simplistic and that it omitted the racial and war protests occurring at that time.
Members found the writing beautifully done, the plot intriguing and the characters well developed. Criticisms were the denseness of the text, the confusing time line and the changes in characters names.
Book was similar to American Dirt, but lacked the same depth of story and characters. The sub-story about BBQ in Austin was interesting.
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