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The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews
Davida Chazan's Blog for mostly book reviews and literary musings (and maybe some chocolate).
My Name is Lucy Barton
I know it's early, but here's a novel that I'm already certain will rank high on my "top 2016 books" list next year. Read my review here to find out why this book should be your first read of the New Year. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2015/12/20/depths-in-simplicity/
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend
They say, "There’s a book for every person ... and a person for every book." Apparently, that's universal, and applies to the likes of unassuming Sara from Sweden, as well as to the inhabitants of the tiny Iowa town of Broken Wheel. Read more about this charming book in my review. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2016/01/06/nothing-lost-in-translation/
What the Lady Wants: A Novel of Marshall Field and the Gilded Age
If you're as fascinated by historical fiction that delves into the woman behind the man as I am, then this story about Delia Spencer Caton Field, the woman Marshall Field loved and the scandal that their relationship caused, is just right for you. Read my review of this book here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2015/11/21/the-merchant-princes-woman/
The Heart Goes Last
Charmaine and Stan are sick and tired of being homeless, unemployed and hungry. So much so, that they're willing to sign their whole lives away for jobs and a home, but at what price? Read my review of Margaret Atwood's latest speculative fiction book here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2015/09/19/positron-not-positive/
Foreign Bodies
When Bea reluctantly agrees to get involved in getting her nephew to return home, she ends up traveling far more afield than just from her solitary life in 1950s New York. Read my review of this Orange Prize winning novel here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2015/07/03/overtures-with-a-nightingale/
The Room
This fascinating little novel is a speculative fiction study about fitting in vs. being different, that's witty, surreal and thought provoking. Read my full review here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2015/06/02/in-his-own-space/
Various Pets Alive and Dead
Once again, Marina Lewycka brings us a hodge-podge cast of highly flawed characters and puts them into a slew of sticky situations for yet another wild romp of a story. You can read my review of this fabulously fun novel here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2015/05/26/a-socially-capital-laugh/
The Children's Crusade: A Novel
While beautifully written with fascinating characters, Ann Packer's latest novel seems to be missing something. Read my review of this novel here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2015/04/17/odd-one-out/
How To Be A Heroine: Or, what I’ve learned from reading too much
If you've ever read a story or novel and thought the heroine's life was like your own, or wanted your life to be like it (or the opposite), you should read this book. To find out why, read my review here https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2015/03/27/finding-a-fictional-role-model/
Getting Us Up Close and Deserving Your Undivided Attention
Here is a book for which it is almost impossible to write a plot synopsis. Like many of Ondaatje's other works, this doesn't have narrative that follows conventional literary patterns or rules. Although there is an overall linear aspect to the novel, the general feeling is more of a shifting spiral. I'm sorry if this doesn't make sense, but I can't help what I feel about a piece of art.
The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy
In this companion novel to Harold Fry, Joyce cements herself as an amazing talent. You can read my review of this novel here https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2015/02/14/the-other-side-of-a-journey/
The Rosie Project
Touted as the "feel good" book of 2013, I tend to agree! You can read my review here: https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2014/12/23/the-science-of-love/
The Brotherhood of Book Hunters
Poet François Villon is about to be put to death, but a group of people, many in high places, have other plans for him and his love for the written word. Rescued at the last moment, he enters into a wide-reaching strategy to undermine the Papacy, which will take him on an eternal journey. You can read my full review here https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2014/12/16/the-army-for-enlightenment/
The Perfect Mother: A Novel
What would you do if your daughter were half a world away and accused of murder? Could you be the perfect mother, supportive and believing, even when things don't add up? Read my review of this mystery/character study novel, here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2014/11/18/a-mother-and-a-mystery/
Rodin's Lover
This beautifully rendered story is about Camille Claudel, the woman who inspired and challenged Auguste Rodin's talent and emotions, with a level of passion and genius all her own. Read my review of this amazing historical fiction novel here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2014/11/04/the-cast-and-curse-of-genius/
The Boston Girl: A Novel
While this is a charming story and beautifully written, after I got to know the protagonist, I wanted more than this book gave me. You can read my review of this novel here https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2014/11/21/the-making-of-a-remarkable-woman/
