Book Review: Provenance

Provenance by Ann Leckie This book has a much lighter feel than the Ancillary Justice books. It starts out with Ingray, a young foster-daughter of an important politician trying to do something daring and risky in order to win her mother’s favor. Pretty soon there’s mistaken identity, a murder mystery, stolen artifacts, secret romances, sibling …

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Book Review: After You

After You by Jojo Moyes If every novel aims to tell an interesting story about believable, likable characters, this novel succeeds admirably. I’d listened to the first more than a year ago, and this audiobook has the same fantastic narrator. Louisa Clark can be quite infuriating, as she is her own worst enemy, but she’s …

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Book Review: Mister Owita’s Guide to Gardening

Mister Owita’s Guide to Gardening: How I Learned the Unexpected Joy of a Green Thumb and an Open Heart by Carol Wall The best thing I can say about this book is that it made me cry. I suppose that’s not too hard, because I cry easily, especially when the subject matter (people getting cancer …

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Book Review: A Great and Terrible Beauty

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray This book had a few rough patches and a few bursts of brilliance that evened each other out. I liked this book overall, especially for the surprising feminist undertones, but it had a rough start. It starts out in India, on the day of Gemma’s 16th birthday, …

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Book Review: Big Little Lies

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty Who would have thought that a story about gossip and kindergarten mothers could be so dark and suspenseful? What really cinches this book as a standout example of its genre are the solidly constructed characters and the successful interview-style framing. The sideline interviews with different characters not only heighten …

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