Scan barcode
cmclarabee's reviews
577 reviews
The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman
3.5
This felt a little heavy-handed and melodramatic at times, but I still enjoyed it. I haven't read The Scarlet Letter in decades, so any aspects that bothered Hawthorne afficianados were pretty much lost on me.
Old God's Time by Sebastian Barry
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Beautiful. Distressing. Vexing. The line between real and imagined things is quite blurry for Tom Kettle, who often refers to himself as old, though he’s only 66. I found not knowing what was real frustrating as a reader, but I was also captivated by Barry’s language and drawn into the often terrible story. Gorgeous writing about “egregious” things and the solace of knowing love and safety.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Child death, Child abuse, and Suicide
Dirty Laundry by Disha Bose
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
So many angles to this one. Intense!
The Hunter by Tana French
5.0
Fabulous. Just when I thought it was moving a bit too slowly, French picked up the pace, and the revelations. She also left me hopeful that she might return to these characters and Ardnakelty again.
After Annie by Anna Quindlen
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
So glad to enjoy a new Anna Quindlen novel after many years. She’s always insightful in her family microcosms, and looks for the good. Amen!
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
1.5
It’s always hard to take when I don’t like a book that has gotten near universal acclaim, but this one is beyond the beyond. I forced myself to finish it, but am not really glad that I did. Unremittingly grim with positively operatic high drama at the end. Was the writing good? There was so much too much of it that I don’t even know.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Physical abuse and Alcoholism