mkduds's reviews
735 reviews

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

4.0

Audiobook review. Another wonderful family tale from Patchett. There were just so many details that were so captivating: how to make a drink for a drunk, capturing the feeling of being in an empty school, and the devotion you have to your family. 

All-Of-A-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor

5.0

I read this to my two girls and we all enjoyed it. It was fun to read about Jewish traditions in the early 1900s and what remains the same. And there’s very little that I needed to censor due to times changing. 

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

3.0

Audiobook review. Many years ago, someone gave me this book. A dog chewed the cover and maybe some pages and I never read it. Reading it now, I wonder why someone gave it to me. I really don’t like books like this. This one is very well written, but you have to like suspense and people doing the wrong thing.

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

3.0

Audiobook review. I wasn’t really in the mood for the subject of beloved parents dying but Zauner tells the story well. The author narrates well. 

French Braid by Anne Tyler

3.0

Audiobook review. I enjoyed this family tale but it was without much in the way of plot. I kept thinking…is this going to be the twist? What’s the scandal? Are we going to find out what happened? So, it just went along. But, I like dipping into another family for a while. 

The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again by Catherine Price

2.0

Audiobook review. This just felt like a book that could have been an article but someone decided to elongate it into a book. Mnemonics and checklists for having fun - I half-listened. 

Day by Michael Cunningham

4.0

Audiobook review. The conceit of this book was fascinating and innovative. The characters were interesting and also ordinary. Just a well-crafted novel. 

People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present by Dara Horn

3.0

Audiobook review. This was an interesting book. There was a lot that I found interesting and/or profound. I don’t think I understood how this was all related to the title and premise, but it was thought-provoking nonetheless. 

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

5.0

Audiobook review. This book was so affecting. Patchett has a marvelous way of bringing out the emotions in everyday relationships and Streep is an amazing narrator. In many ways, this was a very ordinary tale, but crafted so beautifully and enough surprises to send to you tears without warning. 

Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland

4.0

Audiobook review. I enjoyed this so much that I read it in two days! The characters were endearing and easy to root for. I loved that this author found a way to honor her family’s story though this book. Highly recommended.