Bryon Decker

KAREN INGALLS reviewed a book.

“An interesting and historical story; learned a lot about the cultures. There was too much detail and repetition of description or memories of events, which slowed the story down. Characters were well described and became "real".”

KAREN INGALLS reviewed a book.

“A wonderful true story about one of WWII's heroes.”

KAREN INGALLS reviewed a book.

“An outstanding book that will bring tears to your eyes and cheer for the main character. The reader will learn about poor self-esteem, obesity, and the effects of family dynamics.”

KAREN INGALLS is now reading a book. (see 3 more books added to shelf)

KAREN INGALLS reviewed a book.

“A moving story about a woman facing several life-changing problems: separation and possible divorce, Mother's stroke, teenage daughter, and career issues. She must face and deal with guilt, anger, and sense of self.
Well written.”

Brenda Sorrels reviewed a book.

“
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is one of those books that you read and then find yourself thinking about forever. It is a heartwarming story of Francie Nolan, a young girl growing up in Brooklyn, NY in the turn of the century …. Her family, a father that drinks too much but loves his children,...”

“
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is one of those books that you read and then find yourself thinking about forever. It is a heartwarming story of Francie Nolan, a young girl growing up in Brooklyn, NY in the turn of the century …. Her family, a father that drinks too much but loves his children, tries to do the right thing, but somehow always falls short. He is a mix of the very likable and then the “oh, I wish he wouldn’t do that” kind of thing. None-the-less, his character is portrayed in an honest way and rings true. Francie’s mother is a cleaning lady, overworked but with a vision to educate her children, which she does to the best of her ability. The story is written through the point of view of Francie ... and I felt like I really got to know what life was like on the streets of Brooklyn back then. Francie and her brother Neely are close, and we get a full dose of life in this poor family. Francie is bright and it isn’t long before she begins to figure out some things for herself. She manages to get herself through school and also works to help support her family.
The whole portrayal was very real – what it was like for struggling families of that era and how succeeding generations managed to improve their lot. This story is a classic coming-of-age narrative of a young girl growing up in the shadows of New York City. In those days many people living in Brooklyn never even got into the big city. New York was almost like a foreign country to humble Brooklyn. There are family relationships and relatives to deal with in this story, a young girl’s understanding of the world. There is poverty and suffering, but also great joy. If you pick up this book - take your time and enjoy the ride. Allow yourself be transported back to Brooklyn, to a simpler day. Yes, things were different back then but the struggles are universal and remain the same today: the adversities of life, of home and family, relationships, making it in the world, etc. It’s all here and well worth taking a look.
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KAREN INGALLS reviewed a book.

“I am sad to say that I was disappointed with this book. The story line was disjointed and, for me, not well written.
However, the message is powerful, deep, and well worth reading. The author is a remarkable woman who overcame big challenges, and I commend her for her strong faith, fortitude,...”

“I am sad to say that I was disappointed with this book. The story line was disjointed and, for me, not well written.
However, the message is powerful, deep, and well worth reading. The author is a remarkable woman who overcame big challenges, and I commend her for her strong faith, fortitude, and courage.”

KAREN INGALLS reviewed a book.

“A truly wonderful book with a powerful story line. Each character captured my attention; well described; and each had their own strengths and weaknesses. Some humor and some tragedy. The descriptions of India and its people made me ready to pack my bag and go.
The book is a little different...”

“A truly wonderful book with a powerful story line. Each character captured my attention; well described; and each had their own strengths and weaknesses. Some humor and some tragedy. The descriptions of India and its people made me ready to pack my bag and go.
The book is a little different from the movie, but I loved both of them. ”

KAREN INGALLS rated a book. (see 4 more books rated)

• Rated 4 stars

KAREN INGALLS is now reading a book. (see 4 more books added to shelf)

KAREN INGALLS reviewed a book.

“A must read for anyone facing breast cancer or any other frightening diagnosis. The book provides information, inspiration, and Bible verses and stories that offer hope and understanding.
A beautifully written book that is easy to read.”

Brenda Sorrels added a book as a favorite. (see 2 more books added to shelf)

Brenda Sorrels reviewed a book.

“The reason I'm giving this book only two stars is that I really did not enjoy it. That doesn't me it isn't brilliant and intellectual and full of esoteric ideas and philosophical quotes. I just found it an ordeal to get through and ponderous at best. I pushed myself to stick with it,...”

“ The reason I'm giving this book only two stars is that I really did not enjoy it. That doesn't me it isn't brilliant and intellectual and full of esoteric ideas and philosophical quotes. I just found it an ordeal to get through and ponderous at best. I pushed myself to stick with it, especially the first third of the book to get a handle on the three intertwining stories, but even that was difficult because each of the stories was not that interesting. The language the author uses is so over-the-top and I felt he tried too hard to be witty, funny, stylistic ... whatever! Yes, there is a lot of into about the lead up to WWI and some things were interesting like Diego Rivera's mural in Detrois ... but honestly, the photo of the three farmers so fascinating to two other men looking to find its meaning was a big stretch that didn't pay off in the end, at least not for me. It was so tiresome to wade through the weirdness of this book to try and extract a storyline. I understand that people loved it and it's won awards, etc. I'm sure I'm not smart enough to get it, but it also didn't hook me enough to make me want to get it. I believe that storytelling should be something that engages the reader and takes them to places they've never been before. This book went to some very bizarre places and I found myself kicking and screaming the entire way. It wasn't for me, but obviously, from other review, it has an audience.”

Brenda Sorrels reviewed a book.

“I could not put this book down. Written by Susan Cheever, (Writer John Cheever's daughter) this is an accounting of American literature in the Ninteenth Century and it is fascinating. American literature began in the small enclave of Concord, MA where Ralph Waldo Emerson - the only one who had...”

“ I could not put this book down. Written by Susan Cheever, (Writer John Cheever's daughter) this is an accounting of American literature in the Ninteenth Century and it is fascinating. American literature began in the small enclave of Concord, MA where Ralph Waldo Emerson - the only one who had money - was able to gather together such literary heros as Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Margaret Fuller, Louisa May Alcott, and Herman Melville.
Considered the Bohemians of their time, this group of geniuses all lived within yards of each other and became both intellectually and romantically involved with one another. Through the difficult times of the Civil War, they supported and befriended each other in their liberal theories and pretty much did what they wanted. It wasn't easy though, and they faced problems: lack of money, illness, politics ... in spite of it all they managed to write some of the great masterpieces of our times. Emerson's numerous essays, Walden by Thoreau, Hawthorne's, The Scarlet Letter, House of the Seven Gables, Louisa May Alcott's Little Women and Melville's, Moby Dick.
It's fascinating to read about the backdrop of this group ... and to understand how it all came about and how they interacted. What's so wonderful is that you can still go to Concord today and see where they lived and wrote - imagine them all there walking down the street. It's a fascinating picture of life in the 1800's too. Susan Cheever does a great job at characterizing these literary giants whose work is the very fiber of our history and culture. I would highly recommend this book! ”

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Brenda Sorrels reviewed a book.

“This book is going into the category of "Faves" ... I enjoyed every delicious word of this wonderful story. Being a fan of Louisa May Alcott's, "Little Women" - I was intrigued by the premise of Mr. March taking center stage as the main character. In "Little Women" he is gone ... off to the...”

“ This book is going into the category of "Faves" ... I enjoyed every delicious word of this wonderful story. Being a fan of Louisa May Alcott's, "Little Women" - I was intrigued by the premise of Mr. March taking center stage as the main character. In "Little Women" he is gone ... off to the Civil War and Ms. Brooks skillfully takes us into his world and his perspective on the changing society, family, marriage, slavery, religion. The story brings to light much about the circumstances in "Little Women" - we understand more fully why Mr. March has chosen to leave his wife and four daughters for this noble cause. It also stands on it's own as a tale about a man and his deepest convictions.
March is an idealist. He has seen the injustices of slavery and he wants to help. His beliefs are so strong that he leaves his famiy to join the Civil War as a Chaplain. March ends up on a majestic, abandoned southern plantation full of runaway slaves under a man who in his own way wants to help them. It's hard to fathom that a man could believe in a cause enough to leave his own beautiful family, but these were changing times and March was influenced by the free thinkers (Transcendaltists) and writers in Concord, Ma (Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne) who were also a big part of the underground railroad.
The story is riveting. The details of the war itself, the plight of the slaves, the relationship March has with his beloved wife, Marmee and his daughters ... There was a lot of history here too, but the historical "fiction" aspect allows Brooks to use her writer's license to make this tale even more moving and rich - It's a book that I will read again and again.”

Brenda Sorrels reviewed a book.

“That our earliest inclinations fore-shadow what we will become is all over this wonderful memoir by Ruth Reichl, previous restaurant critic for the NY Times and former Editor-in-Chief of Gourmet Magazine. Honest and forthcoming, this is a story that follows Ruth as a young girl raised in New...”

“ That our earliest inclinations fore-shadow what we will become is all over this wonderful memoir by Ruth Reichl, previous restaurant critic for the NY Times and former Editor-in-Chief of Gourmet Magazine. Honest and forthcoming, this is a story that follows Ruth as a young girl raised in New York through her hippie years on the west coast in Berkeley during the organic food revolution - Chez Panisse and Alice Waters - then back again to NY. If you're a foodie you will especially appreciate this - the luscious alchemy that happens - in this case in a kitchen - when early mentors engage a small child and something clicks. The cover of the book says it all: Ruth at the stove as a young girl ... priceless. Her love of cooking would see her through to finding her career and becoming the woman she was meant to be.
I loved the honesty in this book. Her parents were loving, though her mother was bi-polar and not always consistent! Ruth thought she would poison someone with her moldy food and crazy concoctions. The passion and appreciation for food is a mainstay. Ruth learns to love to cook through a series of family relatives and maids ... she is shipped off to boarding school in Montreal and is introduced to the best of French food through a schoolmate's wealthy family. The book is funny at times and it was intersting to see the evolution from a child in the kitchen to a self-actualized woman with such an illustrious career.”