Book reviews written by Beverly N

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Displaying 1-10 of 105 reviews

Lush Life: A Novel

by Richard Price
- Rated 4 stars
“Jazz like movement through the lower east side of Manhattan in this urban crime novel about a mugging gone wrong. Explores and balances many characters: police Mattie and Yolanda, victims, Ike Marcus, Eric Cash, and Billy Marcus, homeboys Tristan and LIttle Dag. Set in the recent past. Very well written, not much foreward plot movement made up for by characterizations. ”

Beverly N wrote this review Monday, December 29 2008. ( reply | permalink )
The Hour I First Believed

by Wally Lamb
- Rated 3 stars
“Traces the spiritual and emotional development of protagonist Caelum Quirk form the time of the Colombine killings in Colorado through 9/11 and the Iraq war. These current events provide or become part of metaphors the define the character's life. Very psychologically based. Way too long with a tearjerk end that ties it all together.”

Beverly N wrote this review Monday, December 29 2008. ( reply | permalink )
Goldengrove

by Francine Prose
- Rated 2 stars
“Vapid and predictable story narrated by 13 year old girl who has lost her sister by drowning. THe narrator, Nico, gets inveolved with her sister's boyfriend; neither can get over Margaret's death. Superficial view of Nico, Aaron, and the bereaved parents. Would be excellent YA novel.”

Beverly N wrote this review Friday, December 26 2008. ( reply | permalink )
Charlie Bone And The Beast (Children Of The Red King)

by Jenny Nimmo
- Rated 3 stars
“Asa the wolf boy has been kidnapped and CHarlie and friends go into the wilderness after him. Introduces a horrible villian in Dagbert Endless, who drowns people, and a sad race of animal people.”

Beverly N wrote this review Friday, December 26 2008. ( reply | permalink )
Starting Out In the Evening

by Brian Morton
- Rated 4 stars
“Portrayal of the New York literary scene through the characters of an older writer (from the era of Roth, Bellow)and an ambitious 20-something grad. student. The writer's daughter runs away with the novel. The young grad student wasn't believable.”

Beverly N wrote this review Saturday, December 20 2008. ( reply | permalink )
The Private Patient

by P. D. James
- Rated 3 stars
“Strong beginning, but fizzles a bit. An investigative reporter is murdered at a plastic surgery clinic in the country. The murderer is predictable. Is this Dalgliesh's last case?”

Beverly N wrote this review Saturday, December 20 2008. ( reply | permalink )
Prophet from Plains: Jimmy Carter and His Legacy

by Frye Gaillard
- Rated 3 stars
“Brief, readable review of Jimmy Carter's presidency and post-presidency years. Author is a fan, but admits that Carter's failing is self-righteousness and lack of political savy. Credits Carter with breakthroughs in peace and human rights. ”

Beverly N wrote this review Saturday, December 20 2008. ( reply | permalink )
Mansfield Park Revisited: A Jane Austen Entertainment

by Joan Aiken
- Rated 2 stars
“A fast and entertaing read that finds Fanny's sister Susan in her place at Mansfield Park whaile Fanny and Edmund are away taking car of his deceased fther's business in the Carribean. THe Crawfords return and Tom grows up. Mrs. Bertram is unchanged, and her daughter Julia is worse. Only serves to show how good the origial Mansfield Park is.”

Beverly N wrote this review Monday, December 15 2008. ( reply | permalink )
Brisingr

by Christopher Paolini
- Rated 5 stars
“Wonderful addition to the Inheritance cycle. In this, Eragon and Sahpira help Roran rescue Katrina. Something of Arel's past love life is revealed, Roran develops as a leader, and Eragon comes closer to his inevitable confrontation with Galbatorix. Well written as all the others with balance of character and plot. ”

Beverly N wrote this review Monday, December 15 2008. ( reply | permalink )
Through a Window

by Jane Goodall
- Rated 4 stars
“Readable and well-written. Sensitive observations of chimpanzee life. Slightly marred by moralizing ending which attacks humans as capable of more cruelty than animals, a popular notion that isn't true.”

Beverly N wrote this review Wednesday, December 10 2008. ( reply | permalink )