Book reviews written by smassa

Reviews

Sort by:

1 2 | Next »

Displaying 1-10 of 19 reviews

The Murdered House

by Pierre Magnan
- Rated 2 stars
“This was voted France's Best Book of the Year. Let me put it to you this way: They also adore Jerry Lewis. 'Nuff said.”

smassa wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )
City of Silver: A Mystery

by Annamaria Alfieri
- Rated 4 stars
“A really good, intricate mystery that involves, silver, colonial Spanish Peru, the Inquisition and the Church. It is a really good, well-written story about a part of the world not many people are familiar with.”

smassa wrote this review Tuesday, November 17 2009. ( reply | permalink )
Homer & Langley

by E. L. Doctorow
- Rated 3 stars
“An entertaining story that was just OK. I wish that Doctorow had not played footloose and fancy free with the facts, however. Not his best work, not his worst.”

smassa wrote this review Thursday, November 5 2009. ( reply | permalink )
A Thousand Splendid Suns

by Khaled Hosseini
- Rated 4 stars
“Certainly not a knee-slapper, but Khaled Hosseini's mastery of the language and vivid descriptions of his homeland carry you to Afghanistan in all its beauty and ugliness. A real page-turner, although not as good as his debut novel, The Kite Runner. However, this is perhaps nor fair, since The Kite Runner was one of those shocking first novels that just grabs you by the collar and slams you against the wall. A Thousand Splendid Suns is more subtle, but no less brutal. An excellent novel, detailing through the eyes of the protagonists, the beautiful and tragic story of the people of Afghanistan, a story that continues to this day.

If you enjoyed The Kite Runner, then you will certainly enjoy A Thousand Splendid Suns.”

smassa wrote this review Tuesday, September 4 2007. ( reply | permalink )
A Commonwealth of Thieves: The Improbable Birth of Australia

by Thomas Keneally
- Rated 1 stars
“I couldn't get past the first few pages. I felt the same way about another of Keneally's books as well. I just can't stand his style. Oh well...”

smassa wrote this review Wednesday, July 25 2007. ( reply | permalink )
Mistress of the Art of Death

by Ariana Franklin
- Rated 4 stars
“A very good period piece, once you get past the fact that it is about finding the killer of murdered children. Franklin has a good grasp on history and intertwines it magnificently with the plot. A good cast of characters and very well-told story.”

smassa wrote this review Wednesday, July 25 2007. ( reply | permalink )
Special Topics in Calamity Physics

by Marisha Pessl
- Rated 4 stars
“I agree with beetabonk. Very nice surprise. i must have picked this book in the store a half a dozen times before I finally bought it. A very unique novel with a nice flow, structure and plot. It did unravel at bit at the end, but that should take nothing away from the book. Thoroughly enjoyable throughout, especially the final exam!”

smassa wrote this review Tuesday, July 17 2007. ( reply | permalink )
Fingersmith

by Sarah Waters
- Rated 5 stars
“A splendid thriller that twists and turns and twists and turns again. Wonderfully strong characters and difficult to put down. A good old-fashioned Victorian story told in a great fashion. The New York Times said it well: "This is a Victorian novel the Victorians never dreamed of writing." Delicious!”

smassa wrote this review Friday, June 22 2007. ( reply | permalink )
Chocolat

by Joanne Harris
- Rated 4 stars
“A wonderful and mysterious novel. I feel that this is one of those rare instances where the movie and the book are equal. However, as an avid reader, I would clearly take the novel over the movie any day. ”

smassa wrote this review Friday, December 29 2006. ( reply | permalink )
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

by Mark Haddon
- Rated 5 stars
“Such an interesting book. I read it in a very short time and found myself wanting more. Would be easy to read in one sitting. I would highly recommend this book.”

smassa wrote this review Friday, December 29 2006. ( reply | permalink )