Playing With Fire Book Review

Playing With Fire: Book Review By Arlene.
5 out of 5 stars

Review:

I have been a devoted fan of Tess Gerritsen for many many years. In my opinion, her novels will keep you turning the pages until the final page of every book. Looking forward to her next novel was, and is, always something I look forward to reading.

I think Tess Gerritsen is an outstanding novelist and Playing with Fire as the Los Angeles Times wrote, “Will make readers drop everything to immerse themselves in its propulsive dual narrative.”

I found the story mesmerizing at its start. It all begins with a mysterious, loose sheet of music, the protagonist finds in an old book of music in a small old antiques shop on her last day in Rome. Continue reading “Playing With Fire Book Review” →

Playing With Fire Book Club Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you read any or all of Tess Gerritsen’s books before reading Playing with Fire?

2. What did you think of the picture on the cover of the book jacket as it related to the story line and did it draw your attention to being interested in reading this novel?

3. Have you ever visited Venice and if so, did you think Tess Gerritsen did a good job relating Venice to the story? Continue reading “Playing With Fire Book Club Discussion Questions” →

True Colors Book Review

True Colors: Book Review by Arlene.
5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:

The Grey sisters have always been close. After their mother’s death, the girls banded together, becoming best friends. Their stern, disapproving father cares less about his children than about his reputation. To Henry Grey, appearances are everything, and years later, he still demands that his daughters reflect his standing in the community.

Winona, the oldest, needs her father’s approval most of all. An overweight bookworm who never felt at home on the sprawling horse ranch that has been in her family for three generations, she knows that she doesn’t have the qualities her father values. But as the best lawyer in town, she’s determined to someday find a way to prove her worth to him. Continue reading “True Colors Book Review” →

True Colors Book Club Discussion Questions

Discover books by Kristin Hannah!

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you feel, after reading this book, that most people hide their “True Colors” in order not to hurt the feelings of other people?

2.Do you feel you know the “True Colors” of your own family members and close friends and do you question them in your own mind? Do you ever question your own “True Colors”  and do you want to change your life at times to improve your opinions of other people? Continue reading “True Colors Book Club Discussion Questions” →

Circling The Sun Book Review

Circling The Sun: Book Review by Arlene
5 out of 5 stars

Review:

The life of Beryl Markham is intricately woven for us in this very readable novel by Paula McLain. Once again, as in The Paris Wife, McLain succeeds in creating a novel, based on the life of a remarkable, complex woman who lived in a time period of history where women were held to a standard below their capabilities and intelligence.

Beryl Markham broke through those bonds on her own terms. She was smart, strong, courageous and defiant because she had to be starting at a very young age. Paula McClain captures her story and grips you all the way through this novel and doesn’t let go. Continue reading “Circling The Sun Book Review” →

Circling The Sun Book Club Discussion Questions

Discover books by Paula McLain!

Discussion Questions

1. Circling The Sun is based on the life of a real person. Do you enjoy reading a novelist’s interpretation of the person’s life in story form or do you prefer a biographical format?

2. Did you think Beryl’s father made the right decisions for her as she was growing up?

3. Did you feel Beryl’s father sort of forced her decision to marry Jock at such a young age leaving her to think “Do I really have a choice at this point?” Continue reading “Circling The Sun Book Club Discussion Questions” →

Sweetbitter Book Review

Sweetbitter: Book Review by Arlene.

3.5 stars out of 5 for Sweetbitter

Review:

The broken wine glass on the book jacket cover is the perfect silent opening line of my review.

If you are a lover of good food and wine you might be drawn to read this debut novel by Stephanie Danler.

If you choose to read this book after viewing our intro comments, keep in mind the story line is entirely based through the eyes of Tess, the 22 year old young woman searching for answers to her own life when she leaves her mid west town alone for the mystique and inviting intrigue of New York City in downtown Manhattan. Continue reading “Sweetbitter Book Review” →

Sweetbitter Book Club Discussion Questions

Synopsis:

“You will develop a palate. A palate is a spot on your tongue where you remember. Where you assign words to the textures of taste. Eating becomes a discipline, language-obsessed. You will never simply eat food again.”

These are the words that introduce us to Tess, the twenty-two year old narrator of Sweetbitter.

Shot from a mundane, provincial past, Tess comes to New York in the stifling summer of 2006. Alone, knowing no one, living in a rented room in Williamsburg, she manages to land a job as a “backwaiter” at a celebrated downtown Manhattan restaurant. Continue reading “Sweetbitter Book Club Discussion Questions” →

The Paris Wife Book Review

The Paris Wife: Book Review by Arlene

5 out of 5 stars

Review:

Imagine, if you can, it is the 1920’s and you are a young impressionable woman. You are at a crossroads in your life and you meet Ernest Hemingway at a party in Chicago before he became famous.

You both fall deeply and passionately in love and there is no looking back.

This was Hadley Richardson a quiet twenty-eight year old who has all but given up on love and happiness – This is a quote from the back of the book. Continue reading “The Paris Wife Book Review” →

The Paris Wife Book Club Discussion Questions

Please put your comments in for The Paris Wife book club discussion questions below in the comments area.

 

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

Discussion Questions:

1. Did you enjoy The Paris Wife, and would you recommend this book?

2. This is a fictionalized account of Ernest Hemingway’s marriage to Hadley Richardson written from mainly Hadley’s perspective. Knowing that Hadley was the first of the one of four wives, you find her narrative convincing and believable? Were you sympathetic towards her? Continue reading “The Paris Wife Book Club Discussion Questions” →