Category Archives: Reading Club Reviews

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The Panther

From Margaret Mezzacapo
Author: Nelson DeMille
The Panther
Another thriller, full of technical details and seemingly extensive research. This follows what seems to be a formula by the author – the daring exploits of wisecracking detective, John Corey, and his perfect, beautiful wife, Kate Mayfield, as they hunt down a terrorist leader in the Middle East. There were parts that made me think that DeMille could turn a trip to the grocery store into a techno-thriller, and parts where Detective Corey’s attitude, which is frequently sexist, grated on the nerves. The book does, however, make you wonder when hearing news about the Middle East.

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Knit, Purl, Die

From Francine Schwarz 
Title:  Knit, Purl, Die
Author:  Anne Canadeo
This is the second book in the Black Sheep Knitting Mystery series.  I choose it because the knitting club caught my eye.  A knitting club that solves mysteries is combines the two things I enjoy most.  I liked the way Canadeo has developed the main characters and will look forward to reading the other books in the series.

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Dear Cary

From  Elaine Pasquali 
Title:  Dear Cary
Author:  Dyan Cannon
Dyan Cannon recounts her meeting, courtship and life with Cary Grant. She describes a caring, sensitive man who had his own demons to battle.  At the age of 10, he was told his mother had died.  Twenty years later, his father, who had abandoned him, tells Cary his mother is alive and in a public mental institution.  This knowledge had a lasting effect on him.  It\’s a delightful book, full of surprises about the humanness of one of Hollywoo\’s sexiest leading men.  Photos add to the book’s enjoyment.  Dyan Cannon has a very smooth writing style.

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The Memory Keeper’s Daughter

From Le Ngo
Title:  The Memory Keeper’s Daughter
Author:  Kim Edwards
Kim Edwards begins the novel by painting a warm image of Dr. David Henry and his pregnant wife, a vision full of love and adoration.  However, the tale that unfolds is not as warm as one might have hoped.  His wife goes into labor and delivers twins.  The first, a healthy baby boy.  The second, a baby girl with Down Syndrome.  Dr. Henry makes a rash decision to give his baby girl away.  Yet, he does not tell his wife about his decision.  Rather, he tells her that their baby girl died.  To add to this, the nurse with whom he sent his daughter away, decides to keep the baby and raise her as her own.  This secret tears him apart and eventually tears his family apart.   As the novel unfolds, there are several opportunities for him to reveal his dark secret, yet he doesn’t.   You so badly want him to reveal his secret to his family just to end his turmoil, hoping that it will resolve all the problems in his family… hoping for the happy ending that the first scene promised to its readers.

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THE SHOEMAKER’S WIFE

From ADELE GRESSER
Title:  THE SHOEMAKER’S WIFE 
Author:  ADRIANA TRIGIANI
BOOK IS ABOUT SORROW, LOVE , FAMILY AND WORK THAT’S FULFILLING.  A YOUNG GIRL’S SISTER DIES IN THE ALPS OF ITALY.  HER FAMILY SENDS FOR A BOIY TO DIG THE GRAVE.  THE YOUNG PEOPLE KISS AND THE DYE IS SET FOR THE FUTURE.  THE YOUNG MAN AND HIS BROTHER ARE SENT TO LIVE IN A CONVENT WHERE THEY BOTH LEARN TO ADJUST. THE GRAVE DIGGER, CIRO, IS NOT RELIGIOUS BUT HIS BROTHER, EDWARDO STUDIES.  CIRO FINDS THE PADREY DONG SOMETHING BAD AND TELLS THE NUN WHO LOOKS AFTER HIM ABOUT IT.  THE PRIEST LEARNS ABOUT THIS AND SENDS CIRO AWAY ANBD HIS BROTHER INTO THE PRIESTHOOD…THEREBY BREAKING APART THE HEARTS OF THE BROTHERS. CIRO BECOMES A MASTER SHOEMAKER WORKING AS AN ASPPRENTIS IN LITTLE ITALY, N.Y.  CIRO MEETS ENZA IN NEW YORK WHERER SHE AND HER BEST FRIEND WORK AS SEAMSTRESSES FOR THE METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE.  HE TELLS HER TO WAIT FOR HIM BECAUSE HE HAS ENLISTED IN THE ARMY DURING W.W.ONE. THIS BOOK IS ONE NOT EASILY PUT DOWN.  IT WAS EXCELLENT.