Review 207: The Lost Apothecary

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

This book was riveting. I quickly became immersed in the book. The story switches between current time and 230 years ago. Current time Caroline is visiting London on her 10-year anniversary trip, although without her husband since days ago she discovered an affair with his coworker. She finds a small vial which leads her to research an apothecary of long ago.

The apothecary is run by Nella who is not in good health, which she believes is due to the nature of the tinctures she now dispenses to women in dire need of getting rid of an evil man in their lives. During this time a young girl Eliza comes to Nella on behalf of her mistress and is pulled into Nella’s world despite being told to stay away.

The book worked well in both stories tying together both timelines and experiences as the book progressed. I was delighted by the necessary visits to the British Library and working with the “library search tools”. While the book isn’t perfect, some things seem a bit too easy or coincidental, I was swept up in the book and this didn’t seem terribly important.

For a debut author this book shines. I can’t wait to see what Sarah Penner writes next.



Thanks to Park Row Books/ Harlequin and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

Review 206: Foregone

Foregone by Russell Banks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have mixed feelings about this book. There are several layers of confusion for the reader, perhaps to simulate what is going on with the main character, whose mind is no longer clear with the treatments and medications due to his illness, dying of cancer. 

As a reader I didn’t particularly like the lack of quotation marks, the frequent interruptions to the narration, and repetition of some aspects. Yet this helps amplify the tension to mimic what is going on with Leonard Fife, as he is trying to tell his wife Emma who he really is and must do this in front of a camera with her in the room, otherwise he’d lie to her. Leo wants Emma to truly know him before he dies, and this confession feels necessary. He’s a filmmaker and his protégé is happy to film this, although expected a Q&A format, regardless he keeps the camera rolling.

The narrative has a stream of consciousness feel, and full of details and emotions which holds interest. In fact this is what helped me to continue reading. In the end was my curiosity satisfied; well, not really.

I expect this book would bring many discussions and analysis. The writing quality is there, but not always the easiest, or most pleasing, to read.

Thanks to Ecco/HarperCollins Publishers and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

Review 205: Anxious People

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

The story is told in a fragmented way, which bothered me a bit during the beginning of the book. It was harder to connect with the characters and understand what was going on. There is shifting points of view, with a cast of people, and some shifts in time too. I stuck with it and after a while the group of strangers become known to each other, and to the reader. I’m glad I kept going and happy to have read the book.

This is a light-hearted tone about some heavy-hearted issues, and you may find some profound statements about life.

Review 204: Eternal

Eternal by Lisa Scottoline
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This WWII story takes place in Rome, the heart of Italy with three main characters that form a love triangle, with Elisabetta in the center of Marco and Sandro vying for her love. They grew up together and now the two boys are clamoring for Elisabetta’s love, with family drama mixed in, all in the lead up to the start of WWII. By the time the first race laws are passed and cause great heartache, we are already a quarter of the way in the book. 

The beginning of the book felt slow and detailed, too much at times, with alternating points of view. There are sections when the next chapter jumped months, and this just after an important scene and you might expect more details. 

I wasn’t fond of the writing style overall, it felt stilted to me, with the plot being forced by the author instead of feeling natural. Yet, all characters were developed and could feel the setting. I particularly enjoyed the author’s note on what was historically accurate and fiction. 

Thanks to the author and publisher G.P. Putnam’s Sons for sending me an advanced review copy.  

Review 203: The Waters Between Us

The Waters Between Us: A Boy, a Father, Outdoor Misadventures and the Healing Power of Nature by Michael Tougias
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Mike Tougias looks back on his childhood and the experiences that shaped him. The author does not shy away from stating his exploits were likely misguided and made life for his mother quite difficult at times. The focus was with the relationship with his father, how they didn’t seem to be able to connect while he was growing up. Tougias thinks his hyperactive and impulsive behavior led to some of the issues. As he grew older and felt calmer in the natural environment, Tougias tried to seek it out more, even encouraging family vacations in a cabin in the woods. This led him to have a goal, to own his own cabin.

There are several themes that could be picked up here: such as giving your kids more freedom to roam and be creative instead of structured play time; cautionary tale for drinking and driving; spending time in nature can calm you. Often these themes were forcefully written, in a preaching manner.

The writing style wasn’t the most polished, but it expressed his thoughts clearly. Surprising since the author wrote and published many books. The primary experience in nature for Tougias was fishing, to where he even called it hunting.

I picked this book up as a nature lover, but the book does not fit well in that category, as this is more about using nature. Sorry, but cutting down trees for a better view isn’t what I love about nature.

Thanks to Rowman & Littlefield / Lyons Press and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

Review 202: The Ice House

The Ice House by Laura Lee Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Scottish immigrant Johnny married well to a daughter of an ice plant owner. They get the plant and run it, now, years later are now facing shutdown due to a huge OSHA fine. Of course they are fighting it, but the lawyers haven’t found much to go on yet. Johnny and Pauline suspect there are people across the street dealing drugs, maybe making meth and caused the accident. So far there is nothing to prove this theory.

Meanwhile Johnny collapses due to a brain tumor, now he has to take it easy for two weeks before the surgery, no working. Perfect time to head to Scotland for a few days to see about patching things up with his son Corran, who now has little baby Lucy to look after. Corran's wife is in prison for drug trafficking and he is trying to keep clean. Working on the oil rigs in the North Sea helped, no way to get anything there, plus it's good money. But who will look after Lucy.

Although a little on the longer side, it didn’t feel like there was padding and something to be taken out, the story just unfolded naturally and that was the number of pages it needed to be said.

I enjoyed the book, decent book.

Review 201: Amelia Unabridged

Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Read from: 

Feb 17, 2021 to 

Feb 22, 2021 

so much to love here, and yet so overly dramatic. Have to think further on this one.

I wanted to love this book. The cover is enticing, the story takes place almost entirely in a bookstore, and there's a book convention. It's about books!

It’s adorable, sad, sweet and pulls at all your heart strings. It can also make you wonder, what in the world is going on here?

Some aspects seemed unrealistic. [ It was hard to believe that someone who is extremely guarded would trust another completely, in just a few days, particularly when it was known that she wasn’t going to be sticking around long. Things worked out way too well, too quickly. (hide spoiler)]

There were moments, well many moments, when the writing felt overly dramatic and overdone. It’s an imaginative book, there’s a lot to like. But I did have a hard time with the writing style, and some aspects I found hard to believe.

I so wanted to love this book, but it fell short for me.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press/Wednesday books and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.