Search
Christine A. (965 KP) rated What She Saw in Books
Jun 15, 2019
Slow burn, debut novel
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
In What She Saw by Wendy Clarke, you meet Leona, a loving and extremely protective mother of teenaged Beth. They do everything together, absolutely everything. They seem to be perfect and have the perfect life. Of course, things are not always what they seem. Leona and Beth both have secrets which they keep from each other and from everyone else. The question asked is, "how far will a mother go to keep her child safe?"
What She Saw is a slow burn which I had difficulty getting into. However, since I did, I could not put it down. I was a Psychology major and am a sucker for when a character meeting with a psychologist partly reveals the story.
The story uses flashbacks and the present. It starts slow but is suspenseful and well-written.
According to Goodreads, Clarke has published over three hundred short stories published in national women's magazines, and this is her debut novel. As of 6/13/19, it has a rating of 4.25 out of 5. Most of the ratings are 5 stars, and none are 1 star. For a debut novel, that is quite impressive.
I am looking forward to reading more by Wendy Clarke.
This review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 6/15/19.
In What She Saw by Wendy Clarke, you meet Leona, a loving and extremely protective mother of teenaged Beth. They do everything together, absolutely everything. They seem to be perfect and have the perfect life. Of course, things are not always what they seem. Leona and Beth both have secrets which they keep from each other and from everyone else. The question asked is, "how far will a mother go to keep her child safe?"
What She Saw is a slow burn which I had difficulty getting into. However, since I did, I could not put it down. I was a Psychology major and am a sucker for when a character meeting with a psychologist partly reveals the story.
The story uses flashbacks and the present. It starts slow but is suspenseful and well-written.
According to Goodreads, Clarke has published over three hundred short stories published in national women's magazines, and this is her debut novel. As of 6/13/19, it has a rating of 4.25 out of 5. Most of the ratings are 5 stars, and none are 1 star. For a debut novel, that is quite impressive.
I am looking forward to reading more by Wendy Clarke.
This review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 6/15/19.
Do You Dream of Terra-Two?
9.0
Rate It
Book
Simon & Schuster has bought a debut science fiction novel by a Neuroscience graduate. The...
David McK (3425 KP) rated Traitor's Blood (Civil War Chronicles #1) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Billed as 'The Sharpe of the Civil War' (ever notice how these types of novels always use that character as their benchmark?), it's easy to see the influence of Cornwell's most famous creation on this novel, which (according to the author) is the first in a planned series of 10 books set during the English Civil War.
This is told from the POV of a soldier in the (doomed) Royalist army: a soldier who has a history with some in authority (like Sharpe and Wellesley), and who is chosen to go behind the enemy lines on a top secret mission (again, like Sharpe), with the beginning and end of the novel taking place during one of the battles of that war (yet again, just like a Sharpe novel ...). Enjoyable enough, and gets off to a strong start, but is just not as polished as one of Cornwells books. Still, an impressive effort for a debut novel, and I may pick up more of the sequels ...
This is told from the POV of a soldier in the (doomed) Royalist army: a soldier who has a history with some in authority (like Sharpe and Wellesley), and who is chosen to go behind the enemy lines on a top secret mission (again, like Sharpe), with the beginning and end of the novel taking place during one of the battles of that war (yet again, just like a Sharpe novel ...). Enjoyable enough, and gets off to a strong start, but is just not as polished as one of Cornwells books. Still, an impressive effort for a debut novel, and I may pick up more of the sequels ...
Amy Carney (3 KP) rated A Certain Slant of Light (Light #1) in Books
Jun 23, 2019
I've read it 12 times
My absolute favourite book of all time.
A beautifully written debut novel. Stunning prose help to move the story in such a smooth way.
The story is effortless
The characters perfectly developed.
Proof that true love will over come all obstacles, even death. Character development is whole hearted and true, with everyone becoming something so much more than they were.
Best book ever!!!
A beautifully written debut novel. Stunning prose help to move the story in such a smooth way.
The story is effortless
The characters perfectly developed.
Proof that true love will over come all obstacles, even death. Character development is whole hearted and true, with everyone becoming something so much more than they were.
Best book ever!!!
The Chocolate Lady (94 KP) rated Feast of Sorrow: A Novel of Ancient Rome in Books
Oct 7, 2020
What happens when a wealthy merchant and insatiable gourmand buys a talented slave to help him achieve his dream of becoming Cesar's gastronomic advisor in 1st Century Rome? Between the luscious dishes and out of the political turmoil of the time, Crystal King brings us a debut novel that will make us salivate. Read more in my review of this book here.
https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2017/04/30/sins-and-secrets-of-the-ancient-epicure/
https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2017/04/30/sins-and-secrets-of-the-ancient-epicure/
The Chocolate Lady (94 KP) rated The Velveteen Daughter in Books
Oct 7, 2020
Laurel Davis Huber's debut historical fiction novel investigates Margery Williams Bianco, the author of the world-famous children's book, The Velveteen Rabbit, and her child prodigy artist daughter, Pamela Bianco. Huber gives us us a portrait of two lives, their relationship with each other and the problems they faced, both together and as individual talented women. Read more in my review here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2017/07/08/the-art-of-becoming-real/
Peculiar Memories of Thomas Penman
Book
Thomas Penman is the acclaimed autobiographical debut novel by Oscar-winning screenwriter Bruce...
The Chocolate Lady (94 KP) rated Shtum in Books
Oct 5, 2020
The cover of this book has statements such as "Ten-year-old Jonah can't speak, but it is time his family listened," and "Jonah has never spoken, yet somehow he communicates better than all of the adults in his life." While Jem Lester's debut novel is about Jonah, a child with severe Autism, it is also about a whole lot more than that. This is why I entitled my review of this book, "The Volumes of Silence" despite the cliché. You'll understand better what I mean, from my review of this wonderful novel here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2017/05/27/the-volumes-of-silence/
One Hundred Twenty-One Days
Book
Longlisted for the 2017 PEN Translation Prize One of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2016...
WI
When it Happens to You
Book
Tales of love, loss, and betrayal are at the heart of When It Happens to You, the debut novel in...