Reviews
Below are links to book reviews found on this site (arranged by author).
FICTION (Novels)
Aboulela, Leila
Adams, Poppy
Adamson, Gil
Addiego, John
Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi
Adiga, Aravind
Alexander, Edwin
Ali, Monica
Allison, Dorothy
Ames, Greg
Atwood, Margaret
Auster, Paul
Bacon, Charlotte
Baker, Tiffany
Barker, Pat
Barnes, Julian
Barry, Brunonia
Barry, Sebastian
Bauermeister, Erica
Berg, Elizabeth
Black, Benjamin
Block, Stefan Merrill
Bohjalian, Chris
Boling, Dave
Boyle, T.C.
Brookner, Anita
Brooks, Geraldine
Buck, Pearl S.
Burns, Sarah Felix
Capote, Truman
Center, Katherine
Chaviano, Daina
Cisneros, Sandra
Clayton, Meg Waite
Coelho, Paulo
Coetzee, J.M.
Connelly, Michael
Coomer, Joe
Curnutt, Kirk
Cutler, Ronald
De Bernieres, Louis
De Rosnay, Tatiana
Dean, Debra
Desai, Kiran
Dickens, Charles
Donnelly, Jennifer
Du Maurier, Daphne
Ebershoff, David
Edwards, Kim
Enright, Anne
Etzioni-Halevy, Eva
Eugenides, Jeffrey
Ferber, Edna
Fitzgerald, Penelope
French, Tana
- In the Woods
- The Likeness
Fuller, David
Galloway, Steven
Gardam, Jane
Grenville, Kate
Gruen, Sara
Guterson, David
Hamid, Moshin
Harris, Joanne
Hart, John
Hazzard, Shirley
Heller, Zoe
Hemingway, Ernest
Hendricks, Judith Ryan
Henkin, Josh
Henricksen, Bruce
Hinnefeld, Joyce
Holton, Cathy
Hosseini, Khaled
Howe, Katherine
Hulme, Keri
Irving, John
Iweala, Uzodinma
Jackson, Lisa
Jacobs, Kate
Jewett, Sarah Orne
Jones, Sadie
Kelly, Mary Pat
Kent, Kathleen
King, Stephen
Kingsolver, Barbara
Lalwani, Nikita
Lamb, Wally
Laxness, Halldor
Lee, Harper
Lippman, Laura
Llewellyn, Richard
Lowry, Lois
McCarthy, Cormac
McCleary, Kathleen
McEwan, Ian
McMurtry, Larry
MacDonald, Ann-Marie
Mandel, Emily St. John
Marai, Sandor
Martel, Yann
Martin, Lee
Mayo, C.M.
Meeks, Christopher
Messud, Claire
Miller, Sue
Mitchell, David
Moran, Michelle
Morrison, Toni
Morton, Kate
Munro, Alice
Murakami, Haruki
Murphy, D.J.
Nemirovsky, Irene
Norton, Mary
Oates, Joyce Carol
Oliphant, Margaret
O’Nan, Stewart
O’Neill, Joseph
Pasternak, Boris
Penney, Stef
Petterson, Per
Phillips, Caryl
Picoult, Jodi
Powers, Richard
Pupek, Jayne
Reichs, Kathy
Richmond, Michelle
Roy, Arundhati
Rushdie, Salman
Russo, Richard
Savage, Sam
Salak, Kira
Santos, Marisa de los
Schlink, Bernhard
Scott, Joanna
See, Lisa
Shafak, Elif
Shaffer, Mary Ann AND Barrows, Annie
Sheehan, Jacqueline
Sheers, Owen
Shreve, Anita
Sijie, Dai
Spiotta, Dana
Stegner, Wallace
Steinbeck, John
Stowe, Harriet Beecher
Strout, Elizabeth
Taylor, Andrew
Taylor, Katherine
Terrell, Heather
Toibin, Colm
Tremain, Rose
Turgenev, Ivan
Tyler, Anne
Umrigar, Thrity
Vida, Vendela
Voltaire
Walker, Alice
Waters, Sarah
Weiss, Laura
Wharton, Edith
Whitehouse, Lucie
Wilder, Thornton
Zafon, Carlos Ruiz
Zawatzky, Joan
Zusak, Marcus
FICTION (Short Stories)
Akpan, Uwem
Brady, Catherine
Chekhov, Anton
Enright, Anne
Fountain, Ben
Gogol, Nikolai
Gordimer, Nadine
Kennedy, Cate
King, Stephen
Lahiri, Jhumpa
Meeks, Christopher
Munro, Alice
Murakami, Haruki
Theroux, Paul
Van Booy, Simon
Woodring, Susan
NON FICTION
Ackerman, Diane
Carlin, Patricia
Dumas, Firoozeh
Erlbaum, Janice
Hari, Daoud
Klaidman, Stephen
Koppel, Lily
Kotlowitz, Alex
Lapidus, Alan
Larson, Erik
Lindbergh, Anne Morrow
McCracken, Elizabeth
Mitford, Nancy
Oufkir, Malika
Pierce, Anne R.
Sebold, Alice
Silverwood, John and Jean
Soot, Olaf AND Mellor, Don
Spiegelman, Art
Steinbeck, John
Summerscale, Kate
Warren, Rick
Great job – must have taken you forever! A really useful resource for us fellow readers
Mrs. S., It did take a little time! Glad you’ll find it useful!
I like! Very organized. If I had more time to play around with my blog, I’d revamp mine. But, I’d rather spend the free time reading books or blogging around on other people’s sites.
Thanks, Trish
If you ever are on the lookout for new titles, from little known authors, may I suggest “Outcasts Of Skagaray”. It was written out of concern for the abandoned children of the world. If you want a preview, go to http://www.threeswans.com and see the sample chapters. I would love to know what you think. Best wishes, anyway.
Thanks for visiting my blog, Andrew. I like to read new authors. I checked out your book, but I have to admit fantasy is not really a genre I read. Good luck with your book!
Dear Editor,
This is to inquire whether you might be able to do a write up on a novel about women in the Bible:
THE TRIUMPH OF DEBORAH
By Eva Etzioni-Halevy
PRAISE FOR THE TRIUMPH OF DEBORAH—
“… add[s] sparkle to an ancient story. . . illustrate[s] the pervasiveness of sexual politics. . . in a world bereft of even the semblance of political and sexual equality.”–Lilith, Summer 2008
“This novel will be devoured by lovers of historical fiction and romance alike.”—Library Journal, February, 2008.
Recently published by Plume/Penguin, it brings to life the riveting tale of one of the most beloved biblical figures: the revered leader, judge and prophetess Deborah.
In ancient Israel, war is looming. Deborah has coerced warrior Barak into launching a strike against the neighboring Canaanites, who threaten their people with destruction. Against all odds he succeeds, returning triumphantly with two daughters of the Canaanite King as his captives. But military victory is only the beginning of the turmoil, as a complex love triangle develops between Barak and the two princesses.
Deborah, recently cast off by her husband, becomes part of the turmoil. Yet she struggles to rebuild her existence on her own terms, while also groping her way toward the greatest triumph of her life: the attainment of peace.
Based on the book of JUDGES, and filled with brilliantly vivid historical detail, the novel pays tribute to Deborah’s feminine strength and independence from which present day women may derive inspiration to reach their potential. The lesson that women today can learn from Deborah is: I can do it. No matter how difficult and limiting the circumstances, I can overcome them.
THE TRIUMPH OF DEBORAH comes in the wake of my two previous very successful biblical novels THE SONG OF HANNAH and THE GARDEN OF RUTH, which have already had six printings, each.
All three novels are not necessarily just for those with an affinity to the Scripture. They all have intriguing plots, have frequently been referred to as “page turners” and are written in a light style, first and foremost for reading pleasure.
For more information, please see my website: http://www.evaetzionihalevy.com
With best Regards,
Eva Etzioni-Halevy
CRITICAL ACLAIM FOR THE BOOKS
The Triumph of Deborah
“… add[s] sparkle to an ancient story. . . illustrate[s] the pervasiveness of sexual politics. . . in a world bereft of even the semblance of political and sexual equality.”
–Lilith
“This novel will be devoured by lovers of historical fiction and romance alike.” Library Journal
“A triumph of Storytelling, this is a tribute to the power and strength of all women.” Romantic Times
“Despite millennia of separation, this book illustrates that the archetypal themes of love and war never age.” Publishers Weekly
“The story explodes from the pages in a menagerie of fascination . . . a perfect piece for anyone who enjoys romance and history mixed into a compelling plot.” Metro Spirit – Augusta’s Independent Voice
“Etzioni-Halevy does an amazing Job of turning ancient Deborah into a living, breathing woman.” Atlanta Jewish Times
“. . . a creative banquet of art and skill, knowledge and passion . . . help to hook the reader from page one . . . a tangled web of deceit and passionate love . . . a hymn to Feminine leadership, which has a good chance of being repeated at the next elections in the US. Readers will not rest until they reach the last word.” Lily Azerad-Goldman, Bookpleasures.com
“The Triumph of Deborah offers readers an amazing biblical journey full of romance, suspense, and inspiration.” Rebecca Honig Friedman, Jewess
“A spellbinding narrative revealing loves. . . sexuality, and tribulations. . . This work, like the earlier two, is amazing and mesmerizing.” Sybil Kaplan, The Indiana Jewish Post & Opinion.
The Garden of Ruth
“Etzioni-Halevy’s choice to fashion the novel as a bit of a mystery helps provoke the readers’ curiosity . . . it is satisfying to compare the ancient struggles of women to those of today.” Elissa Strauss, Forward
“A beautifully sensitive, lustily feminist romance inspired by the Book of Ruth . . . A brazen rendering of the biblical material breathes fire into a ripping good saga.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“A delightful explicit look at the plight of women in ancient times.” The Midwest Book Review
“Ruth leaves reader eagerly waiting for author’s next work… An enthralling, sensual work that carries the reader to biblical times . . .” Atara Beck, Jewish Tribune.
“The mystery is intriguing, and Etzioni-Halevy depicts ancient women chafing at limited choices with verve.” Publishers Weekly
“Excellent choice for a book group . . . I could not wait to reach the next chapter . . . Lots of sex and passion and love . . . The mystery plot . . . is absorbing and intriguing . . . among the messages in this work are those on feminism [and] tolerance . . .”Sybil Kaplan, The Indiana Jewish Post & Opinion
“[The] Novel offers a dramatic new perspective on an ancient tale.” Detroit Jewish News
The Song of Hannah
“A thought provoking new look at an old Bible Story.” Harriet P. Gross, The Dallas Morning News
“This dramatic retelling of Samuel’s story reminds the reader that even God’s beloved servants are susceptible to temptation . . .” Booklist
“I was impressed with the force of its courage and imaginative leaps . . . It has many suggestive passages that are authentic to the times of the Bible and to human nature . . . The book was thought-provoking and enjoyable . . .” Mordechai Ben Dat, Canadian Jewish News
. . . a well written, compelling novel. . . I wanted to read it at one sitting. . . highly sensual. . . one gets a good idea of the role of women in biblical times and in a patriarchal society. . . a very good choice for a book reading group. There are lots of lively issues to discuss.” Sybil Kaplan, The Indiana Jewish Post & Opinion
“Speaks in two women’s voices weaving the whole into one tale of sorrow, revenge and redemption through feminine strength and love.” Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle
“The Song of Hannah gets top marks for its sheer delight and will surely sweep you off your feet, keeping you enthralled until the last word.” Lily Azerad-Goldman, Bookpleasures.com
“The Song of Hannah does not disappoint. It is engrossing without being preachy, spiritual without being overly religious.” Curledupwithagoodbook.com
General
“Bible stories like you’ve never read before . . . strong and graceful writing that provides a real page-turner, and offers a perfect weekend read. The bonus is some biblical education. When arriving at the last page, you’ll want more.” Harriette Ellis, Orange County Jewish Life