Lynn Horton Books

My first trip to Venice was with my daughter, celebrating her 21st birthday. It was late August, overrun with tourists, unbelievably hot, and we hated it. On our second trip, several years later for a week in October, we fell in love with Venice.

Berendt's book is an engaging look at the catastrophic fire that destroyed the opera house, La Fenice, in 1996. (Interestingly enough, my daughter and I saw La Traviata there in 2014: had it not been for a chorus of male singers wearing nothing more than cowboy hats and chaps, the evening would have been memorable only for the architecture.) The way that Berendt tells the story of the fire , with commentary from prominent citizens (many expats) and the people of Venice—and the corruption of government and mystical beauty of this island—makes for an intriguing read.

Since The City of Falling Angels isn't a work of fiction, there's little to say about character deveopment or pacing or plot. I also can see that, if you're not a fan of the city, the read might seen disconnected or a little dry. It's not the type of book someone would expect as a follow-up from the author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

But if you love Venice, The City of Falling Angels is an opportunity to get behind the facade of the city.

I had just returned from Tanzania when I picked up McVeigh's book. Although I'm by no means an expert on Africa (or any of her countries), McVeigh's story rang true on a lot of levels based on my month there. Her writing is clear and concise, and I enjoyed her characters. I wouldn't have understood the book as well had we not had the opportunity to speak with our guide and driver extensively about the changes in Tanzania in the past fifty years. McVeigh's depiction of "empire," and its ramifications on Africans, were supported by what we learned during our trip.

The story itself is intriguing, and I love reading fiction that takes me to faraway places. I also enjoy contrasting an author's perspective with my own from my travels. If you're interested in stories about the British Empire from a non-UK point of view, you just might enjoy Leopard at the Door.

Recommended.

I love Istanbul. It's a remarkable, diverse city, very much of two worlds as it straddles the Bosphorus. Kanon depicts this diversity well, and I appreciate his detail and attention to cultural nuances.There is a brutality to his characterizations that serves his story well.

I will read more of his work.

I understand this book receiving a lower rating than I gave it because it's a scholarly read, and a reader has to be prepared for that . . . complexity. However, it is full of interesting information and tidbits about a very curious phase of cultural history, when all things Egyptian were the rage.

Recommended for those with a slight geeky streak.

I am a geek. I love Middle Eastern and religious history. Because of my obscure interests, I admit this book isn't for everyone.

I loved it. The Copts are a (some say heretical) subset of Christianity; an ancient branch of historic significance and rich history. A large part of the chaos in Egypt, as in most of the Middle East, is anchored in religious conflict. So understanding how opposing forces interact is the foundation of understanding the complexities of today's Middle East.

Tadros attempts to explain how Egyptians, at one time heirs to the most impressive and powerful empire on the planet, are struggling to modernize their country. Simultaneously, Egyptian Copts are struggling to survive in a land they have occupied since their sect's birth around the time of Christ.

If you're a student of this region, I highly recommend this small book.

I am stingy with five-star reviews, but I loved The Truth According to Us. Having grown up in the South, Barrows' characters ring true. The intimacy in the long-standing relationships between them is a joy to experience, and Willa's voice could not be more perfect.

Although the cast of characters is large and the plot loops around on itself, the book is beautifully written.

Highly recommended.

I'm giving Moriarty four stars if for no other reason than once again, Horowitz pegs the style of Sherlock Holmes. The story was interesting, although I've now read enough Doyle and Christie to recognize that something was amiss with the characters very early in the book. (Please note that I just deleted a spoiler.) But for me, that suspicion only added to the intrigue. This is a well-written book, and it mimics the style as intended, which means it is a success.

Recommended to fans of classic mysteries.

I'm a big fan of British period fiction. My love affair started at about 13, evolving from America's Henry James and Edith Wharton. It continues, four decades later.

Habits of the House is an enjoyable book. It's not demanding, and you'll not learn anything. I actually read it on the deck, in a loungechair, under an umbrella. It's that kind of summer read.

I think the author, a well-respected Brit with numerous awards, included just enough bawdiness to make the book marketable; just enough royalty to make it appear legit; just enough descriptions of food, jewels and fashion to make her work pleasurable to a female demographic. In other words, she wrote the piece like a pro.

As a well-traveled American, though, I take exception to her stereotypical depiction of American travelers of the period. Although she positions the heroine as the illegitimate child of a former burlesque dancer and a cattle baron, and these characters make for a colorful story, the ill-mannered American with a heart of gold is kind of tiresome, and it's about time to put the cliche to bed.

Habits of the House is great for time at the beach (or on the deck). There are two forthcoming books in the series, and unless it's a slow fiction day on my bookshelves, I probably won't invest in them.

I always worry, when reading another book by a favorite author, if it's going to be as good as the last. If the author is getting tired of his/her characters. If he/she is running out of storyline.

Harris takes the adventure of Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, and his wife, Hero, and continues it beautifully one more time. She weaves into Why Kings Confess a clever story about the French Royal family in the late 1700s, and layers period details about London during roughly that period.

I love her characterizations. The fact that Hero Devlin is a strong, intelligent, and independent woman makes reading about the adventures of Viscount Devlin more interesting. I appreciate the fact that Harris doesn't always describe Hero's clothes extensively (notice that wardrobe overkill in other historical fiction?), but rather gives just enough to depict Hero as fashionable. And in this book, Harris is giving a secondary character, surgeon Paul Gibson, an interesting sub-lot — something I think he's long deserved.

Harris' research and knowledge of British (and European) history enhances her work, so her settings are as believable as her characters.

I don't read a lot of historical fiction, but Harris is my favorite in this genre.

Highly recommended.

I'm a Donna Leon fan, believing she's at the top of her game and one of the finest suspense writers of my time. I begin each novel with slight hesitation, hoping she's not tiring of Inspector Brunetti and his family, or his work in the floating city.

This latest manuscript is one of her best. It also is one of the most difficult to read for reasons I won't share in depth (no spoilers from me!) here, but having to do with the ideally near-sacred maternal bond. Her storyline, always complex, is REALLY interwoven in The Golden Egg, but believeably so. The realistic relationship between Brunetti and his heiress wife, Paola, remains consistent with my experience of a long-married couple. And the back-and-forth bickering of the two children always makes me smile.

I particularly appreciate her treatment of Venice. I have a love/hate relationship with the city, particularly with a rising tide, but do not know an author who depicts it more accurately, or with more nuance. (Of course, she should convey its essence well since she's a long-time resident.)

I heartily recommend The Golden Egg, and will hold my breath as I await her next installment.

This is the first of Harris' books I've read. I had difficulty at the beginning because of her sentence structure, but once I found the rhythm of her writing, and her protagonist's voice, I began to enjoy her attention to detail. For me, this was a "lose yourself in it" book, and I've ordered the other two in the series. If you've spent time in rural France, or have Muslim friends, much of the book will ring true for you, as it did me.

This was like a mini-vacation, and I recommend the book.

I really enjoyed this book, although it started slowly for me. Ms. Riley weaves a good tale, and her characters are believable. I've spent a good bit of time in the south of France and Paris (for which I'm thankful!), and she depicts both locations accurately, in my opinion. She also does an interesting job of alluding to the convoluted inheritance issues in most of Europe, as well as exploring the art and auction world.

I will read more of her work.

This is a complex book, but it addresses complex issues, and tells a convoluted story. I found it fascinating.

If you are interested in art, art history, the repatriation of looted antiquities and paintings, or the Holocaust, you will find this book informative. Note that I did not say you will enjoy the book, because the theft of art from Jews by Germans is not an enjoyable topic.

The details about pre-war Vienna are fascinating, and I enjoyed reading about Klimt and his environment. The book is well researched and well written.

Recommended.

I really enjoyed White Gardenia, primarily because the story was unusual. Ms. Alexandra does a lovely job of describing locations, and many of her characters are believable. I do agree with other reviewers: the copy could have been streamlined, and Anya's repetitive strokes of good fortune could be construed as contrived.

However, the freshness of this story overcomes those points for me.

Highly recommended.

Today was a beautiful reading day here, and I finished the third book in the Barrington trilogy. This book did not disappoint. I enjoyed the new characters Archer introduced (a half-sister in the younger generation, a South American megalomaniac, a conniving wife for an heir). I also like his taking the storyline out of Great Britain and America, although would have liked a little more information about Argentina to enrich that part of the story.

If you enjoy historical fiction, this is a strong series and a new voice (for me, anyway). Plenty of British lords, some very intelligent and spunky women, good family interactions. It's written by a male, something obvious in the lack of detail about clothes jewels, makeup, perfume, etc.—elements most women enjoy in historical fiction.

All in all, a solid summer read. Recommended.

(I would give this three-and-a-half stars if I could.)

This was a good read during two flights surrounded by children exhausted from their ski vacations, or hyper because they were about to go skiing. (I like in a ski resort.) It didn't require serious concentration, but was distracting enough that I did not harm someone else's child.

Is it serious literature? No. Were most of the characters well crafted to the point that I could care about them? Generally, yes. I enjoy Australia and stories about the early part of the previous century, and believe Ms. McCullough did a good job of depicting both. She did a good job of shading each of the four sister's personas, and never had trouble keeping up with which was which.

Recommended if you're not looking for something really challenging, and prefer "G-rate" stories.