Book Reviews
Cozy Up With Our Favorite Reads
Does the corner bookstore speed dial you on payday? Do you have a library card? Or do you always have to check out the paperback books for sale at the discount store? Maybe you belong to a book club? If the answer to any of those questions is “yes”, then we can definitely be friends. Submit your own book review(s) to me at info@prairiedreamsdecor.com. Only your first name will be used unless you instruct otherwise. If you have questions or comments, please use the Comment section after the review to make sure the person who originally made the submission can see it.
On the Street Where You Live
By Mary Higgins Clark
I will confess that I do not like suspense novels. Mostly because I do most of my reading at night. Since I tend to have very vivid dreams, it’s not a good idea for me to get scared right before bedtime!
Mary Higgins Clark is a very recognizable author who has written many suspense books that really might remind you of the TV show, “Murder She Wrote”, only with a little more suspense. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel a book is much more personal and in your face, than a 1980s prime time TV show. I know this book is older, but it’s one I hadn’t read yet.
The main character of this book faces divorce, stalking, and a mystery, which almost spoils her plan to set new roots in a new city. It’s kind of creepy, but let’s just say a dead body is found in her new back yard and its hand is clutching the finger of another dead body, which belongs to someone who had died more than 100 years prior.
If mystery and suspense are your jam, you will love this book!
We Were the Mulvaneys
By Joyce Carol Oates
The Mulvaneys were a close-knit family of six that loved each other and treasured their memories. They lived on a historic farm that had been sold off in parcels over the years before the Mulvaneys bought the place. It came to consist of a few scenic acres that hosted a large house, a barn, a pond, and a few animals. The parents took pride in being an open and honest family, although the youngest son, Judd, came to find out that every single family member had secrets. It is through Judd’s eyes that we see and appreciate all the secrets. He is an adult now and is searching for the common thread that tore them apart, yet also bound the family members together.
Something terrible happened when Judd was still very young that upset the family in the worst way, and for years, it was the undoing of the Mulvaney family. They lost prestige in the community, they lost the confidence of a healthy, prosperous family, and most importantly, they lost one another.
The author, Joyce Carol Oats, does a fantastic job of weaving a tale of family life, tragedy, suffering, and finally, hope and renewed love. You will feel like you are part of the Mulvaney family and a participant in their tragedy and redemption. It’s a long story, but you will not regret getting lost in the legend of the Mulvaneys.
Submitted by Jeanette