Reviews by Andrea (67)

Andrea 2026-07-23 The Last Supper

Artful, but somehow lifeless

The Last Supper

I do love artistic writing. That's why I'm puzzled about my reaction to this book. After much thought, I think I understand why I feel like this. The prose is beautiful. Dreamlike. And I'm bored stiff; even a little depressed. I couldn't understand it, but now I think I do. Beauty is not the same as vitality. It's as if the writer is calling on me to admire their skill without considering what it would take for me to want to read on. And so far, the only scrap of humor has come from the author calling a 50-year-old an "old man." That made me laugh, but I don't think it was meant to. I almost feel bad about criticizing that book. I still respect the writer's artistry, but I think she forgot her readers along the way.

Andrea 2026-07-09 When the Cranes Fly South

Struggled a Bit With This One, But It Has a Kind of Beauty

When the Cranes Fly South

I found this book depressing, possibly because it deals with a man in the last year of his life, and I see my dad-in-law's frailty and frustration at his own physical and cognitive decline in it. Bo is a frail, elderly man who loves his dog. His son thinks the dog should be rehomed, and that's not the only conflict between them, even though they care about one another. Bo loves and misses his wife. He constantly thinks as if he were talking to her, but she has dementia, lives in an institution, and does not recognize her husband and son. He recalls his childhood, how he loved his mother but suffered under his dad's ungovernable temper and cruelty, and his working life in which he met his best friend. I had to skip to the end because it was depressing me, and I'm happy to say that Bo and his son come to understand one another better before his death. It's beautifully written, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it.

Andrea 2026-07-04 Watching Over Her

Incredible

Watching Over Her

The story covers the life of an Italian sculptor who has lived through two world wars, personal struggles and successes, the rise and fall of fascism, and the dawn of feminism. It's a story about "spirit twins" who met at age 13 and whose connection somehow endures despite distance and differences. I don't think any review can do it justice, so I'll only add that everyone should read this truly beautiful book.

Andrea 2026-06-26 The First Day of Spring

Dark, Gripping, Oddly Intriguing

The First Day of Spring

This novel is an insight into the mind of a child. Not just any child. One who is neglected, starved of food and affection alike, and never given the guidance she needs. It's about a terrible thing that she did, but also about how people's unwillingness to get involved leads to it. It's about guilt, blame, fear, and learning to love. Not my kind of thing? Definitely not. But it's very well-written, and once you start, it's hard to stop. Recommended reading for those who like a little harrowing (not of the agricultural sort).

Andrea 2026-06-22 Wild Things Never Die

A Light Read With an Important Message

Wild Things Never Die

Is it great literature? No. Is it a good story? Yes. It also serves to raise awareness of the huge problem of plant poaching, especially the theft of rare succulents, with practical tips for combatting this threat to our biodiversity in the notes at the end. Although there were times when I found the main character just a little too cutesy-pie, the idea of a tannie tackling poachers while accompanied by her pet hen was amusing.

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