August 8, 2008 - August 21, 2008
Last contest period's winners were David, Kimberlee, Monica, Rickand V. Pewthers, who each received a copy of THE MAP THIEF by Heather Terrell, ROBERT LUDLUM'S THE BOURNE SANCTION by Eric Van Lustbader, and THE TURNAROUND by George Pelecanos.
| Readingrat |
| Middlemarch by George Elliot |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A classic literary epic masterpiece. |
| Marsha M |
| Special Topics In Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I first tried reading this book, but had a hard time with the style. When I found an audio copy at my local library I decided to try again. I am very happy I did. The story is told by Blue Van Meer, high school student, only child of an eccentric political and social science professor, self-acclaimed genius with an almost perfect memory, and new member of the "in crowd" at her new private school. Narrated like any scholar, the prose is punctuated by asides and footnotes with references from classic movies, famous and obscure scholarly writings, fiction and whatever seems to pop up in her mind. In fact every chapter is named for a book. Blue and her father are like rolling stones. It seems he changes universities and locals almost every year. He can do so because he has something of a "rock star" reputation with many ardent admirers all over the country. But at this last North Carolina school, things unravel. Blue and her friends are enamored with an unconventional teacher, spending time away from her father and her studies. Odd things begin to happen, leading up to murders, alienation, and her own family's terrible secret. I highly recommend this audiobook version of the novel. it is well spoken and riveting. |
| Sandra F. |
| Forty Words for Sorrow by Giles Blunt |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A great crime story set in northern Ontario. It's so nice to read a really good Canadian author. |
| Natalie Powell |
| Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the best book I have read all year. It was a tear jerker. |
| Ronni (rsmusf@aol.com) |
| The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This engrossing novel, written by an award-winning novelist (LOST IN TRANSLATION) and food writer, introduces the reader to the world of authentic Chinese cooking and lore. Along with vivid descriptions of Chinese cooking, the author weaves in a story about an American writer traveling in China to connect with the possible daughter of her late husband. |
| Fran |
| Veil of Roses by Laura Fitzgerald |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It was so much fun to experience America for the first time through the eyes of Tami, a young Persian immigrant. It is the type of book that highlights cultural norms and values within the context of a characterization. It makes you realize how much we take for granted in our culture! In this book you route for the heroine, Tami as she goes on her desperate search for a Persian husband before her Visa expires. Along the way, she meets Ike, a forbidden American man who she happens to fall in love with. This book was a lot of fun to read. |
| Sandra F. |
| Cure for a Charlatan by Caroline Roe |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
An historical mystery featuring a blind Jewish doctor in medieval Spain. A good read with lots of historical detail. |
| Sandra F. |
| Thou Shalt Not Grill by Tamar Myers |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An entertaining mystery set in Pennsylvania-Dutch country. It's best read for the characters rather than the plot, and it comes complete with recipes. |
| Sandra F. |
| Charlotte by D. M. Thomas |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Give an alternate ending to JANE EYRE. Very entertaining. |
| Marsha |
| At Risk by Patricia Cornwell |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a fast read. It's not a Scarpetta novel, but one featuring Winston Garano. I'm sure we will be reading more of him. He is a Massachusetts state investigator who is completing a course at the National Forensic Academy. Who does he trust? He is caught in a political entanglement. |
| Jean |
| Killer Mousse by Melinda Wells |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I enjoy cozy mysteries so I decided to try this new author. I found the book to be a little flat. It was an okay read, but nothing to rave about. |
| Joan G. |
| Tribute by Nora Roberts |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Cilla, a former child movie star, is now out of the business and doing home renovations. She has moved to Virginia into her grandmother's old farmhouse, and wants to renovate it and call it home. Her grandmother, a once-famous movie star, supposedly committed suicide there. Cilla finds old love letters and strange things begin happening to her. She sets out to prove her grandmother's death was no accident. This is not Robert's best but enjoyable. |
| Jean |
| Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Loved this book! My college-aged daughter recommended this to me and I must say, I loved it. Ms. Giffin tells the story just as your best friend would. It's a fast read, full of insight regarding friendships and relationships. I highly recommend it! |
| Linda M. Johnson (tcheer4life@yahoo.com) |
| The Art of Drowning by Billy Collins |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a slim but potent book of poetry by a former Poet Laureate of the U.S. I heard Mr. Collins read some of his work last March. At that time, I thought of him as a poetic Bob Newhart. This particular book has one of my favorite poems, "Thesaurus". |
| Judy O. |
| The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Reading this book is really like spending time in a whole new world. Edgar Sawtelle and his family live in Wisconsin on a farm and for several generations they have raised and trained dogs. These dogs are a breed unto themselves called, "Sawtelle's Dogs". Edgar has been mute since birth, although he does have hearing. Their ideal world is thrown into chaos when Edgar's uncle, Claude, comes to stay with them after a stint in jail. A death occurs and Edgar suspects that his uncle is responsible. After another tragic turn of events, Edgar runs into the Wisconsin forests with 3 of his dogs and manages to elude capture for many weeks. The plot is loosely based on Shakespeare's Hamlet. Even though it is a long book, I was sorry to see it end. This book is a first for this author, and I'll look forward to his next one. |
| Linda M. Johnson (tcheer4life@yahoo.com) |
| Free Lunch by David Cay Johnston |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Everyone should read this book. I led a book discussion about this at our local library. I tried to find something negative about the author and his book --- to present an opposing view --- but found almost nothing. Mr. Johnston doesn't take party sides. He points out the inequities of government on so many sides. |
| Linda M. Johnson (tcheer4life@yahoo.com) |
| Picnic, Lightning by Billy Collins |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Another slim book of poetry by a quiet man who supplies chuckles and his unique take on life. What seems a familiar topic he manipulates until we see through his eyes and comprehend an entirely new view. |
| Linda M. Johnson (tcheer4life@yahoo.com) |
| Questions About Angels: Poems by Billy Collins |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Billy Collins is a poet who is very easy to read and understand. He writes about everyday things and turns them into something extraordinary. |
| Jean |
| Something Blue by Emily Giffin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This sequel to SOMETHING BORROWED was equally good. If features the same characters as the first book, but the story is told from someone else's point of view. |
| Kathy V. |
| He Who Fears The Wolf by Karin Fossum |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is another Inspector Sejer mystery. The more of these I read, the more I love them. This one is about a young man who escapes from an asylum and gets caught up in a killing during a bank robbery, and a boy who keeps leaving the boys home. The author really draws you in and keeps you going till the end. I could not put it down, and read it in two days. |
| Andrea |
| Strange Piece of Paradise by Terri Jentz |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Riveting true crime memoir about an event from 1977 in which the author was almost murdered while on a cross-country bike trip. It's not a typical true crime story, with a lot of insight from the author, and no pat resolution. I couldn't wait until my lunch hour to keep on reading. |
| Bonnie |
| There's No Toilet Paper on the Road Less Trave by David Lansky (editor) |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Funny book of travel essays from people like Dave Barry, Bill Bryson, etc. |
| Lori Barnes (photoquest@bellsouth.net) |
| A Rakes Guide to Seduction by Caroline Linden |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved both the main characters in this story. They had known each other when they were younger, and had since gotten reacquainted again. However, Anthony now has a very scandalous reputation. Celia only remembers him being very kind to her growing up. I thought this was a excellent read. There were no dry spots and the story flowed from beginning to end. There were surprises thrown out that kept the story interesting, and the love scenes were excellently written; there was quite the sexual tension between them. They both have very defined personalities and you really felt like you know them when the story is over. I will be looking for more from this author. |
| Wendy (wendycatalano@hotmail.com) |
| The Hunt by Allison Brennan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the 2nd book in a trilogy and it is a quick-paced murder mystery adventure. A great read that comes after THE PREY and before THE KILL. |
| Annie |
| The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston, Mario Spezi |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The true story of a serial killer in Florence, Italy. The murders began in 1968 and are particularly gruesome and violent. The story encompasses the incompetencies of the police in charge of the investigation and many false arrests and charges. I am in the midst of the story and not sure if they ever get the real murderer . I thought it had a slow start, but it is easy to follow although there have been 14 murders and multiple arrests and officials hired and fired. |
| Monica S. |
| The Doctor's Wife by Elizabeth Brundage |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a story about a woman who's bored with her life as the spouse of a doctor in a small town. Annie meets another man and their "affair" leads to dire consequences. This story had many twists and turns, and once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. A great summer read! |
| Crystal Johnston |
| Prophecy Study Bible by John C. Hagee |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Okay. Move aside all study and just Bibles you use along side any and all other Bibles you use to refer and learn about the world in the past and where God will take us during the rapture. It's written in the New King James version, so it's an easy read and learn so much that you will be totally impressed. Can't afford one or find one? Then borrow one. You won't want to bring it back, so just buy your own copy from the beginning. Blessed reading! |
| CAN |
| God's Word for Each Day by Unknown |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent devotional book. If you want to get closer to God or just improve your daily walk with him and/or relationships with family and friends, you won't be able to move away from this 'bad boy.' Preserve in your daily life and pick up this Bible. It's worth your love. |
| Bridget |
| The Golden Age by Tahmima Anam |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A very good novel about a widow and her two children during the Pakistani War. I really knew very little about this time and place in history. Reading this novel was very interesting and informative. The characters were well developed and I really felt that I cared about them. |
| Christy H. |
| Fractured by Karin Slaughter |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
FRACTURED grabbed me from the very first page and the fast-paced, suspenseful plot kept me turning the pages until I had finished all 388 in one sitting. This thrilling mystery is filled with plenty of twists and turns. Characters Will and Amanda are back from Karin's previous book, TRIPTYCH along with new characters and monstrous villains --- the interaction between Will and Faith is intriguing and I'm hoping there will be more in this series. |
| Gale in Houston |
| Nothing to Lose by Lee Child |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Lee Child's Jack Reacher series is a real treat. This year's installment, NOTHING TO LOSE, may not be on par with last year's stellar BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE, but it is an excellent book. NOTHING TO LOSE finds retired military policeman Reacher arrested for vagrancy when he orders a cup of coffee in the small town of Despair, Colorado. Something seems off. As he begins to investigate, Reacher finds an unexpected military presence, a town controlled by a wealthy zealot, and evidence of suspicious disappearances. I highly recommend this series to mystery/thriller fans. |
| Gale in Houston |
| The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
THE REST FALLS AWAY is the first of the Gardella Chronicles, a five-book series about vampires in 19th-century Europe and those who hunt them. Colleen Gleason has an unusually Christian foundation for her vampires --- the first vampire was Judas Iscariot, betrayer of Christ. The main vampire threat in this series is Lilith, daughter of Judas. Vampires are weak to silver in deference to Judas's payment for his betrayal. This novel tells how the newest vampire killer, Lady Victoria Gardella, accepts her family legacy on the eve of her London society debut. At a time when she is expected to be gaining a spouse, she is enthusiastically learning martial arts, weaponry and a secret family history. Gleason's story is beautifully detailed, with memorable characters, an interesting story and excellent action. |
| Lindsey |
| Loving Frank by Nancy Horan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Recommended by a friend. I am only about 1/4 into it, but I'm finding it hard to put down. A great love story. |
| A Louisiana Librarian |
| RuneWarriors by James Jennewein |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
RUNEWARRIORS is an upcoming book by James Jennewein and Tom S. Parker, screen writers, whose work includes Richie Rich and The Flintstones. RUNEWARRIORS is a the tale of a 13-year-old viking boy named Dane who is catapulted into a dangerous quest after an evil tyrant kills his father and kidnaps his love, an ax-wielding viking girl named Astrid. Middle schoolers who enjoy the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series will enjoy following the adventures of Dane and his viking friends. It's full of fighting, adventure, and lots of humor as the authors include very clever and quirky descriptive text and dialogue. The writers could have developed the characters a bit more. In addition, the age of the characters is distracting because the story oscillates between being a story about thirteen-year- old boys, who speak and act like thirteen-year-old boys, and a life-or-death situation where a young girl will be killed and a kingdom on the verge of death and destruction. It's hard to imagine a boy in a bloody sword fight to the death. Regardless of the slight shortcomings, young readers should have no problems suspending belief and will enjoy reading about viking warriors, frost giants, deadly sea creatures, and changing ones fate. |
| Gail (cardlady4@optonline.net) |
| Losing You by Nicci French |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was very suspenseful story. I couldn't put it down; it was a quick read and I finished it in one day. I enjoyed it very much. |
| Aj Smith |
| sTori Telling by Tori Spelling |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Wait! Don't roll your eyes just yet. I was skeptical about reading a Tori Spelling book myself, but --- to be honest --- it was very refreshing. She is not what she appears to be in the tabloids. I feel after reading the book, I can actually relate to her and find that she is someone I might be friends with. I do feel like she could have taken a little more responsibility for her actions in the book, but overall, I was engrossed and was left with a better understanding of a fellow woman, friend, mother and wife. |
| Erin Golsen |
| The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This heartbreaking, haunting book tells the story of Esme Lennox, an elderly woman who has spent the past sixty years in an asylum. The book's vivid characters and skillfully structured plot make for a suspenseful and moving read --- I couldn't put it down until I knew what had happened to Esme and why. |
| Little D |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a beautifully written book as told through the eyes of the family pet dog, Enzo. It is a funny, sad, passionate and loving story. You will never look at your family pet in the same way again. |
| Angela Satalino |
| Ahab's Wife by Sena Jeter Naslund |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
What a wonderful picturesque, thought-provoking, interesting book. The characters draw you in from the first page. Great summer read. |
| Sue Balla (jsballa@optonline.net) |
| Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Set in Germany during the last months of World War II, this is the story of a German family's struggle to head west, across Germany, to the British and American troops and away from the encroaching Russian army. The refugees see the atrocities committed by both sides, and the reader understands that there are innocents on both sides of war. |
| Sandra |
| Prayers For Rain by Dennis Lehane |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I just finished listening to this one and it was great! A little bit of sex and bad language, but necessary to the story. |
| Carol |
| The Boy I Loved Before by Jenny Colgan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Chick-lit, but such a fun read. It's a romance combined with fantasy and time travel. It was like eating chocolates --- it went down easy. The author has a nice sense of humor. |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Judas Island by Kathryn R. Wall |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A Bay Tanner Mystery set in Hilton Head, SC --- this time there is trouble between the Judge and Lavinia, plus the sudden death of a friend of Erik's. Trouble seems to be Bay's middle name, with murder and mayhem following close behind. |
| Joan (jbtommysmom0@gmail.com) |
| Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This novel, which is based on the story behind the creation of the Taj Mahal, is the best book I've read in 2008. It's just about perfect. I find it difficult to locate novels that are well written and page turners, but this book is definitely both. The writing is beautiful, the story compelling, and I was up until 3 a.m. last night finishing it! |
| Rick B. |
| Wizard of Windsor Island by Richard A. Berry & John M. Kraus |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This positive adventure for teens involves a boy who discovers that he has magical powers. It's only 100 pages. It starts off little weak with some family background, but it's a good read from chapter 4-12. There may possibly be a sequel. |
| Susan Balla |
| So Brave, Young and Handsome by Leif Enger |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The much anticipated second novel by the author of PEACE LIKE A RIVER. A beautifully written story about with very believable characters, set in the early 1900s. It's not quite a western, but it does bring to mind a classic cowboy story. |
| Ali |
| The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a good story, but very creepy to me. |
| Joanna Baker (JMB0923@gmail.com) |
| Lost on Planet China by J. Maarten Troost |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I first discovered J. Marteen Troost a couple of years ago when his then-newly written book, GETTING STONED WITH SAVAGES was given to me as an Advance Reading Copy (ARC). It was a great book! He tells the story of his wife getting transferred to Vanuatu and their subsequent adventures while living there. The book was so interesting and fun to read --- I devoured it. I figured it was the closest I would ever get to seeing that part of the world, and I did feel like I had gone there after reading it. After that, I sought out SEX LIVES OF CANNIBALS, which was actually his first book about that part of the world. Again, I loved it. So imagine my excitement one night a couple of weeks ago when I got to work at the bookstore only to find the ARC of Troost's newest offering in my mailbox! I started reading it immediately and have been talking about it to anyone who will listen ever since. My 22-year-old son read it in one day and also really liked it. I have passed this title along (the physical book as well as in suggestion) to many other readers I know. Troost is a really entertaining author writing about the biggest and most mysterious country in the world. I am ashamed to admit I know very little about it. Timed to hit bookstores just in time for the summer Olympics in Beijing, it is available now. Give it try --- I guarantee you'll enjoy it and you'll learn a lot too. |
| Lori Barnes (photoquest@bellsouth.net) |
| Why the Wind Blows by Matthys Levy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I found this book to be full of information. It goes over all the different types of weather --- tornadoes, cyclones, monsoons, etc. It describes in detail about the changing of our climates and the future of the earth. It's a history of weather and global warming, discusses how different factors are causing the weather changes, and what the earth will be like in the future. There are also many illustrations and charts that are easily read. Anyone with concerns about the future of things needs to read this book. |
| Carole from Kelleys Island |
| If the Battle Is Over, Why Am I Still in Uniform? by Brenda Elsagher |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Life was hectic but happy for Brenda, a stylist and owner of a busy hair salon, a wife, and a mother of two young children, when she was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. With that diagnosis, life as she knew it abruptly and forever changed. Brenda gritted her teeth and summoned all the courage and humor she could muster. She had the loving support of a very large family and many caring friends. Still, it was her body that was carved up like a Thanksgiving turkey and put back together --- now with exterior plumbing. She dubbed her surgeon "The Rear Admiral." Brenda learned to live with her colostomy and to laugh often. She became much more than a cancer survivor. She became a motivational speaker with an important message. The book is heartwarming, encouraging, interesting, well written, and deeply personal. |
| Christy H. |
| Nauti Dreams by Lora Leigh |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Being a big fan of Ms. Leigh and having previously read the first two books in this series, NAUTI NIGHTS and NAUTI BOY, I have anxiously been waiting for this latest addition with Natches's story. This book could be read as a stand alone, but I would seriously recommend reading the first two books just to get a feel for the characters and the evolving storyline. As always, the book has great characters! Natches's personality is upper alpha male (I guarantee you will fall in love with him) and Chaya is just as strong and a perfect equal match. These two come with a lot of individual baggage and a history with each other that goes back five years. The story is filled with tons of emotion: fear, grief and anger. Their love story is just as emotional and the sex scenes are absolutely sizzling! The plot is suspenseful and thrilling, and filled with plenty of twists and turns. Now that the MacKay cousins have all had their stories told, I'm looking forward to reading NAUTI INTENTIONS with Alex and Janey's story. |
| Debbie Le (deble_2000@yahoo.com) |
| The Richest Season by Maryann Mcfadden |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A great first novel about two women on different paths --- one to find her own life and the other to find meaning in death. It's set in the low country of South Carolina. |
| Dale |
| Empire Falls by Richard Russo |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Right from the beginning, this book grabs you. You feel a real connection with all the characters and their lives. The author is very descriptive, but has a way of writing in that you really enjoy his detail. One of the best we have read this year as a book group. |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| The Last Queen by C. W. Gortner |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A fictional account of Juana of Castile, a child of Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand of Spain, whose sister, Catherine of Aragon, married Henry VII and then Henry VIII. This look at the life of royalty is not as fun and rich as one would expect --- her life is full of duty, expectations and disappointments. Added is the hint of madness that runs in the family. |
| Mary Ann |
| Light of the Moon by Luanne Rice |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A great summer read with a good storyline about familial love and redemption. The backdrop is the Camargue horses in southern France. |
| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
| Audition by Barbara Walters |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was one of those books I got totally lost in. I would read it in the Y and before I knew it, I was on the bike for 7 miles and it felt like only 1. Barbara Walters was like a fixture on our shelf in our living room as a kid. Always there, but I didn't pay much attention to her. Looking back, I remember that fixture and I am reliving my childhood, all the memories of my family, and the history of our time during the '60s and '70s. Yes, Barbara does a little bragging about her success in TV, as she should. However, she is also a very honest and down-to-earth celebrity. Although she felt comfortable in front of the camera, she did not always feel comfortable in her own skin, especially in her personal life. She felt a lot of guilt when it came to her family --- especially with her father and sister, Jackie. I admire her for her success as a woman. She paved the way for the opportunities that women have today. I also admire her for her candidness --- she does not hold back in this book. She tells you the celebrities she liked to interview and those she did not. She was also very honest about her professional relationships with her colleagues like Harry Reasoner, Frank McGee, Star Jones and Rosie O'Donnell. This book is a very thorough look at her life from beginning till now. It is her complete history, with humor sprinkled throughout each chapter. I am so glad I read this book. It makes me want to learn more about her, watch "The View", listen to her new radio show that is replaying her "Specials" and google every name mentioned in her book. I also feel like I have completed a history lesson --- a lesson through the eyes of one of the best female journalists of our time. To the woman who traveled everywhere, met almost every important person there was to meet and achieved more than ever imagined, thank you for setting an example for the woman of today. Bravo! |
| Jackie Crucil |
| Miss Julia Paints the Town by Ann B. Ross |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The Miss Julia series is great! Miss Julia is a southern, widowed woman who lives life sensibly and mannerly, and manages to get herself in odd predicaments. This book is clean fun set in the South. |
| Shyeyes (dawnymae5@msn.com) |
| Tailspin by Catherine Coulter |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Still the best author for women's suspense! This one takes Sherlock, Dillon, and Agent Crowne to the Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky, where they meet Rachael, who has a story of her own and a reason to hide. TAILSPIN involves Washington's upper echelon and is very suspenseful. A must read. |
| ck |
| The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is now in paperback and makes a great choice for book clubs. Maggie is a food writer visiting China on business. She meets Sam, a chef who is preparing for a culinary cook-off associated with the Olympic Games. Chapters begin with a commentary on food taken from a fictitous book ostensibly written by Sam's ancestor. The author wrote for Gourmet and had a business in China for 18 years. |
| Areta (areta6@yahoo.com) |
| The Garden of Last Days by Andre Dubus III |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book by the same author of THE HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG has written another story that makes you want to jump out of the way of that train that is headed straight for you, but the fascination with the flawed characters keeps your feet firmly planted on the tracks. You find yourself understanding even the most flawed (and evil??) characters in this book. Dubus tells the story from the point of view of each of 5 different people. This is a compelling read. |
| Connie |
| The Rogue by Danielle Steel |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book was Danielle Steel's "older style of writing" --- meaning it was good. Very typical and you could guess the ending, but it's still a good summer read. |
| T. Thomas |
| City on Fire by Bill Minutaglio |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A compelling account of the Texas City Disaster and the people who lived and died there. |
| Andrea |
| The Lottery by Patricia Wood |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Perry is an edgier Forest Gump, and his gram is a feistier version of Forests' mom. It's hard to believe that that Groom's book (or the movie) was not an influence on Ms. Wood, but those picking up THE LOTTERY will find a funny, if predictable enjoyable summer beach read. |
| Josephine Anna Kaszuba Locke, Book Hugger and Ace |
| The Opposite House by Helen Oyeyemi |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Through a complex and challenging narrative, Maja Carmen Carrera --- a black Cuban jazz singer, in her twenties --- orbits her relationship with two highly-academic parents, as well as younger brother, Tomás. The family fled Castro's Cuba for London when Maja was seven. Though adjusted to life in London, she begins a mind-journey about the country left behind. In contemplating the move, Maja decides: "There's an age beyond which it is impossible to lift a child from the pervading marinade of an original country, pat them down with a paper napkin and then deep-fry them in another country ... I arrived here just before that age." Interwoven is the alternating story of Yemaya Saramagua ('Aya'), dramatis personae --- as a Santerian goddess/emissary, residing in the multi-story 'somewherehouse', home of other auspicious beings, including cloaked emissaries. In the mysterious house, there are two magic doors: one opens onto London, the other onto Lagos (rarely referred to in the story). Aya leaves the 'somewherehouse' in search of her parents, meets children who grow from seeds, while befriending a suicidal, many-faced young girl named Amy. The prevailing postulate of Aya's reality is ache, power, and fear. Helen Oyeyemi was born in Nigeria in 1984, living in London since the age of four, and before graduating from Cambridge University (2006), she had already achieved her niche in the author realm with her first novel at nineteen years of age, namely THE ICARUS GIRL. Oyeyemi's works are lyrical and stylistic transfigurations between 'realism and experimentation', speaking to the author's talent depth, and lauded by sources as 'before her time'. THE OPPOSITE HOUSE hits as an obscure novel in which Oyeyemi implicates a running theme of the overlap of cultural and emotional. allegorical, intrusions. The reader's comprehension of a 'trapped and desperate' Maja and Yemaya is safeguarded by Oyeyemi's unquestionable gift for language, emotional intelligence, and penchant to strongly draw the reader into her characters 'souls', facing implications of aversions, as in: "The pain on her cheeks, her forehead, her hands, stands out blackly, as if her veins are delicately weeping poison and her skin is a cloth placed over it to soak up the damage." THE OPPOSITE HOUSE is not a story of beginning, middle, nor ending. it is left with no closure, yet the reader can ponder the premise to Oyeyemi's book. Exasperated at times that I wasn't catching on, I finally let go of the 'catching on' efforts, reread passages for intelligibility and clarity, and found myself going with the flow, allowing the beauty of Oyeyemi's words to penetrate and absorb as they might. All things equal, I found THE OPPOSITE HOUSE, albeit difficult to read, yet hard-to-put aside, seeded with the reality of emotional moments that adhere to the mind, beckoning the reader to return again and again. Consider the opulent language, among which are such passages as: "The day was hot but gentle; beneath its healing steam lay granite, decrepit wood, rocks gloved in blanched sand. The harbour water caught sunlight in layered hoops of petrol-colored dirt and tried to keep its clarity secret, but the divers told. Small, earth-brown boys kept bobbing up, their backbones hacking out of their skin, hair plastered to their heads, coin pouches around their waists rattling as they added new handfuls of slick bronze to their store." One can't help but contemplate: What precisely is the relationship between Maja and Yemaya? It is a puzzling maze, whether within the real world, or otherwise. Personally, I couldn't let go of the concept that the two women in reality are one and the same. |
| Nicole |
| The Last Vampire by Patricia Rosemoor and Marc Paoletti |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Fun paranormal, and the addition of an anthropologist who studies magic is interesting. |
| Genie |
| The Shapeshifter by Tony Hillerman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Retired Tribal Police Officer Joe Leaphorn receives a note from another retired police officer turned private investigator, Melvin Bork, along with a recent magazine photo of a priceless Navajo rug that had supposedly been destroyed in a fire years ago. Both Bork and Leaphorn had been troubled by this arson case, in which a man from the FBI's most wanted list was believed to have died. When Bork decides to investigate the reappearance of the rug, he goes missing. Leaphorn then decides to begin checking into what happened to his friend by delving into this cold case. He soon finds himself in the middle of a current murder investigation. Leaphorn unexpectedly receives assistance from retired FBI agent, Ted Rostic. As Leaphorn begins to solve Bork's murder, he discovers a path leading to a number of unsolved homicides and robberies and finds himself in danger of losing his own life. |
| Dena |
| Tailspin by Catherine Coulter |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the next FBI thriller Catherine has written in her series, and it was really good. I like the chemistry between Savich and Sherlock in every book, whether they are a big part of the story or not. This story had me interested from the first line and kept me up, not wanting to put it down. |
| Josephine Anna Kaszuba Locke, Book Hugger and Ace |
| Your Own, Sylvia by Stephanie Hemphill |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
"Everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. " --Sylvia Plath In 'Your Own, Sylvia, a verse portrait of Sylvia Platt', Stephanie Hemphill has created a collage of the life and work of an American writer, Sylvia Plath (1932-1963). Arranged chronologically from Plath's birth to the month of her suicide, Hemphill's poem formats are written from the points of view of people involved in Sylvia's life. The voices of Plath's mother, and British poet and husband Ted Hughes are integrated with those of fleeting acquaintances. Hemphill has chosen each to underscore a unique aspect of the subject's fiery life and tumultuous literary career. Hemphill's challenging approach is to capture Plath's poet life through poems of her own, in which the author's form is of eminent importance (as it was to Plath herself). Many of the selections were created in the style of specific Plath poems, while others are scattered with Plath's imagery and language. Although Hemphill's work is classified as fiction, its contents are drawn from nonfiction sources, including biographies and Plath's journals and letters. Each of Hemphill's poems is accompanied by footnotes linking Hemphill's imagined scenes within the facts. Rather than write in Plath's voice, Hemphill channels the voices of those who knew the poet in chronologically arranged poems, from the perspective of family members, friends, colleagues, and medical sources. The result is an intimate, comprehensive, imaginative view of a life that also probes the relationships between poetry and creativity, mental fragility, love, marriage, and betrayal. Hemphill's book is touted as a 'must read' not only for Plath lovers, but also for high school students and college English majors. Readers unfamiliar with Plath will relish the protagonist's unpredictable and engaging journey, bringing a gifted talent, Sylvia Plath, into the light of new generations. |
| Dena |
| Stop Me by Brenda Novak |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the second book in The Last Stand series but it stands on its own very well. Some books don't stand alone in series very well, but this one does. It is fine on its own, but if I were you I would read them all. Brenda writes stories that are so good you can't wait to see what the next page brings. STOP ME is what the killer wants and the story getting to that end is very good; I couldn't put it down. |
| Bridget |
| Rome 1960: the Olympics that Changed the World by David Maraniss |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Very detail-oriented book. The author's premise is in the title. I found the "human interest' stories of the athletes to be the most interesting part of this book. |
| KG |
| The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This story takes place in Salem, MA. It is a great read with an unbelievable ending! I can't wait for the author's next novel to be published. Recommended highly! |
| T. Thomas |
| One for the Money by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I have read the first four in the series and I've got the next two waiting for me. I really like this series, it is so funny. Wish I had found them earlier. |
| T. Thomas |
| The Host by Stephenie Meyer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Loved this book! It is better than any in the Twilight series. If you have not read it, I highly recommend it. |
| Thomas |
| Cruel and Unusual by Patricia Cornwell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Kay Scarpetta has a mystery on her hands. Shortly after a convicted murderer is executed, one of his fingerprints shows up at the scene of a murder. After some more killings, Kay is being considered a suspect by everyone from the media to the Governor of Virginia. She must enlist the aid of a few loyal friends and her computer-savvy niece to clear her name and find the real killer. |
| Josephine Anna Kaszuba Locke, Book Hugger and Ace |
| Dough A Memoir by Mort Zachter |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Zachter writes his memoir candidly, warmly, with caring concern, humor, and puzzlement. His bachelor uncles had lived as paupers, wearing old suits, driving a twenty-year old Buick (which resembled 'a giant accordion', visited free clinics, while carrying forward the tradition of a bakery established by Mort's Russian immigrant, maternal grandparents (Wolk) in 1926, at the location of 350 E 9th Street in New York City. Uncle Harry and Uncle Joe carried forward the tradition of the 'commissioned bakery'; as Mort tells it: "In their entire lives, my uncles never baked a thing." To you Mort Zachter, Dziekuje bardzo! Shalom! "Go placidly amid the noise & haste, & remember what peace there may be in silence. .Speak your truth quietly & clearly; and listen to others, even the dull & ignorant; they too have their story. .DESIDERATA (Words For Life) by Max Ehrmann, 1927. I nominate Mort Zachter's DOUGH as one of the ten best reads of 2008, a true winner. The ending is a splendid 'mitzvah'! |
| Emily B |
| Easy Prey by John Sandford |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the first Sandford book I've read and I think I will be picking up the rest in this series. They're fast-paced, interesting detective novels. I find the main character is tough and hard to figure out at first, but you get to know him a little better as it goes on. |
| Fran |
| The Untelling by Tayari Jones |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A young woman who suspects she is pregnant is in for a let down when she discovers that not only is she not pregnant, but is --- in fact --- infertile. This book examines the complexities of her family relationship stemming back from a car accident in childhood resulting in the loss of her father and sister. The writer weaves a complex story with likable characters and a realistic plot. |
| Jeanie |
| Where the River Ends by Charles Martin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
When Abbie's battle with cancer is almost over, she tells her husband Doss of 10 things she wishes to do before she dies. One of which is to escape to the river that Doss grew up on. |
| Sandra (sfuhringer@sympatico.ca) |
| The Attack by Yasmina Khadra |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
After reading THE SWALLOWS OF KABUL (5 stars), I wanted more by this author. While reading THE ATTACK I discovered that the author's name is a female pseudonym for a male Algerian army officer, Mohammed Moulessehoul, who is the author of two other books now published in English: IN THE NAME OF GOD and WOLF DREAMS. He took the feminine penname to avoid submitting his manuscripts for approval by military censors while he was still in the army. He now lives and writes in France and I love his books. THE ATTACK shows us what a doctor goes through when he is stunned to discover that the latest suicide bomber was his beloved wife. It is set in Israel and it is a great story. Highly recommended. |
| Danelle Drake (drake6jdttha@charter.net) |
| Dumbfounded by Matt Rothschild |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This wondrous books will keep you up all night reading, and will keep you giggling and on the verge of tears at all times. It makes you almost glad you don't live like the other half lives. |
| Emry (edwinnora.holmquist@verizon.net) |
| A Little Less Talk and A Lot More Action by LuAnn McLane |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Funny Southern romance, sequel to DARK ROOTS AND COWBOY BOOKS. Great characters and a compelling storyline written with humor and warmth. |
| Darlene |
| The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I loved this book. It showed how women can bond with each other, share a love for something (knitting), and also become part of each others' lives. |
| Pattie Berryhill (pattiberr@aol.com) |
| The Genius by Jesse Kellerman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A look inside the world of Art...massive amounts of intricate drawings are found in an abandoned apartment in the Projects. Could the artist be involved with the murders of 5 innocent children he has drawn? |
| Shannon Moon Leonetti |
| The Shanghai Tunnels by Sharan Newman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A local mystery that could have taken place in any port city in the country. Kidnapping, drugs, sex and plain old job connections took place in underground tunnels at the beginning of the 20th century. Portland, Oregon was no different and local author Sharan Newman entertains and educates about that part of our history! |
| Shannon Leonetti |
| The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A book for women of all ages. The Wednesday Sisters mature from moms in the park to a small writing group. Set in '60s and '70s, every woman of a "certain age" will relive her own youth. |
| Sharon |
| Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What would you do if you have a year of your life to travel at will? Where would you go? The author, who has just gone through a bitter divorce and unhappy love affair, has that option and choses to travel to Italy to learn Italian (and eat), to visit an Ashram in India, and to go Bali. From each, she will learn about the world and how to make herself whole. |
| Sandy H. |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I didn't quite know what to expect from this, but it was a very enjoyable read [actually, i listened to it on CD while commuting]. The story is told from a dog's perspective, but is very well written --- not silly at all. And if you have any love/knowledge of the auto-racing scene you will enjoy that end of it as well. |
| Marion Miller (lamamil@aol.com) |
| Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is interesting. It describes the mindset of Indians who have assimilated into the local culture. A mystery that has haunted an area guiltily is finally solved. |
| Jo Ann |
| Founding Mothers by Cokie Roberts |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A little long, but well worth the read. Who would have known how great, brave, and smart the women behind our founding fathers were? This should be on all high school reading lists! |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Sanctuary Hill by Kathryn R Wall |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A Bay Tanner Mystery set in Hilton Head, SC. This time, Bay finds a dead baby floating in a cooler and investigates the murder of a realtor's wife. Things heat up between Bay and Ben, but something happens to end that romance, and Bay finally turns to her brother-in-law, Red. An interesting tale of the root followers. |
| Jill |
| Rough Crossings by Simon Schama |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The little-known story of black American slaves who escaped to British lines in the Revolutionary War in return for a promise of freedom. |
| Jill |
| The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Magical combination of pictures and words for young adults (of all ages) to tell the story of a young boy who lives secretly in the walls of a Paris train station. In trying to solve a mystery about his dead father, he meets some friends and finds a new purpose in life. |
| Harriet Stay (hstay@hughes.net) |
| The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Oh my, I feel like Willie Wonka. I discovered a whole new world of thrillers, police procedures, and beautiful writing coming from the frigid North: Sweden, Norway, and Iceland. So far, this tops my list. The bittersweet fact about this author is, after completing three books, Larsson died in 2004. It is only now that he is being published in English. This story has two heroes. Mikael Blomqvist is a crusading investigative journalist from Stockholm who has been convicted of libel. The other is a twenty-four-year-old misfit, Lisbeth Salander, a different brand of private investigator and computer wiz. Their alliance begins when Mikael is commissioned to investigate the disappearance of Harriet Vangar forty years earlier. This book is perfect. Characters become people you care about; the setting enhances the story; the entire plot was totally believable. This is not a cozy or a beach read. Publishing house Alfred A. Knopf upholds its reputation by producing yet another outstanding book. |
| Tamara Randi (sewradical@gmail.com) |
| The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Great murder mystery novel with Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and James Russell Lowell as the leading characters who are translating The Divine Comedyinto English. The grisly murders are inspired by Dante's Inferno. Who is taking their work and committing the murders? |
| Pamela HD |
| Holy Fools: A Novel by Joanne Harris |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Set in 17th-century France, this novel explores the many facets of love and revenge. Gypsies, nuns, dancers/acrobats, royalty --- all experience the emotions in their own way. The book would have rated 5 stars if the change in narrators had been smoother --- I couldn't always tell who was 'talking'. |
| Tamara Randi |
| Dispatches from the Edge by Anderson Cooper |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Highly informative book on world events that Anderson has covered for Channel One and CNN. The book also delves into his family story and the sadness that he carries with him. |
| DBeigh |
| Swan Peak by James Lee Burke |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I eagerly awaited this book, but am entirely creeped out by the graphic and gratuitous violence of the Montana setting. Perhaps he is using it as a metaphor for the Old West, but I much prefer the New Orleans setting, even with the Katrina so realistic as to be a character in THE TIN ROOF BLOWDOWN. I confess that I haven't finished it, but I'm not sure I have the stomach to do so. |
| Carolyn (carolynwaring@comcast.net) |
| Phantom Prey by John Sandford |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Another great novel from Sandford. Davenport's in great form, there's just enough about his relationship with Heather, and a great dialogue between him and Del. The exploration of the Goth world is intriguing, and the ending is a total surprise. |
| Carolyn (carolynwaring@comcast.net) |
| The Innocent by Harlan Coben |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Great characters and plot that is almost believable. The characters weren't super-human, like many in other thrillers --- just normal folks with a big problem. |
| Sandy H. |
| The Race by Richard North Patterson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Fascinating story behind the story --- it's fiction of course, but with such connections to today's elections. It's all about what goes on behind the scenes of a fictional election, but the characters are based on those in today's real world of politics. I even got my husband to read, enjoy AND recommend it --- and he's usually not a fiction reader. |
| Marsha |
| Killer Heat by Linda Fairstein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
New York City's D. A. Alex Cooper and her cohorts are on the trail of a serial killer of young uniform-wearing women who are killed in a gruesome manner. This is spine-tingling suspense. |
| Carolyn (carolynwaring@comcast.net) |
| The Garden of Last Days by Andre Dubus III |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I was very disappointed in this novel. It has three sets of interwoven characters, one of whom I had no interest in and began skipping chapters about him. The others were done well, but nowhere near the quality of those in THE HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG. |
| Carol from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
| From Vilayur to Baltimore by Gopal Dorai |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Author Gopal Dorai has provided readers with a very detailed picture of life in India, poverty, struggles and family strength, through his eyes. In his unique ability to graphically describe details, the author also provides words of wisdom and lessons he learned along the way. Dorai's book covers village life, cultural and religious traditions, family responsibilities, as well as his adventurous trip to America to continue his education. This reader found the author's description of being an immigrant in the United States very informative. He spoke of the struggles of trying to adapt to a new culture and how prejudices followed him everywhere. I now have a new appreciation for the hardships immigrants have in our country. Dorai has also included in his book words of wisdom, which all will be able to relate to and sometimes don't realize until later in life. |
| Sandra |
| The Night Ferry by Michael Robotham |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Ali Barba, a Sikh detective, receives a letter from an estranged friend, Cate, and before she can find out what Cate wants her to do her friend is killed. This book will grab you from the beginning and never stop! |
| Asha Smith |
| Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is better than all the positive-thinking manuals around. And it is contagious. Anyone reading with an open mind will want to create their own twenty wishes. |
| Shannon |
| Infected by Scott Sigler |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Typically, I'm not a reader of science fiction or fantasy, but this book's cover made me pick it up. In it, people are being infected with some type of disease that is turning them into freaked-out paranoids who cause harm to themselves, friends, family, strangers. "Scary" Perry Dawsey is one of the infected people and he is a fighter. I have about 15 pages to go, but this book will stay with me for a long time! |
| Olga Purgavie |
| Heartsick by Chelsea Cain |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Archie Sheridan, a Portland detective, is captured and tortured inhumanely by a beautiful female serial killer when he is trying to solve the murder cases. He is on leave from his job, but is called back when young girls once again are being murdered. He goes to see the woman who tortured him every Sunday in prison so she will give him the locations of more bodies --- at least that's his excuse. He is always in pain and is addicted to his pain killers, and his story is like having to look at a wreck --- you can't tear yourself away. He loses his wife and child because he can't stay away from Gretchen, the eerily brilliant killer. This is a story like no other. There is a sequel coming out in September and I have already pre-ordered it. |
| BbSue |
| Blood Is The Sky by Steve Hamilton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
BLOOD IS THE SKY is a thrilling mystery in Hamilton's Alex McKnight series. Just when you think Alex cannot get into anymore trouble and get his face bashed in once again, he jumps in with both feet to help his friend Vinnie. It is such a tremendous book with a fantastic twist near the end. Frankly, I recommend all seven books in this series. |
| Mildred Bromberg |
| Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
As I am a big fan of Jodi Picoult, I was disappointed with CHANGE OF HEART. Although it had its usual kick at the end, I felt the book did not live up to my expectations. |
| Mary Dropkin (arrfa@aol.com) |
| Moscow Rules by Daniel Silva |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Yet another wonderful escapade in the life of Gabriel Allon, complete with a good history lesson. We have Russians in the family and I am very interested to hear their take on the nouveau-riche Russian society as depicted in this book. I'm already looking forward to Silva's next novel. |
| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
| Killer Heat by Linda Lael Miller |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Another mystery involving Assistant DA Alexandra Cooper and Detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace. As they work together to determine who is behind the murders of several young women, they discover that each woman was wearing some sort of uniform. As bodies are discovered, items related to the military are found. The mystery keeps you in suspense until the last few pages. |
| Carol from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
| River of No Return by Jeffrey Buckner Ford |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Jeffrey Buckner Ford has written an amazing book on the inside of his family's life from the beginning of his dad's start to fame to the downfall of the family. While most of us think that the rich and famous have no problems, Buck Ford shows us that is not true. Tennessee Ernie Ford started his career out as a radio announcer in Knoxville, Tennessee. As Buck recalls, his father always said he didn't go looking for fame; he just fell into the business. In 1942, he married Betty Ford and had planned on a quiet simple life. Into the marriage came Buck and Brion, who thought their family was the greatest. Although the boys did not always seem to live up to their dad's standards, they still loved him greatly. During the course of the marriage, Betty became very friendly with the bottle --- this gave her the courage to say the things she felt she should say without any apologies. Over the years, her drinking would increase, she would abuse prescription pills and verbally lash out at anyone who stood in her way. Her behavior was never addressed in private or public. The relationship with her husband turned sour, and after many suicide attempts and embarrassing behavior in public, it finally ended. Tennessee Ernie was a kind gentleman; he had a style of his own and everyone wanted a piece of the action. Little did he know that his advisers were steering him in the wrong direction. After several failed businesses, selling his property, it finally got the best of him. After his wife died, he married Beverly Wood Smith, 3 months and ten days after burying Betty. She was not what she portrayed to be. She immediately took over all Ernie's business projects and left his sons without any knowledge of what she was doing. When Tennessee Ernie died, she didn't even let them know where he would be buried. This is a very interesting story if you like to know the personal background of the Ford family. It covers all the ups and downs of a star's life. I personally thought it was well written, easy to read, and a page turner. However, I would like to remember Tennessee Ernie Ford as the icon he was. |
| Carol from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
| Trash and Other Litter by Richard Bellush, Jr |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
TRASH AND OTHER LITTER is a very interesting read. The author provides humor and insight into the world of those we think less of --- strippers, escorts, and other members of the seedy life. The story revolves around Rufus, the bouncer, and five ladies of the gentlemen's club: Roxy, Marina, Sheryl, Lacy and Robbie. Rufus is having a birthday, and while he doesn't really celebrate it, the ladies he protects invite him out for a night of fun --- drinks, dinner and some drugs. How does he end up in a dumpster? How did these women become part of this new and strange adventure? Each lady tells her story of how she got to where she is and what they want to do with their lives. The other parts of this book are the author's writings that include a sci-fi short story about a private detective who's looking for someone but not sure who. I'm not a big fan of sci-fi; however, I did find the reading to be interesting and somewhat confusing. The final section of the book includes the author's random musings about topics he finds interesting. The entire book was very good reading, and it held one's interest. |
| Rita Carter (gandmari@aol.com) |
| Moscow Rules by Daniel Silva |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wow! Another page turner about Gabriel Allon, art restorer, newlywed, and Israeli agent. A must read. |
| Kathie (khackney@triad.rr.com) |
| Audition by Barbara Waltes |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I love this book. Barbara has always seemed so professional and I always thought she must have the perfect life. After reading this, boy, was I wrong. She has lived a tumultuous life at best, and has paved the way for many females in broadcasting. She's an excellent writer. |
| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
| Deadly Gamble by Linda Lael Miller |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book follows the escapades of Mojo Sheepshanks as she tries to remember what happened the day her parents were brutally killed. Was her half-brother the brutal killer, and is he following her? Did her uncle have anything to do with the murder? Mojo's love interest is a good-looking cop who seems a little too close to his ex-wife. And it this were not enough, she sees and talks to the ghost of her ex-husband. |
| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
| Bad Blood by Linda Fairstein |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Assistant DA Alexandra Cooper and Detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace work together to solve the murder of a wealthy socialite. This leads them into investigating an explosion that also involves the husband of the murdered socialite. This is a good mystery, but there is a little too much history involving "sandhogs" --- a term given to the workers charged with building the tunnels under New York City. |
| Mary Dropkin (arrfa@aol.com) |
| The Steel Wave by Jeff Shaara |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Absolutely marvelous historical fiction/history book about World War II, and the second in a series. This one revolves around D-Day, Rommel, Eisenhower, Montgomery. et al. Shaara does a terrific job of painting personalities and depicting the actualities and frustrations of war without being overly gruesome. |
| Lisa J. |
| Mrs. Kimble by Jennifer Haigh |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
So far, this book is a very interesting portrayal of three women who were married to the same man at different times. The writer does a very good job of switching "voices" of the three women. |
| Peggy Kincaid (cali_lb@msn.com) |
| The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston and Michael Spezi |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Imagine you are living in Italy, and given a chance of a lifetime, you hook up with a journalist who had been part of a manhunt for a serial killer never caught. You decide to get with this journalist and try and find this murderer, only to find yourself under suspicion for these crimes. This is a great nonfiction tale about a serial killer and how the authors almost found themselves on trial for the murders. You can see where some of Douglas Preston's fiction comes from. "The monster of Florence" is as fascinating as any of our American serial killers. |
| Elizabeth V |
| Crossroads 1969 by John Cassell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Last week, I said I was reading this book. I didn't praise it highly because I had not even read half. I've since finished the book, and would give the second half of it five stars. The reader must understand that this is a true story. Cassell calls it fiction at the front of the book, but it isn't. Knowing that this is all true makes all the difference, I feel, as young Cassell travels (bums around) to England, to Ireland, to France, to Spain, to Morraco. (I may have left one out.) He tells us tells us a different story of his experience in each country. And I found each more interesting and even frightening than than the last. |
| Elizabeth V |
| The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a big book, and I'm not far into it yet, but I already love it. Edgar is a mute teenager who lives on a farm with his parents, where they breed dogs. His father's wayward brother has come to live with them. That's as far as I got. I know that further along Edgar's father dies, apparently was murdered, and Edgar runs into the wilderness with three of the dogs. The writing is so lovely --- the descriptions of their dogs, of their trying to win over a stray dog, of family, of the farm, etc., are so touching, you've just got to love it. It's a great book so far, and I'm sure I'll say the same when I've finished reading it. |
| Lyla D (dragonqwester@hotmail.com) |
| The Midwife's Advice by Gay Courter |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a sequel to THE MIDWIFE. Set during WWI in New York, it follows the life of a Jewish immigrant who trained as a midwife in Russia. The characters are strong --- Hannah, the midwife, is struggling with her husband's loss of his job, her children growing up and other things that every woman goes through. I am enjoying it and find it is historically accurate, with warmth, humor and joy included in the pages. |
| Catie 75 |
| Captain Saturday by Robert Inman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Well-written story of a man who seems to lose everything and then learns what is really important. |
| D. Lohrding |
| Say Goodbye by Lisa Gardner |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Good, yet confusing as she jumps around a lot. Sure, it will all make sense in the end, but now, it's not a book you can read, put down, and pick up again without reviewing the characters, which is frustrating. It's full of great suspense, though. |
| Peggy Kincaid (cali_lb@msn.com) |
| Silent Thunder by Iris & Roy Johansen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Mother and son join together to write a great suspense story about an old decommissioned Russian submarine. It has great characterizations, with strong female American role as well as a fascinating Russian character. Both need each other to get the truth and to find revenge. Excellent blending of writing styles and I hope we will see them pair up again soon. |
| Genie |
| Triggerfish Twist by Tim Dorsey |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Uncontrollable psycho Serge Storms is in the thick of things, but he's only one of a group of obsessive and mostly unlikable characters playing off each other in the seedier parts of Tampa, FL. Serge is a completely crazy killer but he kills such nasty characters that you don't feel very sorry for them. Serge has an oddly sentimental side as he does what he does in defense of those he deems innocent suburbanites trying to live peacefully in what they want to be a nice quiet neighborhood. Serge takes a liking to several of them and does all he can to defend them to the death --- always someone else's. Told by an 80-year-old newlywed and resident of Triggerfish Twist Lane, the story opens with Jim Davenport, a corporate hatchet man in a company specializing in downsizing corporations. He moves with his wife, Martha, and their three children to 888 Triggerfish Lane. Just a step ahead of the law, Serge moves in across the street with his drug-fiend cohorts, Coleman and Sharon. A number of zany subplots spin off as Jim accidentally kills the youngest of the notorious McGraw Brothers during a bank robbery. Special agent Mahoney, who has an ongoing vendetta against Serge, is sent to Tampa to investigate a series of murders and robberies believed to have been caused by the McGraws. The chase is on when he comes face to face with Serge and realizes who is responsible for several of the more off beat homicides. |
| Bonnie |
| The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I tried, I really did. I read about half of this book and realized that I really wasn't invested in it and didn't care what happened to the characters. That's a sure sign, and I took it back to the library, unfinished. Sigh. |
| Sally C |
| Under Orders by Dick Francis |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A delightful Dick Francis mystery that continues the saga of ex-jockey Sid Halley. |
| Fran |
| Daughter of York by Anne Easter Smith |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Captivating historical fiction spans from 1461- 1480 in England and on the continent featuring Princess Margaret and her brothers --- one is Edward IV, and the other will become Richard III. She is a well-drawn character but the political machinations are a bit sluggish reading! |
| Kimberlee Sams |
| Rhett Butler's People by Donald McCaig |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A nice historical read. It's a combo prequel / parallel storyline to GONE WITH THE WIND, told from Rhett's perspective. I enjoyed this book, even though it's been decades since I last read the original. There are a couple of violent scenes, but overall, it's an excellent book. |
| Book Momma (Bookmomma@aol.com) |
| Tribute by Nora Roberts |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is set in one of my favorite places --- the Shenandoah Valley. The protagonist inherits her famous actress grandmother's farm and solves the mystery of her grandmother's death. |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A whimsical tale, set in a small resort town in the MC mountains, about a mother and a daughter, and a guardian angel in the form of a dead half-sister. The story is light and breezy, even though many of the plots and subplots should be emotional. Everyone carries a secret, but this book misses the mark. |
| Sally C |
| Dead Heat by Dick Francis and Felix Francis |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Very satisfying Dick Francis mystery that incorporates the world of high cuisine along with the world of horse racing and breeding. As usual, the plot unwinds in great detail, combined with Francis' usual meticulous research and an interesting romance to boot. For the Francis fan, it will not disappoint. |
| Linda Bedell |
| Moscow Rules by Daniel Silva |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
So well written and plausible that one would think that one is reading nonfiction |
| Mary Jacobs (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I thought I had read enough books about dogs, but this was a pleasant surprise. It's written from the dog's point of view recalling his life. A must read for any dog lover. |
| Mary Jacobs (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
| The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A slow start for this young adult book about the world of faeries that mirrors our own. It ended up with more action and a great setup for the next in the series. |
| Mary Jacobs (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
| A Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Father by Augusten Burroughs |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
If you didn't get enough of RUNNING WITH SCISSORS, this is a great followup. At times, it's very sad, but overall, very humorous. |
| Catie 75 |
| Charity Girl by Michael Lowenthal |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Fact-based fiction set during World War I that showcases an appalling part of American history, but also shows the strength of women. |
| Mary Jacobs (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
| The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death by Laurie Notaro |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is so funny. I laughed out loud several times and wish it had more pages.... |
| Debi |
| Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book explores the relationships between mothers and daughters. A young mother writes a sexually explicit novel when she is a young, struggling, single parent. Her daughter, as a pre-teen, finds the book, and goes in search of her birth father and grandfather. At times, especially at the beginning of the book, I found the characters to be shallow, but as I read, they began to have more depth. I actually ended up enjoying the book! |
| Eileen |
| The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
For all of us who love books, this is a real treasure! Primarily, the story is written in letter form, from a writer to the members of the Society who read books and talk about them. The letter writing is superb! It is unbelievable that people put such time and effort into letter writing...I don't think we get the same detail in e-mail! There is a subplot in the sense of realizing this was during and just after World War II and how the people dealt with the circumstances of the life events. Even with this sadness, this is an enjoyable read. |
| Judy O. (joswood@msn.com) |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
We meet the Swift family through the eyes of their family dog, Enzo. Enzo has a nearly human soul and is convinced that someday he will return in the body of a man. He will walk up to owner Denny and say, "Enzo says hello". This is a refreshingly different book and one that I could read again and again. |
| Pearl |
| The Sense of Paper by Taylor Holden |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Captivating and unique novel that is enthralling and riveting. |
| Terressa (reep@horizonview.net) |
| Keeping the World Away by Margaret Foster |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The life of a painting and those who love and own it throughout time. Like life, one never knows where it will end or how it got there! |
| Julie |
| The Cherry Cheesecake Murder by Joanne Fluke |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Entertaining murder mystery with actual recipes throughout the book. |
| Jennifer C. Donnelly |
| The Beach House by Jane Green |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It started out like a typical Chick lit book and also a typical Jane Green novel. However, this time, Jane has hit a home run. The last two chapters had me spellbound and the monkey wrench she threw into the plot was a perfect climax for what would have been an otherwise not-so-memorable tome. |
| Sherman Hughes |
| What Happened by Scott McClellan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A very good book on Scott McClellan's years as press secretary in the Bush administration and how they kept things hidden from the nation. |
| Susan |
| Swan Peak by James Lee Burke |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The plot is complexly interwoven with characters and comes to an exciting conclusion. |
| Gladys Paradowski |
| Emergency Marriage by Olivia Gates |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Just finished reading this marvelous book. With an Argentinian setting, the author provides some of the most entertaining banter I have read in some time, lots of thrilling action, an enlightening showcase of life in this medically-limited country. And, of course, a dreamboat hero and a most-unusual love story. |
| janeh |
| The Crimson Portrait by Jody Shields |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Fascinating subject --- a woman who has lost her husband in the war has a chance to remake her lover's face into that of her dead husband. It takes place near London in 1915. The author's words seem to put you right in the middle of the events. It's very well written. |
| Linda Pinto |
| I Shall Not Want by Julia Spencer-Fleming |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This has both romance and mystery. The author is a promising writer and turns out a novel worth reading. |
| Bridget |
| The Memory of Water by Karen White |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I was very disappointed with this novel. Two daughters of a bipolar mother are incredibly close throughout their childhood, thinking of the other as their own half. During their teenage years mom dies in a boating accident and the sisters, overnight, can't bear to be together. One moves to Arizona. Fast forward, and one of the daughters is now bipolar and gets into an accident with her young son. They both need help, so the other daughter returns. The story is told from the point of view of four characters. I found this plot device confusing and annoying. If it added insight into the story, it would have been worth taking the time to keep things straight. I have read other books by this author that I found well done, so this is probably why I found this one so disappointing. It just wasn't up to her previous work. |
| Maureen H |
| Say Goodbye by Lisa Gardner |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I finished this book a couple of days ago and it is still with me. This is a creepy story with very disturbing subject matter. I had a hard time with this book due to the graphic nature of child abduction, serial killers, and spiders. I learned a lot about spiders and now have the creepy crawlies. |
| reflective beings |
| The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Read all nine --- they are really fun and "connecting" to Africa, and have amazingly solid characters. What a joy! |
| Denise |
| A Thousand Days in Tuscany by Marlena De Blasi |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
She takes you inside their life in San Casciano, and the story she tells is as delicious as the recipes in the book. She is a very good writer who draws you in with great descriptions and stories. |
| reflective beings |
| Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
We're ba-a-a-ck. Don't for a moment think we cannot return to a time of great deprivation and higher learning. Resiliency of spirit and self-reliance are going to make a comeback. are you ready? |
| Reflective Beings |
| The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Inspirational "fable" offering great hope, life direction, and the assurance that achieving one's dream *is* possible. |
| Kristie (adora96@yahoo.com) |
| When Men Become Gods by Stephen Singular |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Interesting perspectives make you wonder about religion and fundamentalists in all religions, not just Christianity. |
| Lorna |
| Compulsion by Jonathan Kellerman |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is not one of Kellerman's better novels. I kept reading because I needed to know the outcome. At times, it became confusing --- there were just too many characters, some of which just were not necessary. Not too much happens between Alex and Robin, and not a whole lot with Milo. I think that's what I enjoy about the Alex Delaware stories, but not a whole lot happens here. |
| Bonnie |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
One of the best books I've read in a long time -- well-written, engaging characters, believable story. |
| Fran |
| The Thin Woman by Dorothy Cannell |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I started out enjoying this book and the main character, but lost interest in the plot, characters and story line midway. I rarely put a book down without finishing it, but I didn't finish this one. |
| Kristie |
| Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Interesting perspective of the FLDS as the main character was only fourteen when she got married. |
| Teresa (steinertt@aol.com) |
| Summer People by Brian Groh |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
I didn't really like this book. The main character is wimpy and adrift in his life. He's very ineffectual in his relationships. I didn't find the characters or the story compelling. If I hadn't taken this book on vacation, I don't think I would have finished it. Life's too short to read uninspiring books. |
| Bea |
| Bridge Of Sighs by Richard Russo |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a story set in a small town in New England with compelling interactions among the many characters of two generations.The author says, "It is a story about someone who stays and someone who leaves. It is about people who curb their dreams, feeling stuck in their ailing hometowns, and about people who escape those towns, but who can't escape a sense of loss." |
| Bea |
| Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Everyone in our book club loved this true story about life in China's poor county during Mao's reign. We were hooked from the first page of this incredible story of a boy from a poverty stricken family who learns ballet. |
| Lillian Porter |
| Big Money by Jack Getze |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I'm a person who enjoys some of the classic mystery novels from the 1960s and Jack Getze's novel BIG MONEY has that same feel and style of writers such as John D. Macdonald. Austin Carr, a stockbroker who lost his license, is left in charge of Jersey Shore Investment firm while his boss Mr. Vick goes on vacation. Vick also makes him promise to look after his adult daughter, Carmella, and his mother, Mama Bones. Vick has barely left the country when Carmella's ex-husband returns and beats up on her, Mama Bones is arrested, and the regulatory audit of the investment firm turns up some questionable transactions. To top it off, a local mob boss tries to persuade Austin in a not-too-friendly manner to launder money through the firm. Before long, Austin finds himself a target of a hit man and his children in danger. Jack Getze has written a fast-paced mystery with plenty of action and suspense. His first-person point of view is well done and his bumbling protagonist, Austin Carr, is well developed. I found myself turning the pages, hoping that everything would turn out well for Austin, while at the same time, chuckling at his view of the world. The plot is good and the conclusion is very satisfying. I look forward to reading more in this series. |
| Nancy |
| Inkheart by Cornelia Funke |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderful fantasy that brings out the kid in me. It is absorbing enough to be very interesting to an adult. I would recommend it to the young and the young at heart. |
| Debbie |
| The Sweet Hereafter by Russell Banks |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This got glowing reviews from others... maybe I'm missing something, but it wasn't all THAT great. It's an interesting story of the aftermath in a small town after a school bus accident kills several of the town's children; the story is told from four different viewpoints. It's good, but a few days after reading it, I'd forgotten it completely. |
| Lauren |
| The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
While gruesome during the first half (very vivid descriptions of burn injuries), this is an excellent book. Definitely a must read! |
| Jodie |
| The Third Angel by Alice Hoffman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I really like the way Hoffman wove the thread of the 3 stories together throughout this book. You felt an immediate affinity for these characters. This book was quintessential Alice Hoffman. |
| Wendy R |
| Septembers of Shiraz by Dalia Sofer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A compelling and frightening account of a family who loses everything when the Shah of Iran falls. The desperation in this book keeps you reading from start to finish without laying it down before you're done. |
| Lillian Porter |
| Pandemic by Daniel Kalla |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Noah Haldane of the World Health Organization is sent to China to investigate a new form of flu that kills 25% of the people who are infected. The outbreak is contained and there is great relief. However, new outbreaks occur in Canada, England, and the United States. Dr. Gwen Savard, director of Counter Bio-terrorism for Homeland Security, joins Noah to search for the cause and cure of the deadly virus and discover that they are dealing with a mad religious zealot intent on bringing down America and its allies. Daniel Kalla blends fact and fiction into this very good medical thriller. The novel is fast paced and chilling, particularly so because it is a "could happen" scenario. PANDEMIC is a thought-provoking debut novel that is historically and medically accurate. I particularly enjoyed the fact that Kalla didn't simply focus on the extreme factions of Islam. In the character of inspector Eleish and his family, Kalla shows the quiet side of the faith, those who study the religion in order to find a deep abiding spirituality from which they gather strength for daily living. His protagonists are well fleshed out and the plot well executed. I highly recommend this debut thriller. |
| Wendy |
| The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This story takes place in 1967 about a boy in Grade 7. His teacher hates him and forces him to read Shakespeare, his friends are out to get him, and to top it all off he has to wear tights with feathers attached to his behind while being a fairy in the local Shakespearean company play. It's a hilarious, heart-warming read. |
| Miriam |
| Be The One by April Smith |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
I found this to be what I'd call a 'fractured' read. I kept reading all the way to the end of the book, waiting to somehow become committed to or empathize with any of its characters or events. The novel had so many interactions between various characters, families, and historical as well as cultural and industry-related areas that its potential to be a mind-puzzling, mysterious story with energy and edge was there. But sadly, it misses the mark totally because nothing is explored in depth... the characters, their vices, the cultural influences, the dynamics of the industries that are part of the story (baseball, real estate development, money laundering etc). I don't get what the central theme is supposed to have been; it's like there were about 20 or so introduced in the story and nothing was resolved. |
| Readingrat |
| Alive in Necropolis by Doug Dorst |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Colma, CA has 1200 living residents and 2 million residents already dead. "No one knows for sure what (the dead) do --- if they do anything but lie mute, immobile, decaying --- but some of the living have their suspicions." So starts the story of Officer Michael Mercer, Colma Badge 13. Mercer feels that his life is heading in the right direction: a new job, a new girlfriend, and now hailed a local hero for saving the life of the teenaged son (Jude) of a famous film director. However, Colma's dead have also taken an interest in Mercer because, unlike most of Colma's other residents, he is able to both see and hear them. After Mercer receives 4 boxes of questionable incident reports from the widow of Officer Featherstone --- the man he replaced on the Colma police force --- he begins to recognize his unusual link with the dead and realizes this "communication" was something he had in common with Featherstone. Mercer soon finds himself saddled not only with Jude's case to solve, but also the pursuit of "Doc" Barker and his gang of ghostly thugs who are harassing the deceased population of Colma. The real question is, if Mercer will be able to actually defeat "Doc" Barker or if he will suffer the same fate as his predecessor, Featherstone. On the whole, Alive in NECROPOLIS is a wonderfully entertaining read. The author does a fantastic job of bringing all of his characters fully to life --- even when they're dead. |
| Canadian Reader |
| The Septembers of Shiraz by Dalia Sofer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a fine and beautifully, but not distractingly or densely written story, told from multiple points of view. Set during the Iranian Revolution, it concerns a Jewish-Iranian businessman who is taken off to the notorious Evin Prison for purportedly being a Zionist spy. The author shifts from Israel's (the gemologist/businessman's) point of view to the point of view of his wife, his young daughter, and a son who is studying architecture in New York. I have a number of Iranian Baha'i friends who had relatives carried off and even executed at the time of the revolution, so I was most interested to read Sofer's treatment of this period. This is a nuanced and sympathetic telling and worth the time to read. |
| Judy |
| Killer Heat by Linda Fairstein |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
D. A. Alex Cooper is prosecuting a decades-old rape case when she is called in on a brutal murder of a young woman. Soon there are three bodies with some interesting common threads. The killer is sadistic and seems obsessed with the military. Persons of interest abound and bullets fly. Fairstein formerly ran the Sex Crimes Unit of the D.A. in Manhattan, so she knows her stuff well. KILLER HEAT is a chilling and enthralling read. |
| Anita Nowak |
| The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I thought this book was wonderful. It was very unusual and unique because it incorporated mystery, alternate history, and humor in all one novel. It tells the story of policemen trying to solve a mystery in Sitka, Alaska which is the home to the Jews who survived the Holocaust. They did not go to Israel to settle, but ended up in Alaska as their homeland. There is also the frightening possibility of them being ousted from that location as well, after 60 years. It is a book well worth reading. |
| marleen davis |
| Double Cross by James Patterson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I was really surprised, as I was really getting tired of Patterson's books and had decided to only read the Alex Cross and Women's Murder Club books and skip the rest. This one was great! I think it's because he wrote it by himself and he does so much better when he does not collaborate. I will stick with my 2 Patterson series but I really enjoyed this one. |
| Kathy Boucher (kboucher@cableone.net) |
| River's Edge by Marie Bostwick |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
RIVER'S EDGE portrays America during the beginning of World War II and the discrimination problems a young German girl faces when she is sent there. Although she comes to love her new home, she is torn by that, and the heartbreak caused by her homeland. |
| Jud Hanson |
| Double Whammy by Carl Hiaasen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Ahh, the cutthroat world of Bass Fishing. This is what Hiaasen explores in this novel about Dickie Lockhart, fisherman and star of the Outdoor Christian Network. R. J. Decker is hired by a rival of Lockhart to prove that he's actually cheating by using ringers hidden in cages under the water. Throw in a wacky televangelist and a road kill-loving hermit, and you have a tale sportsmen and non-sportsmen alike will love. |
| Kristie |
| The Shack by William P. Young |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent Christian fiction book. Very deep, so consider yourself forewarned. It's so deep and thought provoking that I bought it so that I can read it again. |
| Bonnie |
| Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Fairly funny book of essays, but I was expecting so much more after having seen the author on "Letterman." |
| Kristie |
| The Christmas Basket by Debbie Macomber |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I know it's July... but I love Christmas. This book had a very predictable ending, but it was heartwarming all the same. |
| Readingrat |
| Before You Know Kindness by Chris Bohjalian |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
While parts of this book were interesting, I never really bought into the characters, so the whole story felt a little flat. |
| G Bogan |
| A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a story of a young girl who grows up in the slums of Brooklyn at the turn of the century. Her family faces hardships other than poverty. It is a moving story that includes just about every emotion imaginable. An excellent read. |
| Vivian |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
You don't have to be a dog lover to fall in love with this wonderful book about life in a family, and in general, as told from the viewpoint of a very wise and very loving dog! I didn't think it would be my kind of book, but it is a wonderful read! Lots of good thoughts for life too. A great summer or anytime read. |
| Judy O. |
| Chasing Darkness by Robert Crais |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
PI Elvis Cole is looking for the murderer of 7 women. A man named Lionel Byrd is the likely suspect because he was discovered as an apparent suicide with a picture album of all the murdered women by his side. Cole is not convinced that Byrd is the murderer. Cole was also instrumental in getting charges dropped against Byrd for an earlier killing because he discovered an ironclad alibi for the man. So, he feels somewhat responsible for the two latest killings --- maybe by Byrd. I missed the macho Joe Pike in this book. He was there, but not a huge part of the story. For me, this was not one of the best from Crais. |
| G Bogan |
| Home to Italy by Peter Pezzelli |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a "nice little story" about a man born in Italy who lives in the US. His wife dies and he decides to return to his birthplace. There, he re-establishes an old friendship and returns to biking in the hills of Italy. The plot is predictable and the characters are not drawn in depth. I I found the writing to be somewhat sophomoric. It was a quick and pleasant read, but not particularly thought provoking or challenging. |
| Christy H. |
| Wolf Tales VI by Kate Douglas |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I have enjoyed the tales of the Chanku from the very first book in the series --- some stories more than others. As in WOLF TALES V, there are two intertwined stories in this book, one with the expected "happy ever after" and one that is "to be continued". Both tales are wonderful and I always look forward to previous characters making appearances and seeing how their stories are progressing. I have already pre-ordered SEXY BEAST V and am anticipating reading the bonding of Oliver and Mei Chen. |
| Fran |
| The Burnt House by Faye Kellerman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Faye Kellerman's Decker and Lazarus series keeps getting better. In this installment, Decker is investigating two seemingly unrelated mysteries, one tied to a plane crash and another to a missing woman from the '70s. I loved this book, as I have all others from this series. |
| Marsha |
| Bad Guys by Linwood Barclay |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a light-hearted madcap caper that involves a father spying on his teenage daughter and trying to write a feature story about about a gang of thieves who are burglarizing high-end shops. It's a fun summer read. |
| Christy H. |
| Western Star by Roxanne Carr |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Published by Black Lace, this book is set in 1851 with a band of pioneers who are traveling from Missouri to California and Oregon. I found the plot to be somewhat interesting in the details and descriptions for the historical time and setting. Maribel's exploration of her sexuality and the abundance of eager men to practice with made for an intriguing and fast-paced read. |
| Ashley G. |
| The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A fast-paced, interesting novel that contemplates the power of written language. |
| Sharon |
| Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the author of MYSTIC RIVER and GONE, BABY, GONE among others. (I admit I have not yet read the other books.) The three I have read were excellent. If you enjoy thrillers/mysteries, read SHUTTER ISLAND before the movie comes out! |
| Sueyo |
| Fault Tree by Louise Ure |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A blind female auto mechanic unknowingly witnesses a murder. The killers don't know she is blind and try to kill her, but she eludes them through luck and her other heightened senses. So, the killers kidnap the woman's niece, and leave her to be sold --- or worse. She is in the trunk of a car and uses glue on her arm to indicate left and right turns and distance from where her niece was left. Amazingly, her system works. I was amazed at how much an intelligent blind person can accomplish. It amazed me that she could repair cars. |
| Rachel |
| The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
He believed in his childhood dreams and leaves a great legacy to his children. An excellent fast-paced read! |
| Jill |
| Rules of Deception by Christopher Reich |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
I eagerly awaited this story, which came out in July, and was sadly disappointed. A doctor's wife is killed in fall on a mountain, which leads to his uncovering her secret life. The many political and technical details sadly bored me and took over the story. |
| BookFestival |
| Peace by Richard Bausch |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
PEACE is a stunning book. This slim volume will have you on high alert until you have finished the book. It is an excellent book for discussion. |
| Sandra F. |
| De Niro's Game by Rawi Hage |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A book about the lives of two friends living in war-torn Beirut. This book won the IMPAC Dublin literary award. Excellent story. |
| Sandra F. |
| Wild Mary by Patrick Marnham |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A biography of the English writer Mary Wesley. This is a must read for fans of Mary Wesley's books. |
| Sandra F. |
| The Thai Amulet by Lyn Hamilton |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Lara McClintoch is a Canadian antiques dealer who is on a buying trip to Thailand. The locale is as much a character as any of the people. A good read. |
| Sandra F. |
| Ratcatcher by James McGee |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A great story of one of the legendary Bow Street Runners of Regency London. Lots of historical information wrapped up in a good read. I look forward to more of Hawkwood in the sequel. |
| Sandra F. |
| Crusader's Cross by James Lee Burke |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I have read all of James Lee Burke's books and they just keep getting better and better. Dave Robicheaux is New Orleans in every sense of the word. |
| Bridget |
| Sweet Love by Sarah Strohmeyer |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
What I thought was going to be light reading had some pretty heavy themes. Single parenthood, elderly parents, cancer. It's not what I expected based on the cover and the synopsis, but pretty good overall. |
| Shana |
| Feather Man by Rhyll McMaster |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Coming-of-age story with excellent character development. A nice, substantial read. |
| Lisa Kent |
| What Looks Like Crazy by Charlotte Hughes |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A funny read from an author who has written several books with Janet Evanovich. She is justas funny as Evanovich is. |
| Ali |
| Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This was an entertaining story, but hardly great literature. |
| Kim Youngren (key61@gis.net) |
| Some Assembly Required by Lynn Kiele Bonasia |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This story had my full attention from the first sentence. I'm eager to read more and more, yet sad to come to the end and be done with a host of characters I had actually become attached to. With brutal honesty and dry humor, the author had me hooked with a vivid image of the characters and setting. Hope this is the first of many. |
| Lisa Kent |
| The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I had a really hard time making it through this book. I really like Barack, but it was typical politics. I do like his ideas, though. |
| Lisa Kent |
| Blowout by Catherine Coulter |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
FBI Agents Savich and Sherlock investigate the murder of a Supreme Court justice, while also trying to solve a murder from 1973 after a ghost appears to Savich, asking his help. |
| Marsha |
| Killer View by Ridley Pearson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Sheriff Walt Fleming (who returns from KILLER WEEKEND --- a better book in my view) --- tries to stop a bio-hazard disaster in the peaceful mountain area of Idaho. There is some technical information concerning a nuclear facility that is disturbing. Read at your own risk. |
| Reva Wamsley (prwamsley@roadrunner.com) |
| Hot Six by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A Stephanie Plum mystery. These are always good reads. Stephanie is a bounty hunter who isn't that great at her job, but manages to succeed most of the time. She gets herself in hot water as usual in this book. |
| Cheryl |
| A Treasury of Royal Scandals by Michael Farquhar |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Mr. Farquhar delves into the many horrors and indiscretions of the royal class throughout the ages. What was most surprising about the book was the section dedicated to the popes of the Roman Catholic Church --- I had no idea about the conduct of the early popes! |
| Rachel |
| Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Everyone with children/teens should read this...it's one of Jodi's best! |
| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
| Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Deaver |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Archer is a proven storyteller and this one did not disappoint. The story is about Danny. On the night he proposes to his girlfriend, Beth, they decide to meet up with Bernie, Beth's brother, and Danny's best friend, to celebrate. At the bar are four college friends who are celebrating a birthday and have had their fair share of wine and spirits. When one of them starts making nasty comments toward Beth, which prompts Bernie and Danny to react, she decides to try get them out of there as quickly as possible. One of them, Spencer Craig, follows them out and starts a fight as Beth is trying to grab a cab. What happens next is a turning point that changes their lives forever. Danny is sentenced to 22 years in prison, for he would rather go to prison as an innocent man, than agree to a plea that would be admitting to a crime he did not commit. The power of four, all for one and one for all, may be strong, but it does not stand up to the power of revenge. The master storyteller takes you through a suspenseful roller coaster ride of twists and turns, which keeps you riveted till the end. I chose this book because I had recently read KANE AND ABEL and absolutely loved it. I was just as impressed with this one. |
| Readingrat |
| Second Summer of the Sisterhood by Anne Brashares |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I enjoyed this one just as much as the first. |
| Emily B. |
| Gone to Ground by John Harvey |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Another in Harvey's fantastic series of murder mysteries. This one features police detectives Will Grayson and Helen Walker, who investigate a series of crimes against homosexuals in Cambridge and Nottingham. Harvey's characters are believable, well developed and likable (when they're supposed to be) --- a couple of surprising twists in the story make it a pleasure to turn the next page. His writing is wonderful. Highly recommended. It may be too graphic (violence) for sensitive readers. |
| Christy H. |
| Aiden's Charity by Lora Leigh |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I have read all of the books in Lora Leigh's Breed series and I have never been disappointed. I had a hard time getting my hands on a copy of AIDEN'S CHARITY because everywhere I went and looked, it was sold out --- but it was so worth the trouble and the wait. I could not put this book down and read it from start to finish in one sitting. Both Aiden's and Charity's characters are well defined and the storyline is emotional and suspenseful. Full of heat ... romance ... and, erotica. This is definitely one of Ms. Leigh's best! |
| Heather Johnson |
| Why The Wind Blows by Matthys Levy |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
A bit technical so far, but the stories thrown in are fascinating. I'm waiting to see how it all ties together... |
| Laura Ann Adams (Laura.Adams@ky.gov) |
| The Girls by Lori Lansens |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Very interesting read about conjoined twins. The book is set up as if it is being told by one of the twins writing a book about her and her sister's life. The sister contributes a few chapters, giving her side or opinion of their lives. When I read it, it was so well written that I thought it was true. It isn't, but it's still an excellent book. |
| Heather Johnson |
| Dracula by Bram Stoker |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
We'll see if this gets any better, but so far I can't quite get into it. I'm reading it because it's a classic and I want to know why. |
| Heather Johnson |
| In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Fascinating so far. It makes you dread eating, though... |
| Renee (tfranzen2124@comcast.net) |
| Mary Anne by Daphne Du Maurier |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Picked this oldie up at a weekend sale....not the author's best by any means. |
| Renee |
| Pushing Up Daisies by Rosemary Harris |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A new series with promise. I really enjoyed the main character, Paula Holliday. A true test of a good series starter for me, is if I miss the characters when the book ends. I do, and I look forward to more! |
| Connie Welch (cwelchdes@aol.com) |
| Sail by James Patterson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An absolutely engrossing tail with good twists and turns. |
| Connie Welch |
| Tribute by Nora Roberts |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Engrossing, fun read. It's more like the older Nora Novels. |
| Michele (michelegoodman@cox.net) |
| The Writing on the Wall by Lynne Sharon Schwartz |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Superb writing and a wonderfully drawn main character. Schwartz never disappoints. |
| Danelle Drake (drake6jdttha@charter.net) |
| Master of the Delta by Thomas Cook |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Wonderfully thought provoking. You become involved with the characters that you don't want to put the book down. This makes you think about how one action can change the rest of your life. |
| Laura Ann Adams (Laura.Adams@ky.gov) |
| Before I Wake by Robert J. Wiersema |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Interesting book about a family whose only child, a 3-year-old little girl, is hit by a truck and left in a coma. After not dying as expected, she seems to now have miraculous healing powers as she remains in coma. The story is told interestingly by all of the relevant participants alternately. The book, though, ventures out somewhat as it delves into the in-between world (people caught between being alive and being dead) and the devil and God. It was a good read but I was a little disappointed in the end. |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Bishop's Reach by Kathryn R Wall |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A Tanner Bay mystery set in Hilton Head, SC. This time Bay, Eric, Ben, and the Judge must figure the identity of a badly beaten corpse washed up on the beach. The trail leads to mistaken identity and money scams. Also, Bay and Ben seem headed for romance. |
| hippolytus |
| Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Weisberger's third outing is a definite improvement over her second (EVERYONE WORTH KNOWING) in terms of style, and the characterization has more depth than that of her first, the stellar THE DEVIL WHERES PRADA. Weisberger has a gift for immediately involving her audience and making them root for her heroine(s). Fun, frothy, and a pleasure to read. I challenge everyone not to fall in love with the delightful character Adriana de Souza! |
| Karen Terry (mi3sons@mchsi.com) |
| Heartsick by Chelsea Cain |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a great read. The novel's serial killer is a woman. Gretchen Lowell holds nothing back and is worse than Hannibal Lecter. Archie Sheridan, who was captured by her and almost murdered, is involved with her in a strange way in that he can't live with his family. He is looking for more of her victims and can't break away from her spell, even though she is in prison. You can't put this one down. |
| Christy H. |
| Sam's Creed by Sarah McCarty |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I have been a fan of Ms. McCarty's since the first book in her Promises series; after reading the first book in her Hell's Eight series, I pre-ordered this book and then began my long wait --- which was worth it! Sam and Bella's story in this 2nd book was fabulous! From the first page, I couldn't stop or put the book down, and finished all 423 pages in one sitting. This story is a fast-paced erotic romance and the interaction between Bella with her spunk and sass, and Sam with his quick wit are endearing. This author is at the top of my list for historical western romance and both of her series are some of my all-time favorites. After saying that, I'm off to pre-order PROMISES REVEAL and then I'll eagerly be awaiting Tucker's along with the other 5 men of the Hell's Eight stories. |
| Laura Ann Adams (Laura.Adams@ky.gov) |
| The Knitting Circle: A Novel by Ann Hood |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I thought THE KNITTING CIRCLE was a wonderfully told book about one family's struggle to live after their only child, their 5-year-old daughter, dies of meningitis. It's a deeply moving account of a mother's love, loss and attempt to move forward after this tragedy. You could tell that the author must have experienced a similar tragedy in her own life. |
| Judy |
| The Girl of His Dreams by Donna Leon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another excellent book by Donna Leon set in Italy after THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY, set in Murano Italy, a longtime glass-making area. David Hewson's Lizard's Bite was also set in Murano, a bit darker and more complicated. (Victims are found in the glass furnace.) Leon's are not as bloody but equally examine ethics and values in our modern world. |
| Danelle Drake (drake6jdttha@charter.net) |
| The Scandalous Summer of Sissy LeBlanc by Loraine Despres |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
You'll be rereading this book year after year. It's an absolute must for those who love to visit someone else's life. Sissy LeBlanc is the woman we all wish we had the nerve to be. This writer leaves you wanting more. |
| Vanessa |
| Mansfield Park by Jane Austen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Having read less literature than I have contemporary fiction, I forced myself to read something with substance. This book is all that and more. I loved Jane Austen's way of making ordinary events so emotional and memorable. This is the story of a young woman who is in love with her male cousin. Nice girls sometimes win in the end. I love that. |
| V. Pewthers |
| Swan Peak by James Lee Burke |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Haven't finished yet, but it's keeping me interested. Good so far. |
| Tara Sundberg (t.sundberg@hotmail.com) |
| The Daughers of Joy by Deepak Chopra |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This novel by Deepak Chopra mixes lighthearted fantasy with realism to make a Chop-rian statement. Fun and easy to read, considering the weighty self-reflection that it inspires. |
| Christy H. |
| No Choice But Seduction by Johanna Lindsey |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Ms. Lindsey's love stories are magical. From the very first book in the Malory family series, I was hooked. I've fallen in love with the Malory clan, especially with Tony and James --- whom we are reunited with in this latest addition, along with numerous other family members. Boyd and Katey's story is intriguing, with a clever plot twist in the continuation of the Malory family; fun and full of strong family bonds and friendships, witty humor (that had my laughing out loud at times) and romance. A totally entertaining read that has left me hoping for this series to continue and eagerly awaiting the next novel. |
| Christy H. |
| Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I'm not a knitter, but I do love a good mystery. This first book in Ms. Sefton'sKnitting Mystery series left me eagerly waiting to read her next book and also left me looking for my knitting needles (that I haven't used in over 30 years). I'm also looking forward to trying the delicious recipe that was included in the back of the book. This fast-paced, intriguing plot has a little of everything --- humor, romance and mystery, all in a beautiful setting with a cast of fun characters that left me wanting to join them at House of Lambspun. |
| Lesie Duda |
| Some Assemby Required by Lynn Kiele Bonasia |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! What a refreshing and thought-provoking story. |
| Christy H. |
| Boo by Rene Gutteridge |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This book is the first in a series of four books by Ms. Gutteridge and the first time I had read any of her work. A light-hearted comedic read with a fun mystery; the characters are quirky and nutty and the town of Skary is quaint and unique --- although I don't think I'd be interested in anything on the menu at The Haunted Mansion Restaurant. A fun and funny read. |
| Donna Bassett (Edwards) |
| Outside Child by Alice Wilson-Fried |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This murder mystery set in New Orleans aboard a steamboat during the days before Katrina is a dynamic debut novel. It is a page turner that will dare you with anticipation to stop reading. This author of amazing talent for suspense, surprise and plenty of intrigue presents many anxious moments. Don't miss this tension-filled thriller. |
| Nan Benincasa |
| Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a long book, but a great read. Go to Ken Follett's website to print the characters' family tree to help you keep things straight, and the link to the illustrations for the book is wonderful! He provides a study guide, also. The Wikipedia article is a font of information, with some great resources to make the book even more enjoyable. Our group tackled this with a 6-week reading time, and many of our members went on to read the sequel, WORLD WITHOUT END. |
| Bridget |
| Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Unremarkable novel/collection of stories about the various owners of a painting by Vermeer. It starts in the present and works its way back to Vermeer and his daughter. The characters are not developed at all, and lack any depth. If it were not as short as it was (200-something pages) I probably would not have finished it. |
| Joan Pfalzer |
| A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
So funny. It's a walk on the Appalachian Trail. |
| Adam Okhai |
| The Bush Tragedy by Jacob Weisberg |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
After a slow start, the author picks up pace and, with factual information, explains the disastrous decision by Bush 43 to invade a country at the cost of thousands of American lives and even more thousands of Iraqi lives. The numerous psychological and personal factors are very well explained. The author has obviously tried to be fair and gives an excellent balanced account. |
| Judy |
| Killing Rommel by Steven Pressfield |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Based on the real-life efforts of the Long Range Desert Group, a British division, the story is told from the viewpoint of one young man. Rommel is feared and respected by the enemy Allies. With the outcome of the war in the balance, these young soldiers drive across North Africa and the Middle East in search of the Desert Fox. Interestingly told from the military standpoint and from the personal relationship angle of men together and the women they love. |
| Cynthia Plaza-Harney |
| Names My Sisters Call Me by Magan Crane |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I enjoy this book because it is real. It reminds you how you can both love your family and hate them at times. You will laugh and understand a lot of this if you have sisters, as I do. The author captures the truth about the complexities of female relationships. |
| iubookgirl |
| So Long at the Fair by Christina Schwarz |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
If you hate reading about extramarital affairs or like stories wrapped up in a neat, little bow, this probably isn't the book for you. However, if you like to mull over a book even after you've finished it and enjoy reflections on human foibles, pick this one up now. |
| Adam Okhai |
| Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Very useful in that the author opens our eyes to the illogical things we do. He gives a well thought-through explanation of how we fall into traps that lead to incorrect decisions, and he does this while making us laugh at ourselves. This is a 'must read' ; the lessons in the book are those we need to learn or re-learn |
| Peggy (cali_lb@msn.com) |
| Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The perfect summer read. I always listen to the audiotape of Janet's books because they are even more fun to read that way. If you haven't read any of Janet's Stephanie Plum books, now is the time to get started. This book is a roller coaster ride of emotions, along with a fast-moving plot, and wonderful characters new and old. Stephanie always seems to be where the action is, and who else do you know who has two incredibly hot men after her? Grab this book and head for a nice, comfortable spot and just immerse yourself in Stephanie's world. You won't regret it. |
| Debi |
| Wishbones by Carolyn Haines |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I just love Carolyn Haines and her "bones" series! Her characters are colorful, and they stay true from novel to novel. Sarah Booth travels to California and Costa Rica to pursue her dream of acting, but there's a dead body and strange noises in an old house. She and Tinkie must solve this case. Has she finally met her man? |
| Debi |
| A Salty Piece of Land by Jimmy Buffett |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I've been a fan of Jimmy Buffett's music for years, and I never knew he wrote books. He sure can spin a tale! (Though sometimes he was a bit long-winded!) This is a good book with many salty characters! It'll make you want to go to the beach! |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| The Virgin of the Small Plains by Nancy Pickard |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Very disappointing. The writing is trite, the characters shallow. I had thought from descriptions it would like MONTANA 1948." I'm sorry I even thought to compare this to that exceptional novel. |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| Julie & Romeo Get Lucky by Jeanne Ray |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
3.5 stars --- I really enjoy these everyday romance stories of family life. Good for vacation reading. |
| Cynthia Plaza-Harney |
| Sea Glass by Anita Shreve |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It is set in the year of 1929, at the New England seaside, and it is written as if you are living in those days. After reading the book, I could not help but think of the characters. The author has a way of making them so real. It is a touching story about loyalty and betrayal, responsibility and dishonor. |
| iubookgirl |
| Queen of the Road by Doreen Orion |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Talk about terrific summer reading! QUEEN OF THE ROAD is a hilarious, easy read. Doreen Orion had me laughing out loud as she humorously related the adventures, and misadventures, she and her husband had in a year-long bus trip across America. |
| Adam Okhai |
| The World Without Us by Alan Weisman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It may be uncomfortable to read, but this is well worth reading and (more importantly) taking action to conserve resources. Without slapping us around, the author makes us think and reflect. Weisman makes it clear we are not important to the planet; it can carry on and do 'nicely' (better) without us, and he points things out without depressing us. On the contrary, he inspires us to think what each of us could do to help our own home [planet] (or get kicked out). He wants us to know how we can balance what we need to do to survive, along with the health of the planet. We, the temporary occupants, have no choice; the planet does: it knows how to heal itself after it removes us. An inspiring book. I hope it will be mandatory reading for schools. |
| Richard Bartels |
| Combat by Stephen Coonts, editor |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a collection of 10 of the best writers of military fiction, exploring how wars will be fought in the 21st century. In addition to Coonts, other authors include Dale Brown, Larry Bond and David Hagberg. |
| Marsha |
| Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Stephanie Plum has again surrounded herself with a gang of misfits that fight crime in their own crazy way. Murder, mayhem, explosives, kidnapping, wedding planning --- this is only the beginning. Great fun and many laughs. |
| Karen Barash |
| Palace Council by Stephen L. Carter |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I could not put down this 500-page political, historical thriller, which focuses on the black intelligentsia and upper class. |
| Janice G |
| Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I was really disappointed in this after her previous novel, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA. None of these spoiled, shallow girls ever gets a comeuppance or faces any real adversity. I did not even think there was anything funny about their contrivances and dating games. |
| Linda |
| Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Her books make you think about what you'd do in that situation. CHANGE OF HEART is a great book, like her others are. |
| Linda |
| The Killer's Wife by Bill Floyd |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderful book. I read it in one day. |
| Marsha Maramba |
| Death of a Thousand Cuts by Barbara D'Amato |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A reunion at a former resident school for autistic children results in the murder of the school's founder, Dr. Jay Schermerhorn. The autistic children, now autistic adults, their parents, and former staff are held for questioning. But how do the police evaluate the responses and behavior of the autistic adults? Can their answers be relied upon? And what will their parents do to protect them? These problems and more confound the police in their investigation of this high-profile case. I found the author's descriptions of various types of autistic spectrum behaviors and abilities well researched and credible. This added to the pleasure of the eventual explanation of clues and solutions. Very well done. |
| Linda |
| Domestic Affairs by Eileen Goudge |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Love this author.. |
| Donna |
| Choke by Stuart Woods |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Stuart Woods's books are hard to put down from page 1. All the books I have read are extremely interesting and are great reads. Once you try one, you will be hooked. |
| The Lulu Book Review (shannonyarbrough@gmail.com) |
| Handle Time by Lincoln Park |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton, and Lilly Tomlin have nothing on Lincoln Park. Her book, HANDLE TIME, is 9 to 5 on crack rock! We all remember that typewriter banging, coffee slinging, boss fondled, witty trio from the '80s movie, which became a salute to the working woman! Well, not much has changed these days in the way of office gossip, despite the fact that we have to press one for English and spend more time on hold just trying to speak to an actual person. Lincoln Park's witty book drips with the over-the-top office drama, I'm sure a ton of us middle-class Americans can relate to, like decaf from the lunchroom percolator. Are you trapped in a cubicle all day tied to a phone taking calls from bitchy customers? Do you work Monday through Friday listening to whining deadbeats about their overdrawn bank balances? Are order entry and filing on your list of resume attributes? If you are sick of the water-cooler humor and need someone outside of work who you can relate to, then buy this book! We've all seen those humorous YouTube videos displaying dramatic office humor, where employees snap and toss their computer monitors across the room, but those vids probably aren't far from the truth. Meet Chase, Lincoln's central character, whose had enough! We barely get to know the poor girl as a character before she's hauled out of the office on a stretcher. But strap yourself in, because this roller coaster ride of a read is about to take you into the world of corner offices and cubicles that you probably didn't know existed, and definitely don't want to. Flash back to Chase and her friends landing top positions at Delstar Bank call center. Destined to beat standard middle-class living outside of their bi-weekly paychecks, these trainees end up with more than they bargained for on their climb up the corporate ladder. Like many of us, we kiss ass in interviews and wear nice suits, only to become shackled to a desk with carpel tunnel and a telephone that won't stop ringing. It's the gossip and office drama away from our desks that helps beat the monotony of the day, but is that worth the bad wages we make and the abuse we put up with from customers? It's enough to drive anyone postal, and this author's in-your-face attitude will have you questioning, "is this worth 8 hours of my time each day?" Deadbeat coworkers with poor work ethics, pouty pregnant women whose men left them, computer geeks who know too much, fat chicks with low self-esteem. this book is chock full of colorful characters from cold CEOs to office supply-stealing freaks. On one page, your heart is full of sympathy and you are rooting for the underdog, and on the next page you find you are the underdog. At 196 pages, Ms. Park's book makes the sitcom, "The Office," look like a cake walk. If you've ever hung up the phone for holding too long or cussed at the illiterate in India and demanded they get an American on the phone, or if you've ever been that employee on the other end of the line, then this book is for you! Taking office humor to a whole new level, I commend Lincoln Park on her tongue-in-cheek farce about the cubicle culture most of us wake up to every day. Hey you! Put down those post-its, stop sniffing your white-out, and read this book! |
| Jud Hanson |
| The Lake House by James Patterson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is the next chapter in the lives of Max and her amazing winged friends. The book opens with a custody case over the six children from the School. Kit and Frannie desperately want the kids to live with them, but the judge rules otherwise. They are all reunited, however, when the lead scientist from the School , Dr. Kane, resurfaces and seeks to exploit the children for Project Resurrection. A cross-country chase begins as Kit, Frannie and the kids seek to escape the doctor and expose his work for what it really is. This was a good book and I look forward to future entries in this series. |
| Jaye |
| How Not To Look Old by Charla Krupp |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I love beauty and fashion magazines, and this book is even better! It's full of tips on updating your makeup, skincare and clothing style. Lists of products are comprehensive and for all budget levels. |
| Julie |
| The Cherry Cheesecake Murder by Joanne Fluke |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Great, light fun. It also includes a recipe of the title dessert, as well as others. It makes a good beach read if you don't want to think too much. |
| Jaye |
| A Charmed Life by Liza Campbell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
"Double, double, toil and trouble! " Those three witches in the opening scene ofMacbeth did an even better job of laying a curse than I thought . This is a memoir of living, for better or worse (mostly worse) in Cawdor, with no less a person than the Thane of Cawdor, the author's father. It's a story about the beauty and discomfort of living in a historic home with the holder of a historic title. The worst parts of the story are leavened by the author's really wonderful sense of humor and gift for phrasing. Like the very best memoirs, I couldn't put it down! |
| Ricki (rickimc@aol.com) |
| How to (Un)Cage a Girl by Francesca Lia Block |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A good collection of poetry about what it is like growing up as a girl. However, it's a little too sad for my taste. |
| Ricki (rickimc@aol.com) |
| Play Me by Laura Juby |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A good teen novel from a guy's perspective. It had me going through a wide range of emotions. |
| Jud Hanson |
| The Seventh Commandment by Lawrence Sanders |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Insurance investigator Dora Conti is sent to investigate the death of a wealthy jeweler in NYC. As she delves deeper into the Starrett family business, all is not as it appears and with 3 million dollars at stake, she questions whom she can trust. This is a good book and an easy read, perfect for a plane or train ride. |
| Janice G. |
| Soldier Boys by Dean Hughes |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This should be required reading in every military recruiting office for every young adult *and* every politician. It shows the realities of war as compared to the alleged glamor. It's a middle-school novel, but is enthralling enough to keep the interest of an adult. It deals with two mid-teen boys caught up in World War II, one on the German side and one on the US side. |
| Jeanie |
| Listening is an Act of Love by Dave Isay |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The StoryCorps project enlisted everyday people to come into their recording booth and tell a story on the premise that everyone has a story to tell. These stories are about family history, relationships, living through war or trauma. Just ordinary people telling stories about their lives. |
| Jud Hanson |
| Tell No One by Harlen Coben |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
For Dr. David Beck, his worst fears come true during a trip with his wife of 13 years to their childhood home: his wife is abducted and later found dead. Eight years later, he is shocked to receive an e-mail making references only his wife could know about. As he wrestles with the possibility that his wife is alive, he discovers a plot that reaches far beyond himself and realizes things aren't always what they seem. |
| Kathryn McNamara |
| This Charming Man by Marian Keyes |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Not your typical typical Marian Keyes novel. It's not a fun, "chick-lit" sort of book that most Keyes fans are used to. However, it is well written, thought-provoking and very raw at times. I'm definitely glad I stuck with it, and will keep Marian Keyes on my "must read" list. |
| Arlene Herring (ekelks@msn.com) |
| The Garnethill Trilogy (see below) by Denise Mina |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I am now finishing RESOLUTION, the 3rd in this trilogy by Scottish novelist Mina. The first 2 books are GARNETHILL and EXILE. All 3 are superb. GARNETHILL won best crime novel, the John Creasy Best Crime Novel Award . Mina's Paddy MeehanTrilogy (SLIP OF THE KNIFE is the 3rd in that one) is bloody brilliant too. |
| John Hood. |
| Commonwealth by Joey Goebel |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
In the grand tradition of Sherwood Anderson's WINESBURG, OHIO comes the saga of a family in the center of flyover country that becomes both torn and united by the circumstances of their past --- and their geography. |
| Karen Haney |
| Snow Angels by Stewart O'Nan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a story that links two families, almost indirectly, by a tragedy that affects them in enormously painful ways. Set in a rural community in Pennsylvania in mid-1970, the story is built around the lives of the two main characters, Arthur Parkinson and Annie Marchand. Arthur, who narrates the chapters about his part in this heartbreaking story, is a 14-year-old high school student who is dealing with his family's slowly decaying break up. At the same time, a narrator who gives us the picture of her dismal, failing marriage and careless lifestyle, tells Annie's chaotic story. Arthur and his older sister Astrid are the children of parents who are selfish and immature, putting their needs ahead of their children's. As Arthur's mother decides to divorce his father, the life Arthur knows begins to change. Moving and their resulting socio-economic situation only add to Arthur's problems as he tries to confront his involvement in Annie's story. Adolescence, confusion, fear, and torment all play into Arthur's mental state during this time. The events in his life during these years are only overshadowed by the awful part that involves Arthur in Annie's heartbreaking calamity. Whereas Annie Marchand was once the delightful babysitter to Arthur and Astrid, she soon inadvertently becomes the center of many of the problems for this family and especially Arthur. Annie, meanwhile, grows up to marry Glenn Marchand and her imprudent and neglectful acts soon result in her leaving Glenn, despite how it may effect her daughter, Tara. Although Glenn tries in his own somewhat feeble way to reconcile with Annie, whom he loves, she rejects his efforts. Annie proves to be even more selfish than one can imagine to the point that she neglects even Tara. Annie's future is one that she herself brings about through her actions. And yet, O'Nan's treatment of Annie's character can still leave one with sympathy for her. In the end, we find Arthur questioning still what really has gone on and how things happened. Arthur feels that perhaps if he concentrates on the details of the past few years that are described in the book, that perhaps he "will finally understand everything that happened back then" and yet he goes on to say that he knows he can't. This leaves us with great sympathy for Arthur, who turns out to be somewhat of an innocent bystander to all that goes on around him due in fact to all the other characters' actions. SNOW ANGELS by Stewart O'Nan is one of his earliest works. Recently having previewed his soon-to-be-released SONGS FOR THE MISSING and going back to read LAST NIGHT AT THE LOBSTER, I wasn't sure what to expect with SNOW ANGELS. I was pleasantly relieved to find that it fell in line with my opinion of O'Nan as based on LAST NIGHT AT THE LOBSTER, instead of the extremely disappointing SONGS FOR THE MISSING. With this book, O'Nan gives us the same working-class characterizations that made me love his LOBSTER book and allows the reader to relate to the story and want to finish reading it without stopping. This is a story that will stay with the reader for a long time, as it will with me. |
| Karen Haney |
| Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Although Stewart O'Nan's SONGS FOR THE MISSING gives the hope and impression of a fast-paced, highly anticipated read, it falls short. Instead, the readers are the ones who will find themselves missing...missing out on a better book. Kim Larsen, preparing to enter college, goes missing the summer before she is to leave. The story introduces Kim and her friend fairly well and also leaves little clues of what secrets they may hold. Remember, however, clues are meant to hopefully lead to an eventual answer. These do not. Kim's family, with parents Fran and Ed, are described well and the book really spends a great deal of its time on their reactions and what they do as they try to find Kim. Also, almost as a side story is the sister, Lindsay, who is trying to be a person on her own, rather just than "Kim's little sister". O'Nan writes in detail of how both parents go about dealing with trying to find their daughter in their own way. Unless one has been through such a tragic event, it is close to impossible to judge how one should act or feel. And yet, as the reader, one's common sense tends to find some of the parents' actions questionable. We see how the parents feel about Kim and all her friends, including the boyfriend, but are never quite satisfied with any of the open-ended questions --- especially as many are never answered. It is this kind of writing that leads the reader to find it hard to engage themselves with these characters and the story. In many of O'Nan's other books like LAST NIGHT AT THE LOBSTER, we are entertained and satisfied with his writing. Unfortunately, I was not with SONGS FOR THE MISSING. I expected so much more and just when I thought I would give up on reading the book, it did pull me back in with hopes of what I might find out, but those hopes were quickly dashed. As I read through to the end of the book, I was left flat and sorry as I felt the end was rushed and had more time been spent in tying up loose ends, the book could have worked better. I am sure there are some who could find symbolism and comparisons of character studies, but I don't like to have to work quite that hard to read a novel. Thank you for the opportunity at least to try. Good luck with the next book! |
| Karen Haney |
| The Flirt by Kathleen Tessaro |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Would it be every man's dream to be paid to flirt with women? Hughie thinks he has found this dream job that starts with a cream-colored card secretively given to a woman to capture her attention, curiosity, and imagination. Kathleen Tessaro takes the reader to London, where the main character is the charming and attractive Hughie Venables-Smythe. Hughie is a would-be actor looking for work and without realizing it, looking for a loving relationship. Hughie doesn't think he wants to tie himself down, and in fact, finds himself in a "no strings attached" relationship with an older woman. Leticia, who owns a rather non-traditional lingerie boutique, wants to be with Hughie only for sex and no further commitment. Hughie answers a very unusual ad and finds himself being trained to be a "professional flirt". He feels this is a good job that enables him to work on his acting skills while making some much needed money. The job involves being assigned to flirt with a married woman to help them feel more romantic and wanted. This theoretically makes the woman feel better about herself and it carries over into her marriage and makes for a better relationship with her husband. The husbands themselves hire "the flirt" through this business set up to meet the needs of some very wealthy but discontented clients. Cream-colored cards are secretively given to the wives by Hughie, and he follows up with his charms and attention. The conflict occurs when Hughie decides to implement what seems to be working in his "profession" into his own life with Leticia. What follows is a series of events that suddenly finds lives intersecting in ways that were not expected or meant to be. Kathleen Tessaro, who gave us ELEGANCE, brings us another comedic addition to "Chick Lit" that moves along quickly with humor and heart. The many characters introduced in each chapter add their part to the mix of this romantic romp. Some may find it hard to keep track of everyone and the part they play in this sometimes improbable idealistic escapade. However, when read as it is meant to be, a delightfully light romantic comedy and fun beach read, the reader will be glad that they encountered THE FLIRT! |
| Karen Haney |
| The Manny by Holly Peterson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
It was only a matter of time. Once THE NANNY DIARIES by Emma McLaughlin came out, and BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY by Helen Fielding became popular, chick lit was in full swing. It was only natural that THE MANNY by Holly Peterson would be written. For those who enjoyed the shoes in Beth Harbison's SHOE ADDICTS ANONYMOUS, or designer clothes in Lauren Weisberger's THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, one might enjoy this very light beach read. Although it is a somewhat weaker copycat, it might bring a smile or two to moms who find the summer months their biggest dread as schools close! Jamie Whitfield is a part-time working mother of three children ranging from two to nine years old. Her job as a busy news producer --- as well as being part of the Manhattan Mom's scene --- with a successful attorney husband who is absent a great deal and let's just say, not a "hands-on helper", has Jamie at the end of her rope. Jamie, who is a transplanted Midwesterner, finds the adjustment to the New York scene a constant battle. With her eldest, nine-year-old Dylan, showing more and more signs of withdrawal to the point of being motionless at times, Jamie thinks a male role model would do him some good. Husband Phillip, concerned with supporting his family in the style he thinks they need and are accustomed to where his income of more than a million dollars annually just gets them by, certainly can't give up his time to sit with Dylan and see what makes him tick. As a workaholic himself, Phillip can't imagine someone, especially his own son, having problems that would result in anything not productive. Phillip does give us a glimpse of the man Jamie fell in love with and who deep down loves his children every once in a while, but the times are too few and far between. It is at this point, as things with Dylan get worse, that Jamie decides that a male role model, rather than a nanny, would be the answer. So she seeks out a "manny". Being in this class of privileged people where buying something can surely solve anyone's problems, Jamie is optimistic that finding the right manny will solve hers. And so, we meet Peter Bailey. He is 29 years old and looking for funding for his software business. Peter seems to like children and is kind and very intelligent. It also doesn't hurt that he is very good looking! The fact that Peter is attentive to Jamie, and he appreciates and respects her, are all things in Peter's favor. So, Jamie hires Peter, and the "nanny of the male persuasion" starts his job! One doesn't have to be a genius to anticipate that Jamie and Peter will become attracted to each other. That, along with subplots concerning Jamie's hot news report she is working on involving an affair of a prominent congressman, and the way the rich are living their superficial lives, moves the story line along as would be expected. Some complications can only help add to the rather predictable plot. The story of course is fictional and rather cliché as it talks about how people in these situations can get into trouble when letting the wrong priorities take over their lives. So will the manny be Jamie's answer to not only Dylan, but also her unfulfilling marriage? Will we find that Jamie can find happiness with a real man, whether he has money or not? That is something you do have to read to find out about! |
| Rosemary |
| The Third Angel by Alice Hoffman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
If you like Alice Hoffman, you will enjoy this portrayal of family and their connectedness through the three angels --- Death, Life, and the Third, which gives us the chance to 'rescue another'. |
| David Siegel (dlsiegel@uwalumni.com) |
| Phantom Prey by John Sanford |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a "can't put it down" type of murder novel, replete with great characters, tight prose, and strong sense of place. |
| Rosemary |
| Executive Privilege by Phillip Margolin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Both my husband and I rated this excellent. The premise of the President of USA copy-catting serial murderers was unique! It was a real page-turner, which kept you guessing to the end. |
| Jud Hanson |
| When the Wind Blows by James Patterson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book introduces Kit Harrison, a disgraced FBI agent, and Frannie O'Neil, a veterinarian. Frannie can't believe her eyes one day when she sees a young girl take flight. Kit Harrision encounters Frannie as he pursues a doctor conducting genetic research on humans in a lab that has moved around the country. When Kit and Frannie finally "capture" the young girl, they learn she is one of several children bred with amazing abilities. From there begins a chase as Frannie and Kit try to protect the children and get them to a safe place. I enjoyed this book immensely and look forward to the sequel, THE LAKE HOUSE. |
| Reva Wamsley (prwamsley@roadrunner.com) |
| Die For Me by Karen Rose |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I'm a new Karen Rose reader and this is the best one so far. People are being killed and the police discover they are dying, literally, for a video game. |
| Karen Haney |
| The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
If this is your first encounter with Sophie Kinsella's joyous writing, you will not be disappointed and will be eager to read more of her work. For those fans of theShopaholic series, this book will be another addition to your collection of fabulous, fun reads in the Kinsella style! However, be warned that Samantha Sweeting is not Becky Bloomwood. Although Bloomwood from the Shopaholic series is great fun and addictive reading, with Samantha Sweeting, Kinsella brings more depth to the main character. Sweeting is a lawyer nearing her 30s and on her way to becoming a partner in a prestigious law firm. However, her work is her life, spurred on by an over-achieving mother and what Samantha has thought is the life she really wants. When she discovers a crash-and-burn mistake she made at her Carter Spink Law Firm, and that it will cost the firm dearly, she flees London with no thoughts in mind as to where she is going or what she will do. This is what brings Samantha Sweeting to a tiny suburb of London and to the home of Trish and Eddie Geiger. The Geigers mistake Samantha for a housekeeping job applicant they had been expecting. In her frantic need to get away from the problems in London, Samantha goes along with the mistaken identity and takes the job, thinking it will at least give her a place to stay for a few days to think things through. She fails to consider the fact that a housekeeper is expected to cook and clean --- something that is low on Samantha's list of qualifications. Cooking to her means "order in", and cleaning is something that miraculously has happened when she gets home from the firm and the help has taken care of things. With the reader's imagination allowing for a few impractical and unreal situations, Samantha is able to fool the Geigers with her quick thinking and chicanery. Things go fine for a bit until Samantha encounters a wise and dreamy gardener who is not so blind to what she is doing. With "creative" genius, Samantha keeps things going in the house for a while, but the gorgeous and clever gardener becomes a problem as she finds herself attracted to him. The hilarious situations, quirky and almost believable characters, and a Samantha that you care about, are what Kinsella creates in THE UNDOMESTIC GODDESS and what makes for an enjoyable, funny, and light read that will entertain you and keep you turning the pages to find out what happens to Samantha. |
| Carmen |
| Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Really great book, loving it. Everybody wants to run away to the circus. |
| Phyllis |
| Oscar Season by Mary McNamara |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A behind-the-scenes look at the madness of movie celebrities combined with a murder mystery. Very entertaining. |
| Jane (JerJanKel@aol.com) |
| Cost by Roxana Robinson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
My family had an addict too, so this book was especially gripping for me. I think the author did an excellent job of showing how a family can "deny" away something they don't want to face --- and help you to understand how it can happen to you, even if you think you are totally in tune with your children. This was much more realistic than James Frey's take on addiction. If you have children, please read this so that you can be a vigilant and caring parent. |
| softdrink |
| The Red Scarf by Kate Furnivall |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A book about friendship and loyalty and love, with Soviet labor camps and life under Stalin tossed in to keep it interesting. |
| Jane (JerJanKel@aol.com) |
| Somebody Else's Daughter by Elizabeth Brundage |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Let me preface this note by saying, if you haven't read anything by this author, you are totally missing out. I read her first book THE DOCTOR'S WIFE and could not put it down. I didn't see how she could top that effort, but she has in this newest book. It's totally different from her first book but just as mesmerizing. |
| Liza |
| The Blonde by Duane Swiercynski |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
One of the best opening sequences I've read in a long time: "I've poisoned your drink." "Excuse me?" "You heard me." "Um, I don't think I did." The blonde lifted her cosmopolitan and said,"Cheers." So begins a dark, violent and at times hilarious trip through Philadelphia by our hero, Jack Eisley. He has been poisoned in an airport bar by a lovely blonde who won't give him the antidote unless he promises to stay by her side for the next 24 hours. A cross between Raymond Chandler and "The Twilight Zone," this noir crime novel will have you losing sleep as you race through it! |
| bookFestival |
| A Voyage Long and Strange by Tony Horwitz |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a very different take on the discovery story of America. Tony Horwitz is a very funny writer. Yet you will learn a lot of American history that is not taught in school. |
| Jane (JerJanKel@aol.com) |
| The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I picked up this paperback solely on the basis of the interesting cover and the mention that it had won a British book award for best read of the year. I wasn't disappointed. It's English enough to fascinate you, but not plodding like some English books seem to drift. I was truly sorry when I finished reading this and will look for more books by this author. It reminds of of the Penny Vincenzi's books. |
| Jud Hanson |
| Stone Kiss by Faye Kellerman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This entry in the well-known Faye Kellerman series takes Lt. Peter Decker and his wife Rina to NYC after a frantic phone call from a distant relative's family. The relative was found dead in a seedy hotel room, and his niece is missing. However, when Decker gets to NYC, the investigation reveals family secrets that may alienate him from his distant relatives. This was a great read and I look forward to future books in this series. |
| bookFestival |
| Stuff White People Like by Christian Lander |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a very funny book. Christian Lander had a blog by the same name; it was so popular that a publisher decided to make a book from it. There is a test at the end of the book to see how white you are. I'm white, but I only scored 30%, so I'm the wrong kind of white. If you like bikes, outdoor activities, expensive sandwiches, $800 strollers, religions your parents don't belong to, etc, you are the right kind of white. |
| Sharon |
| Playing for Pizza by John Grisham |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
What does a quarterback do when he has lost the Super Bowl before millions of people? He is washed up in the USA, but finds himself in Parma, Italy as one of three paid players on a amateur Italian football team. Just the description of the first night's Italian dinner made me want to visit Parma immediately! |
| RossRN (rnasantz@gmail.com) |
| Descartes's Secret Notebook by Amir D. Aczel |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I was somewhat familiar with Descartes, but hadn't been aware of his extraordinary life and mind. Aczel tells a great story. Descartes searches for Rosicucians, fears the Inquisition, writes a secret and coded text, all while traveling about Europe. Sound like many modern fiction thrillers? I'm sure someone will pick up on it and write one --- Matthew Pearl, where are you? |
| Leigh |
| Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Everything a book should be! Set in Barcelona, a young man finds a book in a secret place. He becomes engrossed in the book and its author. He sets out to learn more and discovers someone is destroying every copy of the author's books. |
| Jud Hanson |
| Nature Girl by Carl Hiassen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What do you get when you combine a crooked telemarketer, a nature girl obsessed with revenge and a passive-aggressive PI? A hysterical depiction of life in Florida. Oh, and don't forget the ghost who wants his body relocated to a better place. This is another winner by Carl that is sure to amuse and cause doubled over laughter. |
| marilynd |
| Blasphemy by Douglas Preston |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I bought this before I heard Douglas Preston speak about the book in Memphis. I avoided reading the book because I realized how agnostic Preston is, but decided I might as well see what he wrote since I paid for it. I have long enjoyed his and Lincoln Child's joint books about FBI agent Pendergast, and I still much prefer those over Preston's solo novels. |
| Jane (JerJanKel@aol.com) |
| The Groom To Have Been by Saher Alam |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I really loved this book. I picked it up in the bookstore on a whim, but was locked into the plot from the first page. Basically it tells the story of an 'arranged' marriage for an Indian son who is really an American with Indian heritage and who doesn't want to disappoint his parents. The cultural background on this Indian tradition was fascinating and well worth reading. I highly recommend this book. |
| Elizabeth V |
| Crossroads 1969 by John W. Cassell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
First, I'm still reading this, and I'll be able to give a better opinion when I'm done. This is about a year, 1969, in the life of Cassell. At first I thought it would bore me. But Cassell soon goes, alone, to Europe, traveling however he can, so I guess you could call it "bumming around" Europe. And, although this is one story about his experiences in the countries there (if it's about more than that, I haven't gotten that far yet), it's almost like reading a book of short stories. Cassell comes across so many different people, each a new experience and each experience another story. It turns out to be a really interesting book, not boring at all. |
| Kaye |
| Kyra by Carol Gilligan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A most unusual love story that keeps you guessing to the final page. This is a first novel for Gilligan, whose groundbreaking IN ANOTHER VOICE changed the way we perceive communication between men and women. It has many stimulating topics for discussion. |
| Kaye |
| Loving Frank by Nancy Horan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Historical fiction at its best. This is the incredible story of Frank Lloyd Wright, the American architect, and his love affair with Mamah Borthwick Cheney. It's full of stimulating topics for book clubs: beginnings of the feminist movement, architecture, and the culture of early 1900s in America and Europe. |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A Stephanie Plum novel complete with Ranger, Joe, Grandma, and all the other usual quirky characters. The story was not as funny as usual, nor as steamy---has Stephanie run her course and need to retire? |
| Pattie Berryhill (pattiberr@aol.com) |
| The Dark Tide by Andrew Gross |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Very good story about a husband presumed dead for a year. |
| MsAnnie |
| Sister Mine by Tawni O'Dell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Chick lit, but better written and with well-drawn characters. Shae Lynn is so well depicted, trashy cowgirl outfits and all. This girl does atmosphere really well, you can see the just-barely-hanging-on Coal Town, and all its inhabitants. Gotta love Fanci and Kenny. Read this book, it will make you laugh and smile. Not necessarily at the same time, either! |
| Judy Glies (Glij9@aol.com) |
| The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A Booker prize nominee, Eng has crafted a well-told story set in Japanese-occupied Penang during World War II. |
| Marsha |
| A Killer's Kiss by William Lashner |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Victor Carl, defense attorney, becomes embroiled with an old flame who leads him into a mess of trouble. Beware of old flames. They burn deadly. This is the author's last Victor Carl book for a while so enjoy his previous ones. |
| Rosemary (rmusolino@nkasd.com) |
| Nothing to Lose by Lee Child |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Jack Reacher investigates disappearances of young men after they enter a guarded recycling plant in the middle of nowhere USA --- of course, this is not all that goes on there! Typical twists and turns and keep you guessing! |
| Sally |
| The Last Queen by CW Gortner |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A moving account of Juana of Castile, the last Queen of Spain. The story is well-told, and covers her tumultuous life as the wife Phillip of Flanders, the political intrigue she becomes swept up in, and the painful choices she must make to inherit her title. This book is un-put-downable! |
| Stephanie Bruce |
| Odd Hours by Dean Koontz |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Great book! I love all the Odd Thomas books. They keep getting better and better. |
| Katie Milligen |
| Twilight by Stephenie Meyer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I'm in love with this book! This thrilling and mind-altering novel will blow teenagers/young adults out of the water! It's a twisted and emotional action story that holds the strongest force of love I've ever witnessed, and it will leave you thinking about it for weeks (or until you eventually buy NEW MOON or ECLIPSE). |
| RW1010 |
| Trust Me by Brenda Novak |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Brenda always writes an excellent novel! The next in this series is STOP ME, followed by WATCH ME in August...I can hardly wait! |
| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
| Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Two federal investigators are sent to Shutter Island, a closely guarded institution where criminally insane patients were housed. The investigators were sent to help locate a missing patient, but it seems that another darker purpose was used to lure one of the investigators. There are several twists to the story. |
| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
| The Dark Tide by Andrew Gross |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Karen and Charles seem to have the perfect life, but it starts to unravel after the death of Charles in a subway bombing. Karen starts to receive threatening notes and begins to wonder if her husband was actually killed. A suspenseful book that you won't be able to put down. |
| Booky |
| The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A trapper/trader is found brutally murdered in his cabin in Canada and a young boy goes missing. Search parties head out and the reader is drawn into the stories of those who head into the snow storm and those who remain behind. The main characters are interesting enough for you to care about what happens to them. |
| Angela Satalino |
| Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
More Stephanie Plum and gang zaniness; a sure, funny, quick read that will not disappoint. |
| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
| Hold Tight by Harlan Coben |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It took the first 100 pages to get involved in this book, but then you can't put it down. There are several different plots but Harlan Coben relates all of the characters (and there are quite a few) into a suspenseful book. |
| Carmen |
| The Amber Room by Steve Berry |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent! This thriller involves looking for the mysterious Russian Amber Room. You won't put this down. |
| Judy O. |
| Hold Tight by Harlan Coben |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I must be losing my taste for thrillers, because I found this to have a very contrived, unbelievable plot. I've enjoyed Coben's books in the past, and I enjoyed this one somewhat too. It's just one of those books that I will forget immediately. |
| Noreen Brown |
| The Appeal by John Grisham |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A must read for all. What a revelation about elections. The ending really caught me by surprise, even though it shouldn't have. |
| Booky |
| A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This writer is so engaging that the book is a must read. The characters are fully drawn, and the story grabs you from the start. This is a story that introduces the reader to world that is tragically, not so unique. |
| Booky |
| Olive Kitteredge by Elizabeth Strout |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved this book. It was about getting to know the characters in a small town little by little through stories about small parts of their lives. Olive is not an easy person to live with or to be friends with, but her influence is surprisingly strong. By the end of the story, the reader wonders if, in fact, Olive is someone they would have liked in their lives. |
| Booky |
| Friday Nights by Joanna Trollope |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book about relationships draws you in from the beginning. All the women are dealing with "life" in different ways. You're sure to recognize in the characters' lives, issues that you too have had to deal with. How these women come together, and how they change through the years is warming and satisfying. A good "warm feeling" kind of read. Trollope's writing style is clean and not overly sentimental. She creates characters that you will get to know and care about. |
| Cynthia |
| Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
THREE BAGS FULL is unlike any other mystery I have ever read. What makes it so different is that the detectives are a flock of sheep that are trying to solve a murder. With this, you join the adventure of figuring out this whodunit via sheep logic, perceptions and the difficulty in refraining from eating the evidence.. The setting for this story is in the pastoral fields near the village of Glennkill, Ireland. The sheep are unhappy about the untimely death of their beloved shepherd, George, and set about identifying suspects and uh.digesting clues. To the sheep, murder is considered "wolfish behavior". Author Leonie Swann loads her novel with a lot of literary allusions, cross-references and in-jokes, which I find completely delightful and I'm sure you will too. |
| Debra T. |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Though I'm not a big fan of fiction about animals, this novel, narrated by Enzo, a dog, is captivating |
| Dorothy |
| The Rogue by Danielle Steel |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Just like all of her books, THE ROGUE was good, easy reading that was enjoyable and predictable. Why are all her characters wealthy? She has never written about ordinary people. |
| Juli G |
| Twilight by Stephenie Meyer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I was reluctant when our newly formed book group picked TWILIGHT as our first choice. We are a group of teachers in a K-8 school and our librarian suggested it so that we might appreciate what some of our young adult students were reading. I had heard the hype and although I quickly jumped on the Harry Potterwagon I was not sure I wanted to read "a vampire love story." Wow, was I surprised that this book immediately captured my interest, and I found myself reading late into the night to see what was coming next. I fell in love with Bella and Edward, and Ms. Meyer's wonderfully told story of these two young adults. And yes, I just bought book two, NEW MOON, and can't wait to continue the adventure. |
| Quinn |
| Summer Reading by Hilma Wolitzer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a great summer read! It takes place in the Hamptons on Long Island. The story is about an English professor who likes books, and others who inhabit the Hamptons during the summer. The book club is called the Page Turners and the books they read: Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Charlotte Bronte and other in the classics genre. It is a fun book for all of us who like to discuss books and leisure life. |
| Carmen |
| Term Limits by Vince Flynn |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Political thriller with an excellent plot. Navy seals, murder, crooked politicians, what more could you want? |
| Anita Nowak |
| The Murder Notebook by Jonathan Santlofer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was a wonderful mystery recommended by my husband, who finished it in record time, and then gave it to me. It was about a policeman/sketch artist solving a string of homicide cases. What was especially interesting was the fact that Mr. Santlofer is a real sketch artist and put a load of these in each chapter of the book. It really helped make the main character seem more realistic. It was a real page turner --- I loved it! |
| Sheila M. |
| The Lost Men by Kelly Tyler-Lewis |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent book about the men who sailed to the other side of Antarctica to lay supply depots for Shackleton's attempt to be the first explorer to cross the Antarctic. Very well researched and written. |
| Marsha |
| Marked Man by William Lashner |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Victor Carl, defense attorney, continues his escapades in this novel where he awakens one morning to find a tattoo on his chest with the name of Chantal Adair --- and no recollection who this person could be. |
| Bridget |
| Wife to the Bastard by Hilda Lewis |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Disappointing story of the wife of William the Conqueror. I feel I learned very little about any of the characters, other than lists of names and battles. |
| Fran |
| I'll Be Watching You by Andrea Kane |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book has great suspense and makes perfect beach read! I figured out the ending in the beginning of the book, but it did not take away from the suspense. Nice romance too! |
| Belinda |
| The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I really enjoyed reading this book, as did my book club. Doig's writing is wonderful and the story kept my attention all they way. |
| Belinda |
| Mockingbird by Charles J. Shields |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is an unauthorized biography about Harper Lee. Since she is from Monroeville, Alabama, and still lives there most of the time, I was quite interested in her early years as I am from that part of the state and my husband was living in Monroeville during the "Mockingbird" period. It was a fascinating read and I learned a lot about her life that I didn't know. |
| BS Miers |
| Swan Peak by James Lee Burke |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
SWAN PEAK is another of Mr. Burke's great American masterpieces. It is the 17th in the Dave Robicheaux series, but the story is actually about his long-time friend, Clete. Dave, his wife Molly, and Clete are on vacation in Montana when murders begin happening, and Dave and Clete are pulled into them. SWAN PEAK is a fantastic, breathless read from beginning to the final breath at the end. Once again, James Lee Burke has written a tremendous book. |
| Cindy Kirk (cvkirk123@hotmail.com) |
| Still Summer by Jacquelyn Mitchard |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The story of lifelong friends who take a cruise that goes wrong, and tests their strength. Each is shown for the strengths and weaknesses they havem and how they handle themselves in a disaster. |
| Bree |
| Sisterchicks Go Brit by Robin Jones Gunn |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a delightful, light-hearted novel about two ladies who travel to England and their adventures. It made me smile and giggle. |
| LINDA B |
| Burning Bridges by Anne Krist |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Paul met Sara when he was twenty and in the navy, as they went to a concert each with a friend. Sara was just seventeen and out of town for the first time. Paul knew that Sara was underage, that he could get in deep trouble with the law and her Navy dad, but he could not stop thinking about her. They only had a few short weeks before he got shipped out for Viet Nam and they took every opportunity to be together; she even gave him her most treasured gift. They swore to write each other, but he only got three letters during his tour then thought she changed her mind about him. Sara was in trouble, pregnant and had to face her parents without Paul. He swore that he would write but he never did, and no matter how many letters she wrote, he never answered. |
| Dianne Hall |
| Three Bags Full by Leoni Swann |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
THREE BAGS FULL is about a flock of sheep whose shepherd has been found dead, impaled by a shovel. The sheep decide they must find his murderer. Leoni Swann masterfully takes the reader into the daily lives, conversations, and scents of sixteen sheep, until the mystery is solved. Throughout the novel, the sheep felt as "dumb" as I always thought they were, which is exactly how Swann wanted the reader to feel. Needless to say, the ending was unexpected! Now that I finished, I should have seen it coming; but like I said, through sheep's perspective I, too, was "in the dark"! |
| Karen Haney |
| Domestic Affairs by Eileen Goudge |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Eileen Goudge's DOMESTIC AFFAIRS is the story of friendships and how they can dictate one's path even much later in life. Unfortunately, these are not friendships that last, but rather, they come in handy later when lives reverse themselves. It is also about how a secret from the past that can't be told can change lives, and one that brings everyone to realize they must unite to save one another...and possibly themselves along the way. |
| Pat Forbess (tennesseecajun@email.com) |
| Say Goodbye by Lisa Gardner |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A lot of gore, pain, heartbreak, and sadness, but you won't be able to put it down. From the beginning to the end, it's action-plus. The more this young lady writes, the better she gets. |
| Lori Furan-Schultz |
| Escape by Carolyn Jessop with Laura Palmer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
| An incredible and horrifying true story of the author's life in FLDS (fundamentalist church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). She was forced to marry a "prophet" more than 30 years her senior, and over the course of 15 years, she had 8 children and withstood her husband's psychological abuse and the watchful eyes of his other wives, who were constantly battling for supremacy. Carolyn was miserable but knew if she tried to leave, she would be hunted down and her children taken away from her. But in 2003, she chose freedom over fear and, with $20 to her name, escaped with her 8 children. In 2006 it was her report to the Utah attorney general that was a crucial part of the case leading to the arrest of the notorious leader Warren Jeffs. What an incredible story! |
