March 6, 2010 - March 19, 2010
Last contest period's winners were Allison, Jer, Stephen, Terese andVickie, who each received a copy of HANDLE WITH CARE by Jodi Picoult, THE SWEET BY AND BY by Todd Johnson and WHILE MY SISTER SLEEPS by Barbara Delinsky.
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Rampart Street by David Fulmer |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
A Valentin St. Cyr mystery set in New Orleans in early 1910s. This case involves rich, white men murdered and brings St. Cyr out of retirement as a detective. The story is rich in the sounds and sights of the sinfulness of New Orleans when jazz was finally legal and heading for other cities. New Orleans is a city of many races and origins, and it is hard to believe that the KKK operated in the shipping industry. The historic information is interesting, but I felt that this novel was not written as well as the prior novels. I had to force myself to continue reading. Fulmer seemed duty bound to mention everything about Sin City and the novel seemed to fall under that heading "jack of all trades and master of none". |
| Linda B |
| The Winter King by Bernard Cornwall |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Book one of Cornwall's Warlord Trilogy about King Arthur. The story is narrated by Derfel, a former slave, raised by Merlin, who becomes one of Arthur's most trusted warriors. Arthur is sworn to protect Britain until the child, Mordred --- heir to the High King --- comes of age. Arthur plans for a peaceful kingdom by becoming betrothed to the daughter of a rival king, but then he breaks the betrothal when he sees Guinevere; and Britain becomes an area of in-fighting, betrayals, and destruction. |
| Linda Fast (lindacfast@hotmail.com) |
| Don't Look Twice by Andrew Gross |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I really did not care for this novel. Even though all the characters tied into each other, it was hard to keep track as the story jumped back and forth. The novel starts out in a posh suburb in a convenience store where an innocent bystander is shot. It looks like it is a revenge act against the store owner. However, a cop just happens to be a patron of the store when the shooting occurs. As the cop tries to find the murderer, he is drawn into a tangible web that reaches into politics and involves his brother. |
| Ruth |
| The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A thought-provoking Christmas novella. |
| Hedi (hedihopwood@comcast.net) |
| One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This has been on my "to read" list for awhile. It is very well written and I really enjoyed it. |
| Hedi (hedihopwood@comcast.net) |
| The Lost City of Z by David Grann |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I found that I really did not like Fawcett, who let his obsession take over his life to the point of not realizing what he was doing to his family; in today's world he would have been considered an egomaniac. THE RIVER OF DOUBT was a far better book in regards to documenting what it actually took to explore the Amazon. |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Final Undertaking by Mark de Castrique |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A Barry Clayton mystery set in the mountains of NC, in which Barry operates the final funeral home. A short look at mountain life and the style of living in a small community. In this novel, Barry returns to law enforcement when the sheriff is injured, and the small community enters the drug world. I thoroughly enjoy de Castrique's writing and have learned many aspects of the "dark" world of vice. I have met and spoken with Mark de Castrique, which is always a delight. |
| Carmen |
| No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A drug deal goes bad, and Llewelyn Moss stumbles upon the scene. He leaves the drugs, but takes the money he finds on one of the victims. The story is about the drug dealers, a brutal, sadistic killer, and the small-town sheriff who are all trying to find him. This is a very violent book but it is written in the beautiful McCarthy style. |
| Carmen |
| Turtle Moon by Alice Hoffman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
After a neighbor lady is murdered, troubled 12-year-old Keith Rosen, takes the neighbor's baby and flees. A rough and rugged cop, Julian Cash, joins up with the boy's mom, Lucy Rosen, to find the kids. This was a beautiful book; the words flow like a cold creek on a hot day. I will definitely be reading more by Hoffman. |
| Ruth |
| Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I was not overly impressed with this book. |
| The Book Club Cheerleader (mtoyengstrom@hotmail.com) |
| The Memoirs of a Beautiful Boy by Robert Leleux |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Every now and then, you read a writer who is so deliciously funny, he makes you wet your spanks. For me, this year, that writer was Robert Leleux. Reading about his over-the-top, best-friend Mother --- with whom he spent his childhood Saturdays cruising to Neiman Marcus to get his hair styled and nails lacquered --- caused me to ping-pong back and forth between not believing their outrageous behavior and clever dialogue could be true, and wanting with all my heart for it to be absolutely, word-for-word exactly the way he wrote it. I laughed when Jessica prayed for Jesus to smite the cars off the freeways so she wouldn't be late for her hair appointments. I cried when Robert watched all of his earthly goods ruined in a freak summer downpour. And I wet those aforementioned spanks when Jessica's infected lip implant flew across the room, injuring a small child. Of course, one of my favorite analogies was when he described his mother's new fake hair as looking and sounding just like a yellow pom pom. (It was as if he wrote that line with me in mind.) Not only is Robert's writing clever, but your book club will be talking about the dialogue and characters long after your meeting is over. If Texas is this funny, I can't wait for him to write about New York City. This cheerleader gives 'BEAUTIFUL' a two-pom-pom cheer! |
| The Book Club Cheerleader (mtoyengstrom@hotmail.com) |
| Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The marvelously mysterious duo of Jacqueline Winspear and Maisie Dobbs are together again for the sixth time --- although for them, the first time was certainly a charm! Henry Holt and Co. has just released the latest novel in the Maisie Dobbs mystery series, AMONG THE MAD. You owe yourself an escape into 1930s London and the lives of some strong and unusual characters! Jacqueline's prior contributions to the series include: MAISIE DOBBS, BIRDS OF A FEATHER, PARDONABLE LIES, MESSENGER OF TRUTH, and AN INCOMPLETE REVENGE. Maisie Dobbs is a British Private Detective and Psychologist-think "Nancy Drew" meets "The Duchess of York" meets "Dr. Laura"-and a character with wisdom and confidence beyond her years, and business savvy and professional techniques ahead of her time. Like, Jodi Picoult, Jacqueline always addresses controversial issues: including war, delineation of social classes, homosexuality-and in Among The Mad, terrorist bombings, biological terrorism and the question of 'what is the line between sanity and insanity?' The hot topics-along with the diverse characters-are why her books are so tailor-made for book group discussions. My only warning: don't crack one of the Maisie Dobbs books unless you have some time to read-You won't be able to put it down. |
| Carmen |
| On the Beach by Nevil Shute |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a very disturbing and scary book. China and Russia have started a war and many other countries have joined in. All of the life on the Northern Hemisphere is gone. This is the story of the people in the Southern Hemisphere, waiting on the radiation to drift down on them. |
| The Book Club Cheerleader (mtoyengstrom@hotmail.com) |
| Rose Colored Glass by Sue Bigelow and Janice Goldberg |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the story of Lady O'Riley, and Irish immigrant, and Rose Fleishman, a more recent Austrian immigrant, who share an alleyway --- but live very separate lives. That is, until the events of another continent --- and the will of a 13-year old girl --- cause them to come together as friends. This intimate three-character drama is juxtaposed against the backdrop of violent events in a war-torn 1930s Europe, which would have implications on the entire world. Extensively researched by Sue Bigelow and Janice Goldberg, the play's events and dialogue are informed by the authors' attention to detail. The character development and a unique perspective on historical events in ROSE COLORED GLASS will provide fodder for rich reading group discussions. |
| Sara M |
| The Rose of Sebastopol by Katherine McMahon |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It is the time of The Crimean War, and passionate though impetuous Rosa Barr abandons her stale London life to nurse the wounded. When Rosa vanishes, her cousin and our narrator, Mariella, takes it upon herself to find her. Only Mariella is Rosa's opposite; dutiful, loyal and dull. Mariella finds she is completely unprepared for life on the brink of battlefield. And as all the clues to Rosa's disappearance point to Mariella's fiancé, now mad with fever, Mariella is heartbroken. Forced to rise to the occasion, Mariella learns of betrayal, sacrifice and love. The book has its aggravations. The story awkwardly jumps between decades and settings. McMahon also waits until late in the game to give us genuine reasons to care for any of her characters. Also, be prepared for many stitching references and detailed clothing descriptions that do support the character, but are very distracting. Its abrupt ending is also unsatisfying, but perhaps because I was finally engrossed in McMahon's tale. Overall, I'm obliged to admit I did enjoy it. The descriptions of the war's battles, conditions, and Londoner's reactions are undeniably engaging. The layers of suspense and brisk pace McMahon builds cement this unexpected treat. I wouldn't have put this book down during its final fifty pages for anything. |
| LouBabe |
| Judge & Jury by James Patterson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This has to be one of my favorite Patterson books. Actress Andie DeGrasse is called for jury duty and gets a lot more than she bargained for in the process. For one thing, she finds herself involved in the quest to bring a very evil man to justice. |
| Judy O. (joswood@msn.com) |
| Still Alice by Lisa Genova |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Alice Howland is 51 years old and is a cognitive psychology professor at Harvard with a specialty in linguistics. She has an equally ambitious husband and 3 grown children. She develops early-onset Alzheimer's Disease and her life changes drastically. Watching her and her family deal with this awful disease is both terrifying and affirming. It's not a depressing book at all but one that makes a person think deeply about life itself. |
| Cindy H |
| Devil's Corner by Lisa Scottoline |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A fun and easy-to-read detective story. It has an "all's right with the world" ending. A good beach read. |
| PeonyButtercups |
| The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wow! This is by far the best book I've read about the Salem witch trials. Kent provides a moving, gripping tale along with a new perspective on the motives behind the many accusations. I think she has hit the mark. Loved it |
| Laura Ann Adams (Laura.Adams@ky.gov) |
| Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I had never read this classic before so I checked it out of the library recently and read it. I really enjoyed it. |
| Patty Shogren (p12a11s49@aol.com) |
| The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the tale of a woman's life, set in England. There are lots of twists, which keep you reading. You will be glad you read it. |
| Louise |
| Sacred Sins by Nora Roberts |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Psychiatrist Tess Court is enlisted by the DC Police Dept to profile a serial killer. In the process of doing so, she becomes the next intended victim. |
| Louise |
| Brazen Virtue by Nora Roberts |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A sequel to SACRED SINS, the same two detectives are working together to stop another serial killer. The twist to this one is that you know, from the first, pretty much who the killer is; you just get to enjoy the procedures the police use to catch him. |
| Jeannie Millsap |
| Wicked Game by Lisa Jackson and Nancy Bush |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Very intriguing storyline with a twist for those who believe in "premonitions" and those sensitive to their surroundings, and for those who don't! This had me on the edge of my seat, or should I say "bed", as I frequently read in bed. It may keep those awake who read right before bedtime, beware! |
| Catie 75 |
| The Hiding Place by Trezza Azzopardi |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a story of a family with 6 daughters living in extreme poverty in Wales. Tragic, gripping, with a beautiful ending. Highly recommended. |
| Jodelle B. |
| Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was a great and interesting thriller written in first person from the point of view of a serial killer. I understand this was the basis for the HBO series "Dexter", which I have never seen, but I loved the book. It was exciting and did the almost impossible, which is make the protagonist, a serial killer, into a sympathetic character. |
| Holly |
| Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I've read 6 of Picoult's books now and I liked this one quite a bit. The basic story is that a woman learns that her father kidnapped her from her mother 28 years ago and took her across country to start a new life. She had a great childhood and never suspected anything. This revelation turns many lives upside down. I really liked the characters in this book, and thought Picoult did a really interesting job with the juxtaposition of characters (the alcoholic lawyer defending the father who took his daughter from an alcoholic mother). If you're trying out Picoult as a new author, I suggest this one after MY SISTER'S KEEPER. |
| Laura Ann Adams (Laura.Adams@ky.gov) |
| The Shack by William P. Young |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This was our Feb. book club selection and it was different. I enjoyed it for the most part. Many of our members absolutely loved it but I felt some of the conversations that took place between God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit and Mack were a bit confusing and sometimes deterred my enjoyment of the story. |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a good series, I think. Tess Monaghan is intelligent and strong, and doesn't rely on the men around her to get her out of a jam. She's a bit fumbling in this new PI endeavor, but she'll catch on pretty quickly. I'll keep reading this series. |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| Charm City by Laura Lippman |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Tess Monaghan is back in book 2 of the series. The plotting was too ambitious; it would be better to stick with one plot line rather than try to juggle two. But, I'll keep reading. |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| Decision at Delphi by Helen MacInnes |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This was first published in 1976. We're talking Cold War, Greek Civil War. An unwitting architect who is writing some articles on Greek ruins gets embroiled in espionage. Great plotting. The story really moves along. I may go back and get more of her works. (I read it because it was a book club selection.) |
| Shyeyes |
| Run For Your LIfe by James Patterson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Once again, James Patterson gets you to stay up late, turning pages (fast) so you can find out what happens next. This book encompasses the "teacher" who wants to educate people about being rude, and kills them in myraid ways to do just that. He seems to be thumbing his nose as the police, mainly Michael Bennett, who is capable, quirky, and has 10 sick children to deal with. Very well done. |
| Patty Shogren (p12a11s49@aol.com) |
| Cross Country by James Patterson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Another Patterson read. Interesting background in Africa, as Alex Cross is cross country. |
| Judith Loue |
| My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Not having read this since I was 12 (46 years ago), I was not sure what to expect, but I find the pace ever so slow...for a reason. Du Maurier was in no hurry to unfold the tale of possible murder, this allegory of "falling in love." It's a very sad story of judgmental errors and, possibly, cleverly disguised evil. |
| Allison King, Rebecca's Reads and Allison's Attic |
| Jenny's Dream: A Family Saga in Bear Lake, ID by Linda Weaver Clarke |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Linda Weaver Clarke has captured the essence of reaching for your dreams, no matter what happens to throw you off the path of getting there. In JENNY'S DREAM, the third book in the Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho series, the oldest daughter Jenny is home from college for the summer. She is feeling trapped in the small town of Paris, Idaho and wants to go out into the world and accomplish something to show everyone she is more than a pretty girl. Her writing is what keeps her ambition in full drive, until she meets Will. He isn't the most 'handsome' man in town and he is only a farmer, but she becomes close friends with him. Will secretly falls in love with Jenny, but does she feel the same way? Jenny's past haunts her ability to move forward in her life in love and her dreams of being a writer. She will have to make a decision that might hurt those closest to her, for her dreams to come true. In the meantime, Jenny's dad, Gilbert, is helping in the search for an old grizzly bear that is attacking the local sheep and scaring the town folk. He feels the need to be a part of the hunt, even thought his wife, Melinda, is against it. When he comes face to face with the legendary bear, Three Toes, Gilbert must balance the safety of the town with the concern of his family for his life. I loved this book as much as I did the first two books in the series. I was drawn in to Jenny's life and wondering what decisions she would make for her future. The amazing details of the family dynamics, descriptions of the beautiful scenery and the historical facts of the time all made the story believable. The ease of the writing made it feel as though I was eavesdropping in on their lives. I didn't want the story to end (which it won't since there will be two more books in the series)! The best part of the book was the relationship that grows between Jenny and Will. The author didn't use the stereotypical 'handsome' male for the main character to fall for. This was refreshing to me, since all of us on this earth aren't as perfect as most book characters are made out to be. This relationship reminds us that getting to know a person from the inside first and being friends, can grow in to something more. JENNY'S DREAM is a book for all ages that can wrap you up and make you feel all warm inside with the love and hope that dreams can come true if you believe hard enough. |
| Mary In HB |
| A la Cart: The Secret Lives of Grocery Shoppers by Hillary Carlip |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Excellent book on grocery lists and the stories behind them. This is one of the few books I would actually keep! |
| Tanya |
| The Shack by William P. Young |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is one book everyone should read. I will reread it and get more out of it the second time, I am sure. I will share the story with my friends. This book makes you really think. |
| Val Stark (vstark@quincylibrary.org) |
| Evil Without a Face by Jordan Dane |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This novel has a kicking heroine with enough suspense and romance to please fans of both genres. |
| Margi |
| One Last Scream by Kevin O'Brien |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This story will grab your attention from the first page and keep it to the end. Several girls are missing and you learn early in the story that the serial killer uses his young daughter to lure the women into his car. The story isn't about him, however, but the daughter, and how she tries to cope as she gets older and things happen around her that she can't explain. There are plenty of clues throughout that lead the reader to the conclusion, but the buildup to the final chapter is still suspenseful. I enjoyed this book. |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| A Fearsome Doubt by Charles Todd |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This Ian Rutledge mystery is set in England, where Rutledge goes to Kent to investigate the murder of three World War I amputees. In the process, Rutledge must deal with the Ben Shaw case of 1914, his sister, Frances' love life, the widowhood of his dear friend Elizabeth Mayhem, a German soldier, and World War I ghosts. The novel also brings into play the hop picking, as does Jacqueline Winspear'sMaisie Dobbs series, but Todd goes into more detail in describing the horrors of the war. I thoroughly enjoy both authors in their presentation of England after the war --- the dismal portrait of a nation trying to return to the past, and unsure of how to treat the survivors. |
| Francesca |
| Still Alice by Lisa Genova |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The book was good, the subject intriguing, and overall informative. I think better editing may have made for smoother reading, though. |
| Melynda Gasgoyne, The Amherst Bee Group Newspapers |
| Jenny's Dream: A Family Saga in Bear Lake, ID by Linda Weaver Clarke |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
JENNY'S DREAM is the third installment in a series surrounding the Roberts family in the Bear Lake Valley, Idaho, area. In this novel, the main focus is on the oldest of the Roberts children, 20-year-old Jenny. Four years have passed since book 2, and she's grown up and started college to become a journalist. She's home for the summer and is feeling restless, like she no longer belongs in Bear Lake Valley. She's applied for a job at a newspaper in Houston, Texas, to seek that freedom of independence she feels she's lacking. While she waits for a reply, she helps around the family farm. Her Aunt Martha gives her a challenge, to enter several pieces of her writing to three contests: a poem, a short story and a novel. Jenny likes to spend her free time outdoors in the meadow. It is her sanctuary away from everyone, a place where she can dream and wonder about her future. It is during one afternoon she is seen by the new neighbor, Will Jones. Little does she know that her world is about to change. She is startled by him at first, but because he never believes that her dreams are silly or frivolous, they become good friends. Will falls in love with her quickly but keeps that secret to himself until he finds out that she's planning on leaving for Houston. As she teaches him how to dance, he teaches her to look more within herself. Romance blooms like the wildflowers in the meadows. In the end, Jenny must decide what her heart is really longing for - freedom away from home or the love she's always dreamed of. There is a second story woven into the book as well. The story of a grizzly bear called Half Paw that is devastating the local sheep farms. Gilbert joins with the community's farmers in order to stop the bear from destroying more than just the sheep herds. A tense battle between Gilbert and his wife, Melinda, ensues based on an event that had happened years before, when Melinda startled a bear and it charged at her. It's a nightmare she has never put behind her. They pull together when Shep, the family's beloved dog, is injured while saving Gilbert from the giant grizzly. There are so many touching scenes throughout the book that it's hard to pick out what I liked best. JENNY'S DREAM is good reading. The characters are very well developed and are full of a lot of charm. The sibling fighting between the two youngest children, John and Kayla, is so reminiscent of my own childhood that I laughed whenever I read about their antics done to each other. I would recommend this for anyone who likes historical fiction. The descriptions of the surroundings, characters and ways of the time are enduring, well thought out and enlightening. You can lose your sense of time feeling like you've been transported back to 1908. Linda Weaver Clarke spins a tale filled with homespun twists and turns, weaving the simple lives of the family and their friends together in an enchanting manner. |
| Lisa Kent |
| Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved Lonesome Dove and was so excited when I found this book. I thought the movie was good but the book is always so much better. McMurtry can make you sympathize with even the most lowly characters. It is amazing the amount of emotion he can instill in his characters. Life was hard on the plains in the Old West and he makes you realize just how hard it was to survive. |
| Mary in HB |
| The Urban Hermit: A Memoir by Sam Macdonald |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A very charming book about living within your means and realizing what is important in life. I highly recommend this one. |
| Mary In HB (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
| Dog on It (Chet and Bernie) by Spencer Quinn |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I LOVED this book --- an excellent voice for the dog community! I just wish Bernie had as much personality as Chet, then it would have been beyond perfect. I hope this develops into a successful series as well. Fans of THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN and mysteries are going to devour this book! |
| Mary In HB (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
| Witch Heart: Elemental Witches, Book 3 by Anya Bast |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Another great story in this series. This one can stand alone as well. I can't wait for the next one. |
| Irish |
| Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The first in a trilogy. After about fifty pages or so, it gets really good and you can't put it down or go to bed. |
| Lisa Kent |
| A Cedar Cove Christmas by Debbie Macomber |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I am a huge fan of the Cedar Cove series and this is a heartwarming Christmas story involving a pregnant mother searching for her baby's father who tells her will be visiting family over Christmas in Cedar Cove. It is based on the classic Christmas story of Jesus's birth in the manager and reminds of the reason for the season. The child in the story is actually born in the barn. I like Macomber's story telling because she makes you become so involved with the characters. You can't help but love each and everyone of them and want to read more about them. I look forward to the next installment in this series. |
| Marsha |
| In the Woods by Tana French |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This novel was an Edgar Winner and is superbly written. Some sentences are to be savored. The sense of place in the suburb of Dublin is excellent. The characters are well-drawn and the two partners who are sent to solve a murder are to be savored. Cassie shows up again in French's second novel. Let's hear more about Ryan. |
| Irish |
| Multiple Blessings by Jon and Kate Gosselin |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
The story of "John and Kate Plus Eight," a TV reality series.The book is just a repeat of the show, nothing new. |
| Kelle (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
| The Sweet Potato Queen's Book of Love by Jill Conner Browne |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was enjoyable. It is basically a guide book about various ways a "Sweet Potato Queen" lives her life, as well as suggestions on how to live yours. There are funny parts, but I especially like the comment about beauty. "We're all pretty, thankfully. It is a good thing to be pretty. But we are not just pretty, and pretty all by itself is not worth much since it lasts only about an hour, relative to the rest of your life." In addition, pretty is just a major accident of birth, and nobody can take any personal credit for it (except when it's bought and paid for at the plastic guy's office, but never mind that). That is classic. And if my daughter has issues about being pretty before having brains, I am going to have her read this book. Well, at least this part anyway. |
| Roxie |
| The Common Bond by Donigan Merritt |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I received an ARC a few months ago but had trouble starting it, as I had so many other good books in my TBR pile. Once I did finally start it, it was just ehhh. I loved the Hawaiian setting, the people and the culture. The other part was basically a love story between Morgan and Victoria. It's ill-fated from the start as she Is dating his best friend when she cheats on him with Morgan. The book starts when Morgan returns to Hawaii after Victoria's untimely death, which he blames himself for. |
| Olympia (olysilva366@aol.com) |
| A Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A beautiful story that has everything a reader would want. You will find yourself debating capital punishment and organ donation. Throw in religion, and you have a novel only Picoult could write. Excellent. |
| Roxie |
| Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
These are interwoven YA stories, one about a girl who can speak in her mind to animals, and another story about a boy who goes to wizard school. The only disappointment was that the book ended. Can't wait to read the next in the trilogy! |
| Bridget |
| Hangman Blind by Cassandra Clark |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wow! A medieval mystery that was really engrossing. I read this book on and off over the course of a 24-hour period. I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. A widow who has joined a nunnery goes off in search of a grange to start a branch of the nunnery she has joined. Along the way she finds dead bodies, visits her family and prevents a murder, and then helps solve another murder. There is also a storyline involving the pope at Avignon and the pope in Rome and how the English back one pope, while the French the other. My summary is probably confusing, but readers who enjoy mysteries and history should definitely read this one! |
| Roxie |
| Black & White by Dani Shapiro |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The relationship between a mother and daughter is strained because the mother (a professional photographer) gains fame using her daughter as a subject throughout her childhood. The controversial nude photographs make her feel like an object. After the daughter becomes an adult she runs away from home and doesn't speak to her mother for 14 years until she gets the call from her sister that her mother is dying. |
| Betsy Woodruff |
| Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is Binchy at her best! After waiting so long for her newest masterpiece, it did not disappoint. She has a way of not only seeing the human soul but painting that vivid picture in words. There is no point in trying to guess the ending(s). I couldn't wait to get to the end, but I was so sad to turn the last page. Every reader will recognize family and friends in their own lives as portrayed by many of the characters from her previous books. Savor slowly. |
| Roxie |
| Thousand Pieces of Gold by Ruthann Lum McCunn |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The novel is biographical fiction about Lalu Nathoy/Polly Bemis. She is sold by her father due to hard times in China, captured by bandits, then sold as a prostitute. She eventually is brought to America where she is bought by an evil Chinese saloon owner. She befriends another saloon owner and her life eventually begins to change for the better. Told during the gold rush years, it provides a very interesting look at life during that time. |
| Judy O. (joswood@msn.com) |
| Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
In 1942, at the height of World War II, thousands of Japanese were put into internment camps in various places in the American west. This is the story about one such family and about a Chinese boy who falls in love with Keiko, a Japanese girl. The story goes back and forth from 1942 to 1986. The "main character" of the book is the Panama Hotel in Seattle. Thirty to forty Japanese families stored their belongings in the basement of that facility and never came back to reclaim them. This hotel and these belongings are a true story from that time. This was a compelling story, and I highly recommend it. |
| Lynn Clifford |
| Still Alice by Lisa Genova |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
STILL ALICE moved me to tears as I watched Alice Howland, a brilliant cognitive psychology professor at Harvard, try to hold on to her sense of self as her mind rapidly declines due to early onset Alzheimer's disease. The book's vivid depiction of the surreal life forced upon Alzheimer's victims and their caregivers will definitely help promote Alzheimer's awareness. |
| Ana Marie |
| Twilight by Stephenie Meyer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
My daughter just finished this series and she couldn't put the books down. Since my daughter really isn't a "reader," I thought these books must be very interesting for her to have read all 4 books in less than a month! I've started the first one, TWILIGHT, and I am already hooked and just 100 plus pages into the book. There are 4 books in the series. |
| Ana Marie |
| Moment of Truth by Lisa Scottoline |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Would you do anything to protect your children? Even confess to a murder you did not commit? Sometimes doing what you think is the right is the wrong thing. This was a very good read. |
| Priscilla |
| The Beach Club by Elin Hilderbrand |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I just discovered Elin Hilderbrand and this is my second book by her. I like her style of writing and how involved you get in the lives of the characters in her books. |
| Sandy |
| Cross Country by James Patterson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Fans of Alex Cross will not be disappointed! Detective Cross pursues the most ruthless killer he's ever encountered --- he travels to a land of sheer terror and back. |
| Roxie |
| The Secret River by Kate Grenville |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
William commits a crime in 1806 England and is sent to Australia to serve his sentence. There he eventually tries to better his life by acquiring land, but the native people are not too happy about his (or the other white settlers') presence. It reminded me a lot of the Native Americans and the white settlers of America. |
| Jessica |
| The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This one has been on my wish list for years, and I've been listening to it via audio book in my car. It makes me look forward to driving everywhere. I'm completely hooked by this inventive and beautifully written story. |
| Roxie |
| Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
YA that is tragic and horrific, like a train wreck. Once you pick this book up, you won't be able to put it down until you finish it. Alice is abducted at 10 by a pedophile. He keeps her until the age of 15 when he wants her help to find her replacement. You can't put the book down until you've found out why she doesn't get help when she has ample opportunities to get away, how he got her in the first place, and why she would help him. |
| Angela Satalino |
| A Silent Ocean Away by Deva Gantt |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It grasps you from the start. I want to know all about the characters and, of course, the secrets of this family. I highly recommend it. |
| Barbara (barbara.sharpe@yahoo.com) |
| Free Style by Linda Nieves-Powell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I wanted this to be another version of DIRTY GIRLS SOCIAL CLUB, but it isn't. It's its own brand of fabulous. This is the book for anyone who is midlife, re-imagining her life and considering returning to the glory days. |
| Lorna |
| Moon Shell Beach by Nancy Thayer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I've never been disappointed by Nancy Thayer. The story surrounds the lives of two girls who grew up on Nantucket Island and their relationship with each other through their early thirties. This is just a nice comfort story about friendships. |
| Roxscilla |
| Jerk, California by Jonathan Friesen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It's very hard to come by a unique teen book. I finally found it in JERK, CALIFORNIA, a novel about a 17-year-old boy who was diagnosed with severe Tourette's syndrome at 6 years of age. |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| When the Wind Blows by James Patterson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This book was written and published in 1998, but is so close to reality that it is scary. In this book, Patterson's style is slightly different from the Alex Crossseries in that the short, quick chapters are replaced with longer chapters with more detail. In this novel, a suspended FBI agent, Kit Harrison, goes to Colorado to investigate "mad" doctors. These doctors are genetically altering babies and creating "super" genes that brings to mind cloning and in vitro fertilization (8 babies). Patterson does a so-so job with explaining the lab and results, and even creates empathy for the creations and hate for the creators. This was a half-way provoking novel about the role of "God" in genetics. I felt sorrow at the end for these "freaks" of human creation. |
| Roxie |
| Black Flies by Shannon Burke |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Written by an ex-medic, the story rings very true. It's a gritty, graphic novel about a new medic in Harlem. You'll be ashamed how the medics are treated, but then you will be ashamed by how some of them act in return. You won't be able to put the book down until you are finished. Quick, easy read. I finished in a day. |
| Juanita |
| The Help by Kathryn Stockett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This novel is wonderfully detailed. I feel like I am in Mississippi and feeling the heat. I love historical events that are brought out. |
| Jaye |
| Birds in Fall by Brad Kessler |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This novel is a thoughtful, lyrical account of the aftermath of an airplane crash. Beautiful book! |
| Fran |
| The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J. K. Rowling |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
These Harry Potter fairy tales, first introduced during the DEATHLY HALLOWS book, are very cute creative stories. |
| L.L. |
| Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was what I would call an epic chic novel. It follows two friends from childhood in the '70s until present time. I couldn't put it down while I was reading it. |
| Carol |
| Knit Two by Kate Jocobs |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
It was fun to read about the characters I came to love in THE FRIDAY NIGHT KNITTING CLUB. But it was a stretch. This is a talented author. I hope she starts on a totally new project. |
| Rosalie Sambuco (crimekitty763@yahoo.com) |
| Almost Home by Pam Jenoff |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I have just started this book. I have read the others by this author and thoroughly enjoyed them. This book started off slowly and I am hoping it will be as good as her previous works. It has a wonderful storyline concerning a secret from World War II and the murder of a young man in 1997 who gets too close to revealing the secret. |
| Linda K. (writermom6@yahoo.com) |
| I See You Everywhere by Julia Glass |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Again, I wish I could give half a star in my rating. I would rate this book 3 1/2 stars. The beginning moved slowly. More than once I considered putting it down and moving on to something else, but my curiosity kept me reading. This is a story of two sisters who live parallel and very dissimilar lives. Each sister narrates in turn, which was a bit confusing at first until I learned each character's style. The character development is good. I do wish the plot was a bit stronger. With the change in narration, I felt there was too much jumping sometimes and the end didn't seem to tie in to the beginning in any meaningful way. I'm not sure if I would recommend this book. There were moments when I couldn't put it down, and other times when I just wanted it to be over. |
| Jill |
| Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What can I say? Jodi Picoult, as always, writes a well-researched, thought-provoking story of a little girl who develops stigmata and sees diving beings, while her mere presence causes miracles to happen. In Jodi's typical style, her descriptions and character development make this story so believable. You can almost imagine this as a current news story. I truly enjoyed this book and all of her others I have read. |
| Leslie |
| The Third Twin by Ken Follet |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It was very exciting and I could not put it down. |
| Laura B |
| American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Engrossing novel supposedly based on Laura Bush. |
| Wendy Catalano |
| The Ghost War by Alex Berenson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
John Wells, CIA Agent in THE FAITHFUL SPY, returns in THE GHOST WAR. It is a great, nail-biting spy thriller. |
| Dena |
| This Witch for Hire by Kim Harrison |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is a 2-in-1 compilation of Kim's first two books from her Hollows series: DEAD WITCH WALKING, and GOOD, THE BAD, and THE UNDEAD. These books were so good that I couldn't put it down. At first I wasn't sure because it is set in our time, but there are vampires, witches, elves, pixies, trolls, werewolves and more. Humans knew about them and they lived relatively in peace. The reason the different races came out of hiding was because of a deadly virus that came from mutant tomatoes 40 years prior that killed a lot of humans, leaving the other races to pick up the pieces and keep the governments going. Rachel Morgan is a Witch, and bounty hunter of sorts that brings in the bad guys or at least tries with her Vampire roommate Ivy and other partner, Jenks. These stories are so well written and characters well developed that I couldn't wait to see what would happen next --- so will you, if you like paranormal books. You might even start liking them after reading these two books. |
| Dena |
| The Treasure by Iris Johansen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is like nothing I've ever read from Iris before. It's a historical set in the 12th century. The treasure turns out to be nothing like what I thought it would be. The lead female is strong and innocent. Her biggest fears are trust and being abandoned. The lead male, Kadar --- an ex-assassin --- wants to have a quiet life where he gains Selene's trust and whole heart. That is all interrupted when Kadar's old Master summons him. To keep him in line, Selene is kidnapped. The adventure begins in Scotland and travels through to Italy. The secondary characters are well written and you care about them as much as the main ones. This was a wonderful, fast-paced story and I think you will like it if you like Iris' other books. |
| Kaye |
| The Suburban Dragon by Garasamo Maccagnone and Al Ochsner |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
In this delightful children's book, three bored youngsters just don't know what to do with themselves on a rainy, stormy day. Their mother suggests that they snuggle on the couch as she reads them a story. But, even their favorite book doesn't keep them from yawning and fidgeting. All of a sudden, from out behind the couch leaps a big scary dragon, roaring and snorting. When the dragon suddenly grabs their mother and starts to run away with her, the kids know they have to be brave and save their Mommy. The first thing to do, they agree, is to make a plan for the daring rescue. This plan includes ingenious disguises and traps: Garrett puts on an army helmet and has all his ammunition, Anthony dons a hockey helmet and tin foil protection. Finally, Aimee puts on her grandmother's wedding gown and a wig. After all, she is a Princess! The plan is to trick the dragon to come back into the living room so they can capture him, but when Aimee takes another look at the scary dragon, it's not who she thinks it is. Big surprise! Well, they certainly aren't bored anymore. Al Oschsner does a wonderful job with the illustrations. The images are large and nicely colored, almost as if they were water colored. The first page really sets the scene with dark clouds, lightning and pouring rain. All the characters have very appropriate facial expressions. The story line is magical, comical and endearing all at the same time. What better way for children to use their imagination on a rainy day than to plot a daring rescue and trap a big scary dragon? I can't imagine a child not being enchanted by this book. 5 ***** |
| Vanessa Smith |
| Song Yet Sung by James McBride |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Our book club really liked this book. He has a lyrical way of writing. We had a great discussion about slavery and the South, Harriet Tubman and the code of the gospel train. |
| Crystal Blackburn |
| Blindfold Game by Dana Stabenow |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent mystery involving a CIA analyst, his Coast Guard-serving wife, international pirates, terrorists, Alaska and the Bering Sea! |
| Laura B. |
| The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It was fabulous and uplifting. I could not put this book down. It had me reading far into the night. |
| Bonnie |
| Everyone is Beautiful by Katherine Center |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a fun and interesting novel that any mother will love... or for anyone who's given up their dreams for marriage, parenthood, whatever and wondered "what if?" |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Roses Are Red by James Patterson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is an Alex Cross novel in which a Mastermind wreaks havoc on the banking industry and successfully steals and retains $15 million. In the final chapter, the FBI agent in charge of the investigation and Alex's new love interest comes up against the Mastermind. Of course, this is a to be continued in VIOLETS ARE BLUE. I thoroughly enjoy Patterson's style of writing, the short chapters that compel the reader to complete one more chapter before stopping. The suspense builds with each chapter, and I must admit that if you are alone, you will start imagining that the killer is after you. |
| Julie |
| The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a wonderful classic mystery thriller that takes place in and around London in the 1860s. I can't put it down. |
| Amy |
| The Condition by Elizabeth Haigh |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This story was a fascinating look into how people cope with challenges. The characters were all interesting, although not all likable. It was a great book club book. |
| Myrna Lippman |
| Lark & Termite by Jayne Anne Phillips |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
While slow, almost tedious at times, LARK & TERMITE explores the complicated relationship of four people in West Virginia. Phillips alternates each chapter with their voices; the ones from Korea are the least interesting. Some parts of the book are extremely moving and compelling. |
| Jane |
| Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is one of her best books so far and can't wait to read ENCORE VALENTINE in 2010. I didn't want it to end and the characters are so funny. The descriptive details of this book made it feel like you were in Italy. |
| Caite (caitemaire@hotmail.com) |
| Irreplaceable by Stephen Lovely |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is Mr. Lovely's first book, and it is a very good one. His ability to capture the emotions of these different characters is skillful. He is able, on the one hand, to educate the reader about the whole issue of organ transplantation, while on the other hand never losing sight of the very personal repercussions these decisions will have for all involved. As medical science becomes able to do more and more, we can never forget the human and emotional cost because one day it may be someone we love, or ourselves, asked to pay that price. Just ignore the book cover --- which I thought was very misrepresentative and screams chick lit --- pick up this book and I think you will be happy you did. |
| Barbara S. |
| On The Street Where You Live by Mary Higgins Clark |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a story about 3 young girls who were murdered over 100 years ago. Someone found the details of the crime written by the murderer and has now become a copy-cat killer. The story is interesting, but it constantly jumps from one place and person to another. It took forever to get through this book. |
| MJB |
| The Help by Kathryn Stockett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
THE HELP is told through the voices of three women, two black maids, and the young white woman who writes a book on how they are treated by their white employers. It is mesmerizing. You laugh out loud, are furious, and even have tears as the story unfolds. Ms. Stockett did a brilliant job in writing this book and it should be read slowly to savor every word. |
| Elizabeth V |
| Split Second by David Baldacci |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I'm not even halfway through. Maybe it will get better. But a novel that's supposed to be a thriller should be thrilling before page 60, and this sure isn't. If I get past page 100, and it still bores me, I refuse to waste any more time on it. |
| Valerie Wiesner (ackleyvalerie@yahoo.com) |
| The House at Riverton by Kate Morton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is an "un-putdownable" novel of the social changes that occurred in England between 1900 and 1945. It has elements of a love story, suspense and is a very engrossing story. |
| Ellen |
| Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the type of book that you want to savor while reading. |
| Ariadne (arianeaparis@yahoo.com) |
| The Attempt by Yasmina Khadra |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The story takes place in Israel. It is about an Arabic doctor whose life is ruined. I won't tell more. |
| Ellen |
| The Condition by Jennifer Haigh |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Thought-provoking book about family dynamics. |
| Ellen |
| Testimony by Anita Shreve |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It has topical subject matter. This is a real page turner. |
| BJ Simon |
| A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Book 4 takes place outside of the idyllic Three Pines village. We get to know Peter Morrow's family in this book which explains a lot about his personality. Louise Penny is a Canadian national treasure! Great series! |
| Kathy Campbell |
| The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This novel shows the many layers of women in our society...their joys, angst, family issues, friendship issues. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and am recommending it to others. I even bought the sequel, KNIT TWO. |
| ck |
| Fire from the Rock by Sharon Draper |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The book is written for Young Adults but is an excellent reminder for all of us of the events in Little Rock in 1957 when Central High was integrated. Sylvia was invited to apply by her teacher and had to endure an interview in front of a hostile selection committee. The process was grim. Sylvia's brother would gladly have gone, but he represented the angry youth that resented the inequality between the races fifty years ago. Sylvia's preacher father was supportive, but cautious. One of her best friends was the daughter of the Jewish family who owned the local grocery. The prejudice directed toward that family also emerges as the story unfolds. Mrs. Draper describes the Arkansas heat, the anxiety of the young girl and the tensions of the city so that the reader feels a part of this important milestone in American history. |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Dragonwell Dead by Laura Childs |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
In the 8th Tea Shop Mystery installment, Theodosia must aid a friend whose husband is poisoned and her inn falls to arson. The Tea Shop Mysteries are always a fun to curl with during rainy weather, with the description of Charleston, SC, the fashion commentary, and the delightful recipes and teas. The emphasis of each book is not the psychological analysis of an Elizabeth George novel nor the graphic detail of Kathy Reichs, but more like the "Agatha Raisin" of M.C. Beaton. |
| Phoenix |
| The Girl From Foreign by Sadia Shepherd |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a moving and fascinating memoir. The author's mother is a Pakistani Muslim and her father is a Caucasian man from Colorado. These different cultural influences were part of her life growing up. She later discovered her grandmother was Jewish, part of the small Bene Israel community in India. This book tells the story of Shepherd's journey to Bombay, her exploration of her own values and deepening understanding of her family's history. |
| Ann G. |
| Never Tell A Lie by Hallie Ephron |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Definitely the best suspense novel I have read. It has a pregnant woman, a murder mystery, and a disappearance all in one. It's hard to put down once you begin the story. |
| Ann G. |
| Shelter Me by Juliette Fay |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A poignant, captivating story about a young widow dealing with her grief and the blessings she discovers in those who help her to survive her tragedy. |
| Linda Bedell |
| Wild Swans by Jung Chang |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A terrific nonfiction read that mirrors what we heard on a recent trip to China. It is a must for anyone interested in Chinese history or going to China for a visit. |
| Marion Miller (lamamil@aol.com) |
| Child 44 by Smith |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book really kept me going! I couldn't wait to get back to it. At first it was a little confusing, but then, wow!! |
| Teresa (steinertt@aol.com) |
| Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I loved this book. I just spent the afternoon crying as I finished it. The two main characters are girls from the '70s. Both friends travel down different career paths, at times wanting or envying the other's choices, but knowing they couldn't and wouldn't change. The big plus, of course, was they were born the same year as I was. I really identified with their choices and consequences of their actions. |
| Linda B |
| The Founding by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
THE FOUNDING is book 1 of the Morland Dynasty series. The Morlands are a wealthy Yorkshire family of wool merchants. Eleanor, the matriarch, is a loyal admirer and supporter of Richard of York and his sons, Edward IV and Richard III. The members of the family, all three generations, interact with the people and events in history, in this case, the War of the Roses. |
| Maryellen Goodwin (mgood222@hotmail.com) |
| Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed by Marc Blatte |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
."Outside one of town's hottest nightclubs, at 4 a.m., a young man is found murdered --- no robbery, no clues --- only yellow socks and bling to tell the victim's tale." From the colorful hip hop language to the cast of offbeat NY characters, Marc Blatte has captured urban American society at its rawest. With wild-witted satire and fast paced prose, this modern murder mystery is a must read, page turner for sure. |
| Genie |
| Must Love Dragons by Stephanie Rowe |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Quick, entertaining read about a romantic attachment that really wasn't supposed to happen, between a dragon and a dragon slayer. Throw in complications of trying to retrieve a magical goblet that had fallen into the hands of Satan himself and you see what a variety of wild characters are packed into the pages of this book. |
| Pat Miller |
| The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It seems to me that Nicholas Sparks's books are very similar. Only the names have been changed. If you like light reading this is good, but it's very much like his other books. |
| Helen |
| Mary: Mrs. A. Lincoln by Janis Cooke Newman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Who knew I would become a bigger fan of Mary Todd Lincoln than I am of her husband? This is terrific historical fiction. |
| Pat Miller |
| The Gold Coast by Nelson DeMille |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is followed by THE GATE HOUSE, but you don't need to read it to understand what is going on in the second book.This author's writing is kind of goofy to me. He writes when he's thinking something and what he's actually saying. |
| Pat Miller |
| The Gate House by Nelson DeMille |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the type of book you can skim through and still know what's going on. |
| Pat Miller |
| One Day at a Time by Danielle Steel |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
This was a typical Danielle Steel book. The names are changed, but basically her books are all the same. At the pace she writes, it's no wonder there's no variety in her books. |
| Jaye |
| The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barberry and Alison Anderson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It's a coming-of-age story with a twist. The person coming of age is a young, intelligent pre-teen with an apartment house concierge wgo's an intellectual, but keeps her intellectual interests a secret. |
| Jaye |
| Country Pursuits by Jo Carnegie |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The plot had huge holes and many, if not most, characters were clichés --- but it's hilarious! Not quite English chick lit (the characters are older), but close. Hen lit, maybe? |
| Eileen Quinn Knight |
| Testimony by Anita Shreve |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a gripping story about an incident at a Boarding School. The characters are well developed and believable. The topic of sex and alcohol is well handled and I am thinking of using the book in my Adolescent Development class! |
| Carol B |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The philosophy of car racing applied to life, as told by Enzo, the driver's dog. A wonderful book the made me laugh and cry. Absolutely great ending! |
| Margie B. |
| Here's The Story by Maureen McCormick |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I love show biz autobiographies, and I was a faithful viewer of "The Brady Bunch," so I was really looking forward to "Marcia Brady's" story. But, I think McCormick could have used a co-author. The story was interesting, but told without any flair. Plus, the emphasis was on her years of drug abuse/crying/fighting with her spouse/drug abuse/crying --- you get the idea. Enough already! |
| Valerie Wiesner (ackleyvalerie@yahoo.com) |
| Your Heart Belongs to Me by Dean Koontz |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I absolutely loved this book. It has Mr. Koontz's elements of spookiness in it, but the overall message of the book is not only uplifting, it is very moving. |
| Genie |
| Cat's Eyewitness by Rita Mae Brown |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
While visiting the grounds of Mt. Carmel, Mary Minor "Harry" Harristeen notices the statue of the Virgin Mary is crying tears of blood. This is only the beginning of strange occurrences on the property. Once the word gets out, large numbers of town residents with news cameras in the lead, trudge up the mountain to witness this strange event. When a monk is found dead at the foot of the statue, it is at first written off as death by natural causes. After the news reporter who covered the story is found murdered, clues indicate a connection to the strange occurrence at the monastery. Of course, Harry and her animals begin an "unofficial" investigation of their own. After all, someone needs to get to the bottom of this! |
| Ariadne |
| Peeling the Onion by Gunter Grass and Michael Henry Heim |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book appeared in 2006. It was much talked about because the author reveals that at the age of 17, he joined the SS. The novel shows Germany during and after the war. It also references his other books such as THE TIN DRUM. |
| Teresa (steinertt@aol.com) |
| The Shack by William P. Young |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I found some very thought-provoking ideas about God, but I was also very stuck in my opinions and beliefs about God and judgment. I think I still need more time and maybe more discussion to fully process it. It was weird and enlightening at the same time. |
| Marnie |
| Q & A by Vikas Swarup |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the book from which the Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire was made. In Mumbai, Ram Mohammad Thomas goes from rags to riches, his supreme good luck on a quiz show springing from the fact that his various misadventures have left him with eclectic bits of knowledge. You can't help but love Ram for his optimism and valor! I've yet to see the movie. |
| Ariadne |
| Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a very interesting and well-written book. |
| Linda M. Johnson (tcheer4life@yahoo.com) |
| Scat by Carl Hiaasen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Carl Hiaasen is the gift that keeps on giving. This is his most recent book, which was meant for young adult readers. Aren't we all? A Biology teacher takes her class on a field trip, which is disrupted by a fire. She is absent on the next day of school, having left a cryptic message about her leave with the school's headmaster. The authorities are intent on finding who set the fire while several of the classmates are trying to find their teacher, especially since one of their classmates is the prime suspect. |
| Linda M. Johnson (tcheer4life@yahoo.com) |
| The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
3.5 stars would be more accurate. The novel was not always easy to follow since the book is liberally peppered with Spanish phrases and nerdy pop-culture references to comic books, science fiction/fantasy books, computer and Dungeons and Dragons games. This didn't keep me from becoming enticed by Oscar's life, told by several narrators including his mother, his sister, and her sister's lover. It was funny and sad at the same time. |
| Jan Kanowitz (pooohcat@aol.com) |
| A Mouthful of Air by Amy Koppelman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was an enjoyable book about a young, married woman with a young child who has emotional problems from her early life. Her problems lead to a devastating result when she has another baby. |
| Ariadne |
| Saul and Patsy by Charles Baxter |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It is the story of a young couple in love whose lives are threatened by a teenager looking for attention. |
| Sally |
| Gone by Jonathan Kellerman |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I was given this book by a friend, although I doubt I would have bought it on my own. It's another Alex Delaware police procedural, and I have liked this series in the past. This book was interesting, although not a page turner. Unless you really love this series, I would probably suggest using precious reading time on something else. |
| T. Semidey |
| The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book grabs you from the first chapter until the last one. The book starts out at the end versus the beginning. As you read you learn more and more about each of the characters and their unique life that adds to the storyline. You try to anticipate the next chapter to unlock the clues and you find yourself saying out loud...NO WAY...you can't do that to the character. So what you think about the characters as you read about them isn't how you to expect them to turn out at all! This book thoroughly engages its reader. |
| Jan Atkins (weatkins@gmail.com) |
| The Given Day by Dennis Lehane |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
1919 Boston is the setting. Babe Ruth, a young police officer, and a black man are the 3 stories within this book and the characters are all connected. As I read this great story I realize that our country has evolved so much, but in so many ways we are fighting the exact same issues as then. This book has got to become a movie. |
| Harriet |
| Still Alice by Lisa Genova |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a beautifully written book about a brilliant Psychology Professor at Harvard who is struck with early onset Alzheimer's disease. It is heartbreaking "watching" her slowly forget her work, her colleagues and her family. The author takes you through the lives of her close family members and how this horrible brain eating disease affects all of them. This is a very moving book, written with great caring and understanding of every aspect of this often hereditary disease. |
| Elva Roberts |
| Ten Eternal Questions by Zoe Sallis |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The author interviewed twenty famous people and asked them fundamental questions from" What is your concept of God?" to "How do you find peace within yourself?" I am disappointed with the answers because it seems that some of the people involved in answering the questions hadn't given much thought to them. |
| susan dyer (susandyer1962@aol.com) |
| Patty Jane's House of Curl by Lorna Landvik |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved this book. I laughed and cried all on the same page! I felt like these people were my friends or maybe my neighbors. I can't wait to read the rest of her books. |
| Coral Harrison |
| A Single Thread by Marie Bostwick |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Evelyn's husband of 28 years leaves her for a younger woman. They lived in Texas. One day, she decides to drive to see the autumn leaves and ends up in New Bern, CT. There, she starts a quilt store, and meets new friends. She gets breast cancer and her friend helps her get through it all, while keeping her store going. It is an easy read that is well written and tells a story that needs to be told. |
| pocono pat |
| The Women by T.C. Boyle |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
After LOVING FRANK by Nancy Horan, this is another look at Frank Lloyd Wright's other wives and mistresses. Written with sarcastic wit by the author of THE ROAD TO WELLNESS. |
| Debi |
| Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Here is proof that love can transcend the ages! The flashback narrative style is sometimes hard to pull off, but Ford successfully weaves his story against the backdrop of WWII. I love antiques, and the fact that he began his novel with the finding of a cellar of old furniture and personal items caught my attention from the beginning. |
| Debi |
| Your Heart Belongs to Me by Dean Koontz |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
As usual, Koontz grabs you and drags you until, before you know it, you've read 100 pages! Although this is not his best novel, I found myself forgetting the laundry until I finished it!! |
| Miranda Jones (souljournal2002@yahoo.com) |
| The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Umrigar takes the reader into India, the landscape, the culture, the people and even the smells in ways that very few writers can authentically execute. Yet her story is so universal. She illuminates how deferred dreams impact everyone through her characters. She deals with class, exploitation, and women's rights superbly. Her novel also employs good techniques such as "show don't tell" and thus is not too didactic. The reader finds herself not only engaged, but rooting for the characters and not wanting the story to end. |
| Gale Kearley (marcusnanpop@comcast.net) |
| Dust to Dust by Tami Hoag |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I know when I read a book from Tami Hoag, it's a good mystery and this one is no different. It's a great read. |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Morality for Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The 3rd in No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series set in Botswana. As usual, it is amazing that a white man (the author) can capture the essence of a black female, "Precious". Precious Ramotswe is quite the detective. In this story, sibling jealousy, self-worth and depression are interwoven in the simplicity of African life. To read about Precious is to read a Bible story. The story seems simple, but the moral lesson is just below the surface. A short, enjoyable book. |
| Joan |
| Run For Your Life by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I thoroughly enjoyed this book featuring Detective Michael Bennett. The "Teacher" is on a killing spree targeting those he considers arrogant and powerful. It was very interesting to see how his mind worked. Also enjoyed seeing how the Detective coped with his ten children all down with a virus! Much better than CROSS COUNTRY in my opinion |
| Louise Keene |
| People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
For me, this is almost a 5-star book. It is a great read about an ancient Haggadah, a book of Jewish readings for Seder (the first few days of Passover]. The book alternates between contemporary times and the past as clues, such as stains and a bit of butterfly wings, which are found in the binding. The book's format is very interesting as it alternates between time periods. |
| Sharon C. |
| Prime Choice by Stephanie Perry Moore |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Perry Sky Jr. is in his last year in high school. He's the star receiver on his football team, the envy of all of his friends, the top college recruiters are scrambling to get him on their team and, most definitely, a virgin. He is working on his relationship with God, but the peer pressure and all that life throws at him makes him question his belief and his choices. This is a Christian, young adult fiction novel and it pleases me to see a strong adolescent male character who learns from his mistakes and tries to choose the right path. The characters are well developed and believable and Ms. Moore's story is a pleasure to read. I believe that young adults as well as "older" adults will enjoy this coming-of-age novel. |
| GladysMP |
| Dying for Chocolate by Diane Mott Davidson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I had been reading a lot of romances, and this mystery book was a change of pace. It sort of gave me the creeps at night, but maybe that is what a mystery is supposed to do. The book contains a lot of recipes as well, which this author seems to do in all of her mystery books. |
| Jan Atkins (weatkins@gmail.com) |
| Angel's Rest by Charles Davis |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Such a simple book, but full of complex issues. A young boy's father dies of gunshot wounds and his mother is arrested for the murder. In a prejudicial small southern town in 1967, his mother chooses a black man to stay at home with the boy and take care of him. This book is hard to put down. |
| April Lemesh (alemesh@aol.com) |
| The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I am just in the middle of this lovely book about the German occupation of the Guernsey Island off the coast of England, actually closer to France, during World War II. The everyday life of the islanders as they survived the invasion by the Germans was horribly sad but uplifting. They were cut off completely from communications for five years; all small children were sent to England to, hopefully, survive. Amazing! |
| Jaye |
| Whistling in the Dark by Lesley Kagen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Set in the late l950s, this is the story of two sisters who spend a Milwaukee summer dealing with their father's death, their mother's hospitalization, and a serial killer who preys on girls their age. It's told from the ten year old's point of view with all the appropriate misunderstandings and misinterpretations of their world and the adults in it. I had forgotten what it's like to be ten and trying to figure out the world! Great book! |
| Genie |
| Double Deuce by Robert B. Parker |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
When a teenage girl and her baby are killed in a drive by shooting, Hawk is hired by tenants in the Double Deuce neighborhood to rid the area of unwanted and violent gang activity. Hawk enlists his pal, Spenser, to assist in this effort. They soon find themselves with a several big problems. However, in order to find out the identity of the shooter, a deal must be worked out with a neighborhood thug named Major Johnson. |
| genie |
| A Catskill Eagle by Robert B. Parker |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book begins with Spenser opening a letter from longtime girlfriend, Susan, telling him that she is in trouble and Hawk is in jail. Seems she is involved with a major player in a small town near San Francisco. Because of this relationship, Hawk has been locked up with little chance of beating the rap, and she has disappeared. Spenser has his work cut out for him in working through this complex situation. |
| Vickie N |
| While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Not one of her best. It seemed to drag on too long with nothing really happening. It had the same scenario over and over. I was glad when it was finished. It gets boring halfway through. |
| Vickie N |
| Comfort: A Journey Through Grief by Ann Hood |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a sad story about the loss of a daughter. It tells how she suffered through the agony of loss but managed to come out the other side in one piece. It is great for anyone who has suffered a heartbreaking loss. |
| Jean |
| Right from the Gecko by Cynthia Baxter |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is the first novel for me by this author. It features veterinarian Jessica Popper as an amateur sleuth. I really enjoy cozy mysteries because they are light and quick reading. This one is good, but not great. I do find it quite enjoyable. |
| Jean |
| Dead of the Day by Karen E. Olson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I read the first in this series, SACRED COWS, which featured journalist, Annie Seymour. This was the third installment. Even though it didn't match up to SACRED COWS, I did find the book to be entertaining and fast moving. I'll definitely read more by this author. |
| T. Semidey |
| The Letters by Luanne Rice & Joseph Monninger |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
These (2) authors have such a special and unique talent. They wrote this book to touch and tug at the hearts of its reader. It's a very powerful and thought provoking book that deals with a married, estranged couple and the loss of their son. Their journey back to one another. While they await their divorce they are at opposite ends of the continent and begin exchanging letters. |
| Jean Kruse (bklvr528@msn.com) |
| Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet by Jamie Ford |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I found this book to be hard to put down. Every chapter has something that urges me to read the next. Well written and interesting facts about a time in America that we should not be proud of. |
| Jan Atkins (weatkins@gmail.com) |
| The Bodies Left Behind by Jeffery Deaver |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Great thriller. A policewoman and a hired hit man pit their skills against each other. As the killer attempts to kill her, he increasingly admires her "trickster" skills to elude and capture him. |
| mary ann |
| Tribute by Nora Roberts |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A good read about a former childhood star who buys her famous actor grandmother's house in rural Virginia, which is very different from her LA upbringing. Along the way she meets a great neighbor (a guy, naturally), renovates the house, reconnects with her dad and learns the meaning of community. But, a buried secret about her grandma comes to the forefront when she finds old love letters, and, in the process she gets terrorized. A great read. |
| Fran |
| Louder Than Words by Jenny McCarthy |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Jenny McCarthy shares her journey through her son's diagnosis with Autism all the way through her quest for a cure. I read this book because I have heard many parents I work with rave about her vaccination theories and claim for a cure for her son. I was dismayed to learn she based her "research" on "Google searches" and her son's personal experience. In fact, she even goes so far as to call one of her chapters "The University of Google". I am glad she found some improvement in her son's condition, and I felt that her book accurately portrayed the dismay and/or questions a parent may have at the time of diagnosis. I agree that the medical field can be cold and callous, leaving a parent isolated during the time when they need answers most. What I am deeply concerned with, is the number of parents who take her views at face value and refrain from vaccinating their children against potentially fatal diseases due to these claims. I take this book for what it is worth... one parent's experience with their child's descent into autism and the journey back. |
| Janet |
| The River Wife by Jonis Agee |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a great story but a slow read. This was the second time I'd tried after giving up a few months ago. |
| Joanne (jafriday@windstream.net) |
| The Associate by John Grisham |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Exciting! And you feel for the young man who thinks he is in too deep to ask his dad for help. He thinks he has to do what he is told and he is scared to death. |
| Teresa (steinertt@aol.com) |
| The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I really enjoyed this book. It's a quick and easy read with warmth that belies the subject matter --- the occupation of the island of Guernsey for 5 years during World War II, told through correspondence. |
| Joyce (AMusingJoy@sbcglobal.net) |
| Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I really enjoyed this book and found the historical storyline fascinating. |
| Annie |
| They Did It With Love by Kate Morgenroth |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A "Desperate Housewives" murder mystery set in Greenwich, CT. It's a fun read with characters we all know. |
| annie |
| Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
What a waste of time. The novel was truly sappy and unbelievable. |
| Cam |
| Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Bitter and sweet --- this is what this wonderful novel is. It is a story about a young Chinese-American boy who meets a Japanese-American girl at school in 1942, at the height of the tragedy of the relocation of American citizens of Japanese ancestry. It is also about his relationship with his father who hates the Japanese for their occupation and cruelty in China, and his support of the relocation of the Japanese on the West Coast. It is a beautiful story of sadness, loss and love. I couldn't put it down! |
| Judy |
| The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What a delightful find (thanks to recommendations from other readers). Written as correspondence between Juliet Ashton, her publisher, her friends, and her newest friends from the island of Guernsey, the book is rich in characterization and descriptive nature. It begins in post-war London when Juliet, a published author, receives a letter from a native of Guernsey. Guernsey was one of the Channel Islands occupied by the Germans during the war and the correspondence takes off as different inhabitants write their remembrances of the time (and the reason for the name of the book) to Juliet. Juliet is captivated (as you will be) by the correspondence and the people and sets sail for Guernsey. |
| annie |
| The House at Midnight by Lucie Whitehouse |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Classic English countryside mystery but set in current time. Couldn't put it down! A 20-something-year-old man inherits an English manor. He invites his city friends for wild weekends. But who are really his friends? |
| Rosemary Sobczak |
| On a Raven's Wing by Stuart Kaminsky |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Perfect way to celebrate the Poe centennial. It makes one want to go and reread the Poe stories. |
| Linda |
| Shangai Girls by Lisa See |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a novel giving an inside look at life in China and then resettlement in California for two sisters and their family. It is a fascinating look at politics and racism regarding the U.S. Chinese community during the 1930s-40s. |
| Jean M |
| The Second Opinion by Michael Palmer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Thea is a doctor in a family of doctors, the patriarch of which has been critically injured by a hit-and-run vehicle. She is called back to Boston, where she finds her father in a locked-in syndrome and willing to communicate only with her. She finds that someone is trying to kill her father and she doesn't know whom to trust. Another page-turner by Palmer. |
| Melanie I |
| The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Burrows |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is written entirely through letters and tells the story about a writer from London and her relationship with the inhabitants of a channel island. Besides telling a delightful story, it also educates the reader about the German Occupation of Guernsey during World War II. |
| Kathy Vieira |
| Nora, Nora by Anne Rivers Siddons |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I've always been a fan of Anne Rivers Siddons, especially UP ISLAND. I bought NORA, NORA a long time ago and temporarily lost it. I was extremely happy to come upon it last week. I immediately put down the book I had just started, to read it. I found it a little different from her other books, but in a very refreshing way. This story of a young, confused, teenage girl, whose mother died in childbirth, is an achingly accurate portrait of adolescence. It's wonderful to see Ms. Rivers Siddons take on the teen years! |
| Beth |
| Still Alice by Lisa Genova |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A must read for everyone! The story navigates the path taken by a victim of early-onset Alzheimer's from the patient's point of view. It readily illustrates that people afflicted by this disorder can still live and love and that compassion and making this journey bearable for them is so important for the rest of us to provide. |
| Fran |
| Catching Genius by Kristy Kiernan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a wonderful debut that captures familial relationships. The story centers around two sisters with a rift in their relationship formed when one sister is found to be a genius. My favorite passage was in the first chapter: where the sisters are talking and she divulges her belief that having "eyecue" meant she was ill and going to die. Direct quote from book: "I'm sick. I am probably going to die" she said, solemn as a Siamese cat. I could feel my mouth hanging open and shut it quickly, before she could say anything about catching flies. I slid off the sofa, the shawl tangling soft as sand beneath my feet. Estella held her hand up to stop me from running to her. "Don't, it might be catching." she said. My mouth betrayed me again and I gaped at her. Catching? I caught chicken pox from her so I knew what catching was. I leaned back against the sofa, my fingers clutching the velvet and asked the only question my five year old mind could come up with. "But why?" She frowned, "I have eyecue," she said "It's bad. I have a lot of it, but I couldn't hear anything. It has something to do with my brain, or my head. You can't come near me in case I give it to you too." I loved this scene! It is the defining moment, which sets the sisters apart but it is executed so innocently! I was engaged in this endearing book right from the start. |
| Mary |
| No Time for Goodbye by Linwood Barclay |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It's a really fun thriller about a girl whose family disappears from their home one night when she is a teenager, leaving her alone. Twenty five years later, she is on an unsolved mysteries show and then mysterious things start happening. |
| Gail |
| The Leisure Seeker by Michael Zadoorian |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is an interesting story of an older couple traveling to Disneyland "without kids" in an RV. She has terminal cancer and he suffers from Alzheimer's. |
| Marsha |
| Heat Lightning by John Sandford |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigator Virgil Flowers is a fascinating character. Part loose cannon, part lady's man, part brilliant investigator and always interesting. If you like mystery thrillers, try this one. |
| Audrey |
| The Venetian Betrayal by Steve Berry |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is entertaining with a bit of history. The non-stop action keeps you turning the page until you suddenly find it's 4 in the morning. Then you go back to read just a little bit more. Steve Berry is always a worthwhile read. |
| Angie Lindell |
| The Lion Hunter by Elizabeth Wein |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This book is about a boy in pre-Arthurian Ethiopia who goes through a lot of trials, heartaches and espionage. So far, I find the writing interesting, but the book itself seems sporadic to me, like it doesn't have a purpose or a place to go. |
| Annie |
| The Night Following by Morag Joss |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A distraught wife kills a woman in a hit and run. She then "haunts" the grieving husband of the deceased by "becoming" his dead wife. An interesting psychological novel about grief, redemption, and guilt. Maybe 4 stars, I can't decide! |
| Cindy |
| The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Not sure exactly what it was about this story, but something about it is disturbing. |
| Wendy |
| The Strain by Guillermo del Torro and Chuck Hogan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is going to be a big hit when it comes out in June! I am reading an Advance Reader's Copy and it is scaring the heck out of me. It reminds me of the first Stephen King books I ever read that kept me up at night and had me jumping at every noise. The story combines vampires and a virus and pits good against evil in a war of apocryphal proportions. I would really be surprised if it does not become a blockbuster film also. As I read, I can easily imagine it on the big screen. This is going to be a big one! |
| Mary Jo Whitehead (mwhitehead@stny.rr.com) |
| Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a book about the lives of two friends who meet as young teens. The book follows their lives through its ups and downs. |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| The Moviegoer by Walker Percy |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
This book won the National Book Award, but in my opinion, was not interesting. The story, set in New Orleans, is about Binx Bolling and his quest for finding self. The story seems like a James Joyce novel embedded in thought, with very little dialogue. The story is seeped in death and wishes of death. This is supposedly a Southern novel, but could very well be for any locale. The title MOVIEGOER is a facade, as movies are not center stage. This is not a book that I would recommend. |
| Cindy H. |
| Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I enjoyed this book. I liked the perspective of the older man remembering his life. |
| Cindy H. |
| Dirty Blonde by Lisa Scottoline |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Fun, quick easy read. It is a legal mystery thriller where the heroine is portrayed with all her flaws. A few deeper issues are introduced but only highlighted; they are not gone into in-depth. |
| Barbara Dormer (bdorm@aol.com) |
| Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank and David Brin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A post-apocalyptic novel written in 1959, that is still pertinent to our life today. |
| Bonnie Capuano |
| Wicked Game by Lisa Jackson and Nancy Bush |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The first half was very slow and pretty repetitive. Toward the end it got really good. All in all, I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading other books the sister write together. |
| Wendy |
| Hidden Prey by John Sandford |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The fifteenth installment of the Lucas Davenport series finds Lucas investigating the murder of a Russian national on American soil. Lucas, in his new job with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, is brought in to "fix s**t" for the governor. As in the previous Davenport books, the storyline is well written, suspenseful and interesting. |
| Dorothy |
| Gallimore by Michelle Griep |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It's a pretty good story of time traveling back to the 1300's after a storm at an abandoned castle in England. There is love, adventure and good historical detail. |
| Carol Davis (ced558@yahoo.com) |
| The Oasis Project by Art Adkins |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a great mystery! Art Adkins has picked a topic which is facing Florida today and has created characters which compel you to turn page after page. Set in beautiful Cedar Key Florida, the mysterious death of a family will have you holding your breath until the last page. How refreshing to have a new and upcoming author who can keep your attention throughout the book. John Grisham better watch out! |
| K Peters |
| The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine N. Aron |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This non-fiction, self-help book has all sorts of great ideas for deciding if you or someone you know is highly sensitive and if so, what to do about it. It sure has helped me with a family member. I'm reading it again for the second time. |
| Linda Fast (lindacfast@hotmail.com) |
| The Last Testament by Sam Bourne |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It's a thriller that takes place in Jerusalem where talks between Israel and Palestine are taking place. Maggie Costello is brought in as a "closer" who mediates the peace talks. As murders happen, Maggie is drawn in to find the truth which leads her through secrets of the bible as well as the present day. The ending will leave you in awe. |
| Dorothy |
| Blood Substitute by Margaret Duffy |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I love this British mystery series featuring the husband and wife team of Patrick and Ingrid Gillard. |
| Rhoda MacMaster (Tiggi47@aol.com) |
| 90 Minutes to Heaven by Don Piper and Cecil Murphey |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
An insight into what happens when you die and go to heaven. It is a very good book that answers questions about death and dying. |
| Linda |
| Kingdom Come: The Final Victory by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I'm not through the book completely, but I have found the beginning kind of confusing. I liked GLORIOUS APPEARING better. |
| Sally Bowen |
| Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was a wonderful story that touched me emotionally and at a deep level. The soothing tone of the narrative lulls the reader into a sense of security and happiness, until horrible events begin to occur. I cried with Maisie, laughed with Maisie, and wish I knew her! Just a great story and a great read. |
| Indigo (ravensquietscreams@gmail.com) |
| Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was a great book for the hard rock, punk genre. You are introduced to the main character who is an over-the-hill musician. In this story he finds himself faced with choices he's made and the repercussions those choices leave behind. This book has all the elements of a twisted haunting. The surprising element is there are a lot of profound references to moral character. I truly hated seeing the book come to an end. |
| Sue, Saratoga |
| The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Even though it's a Young Adult book, it's a great read. I'm listening to the Book-on-tape which is narrated by the author and love it even more. |
| Michelle |
| Saffron Skies by Lesley Lokko |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a family saga that crosses continents and five decade. It is a story of sisters, friends and families and more money than any of us normal people could keep up with. |
| Janis A. |
| When The Bough Breaks by Jonathan Kellerman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is an intriguing story about a child psychiatrist who is helping a detective friend solve a murder. It evolves into a much more complicated plot of child sexual abuse, prominent men, long held secrets, etc. Really enjoyed the twists and trying to figure out the ending. |
| Janis A. |
| The Joy Luck CLub by Amy Tan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Never read this when it first came out! It is the story of four mothers and four daughters. The mothers all came from China to America, then had the daughters in America. Age old story of relationships, differences and things they did not know about each other. Good and would recommend. |
| Wendy |
| Guest Shot by David Locke |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A real page-turning thrill ride. What would happen if a person went on national television and declared their intent not only to commit murder but to return to the television show afterward to talk about it? What if that person also planned to continue killing people and to make return visits to the talk show after each one? This is the premise of GUEST SHOT and it is plays out wonderfully. The characters are well-written as is the plot. A good, exciting read! |
| Phyllis |
| Revenge Of The Spellmans by Lisa Lutz |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another wonderful book about Isabel Spellman, her family and friends; Lisa Lutz makes you fall in love with her zany characters. The book is laugh-out-loud funny. I certainly hope there will be another sequel. |
| Sue |
| Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Great book so much information. |
| L. Hann |
| When the Wind Blows by James Patterson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A little different than what I am use to from James Patterson, but still very good. It makes you stop and think about modern science. |
| Nancy |
| Loving Frank by Nancy Horan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A very enthralling read. Even though it is a novel, most of the book is a partial biography of Frank Lloyd Wright and one of his mistresses. You will learn of his architecture and what an eccentric man he was, along with the romance, lies and deceit of his affair. |
| Julie |
| Testimony by Anita Shreve |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Less-than-stellar book by Ms. Shreve about a sexual assault at a private school in the northeast. Too many points of view take away from what could have been an excellent novel. |
| Kaye |
| Unpolished Gem by Alice Pung |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
In her debut memoir, UNPOLISHED GEM, Alice Pung narrates the story of her family's settling in Australia. They arrive from Cambodia with nothing except the expectation of a new baby in a month's time. When the child is born, her father names her Alice because he thought Australia to be a wonderland. This is really the story of Alice, her mother, her grandmother and their assimilation into a culture so very different from their own. Alice's mother and grandmother are still clinging to a lot of their Chinese heritage, whereas Alice's only frame of reference is Australia. She recounts how difficult it is for her mother to acclimatize herself to the new country; learning English, conducting her jewelry business and just everyday life. Her grandmother seems to adapt more easily. Alice becomes the go- between to her mother and grandmother and this creates some tension at times. Alice feels like she is Chinese at home and Australian outside. Alice says the life of a Chinese woman is constantly sighing, lying and dying and that she wants no part of it. Growing up amid two different cultures is not always easy. Throughout the story, Alice was very attached to her grandmother and her story telling. Unfortunately, when her grandmother passed away, Alice lost her sense of youthful security and knowing exactly who she was while growing up and trying to find her proper place in the world. Alice felt that her grandmother had affirmed Alice's existence. During adolescence, Alice experienced a severe depression and extreme angst dealing with the realities of becoming a young woman. Her self-esteem suffered, as did her hopes for the future. How her parents thought she should conduct herself and their hopes for her were not quite the same as what Alice thought. This is normally the case between parents and children but when there are different cultural ideals it is harder to deal with. This is where the story began to lose some of my interest. The writing seemed more rambling to me. In the beginning, there were a lot of humorous accounts of everyday life and some wonderful flashback moments of life before emigration; how her parents met, their engagement and how they, along with Alice's grandmother and aunt had walked through several countries before they finally emigrated to Australia. The differences between the cultures was extremely interesting and the characterizations were very well done. It was very easy to imagine Alice's mother and grandmother. The last quarter of the book was not quite so engaging. I think I would have liked to have seen more of the back story but it was a book about blending in a new culture. Maybe Ms. Pung should consider a pre-quel because that would be an interesting stroy. Overall, it is still a good book, just not a great one. If you enjoy memoirs and cultural differences, you might like this one. 3*** |
| Mary Ann |
| Last Kiss by Luanne Rice |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A story of the murder of a young 17-year-old boy with his life ahead of him as he starts college. Hubbards Point, CT on the shore is the backdrop and many characters from other novels are present. Mom Sheridan and girlfriend Nell are looking for answers as the one-year anniversary of his death nears. Gavin, Sheridan's old flame is an investigator and comes to town to look for clues. There are some interesting twists as we find out who did it. The rekindling of Sheridan and Gavin seemed inevitable. Many nice characters and some ghost magic to boot. A fun read with typical morals of forgiveness, love, and the importance of family and friends. |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| The Silver Needle Murder by Laura Childs |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is the 9th in the Tea Shop series, which is set in Charleston, SC. This story revolves around the film industry and, of course, brings in all those delicious treats made by Haley. Theodosia is still unmarried, but has a love interest. This series does a wonderful job in relating the essence of Charleston and of course, ladies' fashion. The lessons on the different teas is interesting, as well as a reminder that individuals need to be involved in the community. |
| Linda B. |
| Lifelines by C. J. Lyons |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Dr. Lydia Fiore moves to Pittsburgh from LA to star over, and takes a job working Angels of Mercy Hospital. Unfortunately, her night takes a turn for the worst as a man hit by a car dies at her hands, no matter what she tries. Lydia is rocked when she finds out that the dead man is the head surgeon's son. Now, she's accused of murder, yet someone is trying to kill her. |
| Carmen |
| Capital Offense by Kathleen Antrim |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Political thriller about the race to the White House and the evils that people do to get there. |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The 3rd Maisie Dobbs mystery set in post-World War I England about a lady detective. This story delves into the world of artists, music, smuggling, family loyalty, and fears of Hitler. Maisie ends her relationship with the doctor. |
| Bonnie |
| Reunion by Therese Fowler |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Good summer novel. The plot is fairly predictable, but it's entertaining and keeps you reading. A poor girl has baby out of wedlock, gives it up for adoption, becomes big TV star (think Oprah, etc.), meets a long-lost love, etc. etc. |
| Linda B |
| The Secret Bride: In the Court of Henry VIII by Diane Haeger |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is about Henry VIII's younger sister, forced into marriage to the old and ailing King Louis XII of France. When Louis dies, Mary married the man she loves without the approval of her brother. The book didn't hold my attention the way I expected it to. |
| Sherman |
| The Known World by Edward P. Jones |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A wonderful book about slavery in the old days and the history of those times. A very moving novel that will leave you laughing and crying. |
| Kay |
| Fool by Christopher Moore |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is a hoot!! I can't think of a better author to spoof Shakespeare. The Bard is the master of verbal insults and Christopher Moore did a wonderful job with those, also. I particularly enjoyed different lines from several Shakespearean plays all rolled up into one funny story. |
| Hedi (hedihopwood@comcast.net) |
| Cuttin for Stone by Abraham Varghese |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It is great to have so many new writers popping up. I have stopped reading the authors who throw out books once /twice a year. This book was one of the most enjoyable reads. Through all the hardships --- both for the families and the country --- it ends up being a beautiful love story between the adoptive parents and the love the twins also hold for them. This is on the level of THE THORN BIRDS and Herman Wouk's epics, WINDS OF WAR and WAR & REMEMBRANCE. All I would recommend highly for any one who has not read these books. |
| Susan |
| Lethal Legacy by Linda Fairstein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This mystery, set in part at the New York Public Library, enchanted me as I love libraries. It showed the darker side of inherited wealth and library donations, but the historical information about the NYPL was just plain fun --- stacks under the cemetery, children living in an apartment in the early library, selling off parts of collection, legally and otherwise. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. |
| Helen |
| Abundance by Sena Jena Naslund |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A wonderful historical fiction account of the life of Marie Antoinette, told in the first person. Well written, very descriptive account of the opulent life in France before the revolution. |
| Sally B., San Antonio TX |
| Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
1.5 stars. I read this for our local bookclub mystery selection. The mystery, which doesn't come until over 300 pages into the book, revolves around two deaths (suicides?). The author writes in numerous references to other literary novels, which took away from the telling of this story. The ending left many unanswered questions and the action of the father at the end is not believable. |
| Auddiemae (starkey_audrey@yahoo.com) |
| The Coffee Trader by David Liss |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I was amazed at how the author was able to produce a historical fiction written as if it were written in the 17th century while keeping me interested. The story is rather simplistic yet full of suspense and intrigue. Our entire book club loved this month's selection, and recommend it highly. |
| Carmen |
| The Edge by Mark Olshaker |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Detective Sandy Mansfield is investigating a series of brutal murders when she becomes involved with her prime suspect. A great fast-paced read. |
| Auddiemae |
| Calligraphy of the Witch by Alicia Gasper de Alba |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Rarely does a novel awaken all my senses, and stir every emotion possible in the human soul. It is definitely a story I will not soon forget, and definitely will be remembered as one of my favorite novels. This is a historical novel, which takes place in the late 1600s during the famous Salem Witch trials. Concepcion is a bastard child born to a Mexican government official and an Indian mother. Abandoned by her mother in Mexico after she had been indentured to a nun convent, Concepcion runs away with a friend only to be seized by pirates and taken to New England. She arrives there pregnant after being repeatedly raped by the ship's Captain. The captain discovers her gift of calligraphy, renames her Thankful Seagraves, and sells her to a Boston merchant who plans to have her manage her father-in-law's farm while caring for the crippled man. Unable to speak English, deathly ill and terrified, Thankful gives birth to a daughter who her owner's wife covets. For 8 years, Thankful and her daughter are pulled between two worlds. Although she proves herself in her ability to care for the crippled man, learns to speak and write English and brings profits to the farm, she is considered unacceptable as a bi-racial servant who speaks a foreign language and is Catholic. Rebecca, her owner's wife, slowly turns her daughter against her. Throughout the novel, Concepcion keeps a journal that she hopes one day will be read by the daughter she loves so much. The journal gives you insight into what life was like in the 1600s. When the hysteria of the Salem witchcraft trials begin, Concepcion's own daughter implicates her as a witch, sending her to the cold, filthy dungeons. The ending is bittersweet, creating a surge of emotions for readers. |
| Carmen |
| The Painted Drum by Louise Erdrich |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Faye Travers and her mother own a real estate and estate appraisal business. While Faye is appraising an estate, she comes upon an old Indian drum, This is the drum's story --- how it was made, how it effects the people who come into contact with it, and what happens to the people around it. It's a beautiful, amazing book. I will definitely be looking for more from this author. |
| Mary Ferwerda |
| Loving Frank by Nancy Horan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The book club did it last week and everyone (15) enjoyed it. It made an excellent discussion that lasted. |
| Mary Ferwerda |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stevens |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Loved it! It was one of those never-to-be-forgotten books |
| Louise |
| Heartstopper by Joy Fielding |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Highly recommend this book to mystery/suspense fans. I only bought it because it was on a dollar table at B&N, but I'm so glad I did. I really enjoyed Ms Fielding's writing style and the way she told much of the story from the killer's viewpoint. Teen-age girls are disappearing from a small town in Florida, and nobody feels safe. I'm right now looking online to order more from this author! |
| Cat |
| BoneMan's Daughters by Ted Dekker |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Dekker's venture into serial killer territory is disappointing, to say the least. Nothing original at all...young women being held hostage underground then murdered, ex-military father estranged from the family comes in to save the day. Need I say more. You have read this story over and over except this version is disastrously written. I don't know which was worse, the inept nausea ridden military hero or the Noxzema-covered villian. The ending is just as you already know. What a shame that this author's publishers allowed this one in as Dekker has a following that will feel badly let down. Review from advance reading copy. |
| Lou |
| Cold-Blooded by Carlton Smith |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I probably would have enjoyed this more if I'd read it right through, instead of reading segments to my husband at bedtime (when we could find the time). It was hard to connect all the people and happenings, and we had to do a lot of reviewing. This is a true crime story concerning the death of a prominent (and wealthy) CA attorney, Larry McNabney. When he disappeared in 2001, his wife claimed that he had abandoned her. However, his body was found a few months later. Ironically, he was murdered on 9/11. |
| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
| Star Gazing by Linda Gillard |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the 3rd book I have read by this author and I love her! There is something about the way this author writes. Such talent. This book is about Marianne Foster. She is blind and still grieving from a personal loss. She meets Keir, who seems to be able to help her see things through his description of sound --- something Marianne can relate too. I love the characters in this book. The author depicts likable characters. I am in awe of the way she is able to describe the life through the perspective of a blind person. It is so real. These books are romantic, yes, but there is strong intelligence in the subjects she weaves through her stories. A well-rounded novel. It even made me cry. My rule has always been, if it makes me cry it's an automatic 5. |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This 4th Maisie Dobbs mystery recounts the problem of revenge, and the intended victim is not always the one guilty. This story brings up the prejudice of the country folk, the city people, and gypsies. In the end, Maisie loses a person very dear to her, and learns that the past must not control the present. |
| Linda B. |
| Mistletoe Baby by Tanya Michaels |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Rachel meets Davod when she visits Mistletoe, GA for her job, but certainly doesn't intend to stay... until she looks into David's eyes. Married for several years, all she wants is a baby, but time after time, they fail. After a miscarriage. she knows that she cannot stay with her husband any longer. |
| Carmen |
| Speak Softly, She Can Hear by Pam Lewis |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A psychological thriller about 3 people who keep a deep, dark secret when they are young. Its all about how it spirals out of control and effects their lives from New York to Vermont to California over the years. |
| Rosemary Saar |
| True Colors by Kristin Hannah |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is one of the best books I have ever read. I have a sister and sister-in-law and sometimes jealousy shows itself! But, family is a powerful thing. Where would we be without it? |
| Shyeyes (dawnymae@hotmail.com) |
| The Maltese Falcon by Dashell Hammett |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A good, classic mystery. Sam Spade must find out who has the the priceless falcon, and who may have murdered his partner. Enter many characters who may be behind the crimes. The novel is set in San Francisco, 1928. Well done. |
| Patricia |
| The Painter of Shanghai by Jennifer C. Epstein |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Very interesting portrait of a woman who transitions from a child sold into the sex slave business to a well-known and accomplished painter. This is a novel based on a true story of the artist, who spends her later years painting in Paris. I truly enjoyed this book, which is the author's first novel. |
| D.Wright |
| Sister North by Jim Kokoris |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Released in 2003, this is a completely enchanting book. SISTER NORTH has a cast of memorable characters. Better known for A RICH PART OF LIFE, Kokoris is a talented writer. |
| M. Monahan |
| Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I didn't love the first thirty or so pages, but then got really into it as this is a fascinating story of gender identity that spans eight decades. |
| Judy O. (joswood@msn.com) |
| Three Weeks to Say Goodbye by C. J. Box |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Jack and Melissa McGuane have adopted a beautiful baby girl named Angeline. When the baby is 9 months old, the biological father and grandfather decide that they want the baby back. Since the proper papers have never been signed by this biological father, the McGuane's must return her to him. They are given three weeks to say goodbye. The adoptive parents are devastated and try desperately to find information that will help them. There is a great sense of evil in the air. This is a very exciting story, one that is hard to put down. |
| Ali |
| The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was a good book with a cast of interesting characters. I wanted to like it more than I did but it was soft and some of the plot was not plausible. |
| CC |
| L. A. Outlaws by T. Jefferson Parker |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I always look forward to Parker's books and this one does not disappoint. The characters are well drawn as usual and the action is fast paced. I'm glad to hear he will continue with the main character in his next book. |
| leola |
| The Watsons Go to Birmingham -1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
When I read this title, I prepared myself to cry throughout the book. Boy, did I get a surprise. The majority of the book is about a typical family living in Flint, Michigan. The siblings in the family are named Byron, Kenny and Joetta. I laughed so hard at the typical attitude of brothers and sisters towards parents and one another and friends. It really was a laugh a minute. It's almost as though Christopher Paul Curtis is preparing his readers for the tragic change in Birmingham, 1963. Whether writing about societal pain, individual coping mechanisms or the joy of taking a trip with a family, this is a book not to be missed. Age doesn't matter. Just read it. You won't regret it. |
| Sara M |
| Never Tell a Lie by Hallie Ephron |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Picture this; a creepy girl from high school shows up at your yard sale, but now she's a weird pregnant woman. She obviously wants something, and is making you a little uncomfortable. You're saved by your gallant husband who offers to show her the house. You breathe a sigh of relief until she turns up missing, and yet with dozens of witnesses, no one can confirm they saw her exit your house. The clues start to pile up, and they threaten to ruin your life. And so goes Hallie Ephron's NEVER TELL A LIE. This novel is exactly what you'd expect it to be --- an incredibly fast-paced if predictable mystery. It's a good guilty pleasure with a lot of things going for it: a sainted heroine, a sexy husband, and a scary lunatic. Ephron writes with a nice flow, and the book is easily finished in a day. If you're looking for an addictive, effortless read, you've found your novel. |
| Sara M |
| Land of Marvels by Barry Unsworth |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
It is 1914, and Barry Unsworth's LAND OF MARVELS opens with a frustrated archeologist, John Somerville, digging in Mesopotamia. The narration then alternates between Somerville and those who make his acquaintance (a cast of con-men and murderers) --- some bent on glory, others greed, but all wish to exploit the land of modern-day Iraq. By the story's end, everyone will have compromised themselves as oil mania consumes the region. The plot is good, but the novel reads more as a political commentary about modern international diplomacy and worldwide oil greed. No country is rendered favorably. As the novel strives for importance, much of the story takes a co-starring role. The characterization is lacking as the male characters are all one note, the women are portrayed as dull and naïve. The story doesn't find a steady rhythm, so it is slow to engage the reader, and it only begins to pay off in the last few chapters when everything does tie up nicely. Devoted Unsworth fans, or those interested in Mesopotamian history will likely find this novel the most enjoyable. |
| Gina |
| Sleeping Arrangements by Madeleine Wickham |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was a very entertaining novel that has some unexpected twists. Loved it! |
| Patty |
| The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Good story about the Salem witch trials as told by a 10-year-old girl. |
| Sara M |
| The Lost City of Z by David Grann |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
THE LOST CITY OF Z by David Grann is an exceptional book that I can altogether recommend to every variety of reader. This well-rendered and deeply researched biography of Percy Fawcett, centers on his all-consuming obsession with the Lost City of Z (evidence of a great but forgotten jungle civilization), the international fever that follows his mysterious disappearance and some of the more exciting tidbits of Grann's journey to piece together Fawcett's tale. The book is unrelenting in its portrayal of everything Fawcett --- you will find yourself deep in the Amazonian Jungle from the first page and racing through the subsequent pages to a surprising conclusion. It boasts unbelievably TRUE stories of savages, cannibalism, kidnappings, murder, torture, mutiny, starvation, massive hoaxes, madness and exotic deaths. Not only is this a astonishing biography, it's also a fantastic adventure story. |
| Lisa Craven |
| The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is a real page turner that I could not put down. Mr. Lamb is a very fluid writer who held my interest every second. I highly recommend this book. |
| Faye Graves |
| True Colors by Kristin Hannah |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
One of the best books I have read in a long time. Sisters love and sisters hate, but are always there for each other. |
| booklady |
| The Appeal by John Grisham |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Reading this book was a waste of time and I haven't felt that way about a book in a long time. The story line was predictable and depressing. |
| booklady |
| Tiger Lillie by Lisa Samson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a great story. I want Tiger to be my best friend! |
| booklady |
| Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I can't get enough of this author. I'm glad I found the books before seeing the television series "Bones." She is co-producer of the series and the character, Tempe Brennen, is based on the book's character. |
| Jessica |
| The Little Book by Selden Edwards |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A fellow book-loving friend lent me this, and I was most curious to read it based on the sole fact that the author spent 30 years writing it. The plot, which involves time travel and the impact of one fictitious family on nearly every significant event that has transpired in world history within the past century, seems to have been borrowed from well-loved stories as diverse as Back to the Future and FORREST GUMP. And yet, the colorful characters and carefully woven themes leave much to admire in their own right. |
| LouBabe |
| Marrying a Millionaire by Dixie Browning |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was a fun read and cute story about two troubled young people who think they're in love enough to get married. The "wards" who are rearing them are beside themselves and would do anything to talk them out of the marriage. Anyway, you just have read it to understand why it holds your attention so well. |
| Juanita |
| Shanghai Girls by Lisa See |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a great book. Wish I could just sit and read! It is very gripping! |
| Theresa Norris (weceno@yahoo.com) |
| Dark Pursuit by Brandilyn Collins |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I couldn't put this book down. A bestselling suspense writer and his granddaughter try to trap a serial killer before she becomes his next victim. |
| Bill |
| The Gate House by Nelson DeMille |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The story line was okay, but Demille seemed enamored with his protagonist making wisecrack comments rather than moving the story along. The book had no particularly sympathetic characters and was at least 250 pages longer than necessary. Both my wife and I agreed that it was a chore, rather than a pleasure, to plow through the almost 700-page book. Definitely not one of DeMille's best. |
| Debbi |
| Irreplaceable by Stephen Lovely |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Excellent debut. Imagine that your life partner was killed and the recipient of her donated heart wanted to meet you. It is a fascinating story. |
| Kristie |
| Where Angels Go by Debbie Macomber |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Not her best in the series. The angels don't get into enough mischief to suit me. Nice story, though. |
| Kristie |
| Hearts Divided by Debbie Macomber |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Originally, I just planned to read one of the short stories, but all were surprisingly well written. Nice fluff! |
| Marianne |
| Shelter Me by Juliette Fay |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
If you like character-driven novels, this one is for you. You can't help but fall in love/like with all of the characters. A satisfying read that is so realistic, it is refreshing. |
| Marianne |
| The Help by Kathryn Stockett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It is hard to believe this is Ms. Stockett's first novel. Told by three different characters' point of view, I couldn't put it down and the only disappointment was the fact that the book ended and I wasn't ready to say good bye to the characters. I can't imagine anyone not loving this novel. P.S. - Don't miss Ms. Stockett's notes at the end of the novel! |
| Louise |
| Until It's Over by Nicci French |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I couldn't make myself finish this, partly because of the language, partly because it rambled so much (probably the style of the writing), but it bothered me. I didn't feel like I was getting anywhere. Anyway, I obeyed my own rule of forcing myself to read 100 pages before making that decision and still chose to move on to something else. The general premise of the story is good. A bunch of assorted people, who really have nothing in common with each other, are living together, sharing a home. Astrid has an accident on her bicycle, and the neighbor driving the car involved is murdered the same night. Astrid feels like there's something she can't quite remember about the incident when she was still injured and not too coherent. But the housemates who witnessed it both said no. The second murder is discovered by Astrid, shortly afterward, and it sort of becomes a case of whether one of the housemates is involved, or whether one (or more) of the housemates is in danger of becoming the next victim. |
| Kay |
| Slumdog Millionaire by Vikas Swarup |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A wonderful story that is hard to put down. Ram Mohammad Thomas tells the story of how he correctly answered all twelve questions on a TV game show to win a billion rupees. I can't wait to see the movie now! |
| Dottie (Dorothy Mallerich@jhuapl.edu) |
| The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a real page turner. Who is the Prophet? Is Dad a good guy or a bad guy? |
| Stephen Hughes |
| Born Country by Randy Owen and Allen Rucker |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Randy Owen, lead singer for the band Alabama, tells of growing up in the South and the start of their great band. A very moving memoir. |
| Dorothy Lechmanick |
| Olive Kitteredge by Elizabeth Strout |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Through a series of short stories, you get to know Olive and how her neighbors and friends feel about her. You may form an opinion about her in the beginning, but I'll bet your opinion changes by the end of the book. |
| B Moore |
| All the Fishes Come Home to Roost by Rachel Manija Brown |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is another dysfunctional family story, but I did enjoy the author's reflections on her life when she moved at age 7 with her parents to live in an Ashram in a primitive area of India. Dealing with abusive teachers, uncomprehending parents and not being accepted by the other students, Mani finds her way through life as she knows it. It sounds grim (and parts of it were), but she writes this story with pragmatic humor summed up perfectly in the last paragraph of the book. |
| J Hendrix |
| The Shack by William P. Young |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
I tried to read this book, and couldn't finish. For a certain segment of Christians, they will find the book uplifting, but for me, I found it narrow in its views. |
| J Hendrix |
| The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This was a very readable book. It flowed well, but predictable even at the sad ending. It needed a bit more originality. |
| Judy |
| Coraline by Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the book that the animated movie is based on. It's the story of a disgruntled little girl who steps into a "perfect" alternate universe where, of course, nothing is perfect. In fact, the other mother has button eyes. A bit freaky to say the least... and then it gets even scarier. It has a similar moral to The Wizard of Oz. You already have your heart's desires. This is a young adults book and it gave me nightmares, but I liked it and can see why younger readers would, too. |
| Dottie |
| Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortensen and David Oliver Relin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I just heard about the schools in Afghanistan from a former Army service man and it's so sad that what we build, they tear down, wanting to keep their own people in ignorance. |
| Lou |
| It Happened One Night by Sharon Sala |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Harley June Beaumont wakes up one morning in a Las Vegas hotel room and finds a strange man in her room. It scares her even more when she realized that she slept with the stranger. It only gets worse when she discovered that she married him! It wasn't the most creative plot in the world (not up to Sharon's other books), but it was a cute story with enjoyable characters and, of course, a happy ending. |
| Cheryl S. |
| A Single Thread by Marie Bostwick |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I absolutely couldn't put this book down! It's a novel about a woman in the middle of the biggest crisis of her life. First, she loses her husband to another woman, and her home as well. She picks herself up and begins her life anew, only to get knocked down by breast cancer. It's the wonderful story of new love, new friendships and a new life. |
| Judith Mroz |
| The Help by Kathryn Stockett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I purchased this book after reading a wonderful review here on Bookreporter. This will be one of my top books for the year. Set in the 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi, this book tells the story of the women in the South on opposite sides of the racial divide. It's been a long time since I have spent a bright, sunny day reading a book, but once I started, I could not put it down. This author has the gift of making the characters come alive. You really felt that you knew each and every one of them. I loved it! |
| Debi |
| American Thighs by Jill Connor Browne |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Being a Sweet Potato Queen Wannabe myself, I had to read the Queen Bee's latest! It didn't disappoint! I found myself laughing out loud, especially when she describes the tough undergarments we southern girls had to endure during the sixties. I had especially horrible memories of the bathing suits! This is great! |
| Debi |
| Mr. Monk is Miserable by Lee Goldberg |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
You have to love Monk! Natalie blackmails Monk into taking a vacation in Paris. While they are there, they visit the catacombs (which, of course, are full of bones) and Monk happens to find the one set of bones that is new! This is a great, light read for those short weekends! |
| Debi |
| The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
One of his best! |
| Terressa Reep |
| World Without End by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
In anticipation of this much-awaited book, many of our book club members reread PILLARS OF THE EARTH. |
| Marion Miller (lamamil@aol.com) |
| Inheritance by Natalie Danford |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A good, but predictable read. |
| Shannon |
| Face of a Killer by Robin Burcell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a new series by Ms. Burcell about FBI forensic artist Sydney Fitzpatrick, who must deal with the planned execution of her father's murderer. While she has to deal with the emotions that this causes, someone is trying to kill her and it could all be related. The book is very good story thus far. |
| Beverly |
| The Book of Night Women by Marlon James |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Unforgettable story! Story of Lilith, an enslaved girl on a plantation in Jamaica at the end of the 18th century. Lilith wants kindness, but as she grows into a woman, she learns that she is looking in the wrong places. Rich with history, you will want to devour this book in one sitting. |
| Kris |
| Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I'm not sure I should say 'cute', but I think that really sums up this story. Imagine once again your childhood imaginary friend --- all the shared confidences and happy times as well as the fears. Now many years later as an adult, could you find someone like that to share your life with? Well...maybe? Read this and believe. |
| Sue W. |
| The Sharper your Knife, the Less you Cry by Kathleen Flinn |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a great read. A true story of a woman who attends the world famous Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris, France. Kathleen Flinn is 36, a manager trapped on the corporate ladder until her boss eliminates her job. She uses all her savings to go to Le Cordon Bleu. It tells about the trials and tribulations of being an American in a French-speaking world, about the hot-tempered chefs and other students in her classes. This is a funny, sensitive and beautifully written book with many wonderful recipes, some of which I have all ready tried and enjoyed. |
| Sue W. |
| Broken Trail by Alan Geoffrion |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. Westerns are not really my thing. But this kept my interest the whole way through. It brought together an uncle and nephew who took over 500 horses many hundreds of miles, and along the way ended up with 5 Chinese slave girls, a prostitute, a man that smelled really bad because of poor surgery, and others. This roundup changes the lives of all these people, many for the good. |
| Julie |
| Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a classic novel. Thackeray's prose takes a little getting used to, but after a few pages, you are drawn into the lives of his characters in the first half of the 19th century. It's difficult to put down. |
| Sandy |
| Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I didn't care for this book in the beginning because I thought there were too many adjectives. She has to describe everything, but pretty soon I got used to it and got lost in the story. It made me want to have some custom-made shoes, Italian food, and a trip to Italy. |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The third in the Maisie Dobbs series, about a sleuth in 1930s England, a country still raw from World War I. In this installment, Maisie must "slew her dragons" as she embarks on a series of investigations that all seem to blend into one climax. |
| Kris |
| Your Heart Belongs to Me by Dean Koontz |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
When a young wealthy dot-com man has some heart problems, he does what he can to save himself so he can live to see what more he has to do in his life. Others try to stop him. Good thriller storyline. |
| kris |
| The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a story about a domineering mother and a young girl feeling she owes it to her mother to take care of her and only take care of her. While there was some magic in this author's second book, it didn't have the same appeal for me. |
| Kris |
| What's Age Got To Do With It? by Robin McGraw |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a nonfiction book that talks about Robin McGraw and her coming to grips with aging and menopause. I think she has some practical advice and hints, and she doesn't preach about what you should do, but what *she* did. On the other hand, the things she has access to are way different than the normal Joe. So take from it what you can and move on to something more practical. |
| Genie |
| Gil's All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Not since the city of Sunnydale, in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", have we encountered so many ghoulish characters that reside in the city of Rockwood. Duke and Earl, a redneck werewolf and his vampire sidekick, are the heroes of this zombie-ridden tale. Someone is practicing black magic and the target is Gil's All Night Diner. Like the high school in "Buffy", Gil's turns out to be sitting directly on top of a hidden portal entrance to hell. Under most conditions, no one would have ever known about this interesting situation. Unfortunately, someone has discovered the secret. Attempts to open the passage is causing big problems in a town where ghoulish characters and supernatural events are usually taken in stride. Our heroes have their hands full doing battle with the ghouls and a teenage sorceress in order to prevent Redwood (and maybe the entire world) from coming to an ugly end. A warning to those who find profanity objectionable, the main characters in this tale do more than a fair amount of cursing. |
| Linda Ann |
| All Over But the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a very good book. It's a series about his life in the south. |
| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
| The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a classic. It is a very interesting book, told from the view point of Huckleberry Finn and his travels downriver with Jim, a slave. A good bit of the story is far fetched, but it has humor and I love the Mississippi River setting. However, this book didn't rock my world. It's just not my genre. I think this is a great book for teenage boys. I hope my son will read it when he gets older. |
| Linda Brower |
| Still Life With Murder by P.B. Ryan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is book one in The Gilded Age Mysteries, set in Boston, in the late 1900s. The heroine is a governess in one of the city's richest and most aristocratic homes. In this book, the oldest son of the family, thought dead at Andersonville Prison, turns up alive, and charged with murder. Nell, the plucky governess with a shady past of her own, sets out to save him from the gallows. |
| Louise |
| The Alibi Man by Tami Hoag |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wish we could go to 10 stars, then I'd give this one a 9. It took a little while to hold my interest; by the time I was halfway through, I didn't want to quit reading --- I just got up in the middle of the night to finish. Elena, the main character, has a major attitude problem. Circumstances in her life have caused her to be distrusting, sarcastic and bitter. She is certainly not a pleasure to be around. Starting with her discovery of the body of a friend, she does a lot of investigating, determined to bring the killer to justice. It may or may not be the person from her past whom she suspects. |
| Gina |
| Testimony by Anita Shreve |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A sex tape showing students at an elite prep school causes problems for the students, their families and the headmaster. Each chapter is told by a different character. The chapters are short and the story flows. |
| Linda Ann |
| While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is my second book by her and it was great. |
| Linda Ann |
| Ava's Man by Rick Bragg |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the second memoir by Rick Bragg. Again, it's is about his grandfather and his life in the south. It is a great book. |
| Linda Ann |
| The Prince of Frogtown by Rick Bragg |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The last in his series of his life in the South, which talks about his dad and then his relationship with his stepson. |
| Linda Ann |
| Testimony by Anita Shreve |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A very good book. |
| Linda Ann |
| Grace by Richard Paul Evans |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a very good book. |
| Debbie |
| Cross Country by James Patterson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Always a good read. Never disappointing. |
| L. Hann |
| Standoff by Sandra Brown |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Quick read, very suspenseful. |
| Kristie |
| The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
Supposed to be great but I couldn't even force myself to read half the book. Very disappointing. |
| Jean |
| Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Nice pleasant, easy read. Not as good as QUEEN OF THE BIG TIME or LUCIA, LUCIA but makes me dream of going to Capri. |
| Mary In HB |
| I'm with Stupid by Elaine Szewczyk |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Extremely funny chick lit! I loved Kas and her "one night stand" turning up on her doorstep and the fun that ensues with her ex-boyfriend. |
| Mary In HB |
| Eyeliner of the Gods by Katie Maxwell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Sixteen-year-old January James is ecstatic to have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to leave Seattle, and head for the Sahara Desert, where she will be working side-by-side with real life archaeologists. I mean, it's not like Jan plans on being an archaeologist, she plans on being a journalist, but going on this dig will look great on her college resume, and will give her a chance to see what it will be like when she has to head out on assignments in the future. Of course, Jan has no idea that she will be entirely stranded with an annoyingly pushy girl named Chloe, an absolutely gorgeous hottie named Seth, and a cursed bracelet. Who knew that a great opportunity like this would turn into such aggravation? This is a great mini chick lit read. I really enjoy Jan's snarky comments and look forward to another from this author. |
| Mary in HB |
| The Love of Her Life by Harriet Evans |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Excellent English Chick Lit -- Don't let the length of this book scare you, it is a great read. Kate is living in New York and avoiding something from her past life in London three years before. The flashbacks to her London life are well done to give you a feel for her previous carefree life and you will find yourself wanting to read it quickly to find out what went so horribly wrong. Yes, it is a cliché, but the story telling is anything but that. |
| Rhoda MacMaster (Tiggi47@aol.com) |
| Against Medical Advice by James Patterson, Hal Friedman and Cory Friedman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Nonfiction. Very insightful book about a boy who has Tourette's syndrome. Makes you understand more about the disease and what the boy and his family go through in life, school, and with the medical profession. |
| Kingem |
| Daily Coyote by Shreve Stockton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I just finished this fabulous book and can't recommend it highly enough! The photography is a marvelous complement to the prose. I couldn't put it down and once I finished it, had to pick it up to flip through it again! |
| Mary In HB |
| Fool by Christopher Moore |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This one fell flat for me as it really took some effort to finish it. Parts of it were extremely funny and the writing is excellent, but I just couldn't get into the story. |
| Norene Wittlin |
| The Ambassadors by Henry James |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
It is not as good as The PRINCESS CASSAMASSIMMA or his more famous works. |
| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
| Up Close and Personal by Fern Michaels |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Trinity Henderson has been raised by John and Lillian Henderson as their daughter but always felt like she didn't belong. When forced to play with Emily Windsor, a rich child living in a nearby mansion, Trinity was always treated hatefully by Emily and she felt that Emily saw her as a threat in some way. Trinity is now grown and trying to find out who she really is. Is she Emily's sister? Is she the heiress to the Windsor fortune? This is a good story. |
| Kristie |
| A Gift to Last by Debbie Macomber |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Consisting of two short stories, this is a light, fun read. |
| Mary In HB |
| Urban Animals: A Comic Field Guide by Mireille Silcoff |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was a nice book to read in between heavier fare. I really enjoyed the humor. I thought it was perfect to read one page here and there. |
| Dave Siegl |
| Red Knife : A Cork O'Connor mystery by William Kent Krueger |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Latest in a series of crime stories with a great sense of place, located in a small town in northern Minnesota near an Indian reservation. The books seamlessly weave the cultures while Cork, a PI and former sheriff, investigates. |
| Janice Hoaglin (jhoaglin@sbcglobal.net) |
| Angel-Seeker by Sharon Shinn |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the most recent book in the Samaria series, and I have enjoyed all of them. The setting for these stories is an alien world, peopled by humans who have been there for several centuries, as well as "angels", who are also mostly human. The books have some religious undertones, but are mostly adventures and love stories. In this one, two women from very different cultures are featured; one young girl is a Jansai, a desert dwelling group who keep their women behind closed doors, wearing veils, and who stone the women for the least sign of impurity. The other is a much more "modern" woman trying to find her way in this "world" of Samaria. I found the characters to be well developed and believable, and the story kept me enthralled. |
| Bonnie Capuano |
| Cross Country by James Patterson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Just got done reading CROSS COUNTRY. Anything James Patterson writes is wonderful and this one is no exception. This one brings him to Africa. I think this is one of his first novels were Alex Cross is severely beaten...several times. Also the murders are very brutal. But you don't want to put the book down. |
| Susie |
| Death with Interruptions by Jose Saramago and Margaret Jull Costa |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Jose Saramago did it again! Another international best! What if no one died? What if we all knew that we would die in two weeks? What if we could see a personification of death like the Trinity in THE SHACK? What would be the ramifications? Saramago sees clearly into situations that no one else ever thinks about. In spite of the dark topic the book is a FUN read, insightful and thought-provoking. |
| Linda B |
| Guernica by Dave Boling |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book was so good that I wish I could give it more stars! Great characters help tell the story of the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica by the Germans, before the start of WWII. The horror of the destruction was immortalized by Picasso in his large mural of the same name. |
| ck |
| The Gaudi Key by Esteban Martin & Andrew Carranza |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Two Spanish authors have written a Dan Brown-type novel set in Barcelona. There is a secret that can change the world and there are mysterious riddles that Maria and Miguel need to solve. And, they have a deadline. Seven knights from ancient Jerusalem have guarded a Christian relic. And, evil men have tried to find the relic for more than 2,000 years. The classic battle of good versus evil showcases the architecture of Antonio Gaudi. That is the reason of struggle throughout the book. Reading about the symbolism behind the architecture and designs, the mathematics involved and the influence of Japanese art is both interesting and frustrating. There are lots of characters and lots of murder and intrigue. |
| Kristie |
| Dear John by Nicholas Sparks |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Good story but the ending was sad. All his books seem to be tearjerkers. Very realistic though. |
| Mary |
| Off Season by Anne Rivers Siddons |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An excellent read with a twist ending. Siddons'characters leap off the page and instantly make you a part of their world. |
| Phoenix |
| Healthy Child, Healthy World by Christopher Gavigan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A comprehensive practical guide packed with tips and resources. Chemicals that are harmful to children (& others) are increasingly part of everyday products. This book covers everything from pregnancy to home repair, beauty products to pet care, food, cleaning & gardening. Recommended. |
| Kathleen Haak (pittsburghhaak@yahoo.com) |
| White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Officially this title doesn't become available until the 24th but I've read the first five chapters. Now I'm on pins and needles waiting to find out who killed Kisten. This title starts much smoother than Harrison's previous works. |
| Aileen |
| The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
.I haven't finished this book yet, but I am loving it. It's a hefty 723 page book, but every page is worth it! I was recently in a reading slump and this book has pulled me right out of there. I am a huge fan of Wally Lamb (loved his last 2 novels). I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoyed his other books, as well as anyone who is wiling to enjoy a great novel. |
| Darbyscloset |
| The Associate by John Grisham |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is very much like the book he published before this one yet it has a different twist and of course all of his great mystery and suspense!!! |
| Coral Harrison |
| Missing Witness by Gordon Campbell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is an author to watch. A very well written book and lawyer mystery. A beautiful woman accompanied by her 12 year old daughter enters the house where her husband is. Six shots are fired and her husband is dead. The mystery is to find out who killed the man. |
| Holly |
| Charmed to Death by Shirely Damsgaard |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The second installment in the Ophelia and Abby Mysteries series. This book finds Ophelia falling into another mystery (literally). She stumbles over a dead body. And she works on building up her psychic and magical abilities. Although this series is about witches and magic, it is very realistic and not cheesy about it at all. The characters are all very down to earth. Although the killer was easy to figure out in this one, I still enjoyed it. |
| Coral Harrison |
| Vanishing Point by Marcia Muller |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A very good mystery with Sharon McCone. The author writes very well and all of her books are interesting. This is one of the best. |
| Meg Seff (megvt@aol.com) |
| War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Although the size of this book is daunting, it is so well written. The character development is outstanding. The historical background of the Napoleonic Wars makes it very interesting as well. I just love Russian literature. The new translation makes this book very readable. |
| Mary |
| Glitter Baby by Susan Elizabeth Phillips |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An early effort by Phillips reissue. More women's fiction than romantic comedy, but an excellent story with a strong heroine. |
| Debbie |
| The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Learn a lot about Renaissance Florence while you read Alessandra's life story as an intelligent, artistic, woman in a society where women were supposed to be docile and mostly decorative. Real history and a wonderfully well-written story combine - I was sorry to have it end! |
| Crystal Blackburn |
| Destination Unknown by Agatha Christie |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a classic mystery. |
| Margie B |
| Up Til Now by William Shatner and David Fisher |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I'm not the biggest Shatner fan, but this autobiography is a hoot. I know he had help writing it, but the end result is well worth reading. It will keep you entertained and wanting more, even if you think Shatner is a bit (or a lot) over the top. |
| Barbara |
| Kilcaraig by Annabel Carothers |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a family saga that takes place on the island of Mull off of the northern coast of Scotland. The story takes place between the years 1913-1978. All of the characters are likable and I love reading about Scotland. It's a great novel to curl up with in front of the fire and a cup of tea. |
| Megan |
| Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I am half way through this book and am thoroughly enjoying it. While I tend to not like medical type detail (I am squeamish), it doesn't bother me at all in this book. This is a great read. |
| Lynn Marler |
| Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Just started this book, but already, it's measuring up to Binchy's usual wonderful storytelling. I love it already! |
| Ann |
| What is the What by Dave Eggers |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
My mom told me about this one. She discovered it while substituting in a high school English class. I was hesitant when I first started reading it, but it didn't take me long to really be absorbed by the story. I love reading a book that I may not have typically given a second glance if I'd just happened upon it myself. |
| Maureen |
| The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I had such high hopes for this books since Oprah praised it so much. First 150-200 pages were very slow. It did pick up after that, but then the ending just made it not an enjoyable book for me. It was about 200 pages too long. |
| Sheila Dietz |
| Loving Frank by Nancy Horan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This love story about the choices we make, told from the perspective of Frank Lloyd Wright's mistress, is also a good reminder that women's rights are still relatively new. The author has used extensive research to capture the dilemmas and frustrations of two in love in the early 1900s. |
| Elizabeth V |
| Split Second by David Baldacci |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I picked only three starts because it's in the middle, and I can't rate this accurately; I just started it. I've never read this author, but the book was recommended so probably deserves another star or two. We'll see. |
| Elizabeth V |
| Sacred by Dennis Lehane |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
As usual for Dennis Lehane, SACRED was an "unputdownable" book. I finished reading it and will be hunting the used-book sales for the two books he wrote that I haven't read yet. |
| Phyllis F. |
| Still Alice by Lisa Genova |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a fantastic and emotional story of a 50 year old highly intelligent woman who is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease. |
| Diane |
| The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Must read it carefully to understand the characters. It all ties in at the end. |
| Debby Creager (cleo@hbeark.com) |
| Personal Demon by Kelley Armstrong |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This a book for when you want light reading to escape the everyday. It is about a place called Otherworld where the supernatural and humans co-exist. It is very good at holding your attention for several hours. |
| Diane |
| Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Fascinating history entwined with fiction of 1921 |
| Debby Creager (cleo@hbeark.com) |
| For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is just one of a series of books about Rachel the redheaded witch and her friend that live in The Hollows. This series takes place after a genetic plague has killed off half of the humans and the supernatural has come out of hiding to become citizens in their own right. It has witches, demons, vampires, werewolves, pixies and lots more to keep you reading into the wee hours. |
| Billie |
| The Associate by John Grisham |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I really enjoyed this book until the very end. It was really a page turner until the last few pages. The ending was a let down as the main character just fades into the ever after. Maybe there will be a sequel to tell us if Bennie reappears and how the main character survives in his new life to assist the poor and helpless. |
| Holly |
| Witch Way to Murder by Shirley Damsgaard |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The first in a fun mystery series starring Ophelia, a young librarian in small-town Iowa and Abby her grandmother who just happens to be a witch. Ophelia suffered a great loss when her best friend was murdered and since then she has kept her own psychic abilities under wraps. But events start happening in her town that cause her to start using her abilities again. And a handsome stranger appears that threatens to pull her out of her solitary existence. |
| Dorothy |
| Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
As are all of her books, this is hysterical but I enjoyed the Number series better. The grandmother didn't have much of a part in this one and she is funny. |
| Holly |
| Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book was outstanding and I'm recommending it to everyone I talk to about books! The book starts with two storylines. One in 1986 with an elderly man and his relationship with his son and the other during WWII during the time of the Japanese Internment camps. A Chinese boy falls in love with a Japanese girl and does everything he can to keep track of her and stay friends with her while her family is at one of the camps. In the end, the two storylines meet and the book ends in just the way you want it to. Perfect! |
| Holly |
| The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I had to read this year's Newberry Winner because the story sounded so interesting. A boy grows up surrounded by ghosts in a graveyard after surviving a horrific attack on his family. Despite his unusual upbringing Nobody Owens turns out to be a wonderful boy and the end of the book is very sweet. The only thing that threw me for a bit with this one is that each chapter is written almost as if it were a short story so they do not necessarily flow together well. I didn't like this in the beginning but once I figured out that was how it was written I seemed to relax into the book more. I'd definitely recommend this one. |
| Maureen |
| A Golden Age by Tahmima Anam |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Not quite finished with this one but I am totally enjoying this story. Learning a great deal about Pakistan/Bangledesh culture. I look forward to more by this author. |
| Lisa |
| Addition by Toni Jordan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A wonderful novel that takes place in Australia. It is about a woman who struggles with OCD - she counts EVERYTHING. Forced to take disability from her teaching job, she spends most of her days consumed by her obsession with counting and numbers until she meets a man in a cafe who helps her come to grips with her condition. Little by little, the reader learns how she came to be OCD and how she ultimately deals with it. A funny, lovely, sharp story. |
| Allison Campbell (allison.campbell@gmail.com) |
| High Marks for Murder by Rebecca Kent |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I read the WWII mysteries by this author (writing as Kate Kingsbury - she also writes romance novels under Doreen Roberts) and enjoyed them. I have herPennyfoot Hotel Mysteries in my TBR pile, but I thought I'd read this one first since it's the first in her new series. Meredith Llewellyn is the headmistress of Bellehaven House, a former manor house that serves as a finishing school for young ladies. It's 1905 in the English Cotswalds, and many of the teachers and students are suffragettes or at least opposed to conventional ideas about a woman's place. This sounded really promising to me, but as a start of a mystery series, it didn't live up to expectations. First, we don't get to know Meredith, Felicity, or Essie (her teacher friends) terribly well. Some hints about Essie's intriguing past are dropped in near the end with no further discussion, but that's about it. The maids have a bit more life, but they're not in it much. Second, the chauvinist policeman drops in to proclaim teacher Kathleen's death the work of a vagrant, then he disappears entirely, leaving the women to sort out who actually killed Kathleen. It was a bit too pat and convenient for me. Third, the supernatural element just didn't work for me. Kathleen's ghost appears to Meredith several times, but since all she does is gesture vaguely, it's pretty annoying. Much is made of Meredith's ability to read lips, so I assumed this would come into play with her communication attempts with Kathleen, which would have at least been interesting. The ghost dropping in to wave her arms was possibly the least exciting ghost story element I've read. Finally, I felt like there were way too many suspects, and I guessed who had killed her early on. The ending gives the set-up for the next book (FINISHED OFF, out in April), promising more of the same. For a two-hundred page book, I feel there was too much going on. The Edwardian finishing school atmosphere felt glossed over, the characters didn't have time to come alive, and the supernatural element was underused. I'm not sure I'll pick up FINISHED OFF. Maybe only to see if the potential of the setting is realized and if we learn any more about the characters. |
| Ms Marcia (mmarcia48@aol.com) |
| Breakneck by Erica Spindler |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Certainly this is what is meant by the term, "Page Turner". It is suspenseful and exciting all the way. These dedicated detectives (Riggio and Lundgren) are complex, conflicted, often neurotic, sometimes irritating, and really quite wonderful. The crime is a trail of seemingly random acts that finally pull together as they rip apart the detectives' partnership. Lots of suspense and a great finish. |
| Kathleen Boucher (kboucher@cableone.net) |
| The Reader by Bernard Schlink |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An emotional, moving story of a young boy and an older woman; his awakening, and her secret finally revealed. Masterful writing; morally complex; raises philosophical questions re: right and wrong. |
| Ms Marcia (mmarcia48@aol.com) |
| Self Made Man by Nora Vincent |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The author spent 18 months living as a man: dating, recreating, joining an "Iron John" group, staying in a monastery, and more. I found a few surprises, and that amazed me. Equally interesting to me was the effect that researching this book had on the author's sense of herself. This is a thoughtful book, a good read (with some good laughs). The first few pages are a bit slow, but stick with it. |
| Reva Wamsley (prwamsley@roadrunner.com) |
| Tailspin by Catherine Coulter |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the 2nd book I've read in this series. They are hard to put down once you start. This one had two mysteries, who was trying to kill a prestigious doctor and who was trying to kill a young woman named Rachael who discovered her father was a senator shortly before he was killed in a tragic accident. |
| Sandy Haber |
| Knit two by Kate Jacobs |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The sequel to FRIDAY NIGHT KNITTING CLUB was just as interesting. Following the women 5 years later and watching how their characters have evolved, and are evolving, was fascinating. Lots of loose ends finished up here, but there are still some questions--- for our imaginations maybe? |
| Sandy Haber |
| True colors by Kristin Hannah |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I wasn't sure I'd like this when I started it, it didn't grab me as fast as FIREFLY LANE did. But I am glad I finished it, I had tears in my eyes at the end. A good study of family dynamics. |
| Quinn |
| The Clothes on Their Backs by Linda Grant |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
As the title states the heroine, Vivien Kovacs, reinvents herself through clothes. This is a touching story of a rather shy, bookish woman attempting to make her life meaningful. Definitely worth the read! |
| Vickie |
| Comfort: A Journey Through Grief by Ann Hood |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Very sad story about loss. But it follows the author through it and out the other end. If you have ever experienced loss this book will help you to see you can come out the other end perhaps beat up but not totally destroyed. |
| Deb |
| The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A multi-generational saga filled with rich and complicated characters, spanning several of our nation's recent challenges. A bit slow moving in some places, but I enjoyed following how the characters reacted to the stresses and joys of their tragic lives. |
| Allison Campbell (allison.campbell@gmail.com) |
| Artichoke's Heart by Suzanne Supplee |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Rosemary Goode (nicknamed "Artichoke" by the popular Bluebirds the day she wears an unfortunately green, puffy jacket) received an unwanted treadmill for Christmas, attends a "Fat Girl" conference paid for by her size 0 Aunt Mary, and is enrolled in a weight-loss counseling program by her mother. By the time Rosemary has finished "getting back" at her mom and Aunt Mary with cheese curls and Hershey bars, she's gained another 13 pounds. She's now over 200 pounds and has a single pair of pants that fit--sweats. All her mother's and Aunt Mary's efforts are wasted until Rosemary decides herself to lose the weight. And it's not an easy journey. Her mother is diagnosed with cancer while Rosemary is denied her usual coping mechanism--food. Kyle, her dream guy, shows interest in her, but she can't understand why. Meanwhile, she develops an unlikely (to Rosemary) friendship with the lovely, popular Kay-Kay (who eventually proves too nice to stay popular), which challenges her previous assumptions that popular, thin people are happy with no insecurities of their own. Supplee absolutely nails the "fat girl" relationship to food, insecurities, feelings of "I don't deserve this" and hopelessness that make losing weight so hard. Her Aunt Mary, exasperated, asks how hard it can be to just not eat something. This illustrates the complete inability of the naturally thin to understand the difficulties of losing weight. Rosemary is funny, wry, and insightful, and Supplee makes her a complex heroine relatable to anyone, fat or thin. Rosemary's gradual gain of self-esteem and her friendships with Kyle and Kay-Kay are lovely and believable. She's a girl so likable that I couldn't help but cheer her on. This story was so much more rich and developed than it would have been in less capable hands: Rosemary finds insight into even negative, interfering Aunt Mary's insecurities, and her mother's battle with cancer (and the way she protects her daughter) add another dimension. A lovely, rich, realistic coming-of-age story that should be required reading for junior high and high school students. |
| Allison Campbell (allison.campbell@gmail.com) |
| The Disappearance by Efrem Sigel |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
From the first paragraph of lush, gorgeous prose, in which Sigel describes Joshua running toward the light in The Hollow, I knew this would be a heartbreaking, yet uplifting book. The title is a bit misleading, as the mystery behind the disappearance of 14-year-old Dan Sandler plays second fiddle to its aftermath in the lives of his parents, Joshua and Nathalie. I knew what the resolution to the disappearance would be, but that's not the point, and the flawless pacing made THE DISAPPEARANCE extremely difficult to put down. The suspense is relentless, fueled by dips into the past that begin to shed frustrating shafts of light on a mystery that at first is in absolute darkness. No one saw anything the day that Dan disappeared. There is no physical evidence of any kind. Over weeks and months, as hope fades and Nathalie and Joshua fall apart both separately and as a family, pinpoints of light reveal murky connections and slim clues. I'm normally resigned to reading in fits and starts, but I desperately wanted to shut myself in my room and read this book in one go. I stayed up far too late to find out if Joshua and Nathalie would find closure, or at the very least, a way to move on. The Sandlers are newcomers to their summer home of The Hollow, a hamlet outside the little town of Smithfield, Massachusetts. When they return to their real lives in New York after the disappearance, Joshua throws himself into work while maintaining a grueling schedule of investigation in The Hollow: calling the police chief twice a day, spending his weekends interrogating neighbors. Nathalie's cello sits untouched as she plunges into depression. Their opposing responses to uncertainty and grief push them further and further apart. The struggle of parents following a child's death or disappearance is a story that's been told a thousand times, but Sigel's portrayal is fresh and realistic, and Nathalie and Josh are shown so clearly that their agony is almost unbearable. It is a credit to Sigel that I, too, held out hope for a happy ending to Dan's disappearance. The small town is drawn beautifully. The police chief, Sammons, is not the usual bumbling hick portrayed in small-town law enforcement. He is thorough and determined, and most importantly, he cares deeply and never gives up on finding answers for the Sandlers. Information about the townspeople is dribbled out in a realistic, non-intrusive fashion. Coupled with Sigel's gift for description, this makes for a richly nuanced image of The Hollow and its inhabitants. In THE DISAPPEARANCE, Efrem Sigel has crafted a haunting, beautiful novel of tragedy's aftermath, with deeply human characters and a satisfying resolution. |
| Kristy "Bee" Barrett (kristybee05@bellsouth.net) |
| Lying on Sunday by Sharon K. Souza |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is brutally honest Christian fiction about Abigail Torrington and the collapse of her house of cards existence, when her philandering hubby dies in the arms of another woman. The day he passes away (their daughter's birthday) divorce papers are served. The fairytale Abbie thought was her life screeches to a halt. This book and EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT by the same author are both exquisite reads. Your fave character will likely be Abbie's best friend Shawlie who has always known Abbie's Prince Charming, Robert Andrew Torrington was a real RAT :) |
| Allison Campbell (allison.campbell@gmail.com) |
| Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Jamie Ford's debut novel, a story of first love against the backdrop of Japanese evacuation in post-Pearl Harbor Seattle, is sweet, sentimental, and redemptive. I found myself unable to put the book down, and I admit to sniffling a few times. I absolutely recommend this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I couldn't shake the feeling of regret that it wasn't...more. It was like getting a fantastic big tub of movie popcorn, the kind with extra butter, instead of the five-course meal by candlelight you were really hoping for. Okay, that's a stupid metaphor, but I can't help wishing this were Ford's say, third or fourth novel, instead of his first. Because it's an excellent read that doesn't quite reach its story's (or storyteller's) potential. The story goes back and forth between 1942, the year sixth-grade Henry Lee befriends Keiko Okabe, the only other Asian at the all-white prep school, and 1986, the year an old hotel in Japantown is re-opened, revealing the treasures hidden there by Japanese families who were "evacuated." In the 1942 timeline, Henry and Keiko are scholarship students who work in the cafeteria, serving lunch to the white kids who torment them. It's only a matter of time before Keiko's family is sent to a work camp, and Henry's controlling, traditional father sends him to school wearing an "I Am Chinese" button to distinguish him to the whites who think all Asians look the same. In the 1986 timeline, Henry's wife has died after a long illness and Henry struggles to relate to his son, Marty, without his wife as a buffer. Meanwhile, Henry sees a press conference in which the new owner of the Panama Hotel twirls a parasol she found in the basement--a parasol Henry is sure belonged to Keiko. Everything you think will happen from this summary is how the story turns out--there are no surprises in store. And that's where my disappointment lies. I loved the sweet story of Henry and Keiko, Henry's conflict between his heart and his loyalty to his parents, the delightful interjection of the Seattle jazz scene into the mix, fantastic secondary characters in Sheldon and Mrs. Beatty, and Henry's future daughter-in-law. But I expected something unexpected that never appeared; something in addition to the mechanically unfolding plot as the two timelines converged. Some passages of the 1986 story felt perfunctory to me, and middle-aged Henry wasn't as compelling as the page-turning 1942 storyline. Again, I recommend this book. My disappointment makes the difference between a four-star book and a five-star book. And this is a solid four-star book. |
| Marta |
| American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I am enjoying reading this book. It keeps my attention and even though it is a long book it is written in short segments so it is a great book to take places. The writing is very good (not like this e-mail) and I am enjoying the story. |
| Allison Campbell (allison.campbell@gmail.com) |
| The Witch's Grave by Shirley Damsgaard |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Ophelia is a complex, interesting heroine, and her acceptance of her psychic ability hasn't taken he edge. This entry caught my full attention immediately. Ophelia meets Stephen Larsen, a crime writer, and literally the man of her dreams. When he is shot almost immediately and Ophelia herself is nearly killed, she becomes embroiled in an investigation with the help of Darci and Abby. (Note: I always picture Abby as Tyne Daly...anyone else?) Every book has shown Ophelia dealing with some component of her powers, and this one explores reincarnation through Ophelia's dreams in which she's a Parisian model during World War II. All these threads come together nicely, as usual, and Ophelia's growth is gratifying. I love that in six books, Damsgaard hasn't stuck Ophelia with a steady relationship. She's still working on finding herself, and while she dates, she's not engaged by book 3, as she would be in many series. Another stellar entry in a great series. |
| Vickie |
| A Single Thread by Marie Bostwick |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It's a very good book. It kept my interest from beginning to end. I really did not want it to end. I recommend this to all I know. You will enjoy it!! |
| llipari |
| Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Love her fun quirky books! |
| Marsha |
| The Book of Unholy Mischief by Elle Newmark |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Although I love books about Venice, I found this one a bit far-fetched. It follows the life of a young orphan ruffian who is befriended by the Doge's chef and entrusted with the fate of the written word before the invention of movable type. We are led to believe that the secrets of the world were passed down to generations by a group of secret chefs (the only ones that could have books that were not banned by the Church). |
| sagil |
| Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was a great book. |
| Sagil |
| Sole Survivor by Dean KoontZ |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A good mystery book to be centered around Colorado. |
| Fran |
| Reclaiming Youth at Risk by Larry K. Brendtro, Martin Brokenleg |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
An interesting look at how society discards troubled youth. Also explores the comparison of Native American child rearing practices to help foster a sense of mastery, belonging, independence and generosity among our most vulnerable youth. |
| Freckles83 |
| Just Checking: Scenes From the Life of an Obsessiv by Emily Colas |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
With humor and candor, Emily Colas reflects on situations in her life that were characterized by her obsessive compulsive behaviors. Her ability to use humor to portray the crippling, yet somewhat absurd nature of this condition makes the novel and main character endearing to the reader. Emily walks you through her daily rituals and obsessive needs as it rips her life to shreds. Emily embarks on a journey of self destruction, but eventually finds the path toward diagnosis and eventual healing. A compelling memoir told through short essays. |
| Cathey (dbinpgh@aol.com) |
| The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Oh my, I really liked this book! I felt like all the characters were my friends. And also I was itching to knit or crochet something. I look forward to reading others by this author! |
| Cynde Suite (cyndecat@yahoo.com) |
| Terminal Freeze by Lincoln Child |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I love all his thrillers. They are always right on the brink of frightening new technologies and fantastic settings. He also co-writes with Douglas Preston and their character, Agent Penergast, is a fascinating enigma. They have a new joint book called CEMETERY DANCE coming soon. I can't wait! Also Douglas Preston's book THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE has had the movie rights bought by Tom Cruise, so that should be interesting as well!!! |
| Liz |
| Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An easy, relaxing read. I was amazed to read that the good old USA rounded up our Japanese residents and sent them to what amounted to prison camps while we were at war with their native land. Shame on us! |
| Irene - Saratoga Springs NY |
| The March by E.L. Doctorow |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book gave me a different perspective on the South during the Civil War. I did not think I would like it, but I would highly recommend this book to anyone. Great historical fiction. |
| Liz DiBona |
| My Sister's Keeper by Jody Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was the first book I have read by this author. What a great writer. I have plenty of her books ahead of me to read now. |
| Elizabeth DiBona |
| Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is great reading, but too long. It took a while to get into it, but once I did I couldn't put it down. |
| Bonnie |
| Healthy Child, Whole Child by Stuart H. Ditchek and Russell H. Greenfield (MDs) |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Nonfiction that should be read by parents and anyone interested in children and their health. It's very readable, with advice about how to integrate medicine and common sense. It covers everything from inoculations, infant feeding, asthma and other diseases, and pretty much every topic related to children's health. |
| Bonnie |
| Still Alice by Lisa Genova |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderful novel about a woman with early-onset Alzheimer's disease told through her eyes. It's so honest and real. The author, a professor, knows her stuff and it's a necessary, fascinating read. |
| Sherry Fraser |
| Honolulu by Alan Brennert |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Fascinating historical novel about a Korean picture bride. I truly enjoyed this glimpse into old Hawaii. It is well worth the read. |
| Deb |
| The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I could probably enjoy reading this author write about taking out the garbage! She has an amazingly easy way with descriptions and insight that really impressed me. She tells of her struggles with cancer treatment and diagnoses as her dad simultaneously goes through his own battles on the opposite side of the country. You feel like you are listening to your best friend confide in you. |
| Allison Campbell (allison.campbell@gmail.com) |
| Finding Nouf by Zoe Ferraris |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Zoe Ferraris, an American formerly married to a Saudi, gives us a unique look at Saudi culture. The action begins with a search for a missing girl, but this is a mystery the way Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie novels are mysteries, which is to say it is a literary novel with a mystery at its core. Ferraris does a brilliant job of slowly unraveling the mystery amidst a portrayal of the extreme gender segregation in Saudi culture and its impact on both women and men. At first, I was put off by the point-of-view character being male--how can you look at the restrictions on women through a man's eyes? But Ferraris chose Nayir as her vehicle for showing how gender segregation impacts men, and it's fascinating. Nayir is naive in the way of women, uncomfortable when a woman speaks "brazenly"--that is, without a man first having spoken to her--and can barely think when confronted with the sight of a woman's ankle, much less her face. He is unmarried and frustrated by the ridiculous process of finding a wife. The story begins with Nouf's rich, influential family asking Nayir to look into Nouf's death after they've used their influence to shut down the official investigation. Katya, an assistant in the morgue and fiancée to Nayir's best friend Othman (adopted brother to Nouf), ends up helping Nayir. They struggle to peel back the layers of the family's secrets while avoiding the wrath of the religious police as they meet to share information. There's an extensive Amazon review detailing the "errors" Ferraris has made in matters of Saudi culture and geography. The geography doesn't bother me in the least. It's a novel, for heaven's sake! Does Ferraris really have to stick to the distances between cities in reality? Does it matter for the purposes of the novel that one can't actually take an overnight bus from Jeddah to Muscat? However, some of his points, such as the use of paid escorts (women are not permitted to drive in Saudi Arabia), are more to the point. Googling, though, did turn up discussion of paid drivers for women in Saudi Arabia, so I'm not sure if things have changed since the reviewer lived in Saudi Arabia or if there are regional differences. Ferraris did stay in Saudi Arabia for almost a year following the first Gulf War, so she's not completely inventing the culture she describes. Times may have changed, or she may have made some changes for literary purposes. It's an interesting question, Since Ferraris is giving a rare glimpse into Saudi culture (possibly the only glimpse many of us will get); How accurate does she have to be? Does she have as much literary license as a novelist whose work is set in a more well-described culture? I don't think there's an easy answer, and several scenes ring so true (Katya moving her head from side to side to be able to see the contents of her purse, Katya sitting in the drawing room with her future in-laws) that they may outweigh nitpicky details. FINDING NOUF was a riveting mystery (though I wasn't quite satisfied with the resolution) set in a fascinating discussion of a strange culture. The discussion of the limitations on men and women was really interesting, and the development of Nayir's attitudes toward Katya was complex and well-developed. I highly recommend this book. |
| Chicago reader |
| Matrimony by Joshua Henkin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Starts a little slow but I couldn't put it down after the first chapter. |
| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
| Domestic Affairs by Eileen Goudge |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a story of two girls who grew up together and how their lives interchanged when grown. Lila is the daughter of an affluent attorney and his socialite wife. Abigail is the daughter of their housekeeper who has always been treated as a member of the family. When Abigail and her mother are forced to leave, the girls are on different paths until adulthood. Then the tables are turned as Abigail leads a Martha Stewart sort of empire and Lila becomes destitute and turns to Abigail to help. A good book with a story to it. |
| Jer |
| Shadows and Not by Sara Brown |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A poetry collection that is off the cuff, yet with something for everyone. Pointing out everyday life that would otherwise go unnoticed. |
| Teresa (steinertt@aol.com) |
| Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I'm enjoying this book written in letters post WWII between an author, her publisher and the inhabitants of the island of Guernsey. |
| Sandy (sandyllny@yahoo.com) |
| At Home In Mitford by Jan Karon |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I had previously tried this book, and didn't especially enjoy it. But recently, my companion and I read through the entire series aloud, and it was a wonderful experience. The stories of Father Tim, and his late-life wife, a children's book author, are poignant and entertaining. I would happily read them once more (aloud though!) |
| LP Philadelphia |
| Your Heart Belongs to Me by Dean Koontz |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Not as good as some of his others. Good plot, but some parts seemed to just be stuck in there, and didn't apply to anything else. It lost steam. It is just ok. Doubt I'd refer it to others. |
| Pattie Berryhill (pattiberr@aol.com) |
| Testimony by Anita Shreve |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Engrossing tale of four high school students involved in a sexual assault. Tells of all the ramifications to families and friends with tragic consequences. |
| LP Philadelphia |
| The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is good reading. Easier to follow than her earlier books, but somehow not as exciting. |
| Janis A. |
| The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It's a good read. A lot of thought into truly "living" and realizing your dreams. |
| LP Philadelphia |
| Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A woman moves from her hometown of Alabama to Chicago, not returning for 10 years. The book includes mother-daughter relationships, guilt, discrimination, sacrifice, deception, forgiveness. It was a good read. |
| Lynne Perednia (LynneP@netzero.net) |
| The Lost City of Z by David Grann |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Fascinating tales of how the Amazon and a mythical city have captured imaginations over the centuries. This includes the author, a New Yorker reporter, who tries to find out what happened to one of the last great Victorian explorers who disappeared searching for Z, or El Dorado. |
| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
| Black Out by Lisa Unger |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Annie used to be known as Ophelia but she has forged a new identity to escape from a harmful past. But the past seems to be haunting her and she is beginning to wonder if she is as crazy as people seem to hint. Are her in-laws really concerned or are they masking a plot? This book was not easy to ready as it jumped back and forth between the current time and the past. |
| Anita Nowak |
| Downtick by Regan C,. Ashbaugh |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I was lucky enough to find this rather old (10 year old) book at a flea market during the summer. I had read a review of this book, and it sounded wonderful. However since it was first printed in 1998 it was out of print. I had tried several used bookstores to no avail. I was thrilled to find it this past summer. Though a bit ragged it was worth waiting for! It kept me busy during my recent vacation - a real page turner. It seems a man seeks revenge against two people who have wronged him. However, he waits for 20 years to wreck havoc on their families. Though a bit scary - it was still enjoyable. It is a novel; however, most of what occurs was very realistic. The action never lets up. I recommend it very highly to those who are lucky enough to find a copy (ragged or not). |
| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
| Open Season by C. J. Box |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book introduces Joe Pickett, game warden in the state of Wyoming. While investigating the murder of three outfitters, Joe hears rumors of an endangered species. He is then called to state headquarters in Cheyenne where he is put on suspension for trumped-up charges. As he turns to his old supervisor for a job that he was offered at his former supervisor's new firm, he is now turned away. Rather than feel defeated, these actions make him angry and he is determined to find out the truth. As his family is threatened and harm does come their way, Joe finds that those he trusts are anything but trustworthy. This is a very good book. |
| Sandra Hughes |
| Home by Marilynne Robinson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a very good book about a son who comes home after twenty years to spend time with his aging father and his younger sister who is taking care of him. It is a story of families, forgiving and past mistakes. |
| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
| The First Patient by Michael Palmer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Gabe Singleton is a small-town country doctor in Wyoming when he is called by his old school friend, Andrew Stoddard, to be his personal physician. Drew is now the President of the United States and tells Gabe that his former physician has disappeared. Once Gabe arrives in Washington, he finds that no one can be trusted. Rumors fly that Drew is mentally unstable and Gabe discovers that Drew is being administered mind-altering drugs. But how is this being done under the strict scrutiny of the Secret Service? And who is behind it? This is a good book. |
| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
| Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a short novel about a lonely little girl named Jane who has an adult imaginary friend named Michael. He stays with her until her ninth birthday and then he leaves (as this is the rule for imaginary friends!). One day, when she is grown, she sees Michael and they begin a relationship. Although the story is good, I was a little confused. Is Michael an angel who comes to life? And was he granted his wish to be a human? This is never really made clear. |
| LP Philadelphia |
| American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The First Lady looks back through her life, reviewing the steps along the way that made her who she is today. Believable. Her past relationships, dating and marrying the man who would some day become the U.S. President, her in-laws, her mother and grandmother's influences, a husband and wife on opposite sides of politics. Enjoyable reading. |
| Renee (tfranzen2124@comcast.net) |
| The Afterlife by John Updike |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A wonderful collection of short stories by a master. A good gathering for the aging boomer crowd. |
| Katherine Stephens (blackjack82599@gmail.com) |
| Multiple Blessings by Jon and Kate Gosselin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
What would you do if you had eight children in three years? If you're Jon & Kate, you trust in God with all your heart and raise them with love and the help of family and good friends. |
| Mary Branham (maryandlennybranham@yahoo.com) |
| The Long Walk Home by Will North |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Loved this book. It is about a woman in Ireland who runs a sheep farm and a Bed & Breakfast. Her husband is sick and getting meaner and meaner. When an American shows up to take his ex-wife's ashes to the top of the mountain and scatter them. A love story begins and it makes the heart soar to read about a 50 year old man and a 44 year old woman who find a great love. The greatest gift of all. |
| kathleen |
| Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Eerie and kind of sad. The hero is a very tortured soul. |
| LP Philadelphia |
| Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Pretty good. You MUST read or at least be familiar with "The Great Gatsby" before reading this. Interesting way it was tied in. Mysterious. I liked it. |
| Katherine Stephens (blackjack82599@gmail.com) |
| Run for Your Life by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Patterson at his quick-reading, holds your interest, murderous best. |
| Terri B. (whitbrit@gmail.com) |
| The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I feel the book was written just for me as I do rescue work for my breed club. I couldn't put the book down, it was really good. |
| Rosalie Sambuco (crimekitty763@yahoo.com) |
| City of Glory by Beverly Swerling |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A continuation of the family saga begun in book one; CITY OF DREAMS. It is about the founding and building of New York City. This book takes place during 10 days in 1814. It is very good historical fiction. |
| Katherine Stephens (blackjack82599@gmail.com) |
| True Colors by Kristen Hannah |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderfully written book. A story of sisters and the bond that holds them together through whatever changes or jealousies we go through in life. |
| Debi |
| Hush my Mouth by Cathy Pickens |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a Southern Fried Mystery which I decided to read because I like the books I get from St. Martin's publishers. It's a nice, funny, and quirky story about a female lawyer in a small town in North Carolina who is hired to find out what happened to a woman who "disappeared", but has been found shot in the head. It is a great story! |
| Tamara (sewradical@gmail.com) |
| Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
.A long book with a lot of historical information. It is interesting but is a slow read and it is so thick it is very heavy to hold onto while you are reading it. Author tells us the political problems with slavery and trying to get into politics. It tells of the family problems surrounding Abraham Lincoln and his contemporaries. It gives us a view of what being a man trying to rule the country was like in the 1800's. |
| Debi |
| The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a teen novel that I read for my student book club. A 9th grader, Charlie, writes his feelings and thoughts in the form of letters to a mysterious "friend." I really liked the author's voice. He seems to actually think like a teenager! It touches base with many adolescent topics, and I like the way he resolves some of the issues. I can't wait for our group discussion! |
| Roberta Harwell |
| The Redemption of Rafe Diaz by Maggie Price |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
For a fun read, pick this up. |
| Judy O. (joswood@msn.com) |
| When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This entertaining book has so many layers of plot that it is a hard story to summarize in a few sentences. Thirty years ago, a horrible murder takes place, and a woman and her two children are slain. The surviving daughter, Joanna, is now a married doctor and has a baby who is cared for by a plucky heroine named Reggie. After all this time, another crime occurs and Reggie and Joanna are in the middle of it. Atkinson is a new author to me, and I have already gotten another of her books to read. The book is set in Scotland, which adds further depth and interest to the plot. |
| Lori Barnes (photoquest@bellsouth.net) |
| Of Dreams and Realities by Dr. Frank L. Johnson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a wonderful book of poetry. Insightful, ironic, charming and sincere. Anyone that loves poetry will have a appreciation for this book even though it is small the poetry is not. |
| Dorothy |
| Runner by Thomas Perry |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the latest in the series featuring Jane Ridgeway as the woman who helps people disappear. It is excellent! |
| Lynn Clifford |
| One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This fictional account of a deal brokered between the United States government and the Cheyenne Indians to trade 1000 white women for 1000 horses is written with so much insight that, at many times, you forget that the story is fictional. Written in the form of a diary of one of the traded white wives, you gain a deep understanding of both the hardships and personal growth that these women would have experienced. |
| Ilene |
| The Girl with No Shadow by Joanne Harris |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Loved this book, a sequel to CHOCOLAT, but only darkly delightful. If you like fairytales, with fun characters, this book is for you. |
| Linda M. Johnson (tcheer4life@yahoo.com) |
| The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is the author's testament for his three young children. Pausch was the professor of Computer Science who died from pancreatic cancer 4 months after the book was published. I laughed out loud several times and almost was in tears twice. Not one that I will evangelize for, but one I will suggest. |
| Krystal S. |
| What She Craves by Lacy Danes |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is a must read. So Hot! Once you start reading you will want to read the entire book before putting it down. It is a very addictive read. |
| Connie E. |
| The Associate by John Grisham |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
John Grisham's books are divided into two categories - strictly legal thrillers and social statement stories. This one is strictly a legal thriller like THE FIRM. It grabs you quickly and it's hard to put it down until you're done. |
| Linda K. (writermom6@yahoo.com) |
| Still Summer by Jacquelyn Mitchard |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It's hard to rate this book because I'm not finished yet. The first time I picked up STILL SUMMER was last summer. I enjoy Jacquelyn Mitchard's work and the plot sounded interesting. But for some reason the book didn't click for me. After only 20 or 30 pages I set it aside. Last week I picked it up again and found the book to be far richer and much more interesting this time. STILL SUMMER hasn't changed, but now I'm ready for the story of four women on a memorable adventure. This book, along with her others, has the same Mitchard touch that I always enjoy. |
| Teresa (Steinertt@aol.com) |
| The Eight by Katherine Neville |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Interesting book using chess and math, to tell a story about a mythical chess that spans from the French revolution to the 1970's |
| Teresa (steinertt@aol.com) |
| The Shack by William P. Young |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
| I found some very thought provoking ideas about God, but I was also very stuck in my opinions and beliefs about God and judgment. I think I still need more time and maybe more discussion to fully process it. |
