July 30, 2010 - August 12, 2010
Last contest period's winners were Lori L. Clark, Salby, Weezy, Garypaul and Phoenix, who each received a copy of FLY AWAY HOME by Jennifer Weiner, THE REMBRANDT AFFAIR by Daniel Silva and STAR ISLAND by Carl Hiaasen.
| pinkpeonyblossom (pinkpeonyblossom@gmail.com) |
| Still Missing by Chevy Stevens |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
One of the best fiction books I've ever read about abduction. It is intense, realistic and powerful. I highly recommend this book! |
| Brooke |
| Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book was wonderfully well-written and did an excellent job at transporting me into another time and place. I felt that the characters were incredibly authentic and realistically flawed. I particularly adored Mrs. Edgar and Gibson and very much enjoyed witnessing Marjory's transformation. I never found myself bored of lost in endless description. The author seems to know exactly what amount of everything is best to offer her readers in every instance. HERE BURNS MY CANDLE was a wonderful journey I'm glad to have taken, and I am very much looking forward to reading the sequel, MINE IS THE NIGHT, when it is released next spring. |
| pinkpeonyblossom (pinkpeonyblossom@gmail.com) |
| The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A wonderful story about the strength of friendship even after a something devastating happens. And about learning to live your life and moving on in the face of something horrible that happened. |
| pinkpeonyblossom (pinkpeonyblossom@gmail.com) |
| Mozart's Blood by Louise Marley |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Paranormal Historical fiction at it's finest. Opera/Mozart + vampires + a werewolf. There is a polished intelligent depth, beautiful details, and a true sense of the time period in this novel. Great, enjoyable story. Full of mystery and intrigue. |
| Julie H. |
| Scout, Atticus and Boo by Mary M. Murphy |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Really enjoyed reading this book Murphy put together for the fiftieth anniversary of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. The pieces were so well-chosen, whether from a former minster of Lee's church in Monroeville to many well-known Southern authors. I particularly liked the themes that ran through several pieces, whether they were of a historical nature or personal tidbits about Harper Lee. |
| Harriet Stay (hstay@hughes.net) |
| Dressed For Death by Donna Leon |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was my first Leon book and I did enjoy reading it. It is the third in the series. I next read "Death and Judgment", fourth in series, and "Friends in High Places", which received the CWA Silver Dagger Award. I've heard complimentary comments about her books, so when our local library reading group said select whichever Leon book you want for discussion, I read these three. "Dressed For Death" had an inviting opening scene, pulled me right into the story. Then began a question of mistaken identity, of sorts, of the corpse found in an industrial area. Her characters were fully brought to life and I experienced a place I'd love to visit. But what I realized, especially after reading all three, was that her books are dominated by the personal life of her principal character, Commissario Guido Brunetti and his family live in Venice. By the third book some of it felt repetitious. Perhaps these are best read a year apart. I've not had this happen with other series I've read straight through (playing catch-up), so perhaps Leon's writing or ideas are not as innovative as others. |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Lisa Unger is an accomplished writer who utilizes descriptive images and similes throughout the story. The reader fully understand the setting and the feelings of the main character Ridley Jones. The action seems surreal at times. The plot is timeless and exposes the many evils of private adoption and the exploitation of the poor. |
| Ruth |
| The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I really enjoyed reading this account of the author's road trip across the United States as I embarked upon my first long road trip in many years. |
| kaye |
| Last Train From Cuernavaca by Lucia St. Clare Robson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Set against the backdrop of the Mexican revolution, "Last Train from Cuernavaca", is the story of two very different women, the men they love and their deep feelings for Mexico: Grace Knight, a widowed British ex-patriot, has fallen for Captain Federico Martín while he was billeted in her Hotel Colonial where the Mexican elite and foreigners meet and mingle and 16 year old Angel Sanchez whose intrepid nature and love for Antonio has led her to join the rebel forces of Emiliano Zapata. At a pivotal point in the revolution the paths of Grace and Angel cross leading to some dramatic and harrowing circumstances. The strength and fortitude of the two women stand them in good stead but they fear for not only their own survival but also the fate of their country. Among the rebels and the Federales, conflicting loyalties abound, making the story not only one of revolution and romance but also intrigue, double dealing and peril. I couldn't wait to see how it ended! The author's afterword is worth reading as it contains some interesting historical information. Although this is a work of fiction, the story is based upon the lives of two real women set in this time frame and location. My knowledge of the Mexican revolution is almost non-existent so this was most helpful. Told from Grace's and Angel's perspectives, Robson achieves a smooth transition between the two. The excellent quality of Robson's characterizations will have me looking for more of this talented writer's work. I thoroughly enjoyed the pace and plot of the story and would highly recommend the book. |
| Ruth |
| Leaving the Saints by Martha Beck |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I couldn't help thinking about the HBO series "Big Love" as I read this memoir by a former Mormon. |
| Ruth |
| The Postmistress by Sarah Blake |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I really like novels set during WWII and had heard a lot about this book, but it left me a little disappointed. |
| Ruth |
| The Boomer by Marty Asher |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
As a bona-fide baby boomer, I didn't feel some of the details rang true in this account of a boomer's life. |
| Tanya |
| Tomorrow River by Leslay Kagen |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A mother disappears and leaves her twin daughters with their father. One twin wants to find her mother while caring for her sister who hasn't spoken since their mother disappeared. This book was a little slow but picked up towards the end. |
| Harriet Stay (hstay@hughes.net) |
| Junkyard Dogs by Craig Johnson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another year and another visit to Durant, Wyoming, and the team at the Sheriff's office, which was the former Andrew Carnegie library, outgrown. Seems Sheriff Walt Longmire has his hands full with the Stewarts living at and running the county dump and a junkyard. Then there's the question of ownership of the lost thumb George "Geo" Stewart found in a Styrofoam cooler. Red Hills Rancho Arroyo is being built by Ozzie Dobbs Jr just over the hill from the dump. Ozzie wants the dump moved, again. Sometimes this is like getting a letter from home to catch up on what Walt and his deputies, Vic Moretti and Sancho Saizarbitoria (and people complain about Swedish names) are up to in their personal lives. Vic is looking for a house to buy and Sancho turned in his resignation. The hospital and jail cells are kept busy with a number of accidents and arrests. In the midst of all personal problems besieging the residents, aside from snow up to your eye balls and freezing temperatures, Walt Longmire has a murder to solve. I purchase these in first edition, signed, because it's my personal belief it's the best way to support the author and keep him writing such interesting and great stories. This is another one. |
| Harriet Stay (hstay@hughes.net) |
| Forty Words For Sorrow by Giles Blunt |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
There is no question in my mind why this was awarded the CWA (Crime Writers Association in the UK) Silver Dagger Award. Why have I not read his books before now? It begins in February in Algonquin Bay (actual name North Bay), Ontario, Canada, and I felt a need to reach for my mittens. Police Detective John Cardinal has just seen his daughter off at the airport, on her way back to Yale. His wife Catherine, later learned, is in the hospital for fits of manic depression. Detective Lisa Delorme brings word that a body has been found in an abandoned mine shaft. It was just as Cardinal had insisted back in December. Thirteen-year-old Katie Pine was not a run-away. Now there is the question of the disappearances of three other teens. I wanted to read this straight through. The story was tops, never confusing, and the quality of the writing, well, I've since searched for and bought all of Blunt's back list. I do not like to make comparisons by name and won't, but only mention that some other up-and-coming crime-writing authors of late over-write to the point that I skip a finger down the page never missing a part of the story. Since reading this one, I've finished "The Delicate Storm" (Canada's Arthur Ellis top Award), "Black Fly Season" (pretty grim), and "By the Time You Read This" (a Gold Dagger finalist). I suggest you'll love them all. |
| Curtis |
| Lonely: A Memoir by Emily White |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Despite the subject matter I thought this memoir might be inspiring (lonely lawyer pursues real passion, succeeds as writer) and a good way to explore my own loneliness. White's personal story is interesting and White herself is extremely likable, but too much of LONELY focuses on research and case studies which are informative yet repetitive. I would have preferred more memoir and less technical writing, nevertheless it's still a worthy examination of depression vs loneliness and various stages/conditions of being lonely. |
| Genie |
| Breakwater by Carla Neggers |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Quinn Harlowe left a high-security job in the Justice Department to become an independent consultant. She thought she would have more control over her life if she was self-employed. Her hopes were dashed when Quinn found her long-time friend and former colleague, Alicia Morrow, dead near Quinn's bay side weekend cottage. At the scene she finds herself face to face with Huck McCabe who claims to be a bodyguard from the nearby Breakwater security compound. Quinn doesn't buy into his story any more than she does the local police report stating Alicia's death was an accident or suicide. Knowing her friend as well as she does, the police report doesn't add up and neither does Huck's claim. Quinn begins an investigation of her own and soon finds herself under surveillance by several different organizations. McCabe decides to confide to Quinn his true identity is that of an undercover agent sent to penetrate a violent group of vigilantes headquartered at Breakwater. Quinn has identified these same people and suspects they had a hand in Alicia's death. Joined by a common goal, Quinn and McCabe work toward bringing the wrong doers to justice before anyone else is murdered. Their goal may lead them into a disaster. |
| Joe O'Connor |
| Churchill by Paul Johnson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I have read several books on Churchill, but this concise biography gives the reader an excellent account of the statesman's life --- and several new tidbits for the expert. |
| Genie |
| Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Not one of my favorite reads, I listened to the audiobook and found it that it dragged. Overview: A year in the life of Bridget Jones as she tries to find balance in her life. This just doesn't appear to be possible as she obsesses over her weight, food, quirky family, troubled love life and her career option disasters. I saw the movie first and enjoyed it a lot more than the book, which seemed to go on a bit too long. |
| Genie |
| The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I listened to the audiobook and have to admit, it seemed a bit long. The theme is of course the fashion industry. Andrea is totally out of her element. Fresh out of college with the goal to become a writer for the" New Yorker" and has no interest in fashion. She has a boss who is impossible to please, is on call 24/7 and is always on the verge of exhaustion. The staff is supposed to look like the models, so anyone who wears a size six is considered fat. This book is supposed to be based on life at Vogue Magazine. I can only hope this is an exaggeration. I enjoyed the movie more than the book. And of course I like Meryl Streep! |
| Genie |
| Back On Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
If you are looking for happy endings and feel good themes then Blossom Streetbooks may just be your cup of tea. Set on Seattle's fictional Blossom Street, "Back on Blossom Street" begins with a new knitting class at A Good Yarn, the shop owned by Lydia Goetz. The knitters include Susannah, who runs the flower shop next door; Colette, a young widow who lives upstairs; and Alix Townsend, a baker and former street kid engaged to a future minister. Lydia always tries to encourage friendship among her pupils. This group gets off to a slower than usual start. Colette's reticence is attributed to grief, but she is actually in hiding. Alix is trying her best to please her future in-laws, but as the wedding draws near, worries that she may not be good material for a minister's wife. These overlapping stories continue the Blossom Street themes of growing friendships and tied up in neat happy endings. An easy, quick read of the chick lit type. |
| Genie |
| The Long Fall by Walter Mosley |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Walter Mosley is introducing readers to bad-guy-turned-good, Leonid McGill. He has spent his entire adult life working jobs for the mob as well as dishonest businessmen. Life has not been easy. Abandoned by his father when he was 12 years old, his mother died within the next year. The rest of his childhood was spent in foster care and then on the streets. Trained to be a boxer, these fighting skills are often put to good use. Plagued by past deeds and victims, one day when he realizes that he has been on the wrong path for all of his 50-odd years and decides to change directions. This is a great challenge and Leonid faces an uncertain future. A police lieutenant is determined to bring the P.I. down. Mobsters are refusing to accept his resolve to go straight. He turns down a number of jobs when the work conflicts with his vow to go straight. The question is what to do when the bad guys don't want to take no for an answer. This is the situation he finds himself in as this story begins. During the investigation into a series of murders, he steps on some mobster toes and finds himself in the line of fire. |
| Genie |
| God Save the Sweet Potato Queens by Jill Conner Browne |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Jill Conner Browne continues giving queenly advice in GOD SAVE THE SWEET POTATO QUEENS. A follow-up to THE SWEET POTATO QUEENS' BOOK OF LOVE, this book expands on many of the same topics: love, marriage, motherhood, fiances, style and the importance of attitude. In addition she shares a number of funny stories from fans around the country, many of whom have started royal families of their own. The chapter entitled "Matters of the Heart" is a touching story about a long time friend of the author. Of course calorie rich, yummy recipes are included: Twinkie Pie, Dinksey's Gooey Bars, and Death Chicken. |
| Judy O. (joswood@msn.com) |
| Bending Towards the Sun by Leslie Gilbert-Lurie with Rita Lurie |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a memoir from a mother-daughter team. Five-year-old Rita spent two years in an attic with 13 other Jewish family members in Poland during the Nazi invasion. The first part of the book is an account of this time and of the aftermath which eventually landed the family in the United States. It was a fascinating read. The second half of the book was not as interesting to me, as it's about the story of Rita's daughter and her life with Rita and her husband Frank. All in all, it is worth a read because it certainly is an account of a time which we hope never to see again. |
| Joe O'Connor |
| The Glory of Their Times by Lawrence S. Ritter |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
One of the best baseball books I have ever read --- makes you feel like the players from 100 years ago are sitting in your living room. The interview with Chief Meyers is one of the best interviews of all time! |
| Joe O'Connor |
| When Pride Still Mattered by David Maraniss |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The true Vince Lombardi is shown here, warts and all. Lombardi overcomes many obstacles and snubs to become the greatest NFL coach ever --- respected by friend and foe alike! |
| Joe O'Connor |
| Andrew Carnegie by David Nasaw |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Andrew Carnegie is the embodiment of the American Dream! Hard work can pay off --- this is an inspiring read in these tough economic times and Nasaw provides some great insight into the psyche of Carnegie. |
| Joe O'Connor |
| Game Six by Mark Frost |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
Here it is --- the greatest World Series game ever between the Boston Red Sox and the Reds --- I can feel the chill of an October evening in Fenway as I read Frost's account of everything, from Tiant's baseball legacy to the aches of Johnny Bench's knees! |
| Linda M. Johnson (tcheer4life@yahoo.com) |
| Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a well researched story about Thomas Cromwell who counseled Henry VIII while he divorced Katherine of Aragon then married Anne Boelyn. It is not a quick or easy read. Interesting, but at times confusing since there are so many characters --- many are named Thomas. I was very glad Ms. Mantel included information at the front of the book (including a family tree) which I could refer to when necessary. |
| Genie |
| Cadillac Beach by Tim Dorsey |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Once again Psychopathic Serge Storms and Lenny, his marijuana smoking sidekick, are back again in another of Dorsey's screwball crime-spree novels. This time they are on the trail of a stash of gems missing since 1964. Serge has escaped from the state psychiatric hospital in Chattahoochee, Florida and hits the road to Miami. He is obsessed with the idea of clearing up the mystery surrounding his grandfather's alleged suicide as well as finding the legendary dozen diamonds missing since the Murph the Surf's 1964 jewel heist from the Museum of Natural History. Serge's crusade gets off to a bad start when an altercation with a mob boss stirs the renewed interest of both the mob and the Feds in the 1964 jewel heist. As a means toward finding the jewels and generating much needed funds, Serge starts a specialty Miami tour service. His first booking is a group of drunken salesmen who, out to play a practical joke on a colleague, mistakenly kidnap a mobster. This sets off a series of hair-raising adventures as well as several murders at the hands of other mobsters. Flashbacks from Miami Beach in the 1960s are inserted in between events in the present as Serge tracks his grandfather's movements at the time of the infamous gem heist. |
| Rita P |
| The Burning Wire by Jeffery Deaver |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The horror of the victims and method of murder in the novel can keep you awake even after you're finished reading. The usual characters are there (Lincoln Rhymenovels). The twist and turns lead you one way, but don't try to guess too soon. You'll be fooled. |
| Ashley Stona |
| Rococo by Adriana Trigiani |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Her books are all terrific, but in ROCOCO she takes on the voice of a man, B, as her narrator. She was just as successful in this book as all of her others with a male narrator. You laugh as you envision the members of B's family and social circle, and she totally paints vivid mental pictures of the decor B creates in the homes and church he decorates. Great book! |
| Betty Jo (harris.bettyjo@yahoo.com) |
| The Abortionist's Daughter by Elisabeth Hyde |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A good summer read. So many people disliked the doctor --- who really killed her? I had to read to the end to find out. |
| Nanette McCall (msstish@aol.com) |
| To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I can't believe I never read this book in school. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is not at all what I expected and so much more than I could have imagined. You just find yourself immersed in Scout's world and you don't want to come out. |
| T. Thomas |
| Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the latest Stephanie Plum novel. It starts a little slow, but the pace picks up in a hurry. |
| Meme |
| Storm Prey by John Sanford |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
An inside job of robbing the hospital's pharmacy initiates the search for the thieves and the need to protect an eye witness. This is one of Sandford's more predictable stories. |
| Jackie |
| Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I haven't read any books by Tess Gerritsen in awhile but she hasn't lost her touch. I got hooked on this book and couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this one. |
| Betty Jo (harris.bettyjo@yahoo.com) |
| Sources of Light by Margaret McMullan |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This young adult novel is set in Jackson, Mississippi in 1962. Fourteen year old Sam (short for Samantha) is adjusting to life in the south after living in Pennsylvania. Her mom teaches at a small college in Jackson and Sam is a freshman in high school. |
| shyeyes |
| Private by James Patterson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Jack runs Private, an exclusive investigative firm that panders to the wealthy. Jack finds himself embroiled in a case that involves an ex-lover who is married to his best friend, add a little mob action, school girl killers and you have the makings of a page-turning thriller. |
| Julie H. |
| Weeding Out Trouble by Heather S. Webber |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Sadly, this seems to be the last story with Nina Quinn. One of her long time employees, Kit, is on the run after his former live-in girlfriend is found dead. Bobby has moved in across the street in the Mill and Nina's neighbors and family continue to be wonderful secondary characters. |
| shyeyes |
| Private by James Patterson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Jack runs Private, an exclusive investigative firm that panders to the wealthy. Jack finds himself embroiled in a case that involves an ex lover who is married to his best friend, add a little mob action, school girl killers and you have the makings of a page-turning thriller. |
| Chris |
| The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Allen weaves the mystical and whimsical into all of her books, and this one is high on both. When Emily moves to North Carolina to live with her grandfather after her mother's death, she finds much more than she expected when she begins to discover that her mom wasn't always the private, philanthropic person Emily knew. She meets a whole town full of people with secrets to share and mysteries to unravel and has to decide whether to flee or stay when she starts feeling way too tangled in the past. Good beach read, for sure! |
| Jean |
| August Heat by Andrea Camillieri |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I have really enjoyed these Italian mysteries translated into English. They take place in Sicily and are quite good. |
| Jean |
| Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
What a delight! I look forward to a new Stephanie Plum book at the start of each summer. There's really not much of a mystery, but there is certainly a lot of laughs. This one was very entertaining, with lots of laugh out loud moments. |
| Julie H. |
| The Devil's Star by Jo Nesbo |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It turns out this is the fifth book about Oslo police detective Harry Hole. It's not hard to imagine what may have occurred previously, as Harry is pretty near rock bottom --- alcohol, women, a real or imagined nemesis at work. Harry begins to make some connections to a possible serial killer after red diamonds are found at what one would think are two dissimilar crime scenes. |
| Julie H. |
| Trouble in Bloom by Heather S. Webber |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This episode of Nina Quinn's life rocks as she and Bobby star on a local reality show to see if they are well matched and to dig up dirt for Bobby's lawyer cousin. Murder ensues, and Nina's sleuthing skills are tested again. Great fun. |
| Kate |
| Honolulu by Alan Brennert |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
++ Great historical fiction by the author of MOLOKAI. This one is about a Korean picture bride and her experiences before and after her arrival in Honolulu. Really enjoyable. |
| T. Thomas |
| The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An interesting re-imagining of Sherlock Holmes. |
| mary lynn gerlach |
| Welcome to Harmony by Jodi Thomas |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
After reading "Twisted Creek" by this author I decided I would enjoy this book. It is a story of finding a place to belong and become part of a family. |
| Dorothy |
| Sidney Sheldon's After the Darkness by Sidney Sheldon and Tilly Bagshawe |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I really enjoyed this book. The heroine's husband was accused of embezzling billions of dollars. When he was found dead, it was believed to be suicide. She went to jail for being an accomplice. She escaped and the rest is great. It has a real surprise ending. Read on! |
| Dorothy |
| Family Ties by Danielle Steel |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I didn't enjoy it as much as her other books but it was good. A young single aunt raises her nieces and nephew. I would have expected them to turn out better. |
| Jud Hanson |
| Broken Prey by John Sanford |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Davenport must stop a serial killer masquerading as a released sexual predator. |
| Cheryle |
| Work Song by Ivan Doig |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Set in Butte, Montana in the early 1900's. Very well written story involving copper miners, but also libraries and people who love books. Mr. Doig has written several books set in Montana and each is very well written and readable. |
| Cheryle |
| The Dead House by Linda Fairstein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I am just getting a good start on this novel. Linda Fairstein writes from the perspective of twenty five years experience in the field of sex crimes. Her plots are very procedural and well written. This book is no exception. |
| Kate |
| The Lion by Nelson DeMille |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
FBI Terrorist Task Force agents John and Kate Corey are back at it as they save the U.S. from another terrorist. The adventure is fast paced but it's the humorous side of John Corey that appeals to me. |
| Amy (amyaquarius1977@yahoo.com) |
| Good Grief by Lolly Winston |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I thought this was going to be a tearjerker, however, it had just the right amount of humor to balance out the sadness. I thought it was an excellent portrayal of loss and dealing with loss. Loved it! |
| JoRN |
| The 7th Victim by Alan Jacobson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
First rate thriller and a page turner! |
| Tanya |
| Arcadia Falls by Carol Goodman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Dire financial straits and a desire for a fresh start take Meg and Sally from a comfortable life on Long Island to an out of the way place in New York called Arcadia Falls where Meg has accepted a teaching position at a boarding school. Folklore centers around the school really kept me wanting more. I highly recommend this book. |
| kaye |
| Secret Keepers by Mindy Friddle |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Set in the small South Carolina town of Palmetto, we spend the summer with the Hanley family; Emma, a 72 year old whose dream of a "trip of a lifetime" has gone by the wayside with the recent unexpected death of her husband. Now she spends her days taking care of her schizophrenic son, Bobby, and helping her grandson, Kyle, in a mild deception. Emma gave up her longing for trip but fate may just have something even better in store for her. Dora, Emma's daughter, is married to the overly controlling and religious Donny. Life is one constant financial struggle after another. Dora does her duty, both wifely and motherly, but looks back to her younger, more wilder days with nostalgia and pangs of regret. When Jake Carey, Dora's first love, returns to Palmetto and starts his landscaping business, the lives in Palmetto are turned upside down. The flowers he and his crew plant around town have the magical ability to bring back haunting memories to those who smell them. For Jake, it's the memories of Dora and lazy summer days. It may never be too late to find or reclaim love in the most unlikely places and when the characters least expect it. SECRET KEEPERS is a quiet story that just steals your heart. I was so taken with these characters right from the start. The Southern atmosphere was done to perfection with Friddle's beautiful writing. |
| Jean |
| Getting Old is a Disaster by Rita Lakin |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I usually love Lakin's Getting Old series. The previous books all ranked a four star rating from me. However, this one was a little flat, but still an okay read. Lakin's mysteries are light and fluffy and are as fun as watching the "Golden Girls". |
| Estelle99 |
| The Swiss Courier by Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I really enjoyed reading this book. It takes place in 1944 and is about a young woman who works for the American Office of Strategic Services in Switzerland. Her task is to get a German scientist working on an atomic bomb safely out of the country. A thrilling book! |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| The Jazz Bird by Craig Holden |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Fascinating historical crime novel set in the 1920s era of prohibition and bootlegging. Well paced and well written. But, I'm still curious about what Imogene had planned? Dodge's fall? And why didn't Remus plan for the divorce? |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Towner tells us at the beginning that she is crazy and that she is a liar. I'm fairly certain of the first, not so sure of the second. Truly a mystery, because I'm not sure we have any answers at the end. |
| Rita Herbst |
| Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the third time I have read this book. Each time I come to appreciate it more. This time I recognize the world we live in more and more. It is so well written and the character development is wonderful. |
| Julie |
| The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in this trilogy and this one is no exception. I'm going to hate to come to the end of this wonderful journey in Sweden with Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander. This book is just as much a page turner as the first two books . A gripping, nail biting tale of murder and cover-ups. |
| marion miller (lamamil@aol.com) |
| The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book was thoroughly enjoyable. I loved the references to the Impressionists and the doctor's role in the cure of the patient. However, some of it was a little contrived. I found it hard to believe that a doctor would have so much time for one patient. |
| Kaye |
| Roseflower Creek by Jackie Lee Miles |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I wanted to like this one a lot. Really, I did. Unfortunately, I found it slow. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for it even though I usually love southern lit or maybe it was the dialect the narrator used or the fact that none of the characters grabbed me or even the plot's predictability. Granted it was a sad story, and the characters had pitiful lives but a lot of that was due to their own choices for which I had no sympathy. ROSEFLOWER CREEK is a short read, a litany of one tragic event after another, but at the end of it, all I felt was depressed. This is just how the book made me feel, please make your own judgments. One thing I did like is that Miles evoked the atmosphere of a small Georgia town quite well. |
| Ed Hahn (ed_hk@yahoo.com) |
| Passage Of Arms by Eric Ambler |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The biggest problem with Ambler's books is that they are dated and read as if they are dated. Either the spy story genre has really improved or Ambler wasn't that great a writer in the first place. This story, originally published in 1959, involves the sale of a supply of arms left behind by a Communist Guerrilla group in "Malaya" and discovered by an Indian supervisor on a rubber plantation prior to Malaysia's independence. The plot involves three Chinese brothers in Malaya, The Philippines and Singapore, respectively, all of whom plan to take a cut of the profits. The brothers enlist an American tourist as the bonded recipient of the arms in Singapore. They are destined for a group of right wing rebels in Sumatra. Eventually, the American ends up in deep trouble in Sumatra. Revealing the conclusion of which would be a spoiler. The writing is somewhat stilted. The characters are fairly well drawn, though. The plot gets more and more interesting as the story goes on and comes to a satisfying if not somewhat unrealistic conclusion. I've got a couple more Amblers and will undoubtedly read them at some point, if for no other reason than they do expose the attitudes of the time and for that reason are historically interesting. |
| Gail Long |
| One Shot by Lee Child |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Ex-military investigator Jack Reacher is called in by James Barr, the man accused of a lethal sniper attack on a city that leaves five people dead, and teams up with a young defense attorney to find an unseen enemy who is manipulating events behind the scenes. Six shots. Five dead. One city thrown into a state of terror. Within hours the cops have it solved: a slam-dunk case. Except for one thing, the accused man says, "ou got the wrong guy". Then he says, "get Reacher for me". |
| Jean M |
| Hand of Fate by Lis Wiehl & April Henry |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a murder mystery. Someone has sent an envelope to a radio personality. It has something in it which kills Fate. |
| Ed Hahn (ed_hk@yahoo.com) |
| I'm a Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It's been a while since I've read any Bryson. I'm not sure how I missed this one; maybe because it's not a travel book per-se but rather a collection of weekly columns he wrote for a London weekly magazine supplement of the "London Mail on Sunday" newspaper called "Night and Day". He had just returned to the U.S. after 20 years of living in England and these 70 humorous essays are random observations written in his inimitable style. There is little else to say except, if you are an American with a sense of humor, read this book. If you are not an American, with or without a sense of humor, read this book. |
| ck |
| Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
THE GLASS CASTLE was a favorite in one of my book groups, so we chose to read the second book, a biography of Lily Casey Smith who is the author's grandmother. The chapters are short, giving a slightly choppy feel. If I were teaching, I would probably share some of the tales about thrift, laundering clothes and living in a cave/house. Very funny. Walls has written this so we might understand her odd mother, Rosemary, who enjoyed sifting through garbage on the streets of NYC in the first book. |
| Bob Senior (rewren@aol.com) |
| NIce Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I'm not sure how this craze with vampires erupted, but it appears to be in full bloom so I took the dive and decided to read NICE GIRLS DON'T HAVE FANGS. Boy was I surprised. This is a delightful book. The author's portrayal of the main character, Jane, is lighthearted, funny and thoroughly entertaining. I highly recommend this book that is far from being gruesome. The interplay between Jane and Zeb alone is worth the time. |
| Phyllis |
| Seven Year Switch by Claire Cook |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A very good summer read. Jill Murray is an almost-single mom who finds herself after several surprising events shake up her life. Jill is very lovable and you'll find yourself cheering for her all the way. |
| Rosemary Sobczak |
| The Burning Wire by Jeffrey Deaver |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Kept up my interest right to the end! |
| Su Clift |
| Dream House by Valerie Laken |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wow. This is one of those books that's just a plain ole good story, and Laken uses words perfectly. I was entertained and in awe of her talent at the same time. |
| Ed Hahn (ed_hk@yahoo.com) |
| Churchill by John Keegan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
One of the reasons I don't read more biographies is that they always provide me with more information than I want. I understand that the author, who has most likely spent years researching a person's life, wants to include as much of the research as possible, but I'm just not sure I want to plow through so much detail. This effort by John Keegan to deliver a short but comprehensive summary of Winston Churchill's life was a joy to read. I'm sure he used only secondary sources but he, somehow, managed to capture the essence of the man and why he was the way he was as well as letting us see his foibles too, all in 177 superbly written pages. In addition, there are enough snippets from his speeches to provide a real flavor of the words that Churchill used to inspire the British people "... in this, their darkest hour...." I was inspired to plan to read both Churchill's "The Second World War" as well as his "A History of the English Speaking Peoples". This volume is a fine example of Keegan's ability to cut through the mountains of detail to leave the reader with a very real sense of the man he was describing. |
| Judy O. (joswood@msn.com) |
| Bodily Harm by Robert Dugoni |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Two small boys are dead, and both of them had access to a toy that was being tested by Kendall Toy Co. Was the new toy somehow to blame? That is the question that Attorney David Sloane needs to find the answer to. People, including Sloane's wife, are being killed seemingly to protect this secret. This new thriller is well-worth reading. |
| Barbara (bdorm@aol.com) |
| South of Broad by Pat Conroy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Slow to start but then a great tale. I cried for the heroes stuck in their roles, eight in their communities. |
| Barbara (bdorm@aol.com) |
| Dracula the Undead by Dacre Stoker |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a different way to look at Dracula, but certainly not as scary as the original. |
| Gail Long |
| Rescuing Olivia by Julie Compton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Anders Erickson has fallen in love with Olivia. One afternoon they go for a motorcycle ride and a car runs them off the road, causing an accident and leaves Olivia in a coma. Olivia's estranged father doesn't want them together, and goes to great lengths to keep Anders away from Olivia. Olivia disappears from the hospital and Anders begins a long search which begins in Florida, then to Connecticut, and finally to Africa where Olivia grew up. Anders must race against time to try to rescue Olivia and has to confront his own past in the process. A great book. |
| Sandy |
| Hit and Run by Lawrence Block |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It started out a little slow, but picked up right away. Nice short chapters and easy to read. |
| Gail Long |
| In the Woods by Tana French |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A first novel by this author, written in first person, which took me directly into the emotions of Robert. Twenty years ago, Robert and two of his friends went into the woods next to their homes and Robert was the only one who came out. He became an investigator as an adult and although he has many issues that get in the way of his success when investigating, the book is written in such a way that you can't put it down. A great read for a book club because there is so much to discuss. |
| Kari Rose |
| The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Most of the time, I read fiction. However, this nonfiction book is fascinating. The brutal murder, the dysfunctional family dynamic and the historical perspective of police investigation combine to create a mesmerizing story --- all the more shocking because it is true. |
| Gail Long |
| 61 Hours by Lee Child |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Jack Reacher really got himself in a bind in this adventure story. When a tour bus on which he bummed a ride skids off the road and crashes, he finds himself in Bolton, South Dakota. A methamphetamine lab run by a very violent drug cartel has begun operating at an abandoned military facility in Bolton. Reacher helps the local cops figure out what is happening and his military intelligence background is a great asset. The ending is a huge cliff-hanger. |
| Gail Long |
| Broken by Karin Slaughter |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A very fast-paced murder investigation that involves many secrets of the employees of the local police department. A great summer read. |
| Akela |
| Nine Dragons by Michael Connelly |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is intricately plotted and with an almost plausible resolution of several story lines. Yet, there is much that is strangely handled: Why is Bosch's daughter abducted for purposes of organ transplants, while the classmate with her at the time is casually murdered and the body just discarded? The current lover of murdered ex-FBI agent, Eleanor, mother of Bosch's child, shows minimal grief, but moments after Eleanor's death he assumes an absolutely vital, yet passionless, role in the story, despite Bosh's actions that caused the death? Several cuts below, say, "The Lincoln Lawyer". |
| Jan Kanowitz (pooohcat@AOL.com) |
| Breaking Out of Bedlam by Leslie Larson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Cora is an 82 year-old overweight woman who is put into an assisted living home by her kids. Cora adjusts, meets a suave man, and wants to marry him. The book goes back into Cora's life that touches on an event that changed her life. This book is very well written, humorous and engaging. A winner! Cora's life will stay with you a long time. |
| Fran |
| Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia Ahern |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
My least favorite Ahern book. |
| Christine |
| The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Jodi Picoult's characters are complex and interesting . One day Daniel's daughter comes home to tell him she's been raped. But from there the story develops many twists and turns which keep the reader guessing as to what will happen next. |
| Rosalie Leon |
| The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a story about a cooking class, it is written so well, the descriptions make you salivate. The author brings you into the lives of the class participants: a new Mother, a lawyer, a long married couple, a kitchen designer and others. You see how the characters' development is entwined with the cooking. I loved the book and sent another copy to my daughter-in-law in Japan! She said she read it so slowly because she didn't want it to end! |
| Renee |
| Nature Girl by Carl Hiaasen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Pretty sure Carl creates his outlandish characters with the intent of keeping the rest of us out of his beloved Florida. Another great summer escape. |
| Julie Caldwell (cdlmeup4@yahoo.com) |
| So Cold The River by Michael Koryta |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a very large book, but I read it in only three sittings. Keeps you captivated with the author's descriptions and emotions. Loved it! I am going to have to check out the author's other book! |
| Dara |
| A Mountain Between us by Charles Martin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Once again Charles Martin has created a tender and moving story. The book is about Dr. Ben Payne and Ashley who are stranded in the mountains of Utah after their plan crashes. It is more than a story about wildness survival, it is also about overcoming one's owns feelings about what life deals you. |
| Coral Harrison |
| The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sara Addison Allen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a book you will remember. It's sort of a fairy tale type of book so it all turns out right. Very well written and enjoyable to read. |
| Book Momma (Bookmomma@aol.com) |
| Inside Out by Barry Eisler |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is the second in a new series by Eisler, author of the John Rain thrillers. It is a bit overloaded with detail, but has some harrowing action sequences. |
| Audrey Anderson |
| Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
My summer read --- the newest paperback in the Sookie Stackhouse series, better known as "TrueBlood". This series is not as hard edged as Laurell K. Hamilton's. There's sex, but she manages to describe each tryst in a page, not 27 pages of blow by blow details. In this book there were animals that came out of the closet and a Faerie War spills over onto earth because it's about earth. This is a good beach type read. They're normal size --- 250-300 pages, and if you're not put off by vampires they are a quick, entertaining read with some humor. I know two people who don't read anything vampire, so if you cannot read about vampire's this one is not for you because they are the core of the series. Now I have to wait until next spring for the next one. |
| Gail Coulson |
| Faithful Place by Tana French |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I haven't finished this yet but the story is really moving along. Tana French does a great job of describing the neighborhood and the interactions (or lack of) among the neighbors. |
| Renee (ReneeLepley@gmail.com) |
| Live to Tell by Lisa Gardner |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Lisa Gardner again grabs the reader's attention from the first page. With no other distractions, I would love to finish it at one sitting. However, life does interfere. |
| Betty Jo (harris.bettyjo@yahoo.com) |
| Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I really enjoyed her follow-up to THE GLASS CASTLE. Her grandmother Lily's character sure explains some of Rosemary's quirks. |
| Carol Wong |
| Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I can barely put this book down. Some of her memories are like mine but I had forgotten them until now. This book is so funny and so different. I feel like I could sit down with the author and talk with her for hours. |
| Judith Vianna (j.vianna@cox.net) |
| House Rules by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The twists and turns of his mind and his reality are what makes this book a must read for everyone. His obsessions and passion are the key to the crime. |
| Jean M |
| Solomon vs. Lord by Paul Levine |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A really fun book. This is the first I have read of this author. I intend to read more of them. |
| Audrey Anderson |
| I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a non fiction written, with help, by Nujood who was forced to marry at age 10. She was the first child bride in Yemen to win a divorce. This is the kind of story that makes you glad you are not living under Muslim tribal laws. She shares a tribal saying --- to guarantee a happy marriage, marry a nine year old girl. She and her family live in poverty that we cannot even imagine in this country. I was raised by a single mom in govt. housing and we were poor, but I never had to beg in the streets for change or bread. This is a book that makes you count your blessings. |
| Pattie Berryhill (pattiberr@aol.com) |
| The First Rule by Robert Crais |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A blistering thriller featuring Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. Sometimes the past is never dead. |
| Sandra V |
| Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A classic John Irving tale, spans five decades of the lives of father and son, written with historical authenticity and emotional authority. |
| Endorra (endorra@aol.com) |
| Gourmet Rhapsody by Muriel Barbery |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This novel has just been translated from the French. It preceded her best selling novel, THE ELEGANCE OF THE HEDGEHOG. The setting and one of the characters will be familiar to those who read "Hedgehog". I found this novel different but just as unique as her first release. |
| Book Momma (Bookmomma@aol.com) |
| The Search by Nora Roberts |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The heroine escaped a serial murderer years ago, and now he's sent a surrogate to finish the job. The details of training search and rescue dogs are fascinating, and there's a great love story. |
| Dan H. |
| The Host by Stephenie Meyer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
"Souls", infiltrating the Earth's populations, have invaded and taken over. The only outward signs are that people no longer argue or fight, and irrational behavior seems to be a thing of the past. The unfortunate truth, though, is that each of the parasitic invaders must (?) destroy the original "consciousness" of the body they are implanted within. But some people are fighting back, both by fighting capture, AND by fighting the loss of their "selves" after having been "possessed". I took this book on vacation, and was roundly chastised for being unable to "Put it DOWN, and get some SLEEP!" This was a masterful treatment of an unexpectedly thoughtful and well-evolved "But it doesn't HAVE to BE this way..." concept. |
| Audrey Anderson |
| Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is number two in the Mercy Thompson Series. Mercy is a mechanic who is also a shape shifter who shifts into a coyote. She was raised by the werewolf leader and is now on her own. In this story the faeries and the werewolves have made themselves known to humanity. The werewolves are the stars of the show in this series. The vampires have not made themselves known and are secondary. In this story a vampire has "turned" a human possessed by a demon and it is causing deaths that will soon be blamed on the werewolf's. In addition, the demon presence takes away the werewolf's control and the demon can overcome other vampires sent after it. It seems it's up to the little coyote to pull their fannies out of the fire. This is a terrific series if you enjoy the paranormal fantasy books. |
| Judith Vianna (j.vianna@cox.net) |
| The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellently written and kept a well maintained pace throughout the book, just as in his other two books. It is a shame to have lost such a talented author. |
| Kimberly |
| Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
These are great characters whose lives are affected by a tragedy and are caught up in the mystery of the past. Couldn't put it down! |
| Daryl Evangelista |
| Pursuit by Karen Robards |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I was listening to it on CD in the car and sometimes I would just stay in the car in the driveway to keep listening. It really kept my interest! |
| Jean M |
| The House at Riverton by Kate Morton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved this book. I intend to read more by this author. This one reminded me of "Jane Eyre" which I read as a teenager. (I am now in my 70s) |
| Jay |
| The Help by Kathryn Stockett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Sad but true. Everyone should read it to see how slavery hadn't disappeared, just another form of it. |
| Audrey Anderson |
| Be A Goddess by Francesca De Grandis |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
How can that be all bad? My friend loaned this to me to get me started meditating. She could not find the correct passage and I just went ahead and read it and found it. Since I was quite a ways in I continued to read it. The best description that I could give is a comment on the back that says it's a playful guide. It's done very much like a self help. Love yourself and everything about yourself and think positive type comments. It is a perfect "flower child" manual with spells thrown in for good measure; including a love potion type spell. I just don't know if it would work on boomers --- is there a freshness type requirement or a built in expiration date that renders love potions nil after 50? |
| Audrey Anderson |
| Midnight Rambler by Linda Barlow |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I got this book because somewhere I read a recommendation for the author. This is a Silhouette Desire novel. On the back it says it's a contemporary romance and that probably describes it best. It is what I think of as a typical romance novel my friends in high school liked to read while I was into sci-fi. I have reached for it and changed my mind many times, but I need something small to go in my purse to the doctor's office on Tuesday so I decided it was a good time to try this author. I'll have to say I read the whole book which was easy. It's a quick, light read and I enjoyed it. If you are into romance she might be one you would like to try. I will probably not read another, but romance is not my favorite genre. If it's yours and you haven't tried her, I think she's worth it. |
| Audrey Anderson |
| Heat by Bill Buford |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
He is a staff writer for "The New Yorker", or was when he wrote it. It's a non-fiction book that I thoroughly enjoyed. HEAT is a memoir of his kitchen adventures during a time when he decided he wanted to pursue his interest in cooking. He hooked up with Mario Batali --- you may have seen him on the Food Channel. He's also the Iron Chef with the pony tail. This was not a sit down and read from cover to cover like a fiction book, but it was just as enjoyable. It took me probably a month to read as it followed me all around the house from room to room and I read it little by little mostly, but sometimes I'd read a section. I learned a lot. I learned chefs can be pretty eccentric and that they rule their kitchens like an Admiral. I learned how to properly cook short ribs --- yum. I learned that the faint of heart should not aspire to becoming a chef because working in restaurant kitchens is exhausting, hot and sometimes dangerous. I loved the author's style of writing, which was humorous and shared his thoughts and self talk. His search to learn about food takes him to Italy and more eccentric personalities. It was a delightful, informative read. If you are a food channel watcher or enjoy learning about preparing food, you will love this book. |
| Allie |
| Meridon by Philippa Gregory |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is part three of the Wideacre Series. A great historical novel about gypsies and the landed gentry. |
| Jane Burdette |
| Altar of Eden by James Rollins |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I had never read anything by James Rollins, until I read ALTAR OF EDEN. What encouraged me to read it was what was written on the back cover. ALTAR OF EDEN by James Rollins, is well written, researched and keeps you hooked all the way through the book. I finished reading the book in less than two days, that is how fascinating this book was. It is a book that will make you think about the plot of the story. Everyone has read or heard about the modern breakthroughs in genetic medicine. The bad side are the genetic doctors and researchers who step beyond ethical boundaries (playing God). ALTAR OF EDEN has both sides of an issue that many people debate about. ALTAR OF EDEN to me, was well written, fast paced, and a excellent researched book. The only thing I did not like about the book, was its size as a trade size paperback. It was too heavy. I loved the large print, but it was too heavy. I had to use a pillow to support my hand as I read the book. |
| Donna Cruze |
| The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is one of those classics I never got around to reading. I'm in the early stages, but it's charming. |
| Stavros |
| A Plague of Secrets by John Lescroart |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I would consider Lescroart a master of legal thrillers. Many twists and suspenseful until the end. A good summer read. |
| Daryl Evangelista |
| Smash Cut by Sandra Brown |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I want to keep reading it to find out what's going to happen next! |
| Debra Kelley (debbie_60435@msn.com) |
| Man Made God: A Collection Of Essays by Barbara G. Walker |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
An excellent expose of long-lost religions including goddess-based religions as well as the present male-dominated ones. I couldn't put this book down! This book will make you really think about where religion really came from as well as entertain and enlighten you. This one's a keeper. |
| Tanya F in Colorado |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
My husband and daughter gave this book to me for Mother's Day based on a recommendation from a lady in the Target book section. She assured them that it was not a "dead dog story." She lied!!!! This was one of the saddest books I've read in a very long time, but it was also very good. |
| Bea Carroll |
| God Of War by Marisa Silver |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A "can't put it down book" told through the eyes of a 12 year old boy who is filled with guilt for something that happened when he was only 7 --- he dropped his baby brother. This book covers quite a few subjects: children's guilt, mis-communication among families, mother's holding their children back. It has that "oooh!" moment you can't forget. |
| Denne Howard |
| The Art of Racing in The Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
You don't have to be a dog lover to enjoy this story. It is not about dogs, but a unique story told through the eyes of a dog. It does use Car Racing as an 'instrument' but it's not about racing --- it involves too much for me to fully express how it touched my heart. |
| Beverly J. Rowe (bevbooks@aol.com) |
| Still Missing by Chevy Stevens |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I just finished this debut thriller, and it blew me away. I thought I had it figured out, but I wasn't even close. What a book! Read it. You will never forget it. |
| Linda S. |
| Kraken by China Mieville |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the first of Mieville's books I've read. He is a staggeringly brilliant writer. I rarely find novels that are so packed with cultural relevance, language mastery and voice. Mieville is obviously a brilliant man, and to top it all off it's a fun and engrossing story. In this case, the body of a preserved giant squid has vanished from the British Museum, and it now seems the apocalypse is at hand. Based on real poems written about "kraken", and a real giant squid-worshiping religious cult, KRAKEN is a masterwork of magic and intrigue. |
| Darlene Peterson |
| The Book Thief by Markus Zusak |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Our book club just finished reading this book and we all rated it a must read.The story takes place in Nazi Germany. The characters are so real that you feel you know them.You'll have tears by the end of the book. It's a book of words --- beautiful words. Some reviewers have said they don't like Death as the narrator, but who else could view the story from all sides. It was written as a book for youth, but it will touch everyone who reads it. |
| Andrea |
| Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Everyone in my book club LOVED this book. It is a truly amazing story with wonderful characters and well written. |
| garypaul@yahoo.com |
| Killing Willis by Todd Bridges |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a book that I find interesting. |
| Phoenix |
| Comfort: A Journey Through Grief by Ann Hood |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A searing elegy to the author's daughter, who died as a child from a serious illness. This is one of the most eloquent books I've read concerning the reality of what it's like to survive great grief, and to find ways to create a new life while still honoring the one who's been lost. Hood doesn't settle for platitudes or easy answers, but I found comfort for my own losses in the honesty of her words. |
| Pat Stuckey |
| The Inn at Angel Island by Thomas Kinkade & Katherine Spencer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I always enjoyed his Cape Light series and this is the newest installment. You could almost predict the ending but it was worth the read anyway!! |
| Debra Kelley (debbie_60435@msn.com) |
| Bid Time Return by Richard Matheson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This, in my opinion, is the best romantic time travel book ever written. Originally written in 1975, this book was translated to the big screen as the movie "Somewhere in Time". While I love the movie, I find the book superior in every respect. I read this book every year! I just love it. One of my favorite books. |
| endorra (endorr@aol.com) |
| The Leavenworth Case by Anna Katharine Greene |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Once purported to be the first American detective novel, it was Ms. Greene's debut novel and what a debut it was. After all these years, published in 1878, it still is outstanding as a distinct American detective novel. By the way, it came out nine years before the Sherlock Holmes novels. |
| Karen |
| Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War by Karl Marlantes |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Graphic, truthful and insightful. Written by a Vietnam vet, you get a real view of what hell these guys went through. Not only were the conditions horrible but the upper-level leadership was awful. Scenes from this book will stay with me forever. |
| Casey |
| The Tale of Halcyon Crane by Wendy Webb |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A good mystery but not a page turner or stay-up-all-night read. About a girl who moves into a haunted house with plenty of old ghosts. |
| Nicolee (nicolecolee@yahoo.com) |
| The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I really enjoyed this book and it was a wild ride from page one. It really left me guessing until the end. I didn't give it the full five stars because I did feel there were certain aspects of the novel that were not quite believable. Overall, this was a good read and the ending will leave you shocked! |
| Sue, Saratoga |
| A Gate At The Stairs by Lorrie Moore |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I'd attended a reading by Lorrie Moore and she was so witty, I found myself chuckling. The insights and running commentary of the main character Tassie were clever and well-written, though I wasn't sure what the book was ultimately trying to say. Tassie encounters many losses over the course of the novel --- her brother is killed, her parents' marriage is dissolving, the child she helped cared for was put back in a foster home, and then her boyfriend deceives and leaves her. But she always keeps her head above water which I admire in her character. I do recommend it and would love to hear what others think. |
| Kathy Vallee |
| The Good Girls Guide to Murder by Susan McBride |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
(A debutante dropout mystery) web designer high society dropout Andrea finds herself helping her mom once again. Her mom Cissy's friend is just about to open a new we site and all the other web designers quit after just a couple of days so Andy's mom says she will do it and now Andy is right in the middle of all the fire and death. |
| Sue, Saratoga |
| The Summer Guest by Justin Cronin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
His new release which has gotten a lot of buzz is about Sci-Fi. This book is about relationships and our place in the world. It appealed to me because the characters were nuanced, not one-dimensional and it had a great ending, where so many fall flat at the end. There were times it got a little hokey but otherwise was well written. It takes place in Maine, a summer fishing camp around which all their lives gravitate. I kept wanting to pick it up, which is always a good sign! |
| Pat Stuckey |
| The Walk by Richard Paul Evans |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Very good --- it reminded me of Peter Jenkins' WALK ACROSS AMERICA book of several years ago. Evans' books are always great!!! It will probably be a movie one day soon. |
| Sue Brandes (katsrus@gmail.com) |
| Foolish Games by Karen Wiesner |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was my first read from this author and also an inspirational book. I really liked how she told how each character was dealt with healing through their faith. She took everyday troubles and made you understand what each person was going through. I was surprised at the end of the book with a slight turn that I did not expect. Overall the book was an enjoyable read. |
| GladysMP |
| To Love A Stallion by Deberah Fletcher Mello |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A delightful little love story with one stubborn heroine and a patient hero. |
| FOH |
| In the Forest by Edna O'BRien |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
I couldn't finish this one --- never grabbed my interest. |
| Sean from OHIO |
| Island Of The Sequined Love Nun by Christopher Moore |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Only Christopher Moore could come up with this wacky masterpiece about tropical island cultures, organ theft, airline pilots, and cargo cults. Somehow Moore, once again, creates a world that is equal parts ridiculous and believable. I don't know if any other writer could even do something like this. It's twisted in such a perfect way. I would love it if Moore revisited the Shark people in a future novel. Great stuff!! |
| Margaret Holdman |
| The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book has it all. A beautifully written story of love and war. It takes you to Paris and Budapest before and during WW2. I grew to love the characters and hated to come to the end of the book. This is one I would truly like to read again for the first time. Please do not miss this one. |
| Phyllis |
| Insatiable by Meg Cabot |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
INSATIABLE is Meg Cabot's entry into the vampire world and is written with a twist and her usual clever humor. |
| Nicole C. |
| Girl In Translation by Jean Kwok |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I am reading this book right now, and while I haven't finished it yet, I have to give it 5 stars. It is a great book! |
| Lorna |
| Hide by Lisa Gardner |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
"Annabelle," now an adult discovers the reason her family moved every couple of years since she was seven years old. Lots of questions are finally answered. It all starts when six bodies are discovered in a chamber on a deserted mental hospital. One of the bodies is wearing a locket with Annabelles name on it. She contacts the police to let them know she had given it to her childhood friend that went missing over twenty years ago. Second book with Det. Bobby Dodge and Det. DD Warren. |
| LD (okieway@aol.com) |
| A Stranger Like You by Elizabeth Brundage |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
It was hard to follow the chapters with no titles or indication that they were about previous events. Of course I finally figured it out. It would have been more pleasant to read had the author chosen to give a hint of guidance in chapter titles or the first sentence of chapters what she was writing about. |
| Louise Droz (louisedroz@comcast.net) |
| Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I have been up and down with Irving's book, but this one is back to the quality of CIDER HOUSE RULES and THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP! The characters are so realistic that I dream about them at night, and I love the setting of New England (my home). I feel like I am living this story. |
| Sharon |
| Still Missing by Chevy Stevens |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Really intense read that is tempered by the occasional dry wit of the narrator/victim, Annie O' Sullivan. Expect the unexpected in this book. Even though the reader knows that the victim survives her abduction and returns home (she's the one narrating the story, through visits to her therapist), the author delivers a quite surprising conclusion to the book. |
| Kathy Poulin |
| The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Great read! Thoroughly enjoyed the story. Would recommend to everyone who enjoys a good mystery or just a good story that is well written. |
| Mary |
| Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Very good historical fiction about favored slave women from the south who accompany their masters to a resort in Ohio in the summer during the post civil war days. I could not put it down. |
| Erin Cook (erincook@cfl.rr.com) |
| The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Doran Barbieri |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The only reason I did not give this a 5-star rating is because I felt it ended a little abruptly. I wanted more of the story, more involvement in the lives of the women of Glenmara. Kate starts out as the central character who uproots herself from Seattle after losing pieces of her heart to love and grief. She is wandering around Ireland with her sleeping bag and happens upon a traveling man and a small town on the coast, Glenmara. There she becomes part of a group of women. They all learn and expand the craft of lace making which leads them to healing, love, forgiveness and mischief. You'll laugh and cry and want a pair of lace knickers by book's end. I still want their stories to continue, so I hope a companion book is in the works. |
| Fran |
| Half of a Yellow Sun: A Novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a historical fiction account of he Biafran War, a civil war in Nigeria in the late 60's, a time and place I know very little about. The main characters in the book are middle class Biafrans and we follow their struggle to survive the calamities of war times in their country. The characters depicted were well developed and interesting. Parts of the book were difficult to read due to their graphic nature, but overall the author strives to capture the sense of hope and resilience of the people during this time. |
| Brady (bradylee@myway.com) |
| Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall & Denver Moore |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This non-fiction book is about love of your fellow man, but more specifically the almost dissolution of a marriage and the reaffirmation that catches fire in both parties. All this PLUS the relationship between a street person to the couple in question which blossoms like a whole field of wild flowers in colorful profusion. I did shed a few tears while reading towards the end. |
| Mary Ann Haske |
| Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Fascinating story about best friends who have different hopes and dreams, and the conflict that these differences cause. |
| Angie L. |
| Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
One of the best modern fantasies I've read in a long time. It is written for a YA audience, but it is totally enjoyable for the older set!!! It has roots in Irish/Celtic mythology and legends - very creepy, heartbreaking, and beautifully written! Comes out in November! |
| Dean |
| One Mississippi by Mark Childress |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
This book started off nice enough--at least in the first quarter of the book ---humor, Mississippi, adventures in moving there from the midwest back in the 60's from a high schooler's perspective. But it went into a downhill spiral about middle ways through the book. Depressing and dark. Dark and depressing. Did I say depressing and...also disappointing. By the way, it is ridiculous to think that a high schooler in MS in the early 1970s or 1960s would date someone of another race. Such crime would likely have been followed by being run out of town on top of a rail. And the way this book treats the two gay characters is disappointing. It makes gay people out to be depressive, suicidal psychopaths. All in all, it was a waste of several evenings of my time because it left me with a horrible feeling. |
| Elizabeth (meadowmist@comcast.net) |
| The Scent of Rain and Lightening by Nancy Pickard |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
MAY BE SPOILERS! Jody Linder was left an orphan at the age of three, and the man who had been accused of killing her parents 20 years ago is being released from jail on this hot, muggy, rainless day in Rose, Kansas. Her uncles arrived together at her home to tell her the news. The story then moves from the present back to the events that led up to the Laurie and Hugh-Jay Linder's murder. The Linder family owned a huge cattle ranch, and every family member except Belle along with hired hands, which included Billy Crosby, worked for them. Hugh-Jay Linder woke up one morning to broken fences and a dead, pregnant cow --- he KNEW it had been Billy Crosby. Hugh-Jay planned a scenario to get Billy at the ranch and have him arrested for the crime. As a thunderstorm is raging outside the tavern where the Linder children are enjoying their evening, Billy Crosby comes along and says that there was no evidence that proves that he broke the fences and killed the cow, and that he was free and clear. He was also very drunk, crude and loud, and was thrown out by the tavern owner. When everyone woke up the next morning, Annabelle Linder was rounding up her children to get some pancakes at a local restaurant. She had to go to her son's house to waken him and his wife but found the doors all locked, and that was unusual. She then found her son dead in an upstairs bedroom. Her screaming roused the neighbor, and he came running over to find the grisly scene. Billy Crosby was of course the sole suspect because of his previous actions and drunkenness from the night before Later, a trial takes place. The trial of Billy Crosby got him forty plus twenty years in prison for the murder. Meanwhile, the Linder family and the town of Rose, Kansas had to try to carry on. It was always difficult when Annabelle Linder ran into Valentine Crosby and Collin Crosby --- Billy's wife and son. Valentine and Collin were ostracized in the town, and poor Collin had a rough time at school as well. Along with mourning their son and his wife, the senior Linders had to raise Jody and help her cope with the tragedy. It was a difficult ordeal for everyone. When things finally started getting back to normal, Billy Crosby is released from jail and the fear, memories, and pain all resurface. What made the release worse was the talk that some folks believed Billy never killed Jody's parents, and that he had been framed. Events lead to more trouble for the small town of Rose, Kansas, and the Linder family. The ending is a little predictable, but also a surprise and is definitely a page turner.. You will like the story. The love and kindness the Linder family has for everyone draws you into the storyline. I am going to rate it a 4/5 because it was a little slow at times, but the mystery keeps you guessing. |
| Meredith Miller |
| The One That I Want by Alison Winn Scotch |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Change can be a huge thing, especially when your life has been perfect and comfortable for years. A small town girl marries her high school sweetheart, who gets restless years later to realize his dreams of getting out of that small town. |
| Jacqueline C. |
| 32 Candles by Ernessa T. Carter |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It's both hilarious and touching. Carter puts a unique twist on the film "Sixteen Candles." |
| Tanya |
| A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the story of one dog's search for his purpose over the course of several lives. It is told in the dog's point of view. The book is very different and I recommend reading it. |
| Carol G. |
| The Brazen Bride by Stephanie Laurens |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
3rd of the Black Cobra quartet, it follows in the footsteps of her other books. A good, quick summer read. |
| Christy M. |
| Blind Spot by Nancy Bush |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book just totally rocks! Full of suspense and intrigue! I was on the edge of my seat and what an ending! |
| Kay |
| Crossing Stones by Helen Frost |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a good historical fiction narrative written in verse, this novel is set during WWI. Four characters alternate telling this story and it is very enjoyable. This is a good young adult novel and adults would also enjoy this story. |
| Reva Wamsley (prwamsley@roadrunner.com) |
| The 13th Apostle by Richard & Rachael Heller |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This was a good book in that it had a lot of action but I was disappointed with one part of it. Gil, an American cybersleuth & Sabby, a Israeli translator, follow clues to find a copper scroll, written in Jesus' days. The writer was supposedly the 13th apostle. However, the tale he tells, goes against my beliefs so in that part, I was not happy with the book. |
| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
| Life Sentences by Laura Lippman |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This book was about a writer who decides her next book is going to be about her childhood friends with the focus on Callie who was accused of killing her infant son. Baltimore is the setting. I find it very frustrating when an author makes it difficult to figure out where you are and who you are reading about when they transition from one chapter to another. This novel was choppy and somewhat disorganized. I found I was often trying to figure out which character she was writing about and where we were in time. Present? Past? The ending was OK. It did tie up loose ends, but it was anticlimactic. The author revealed pieces of the story bit by bit which builds suspense, but I felt like she placed these revelations in inappropriate places. It became confusing. This is the second book I've read by this author. I really liked "What the Dead Know". This one was not her best. |
| M. Archer |
| The Film Club by David Gilmour |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An autobiographical story of a film critic and father who allows his son to drop out of high school if he will watch three movies a week with him. The movies he chose and their discussions were fascinating. The story of the son's maturing and the decision he finally made was interesting but I felt there should be some sort of disclaimer on this book --- "Parents do not try this at home". |
| Carol G |
| The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The book THE APPRENTICE is the first in the series now being shown on TNT on cable television. The characters are great, the story is tight and the acting is great. What more can one ask for from a Tess Gerritsen. This is reviewed from a DVD from TNT. |
| Michelle A. |
| Whiter Than Snow by Sandra Dallas |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An avalanche in a mining town sweeps over a handful of school children on their way home, bringing the members of the town together to rescue and remember. The book explores family members' stories and the children involved. Telling what brought them to the remote mining town and how the avalanche would change them. |
| Michelle A. |
| Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A series of short stories which not only occur in the same small seaside town but also each involve either remotely or intimately the life of Olive Kitteridge. Olive is a complicated character who is both fierce and kind. I didn't think I would like her at first but by the end of the book we became friends. |
| Judy O. (joswood@msn.com) |
| The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Seven-year-old Lavinia is orphaned while she is on a ship from Ireland. She is brought to a Virginia tobacco plantation where she is to live and work with the slaves of the kitchen house. Lavinia finds herself living in two worlds --- the white world of the plantation owners and the black world of the dear family of slaves who adopt her. This is a close look at the life of a Virginia plantation during the very early 1800s. It is a great story! |
| Phylli (nana221@aol.com) |
| Love Walked In by Marisa De los Santos |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A true love story but it is not the conventional type. It is the story of falling in love with a child and all of the magic, confusion and heartrending events that transpire when that child is not yours. The child is not even a relative of the main character, but their love story is still spellbinding. Another one of those books that you wish wouldn't end, yet you can scarcely wait to see how it all works out --- or doesn't. |
| Dana |
| I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Amazing excerpt from book: "I'd want to feel myself mold with her, just for a moment, if that's all I'm allowed. She smiles at me when she wins a round, and I smile back. Want me, I beg, but nothing comes." |
| Jon |
| Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderful thriller/mystery set in England. Very enjoyable reading experience. Highly recommended |
| Phyllis (nana221@aol.com) |
| The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a story about a lost child and one woman's search for that child. Abby loses sight of her fiancee's child for a brief moment and the child disappears on a foggy beach. A story about a missing child should be depressing, but Abby's search was not only for the child, but her search for the tiniest fragment of information in her memory are intriguing and informative as well. If you read this book, you will never see a "Missing Child" poster through the same eyes. |
| Serena |
| Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene DuBois |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is an older (1947) Newbury Medal winning children's book. It was an interesting read about a man who decides to travel by balloon for a year. |
| Mary Rodriguez (mary.rodriguez@usdoj.gov) |
| Star Island by Carl Hiaasen |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I enjoyed reading it and then I donated to my library (budget cuts) for other readers to enjoy. |
| T. Thomas |
| Night of the Living Deed by E. J. Copperman |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
It reminds me of "The Ghost" and "Mrs. Muir", only with a mystery attached. |
| T. Thomas |
| Fever Dream by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The latest Pendergast. A fast read, the ending would indicate anotherPendergast will be forthcoming. |
| Betty |
| Heart of the Matter by Emily Griffin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book makes you happy and sad towards the end lets you decide between the two. It is a story of two women who love the same man. One is the wife and the other is the mistress. But unlike soap operas, this book put both women in a good light. While no one likes the "other woman", you at least can relate to her and why she fell in love with a married man. While it's not a mystery it does keep you wondering what will happen in the end. I won't spoil it for you but I do encourage everyone to read it even if it this isn't your normal kind of reading. |
| Erin Cook (erincook@cfl.rr.com) |
| Hannah's List by Debbie Macomber |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Mid-thirties and a widow. How do you learn to smile again? Your wife has been gone a year and she sends you the answer in the form of a letter and a list. A list of three women she thinks could help you find love again. Beautifully written with sub-stories of loss and renewal. Macomber's most recent book is filled with laughter and heart. A good reminder of how precious life can be. |
| Anita Nowak |
| House Rules by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was a wonderful book by one of my favorite authors, Jodi Picoult. It is the story of a young boy who has Aspergers Syndrome --- it is both a serious story about his tutor, who is found murdered, which leads the police to believe the young man, Jacob committed the murder. However there are also moments of humor throughout the book, and you don't really know the outcome until the very end. It also gave a realistic view of someone with this syndrome, which I really didn't understand until I read the novel. |
| Shines |
| Sweet Misfortune by Kevin Alan Milne |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is fun to read romance with a twist. Sophie's outlook on life, related to her past, leads "misfortune cookies" created for her chocolate shop. There are cute "intro misfortunes" for each chapter. This is the third book for this author. |
| Bernadette (bernadette@hollandparkpress.co.uk) |
| King of Tuzla by Arnold Jansen op de Haar |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The novel is set in Bosnia just before the fall of Srebrenica. King of Tuzla does not describe military battles or discuss strategies but instead it shows how war affects ordinary people, soldiers and civilians. These people deserve to be heard. The author used his own experiences as a young army captain of the UN unit stationed at Tuzla airbase as the basis for the story. This moving fictional tale also features a writer struggling to find his own voice and identity. |
| Phyllis |
| City of Angels by Sheralyn Pratt |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
"City of Angels" is a fast paced action adventure. Rhea Jensen is a 24 year old PI whose current case is investigating an embezzlement for the company, Jock Stock. She's developed lots of martial arts moves, her intuition and is working on a tool to unlock handcuffs which can be added to her bracelet. She's also got a major crush, since high school, on a good friend. During her investigative work and trying to move the boyfriend from friendship to romance, she runs into two Mormon missionaries who change her life. "City of Angels" is a quick, easy read. |
| Weezy |
| The Seamstress by Frances De Pontes Peebles |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Peebles renders the label 'seamstress' inadequate [as most labels are] after taking readers through this story of two lives thrown in totally different directions during a revolution. It is such a compelling depiction of how self-concept can move our lives in unimaginable ways. |
| Melissa Jordan |
| Broken by Karin Slaughter |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Awesome...never ceases to surprise! |
| Sharron |
| Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
As always, the madcap adventures of Stephanie Plum and her sidekick Lula, offers lots of surprises and laughs. And, as always, the question becomes: Joe Morelli or Ranger? Will we ever find out? Will Stephanie always be the same age? |
| SallyAnn |
| The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I may have missed the author's intent in this book. The story is divided into four parts. It is the story of a girl with a gift, from eight years old into her 20s. Rose lives with her father, a lawyer, her fanciful mother, and her brother, Joseph, with his own weird gift. It is a story of a dysfunctional family with each person playing a unique part. Rose's gift is the 'gift of food tasting' but not just the flavor of the food, but the growing, marketing and finally the cooking. All of the steps it takes from beginning to end. She can tell you the local it was grown, how it was marketed, and what the cook was feeling while it was prepared. This is not at all good. Her writing was wonderful and I would stop and just re-read sentences: "A name so vague I never remember it," and "Out the window, the breeze less stillness of a desert spring." |
| Linda |
| Little Bee by Chris Cleave |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
One of the best books I've read this year! |
| Weezy |
| Patternmaster by Octavia Butler |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Butler has the ability to use our most entrenched human characteristics to illuminate our human flaws, while luring you into an amazing new reality. |
| Weezy |
| Set Me Free by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
So many voices from unexpected sources, revealing humanity with more dignity and honesty than I've read in some time. A surprisingly unique look at fatherhood, betrayal and redemption. |
| Diane R |
| The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I'm in the middle of this great read and I'm finding it hard to put down. I did see the movie first so no surprises, but the book is always better. I plan to read right through the three book series! |
| Serena |
| The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a classic about a man who is thrown in prison based on false allegations and his pursuit of revenge. I enjoyed the book, but if you're looking for a good read, Les Miserables is better. |
| Joan Karlowsky |
| Patty Jane's House of Curl by Lorna Landvik |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the second round for me, because I read this about 10 years ago but I'm still enjoying it now as much as before. Setting is an old fashioned hairdressers in Minnesota. It has characters that are so real they make you laugh and cry. This is by the author of the better known and book club pick, "Angry Housewives Eating BonBons" but this is a much better novel. This is a perfect summer pick even 10 years later. |
| Fran |
| Nine Minutes, Twenty Seconds by Gary M. Pomerantz |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is an account of the staff and passengers of ASA Flight 529, as their commuter plane crashed to the ground. The book provides some information about each person, and chronicled the moment by moment of the nine minutes and twenty seconds the plane took to crash land, as well as the lives of the survivors and the family members of those who perished thereafter. Ultimately, 19 of the 29 people survived this crash. Very interesting. |
| Casey |
| Claude and Camille by Stephanie Cowell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A fascinating novel that reads like a memoir about the life of Claude Monet, the painter and his great love, Camille Doncieux. Through good times and bad (mostly bad) she stays with him although their life is a continuous struggle. A wonderful love story that stands through time. |
| JoRN |
| They're Watching by Gregg Hurwitz |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent read! He never disappoints! |
| Tanya |
| With Friends Like These by Sally Koslow |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I won this book on Librarything. It is released on 8/10. The book centers around four women who start out rooming together and continues their friendship through the years. The characters are great and I would recommend getting to know them. |
| Donna |
| The God of the Hive by Laurie R. King |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The only reason this gets 4 stars instead of 5 is that it really is a two-part book with the story starting in "The Language of Bees". This is one book stretched to two. But the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series is so entertaining I almost didn't mind. King could be the reincarnation of a distaff Conan-Doyle. You do feel as if you inhabit the turn of the 20th century England. |
| Ed Hahn (ed_hk@yahoo.com) |
| Exile by Richard North Patterson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An exciting and suspenseful look at the Israeli/Palestinian conflict through a murder trial in the suicide bombing of the Israeli Prime Minister while visiting San Francisco. I must say, though, that the first half of the book was more believable than the second half. The plot gets awfully thick when David Wolfe, a Jewish lawyer, goes to the Middle East to try to get to the bottom of the conspiracy while defending his Arab lover of 13 years ago, Hana Arif. I was impressed with Patterson's even-handed treatment of both sides of the conflict --- a difficult task. His characterizations of moderates, and radicals on both sides as well as in the U.S. were also extremely well done. He also does a good job of fleshing out the major characters even though he stretches a little in describing some of their motivations. His plotting is good but challenges credulity, to some extent, at the end of the story. I must admit, though, that I had a hard time putting the book down once the trial started. The conclusion of the story was also well done and Patterson avoided the temptation of a "happy ending" and stuck with a fairly realistic one. I enjoyed the book and look forward to trying another of the author's efforts. |
| Susan J. |
| The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
There are already many great reviews on this third book of the Larsson Millennium trilogy, and more than enough plot synopses, so I'll stick to my reaction to the book. I almost gave up when I was still bored 150 pages into the book. There were too many irrelevant details about too many characters who were too similar --- so similar that they became almost interchangeable. Some of the character descriptions read more like resumes. There was too much political description and not enough conversation nor enough action. And there was definitely not enough Lisbeth Salander. I ended up skimming through big chunks of the book. The only reason this book didn't end up on my "abandoned" shelf is that Larsson created a fabulous character in Lisbeth, and I wanted to find out what happened to her. The last hundred or so pages were entertaining and satisfying. This would have been a great book had it been well edited to about 250 pages. |
| Ed Hahn (ed_hk@yahoo.com) |
| The Renegades by T. Jefferson Parker |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I did not enjoy this audio CD nearly as much as I enjoyed the "Team of Rivals" production. I think it has to do with the narrator trying to suggest all the voices, male, female, Hispanic, young old, etc. Of course, it could have just been a mediocre story, though I usually like this author's stuff. The story involves Charlie Hood, who is in a squad car with a fellow Sheriff's Deputy, Terry Laws, when he gets gunned down and somehow Hood is spared. The story balloons from there and goes on to involve murder, drugs, revenge, cars, Mexican drug lords, the Antelope Vally, north of LA, Internal Affairs, courtrooms, dogs, etc., etc., etc. It's almost too much! The characters are interesting. The plot is pretty straight forward. The reader knows who the real villains are early in the story. The narrative drags in places but also jumps around quite a bit, which can be confusing when listening to a CD. I've got a couple paperbacks of Parker's and will read the next one the old fashioned way, sitting or lying down as opposed to driving down the road. |
| Joan Karlowsky |
| The Summer We Read Gatsby by Danielle Ganek |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is an enjoyable romp for summer with the Hamptons as the setting and two half sisters living in their late aunt's ramshackle house. This is a fun, relaxing read with interesting literary and art references. |
| Frankie |
| Broken by Karin Slaughter |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a book that you definitely do not want to put down. Very well written, and kept me guessing the whole time. The ending surprised me in a few ways. I do not want to ruin the book for anyone else, so I cannot tell you how I was surprised. This is definitely a worthwhile mystery and I am now a Karin Slaughter fan. |
| Harriet Stay (hstay@hughes.net) |
| The Laughing Policeman by Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I've been enjoying Scandinavian mysteries so much that I decided to try some of the earlier translated ones written back in the 60s. This was highly recommended from the list of the ten Martin Beck series and are being reprinted by Vintage. It is during the Vietnam era and abominable weather in Sweden: rain then snow, which plays a decided role on the mood of all the characters. It begins with the murder of nine people on a bus, one of which turns out to be a young policeman, so the search for whom and why sets the story into action. I found this story realistically and believably told through an assortment of life-like characters. Since I was impressed, I ordered other books by this duo. I must also add a comment about the fact these are in paperback trade format. I've come to appreciate these (skeptical when they first appeared) because not only do trades fit in my purse but are easier to hold open while reading. |
| J Whittymore |
| The Yellow House by Patricia Falvey |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a very good story from a first-time author. It has a nice balance of history and fiction. I was constantly surprised by the unexpected twists of the plot. |
| J Whittymore |
| Innocent by Scott Turow |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The courtroom scenes are the best! |
| Bonnie |
| 29 by Adena Halpern |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Funny, sweet, thought-provoking novel about a 75-year old woman who gets to be 29 again for a day. It would make for good book group discussion. |
| Gina |
| Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Halfway through and loving it! The Plum series just gets better and better! I just wish Ms. Evanovich wrote them faster!! |
| sal williams |
| Bluebeard by Kurt Vonnegut |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Rereading another favorite is always satisfying. This time more so as KV pokes fun at the world of modern art and the lives of those who inhabit it. An old man with a grand art collection, for which he cares little, inhabits a house filled with strangers with whom he has difficulty dealing with. He reminisces and writes a book and unveils his life's truths one vignette at a time. Vintage Vonnegut! |
| jim vail |
| A Sick Day For Amos McGee by Philip Christian Stead and Erin Stead |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is Caldecott worthy. |
| jim vail |
| High Crimes by Michael Kodas |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Mt. Everest has become a "bucket list" item just to be checked off with little skill required. But look out for the thieves, the drugs, the attempted murders/suicides, the liars, the scams, the hookers and the egos. Sadly this is non-fiction. |
| Frankie |
| 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I really enjoyed this book. A friend recommended it to me and loaned me her copy to read. I loved it so much that I purchased my own copy to share with others. I cannot say enough good things about this book. It was a joy to read and I would have loved to meet Helene Hanff. |
| RitaB |
| The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I know this one has had great reviews, but I really didn't get the attraction. The plot is pretty complex, but since the mystery has happened in the past, there's little "action." I almost needed a list to keep all the unfamiliar names straight --- not in itself a bad thing because unfamiliar settings always have added interest, but this did detract just a little bit. |
| Nina |
| New Moon by Stephanie Meyer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Although I came kicking and screaming to this series, I am enjoying these books. I generally do not read "Vampire" novels, especially when the target age group is Young Adult, but many of my friends whose opinion I value, read this series and recommended it. I am happy to say that I am enjoying the series and believe they are great "Summer Reads". So, for those of you out there who have been resisting...don't. You'll have fun with these books. |
| Julie |
| The Lacuna by Barbara Kinglsolver |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a coming of age story of a young man, Harrison Shepherd, who lives in Mexico and becomes a famous writer. During the course of his life he lives with Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo and Lev Trotsky. The story takes us from the bombing of Pearl Harbor to the House On Un-American Activities during the 1950's. This novel talks about how history and public opinion can shape and effect a life. |
| Julie H. |
| Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This was a very quick read. It's a basic coming of age story of a young girl in NYC, new to the US from Hong Kong. |
| Ed Hahn (ed_hk@yahoo.com) |
| Firewall by Henning Mankell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Not the best Mankell I've read but certainly a good one. The story starts with an accidental death and eventually involves four or five murders and an international cyber-space conspiracy. As with all of Mankell's work, much time is spent being exposed to Kurt Wallander's internal world as is spent on his detective work. The man is often tortured by self-doubt and loneliness but somehow muddles through to solving the crimes. The plot here is very drawn out and fascinating. The characters, both Wallander's colleagues who appear throughout the series and the one's introduced here, victims, victims' families, villains and supporting cast, are interesting often because it's not clear what their motivations are or where they are coming from. One of Mankell's strengths is his ability, through Wallander's self-talk and investigating skills, to show these characters completely. I can recommend this book as a stand-alone example of the series but there are others that might serve better as an introduction to Kurt Wallander and his neuroses. |
| RitaB |
| The Wrong Mother by Sophie Hannah |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Great suspense! I can't remember the last time I read a mystery when I couldn't guess "who done it." It's told in a passive voice though so I'd rather see more action. |
| LAURIE BLUM |
| The Three Weissmanns of Westport: A Novel by Cathleen Schine |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
FAMILY SAGA ;-) |
| Pam Robison (pmr1949@comcast.net) |
| Citizens of London by Lynne Olson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is for readers of WWII history. It relates the stories of three prominent Americans, Edward R. Murrow, Averell Harriman and Ambassador John Gilbert Winant living and working in London during the blitz and subsequent US entry into the war. Olson's fascinating story of these three lesser known yet very influential individuals reads like a novel instead of nonfiction because of her focus on this small circle of people and the incredible London location. It is a beautifully written story of very courageous men who survived under extraordinary circumstances during extraordinary times. |
| Phyllis |
| The Bible Salesman by Clyde Edgerton |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Henry Dampier is a young and naive bible salesman. Preston Clearwater, a criminal, immediately pegs him as gullible and tells Henry he works for the FBI and recruits him to join him in his 'undercover operations'. Henry falls in love and, eventually, realizes Clearwater is using him. Full of eccentric characters, "The Bible Salesman" is an entertaining novel. |
| Phyllis |
| Our Lady Of Immaculate Deception by Nancy Martin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Wonderful characters, very witty and keeps you reading to see what happens next to Roxy Abruzzo. |
| Bonnie Waliezer |
| Caught by Harlan Coben |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Harlan Coben has done it again. Another real page turner with a twist here and there that you never see coming. A must read for everyone. |
| Bonnie Waliezer |
| Crashers by Dana Haynes |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I would give this even more stars if possible. It kept me reading long after I should have been in bed. Kudos to Dana Haynes and I am hoping he has another book in the works. Anyone who is interested in planes and technology will love this book. |
| Lisa |
| The Taken by Inger Ash Wolfe |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The second in a mystery series featuring 62 yr old Canadian police inspector Hazel Metcallef. The author hooks you from the first page and never lets go. While it can be dark, it's really the focus on Hazel and the people around her who make this story click and pop. Recommended! |
| Meg |
| Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was the perfect time to pick up the hefty Russian tome and give it a go --- perfect, because I'd always meant to read it, and perfect, because "Android Karenina" has just come out! |
| Constance |
| The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Historical fiction taking place in the Far East before the opening of borders. De Zoet is a clerk in a trading company who falls in love across forbidden cultural lines. |
| Salby |
| Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Another somewhat satisfying Stephanie Plum, Trenton N.J. bounty hunter, mystery. Of course there is the usual mayhem with explosions, burning cars, and Grandma Mazur packing heat. However, the plot seems to be getting thinner and thinner and the jokes are getting repetitious. I don't know if I will continue on with this series, which seems to be going nowhere. |
| Sharon |
| The Glass Castle by Jeannette Wells |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A woman is on her way to attend a swank party when she observes her mother going through the trash in a dumpster. The daughter is so embarrassed by her mother's actions that she abandons all plans to attend the party and returns home. So starts the true story of Jeannette Walls' strange childhood with an alcoholic father and a mother who delighted in being totally unconventional. While some stories made me wish that child welfare had gotten involved, her unconventional upbringing gave the author the opportunity to be taught without the structure of the school system and to explore her world without prejudice. It amazed me to learn that this was a true story. |
| Cassandra |
| The Tale of the Body Thief by Ann Rice |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I have been reading this book and it is intriguing. |
| myrna |
| The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A deeply moving novel about the early days of World War II as it affected Hungarian Jews. Beautifully written against a background of historical accuracy. |
| myrna |
| A Fierce Radiance by Lauren Belfer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a wonderfully written romantic novel about the politics of penicillin during the Second World War. Belfer offers insights into the conflicts between the U.S. Government, which is seeking penicillin production for wounded soldiers and the greedy pharmaceutical companies determined to profit by their discoveries. |
| LAURIE BLUM |
| The Postmistress by Sarah Blake |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The great story during WWII. |
| lisa |
| Still Missing by Chevy Stevens |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Wild, dark story about a young woman Realtor who gets abducted at an open house. Her period in captivity, subsequent escape and aftermath are riveting to read about. Original but not for folks who enjoy light fare. |
| Sharon Elliott-Fox |
| The Girl who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Not as "magical" as "Garden Spells" --- becasue perhaps because the magic was in the males rather than the females? |
| Lisa |
| Crazy Like Us by Ethan Watters |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A nonfiction account of how Western cultures (UK, US) often have a detrimental impact on Eastern societies (Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan...) when trying to diagnose and treat disaster victims, and medical/mental health issues that Eastern countries face. Whether it's well-meant but ill-prepared intentions or arrogance, the author shows the reader through four real-life case studies how it often backfires when one doesn't understand the particular culture that is afflicted. Interesting reading but sadly no apparent fix to the problem. |
| LAURIE BLUM |
| The Red Squad by E.M. Broner |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is about nonviolent political action. |
| Phyllis |
| Flaherty's Crossing by Kaylin McFarren |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Kaylin McFarren has written an emotional book that draws you in and keeps you attached to her characters. After you finish, it leaves you reassessing relationships in your own life. After losing her mother at a young age, Kate has an estranged relationship with her father and is left with many trust issues in her life. At her father's death, several events happen that make Kate face truths in herself and come to terms with issues in her own marriage. "Flaherty's Crossing" is about 'crossings' in many areas of life --- Kate's relationship with her father, trust in her marriage and accepting the love of her husband, learning to forgive herself and those around her and finding her faith again. It is a wonderful exploration of life. |
| Janet |
| By Invitation Only by Jodi Della Femina and Sheri McInnis |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A great book to read at the beach or relaxing anywhere. The characters and their relationships are believable. A book for anyone who like a good and sometimes funny romance. |
| Sharon Elliott-Fox |
| The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Based on my own experience of my 40th class reunion, I found the emphasis on sex rather over-the-top. My class seemed more inclined to strive to one-up the others as far as careers/financial status/property ownership. By the 50th reunion, that all had pretty well faded and people were more interested in being friends, sharing memories and reconnecting for support in the present. |
| Jean M |
| Hostage by Robert Crais |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A real page-turner. Even though I really love the Elvis Cole-Joe Pike series, if you haven't read this one, you are missing a really good one. |
| Janice Hoaglin (jhoaglin@sbcglobal.net) |
| Dead Cold by Louise Penny |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I liked this second book in the Three Pines series by Louise Penny just as much as I liked the first, "Still Life". The characters are such interesting people, and the village in Quebec is charming and quaint --- except for these murders that keep happening in such an otherwise inviting place. I like the way Penny weaves other artists' works into her themes, in this case a song by Leonard Cohen. And the character of Armand Gamache continues to be someone we would all love to have as our leader/supervisor, one who ponders most actions and decisions with intelligence and integrity. This book leaves us wondering, what will happen to the career of Gamache, who and why wants to bring him down? |
| Allis |
| Meridon by Philippa Gregory |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Part Three of the Wideacre Series and another great historical novel about England by Philippa Gregory |
| Sandy |
| Men and Dogs by Katie Crouch |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a great beach read or vacation book. I am looking forward to reading "Men in Trucks" next. |
| Marcia Pullin |
| 13½ by Nevada Barr |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
An interesting story with a certain amount of predictability. I have to say: I prefer the Anna Pigeon series. |
| Marcia Pullin |
| The Help by Kathryn Stockett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
One of those rare and wonderful books that leaves you changed, just a little, forever. |
| Marcia Pullin |
| Matterhorn: A Novel of the Viet Nam War by Karl Marlantes |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Truly gripping! I could not put this book down until circumstances forced me to do so. In addition to finding myself riveted by the story and the writing, I found a whole new perspective on the Viet Nam war. The reader experiences multiple aspects of the war through the eyes of Marlantes: the military structure, the individual soldier, the daily life of boredom vs. fear, the feelings and aspirations of the men, and the fascinating country of Viet Nam itself. After nearly forty years of looking back on that war, I am amazed that there was so much more to learn. |
| Nancy Taylor |
| The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A well written story about a family who copes with life/gifts in vastly different ways. The protagonist's gift/curse is that she can feel how the preparer of the food felt while cooking. |
| Fran |
| While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
While my sister sleeps is a fictional family drama, set around two sisters who are very different. When one sister has a heart attack and suffers irreversible brain damage, the family must face up to a host of lies and issues in order to move forward --- interesting but predictable. The author does a nice job with character development in this book and really makes you care for and feel what each family member is experiencing. |
| Pattie Berryhill (pattiberrr@aol.com) |
| A Deeper Blue by Robert Earl Hardy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the biography of singer/songwriter, alcoholic and drug addict Townes Van Zandt. Makes you want to run out and get his CDs from the library. He is a very talented man with a troubled life. |
| Sara |
| My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The book contains some disturbing life and death decisions and is told from different characters' point of view. By the end of the story, I had to hide in my basement and cry. You get attach to an individual in the story, and then you lose him/her (I won't tell). It is so sad and mind provoking. |
| Jen |
| Blind Spot by Nancy Bush |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A new author that I think has potential. The story starts out a little slow and tedious but picks up about halfway through the book. If you like mysteries with romance, you will enjoy this read. |
| Bonnie |
| When the Women Come out to Dance by Elmore Leonard |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Short story collection, some just a few pages, some more novellas, these are typical Leonard. Great characters, decent story lines...my favorite was "Fire in the Hole" which was the basis for the TV show "Justified". |
| Dre |
| Undone by Karin Slaughter |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A friend of mine suggested this book because I was in a book lull. I kept reading, but couldn't find anything I liked. Well, that changed with this book and the author, who is new to me. This book had me from the very beginning, when an older couple are on their way home, and mistake hitting a deer for a woman. The woman has been brutally beaten before she was hit by their car. The story goes on to follow two cops who work for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. I thought these cops were dead-on for the show "Criminal Minds", which I love. I liked all of the main characters in this book. Something which had been lacking in the last 10 books I read. The suspense of finding the killer is incredible --- with every chapter you learn more and more about the sicko who has done this to at least four women that they know of. |
| CC |
| People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A fascinating look at a history that I'd never even thought about. |
| Hofken (Cynthia.Richardson@azbar.org) |
| Murder on Washington Square by Victoria Thompson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is book four in her Gaslight Mystery series featuring fallen-debutante-turned-midwife Sarah Brandt solving turn-of-the-century crimes in NYC with hardened (but handsome) cop Molloy. Entertaining and historically informative. |
| Vickie |
| Hannah's List by Debbie Macomber |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I have loved all her books up to this one. I was very disappointed. You know the end before you barely begin. I didn't even finish it, which is very rare. |
| Ann R |
| Faithful Place by Tana French |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I read this book in three days. It was hard to put it down. I had read her first two books and enjoyed both of them but I believe this is the best of the three. Her characters are all very realistic and the plot never lets go! Good from page one to the end. |
| Donna Cruze |
| Selene of Alexandria by Faith Justice |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This historical fiction is set in Alexandria and follows a young girl who studies medicine instead of being content with marrying and having a family. One of her instructors is Hypatia, a real-life female philosopher and mathematician. I'm learning so much about that era! |
| Ilene |
| The Girl Who Fell From The Sky by Heidi W. Durrow |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a book about interracial marriage, a Danish mother and a Black G.I. The story is about the mother's desperate act after the father leaves the family. Life still goes on, but differently. The story focuses on her daughter, and other people she meets along the way. |
| Rosemary |
| Fever Dreams by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Interesting but perhaps too convoluted. |
| Vickie N |
| The Walk by Richard Paul Evans |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was a great book. I can't wait for the next one. It was hard to put down and I did not want it to end. |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The third in the series, this left a few unanswered questions. Where is Camilla? Also, I thought that Lisbeth had all her tattoos with the exception of the dragon removed when she had the "boob" job. I also thought that she removed the majority of her piercings, but both are mentioned during the court hearing. The story line is amazing with all the subplots and all the names/characters. Still, I enjoyed this last book, and which that Larsson was still alive so another sequel might appear. |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Deliver Us From Evil by David Baldacci |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I have always enjoyed David Baldacci's books due to all his research which allows me to learn something while reading. This book is interesting, but too graphic in the types of torture, and too many scenes of torture. I realize that evil lurks everywhere, but I do not need to know, in detail, all the brutal uses of torture. The story moves quickly, and just when you feel the issue will be resolved, a stupid mistake extends the race. The ending also proves that blood ties are not always important. |
| SallyAnn |
| The Lovers by Vendela Vida |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book will take you on a journey through the mist of truth, whole truth and the half-truth of Yvonne's life. After her husband's sudden death she will travel to Turkey, recreating the memory of the joyous times of their honeymoon. It is there she will meet her landlord, as she has rented his mistress's home, his wife who is just a little curious, and a young boy whom she befriends. I liked this book, its pace and rhythm of the writing did not lag. Anyone who has lost someone close to them will understand her meandering and confusion along with a quiet strength. |
| J.R. Monahan (jrmon@aol.com) |
| Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Goi by Rhoda Janzen |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Very slow --- not much of a story to it! Very disappointing. |
| J.R. Monahan (jrmon@aol.com) |
| Life Without Summer by Lynne Griffin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Very riveting book --- difficult subject matter (a young girl is killed) but it certainly keeps you guessing! |
| Kay |
| The Devil's Casino by Vicki Ward |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Read like a novel. All true and extremely well researched. Could not put it down. I know very little about the financial world but this was an eye opener. |
| Eileen Quinn Knight |
| The Solitude of Prime Numbers by Paolo Giordano |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a lovely novel that contemplates some of the bigger issues in life. I read it once and then went back to it this week. He deals deeply with issues of love, loneliness and the impact of childhood experiences. His use of words makes the reader feel as if they are reading a great meal! |
| Sue, Saratoga |
| The Summer Guest by Justin Cronin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is about relationships and our place in the world. It appealed to me because the characters were nuanced, not one-dimensional and it had a great ending, where so many fall flat at the end. There were times it got a little hokey but otherwise it was well written. It takes place in Maine, a summer fishing camp around which all their lives gravitate. I kept wanting to pick it up, which is always a good sign! |
| kwiant |
| The Butterfly Garden by Chip St. Clair |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The twisted family dynamics of this book allowed me read this memoir in one day. The author digs through his family secrets in order to figure out his true identity. It kept me glued to the book. |
| Reva Wamsley (prwamsley@roadrunner.com) |
| Saving Faith by David Baldacci |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is the first book I've read by this author. I had a hard time getting into it at first. In fact, I stopped after the first couple of chapters and read another book. Then I picked it up and started reading again. It got better as I went along. It's a political thriller. |
| Sue, Saratoga Springs |
| Push: A Novel by Sapphire |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I was surprised how closely the movie followed the book. Both were very powerful and made quite an impression on me. The story is pretty raw and certainly not for the squeamish. I think the story is unfortunately not unfamiliar to many young woman, who are victims of incest or physical or sexual abuse. I love Precious' determination to break out of the disturbing cycle of abuse and make a better life for her and her children. I highly recommend it! |
| J. Mitchell |
| This Body of Death by Elizabeth George |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The suspense is killing me! |
| Tawnda |
| The Dragon Factory by Johnathan Mayberry |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Pretty good story, well written other than the few WTF moments that just don't fit and editor SHOULD have caught but they aren't bad enough to take away from the story or the overall flow of the book. |
| Marilyn Parker |
| Shanghai Girls by Lisa See |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The book taught me so much about the Chinese who came here and were taken advantage of. |
| GladysMP |
| Black Flag, White Lies by Jean Brashear |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
"Black Flag, White Lies" is a part of Jean Brashear's NASCAR Series and the second of that Series I have read. Both have been great, but the climax of this book is one of the most gripping I have ever read. I have never been a NASCAR fan, but one doesn't have to be to thoroughly enjoy these books by Jean Brashear. |
| Sylvia |
| The Apple by Michel Faber |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Seven short stories highlighting some of the characters from Faber's THE CRIMSON PETAL AND THE WHITE. A quick read for a lazy summer afternoon or evening. Some of the stories are prequels to the above novels and some are after-stories which provide some closure to the PETAL's ending. Mr. Faber is a true wordsmith. |
| Santa Fe cowgirl |
| Innocent by Scott Turrow |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
As good as it gets!!!! |
| Santa Fe Cowgirl |
| Stones for Schools by Greg Mortenson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
If more people were like Mortenson, we would have a better chance at peace in this world! |
| Lori L. Clark (Lorielle11@gmail.com) |
| The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Amazing. I loved this book and devoured it in just a few hours. Did you ever read a book only to be sad that it's over? You've reached the ending, but wanted more? That's the way I feel about this book. Every last one of them! I found the book to be just the right touch of magic and the right touch of realism to be perfect. Like the cakes that Julia bakes --- awesome. There are essentially two love stories here and the way their lives are intertwined is fantastic. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Loved it. One of my favorite so far in 2010, if not for all time! |
| Santa Fe Cowgirl |
| The Outlander by Gil Adamson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I almost did not finish this book, but I am glad that I did now. It was a good read! |
| Carol Clark |
| Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghesse |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
An interesting read about learning about Ethiopia, medicine and other cultures, .... This book is also good for an enlightening and enthusiastic discussion. It takes a while to read because of the detail but it's well worth it. |
| David |
| Crashers by Dana Haynes |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Enjoyable thriller. There were a few scenes that stretch credulity and seem more in line with modern sloppy action movies but overall this kept up my interest and most importantly, it was fun. |
| Glenn |
| Citizen Vince by Jess Walter |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Gritty plot, strong characters and smartly written. This was my first Jess Walter read, but will check out others after reading "Citizen Vince". |
| Lori L. Clark (Lorielle11@gmail.com) |
| My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
| I have always loved these types of stories --- the stories of reincarnation. Born again and again to be together. Ann Brashares has done a remarkable job telling this story. This book is wonderfully written and woven back and forth between modern day and his past lives with Lucy. I loved the characters so much. Daniel is a very endearing young man who is remarkably patient and persistent. Read it and fall in love with falling in love! |
