May 9, 2008 - May 23, 2008
Last contest period's winners were Amee, Andrea, Jud, Marion and Ramona, who each received a copy of THE HOST by Stephenie Meyer, KILLING ROMMEL by Steven Pressfield and SKELETONS AT THE FEAST by Chris Bohjalian.
| Debbie ([email protected]) |
| The Closers by Michael Connelly |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A Harry Bosch mystery delving into a cold, unsolved murder. An interesting use of clues, Well written and full of surprises. |
| Readingrat |
| Bobbie Faye's (kinda, sorta, not exactly)... by Toni McGee Causey |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Bobbie Faye is back and it's new day in BOBBIE FAYE'S (KINDA, SORTA, NOT EXACTLY) FAMILY JEWELS. Unfortunately this day doesn't show any signs of being any less dangerous than the very, very, very, very bad day she just had. This time, she needs to find her Aunt Marie's missing diamonds, which are worth millions --- each. And the catch is that there are at least three separate groups looking to get their hands on the diamonds, all of whom are willing to hurt members of Bobbie Faye's family if she doesn't deliver the diamonds directly to them. All the old cast members are back and the game is on. However, I found this book slightly less appealing than the first one. The first book was chock full of action and laugh out loud situations. While this book also had a good helping of Bobbie Faye getting herself into (and out of) ridiculously dangerous situations, more time was spent developing the romance between Bobbie and Trevor and reviving the romance between Bobbie and Cam which made for quite a few slow spots in-between the action. |
| Jane Squires ([email protected]) |
| Taming Rafe by Susan May Warren |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I was amazed about this book. It is about a bull rider, an elite fund raiser and how they come together. There lives are so different but as their destiny unwinds, they find each other and learn a lot about their past along the way. They find out things are not always as they seem. |
| Jane Squires ([email protected]) |
| One Step Over the Border by Stephen Bly |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
When I started this book, I did not expect it to entrap me within the pages. I read it in two days. You won't be able to put this book down. I laughed and was amazed as I traveled its pages while Hap Bowman looked for his Juanita. There are adventures and troubles, but faith wins out in the end. |
| Sandra H. |
| Forgive Me by Amanda Eyre Ward |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Two stories, one in the past and one in the present, about a journalist caught up in the troubles of South Africa and her love for a man in the present. The third book by a great upcoming author! |
| Readingrat |
| Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
An imaginative re-telling of the Cinderella story. |
| Peggy Gorman |
| The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A laugh and a chuckle about life and the journey to dying. |
| Venessa |
| The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I really enjoyed this book! The majority of people I know who have read it didn't like it. I was drawn to the secret and the impact it had on the family --- the choices that were made and the effects of it. I thought it was an amazing story; sad, but really good. |
| T. Thomas |
| The Wild Trees: a Story of Passion and Daring by Robert Preston |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Although this non-fiction book about climbing and studying the giant redwoods in California is interesting, it is not spellbinding. |
| Martha E |
| Never Fear by Scott Frost |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I listened to this on Audible. I thought it was a great, fast-paced story and was well read. It kept me listening to learn what would happen next and to try to decipher the mystery with all the twists. I thought the characters were real; I liked their sensitivity and I was glad to listen to a "cop/crime" book that wasn't full of foul language. I will read more of this author. |
| Jane Squires ([email protected]) |
| Bygones by Kim Vogel Sawyer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
If you haven't ever read about the Amish, you need to. You would learn that they are people just like us with a lot of the same struggles. They have different traditions, but walk through life trying to find their destinies, just as we do. I challenge you to read this book. |
| Martha E |
| The Blue Nowhere by Jeffery Deaver |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I really enjoyed this fast-paced novel centered on a computer hacker, Gillette, brought from prison to help the authorities catch another brilliant, but twisted hacker, Phate. It is all a game for Phate who chooses his victims who think they are protected and secure. Then he stalks his prey on the net, completely infiltrating their lives so that he can walk right up to them before murdering them. Gillette and the authorities are racing as they try to locate Phate, his partner Shawn, and also try to find his next targets before he can get to them. Somehow, Phate always is one step ahead and it is clear that someone is helping him, but who on the team may be a mole? |
| Amanda |
| Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A wonderful story. Fantastic tale from this first-time author! |
| Wendy Lower |
| Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Captivating from beginning to end. |
| Ramona Pierce |
| The Swan Maiden by Heather Tomlinson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I love anything that is fairy tale related. The modern remakes are great. This tale gives us a third daughter with swan skin and the dream to fly. Very enchanting. |
| Kristen Andrews |
| Promise of the Wolves by Dorothy Hearst |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book captures the spirit of the wolves, and Dorothy Hearst tells a story from their point of view 14,000 years ago. |
| Kristen A. |
| The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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Michael Connnelly finally brings together his two main characters from his different novels, namely Lincoln lawyer Mickey Haller and LAPD Detective Harry Bosch. This was a thrilling read and definitely some of his best work. His fans will not be disappointed. |
| Ramona Pierce |
| Starcross by Philip Reeve |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This sequel to LARKLIGHT is humorous and, mysterious, with crazy foes, time travel, and universe-traversing trains. What more could you ask for? |
| Martha E |
| Unspeakable by Sandra Brown |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Although I usually enjoy Sandra Brown's novels, this one was full of a "Bad" guy (Carl) who just likes to terrify and kill --- it's really violent. The characters are interesting, however. When Carl escapes from prison, several people are concerned with the revenge and havoc he may cause. There is the retired lawman who put him in prison and who is obsessed with a 20-year- old murder that he could never solve. There is the elderly step-father who couldn't control Carl and his brother Cecil when they were young. He is trying to maintain his ranch for his son's young and beautiful, but deaf widow, Anna, and his young grandson. And along comes Jack, a drifting cowboy with a mysterious past, who seeks work on the ranch because he hopes to protect them from the revenge of the twisted Carl. The book had a pretty good plot but just a tad too much sick violence for me. |
| Marie Boland |
| Cloth Girl by Marilyn Heward Mills |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Clonmel, Co Tipperary, Ireland Clonmel Library has 4 bookclubs with 55 members. Over 80% loved this book. You can smell African foods, feel the sun. We hated some of the customs, but you will be gripped by the story of 2 friends from completely different worlds. |
| Jennifer |
| Blankets by Craig Thompson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
An absolutely brilliant graphic novel. I could completely relate to most of the conflicts the main character went through. I wasn't sure I'd like it since it was a graphic novel, but I really enjoyed it. |
| Ruth |
| East of Eden by John Steinbeck |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Despite being an Oprah pick and getting recommendations from friends, I really didn't care for this book that much. |
| Joey Danner |
| Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What I have read so far is shaping up to be one of the greatest books I have read in a while. I wish I could give this book 6 stars! |
| Tanja |
| Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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Best novel I've read in years. The author kept my interest throughout the entire book. A+++ |
| Ramona Pierce |
| Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I really enjoyed the first three books of this unusual and older trilogy. It isn't often that you have a really strong main character this young, who is able to keep his momentum as he ages. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. I have listened to it on audio CD. Fantastic. |
| Ramona Pierce |
| The House at Riverton by Kate Morton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A great book, I'm just getting into it. You have high society, a young poet's suicide and two young girls, one a servant, caught in the middle. I love historical mystery. |
| Readingrat |
| Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was a terrific book about growing up. All four characters are wonderfully well developed and each one spends her summer learning how to tear through the gossamer veils of childhood and face the difficult issues of acceptance, love, death, and disappointment. |
| Ann |
| Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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A fantastic book --- well written and a easy read. I would recommend it to anyone. |
| Ramona Pierce |
| Bleeding Hearts by Susan Wittig Albert |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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I don't give 5 stars to everything, but I don't waste my time reading it if it isn't at least worth 4, so... Again, this book is another winner by this author. It's part of a new series. China Bayles is an ex-lawyer herbalist who is also a great female sleuth. I love a good mystery. |
| Peggy |
| Lara by Bertrice Small |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Lara, half-faerie, daughter of John Swiftsword, agrees to be sold to a pleasure house. The madams of the pleasure houses do not want Lara because she is too beautiful. Through her adventures, Lara has a destiny to fulfill. There is explicit sex. |
| Kellie ([email protected]) |
| Rituals of the Season by Margaret Maron |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
#11 of the Deborah Knott series --- I have read 9 installments just this year, mostly because this was a book club book and I made it a point to read all the books that led up to this one. RITUALS OF THE SEASON was a critical book for the series. Deborah ties the "knot" in this one. I enjoyed her story, and the mystery wasn't bad either. An ADA is shot while driving in her car and her adopted daughter dies in the crash. Dwight is working the murder and of course, Deborah is involved, as usual. A third mystery is added to the mix because Tracey, the murdered ADA, was looking into a case where the convicted murderer (a female) is currently on death row. The question is, did she really do it? Two young law students are reviewing the case and Deborah gets involved because, like almost every other character in the series, they are distantly related to her some how. I enjoyed the book. I thought the mystery and the storyline blended well. However, it wasn't spectacular. |
| Paula C. |
| Plain Secrets: An Outsider among the Amish by Joe Mackall |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The author has lived surrounded by the Amish in Ashland County, Ohio for over sixteen years. He writes of the Swartzentruber Amish, the most traditional and insular of all the Amish sects. Mackall developed a steady relationship with a family knowing that a book would be written about them. These are stories about the family and the Amish way of life. |
| Readingrat |
| Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Laugh-out-loud funny. The story line is a bit different than the movie which kept the book interesting, but I also missed some of the more familiar dialogue from the movie. |
| Genie |
| The Trouble With Witches by Shirley Damsgaard |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Ophelia and Abby are asked by their newspaper reporter/ friend, Rick, to help find a missing girl (the daughter of a friend) who has moved into a cult-like community. Since this community claims to be investigating psychic abilities, Rick believes the grandmother/granddaughter team can gain the trust of the cult leader and help find the teenager. The first person Ophelia meets is Tink, niece of the cult leader. Both she and Abby recognize Tink's abilities and feel an immediate connection with her. Tink 's friend and confidant is a Native American shaman who, despite his open bitterness against whites, has taken a liking to the girl. A strange encounter near an abandoned cabin in the woods causes Ophelia to question what members of the cult are really involved with. When she finds the body of a local man in the lake, she is once again caught in a murder investigation. Ophelia is convinced that activities in the cult community are somehow linked to both the murder and the missing girl. The question is what is the best plan of action to take to reveal the guilty parties and live to tell the tale? |
| Fran |
| The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I originally read this book in high school and absolutely adored rereading it as an adult. I think you pick up on so much more of the cultural subtleties as an adult. The story tracks the life of a Chinese farmer from his wedding day to his elderly years. |
| Karen |
| 21: Bringing Down The House by Ben Mezrich |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I really enjoyed this book. It was amazing how the MIT students formed "teams" to beat the odds in Vegas. It is now a movie. I really enjoyed the book's history on Vegas and card counting. |
| Renee |
| While I Was Gone by Sue Miller |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
An always engaging author who always writes a good, basic novel. |
| Judy O. ([email protected]) |
| Jean Seberg -- Breathless by Garry McGee |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Jean Seberg was an actress from Marshalltown, Iowa who gained national prominence in 1957 when she won the role in Otto Preminger's remake of Saint Joan. This biography recounts her life in France as a film star, and includes the details of her still-unexplained death at age 40. Since I am from Marshalltown and remember her and her family well, I found it very fascinating. |
| Carol Grubbs ([email protected]) |
| A Rip in Heaven by Jeanine Cummins |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The true story of three teenaged cousins, one accused of murdering the other two sisters. An eye opening account of the workings of the justice system. The police treated the 19-year-old boy worse than a mangy dog just because they assumed he was guilty. |
| Marsha |
| Dead Connection by Alafair Burke |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This former district attorney and now teacher of criminal law is a good writer --- and the daughter of James Lee Burke, no less. With credentials like this, she is on the track to be a success. This is her first book featuring New York detective Elllie Hatcher, and I am betting it won't be her last. |
| Liza |
| A Buffalo in the House: The True Story of a Man, by R. D. Rosen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A story of an exceptional relationship between a man and a buffalo. A husband and wife adopt a 1-week-old orphaned buffalo as a temporary thing. However, it becomes the household pet. The story is humorous, touching and filled with sobering historical lessons about the 19th-century American West and the slaughter and near-extinction of the bison. An animal lover's delight. |
| Marion Webb |
| Winter in Madrid by C. J. Sansom |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
September, 1940: Spain is battered after years of civil war; and no one knows whether Franco will maintain neutrality or not. Four young English people find themselves in Spain and caught up in politics, espionage, and romance. Their work and passions make this a memorable story, and a hard book to put down once you start reading it! |
| Dennis Hotetz ([email protected]) |
| The Shack by William P. Young |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
While this book is found in the religious section of the store, do not expect it to be about religion. It is more about how each of us can become better people. This book is not only funny and sad at times, it is also a book that made me really think about trying to do and see things from a different perspective. The characters are well known (God, Jesus, and others), but not portrayed in the way most of us envisioned. This was a special book for me and is one I will remember for a long long time. It is not only for religious people, but also for those who are spiritual and/or who would like to be, without being sermoned to. Read and heed this book. |
| Readingrat |
| The Ruins by Scott Smith |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The author did an excellent job showing the different psychological reactions people have to being caught in a deathly trap. Some moments were truly gripping but, overall, this was just an average psychological thriller/horror story. |
| Debbie ([email protected]) |
| Cheating at Solitaire by Jane Haddam |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A Gregor Demarkian mystery set on an island off Massachusetts. with a Hollywood movie set. The characters were developed and the setting was so cold that you felt the nastiness, but something was lacking. I will not read any other books by this author. |
| Jean J |
| Monique and The Mango Rains by Kris Holloway |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Great nonfiction. It's about a Peace corp worker and a young midwife in Mali, West Africa. |
| Sean C. Miller ([email protected]) |
| Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Absolutely amazing. |
| aliadam |
| Three Weeks With My Brother by Nicholas Sparks and Micah Sparks |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I enjoyed the book, but I guess I was expecting more. I found the trip site descriptions interesting and the family history overwhelming, but still it seemed to me there was something missing to give it heart. |
| Readingrat |
| Monkeewrench by P. J. Tracy |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A suspenseful, well-paced story together with a quirky cast of characters (all who just happen to have mysterious backgrounds) makes this a book that will have you hooked from the start. |
| Karen |
| Astrid and Veronika by Linda Olsson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the best book I've read in a while. It's fast paced and difficult to set down. I finished it in one weekend. It's written about the relationship that develops between two women --- one old and one young --- as they share their secrets, hopes and thoughts. Well written and highly recommended. |
| DD |
| Duma Key by Stephen King |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
King finally returns to the style that won me over years ago. Great characters and a compelling plot make this his best in years. |
| Ma Titwonky ([email protected]) |
| The Lazarus Child by Robert Mawson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
What happens to the core of a person when the body enters a coma state that indicates flat brain waves? Can that person be reached and pulled back from whatever place the mind has gone during this comatose lapse? That's the question this novel tries to answer with a point of view that causes all kinds of moral and ethical problems for the characters involved in the story. What makes this issue even more difficult is that the person in the coma is a child. No family member is ready to let her go, but at what cost and to what result can they possibly get her back? This is a thought-provoking read about a subject that, when it surfaces, can dominate the news. |
| Sandy Ely |
| Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Growing up as a tomboy, I related to Jessica James's character, Andrea. Yet, I enjoyed her other hero, Hunter, as well. James captured my attention throughout her well-written book, making me believe I was there, in their lives during the Civil War. What a delightful mix of an emotional story that covers every reading level anyone can enjoy! |
| Laura Ann Adams ([email protected]) |
| The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Great book. Loved it almost as much as A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS by Khaled Hosseini. He is an amazing author. |
| Tim |
| Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
An awesome, well-written, entertaining and emotional book. |
| Karen R |
| Tell No One by Harlan Corben |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A married couple is torn apart by murder. The story is told from the view point of the husband, Dr. Beck. I just loved this character from beginning to end. This was my first time reading this author and I'm hooked. |
| Shirley Smith ([email protected]) |
| Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What a beautiful book. With its description of China and the heartache of women, the writing is pure poetry. It's magical! This author is a pleasure to read. Her command of the language and the ability to put it on paper and draw you to a different time and place is incredible. |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
There were slightly amusing essays but I expected more from this author. And, yes, I am "of an age" to appreciate what she's writing about. |
| Ma Titwonky ([email protected]) |
| Present Value by Sabin Willett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It's hard to choose just one topic this book is about. It's about a family that is falling apart as each member begins to go his or her separate way. But it's also about economics, politics, Wall Street, lawyers, CEOs --- many things that we'd never pinpoint as being the core to our problems but all of which have a way of contributing toward making life a little harder these days. There's a lot of humor in this book, but there's also some very good food for thought. |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| Murder in the Hearse Degree by Tim Cockey |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I really like this mystery series and have been spending time with them lately. They're fun, enjoyable reads. |
| Ma Titwonky ([email protected]) |
| Dreamland by Kevin Baker |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
For anyone who enjoys historical fiction, particularly about New York City, this book is a wonderful find. It's about Coney Island and the amusement parks that existed there in the past. It's also about New York's politics, and the role of women in that time period. Baker has written two other novels about New York City that make up a trilogy, with DREAMLAND being the first book in the series. I am fascinated with his subject and appreciate the research he's done to make his novel's accuracy genuine. |
| Michele Van Epps ([email protected]) |
| Closing the Food Gap by Mark Winne |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A very personal account of America's food crisis, and ways to solve some of the problems. The author writes in a conversational and engaging style, and many of the chapters have the feel of conversations with a friend. An inspirational read. |
| Michele Van Epps |
| The Things We Keep by Eliazbeth Berg |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Elizabeth Berg is a wonderful writer --- her characters are people that you know, or wish you did. She writes about ordinary lives, and extraordinary responses. I am trying to catch up on all of her books that I missed out on! |
| Christy H. |
| Monday Mourning by Kathy Reichs |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Reichs has written another suspenseful mystery. Vivid details and descriptions and her forensic crime solving keep me coming back for more. This is the 7th book in the Tempe Brennan series and I can't wait to get started on the next book. |
| Ivy |
| That Mean Old Yesterday by Stacey Patton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A devastating memoir about a little girl's life in the foster care system and the abuse she endured by her adoptive parents. Her resilience and fortitude is both amazing and inspiring. |
| Ali |
| Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Excellent story of the life of a geisha. Who knew there was so much to know about being one? |
| Dorothy Horan |
| Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I can't wait to read both THE HOST and BREAKING DAWN! |
| Dorothy Horan |
| Fablehaven by Brandon Mull |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It will be a pleasure to read the newest volume. |
| Dorothy Horan |
| Death on Demand by Carolyn Hart |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I just met Carolyn Hart and I love Annie and Max. |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| The Hearse Case Scenario by Tim Cockey |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A fine, whimsical mystery starring Hitchcock Sewell. |
| Ma Titwonky ([email protected]) |
| The Faithful Spy by Alex Berenson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It has been reported in the news that one of the problems the CIA encountered in fighting terrorism in Middle Eastern countries is the problems they have infiltrating terrorist cells. The CIA has always been able to plant agents inside whatever groups from which they hope to gather intelligence. They have not been successful when it comes to getting inside terrorism. This is the subject of Alex Berenson's book. His fictional account concerns a CIA agent who does penetrate a terrorist Cell and works his way up the ladder of responsibility to where he believes he is trusted by his cohorts. Unfortunately, this means severing himself from contract with the CIA, and they are not very happy about this when they begin to get the impression that their agent has switched sides. This is a very timely topic that I hope begins a trend into what used to be the spy genre encompassing Russia and the Cold War. Berenson has written a sequel to THE FAITHFUL SPY, and I am looking forward to reading that one too. |
| DD |
| The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book was an incredible read. The characters were surprising and intriguing, the plot intricately woven between past and present. |
| Doris Culligan |
| Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Compelling reading --- I couldn't put the book down! The author did much research and her imagination is used to the fullest. |
| Joan |
| The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the story of two women, set 400 years apart. Julia Lovat is given a gift of a 17th-century embroidery pattern book, but at second glance, she can see someone has written their diary on the pages. Catherine Tegenna was stolen from her church in 1625 by Muslim pirates and taken to Morocco to be auctioned off as a slave. The two lives of the women are interwoven in a story of adventure, mystery and love. |
| DD |
| The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I was looking for something different, and I found it. A story about family, ghosts, and secrets that I highly recommend. |
| Ma Titwonky ([email protected]) |
| No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Llewelyn Moss finds a fortune in cash at the scene of what appears to be a drug deal gone bad. He decides to keep the money, knowing that he will be hunted down to get the cash back. Sheriff Bell is the law enforcement officer in the town where Moss lives, and Bell has no illusions about what goes on the dessert around his town, nor does he have any doubt about what kinds of people are involved in the high stakes drug trade. This is the classic battle between good and evil with kind of a twist. Whoever thought that evil would have principles? This is an interesting story, but at times, it's rambling and vague; however, it is worth the read. |
| Kathy |
| Gun, With Occasional Music by Jonathan Lethem |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Entertaining sci-fi / hard-boiled detective story set in the future. It keeps pulling you along into the story. |
| Phyllis B |
| The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Knitting Clubs are cathartic. Women get together one night weekly to work on their latest knitting/crochet projects. Some, however, are overwhelmed by negativity in their lives. Becoming friends, they encourage each other and share their own intimacy, frustrations, heartbreaks and miracles in the making. Friendships are made and are unbreakable. You do not have to necessarily be a creative crafty person to join a knitting group. In the end, you have made a beautiful project!!! |
| Michelle Miller ([email protected]) |
| Duma Key by Stephen King |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I could not put this book down. The story just compels you to keep reading. This is definitely King at his best! |
| Michelle Miller ([email protected]) |
| World Without End by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Ken Follett does it again! This second book surrounding the Kingsbridge Cathedral town (the first being THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH --- one of the best books I've ever read) is another success. The characters make you care about them and the story is one that keeps you reading. Excellent! |
| Kellie ([email protected]) |
| High Country Fall by Margaret Maron |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
#10 of the Deborah Knott series. Maron's style is consistent from book to book. You can count on a subject that depicts a specific aspect of North Carolina life, the continuing saga of Deborah Knott's life as a District Court Judge and her family, and finally, a murder mystery to give it just enough suspense and mystery to keep you up until you finish the book. Sometimes, the mystery is a little weak, as it is in this one. But, the Knott story keeps the reader satisfied enough to keep wanting more. HIGH COUNTRY FALL takes place in the North Carolina mountains. I believe this is the first book in the series set there. Maron educates us on the development of the mountains and the mix of native mountain folks with the Floridians that have found the mountains as their summer home. She then continues the Knott story with Deborah trying to adjust to the thought of the engagement ring on her finger. And finally, the murder of a prominent doctor and local real estate agent makes the novel complete. This is not my favorite of the series, but it is definitely satisfying. |
| Amy Wantz |
| Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I really liked this book. The great descriptions of characters and scenery drew me right into the story. |
| Crystal Blackburn |
| Obedience: A Novel by Will Lavender |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Although in the end, I did enjoy this book, I found it a difficult read. The story was very convoluted and hard to follow, but I hate not to know how a story ends, so I plodded on. The end did tie it all together, but I'm not sure if the book measures up to the good reviews quoted on its cover. |
| Dodalodle from Beautiful British Columbia |
| Perfect Family by Pam Lewis |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An amazing, suspenseful story that begins with the youngest daughter of a well-to-do family being pulled out of a lake. As the story evolves, we are revealed layer by layer the family secrets and cover ups. Once you start this book, it is very hard to put down. |
| Cheryl |
| The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A moving story about a magician's assistant who is also his wife. When the magician dies, she is left alone to find out about his secret past, and a life and family she knew nothing about. If you have read Ann Patchett's other novels, you will also enjoy this one. |
| Jackie Callanan ([email protected]) |
| Dead Time by Stephen White |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
White's books are psychological thrillers, always with a moral story for we readers to ponder. This one is no different --- this time, the story is about surrogacy. But, this book also took on another look in that it felt like a family story with a continuing storyline that was so sensitive, necessary to each reader, and --- nearly personal! Easily five stars! |
| Miranda ([email protected]) |
| Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a charming, enchanting story that is impossible to put down. The characters are realistic and captivating, and the storyline is engaging and makes me feel like I am actually there. I would recommend this wonderful book to anyone. |
| Genie |
| Witch Way to Murder by Shirley Damsgaard |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Ophelia has been fighting against her psychic powers that were inherited through the generations in her family. A series of events will force her into a dangerous situation where Ophelia will realize that her life depends on her acceptance of her natural abilities. A handsome stranger shows up at the library posing as a chemical salesman. Ophelia suspects he is not what he claims to be when he spends hours researching town archives. She soon discovers that he is an investigative reporter for a newspaper, researching a series of thefts of anhydrous from surrounding farms. The question is who are the thieves and what kind of scam are they involved in. The plot thickens when Ophelia stumbles upon the body of a dead man while walking through the woods. When, shortly thereafter, the local newspaper office is trashed and she begins to receive threatening messages, she is forced to participate in the investigation. |
| ME |
| From a Buick 8 by Stephen King |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
This was definitely not one of his better books, and I was very disappointed with it. I like "far out there" books, but this one was just too much. It seemed like something quickly thrown together to get a book out fast. I will still read his books because in spite of this one, I really enjoy his writing. |
| Corinna |
| A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I finally had time to sit down and finish this book. A part of me did not want to --- it was so good and well written that I did not want it to end. I highly recommend this book to others! |
| Susan C |
| Bound by Sally Gunning |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another historical fiction novel by Gunning --- the story of an indentured servant (an 11 year old coming to America from Ireland). This book tells of her life in different households. This was an excellent book. |
| Deborah |
| Greetings from Nowhere by Barbara O'Connor |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A cute middle-grade novel, but I think adults would probably enjoy this one more than kids. |
| Susan C |
| The Widow's War by Sally Gunning |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Historical fiction at its best! This novel takes place on Cape Cod in MA during the 1800's. The story revolves around women of the time who, when they lose their husbands, lose all but 1/3 of everything they owned --- the rest goes to the nearest male relative, in this case an abusive son-in-law. This provided great insight into women's rights (or non rights) ! |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| Breakwater by Carla Neggers |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The main character is Quinn Harlowe, a former employee with the Justice Department. Outside DC, she owns a cabin on the shores of Chesapeake Bay. A neighboring estate has been turned into a security compound to train recruits for security consultants. But is it what it seems? Quinn uses her investigative resources to find out. |
| Rita |
| Bleeding Kansas by Sara Paretsky |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Started this with high hopes, but they were dashed. Her style seemed trite and often, preachy. The subject of hatred and intolerance seemed overdone and the relationships between the people were weak. |
| Tara |
| Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
One of the most romantic, epic love stories I've ever read. |
| Tim |
| Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A breathtaking and compelling novel that keeps you turning the pages long past your bedtime! |
| Meghan Little |
| Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I'm am avid reader and I've never gotten so emotionally attached to characters such as these. The story line is strong, well written, and enthralling. Jessica James grabs your emotions and keeps you entertained from the first paragraph all the way to page 524. You need to read this book! It's amazing. |
| Ohiogirl |
| Uncommon Heroes Series by Dee Henderson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I can't pick a favorite of the series. There are 4 books and they are all different. Some are about Navy Seals and others are about FBI agents. They are all really good. |
| Deborah |
| Miracle at Speedy Motors by Alexander McCall Smith |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Less mystery and more philosophy than past books in the series, but a real pleasure to read. |
| Rhoda MacMaster ([email protected]) |
| Savannah: Or A Gift For Mr. Lincoln by John Jakes |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The story of a widow, Sarah, and her daughter during the Civil War. A good book but probably better for older teens. |
| Hugh Jorgen |
| Shades of Grey by Jessica James |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Loved it. The battles scenes were so real. |
| Rkenneth |
| Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
One of the best stories every told about relationships and the Civil War. |
| Marsha |
| Charley's Web by Joy Fielding |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Charlotte (Charley) Webb is a newspaper columnist who is asked by a woman on death row to write her story. As their relationship becomes more involved, Charley realizes that her children's lives may be in jeopardy. |
| Sandra |
| Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Rubio |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An Oprah's Book Club selection, ICY SPARKS is about the life of a young girl struggling to live with Tourette's Syndrome. This story depicts the jerking, croaking, and cursing of this condition, which forces Icy to live in fear and shame. A wonderful read. |
| Judy O. |
| Winter Study by Nevada Barr |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
If you like non-stop suspense, this book is for you. It was pretty intense, and I was glad to reach the end. National Park Ranger, Ann Pigeon, is in Isle Royal National Park in Michigan. She is helping a crew of scientists with their annual 6-week wolf study. Dangerous things are happening and people are dying. Will Anna save the day? |
| Peggy |
| Island of the World by Michael D. O'Brien |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
O'Brien paints pictures with his words. This book is the story of Josip Lasta, born the son of a school teacher in a remote village in the Balkans during World War II. I am at the point where Josip is in college, and am reading slowly to digest this wonderful book. It is full of love, loss and survival in a world gone mad. |
| Phyllis B |
| We Plan, God Laughs by Sherri Hirsch |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Firstly, the title is from an old Yiddish Proverb.....we make plans in every stage of our lives and they do not always turn out the way we would like. In this book there are 10 steps to follow to your divine path, even though life throws us curves. |
| Christy H. |
| Winter Study by Nevada Barr |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Anna Pigeon is back! The last time she was at Isle Royale was during the summer --- this time it's a CHILLER read as she fights for her life during a winter study of the wolves in this remote and isolated location. Full of twists and turns, good and evil, and enough mystery and suspense to give you goosebumps. I've read every one of the previous thirteen books in this series and they just keep getting better. I can't wait for Anna's next assignment. |
| Christine |
| The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Women from different backgrounds get together not just to knit, but to share their lives in a comfortable and safe environment. |
| D. Lohrding |
| Beautiful Boy by David Sheff |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This father (the author) seems to be writing from a position of guilt. Hopefully his son's book, TWEAK, will abolish his need to identify "where he went wrong." In the book, the Father's actions are that of a respectful, kind, fun and loving man. |
| Phyllis |
| The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A magical book; it's a tale of secrets, friendship, love and especially change. THE SUGAR QUEEN is full of warmth and wit. |
| P. Subity |
| The Calling by Inger Ash Wolfe |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Someone is killing terminally ill patients across Canada. And when it happens in the small community of Port Dundas, Ontario, it is up to Detective Inspector Hazel Micallef to marshal her meager resources to keep the killer from completing his gruesome task. Hazel is 61, has a bad back, flirting with an addiction to pills and booze, and trying to cope with having to move back in with her mother after a recent divorce. There is another mystery to the book. The author, Inger Ash Wolfe is a pseudonym for, to quote the book jacket, "a well-known North American author." |
| Mildred |
| The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a story of two children left in a forest in Poland to prevent the Nazis from capturing them. Taken in by an old woman (the witch) who lives in the forest, they survive the last years of the war. This is really a story of the Holocaust told in a different way. |
| Donna |
| Franklin and Lucy by Joseph E. Persico |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderfully told history of FDR and his affair with Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd, and the other women who surrounded him during his lifetime. The book reads like a novel with the yearning to turn the page for more details. Persico includes FDR's determination to hide his disability from the public and why. He reveals the icy confrontation between Eleanor and Franklin when she discovers the love letters from Lucy. This book will engage and delight everyone. I highly recommend it. |
| Donna |
| The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Well done! What a fantastic view of the life of a family in Kabul, Afghanistan as they live. Seierstad, a journalist, convinces Sultan Kahn to let her live with his family and write about their daily lives. This is not a journal or diary as you may expect --- the author crafts this book to read like a novel and you are there as a member of this family. Surprisingly, she does not seem to hold back in her portrayal of the male role in the family, especially Sultan's (father) and his eldest son's (Mansur). I highly recommend this for anyone looking to experience, as the author did, "life behind the burka." |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| Winter Study by Nevada Barr |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I've been waiting for the newest novel about Anna Pigeon and I was not disappointed. This time, she is involved with the study of wolves in Isle Royale National Park. It is wintertime with extreme cold, the park is closed, and someone seems to be stalking the rangers and scientists involved in the study. Suspenseful up to the end! |
| Donna |
| The Ruins by Scott Smith |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A triller that will make you a nail biter for sure! Scott Smith's book convinced me to go back to reading more of this genre. What a masterpiece of the macabre, that is most definitely not for weak stomachs. I had no advance warning about the plot, but I loved this book. Read it this summer!! Take the risk, and your heart will be beating with the book. |
| Valerie |
| World Without End by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
While not quite as good as his earlier work, THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH, this sequel is amazingly interesting. It has a little less religion and a lot more sex than the previous book, which I liked. There were parts that seemed repetitious, and there were many characters to keep track of throughout the 1014 pages, but I never once got bored or wanted to put the book down, which cannot be said for many other books, let alone one of that length. |
| Janice Hoaglin ([email protected]) |
| Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I listened to an audio recording of this book, and really loved the story, as well as the great voice of the narrator. |
| Kathy ([email protected]) |
| Mortal Friends by James Carroll |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is old (1978) but still one of my all-time favorites! I LOVE anything Carroll writes!This is about the lives of Irish immigrants coming to Boston, and their trials, loves and triumphs through about 40 years. |
| Thomas |
| Duma Key by Stephen King |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I am currently reading King's latest novel. Edgar Freemantle is recovering from a terrible accident on Duma Key, a beatiful place in Florida. He discovers a great talent for sketching and painting, in which everything he puts on canvas turns out to be true, even if he didn't know it was beforehand. It is somewhat like the King of old, but is lacking something. The suspense is just not there, though it is an enjoyable story. The ever-present obscenities are still there (middle age to older people talking like street punks, which has always seemed phony to me). It's worth a look if you have nothing better to do. |
| Rebecca |
| Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I have wanted to read Laura Lippman for a while and I've finally gotten around to starting her Tess Monaghan series. I am not disappointed. I am really enjoying the characters, especially Tess, as well as the story. |
| Tamara ([email protected]) |
| The Right Attitude to Rain by Alexander Mc Call Smith |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A little novel about a thoughtful woman philosopher and the people she knows in Edinburgh,Scotland. It feels like you are there with her, sleuthing out the behaviors of her friends and lovers. Very atmospheric. |
| Julie ([email protected]) |
| The Innocent Man by John Grisham |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Injustice in small town Ada, Oklahoma, puts a mentally disturbed man on death row. This book will leave you wondering about our justice system and the judges who do the ruling. |
| Robin Coker ([email protected]) |
| Where Are You Now? by Mary Higgins Clark |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Mary Higgins Clark does it again. This had my attention from start to finish. You really want to know how this book ends, but then you're sad when it does. I thought I had it figured out but was pretty surprised that I had it wrong. It's about a sister who begins a search for her brother who disappeared 10 years ago, and only calls his mother on Mother's Day. Several girls disappear, with one calling home on Mother's Day. An excellent read! |
| Rachael |
| Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This new author is beyond awesome! Her books are everything urban fantasy readers could ask for. They are SO addicting and you will thank me for recommending her. |
| Amee |
| Pants On Fire by Meg Cabot |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Another great novel by the fabulous Meg Cabot. |
| Monica Garcia ([email protected]) |
| The Undead Kama Sutra by Mario Acevedo |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I'm loving this book so far. It is book 3 in the Felix Gomez series. Felix is out to find out who killed his alien friend and learn the secret to unlocking the erotic powers of the Kama Sutra for the Undead. |
| Shonte' Johnson ([email protected]) |
| Going for the Record by Julie A. Swanson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book was hard for me to put down. I love how Leah is strong no matter how hard it is for her to deal with her father dying. She is also determined at first because she loves soccer but she puts her dreams on hold for her family. I think this book is very interesting and I almost cried because I can feel her pain. It's also very descriptive because I can visualize how he looked before his death. Can't wait to read another one of her strong, emotional books. |
| Michelle ([email protected]) |
| Escape by Rye James |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was another enjoyable book from James. ESCAPE is a very good mystery/suspense/thriller that has some nice turns in it. I love his writing style. |
| Readingrat |
| My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a very poignant, well-written story that not only will touch your heart but will really get you thinking about the tragedy of childhood illness, the hard choices these parents have to make, and how both these things powerfully affect the whole family. |
| J. Kaye Oldner ([email protected]) |
| Captive of My Desires by Johanna Lindsey |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
All in all, it's not a bad read, just not her best. Her best can take my breath away. |
| Linda M. Johnson ([email protected]) |
| Where Are You Now? by Mary Higgins Clark |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Mind candy. I've been reading Mary Higgins lark for 25 years and she doesn't change. But, I still get in line to read the newest one. |
| Reva Wamsley ([email protected]) |
| No One To Trust by Iris Johansen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
After reading several of her books, I'm finding that a lot of them are similar in plot, but they are so riveting that you don't care. Why fix it if it's not broken? In this book, Elena is trying to keep her son's father, who is a drug lord, from taking him and killing her. |
| Rachael |
| Magic Lessons by Justine Larbalestier |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the second book in the Magic or Madness trilogy and I've enjoyed both books so far. Great author who I highly recommend! |
| J. Kaye Oldner ([email protected]) |
| The Dollmaker by Amanda Stevens |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
For me, it was hard to put this book down and I couldn't read it fast enough. |
| Carol Newey |
| Mrs. Perfect by Jane Porter |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent. Good descriptions and interesting story. I found it difficult to put this one down. |
| Mary Parks ([email protected]) |
| Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This creation of art is a modern day "Fifteen" with all the shyness of a first time, as well the fun of becoming comfortable and experimental. |
| Deb |
| Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Although she's one of my favorite authors, I had trouble "suspending disbelief" with this one. For a layman, it probably entertains. Having a medical background in oncology and bone marrow transplants, I found the liberties she took distracted me too much from the story she was trying to tell. |
| Eileen Quinn Knight |
| Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I read THE NAMESAKE and loved it. Well, this piece of literature is equally as elegant and thoughtful. It is amazing how quickly Lahiri takes the reader to another world that is mesmerizing. She really captures the essence of human nature and writes it so eloquently. |
| Readingrat |
| Emotionless Souls by David S. Grant |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
EMOTIONLESS SOULS by David S. Grant is a wonderful collection of 20 vaguely surreal short stories, written in succinct, tight prose that perfectly sets the mood for each and every one. The collection starts with the account of two couples spending New Year's Eve in Dublin and ends with the account of one couple vacationing in Paris. Between these two we encounter (among others) a poker game gone wrong, an office prankster who goes to extremes, a one-hit-wonder, a white-collar pickpocket, and an accountant who isn't quite as boring as she first appears. Unexpected plot twists abound and make each of the stories truly remarkable. |
| Amee |
| O Pioneers! by Willa Cather |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Great little novel with beautiful descriptions. |
| Amee |
| Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Hilarious! |
| Amee |
| Kindred by Octavia E. Butler |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Awesome, thought-provoking novel. Highly highly recommended. |
| Tobi |
| Ghost by Alan Lightman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
How does one know when something is real or not? What is death and how can it happen so fast? Questions like these are asked in this story of a man working at a funeral home who sees something unexplainable one afternoon. There are lots of things to discuss after reading this book. |
| Amee |
| Frankenstein by Mary Shelley |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Highly entertaining. |
| Amee |
| Face of an Angel by Denise Chavez |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Interesting novel. Not the best, but not to be avoided. |
| Jan Stephens |
| Beautiful Boy by David Sheff |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
BEAUTIFUL BOY was a beautiful read! I loved Sheff's writing style; the book was absolutely riveting. As the mom of a recovering addict, the author's words spoke volumes about the events, feelings and advice the relatives of an addict experience. Greatest memoir I've read and I think readers without addicted family members will gain some insight too. |
| Dianne |
| A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
What a delightful book! This January to December narrative is written with great wit, and a teensy bit of frustration while learning about the French "method" of living day-to-day life, including dining, wine-making, home restoration, and so much more. I found myself laughing out loud and learning to adore the Mayle's quirky neighbor while truly understanding all about Provencial Time! Take your time, experiencing the flavor of the French. |
| Debbie Wernert ([email protected]) |
| The Whole Truth by David Baldacci |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Okay, my poor family had to fend for themselves since I literally could not put this one down. I immediately emailed the author upon finishing, since I enjoyed the novel, which kept me guessing up to the end. |
| Quilty |
| Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I rarely give anything a perfect five, but this one deserves it if anything does. Imagine how it must have gone down in the fifties! Dee-licious. |
| Leola Harris |
| The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is truly a classic. Ralph Ellison describes life for a black man in the deep south and in the city of New York. If you love history, there is great historical background. The book is not depressing. It just states the facts about how any person would feel, no matter the color, without a voice in society. |
| Leola Harris |
| The House by Danielle Steel |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a story about a woman who should not be in a dead-end relationship. However, for years and years, she finds herself frustratingly giving her love to a selfish man. It is the restoration of a house that will cause her to move forward and start over again. If you love to read about restoring of old mansions, you will enjoy this relaxing love story. |
| Pat in Mo |
| Bound by Sally Gunning |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A good sequel to THE WIDOW'S WAR about indentured servants. Read THE WIDOW'S WAR first --- it was a 5-star book. |
| Kellie ([email protected]) |
| Slow Dollar by Margaret Maron |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
In this 9th book in the Deborah Knott series, the "carny" comes to town and with it, a murder. Deborah is the one to find the victim. A long lost relative appears in this one, as well. This book is a turning point for Deborah and the series --- a surprise to the reader! I am starting to really enjoy this series. It took several of them to get there, but I am glad I did not give up. The most notable aspect of this series is the author's way of highlighting something distinct about North Carolina in every book and weaving a mystery along with it. |
| E. Quinn Knight ([email protected]) |
| They Did it With Love by Kate Morgenroth |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a great light read for those of us who like to read about book clubs and what happens in them. I enjoyed all the characters and how they developed. The book took about two hours to read --- it certainly beats what's on TV! |
| Bonnie |
| Wit's End by Karen Joy Fowler |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Okay, but that's all. I didn't finish it. Life is too short. I couldn't get into the story. |
| Janet Stewart |
| Happy Hour of the Damned by Mark Henry |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Funny but not for the faint hearted. Henry gives a peculiarly male twist on the paranormal genre. |
| Cat |
| Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Absolutely excellent mystery thriller set in Russia, based on a real-life serial killer of children. A Russian detective and his wife pursue this man even as they themselves are being chased down for crimes against the government. Life in the USSR is as compelling as the main storyline. Not to be missed. |
| Readingrat |
| Bobbie Faye's Very (Very, Very, Very) Bad Day by Toni McGee Causey |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Bobbie Faye is a character who is hard not to like. She's tough and goofy and surrounded by a cast of characters that love her despite the fact that she's a walking jinx. Bobbie encounters more situations that threaten life or limb before lunch than most people experience in their entire lives. This book is a fun piece of escape fiction that will keep you laughing and turning the pages to see what trouble Bobbie could possibly get into next. |
| LJ |
| World Without End by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Don't let the length of the book scare you. It is just a fabulous tale. A true page turner. |
| Linda |
| Agatha Raisin And The Day The Floods Came by M.C. Beaton |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This was not my favorite Agatha Raisin mystery. I found it boring, with the main character interviewing the same suspects repeatedly. I would recommend KISSING CHRISTMAS GOODBYE instead. |
| Linda |
| Fear Itself by Walter Mosley |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the 2nd Fearless Jones mystery. The main characters are great, with Fearless Jones and Paris Minton once again getting in a little over their heads, but loving every minute of it. The number of characters were scaled back in this novel, making it easier to read. Now I can't wait to read FEAR OF THE DARK. |
| Fran |
| Breaking Her Fall by Stephen Goodwin |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A well-written fictional account of a father who tries to protect his daughter. The writing reminded me of Jodi Picoult's style, where the issues were not portrayed in black-and-white absolutes. The reader is easily drawn into the complex relationships among the characters and routes for each one. |
| Carol ([email protected]) |
| Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a story of two girls, one naive and the other with a secret, who are bound together as life-long friends at an early age. As with any friendship, this one has it ups and downs all through life. The story came across as real and left me thinking at the end; but, I had a hard time staying with the story. My only other thought is: Thank God they stopped binding feet. |
| Anita |
| A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a wonderful story written by the author of THE KITE RUNNER. Though fiction, it depicts the life of people living during the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. It is written through the eyes of women who lived as slaves to the men who thought it was perfectly fine to abuse them and use them. It is hard to believe that there are people in this day and age who are forced to live this way. |
| Marsha |
| Sea of Lost Love by Santa Montefiore |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This charming blend of romance and suspense takes us from the coast of Cornwall to Puglia, Italy. Along the way, we watch the transformation of various characters as they are affected by the deaths of loved ones. |
| Cynthia Plaza-Harney |
| Locked In by Dr. Mike Esposito |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Dr. John Armstrong, a respected Tampa radiologist, lives a privileged life built on a crumbling foundation. Cal Burton, his college roommate, is Tampa's premier medical malpractice attorney. The two men from a group to defraud insurance companies in medical malpractice cases. Initially their scheme is successful, but greed pushes them too far. This book will make you distrust all doctors, it's that good. |
| Sandy |
| Hand of Evil by J. A. Jance |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A man is dragged by a speeding car along a deserted stretch of road in Phoenix. Starting with this gruesome crime, a killer begins a grisly murder spree across the Southwest. There are lots of twists and turns in this book, which make for great reading! |
| Debi |
| Blood Dreams by Kay Hooper |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Once I started this book on a rainy Sunday afternoon, I could not put it down. This is the first of a trilogy, and I can't wait to read the rest. A team of detectives with extra-sensory powers tries to find an evil serial killer. It's not as far fetched as I originally thought it would be. If you like mysteries, you'll enjoy this one. |
| Betty Burrier |
| The Killer's Wife by Bill Foyd |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a really powerful novel of suspense that is told from the point of view of a serial killer's wife, who finds herself caught in the net of her husband's past. This book is hard to put down and leaves you wondering if she knew more than was said, as well as what you would do in the same situation. |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| Moloka'i by Alan Brennert |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
4.5 stars really. This is a wonderful historical fiction work about the Kalaupapa settlement --- known to most people as the leper colony. He clearly did his research. |
| Karen Terry ([email protected]) |
| The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is one of Dean Koontz's best. It is about Amy, Brian, and a dog named Nickie whose fates come together to save a little girl named Hope. |
| Amber Berman ([email protected]) |
| How to Re-Imagine the World by Anthony Weston |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
The imagination is limitless, or so they say --- but should it be? In Anthony Weston's book, HOW TO RE-IMAGINE THE WORLD, Weston discusses various ways to "re-imagine" the world in order to make it a better place. At first, I was excited about this book. I consider myself a rather creative person who would rather spend hours day-dreaming than watching whatever drab junk they throw on television. However, in Weston's book, his imagination needs to be reigned in if he expects anyone to look at him as anything less than a zealot. Weston began losing me on page three, when he expressed his notion of "an alternative world" where --- rather than finding different modes of transportation --- we just cut back on going anywhere at all. And things just got worse after that. I have never ever put down a book without finishing it, but had I lacked any less willpower, HOW TO RE-IMAGINE THE WORLD would have been tossed in the bottom of my garbage can after the first chapter. Weston seemed to simply be all over the place when writing this book. I can almost see a scrawny, unshaved man hunched over a computer typing frantically for days, as though his ideas would disappear forever if he didn't write them exactly as they came. Unfortunately it seems as though after he frantically wrote out his notions, he didn't bother to edit for clarity; his book is nothing but nonsense with hints of possibly true ideas strewn sparsely throughout. In the beginning of Chapter One, after the introduction that already made me want to rip up the book, I thought perhaps Weston would redeem himself. He began to write of the benefits of positive thinking and the advantages to always turning negative sentences/situations into positive ones (he sites how Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech would have differed had he said "I have a nightmare!"). After a couple more paragraphs, though, I realized that Weston uses a lot of negativity in his writing. In fact, after discussing a serious issue regarding roadway construction, he states "it was a lost cause." Way to be optimistic, Weston. I could go on for pages about the problems with Weston's radical notions. I do accept, however, that some of his ideas have a fundamental basis that could lead to something helpful for our world (such as his idea to do something with all the heat absorbed by the asphalt roads). Nevertheless, I have little idea as to where these basic ideas are, considering they are draped in neurotic ramblings about building "homes that you could fold back out after [a] storm" and turning bike paths into "skyways, along rushing streams, paint them in neon, light them with sparklers, [and] make them into Yellow Brick Roads." So. if you're itching to read a book where the author suggests having a funeral before you die (so that you can be around to celebrate your own life.which, call me crazy, I thought was what your birthday was about.) then HOW TO RE-IMAGINE might be for you! If you're dying to read a book where an author feels it okay to side with pastors who feverishly speak out against gay marriage and women's choice simply because they also agree with needing to act on the global warming issue, then by all means, have my copy. Overall, though, this book is nothing more than a zealot's crazed ramblings on how he feels the world could be a better place (.just don't forget the neon lights and sparklers!) |
| Irena ([email protected]) |
| People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
One of the best books I've read. It contains interesting characters and is based on actual events! |
| E Jackson |
| Resonance by A. J. Scudiere |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is an awesome new thriller that takes a look at what might happen when the magnetic poles switch places. This book is based on a lot of fact, then the fiction is introduced to make a compelling adventure. People are dying in 'hotspots' --- areas of reversed polarity --- and four scientists must figure out how to save humans from the fate of the dinosaurs. Way cool, awesome read! |
| Joanne |
| The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a wonderful novel told from the viewpoint of an autistic boy. I only gave it 4 stars because it does get a little confusing once and awhile. Although, I think that it is meant to be confusing at times, since you are in the mind of an autistic person. |
| Readingrat |
| The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Not Smith's best book, but it still maintains the same easy, relaxed pace and the funny, lovable characters that are hallmarks of the whole series. |
| Terri |
| Eyes of the World by Rob Palmer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the perfect book for the election year! You won't believe the suspense, and the love story is just enchanting. I cried throughout the whole last chapter, but came away completely lit up. |
| Christy H. |
| Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was a riveting read full of twists and turns that had me hooked from the first page. I thoroughly look forward to reading the rest of Ms. Reich's thrilling murder mysteries. |
| Emily |
| Small Favor by Jim Butcher |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the latest awesome installment in The Dresden Files series and it is one of the best. The characters are so real, the dialogue and action are great. Jim Butcher is the best Urban fantasy author out there. |
| Jeanie |
| Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This novel spanned 3 decades in the lives of two women who were best friends. It will make you laugh, cry and remember your years of growing up and the trials of relationships, friendships and motherhood. I really enjoyed it! |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| Skin Tight by Carl Hiaasen |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
An irreverent novel with crazy, iconoclastic characters and wild-ride plots. But, gosh, his books are fun to read! |
| Marge |
| Gone by Michael Grant |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A great YA novel about what would happen if everyone over 14 disappears. |
| Metalfiend in Rocksprings, TX ([email protected]) |
| The Wizard Of Oz by L. Frank Baum |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I read this as a child but had to pick it back up again when one of my children brought it home. A nice, light read. |
| Debbie ([email protected]) |
| Just Desserts by Barbara Bretton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Hayley Goldstein has been offered the chance of a lifetime, to bake a cake for a world-famous rock star. Hayley's world is turned upside down when she finds out that the aging rock star is her long-lost father. This book pulled me right in and I didn't want to stop reading until I reached the last word. |
| kgrenier |
| The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A very long but enjoyable epic about the politics of the Middle Ages. The book chronicles the building of a cathedral. Ambition and greed in both the church and the secular leaders lead to grief and pain for the commoners. There was a fair amount of sex and violence in this book, no doubt to point up the violence of the 12th century. A good read. |
| Melissa |
| The Killer's Wife by Bill Floyd |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I'm almost with this very unique and enjoyable story. I'm close to the end I haven't figured it out yet. |
| Juanita |
| Things I Want My Daughter To Know by Elizabeth Noble |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A wonderful book! From Laughter to tears, this book covers it all. It serves as a reminder of the things we need to share with our children! |
| Judy O. |
| Light of the Moon by Luanne Rice |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Susannah Connolly travels from her home in Connecticut to the French Camargue to see the famous white horses of that area. She also wants to find a mysterious saint that is very much a part of her family's history. When she gets there, she finds the love of a man named Grey Dempsey. The strong sense of place is the best thing about this book, but the story is good too. This is my first Luanne Rice book, but I'm sure not my last. |
| Lori S. |
| The Manor by Scott Nicholson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
If you love good, old-fashioned ghost stories, this is for you. Sure, it's the proverbial group of artists sequestered in an eerie and most probably haunted manor, but there is more to it than that. It may give you the heebee-jeebees, but the good kind. |
| Lori S. |
| Gideon by Jacquelyn Frank |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The 2nd in the series of Nightwalkers, such as vampires, lycanthropes, etc. Each book focuses on one character that you are introduced to in JACOB, but they can be read in any order. A good escapist read, but --- warning: you will probably want to read the entire series. |
| Hope |
| The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This short book of stories about a girl growing up in a poor Chicago neighborhood reads more like poetry than prose. It is beautifully written, but I had trouble staying interested. |
| Kristen Andrews |
| Gifts From The Child Within: Self-discovery and Se by Barbara Sinor |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is about modern-day therapy to deal with childhood abuse. You re-create your childhood experiences into positive ones by remembering positive aspects of where you felt and where you were. It uses hypnotherapy (or self-hypnotherapy) to replace bad memories. So far, the book is groundbreaking and different from any other therapy book I've ever read, so it has my full attention. |
| Kristen Andrews |
| A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book takes us on a mind-bending journey through three generations of an Australian family plagued by introspection, philosophy, and crime. This book is peppered throughout with philosophical thoughts that are so enlightening I have no idea how one person could have come up with all of this. There is also plenty of adventure and mishaps despite great tragedy. This book will definitely keep the reader entertained for a long time! |
| Shirley Smith ([email protected]) |
| Loving Frank by Nancy Horan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
One of the best books I have read in a long, long time. As an almost exclusive fiction reader, this book made me want to find out more about the reality of the characters. |
| Bonnie |
| Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall & Denver Moore |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
An amazing true story of an art-dealer/millionaire and a former sharecropper/homeless man who forge an amazing bond. The catalyst is the art dealer's phenomenal wife, Debbie. A book that, when you read it, makes you want to be a better person. |
| Readingrat |
| Duma Key by Stephen King |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A grippingly suspenseful novel about a man with a dark past living on an island paradise and trying to cope after having a near-fatal accident. |
| Tiffany Kruiz |
| Cage of Stars by jaquelyn Mitchard |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I thought this book was very well written. Even when there wasn't a lot going on, it held my attention. It also had me guessing how it the going to end. The main character, Ronnie, was very lovable. |
| Marion Miller ([email protected]) |
| The Innocent by Ian McEwan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I have read most of McEwan's books, but this was really exciting. I couldn't stop reading until I almost read the last page before the pages before it. It takes place just before the Berlin Wall is erected and has to do with cooperation between the Brits and Americans at that time. I won't give away more. |
| Gretchen |
| The Cleaner by Brett Battles |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I haven't finished this yet, but so far, it's a great thriller/spy novel that reminds me of the best of David Morrell. |
| J. Kaye Oldner ([email protected]) |
| Standing Still by Kelly Simmons |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The story gets a check on all key points, but I really had to think about the ending. Was it good or bad? I still have no clue. It left me with a taste in my mouth and I'm still smacking my lips trying to decide if I like it. |
| Trez Brooks ([email protected]) |
| Sepulchre by Kate Mosse |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book has it all. I had trouble stopping to eat. Centered around a deck of Tarot Cards, it has ghosts, devils, mysticism, and a modern woman trying to find information about her family. It begins in France in the 1890s and relates to happenings in 2007. It is a must read. |
| J. Kaye Oldner ([email protected]) |
| To My Senses by Alexandrea Weis |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It was a knock-your-knee-highs-off kind of good. |
| Marsha |
| Away by Amy Bloom |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is an excellent tale of a woman whose family was massacred in Russia. She emigrates to the U.S. and later when she hears her daughter may be alive, she continues her journey to Alaska to cross the Bering Straits to find her. Her exhausting trials are well written and heart warming. |
| J. Kaye Oldner ([email protected]) |
| Web of Evil by J. A. Jance |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is Jance's second Ali Reynolds thriller. The first, EDGE OF EVIL, got me hooked on the series. This second has ended the relationship. |
| Kellie ([email protected]) |
| Storm Track by Margaret Maron |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Finally! This was one of the better mysteries in the Deborah Knott series, set in Deborah's home town. One of the locals, Lynn Bullock, is found murdered in her hotel room. At the same time, Hurricane Fran is moving up the coast, ready to hit North Carolina. Maron uses the murder mystery and neatly weaves it amongst the story of the hurricane. This is the part I enjoy most about Maron's mysteries. She takes something true from this prominent Southern State and weaves it within her mystery. I also enjoy the Knott family and all of their trials and tribulations. This will probably go down as one of my favorites of the series. |
| CJ |
| The Appeal by John Grisham |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I didn't think this was as good as Grisham usually is, but it was still a good read. |
| Kristen Andrews |
| Do the Math #2: The Writing on the Wall by Wendy Lichtman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
THE WRITING ON THE WALL is a very grade and age-appropriate book for 7th and 8th grade students. Like a modern-day Nancy Drew, the main character, Tess, uses clever math to solve the mystery of who set fire in Mr. Z's room. Unlike Nancy Drew, however, these modern-day teens are set in the inner city and are dealing with graffiti, the internet, bullying, and arson. It's a nice short read that should take most kids no more than a week to finish. I'm an adult and even enjoyed this book. |
| Genie |
| Blood Lure by Nevada Barr |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Anna is on loan to Glacier National Park to take part in a bear DNA project. This project takes a back seat when a mutilated body turns up in the park. The question is, did a bear have anything to do with this killing or was it the work of a human? Of course, Anna sets out to solve the mystery. Unfortunately, the story drags. Although the Bear DNA project is interesting, too much detail bogs down the plot. The murder victim has caused so much unhappiness to her family that readers decide she probably deserved what she got. It was disappointing to discover all of the regular characters in previous books were left out of this one. Joan, project manager, is a great character. Hopefully she will make another appearance in future books in the series. |
| Debi |
| Love, Ruby Lavender by Deborah Wiles |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Although this book is geared toward younger readers, I really enjoyed it! Its point of view is through nine-year-old Ruby, whose grandmother goes to Hawaii for the summer. The reader gets the inside scoop through Ruby Lavender's letters to her. A great read for all ages! |
| Natalie Renusz |
| White Oleander by Janet Fitch |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is amazing. I read it awhile ago but it's one of my top favourites. It's about a girl's mother who goes to jail and how she is thrown around to different families to keep care of her. Definitely a lot of twists and turns and it understands a lot about humans. |
| Rita B. |
| Stone Cold by David Baldacci |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Baldacci's latest book in the Camel Club series. Oliver Stone and the others are out to help Annabelle run from Jerry Bagger, but have to turn their attention to Oliver when he discovers that men from Oliver's past are being murdered and that Oliver himself is in danger. |
| Andrea |
| The Third Angel by Alice Hoffman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Ms. Hoffman is at the top of her game with this intersecting story set in a run-down London hotel. It comes complete with a little spiritualism, a little cynicism, a few parables and a ghost. A serious must-read for all her fans and I defy any newcomer to all things Alice to read this and not want to discover her old treasures such as ILLUMINATION NIGHT or TURTLE MOON. THE THIRD ANGEL is a read-it-well-into-the-night book. |
| Debbie ([email protected]) |
| One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A strange tale of murder and mystery set in Scotland. There are many subplots that seemingly all end in the grand finale. There were so many characters and events that it was like walking in sand. |
| Janet P Bedell |
| Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This biography of Lincoln's forays into the presidential arena reads like historical fiction, but only better, because you know that Goodwin's research is thorough and right on target. |
| Christy H. |
| The Death Dealer by Heaether Graham |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Ms. Graham has done it again with this chilling, paranormal romantic suspense sequel to THE DEAD ROOM. The characters of Joe and Genevieve are back from the previous book with a budding romance and a Poe-linked serial killer. I found the biographical information of Poe to be an interesting addition to the story, along with the detailed descriptions of places and surroundings. |
| Catie 75 |
| The Saving Graces by Patricia Gaffney |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Nice story, but no surprises. Very predictable. |
| Andrea |
| A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Along with THE CIDER HOUSE RULES, this is among my favorite of Irving's books. My book club is reading this, and I'm re-reading it with trepidation, you know how you remember something to be magical, special, etc. and go on to find out that its really just ordinary on rediscovery? Well, I'm happy to report A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY is just as good as remembered...chock full of bittersweet main story, charismatic and quirky supporting characters and the lovable gnome of a character in Owen himself. At his best, Irving drops you into his world and you actually find yourself ducking the ball and walking the streets with Owen. A must read for those who appreciate a novel with an abundance of heart, and no sap. |
| Rita B. |
| Compulsion by Jonathan Kellerman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
In Kellerman's latest Alex Delaware novel, Alex and Milo are out to find a serial killer who stabs women with apparently no motive and flees in a variety of black luxury cars. It's a tangled web that starts with one baffling murder and quickly spins out to encompass past murders, as well as others that seem to be unrelated. But then... |
| Kathy V. |
| Aunt Dimity: Vampire Hunter by Nancy Atherton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
She's done it again. This series is one of my favorites. Lori and her husband live in England with their two sons. Her mother's very close friend left her that house, and along with it, came Aunt Dimity's ghost, who helps her solve the mysteries that come into her life. This is a fun read, but one you won't want to put down, so snuggle up and get ready to enjoy. |
| Readingrat |
| The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A classic supernatural thriller. |
| Debi |
| Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a wonderful sequel to THE SPELLMAN FILES. I enjoy her writing style! Izzy is ditzy as ever!! |
| Debi |
| Rainbow's End by Irene Hannon |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a nice Christian romance about a woman and a man, who both have been hurt in love, and find each other. |
| Carol H. |
| The World Below by Sue Miller |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Sue Miller never disappoints. |
| Carol H. |
| Dedication by Emma McLaughlin/Nicola Kraus |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
High school sweethearts reunite. Yikes! |
| Carol H. |
| Happy To Be Here by Garrison Keillor |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Funny stuff! |
| Carol H. |
| White Horses by Alice Hoffman |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I usually love her work, but this was not one of her best. |
| Carol H. |
| While I Was Gone by Sue Miller |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Sue Miller never lets you down. Great read. |
| Barbara |
| The Hearts of Horses by Molly Gloss |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
In 1917, 19-year-old Martha leaves home looking for work breaking horses. Gloss does a wonderful job presenting the people of Elway County, Oregon, and the joys and hardships of ranch life. |
| Karen Ware |
| The Hindi-Bindi Club by Monica Pradhan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
An enjoyable read from start to finish. The characters are alive and seem so real. A wonderful look at life and culture of 2 generations of Indian women living in the U.S. --- one generation born in India and their daughters born in America. |
| Catie 75 |
| The Last Noel by Michael Malone |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
If you want light, fluffy and unrealistic, this is the book for you. If you are looking for something more substantial, don't bother. |
| 3m |
| Beloved by Toni Morrison |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
"I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved." This was very uncomfortable reading for me --- it was disturbing and (literally) haunting. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and written by Nobel laureate Toni Morrison, BELOVED tells the story of a family's life before and after their escape from slavery. Sethe and her daughter Denver live in isolation at 124 in the countryside near Cincinnati. Also 'present' in the house is the ghost of Sethe's other daughter, nicknamed Beloved, who died when she was two. Sethe fled to Ohio from Kentucky many years before after escaping from her owners at 'Sweet Home.' Also at Sweet Home was Paul D., who has now come to Ohio to look for Sethe. Soon after Paul D.'s arrival at 124, he drives the baby ghost out; however it's not long before a strange young woman is found near the house and who calls herself Beloved. I had a very difficult time following the story at first, and I'd probably understand it much better if I re-read it at some point. The storyline unravels as it goes along, and we see bit by bit the horrors that Sethe escaped from. Her actions are also called into question. Her mental state is dubious. But whose wouldn't be after undergoing the ordeals she has gone through? Other people went crazy, why couldn't she? I didn't enjoy this book, but I don't think readers are supposed to. The subject matter is difficult, and I don't like hearing the horror stories of BELOVED or MAUS. At the same time, I realize they are necessary and I'll continue to force myself to read them. |
| 3m |
| Maus I and II by Art Spiegelman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
MAUS I Brilliant. Powerful. Poignant. Intensely personal. In graphic novel format and the winner of a Pulitzer Prize Special Award in 1992, MAUS is Vladek Spiegelman's story of his survival of Auschwitz during World War II. It is also a story of the father-son relationship between Vladek and Art. In this first book, Art interviews his father about his intense past. Each nationality is represented as a different animal. The Jews are mice, the Germans are cats, and the Poles are pigs. We not only see the absolute horrors of Auschwitz from a survivor's viewpoint, we also see one survivor's son deal with the guilt of just being the son of a survivor. I first heard about this book through Dewey for the graphic novel challenge. Thanks so much, Dewey, for introducing me to this astounding work. Highly recommended to all. MAUS II The continuation of MAUS, and subtitled And Here My Troubles Began (From Mauschwitz to the Catskills and Beyond), MAUS II is every bit as outstanding as the first, and the two books really should be read together. In this sequel we learn more about the end of Vladek's life, and one of the questions that is posed from the book is: They were survivors, but did they really and truly survive? Art's struggles with his father's personality --- made so because of the war --- are clearly shown. He is very honest in his portrayal, even to the point of demonstrating his father's own prejudices --- something you would think would be non-existent in someone who had been persecuted himself. Again, I highly recommend both books to all. |
| D. Lohrding |
| True Evil by Greg Iles |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the first Greg Iles novel I have started to read and it has pulled me in from page one. It's going to be hard with this book around to get any other reading done! Ready for a great thrill/mystery ride! |
| Rebecca Booth ([email protected]) |
| Where Are You Now? by Mary Higgins Clark |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Great read! It really makes you think about missing persons. |
| Margaret |
| The Rough Collier by Pat McIntosh |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This latest installment in a historical mystery seeries set in 1490 Scotland is delightful! It would appeal to Ellis Peters fans and others who like this genre. It's best to start with the first in the series, THE HARPER'S QUINE. Even though that's not the best of the lot, you meet (and love) the characters in that book. |
| Rita Carter ([email protected]) |
| Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I would have never read this book if it hadn't been a selection for a book group to which I belong. It was fantastic and multi-layered. It was the story of an old man in a nursing home reliving his days with a circus during the depression. |
| Dani |
| Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was a great book! |
| Bev Uebel ([email protected]) |
| Astrid & Veronika by Linda Olsson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Beautifully written debut novel! Two lonely women, one older and one younger form a special friendship..sharing their past. Loved it! I read it in one day. |
| Bev Uebel ([email protected]) |
| The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Even if you don't knit, you will enjoy this book. It has great characters! You will laugh, cry, and learn what true friendship is all about. |
| Amee |
| Jasmine by Bharati Mukherjee |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A really intriguing tale about a young immigrant's life in middle America. |
| Janet B. (traveler and teacher) |
| Traveler's Tales China by S. O'Reilly, J. O'Reilly, L. Habegger, eds |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
True stories about the people, places and history of China. It helps to make this interesting country come to life. |
| Jeannie ([email protected]) |
| The Winter Lodge by Susan Wiggs |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A good love story. I love the family-run business part of the story and the loving town and people. |
| Tobi |
| A Bed By the Window by M. Scott Peck, MD |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A warning: there is a lot of sex in this book about a murder in a nursing home. There is a lot to learn for and from all the characters. All in all, a good read for adult book clubs since we don't mind the X-rated stuff. |
| Gwen |
| The Chase by Clive Cussler |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Never having read Cussler before, I was totally surprised at what a great adventure story he wrote. I just had to find out what the good guys and the bad guys were doing. |
| Phyllis |
| Moon Called by Patricia Briggs |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Mercy Thompson is a 'walker' and has friends who are werewolves, vampires and fae. While fixing cars at her body shop, she's drawn into a battle for dominance by two different werewolf packs. An interesting book with well-developed characters. |
| Vickie |
| The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderful! Everyone should take the time to slowly enjoy this book. It's incredible. |
| Kyla |
| Life of Pi by Yann Martel |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I know a lot of people love this book, but I just can't get into it. It took about 1/3 of the book for Pi to even step onto a boat, and that first part went too much into religion for my tastes. I admit that where I am now, about 70 pages from the end, the story has picked up, but really Martel should've gotten to the meat of the story more quickly than he did. |
| Kyla |
| A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Bryson is perhaps one of the best armchair travel writers around. While I didn't find this particular book to be as entertaining as IN A SUNBURNED COUNTRY, it was still very good and made me care about the great outdoors --- quite a feat considering how little I dislike being outdoors! |
| Kimberly B. |
| Driven by Eve Kenin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a terrific book that combines the best qualities of both science fiction and romance! Raina Bowen is an independent trucker racing across the Northern Wastes in hope that she will win a prize that can save her twelve-year-old sister. She is thrown together with the mysterious Wizard, who has an offbeat personality and a sex appeal she can't deny. Together they face ice reavers, rival truckers, and the dangerous attentions of the powerful Duncan Bane. |
| Gale in Houston |
| The Killing Ground by Jack Higgins |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Sean Dillon and the rest of the British Intelligence crew are back, and while THE KILLING GROUND covers lots of ground, much of it seems predictable and shop-worn. As in the last several books in this Higgins series, the bad guys are Muslims, the good guys travel to multiple locales to use lots of interesting weapons, and the outcome is never in doubt. |
| Gale in Houston |
| Deep Dish by Mary Kay Andrews |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
DEEP DISH is a quick, fun, read about two Southern chefs competing for a major television contract. Of course, what they want and what everyone else wants for them doesn't coincide, especially when sparks fly between the two. |
| Gale in Houston |
| Strangers In Death by J. D. Robb |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
STRANGERS IN DEATH is number 26 in the futuristic series featuring NYPD Lt. Eve Dallas and mega-billionaire husband Roarke, and the stories and characters are as compelling as ever. When Dallas and her partner, Det. Delia Peabody, investigate the murder of a wealthy businessman, inconsistencies convince them the scene was set specifically to ensure scandal and humiliation for his family. Dallas believes she knows who did it --- but proving it is something else. |
| Suzette MacNevin |
| King Leary by Paul Quarrington |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Enjoyable read! |
| Rita Sheppard ([email protected]) |
| Everywhere That Mary Went by Lisa Scottoline |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the beginning of Lisa's series and a good foundation for the continuing installments. It gives you a look into Mary's and Judy's backgrounds and how they got to be in Bennie's all-woman firm. |
| Aileen |
| The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved this novel and hated to see it end! Very hard to put down. If you love historical fiction, you will love this book! |
| Myrna |
| The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank by Elen Feldman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This wonderfully written alternate history work of fiction assumes that Peter, Anne's friend in hiding in the Amsterdam attic, survived the war and Holocaust and came to America determined to conceal his identity. |
| Kelly Seaboyer |
| Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the third book in the series and it has pulled me in just as quickly as the other three. It's a teen book, but don't let that stop you. It's a wonderful read. |
| Karen Barash |
| The Space Between Us by Thrity Umbigar |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a beautifully written book that takes place in India, but the story of the relationship between two women is universal. |
| Jud Hanson |
| The Overlook by Michael Connelly |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Harry Bosch is back in yet another installment of this awesome series. Fresh out of retirement, Harry is called one night to the crime scene of a murdered scientist who handled the radioactive substance, cesium. A significant amount is missing and it's enough to take out the entire city of Los Angeles. Things get complicated, though, when the FBI step in and Harry must work with a former girlfriend to find the cesium and prevent millions of deaths. This book is yet another winner by Connelly. |
| Kellie ([email protected]) |
| Getting Rid of Matthew by Jane Fallon |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was a light and fluffy read. I enjoyed it. I have had the opportunity to read some great British Chick Lit and I haven't found one that I didn't like. This was about Helen, aka Eleanor. She is having an affair with a married man. She thinks she loves him and begs him to leave his wife and family for her. When he shows up on her door step one day with all of his stuff, she realizes she has made a big mistake. What she does about it and the people involved is pretty risky. I loved the humor and the fast pace. I would definitely recommend this book! |
| Ann |
| Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
CURSE OF THE SPELLMANS continues the adventures of Isabel (Izzy) Spellman and her lovable, zany family of private investigators. The book is fast paced; the dialogue is sharp and hilarious. It's a book that leaves me wanting more. Lisa Lutz is a gem of an author! |
| Heather |
| Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is an awesome read. It's great book about the struggles of adolescence, that anyone can related too. I love the Greek heritage in the novel also. |
| Terri Loeffer ([email protected]) |
| Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Great story! It's hard to describe without spoiling, but it's a thought-provoking and well-written novel of "special students" moving toward their destinies. |
| Mellena Driver ([email protected]) |
| Shiver by Lisa Jackson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It really keeps you on your toes. I didn't want to put it down. |
| Caroline Savard |
| The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Although this novel is not Koontz's best work, it still manages to keep you glued to the pages and pull at your heart strings all at once. |
| Beverly |
| Scottsboro by Ellen Feldman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A very engaging read that draws you into the time period. The voices are authentic with beautiful language, having you read long into the night. It shows the best and worst of humans. |
| Sherrie English |
| Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A gracefully written story of a 40-year-old woman who has a complete change in her life, due to circumstances of the war. You see her starting to bloom as she sees her family in a true light and as she travels to Egypt and the Holy Land. She is swept up with new emotions and her lively life as she meets new people and realizes it's okay to feel passionate about people and life. The historical writing of the Middle East is as beautiful and vivid as the entire story itself. A wonderfully written novel. |
| Charlene A. |
| Marley & Me by John Grogan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I am enjoying this story about a family made whole by the addition of a rambunctious puppy. The author keeps his tone light, even in relaying difficult times. This is a book for any person who loves dogs or even those who don't and want an enjoyable read. |
| Dale |
| Peony in Love by Lisa See |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I really loved SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN so was looking forward to this book. I'm sorry to say I enjoyed SNOW FLOWER ten times more, and if there were I would give it ten stars if I could. This book was a little far fetched with the ghost, until I understood some of the chinese customs. |
| Pattie Berryhill ([email protected]) |
| Beverly Hills Dead by Stuart Woods |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Murder, political intrigue, and betrayal set in 1940's Hollywood. This novel is easy to read. |
| Maryann Aidikoff |
| An Inconvenient Wife by Megan Chance |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A great novel that depicts the role of women in the 1880s. I loved the detail the author uses to engage you in the life and time of the wealthiest families during this era, as well as the love triangle that it creates between the wife, husband & doctor. Well done! |
| Jud Hanson |
| Pirate by Ted Bell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Look out, James Bond --- Alex Hawke is here. This novel is a superb thriller with a fascinating plot and suave main character. Alex Hawke is a British agent, also featured in two previous novels. China is desperate for oil and finds a willing helper in Luca Bonaparte, a direct descendant of Napoleon himself. Oman becomes the target of a joint French-Chinese attack and Alex must stop the plan from going through. An excellent read, just as good or better than Clancy and Ludlum. |
| Renee ([email protected]) |
| Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Nice idea...the Greek gods are living in modern London, causing strange outcomes. A funny, creative, first novel. |
| Debbie |
| The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I've just discovered this author. She's created Three Pines, a wonderful town outside Montreal, Canada, with lots of eccentric residents and a fascinating Inspector and more murder than they can stand! Start with STILL LIFE and A FATAL GRACE. She has won both New Blood Dagger and Arthur Ellis Awards. |
| Rene |
| Hold Tight by Harlen Coben |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Thi is an "I cannot put it down" book. Awesome! There are lots of twists and turns, but Coben brings it all together in the end. Loved it!! |
| Irene ([email protected]) |
| Peony In Love by Lisa See |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This book was chosen by our book club (all senior citizens). Half the group liked the book and the other half didn't. I would classify this book as a "ghost story" in 17th-century China. It is different from anything I have read. There is much educational information about 17th century-Chinese rituals and customs and it was very well written, but I didn't really like it. Let's just say it wasn't my type of reading. I see others have given it 5 stars. |
| Erin |
| World Without End by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A follow up to THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH. You won't want to put this down! |
| Sandi |
| Duma Key by Stephen King |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I just finished this book and am absorbing it at the moment. It was a great book and I couldn't put it down! This the first book by Stephen King I've read in many years and it was so great to get back into his stories. The characters are all in my mind now and this may be one book that I'll read again. |
| Madeline |
| Mudbound by Hillary Jordan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
One of the best books I've read in quite a while. A simple, straightforward and elegantly written story, it contains complex characters who'll make your heart ache. |
| E |
| Middlemarch by George Eliot |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This started a bit slowly but now the story is getting very interesting. One of the classics! |
| Madeline |
| Hold Tight by Harlan Coben |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The ride starts on page one --- hold on tight, because you're in for some mega twists and turns. Coben's a master of not only suspense, but also of characterization. |
| Carol B |
| The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Absolutely charming, with a surprise ending that I did not see coming, though it was a perfect ending for the book. It also generated great discussion in our book club. |
| Rosalie Sambuco ([email protected]) |
| Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A wonderful Victorian mystery. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Victorian novels. |
| Roxie |
| Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
a US Marshal goes to Shutter Island to help find a dangerous, violent, escaped patient, but all is not as it seems on the island.... |
| Reneé |
| The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
If you are looking for a Gothic style mystery, this is it! Fabulous! Beautifully written and definitely a keeper. You'll read early into the next morning with this one. |
| Cheryl |
| Innocent in Death by J. D. Robb (AKA Nora Roberts) |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
An OK read that has a pretty creepy ending. |
| Kim Carlton |
| In My Blood by John Sedgwick |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Anyone interested in their roots would love this book. We can forget the past or choose to not know our heritage; but, because of our bloodlines, we live with it every day in ourselves. John, an author, found himself suffering from depression, only to find that it was a family disease. His bloodlines run through many extraordinary Sedgwicks from the upper tier of New England society --- from Speaker of the House Theodore Sedgwick and Catherine Maria Sedgwick, popular mid-18th-century author though to modern actress Kyra Sedgwick and Edie Sedgwick, Andy Warhol's muse and the 1960s "It Girl." |
| T. Thomas |
| Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a very good young adult novel. Ruby grows up and finds the meaning of family. |
| Lady Liz(L2R) |
| The Ruins by Scott Smith |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It started out as a vacation to remember, but then on one seemingly simple trek up to the ruins, they crossed a line with no turning back. The natives wouldn't let them, so they could only climb higher. What they discovered will keep you out of your garden forever. I loved it! Yes, I still garden..but I think about this book. |
| Fran |
| Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia by Marya Honrbacher |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An honest, candid and heartbreaking account of a girl who struggled with anorexia. This book captures the author's intense pain and feelings of self hatred that underlie this devastating condition. I found it so sad how much her feelings, thoughts and demeanor centered around her obsession with food, control and thinness. I had also hoped for more of a resolution at the end; however, I guess it depicts the harsh reality for so many anorexics. |
| John Lucas ([email protected]) |
| Dead Heat by Joel C. Rosenberg |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is very riveting and really makes you think. |
| Wendy Catalano |
| The Neon Rain by James Lee Burke |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Detective Dave Robicheaux has fought many battles such as in Vietnam, with killers, the bottle, etc. He becomes involved in the case of a young prostitute whose body is found in a bayou. A fast-paced read! I loved this book! It's Burke's 1st Dave Robicheaux novel and I will read the rest. |
| LMN |
| The Senator's Wife by Sue Miller |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is a great look at marriage. |
| Roxie |
| Eye Contact by Cammie McGovern |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A mystery revolving around an autistic boy. He and a little girl go into the woods together and he is found alive, and she is found dead. His mother tries to help the police by finding out what he knows. Every time I think I knew who did it, I was wrong! |
| T. Thomas |
| Seaview Inn by Sherryl Woods |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a pleasant romance novel with the main characters in their 40s. |
| Michelle |
| The House by Danielle Steel |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Fabulous story. I loved it; it's a must read. |
| Tamara Randi ([email protected]) |
| Peony in Love by Lisa See |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
What a wonderful book about women in China during the Manchu Dinasty. At times, I felt the book was moving along slowly but then it was so interesting that I had to keep reading. The book described So many different beliefs then Christian ones. It makes me think about dreaming, and ghosts, with fondness. |
| Nurin Chatur |
| Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A terrific heart-wrenching story about the life of a young woman who is raising her younger sister. |
| Jo-Anne M. |
| A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Love this book --- I love books that are rich in history of the region where the story is located and I am learning a lot. Plus the storyline, although sad, keeps me turning the pages quickly. |
| Kay Keller |
| Marked Man by William Lashner |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel from beginning to end! The main character, Victor Carl, wakes up from a night on the town with a tattoo on his chest that he doesn't remember. That tattoo, a long-ago never solved robbery, and a missing child all become part of an exciting read. The story fit together so well and I could not have figured out the ending!! I will read more books by this author. |
| Erin |
| Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Ken Follett's masterpiece set in 13th century England follows many families through the building of Kingsbridge Cathedral. Excellent! |
| Dale |
| Ahab's Wife by Sena Jeter Naslund |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
We read this book as our book club pick and were advised from another book club that it was the best book they've read. We were all disappointed. We all thought she dragged the book on way too long and it would have been more enjoyable to read if she had cut out 100 pages or more! |
| Rosalie Sambuco ([email protected]) |
| Epicenter by Joel C.Rosenberg |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book helps explain THE LAST JIHAD and THE LAST DAYS according to the Bible. If you have read these books and enjoyed them, you will find the Biblical reasons very enlightening. I found it fascinating and looked up the Bible references. |
| Gina |
| A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Published before his bestseller, ROSEMARY'S BABY, this mystery/suspense tale is engrossing. The story line is full of twists with diabolical consequences.First published in 1953, this is a classic. |
| Richard Bartels |
| The Teeth of the Tiger by Tom Clancy |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
What if Middle Eastern terrorists joined forces with South American drug cartel to infiltrate and destroy America? Jack Ryan is back --- but now he's President of the USA and his son, Jack Jr, is the CIA agent at the center of the action. |
| Rosalie Sambuco ([email protected]) |
| Half Broken Things by Morag Joss |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A most unusual book concerning 3 losers who become winners in each other's eyes. The ending was a surprise and a little disconcerting. Not everyone will enjoy this book, but I thought it was well written and enjoyable. |
| Laurie |
| The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
This book was definitely not worth reading and I'm not sure why it is New York Times Best Book of the Year. Some characters aren't developed or they're just not worth getting to know and connecting with. I was bored and not moved at the end. |
| Marsha |
| Hold Tight by Harlan Coben |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Don't bother. Here's a word to the author --- stick to your Myron Boltitar novels and quit trying to preach to your readers. |
| John Wood |
| The Coldest Winter by David Halberstam |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Just as his classic tome on how the Vietnam War came to be, this chronicle outlines how the Korean War began. I couldn't help turning the pages to soak up the anecdotes about Stalin, Mao, Truman, Eisenhower, FDR, MacArthur, Kim Jong Il, and individual soldiers caught in horrific battles. |
| Julie |
| The Hills of Tuscany by Ferenc Mate |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A wonderfully written account of the author's search for the perfect home in Tuscany. His writing is like poetry in describing the sights and sounds of this enchanted place. |
| John Wood |
| Lush Life by Richard Price |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Perhaps the greatest living writer of dialogue (both in books and films) mesmerizes once again in this gritty street saga in New York, regarding a simple holdup gone wrong. We get into the minds and lives of each of the protagonists (victims and perpetrators), plus the cops, investigators, and neighborhood merchants. Price drops you right into the heart of the scene, and halfway through the book you're talking and thinking in the street and cop lingo yourself --- half of which I couldn't understand, but that makes it more fun because you're forced to think. Price doesn't talk down to his readers; he pulls them up. |
| Joan |
| The Third Angel by Alice Hoffman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Her best/strongest book in a while, I liked the combination of matter-of-fact narration of the story's events, and the appearance of the Third Angel at significant events. |
| Lady Liz(L2R) |
| Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A story about the Civil War, with a battle between two soldiers. One is the feisty female Union spy who is as tough as her tack beneath her, and she rides as a whirling wind. The confederate enemy is Captain Hunter, whose will to win keeps him focused with a fierce fire in his soul. Yet, his southern gentile roots have as much passion for a softer side, that prove to be a greater test for him, his honor and his Virginia. You will cry, so keep the tissues ready. You won't sleep, because you won't put the book down. Loved it! |
| ck |
| Rhett Butler's People by Donald McCaig |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Clark Gable lives again as one reads this delightful novel. All the main characters in GONE WITH THE WIND are examined and developed more fully. We read about Rhett as a youngster on his father's rice plantation where his friends include a free Negro family. Who knew he flunked out of West Point? There are such imaginative details. The author also helps us to understand better Scarlett's motivations in her obsessive love for Ashley and her disastrous marriages. War and Reconstruction come to life more than 50 years after Margaret Mitchell's book became a screen sensation. It's pure joy to read this book if you were ever a fan of the movie. |
| ck |
| The Rug Merchant by Meg Mullins |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Ushman is a lonely merchant living in NYC, missing his wife in Iran. His chief patron is also lonely as she lives in a gorgeous apartment (or condo) with her terminally ill husband. There is a beautiful co-ed plus her parents who cope with aloneness in their own way. Each character is vividly described. Ten people in my book group talked about the book for 1 1/2 hours. A successful discussion! |
| Carey |
| Quicksilver by Christie Dickason |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Set in the Amsterdam and London of the mid 1600s, this historical novel traces the life of Ned Malise. His family estates in England were confiscated before he was born during King Henry VIII's reformation, and his Catholic family were left exiled in Holland. His life's purpose has been drummed into him by his Grandmother: return to England and reclaim the family lands. He is diverted from his purpose when he receives a blow to the temple resulting in terrifying spells where he believes he becomes a wolf, a condition today recognized as Temporal-Lobe Epilepsy. He soon learns that there is no acceptance to be found. He is on the run from the law in a society that classifies anything beyond their understanding as madness or, worse, witchcraft. An interesting story set in a good evocation of the period. |
| Tami ([email protected]) |
| Courtship Wars by Nicole Jordan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Holy cow, can this woman write! The three books in this very juicy trilogy (TO PLEASURE A LADY, TO BED A BEAUTY, and TO SEDUCE A BRIDE) take you into the lives of three sisters all sorting out their feelings revolving men and marriage, after their parents destroyed their reputations with a huge scandal. It is set back in London 1817. I read all 3 books in 5 days, and cannot wait for more from this author. |
| NeeleyJo |
| Stalked by Brian Freeman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It is the best in the Stride series and a thrilling read. The dead of winter in Duluth seeps into your bones along with the evil villains. STALKED is a terrific read. I am on pins and tacks waiting for the fourth in the series. |
| Shelly Itkin |
| Hokus Pocus by Fern Michaels |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The sisterhood is back and even better then before. You won't be able to put this book down. |
| Irish |
| Gardens of Water by Alan Drew |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The story was very slow moving. Take an earthquake, guilt, anger, hunger and mix them with a love story, and ideas about an old country and new ways from foreigners who try to help. I only read about ten pages a night, so you can see it wasn't that exciting. |
| Maureen |
| Snow by Orhan Pamuk |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
| I had to read this for my book club. It was dull, boring, confusing, and I just plain didn't care about the characters at all. How it got a Pulitzer Prize is beyond me. |
