July 25, 2008 - August 7, 2008
Last contest period's winners were Bob W., Cheryl, Elizabeth S., Jilland Renee, who each received a copy of MOSCOW RULES by Daniel Silva and SAY GOODBYE by Lisa Gardner.
| Irish |
| Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The true story of a payback of schools in gratitude for help given. Everyone wants to help if one person starts and gets the ball rolling, despite severe difficulties along the way. |
| Irish |
| The Rogue by Danielle Steel |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Typical Danielle Steel --- it's full of people with a lot of money and characters that are well educated and principled.Others are lacking strong moral convictions. This is not to say that the book is not enjoyable, I read every page. |
| Karen B |
| The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A murder mystery, a love story and an unsettling vision of an alternative reality of a failed Israel. The story is both entertaining and intense. The outcome is satisfying and believable. I couldn't put it down. |
| Readingrat |
| In the Company of Cheerful Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another enjoyable installment in this series. |
| Donna Bassett (Edwards) |
| Far Above Rubies by Cynthia Polansky |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Polansky has written a moving tribute to Sofie Mecklenberg Rijnfeld Davidson, a selfless woman of incredible strength. The novel is based on a woman known by her niece as Tante Soof. Sofie was a Polish Jew who married a man with six wonderful girls. Although not her biological children, she became their mother and loved them as if she had given birth to them. So much so, that when her six stepdaughters were summoned to report for resettlement, Sofie decided she could not let them go alone. An incredible story of self-sacrifice by a woman who had a tenacious grasp of hope while enduring the atrocities of Auschwitz. Anyone reading this book will be overcome by her inspirational message. |
| Anne E. Lynch |
| Some Assembly Required by Lynn K. Bonasia |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
From the first paragraph, I was in love with this book. Ms. Bonasia is a fantastic storyteller whose characters become a part of your personal circle! I finished it a few weeks ago, yet continue to have flashes of wondering how Rose, Valeria and the gang are all doing! This is the quintessential beach/travel book --- lightweight and totally engaging! |
| Joan G. |
| Black Out by Lisa Unger |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
BLACK OUT is the story of a young girl who made bad choices in her life. On the run with her boyfriend, she watched him commit atrocities to young women. She "died" and became another person. Annie Powers has it all, caring husband, beautiful daughter, gorgeous home. She soon sees signs that her old boyfriend Marlowe, long dead, is stalking her. Her life starts to spin out of control and things are not always what they appear to be. A fast-paced thriller with plenty of twists and turns. |
| Deb |
| The Sharing Knife: Beguilement by Lois McMaster Bujold |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the 1st book of the volume. It is really good, I love it. There are 3 more books to this set. |
| Shana |
| Land of a Hundred Wonders by Lesley Kagen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The best book I've read all year! |
| Debbie ([email protected]) |
| Blackman's Coffin by Mark de Castrique |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A new mystery series for this NC writer. In it, de Castrique stays true to his funeral home roots and tales of NC mountains. The two stories --- taking place in the current day and in the 1910s --- move the storyline, along with the race issue and the veteran issue. A delightful adventure not weighted down with gory details. |
| Bonnie |
| Beginner's Greek by James Collins |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Ho-hum chick lit. Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy finds girl, etc. |
| Diana Mercedes Howell |
| The Ride of Our Lives by Mike Leonard |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Jack and Marge Leonard, two Irish Catholics from the same Jersey neighborhood, married 48 hours after Jack proposed, "...he was shipping out, why wait...?" When the War ended and Jack returned, they settled into making babies, adding four boy Boomers to the final tally. Fast forward to the present day. Son #2, Mike, the father of four 20 somethings of his own, wakes up in the middle of the night. In a dream, he sees himself driving an RV. The plan is hatched --- scoop up his parents in Arizona, and drive cross country to Chicago for the birth of their first great-grandchild. The pilgrimage began calmly enough. Less than a half hour in, daughter-in-law Margarita 'beached' the Winnebago on a concrete gas pump island in Mesa, AZ. Marge, 82 years feisty, with a "...ph.D in pessimism..." thought, well that's the end. Jack, "...the Patron Saint of hope..." assured his bride of 60 years, nobody died. Marge and Jack, 'Moose' and 'Spoose', opposite sides of the same coin who make each other laugh. Like the travelers in THE CANTERBURY TALES with miles to go and hours to kill, the Leonards tell stories to pass the time. THE RIDE OF OUR LIVES takes you on a journey through time, back to the '50s when we made up our own games, and the neighborhood was 'teeming with kids', innocence and mischief. Only a decade before, Jack, skippering a small escort ship in The Atlantic, was forced to leave a foundering sister ship behind. "Those were the rules. A convoy stops for nothing...about a half hour later...we heard a boom. A German sub got them with a torpedo." THE RIDE OF OUR LIVES celebrates the mystery of living, the joy, the sorrow and the just plain silly. Three generations packed into a pair of rented RVs; AC/DC meets Bing Crosby; "Only catchers are allowed to wear baseball caps backwards", Jack protests. In the middle, there is Mike, more instigator than referee. A gifted raconteur blessed with the rhythm of a stand up comedian, he maneuvers the narrative back and forth through time with ease and logic. You feel like you are in the Weasely family's enchanted 'flying car,' soaring above the 20th Century American landscape. Early seventies, marriage, kids, a lovely and patient wife Cathy, Mike stumbling into broadcasting and tripping up the ladder to a national gig at NBC. Bank the 'flying car' 180 degrees back to the present. The Winnebago and the Holiday Rambler, Mike christened USS Fiasco, make an AM/PM stop. Something triggers a memory and we fly back in time. It is a typical 1950s Saturday matinee at the Glencoe, Illinois movie theatre, booing the villains and dodging 'candy missiles' (Dots and Milk Duds). Oh yes, misty eyed and marveling at the miracle of life, they made it to Chicago in time for the birth of Josie, the first of the 4th generation of Leonards. The Ride of Our Lives is life affirming, alternately hysterical and poignant; rich in heart and humor with only one fault. It is almost too rich. Two-thirds of the way into the book, you feel like you have eaten too much chocolate. But it is a good feeling. |
| J. E. |
| Dark Summit by Nick heil |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Exciting and informative about human endurance. |
| Debbie ([email protected]) |
| Antiques to Die For by Jane K Cleland |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
A Josie Prescott mystery set in New Hampshire, which is an interesting setting. The characters are flat, not interesting. I learned a little about antiques and the process involved in appraising objects. I will not read any other books in this series. |
| Lorna |
| Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Anyone with children needs to read this book, as well as every high school student. What an eye opener about what very well could happen in any high school. It makes you really think. I have never been disappointed by any of this author's works and this may be one of her best. Don't miss it. |
| Ro Gupta |
| Some Assembly Required by Lynn Kiele Bonasia |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The book that becomes a fascinating vacation, allowing the reader to feel like she/he is plopped right in the middle of beautiful Cape Cod --- you can feel the sun, hear the waves crashing behind you, and smell the salt water and fresh lobster rolls. The characters live in your mind and heart well past the end of the book, and the author's writing captures every ounce of your attention --- a must read this summer. |
| Debi |
| A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a mystery about the death of a woman who wasn't what she claimed to be, an author. It is set in the fictional town of Three Pines, Canada during the winter, which helped me feel cooler this summer! |
| Kathy Kasten |
| The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Sort of a cross between THE WIZARD OF OZ and FRACTURED FAIRYTALES. A very quick and enjoyable read. A young boy grows up after his mother dies and his father remarries and he gets a new baby brother. Then he is swept up in a fantasy land. |
| Kellie ([email protected]) |
| Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is about the author's life, starting in Somalia where she is born, and is brought up by a Muslim family. Her mother wants to lead a very strict Muslim life, while her father is a bit more relaxed but still obeys the Muslim rule. Her father is a member of a political movement that is working against the president of Somalia, Siad Barre. As a result, the family had to move around a lot to be safe --- first in Saudi Arabia, where they are exposed to the very strict rules of Islam. Woman are totally covered and cannot leave the house without a male family member. After Saudi, they move to Ethiopia and then on to Kenya. Ayaan tries to live as a devoted Muslim, but she is disillusioned with the violence, the intolerance and the treatment of women. In her early 20s, her father arranges a marriage for her with a Muslim who is living in Canada. Ayaan is sent to Germany to await her Visa. While there, she is exposed to Western culture, she makes the quick decision to go to Holland, apply for refugee status, and hide from her family. Eventually, the family found her but she refuses to leave Holland and divorces her husband. Ayaan goes to school in Holland and earns her degree in political science. She becomes politically active and is elected as a member of Parliament. She becomes an atheist and is very open about Islam and begins to speak and write about its deception. The overall theme of this book is that there is no line drawn between moderate and extreme Islam. It is all the same. As a result of her openness, she has received many death threats and must live her life hidden from those that have sentenced her to death. There are some interesting and very eye-opening quotes in this book about Islam: "Every society that is still in the rigid grip of Islam oppresses women and also lags behind in development. Most of these societies are poor; many are full of conflict and war. Societies that respect the rights of women and their freedom are wealthy and peaceful." ....the Quran is an act of man, not of God. We should be free to interpret it; we should be permitted to apply it to the modern era in a different way, instead of performing painful contortions to try to recreate the circumstances of a horrible distant past." "In Saudi Arabia, every breath, every step we took, was infused with concepts of purity or sinning, and with fear. Wishful thinking about the peaceful tolerance of Islam cannot interpret away this reality: hands are still cut off, women still stoned and enslaved, just as the Prophet Muhammad decided centuries ago." " Life is better in Europe than it is in the Muslim world because human relations are better, and one reason human relations are better is that in the West, life on earth is valued in the here and now, and individuals enjoy rights and freedoms that are recognized and protected by the state. To accept subordination and abuse because Allah willed it --- that, for me, would be self-hatred." As a member of Parliament, Ayaan proposes dramatically reducing unemployment benefits and abolishing the minimum wage. "From my experience as a translator with welfare cases, I knew that easy access to generous unemployment benefits leads to a poverty trap: people in Holland often make more money from welfare than they would in actual jobs." Ayaan is my new hero. Her bravery and openness in her speech about Islam is truly amazing and sets an example. Our society needs to listen carefully to Ayaan and stop being afraid of being viewed as racist as they dare to scrutinize this backward culture. |
| Jean |
| Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
My daughter told me to read this book because she loved it so much. I, too, love the book! Ms. Giffin's writing style is like talking to a good friend. She's light, funny, and very insightful. The book is a quick read and very, very good. |
| Debi |
| Inkheart by Cornelia Funke |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What a great book! It reminds me of the magical realism of Latin American authors. A book mender is able to read characters out of books when he reads aloud. Unfortunately, he has no control over who comes out, or who goes in. It has suspense, mystery, and action. . . not to mention fairies, cell phones, and trolls! It's great for all ages! |
| Louise |
| The Black Ice by Michael Connelly |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I selected this book as one that would keep me entertained on a long flight. Wrong! It took me awhile to make my way through it, as I kept switching to others. In the Harry Bosch series, Harry becomes involved in the death of a fellow detective. The death is pronounced a suicide, but Harry is able to prove otherwise and eventually uncover a large crime ring. |
| Lou |
| What Happened by Scott McClellan |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
My husband and I looked for weeks for this book; then neither of us finished it. While I tried to keep an open mind as I read, I was left with a bad taste in my mouth regarding the author. His bitterness is clear, and one has to wonder what his motivation really was in releasing the book at this time. |
| Karen H. |
| Summer Blowout by Claire Cook |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Claire Cook once again ventures into the genre of the "living is easy" summer beach reads with her latest book, SUMMER BLOWOUT. Readers who enjoyed the shoes in Beth Harbison's SHOE ADDICTS ANONYMOUS, or designer clothes in Lauren Weisberger's THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA will become quickly caught up in SUMMER BLOWOUT. Cook's story revolves around the world of makeup artists and hair stylists. Fans of her other books, including LIFE'S A BEACH and MUST LOVE DOGS will find Claire Cook continues to entertain with this latest romantic riotous romp! Fans won't be disappointed if they are looking for a carefree, amusing summer read! |
| Karen H. |
| Upside Down Inside Out by Monica McInerney |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Eva and Joseph, both off to Australia for seemingly different reasons, are destined to meet, but will the strong chemistry be enough to withstand the secrets they both hold? Monica McInerney takes us on a delightful journey with two people, both away from home and away from the realities of everyday living. McInerney gives us Eva and Joseph, who find themselves drawn to each other and liking how things are going until they are forced to face reality. McInerney keeps one reading to the very end to find out if, and how, these two may, or may not, get together. Is there always a happy ending? Are things "upside down inside out" or can they be set right? As I did, with much delight, one has to read this glorious summer fun read to find out. Fans of Sophie Kinsella, Jennifer Weiner, Helen Fielding, and Jennifer Crusie will find Monica McInerney's UPSIDE DOWN INSIDE OUT's Eva Kennedy to rival the likes of Bridget Jones, Cannie Shapiro and Becky Bloomwood. |
| Readingrat |
| Rats Saw God by Rob Thomas |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a strong coming-of-age story. The characters and situations are so spot-on that reading it is like being transported right back to high school. |
| Readingrat |
| Seeing Redd by Frank Beddor |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
In this sequel, I didn't find much of the subtle charm that so enchanted me in the first book. This book dealt with battle, after battle, after battle, after battle, complete with enough sound effects to make me wonder why the author did not make this a graphic novel instead. |
| Judy |
| The Abyssinian Proof by Jenny White |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Constantinople, 1453 --- the Metochite family is entrusted with keeping safe a reliquary with the inscription: Behold the Proof of Chora, Container of the Uncontainable. Fast forward to Istanbul, 1853, where we find Kamil Pasha --- the local magistrate --- who is given 7 days to solve the mysteries of a rash of antiquities thefts from synagogues, churches, mosques. Clues lead him to a hidden sect descended from the Metochites and living underground. The Proof of Chora, lost years ago, resurfaces and now there are murders along with thievery. There is more history than mystery, but it's an enjoyable read. |
| Monica S. |
| The Book Of Fate by Brad Meltzer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I have never read a book by this author before, but that's going to change! A great political thriller, which leaves you wondering if events portrayed in this book could really happen (or am I just very naive?). The story has many twists, a code to break, and a sympathetic main character. It was a good book to read before the elections! |
| Louise ([email protected]) |
| Black Echo by Michael Connelly |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I was finally able to track down the first in the Harry Bosch series, and while reading it, a lot of things fell into place regarding others I had read. I just changed this from 5 stars to 2, remembering how many panic attacks I had while reading. Harry had served as a "tunnel rat" during his military career in Vietnam. He had suffered from nightmares for the rest of his life (which were described in the story), but finding the body of a fellow "TR" in a pipe resurrected a lot of his memories and exacerbated his nightmares. While reading about them, I felt like I was trapped down in these deep tunnels under Vietnamese cities with him, and it was a horrible experience for me. |
| Louise |
| The Bush Family by James Spada |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The carefully selected photos throughout this book adds interest to the history of four Bush generations. From Santa (Willard Scott) whispering in the first President Bush's ear to tender moments between Laura and George W, I think everyone would enjoy this, despite his political persuasion. |
| Louise |
| A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I had a radiologist tell me about this book while running body scans on me. She made it sound worth buying, so I started looking for it. It's every bit as good as she described it. I'm not usually into time-travel plots, but his one was exceptional! |
| Cheryl |
| Judge & Jury by James Patterson with Andrew Gross |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A well-written, fast-paced novel. Characters are interesting as you are drawn into the drama of a trial of a major mafia don. |
| Thomas |
| The Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is one of the early Kay Scarpetta books, but the first fiction I have read from Cornwell. I found this to be an easy and exciting read. Pre-teen Emily Steiner has been murdered and evidence points to a couple different suspects, neither of whom may ultimately have killed her. The body farm, a facility for studying human decay, does not play a huge or suspenseful part in the book, but certainly adds to the grim setting. I look forward to reading all the Scarpetta novels. |
| Louise |
| The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
An interesting twist to this plot as Harry is on trial to determine if his shooting of a "mass murderer" four years earlier was justified. Similar deaths are suddenly discovered. Can it be that Harry shot the wrong man? Can there be a copycat killer? There are some surprises at the end (particularly if you have read his previous books). |
| Louise |
| Twilight by Stephenie Meyer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
While I'm not as addicted (yet) to these books as the rest of the world (including so many family members who have read each one 3 times), it certainly has to be the most different concepts I've read about. Bella (her preference for Isabella) is a normal teen girl who finds herself in a small, dreary town she hates, in a new school she expects to hate, living with her father, the sheriff, who she's not even that fond of. She certainly didn't expect any of the ensuing adventures that came her way! Oh, and even though I'm not "quite addicted" yet, I plan to attend one of the many scheduled "coming-out parties" when the final book in the series is released at midnight on Aug 2. These have made Harry Potter mania look tame. Give them a try! |
| Judi |
| The Beach House by Jane Green |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
My only negative comment, and it's a personal one, is that it's written in the first person. The author keeps me intrigued as to what is going to happen and how the characters fit into the overall plot. It's a good beach read. |
| Catie 75 |
| Thanksgiving Night by Richard Bausch |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Family drama with quirky, but genuine characters. |
| Juanita |
| Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A good book that's easy to read. I'm hoping for a happy ending! |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| Triangle by Katherine Weber |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Odd, disjointed and chaotic ... not unlike a fire. The exposition on math and music is distracting. Not recommended. |
| Emily B. |
| Killer Year: Stories to Die For by Edited by Lee Child |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Some very good stories and some that didn't hit me as hard. I love anthologies because it exposes me to new and upcoming authors. I found some in this collection that I will be watching out for! |
| F. Tessa Bartels |
| The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness by Joel Ben Izzy |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An inspiring and thought-provoking memoir of a storyteller who loses his voice. |
| Sandy ([email protected]) |
| The Serpant on the Crown by Elizabeth Peters |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Another gem in the Amelia Peabody series! |
| Sharon |
| The Woman at the Washington Zoo by Marjorie WIlliams |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I must admit that I purchased this book thinking that it was about the inside workings of the National Zoo. No, its better. It is a series of articles that the author wrote for the Washington Zoo about Washington society and the interesting people who are drawn to our nation's capital. Interesting read. |
| ck |
| The Spies of Warsaw by Alan Furst |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
War is coming to Europe and there are spies everywhere in Paris, Warsaw, and sites in Germany. Colonel Mercier is in the center of the diplomatic intrigue. Both my husband and I raced through the book enjoying this first-rate espionage fiction. |
| Ali |
| As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I'm reading classics I never read in school. I have to say this is the strangest book I recall reading, but it is definitely worth the effort. It is challenging to decipher the stream-of-consciousness style of writing and the thoughts of each character. |
| Michelle |
| Train from Marietta by Dorothy Garlock |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Great story --- a rich woman is kidnapped and a rancher rescues her with both of them being in constant danger. |
| eclecticfirefly |
| Bringing Back The Dead by Joe Domenici |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a wonderful story of a group of men who met in the military, then come back together years later to search for one of their own who is missing. The military aspects of the story are essential, but do not overtake the story. An enjoyable and suspenseful read. |
| Jeanie |
| The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Edgar, a young boy who was born mute, helps his family with their kennels raising Sawtelle dogs. The way Edgar communicates with his family and dogs and the tragic story of their lives is very interesting. |
| E. Guthrie |
| Meeting Lizzy by SarahBeth Carter |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book has a great intro. After reading the first few pages, I couldn't stop. I read it all in one sitting. It made me laugh, it made me angry, it made me love some characters and despise others. It made me re-evaluate a few things that I would never have questioned otherwise. The basic premise of the story is a teenage boy (it's set in Scottsdale, Arizona) hearing a noise in the apartment upstairs. He goes to see what is wrong and stumbles onto a scene of obvious violence. The story continues as the relationship between the two teen neighbors evolves and Lizzy attempts to remove herself from the abusive relationship that she never really wanted in the first place. It's got really great characters. I love the way the author allows readers to get inside the head of the characters. Great read! |
| Ali |
| Sullivan's Island by Dorothea Benton Frank |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved this book. It has a great story, the characters are realistic, and the island descriptions are right on. Frank writes with great humor and gives her main character pluckiness to get on with life. |
| RGT |
| Some Assembly Required by Lynn Kiele Bonasia |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a fun, smart, clever novel and the kind of book you really don't expect from a first-time author. The characters, plot, dialogue all remind me of a John Irving novel. It's quirky, imaginative, engaging and fun. My wife bought the book and encouraged me to read it --- I was afraid it was going to be "woman's literature" and when I saw that it was a first-time author, probably overwrought. It turned out to be a great book for everyone. I'm hoping this author has another one on the way soon. |
| Richard Hydren ([email protected]) |
| Some Assembly Required by Lynn Kiele Bonasia |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
From the first page Lynn Kiele Bonasia impressed me with her charming, intelligent humor. Her unique voice shines through the many levels she built into the structure of her story line, which I found to be just as much fun as any of her characters. For example, the short excerpts from "instruction booklets" underscore the story line in such a delightful way that they form a style of poetry all their own. I have recommended this summer read to many friends, all of whom have written or called me back to say how much fun they are having with it. It's not often a first-time author can find such a delicate balance between humor, irony and the human spirit. Lynn does with a panache all her own. |
| A. Nance |
| Some Assembly Required by Lynn Kiele Bonasia |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was the perfect summer read! A great story, multi-dimensional characters and the perfect beach setting. I looked forward every day to sitting down and getting back into the story. This was a totally well-crafted and enjoyable tale, which makes me hopeful that Lynn Bonasia writes another soon. |
| S. Carter |
| The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved this book! I was a tad disappointed because I had somehow talked myself into thinking that it was a sequel to GARDEN SPELLS (which was also fabulous), but it's not. Although, it does continue with the theme of small, unobtrusive magic in the day-to-day lives of normal people, which I have to admit I absolutely love. She presents it so easily that it's easy to accept and incorporate into the story. The plot in this book was very intricately woven throughout the lives of several characters. But, she didn't miss any opportunity to let the reader get to know the characters better so you come away feeling like you know each and every one. |
| Ilene Harris |
| Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved this book. If you liked Charles Dickens, than you will enjoy this. |
| L.Barassi |
| Some Assembly Required by Lynn Kiele Bonasia |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was one of the most endearing books I've read in ages. The characters are so likable, and by the end of the book you are rooting for all of them! The author writes with such flare that you can actually feel what the characters are feeling. The setting of beautiful Cape Cod was a perfect choice for this story. If you enjoy quirky characters, local color, and a bit of intrigue, this book has it all! |
| Judy O. |
| Escape by Carolyn Jessop with Laura Palmer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What a fascinating story! This is an intimate look at the life of Carolyn Jessop, who is forced into a polygamist marriage with FLDS bigshot, Merril Jessop. Carolyn endures for 15 years and then manages to escape with her 8 children to Salt Lake City. The book ends with the impending trial of leader Warren Jeffs, whom we now know has since been convicted and sentenced to many years in prison for his abuses while the FLDS leader. It was quite an eye-opening account of another world. |
| Donna |
| Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wow! I'm not quite finished but this book captured me from the first page. Just when I think I might possibly know what will happen next, he takes the reader in another direction. Great debut novel, and I hope this author continues to write. I will definitely keep checking for new novels. |
| Karen G. |
| Delusion by Peter Abraham |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Keeps me turning pages. |
| Marjorie Clark ([email protected]) |
| Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Good book so far about a porn star who wants to end her career by having sex with 600 men in one movie. The story is mostly told through the voices of three waiting men, and especially No. 600. So far, I'm entertained by what is going on in the waiting room full of men in all states of undress and their conversations. I previously read his book CHOKE and enjoyed it very much. |
| Bonnie |
| Lopsided by Meredith Norton |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It's odd, I know, but here's a funny book by and about someone with breast cancer. Norton writes with wit and irony about her family and friends, her travels, spouse, ex-boyfriends, doctors, politics and, oh, yes, that pesky cancer. I laughed out loud at her acerbic sense of humor. There's much grit and pathos too, but don't let that keep you from this amazing book. |
| Nina Romano ([email protected]) |
| Some Assembly Required by Lynn Kiele Bonasia |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book has quirky characters and great setting, along with keen observations about love, friendship, and the grace of forgiveness. This book is a perfect fun summer read to enjoy; it's a paperback, so you can cart it anywhere, on a plane or to the beach! |
| Readingrat |
| Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Though very different than ENDER'S GAME, this sequel effectively picks up Ender's story and brings him on to adulthood. |
| Marsha |
| Falls the Shadow by William Lashner |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Lashner's novels about Victor Carl, defense attorney, never fail to please. This one takes you on a mad ride while a dentist and Victor Carl try to be good Samaritans. It's funny, heartwarming, interesting and compelling. You'll like it. |
| Sher ([email protected]) |
| Feeling Good the New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I was so hopeful about this book, but I'm disappointed. It seems to promote total selfish thinking The Universe wants to give you whatever you want? All you have to do is tell the universe you want something? It sure seems lacking to me. It's like something a 12 year old would write, thinking everything is all about them. |
| Richard Bartels |
| Strategic Ignorance by Carp Pope with Paul Rauber |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Pope is the executive director of the Sierra Club, and he explores the Bush Administration's destruction of "a century of environmental progress." |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| The Girls by Lori Lansens |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A very good book about conjoined twins, and the desire for independence and togetherness all at once. It's told in alternating chapters by each sister, so their distinct personalities emerge. |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovitch |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The Stephanie Plum series is just plain fun to read. |
| Rita Carter ([email protected]) |
| Trunk Music by Michael Connelly |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A Harry Bosch mystery. A good police procedural full of many twists and turns. A good read. |
| Sher |
| Stone Cold by David Baldacci |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I love the way he has short chapters and keeps you going on both story lines. It was a book I was anxious to get back to whenever I had to set it down. |
| Dena |
| Trust Me by Brenda Novak |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I couldn't put down this book. It was full of suspense and is a really great story. I'm glad that I already have the next two in the series because I love Brenda's stories and can't get enough. While this book was fine on its own, I'm sure you will want to continue with the next book. |
| Dena |
| Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved this book. I've read a lot of Vampire books lately, and this one really was excellent. It's about a telepathic waitress, Sookie Stackhouse. Since she can read everyones mind, it's a refreshing change to find out she can't read Vampires minds. She gets involved with Vampire Bill and her life starts to change in every way. I couldn't put it down and went and ordered all the other books in the series. |
| Max Refah ([email protected]) |
| The Nightmare on 6th Street by Michael Taylor |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I am wondering if anyone has read the new book. If you have read it, you understand the reason why I am mentioning it here. If you have not read it, then you need to fasten your seatbelt and prepare for the journey it will take you on. The more I seem to learn, the less I realize I know. The narrator is obviously a person with an incredible amount of courage to endure what he had to go through. Wow, I hope I never have to face anything that comes close to that nightmare in my lifetime. The book is loaded with characters we all have had to deal with and maybe run from, in some way shape or form. I was pulled into the story with ease. The drama was heart wrenching and the personalities were truly psychotic. The narrator tells a powerful first-hand account of what may become one of the most controversial books of the season, considering this is an election year. |
| Bonnie |
| A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I'm probably the last person here to have read this novel by the author of THE KITE RUNNER. It's almost as good. This time, it's about two females in Afghanistan. The sense of place and time are terrific --- I felt like I was experiencing the war with them. |
| tboone |
| Elfhunter by C. S. Marks |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A very long read that takes you on a journey tracked by Gorgon, the Elfhunter. Marks does an outstanding job of descriptive detail of her characters and settings. The book is definitely girl-strong and recommended for ages 12+. |
| Readingrat |
| Vampre Kisses by Ellen Schreiber |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is very different from the graphic novels of the same name. While it tends to be a bit formulaic, it's a fast read, has a strong ending, and should hold up well with its target audience. |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| A Wanted Man by Linda Lael Miller |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
When Rowdy Rhodes rides into town, everyone wonders who he is including the schoolmarm, Lark Morgan. Where did he come from and just who is he? But Rowdy has a secret, as does Lark. This is a good Western story. |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| High Noon by Nora Roberts |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Police Lieutenant Phoebe MacNamara meets millionaire Duncan Swift during her work as a hostage negotiator. Although she is highly regarded in her work, someone is stalking her. While she believes it is a fellow officer who does not like to answer to a female boss, she is unable to prove this. Duncan uses his money and influence to protect Phoebe and her family and to find out who the stalker really is. |
| CC |
| False Impression by Jeffrey Archer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Archer is always a good storyteller and this book doesn't disappoint. |
| Kay Keller |
| The Tin Rood Blowdown by James Lee Burke |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The description of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina is phenomenal. Reading this book took me up close and personal to south Louisiana. The slang was excessive and not being a street thug, I found it hard to follow. However, this was well written and a good read!! It's my favorite Dave Robicheaux novel yet. |
| Lynn |
| Problem Drinking at the Fountain of Youth by Beth Teitell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
We are obsessed about looking young, and spend billions on the quest. Teitell has put a lot of research into this book; it was an eye opener for me as to the lengths some people will go. This would be an interesting book group pick with lots of areas for discussion. |
| Janicesews |
| The Shack by William P. Young |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
If you believe in God or not, this book is life changing...just like it says. If you don't believe in miracles, you will after reading this. |
| Katie S |
| The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It's a slow read for me, but I am learning so much about food today. I am very lucky to live in the state of Vermont, where we have access to so much locally grown food. |
| Sandy |
| Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
After the first few chapters I was sure that I was going to give this one 2 stars at the most, but then it got better and better. I still love James Patterson's thriller novels the best, but this one was perfect for a lazy summer afternoon. |
| Sal Williams |
| Shotgun Alley by Andrew Klavan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I am always amazed at how much I forget how wonderful a writer Klavan is until I am midway through a book and cannot put it down, no matter what has to be done. I read a paragraph or so at traffic lights, in elevators, or standing on line, because I cannot stand an extended anxiety of not knowing what happens next. This novel features two detectives, two plots, one ultra-feminist professor, one senator, one "hotpants wild woman, one motorcycle gang and its leader "Cobra"; they are elements inspired by a sensational, actual, factual investigation well known to true crime cable watchers that Klavan was involved in during his pre-writing career. There's murder and mayhem aplenty and plot twists of great imagination, as well as some first-person asides from the author about the real detective work scattered throughout the proceedings. I heartily recommend this book to you. If you like it, you may want to try its predecessor DYNAMITE ROAD for the back story. |
| Coral Harrison |
| Slight of Hand by Kate Wilhelm |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a Barbara Halloway legal thriller. She is an attorney and her father Frank is semi-retired, but helps her out with special cases. Wally and Peg are retired but need a lawyer now, so they hire Barbara. It is a good legal mystery. It is part of a series. |
| J. David |
| The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Deep, lyrical, the writing is sometimes like poetry --- it's so well written I know it will be one of the few books I read over and over, again. The story stuck with me, almost as if I knew Edgar and the dogs. |
| Barbara Broberg ([email protected]) |
| Copycat by Erica Spindler |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
There seems to be an abundance of books lately about the main character having a secret that is threating to be exposed. We are informed early on what this one is. It's still a good read, and I like Spindlers writing --- she uses to-the-point, short chapters and overall, it's an easy book to read, especially if you are a busy person and need to set the book down often. |
| Barbara Broberg ([email protected]) |
| Chasing Darkness by Robert Crais |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is great as usual --- Elvis Cole and Joe Pike are a great pair. This book was especially good and I never saw the ending coming at all. A real page turner |
| Ricki ([email protected]) |
| Cry to Heaven by Anne Rice |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
The story would be much better and readable if Rice were not so long winded. |
| Sherrie Gil |
| Without a Trace by Colleen Coble |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A very good mystery with inspirational highlights. I will read more of her books soon. |
| John M |
| Shavetail by Thomas Cobb |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Reminescent of Cormac McCarthy, this is a novel set in 1871 in the Arizona desert, and is the story of a 17-year-old runaway boy who runs away to join the Army to forget a bad experience. The term "shavetail" comes from an untrained stubborn mule, which describes the main character to a T. Rich in characterization and location description, this is a fast, exciting, and very enjoyable read. I am not usually a fan of western novels, but this book is the exception. |
| Elizabeth V |
| The Messenger by Daniel Silva |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Silva's books are compared to John LeCarré's. I think now that is because they both write spy novels. I think Silva's, at least this one, are much better. But, I'm not entirely pleased. I've read half the book, and it seems I'm still not into the story. Silva is still giving me background information. It seems like a search for a person financing terrorists, but it began with an attack on the Vatican, and I can't figure what that means to the rest of the book, but I think nothing other than that this spy is really wonderful. We'll see. |
| Mary Branham ([email protected]) |
| Sister's Choice by Emilie Richards |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It is so good. Jamie decides to have a baby for her sister Kendra and husband Issac . While pregnant, and with twins no less, she gets breast cancer. She also falls in love with a great guy and is raising her two girls with the help of friends and family who are teaching her so many wonderful things like quilting. I won't give any more away, but it is a great book. |
| Enid |
| The Sign for Drowning by Rachel Stolzman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This incredible novel intertwines the present story of a young woman coping with the past haunting loss of her young sister from a drowning accident. She learns sign language in a childish effort to communicate with her lost sister, which eventually leads the way to her becoming an educator of the deaf. She subsequently becomes a single adoptive parent of a young deaf child she meets through the learning center she runs. Explored is her struggle to cope with motherhood as well as truly understanding what actually defines the deaf culture. |
| Steve Cone ([email protected]) |
| Killing Floor by Lee Child |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I am reading every one of Child's books with great pleasure. I have been looking for an author such as he. I went to B&N to get the last seven books that I couldn't find locally. KILLING FLOOR is the fifth in the series I have read. I am intrigued by his ability to write the hero, Reacher, out of every jamb and problem he Encounters and do so in a reasonable way. This is, to me, the finest series to come along in some time. |
| Emry |
| That's Amore by Wendy Markham |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A continuation of the author's Chickalini family stories, but not as satisfying as some of the previous books. A humorous and entertaining story nonetheless. |
| Becky Cruz ([email protected]) |
| The Invasion of Falgannon Isle by Deborah MacGillivray |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A delightful book!! This is a contemporary romance that is full of wonderful characters and actually had me laughing out loud at times. B.A. Montgomerie is the owner of a Scottish Island that supposedly has an ancient curse on it. There are 213 single men on this island and no eligible females. B.A. sets up a website searching for single women to come to the island, and she ends up finding love in the process. Will the strange invader be the one to help her lift the curse of Falgannon? |
| monnibo |
| A Case of Exploding Mangoes by Mohammed Hanif |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
So far this novel is very well written. It is explained well for those who are not up on their world and political history. It is also very interesting and intriguing --- Hanif is a humorous yet direct writer. |
| Debbie |
| The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book about the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary has --- as the book cover states --- murder and insanity as well as the nearly overwhelming task of compiling the first dictionary of every word in the English language. Sound dull? It's not; it reads like a well-written mystery and we learn the motivations of the main characters so well we could be acquainted. |
| Marilyn D |
| Country Matters by Michael Korda |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I love Korda's memoirs. I read HORSE PEOPLE and now this one, which gives me many chuckles as he talks about living in upstate New York after moving from New York City. Life is not simpler in the country!! |
| Debbie ([email protected]) |
| Resurrection Road by Kathryn R Wall |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A Bay Tanner Mystery set in Hilton Head, SC. This one has Bay dealing with the past --- the murder of her husband and the events during that time. A teen-age boy draws Bay and her lover into kidnapping and murder charges, and Bay feels betrayed by everyone --- the community, her lover, and her brother-in-law. A look at Southern tradition, family and revenge. |
| Marion Miller ([email protected]) |
| The Girl With No Shadow by Joanne Harris |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This may have been a little too long but it was certainly a page turner. You could just smell the chocolate and drink the cocoa while learning about the occult. |
| Melissa |
| Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver, |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent book --- funny and eye-opening. It will make you think twice about what you eat and where it comes from. |
| Readingrat |
| The Halfway House by Katherine Noel |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The strength of this book comes from the raw depictions of mental illness. The reader really gets a strong sense of not only how it feels to live with a mental illness, but also how it feels to have a loved one suffering from one. On the down side, the timeline of the story is hard to pin down, there is very little real resolution at the end, and some pieces of the story do not seem to be tied into the progression of the plot at all. |
| Lyla D ([email protected]) |
| Jeeves Omnibus by P. G. Wodehouse |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I have read several of the "Jeeves" stories and love the humor and the timeless joy that comes from the pages. Some were written in 1922-23 and on into the '50's. It is a joy to rediscover the simple joy and a more restful time. |
| Julie |
| Duma Key by Stephen King |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A great beach read that takes place on a key off the Florida Coast in the Gulf of Mexico. It's very suspenseful and there are a lot of paranormal goings on on this island. |
| Lori Schultz |
| Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A modern-day Austen addict gal gets inexplicably transformed back to Jane Austen's time into another body and life! Some pretty humorous situations follow and a romance to rival Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. I loved it! |
| Deborah |
| Where Memories Lie by Deborah Crombie |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Gemma and Duncan Kincaid are back at work in this book, taking on an investigation into a friend's troubled past during World War II. The mystery is good, although there is still too much family angst interfering with the mystery. Gemma's mother is hospitalized, which causes a crisis for Gemma, Kit, and the rest of the family. Still, the mystery is strong and this one is well worth reading. |
| Deborah |
| Chasing Darkness by Robert Crais |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Elvis faces a dark case: a man whose innocence he helped prove has now died, leaving behind a book of photographs that seem to implicate him in a series of crimes. Elvis takes on police detectives and the brothers of one of the victims, while trying to prove he wasn't wrong the first time around. Good, although a bit darker and less humorous than past titles in the series. |
| Renee |
| Death Must Advertise by Dorothy L. Sayers |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Summer is a great time to revisit classics, as opposed to the trash reading many lists encourage. What a witty, creative, engaging mystery. |
| Marsha |
| Past Due by William Lashner |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Victor Carl is the hero of this series of suspenseful novels featuring a defense attorney who fights for the rights of all for the wrong reasons. This one is especially fine. |
| Susan |
| The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Different book about a 14 year old growing up on the reservation. He sees the world like a cartoon and draws pictures about the events in his life. The true-life events seem less threatening when depicted as a cartoon but no less devastating for anyone. He is a seeker who decides to seek education outside the reservation and becomes a kind of outcast. I would recommend this book to anyone, even those who are not 14-year-old young men. |
| Jane |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Loved it. |
| Elizbeth S. |
| The Host by Stephanie Meyers |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book grabbed my attention from the first page! It's very thought provoking --- what-ifs abound... Aliens are trying to live as humans, and finally one understands that she isn't as superior as she thought. Great read. |
| Gail |
| Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Multi-generational story of a Greek American family narrated by an unusual character who happens to be an hermaphrodite. This story is full of both quirky characters and historical vignettes that trace early 20th century cultural history. |
| Frank Nigro |
| Genghis: Lords of the Bow by Conn Iggulden |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The second in a series of historical fiction based on the life of Genghis Kahn, this novel is fast paced and entertaining. Although the story is well told and exciting, the historical characters, including Genghis, are underdeveloped and very weakly described. The book, however, is a good summer read and I'm looking forward to the next one in the series which I have so far enjoyed. |
| Lori Schultz ([email protected]) |
| A House Divided by Deborah LeBlanc |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Never heard of this author until she was recommended to me through Library Thing. She writes in the eerie/horror genre and if this is an indication, is pretty darned good. A house with a violent past is divided in half and moved, but the past remains within it's walls and affects both residences in frightening ways. |
| Quinn ([email protected]) |
| The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Sharrer and Annie Barrows |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another wonderful book for bibliophiles! This book contains letters from publisher to author during the late 40's and 50's --- the letters are to convey both emotion and information, and neither are neglected. It is a gentle and thoughtful book. There are great dialogues about all sorts of books. It is a delightful book to read....like reading Godiva chocolates! |
| Readingrat |
| A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An enchanting historical fiction novel with a strong message of integrity and courage. |
| Connie ([email protected]) |
| The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
If you enjoy Bill Bryson's books, you have to read this one! Like his others, this one is full of hilarious and obviously embellished stories (you have to read it to understand the embellishments). It's about "Billy" growing up in the 50s. |
| Maureen H |
| Twilight by Stephenie Meyers |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What an excellent read. I thoroughly loved this book and am onto NEW MOON. |
| Maureen H |
| The Dirty Secrets Club by Meg Gardiner |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent read by a new author to the U.S. This book is about forensic psychologist Jo Beckett. She investigates the deaths of victims to determine how they died --- suicide, homicide etc. This is a real page turner. I have bought some of her earlier works just recently published in the U.S. |
| Sandy |
| Lady Killer by Lisa Scottoline |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A great story that you will enjoy from beginning to end. |
| C Simar |
| The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Mesmerizing. |
| Kateec |
| Fever by Bill Pronzini |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The Nameless Detective stories are always good ones. |
| Kateec |
| Dead Heat by Dick & Felix Francis |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I really enjoy Dick Francis's stories. He makes them very believable and very interesting. |
| Sue Pecaut Stark ([email protected]) |
| Big Russ & Me by Tim Russert |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I always thought Tim Russert was one of the happiest, nicest guys on TV. This book is such an enjoyable read and Tim was a wonderful, down-to-earth writer from South Buffalo. Through this book, you learn about Tim's formative years in depth, (and none of this book is boring), his college years and beyond, his respect and love for his wonderful Dad Big Russ, and what an authentic, kind and knowledgeable man he was. It is no wonder that politicians on both sides, (he worked for Senator Patrick Moynihan for years) loved and respected this fine, honest Irish Catholic man. His early death is a great loss to our country! This is a very enjoyable read and worth re-reading many times. It is proof that anyone can be successful with hard work, and a supportive family and teachers. As Tim and his Dad Big Russ often said, "What a Country!" |
| Kellie ([email protected]) |
| The Broken Window by Jeffery Deaver |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is quintessential Deaver. The killer, 522, has been killing people, calling in anonymous tips and then planting evidence on innocent victims so they are accused of the crime. The question is, where does he get the information about these innocent victims so he can get the evidence to plant? Answer? SSD. This company gets all sorts of computerized data on people and sells it to other companies. Keeping up with federal and state privacy laws, of course. When Arthur, Lincoln's cousin, is caught up in 522's scheme, to be convicted of rape and murder, Lincoln decides to investigate the case, with the help of all the usual characters --- Amelia, Ron, Mel and Lon. There are 2 things I love about Deaver's books. The first is the author's style of putting the reader inside the killer's head throughout the book. Not many mystery writers do this. I think because they may be afraid it will give clues away, but Deaver has a talent of helping the reader see through the eyes of the killer, which helps pull you deeper into the story. The other thing I like is the way he sets up the reader into thinking the killer has the edge and the plot is headed for a bad scene and then BOOM, Amelia or Rhythm have jumped ahead and figured something out while you were off in some other character's head. Then the story takes an unexpected twist. Deaver's books are loaded with interesting information (like identity theft in this one), as well as suspense and drama. It is rare for me to rate a Deaver book anything less than a 4 or 5. I've read every installmment in the Lincoln Rhymeseries and if you are a thriller-mystery type reader, you don't want to miss adding this series to your repertoire. Deaver is one of the best. |
| Cheri Oggy ([email protected]) |
| Visions In Death by J. D. Robb |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another Eve Dallas novel that really grabs you from page 1. |
| Len Nowak |
| The Murder Notebook by Jonathan Santlofer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a wonderful suspense novel that is a real page turner. It involves the government's involvement in scientific/medical experimentation that goes awry. In addition, the main character is a sketch artist, and so is the author. Therefore, the book is full of his art work pertaining to the story, which adds a great deal of authenticity to the novel. Needless to say, it didn't take long to finish. I look forward to reading more of this author's work. Unfortunately, I haven't read anything else by Mr. Santlofer. |
| Bridget |
| Skeletons At the Feast by Chris Bohjalian |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
One of the best books I've ever read! It's the end of World War II and a well-to-do German family must leave their home and flee from the approaching Russians. On their trek, they meet people (some they know, some they don't). They are all forced to reexamine values and beliefs. There are many levels to this novel, all of them so well done! There are moral lessons to be learned and human stories that unfold. I recommend this book highly! |
| Emily B |
| Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks (writing as Ian Fleming) |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This falls right in line with the Bond series. Faulks does a flawless job of writing as Ian Fleming. The plot is just what you'd expect from Fleming, with the damsel in distress, ruthless villains and our hero, James Bond. Lots of drinking, flirting, and violence. I felt like I was reading a Bond movie. |
| Debbie ([email protected]) |
| Perdition House by Kathryn R. Wall |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A Bay Tanner Mystery set in Hilton Head, SC, about family and their relationships. In this story, Bay's housekeeper is brutally attacked and a long lost distant relative appears and the hunt for buried family treasures of the Civil War evolves as does environment groups. Interesting story --- will people start digging for buried treasures? |
| Shyeyes ([email protected]) |
| Sail by James Patterson and Howard Roughan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
An excellent novel by Patterson! Wow! A family goes out sailing to reunite with each other after their father has died. The family unit seems to be diminished and in disarray. Enter a new husband who is ashore, a vast ocean, a shark, and many more obstacles to overcome. This was very fast paced and enjoyable. Patterson is at his best! |
| Readingrat |
| Mother of Pearl by Melinda Haynes |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I enjoyed this story much more than I was expecting. I was expecting (and frankly not looking forward to) one more story about growing up poor in the South (your typical Oprah fare). What I found instead were memorable characters, believable emotions, and clever prose. After reading a biography of the author, I'm even more impressed. |
| Marsha |
| The House at Riverton by Kate Morton |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a story as recalled by a 99-year-old woman who witnessed the lives and loves of an aristocratic family in England starting before World War I, through the changes that occurred in the following years. Secrets are kept in her memory. There is suspense, passion and devastation. It's an interesting journey. |
| Fran |
| Hidden by Paul Jaskunas |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Maggie Wilson survived a horrific attack, for which her abusive husband was placed in jail. When additional evidence comes to light indicating her husband may not have been her attacker, Maggie revisits the events leading up to this painful evening and tries to come to terms with her memories. I liked the author's writing style, but found the story somewhat slow at times. I wasn't crazy about the way the story jumped back and forth between the past and present as it just didn't seem to flow for me. |
| Bonnie |
| The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Spare, intriguing novel that insidiously works its way into your psyche. A very good, short read. |
| Rita B. |
| The Rest of Her Life by Laura Moriarty |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Parents are always talking to their children about how even the tiniest decision can affect the rest of their lives. In this novel, an 18-year-old daughter has a moment of distraction that leads to tragic consequences, and we see how it effects the family --- from the mother's point of view. The book is really about the mother and what has led her to feel as she does about her family and to behave as she does in the face of these circumstances. |
| Genie |
| How to Marry A Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Shanna, a mild-mannered dentist whose life is turned upside down when she witnesses a mob hit in a local pizza joint. Now living under the witness-protection program, she is working the midnight shift in a dentist office. One night, a handsome vampire is seeking emergency dental work and happens upon her office. By a remarkable chance, this is the same evening the mob has discovered her new whereabouts. Of course, she is rescued by Roman, the handsome vampire, and naturally, they fall in love. But the road to true love isn't easy --- especially since her dad is a CIA operative with a program called Stake Out (a mission is to find and kill all vampires). Roman is also troubled by a an old animosity with Ivan, an evil Russian vampire, who was responsible for hiring hit men to hunt down Shanna. Interesting characters in a fun (although somewhat predictable) plot. |
| Marya |
| The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I love the enchantment in her books, especially the magically appearing books in Sugar Queen. The characters start out ordinary, almost like people the reader might actually know, and then their lives get changed and the knots and tangles get smoothed. But the novel moves along in ways that aren't formulaic or predictable. I know she has a new one coming out in 2009 and I can't wait. |
| Marya |
| The Little Book by Selden Edwards |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I loved the presentation box this book came in, but the novel itself didn't live up to the publisher's fancy packaging. It seemed a compilation of ideas from better written books, Jack Finney's TIME AND AGAIN and FROM TIME TO TIME in particular, although Finney's Si Morley is a voluntary time traveller and Edwards' Wheeler and Dilly Burden are not. But then Audrey Niffenegger's THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE captured the stress and dilemmas encountered by the involuntary time traveler in a much more readable and sympathetic way. Edwards' taking the Frisbee into the 19th century was too much for me. And the jumping from time to time and place to place made for a very jarring reading experience. Some of the leaps of time and/or place lasted a sentence or two whilst others droned on and on for pages. In the end, I wasn't sure if this was a book about time travel or reincarnation or whether it was the author's cautionary tale about a sort of purgatory we'll all endure as we pass from this life to whatever comes after. Luckily it's fiction. I reviewed an ARC of this book but I wouldn't recommend it. |
| Carol Hoyer from VA ([email protected]) |
| Trash and Other Litter by Richard Bellush |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Trash is a very interesting read. The author provides humor, and insight into the world of those we think less of --- strippers, escorts and the seedy life. The story revolves around Rufus, the bouncer, and five ladies of the gentlemen's club: Roxy, Marina, Sheryl, Lacy and Robbie. Rufus is having a birthday, and while he doesn't really celebrate it, the ladies he protects invite him out for a night of fun --- drinks, dinner and some drugs. How does he end up in a dumpster? How did these women become part of this new and strange adventure> Each lady tells her story of how she got to where she is and what she wants to do with their life. The other parts of this book include sci-fi elements, and being a private detective, who's looking for someone but is not sure who. I'm not a big fan of sci-fi, however, I did find the reading to be interesting and somewhat confusing. The final section of the book includes the author's random musings about topics he finds interesting. The entire book was very good reading, and it held one's interest. |
| Carol Hoyer from VA ([email protected]) |
| Last Call by JD Seamus |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
LAST CALL is a book that everyone should read. We all can relate to the colorful characters in the story. The author entertains us throughout the book with his funny, caring characters. Nathan Melton is looking for a place to hang out since he is new to the area. He has tried several bars and doesn't like any of them. One day, he goes to Jimmie's bar. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he would find love, friendship, daring escapades and a friend who was dying. The people who come to Jimmie's take care of each other. When Jimmie finds out he has cancer, it is their turn to take care of him. Jimmie is a friend, part-time crook and the neighborhood psychiatrist/matchmaker. Ken and Stuart, two unlikely policemen, find themselves in constant trouble --- wonder if that could be because they fall asleep at stakeouts, have their friends sit in the car with them or because they always report late back to the station? Jimmie has made sure that his disabled wife and mentally challenged daughter are taken care of. What he doesn't know was the so-called lawyer isn't a very trustworthy one. He is scamming Jimmie. After Jimmie passes away, his friends take over to get his money back. This is a fast-reading "can't put down" book. The characters are people we all know; it's the bar we frequent and it's the friends who will do anything for us. It's about undying love for friends, romances gone haywire and accidental killings. We all know it --- you will love it. |
| Susan |
| fearless fourteen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I look forward to next installment of Stephanie Plum's adventures. I just started, but Janet never disappoints. |
| RitaB |
| The Ten-Year Nap by Meg Wolitzer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Wolitzer goes inside the heads of a group of women in the '70s who chose to stay at home after their children are born. The reader gains insight into their marriages, their feelings, husbands and their children, their insecurities, their inadequacies and their struggle with the decision about whether or not to go back to work. |
| Cindy Dubinski |
| One Step Behind by Henning Mankell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a fast-paced mystery in the Kurt Wallander series from Sweden. The story makes you want to dig out your maps and learn more about the area. I can't wait to see the Kenneth Branagh series that is being done on this work with BBC. A terrific translation of the best selling Swedish mystery writer. |
| Jill |
| The Art Of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Cleverly written story written from perspective of a race car driver's dog, named Enzo. Enzo shares his perspective on life and death and mixes that with what he has learned about driving race cars from his owner. This will delight anyone who has lived with a dog, or anyone who enjoys a good story. |
| Judy O. |
| Vineyard Chill by Philip Craig |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Retired cop, J.W. Jackson, and his wife Zee live on Martha's Vineyard. Clay, an old friend, comes to visit them there, but they soon find out that two men have also come to the island and are looking for Clay with evil intentions. J.W. has to help his friend. The ex-cop also uses his police background to try to find out what happened to missing Nadine, a young waitress on the island. This is a whole series of books about Martha's Vineyard, and they are great stories because for one thing they contain a strong sense of place. Craig obviously knows the area like the back of his hand. Unfortunately, Philip Craig died last year, so this series is coming to an end. Enjoy this one. |
| Kay Keller |
| Sail by James Patterson & Howard Roughan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I enjoyed this book. I had a hard time putting it down, and finished it in 2 days. The short chapters are just enough to keep it interesting. I liked how the point of view changed from first person through the character of Dr. Katherine Dunne, to third person. The action is very well written, too. A good read. |
| Kelly |
| Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A smashing good mystery from start to finish. I really enjoyed the family dynamic, and it very amusing as well as suspenseful, once again proving Christie is the best. |
| Fran |
| If You Lived Here by Dana Sachs |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A tale of a couple who decides to go the route of foreign adoption. It was interesting and captures the roller coaster of emotions that accompany years of infertility, and the foreign adoption process. |
| Thomas |
| The Choice by Nicholas Sparks |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is another lonely-guy-meets-lonely-girl story that Sparks always seems to pull off and make very enjoyable. Travis is a single veterinarian who seems quite satisfied with his life, though all his friends are married with children. Gabby is new in town, a single physician's assistant with a fiance who seem quite boring and spends most of the time golfing. When Travis and Gabby meet, there is a lot of friction at first, which then turns to love. This is a very pleasant, easy-to-read book. |
| Readingrat |
| Dexter in the Dark by Jeff Lindsay |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
In this installment in the series, Dexter's dark passenger gets chased away. Unfortunately, Dexter without his dark passenger is hardly Dexter at all. This same story could have easily been written with just any old protagonist at the helm. It's still an enjoyable read, but it doesn't reach the level of the previous two Dexter books. |
| Rachel |
| Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Just another wonderful book by Jodi. It keeps you wondering and thinking even after the last page! |
| Rachel |
| The Pact by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A love story that you didn't expect. An ending that you didn't expect! |
| Leslie Davenport |
| Daughter of the Sun by Barbara Wood |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I felt this book initially was difficult to start, but once I got into it, the plot had nice twists and some really surprising connections between the characters. This is a story, mixed with some very well-researched Native American History. The names of the characters are not familiar names, Hoshi'tiwa being the heroine, and the Toltec and Anasazi names are sometimes tongue twisters. I'm looking forward to reading some of Ms. Wood's other books this summer. |
| Readingrat |
| The Guardians by Ana Castillo |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This story is told from the perspective of four individuals living in New Mexico: Regina, Gabo, Miguel, and Milton. Regina is a widow in her 50s. Her nephew Gabriel (Gabo) is currently living with her in order to attend school while his father, Rafa, works as a migrant worker. When Rafa mysteriously disappears during an illegal border crossing, Regina turns to a fellow co-worker, Miguel, for help. Milton, Miguel's grandfather, takes an interest in mentoring Gabo and helping with the search for Rafa. There was much I found interesting about this story, including the Mexican cultural mores and how each of these characters view them, identify with them, and are influenced by them. The only problem I had with the story was with some of the Spanish liberally sprinkled throughout the text. I usually have no problem with this technique when used to add cultural authenticity to dialogue, but in this story, there were just too many places where the definition of the words used were not readily apparent from the surrounding text, which left the reader yearning for a Spanish/English dictionary. |
| Jean |
| Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A very lyrical and moving story about love, family, and commitments. I have really enjoyed this book. It is considered a New Discovery Book by Bantam books. |
| Jean |
| That Summer in Sicily by Marlena de Blasi |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Marlena has captured Italy, their food and joy of life. She is a very captivating author whose books are rich in vivid detail and emotion. If you haven't read this author, consider starting with her first and fabulous book, A THOUSAND DAYS IN VENICE. |
| Rachel |
| Without a Map: A Memoir by Meredith Hall |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A beautifully written memoir about what happens when a person is exiled from their own life. |
| Thomas |
| Digital Fortress by Dan Brown |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a very good "techno-thriller." The National Security Agency has built a monstrous computer capable of breaking any code in the world in just a few minutes. Then crypto specialists discover the computer has been running for 16 hours and still can't break the code. They discover that one of their own employees --- who has just been murdered --- has written an algorithm that is impossible to solve. The race is on to find the pass-key that will break this code. The author has done a good job of explaining a lot of technical stuff into language anyone can understand. |
| Lea Ann in Seattle ([email protected]) |
| Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is based on a character from Vergil's THE AENEID, Lavina. In this book, we learn about the king's daughter, who sees visions. She is the cause of a war, and she loves and loses her love. It was easy to get caught up in this story, to see that human nature really has changed very little since ancient times. |
| Jan Terry |
| Tailspin by Catherine Coulter |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book by Coulter follows the story of FBI agents, Dillon and Sherlock, (married partners). This story delivers, with an interesting mesh of characters and situations. It's helpful to have read earlier books, but the previous stories are not ruined by reading this one first. |
| Pat Shearing |
| Man in the Middle by Brian Haig |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Fantastic, but quite scary. Could what he's writing about our entry into the war in Iraq be true? With his background and knowledge, it could be. The details of private contractors was outstanding. Shades of Blackwater!!! If our government is only a shade as devious, we as a nation are in big trouble. |
| Juanita |
| Mirror Image by Danielle Steel |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This was an interesting book, but a little slow to get into. I love the descriptions that Danielle Steel gives in her books. They're very real. |
| Shana |
| Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is set in Italy 1943-1945. I learned about an aspect of World War II that I didn't know about before --- the Italian resistance to Nazi Germany and how the Italian's sheltered Jews trying to escape the SS. It is a great book with characters I will not soon forget. |
| Readingrat |
| Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
An interesting premise that starts very strong but doesn't quite play out. Unfortunately, the end of the book is plagued by multiple plot holes. |
| Readingrat |
| Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A wonderful children's fictional mystery story based on historical facts. It's along the same lines as Blue Balliett's CHASING VERMEER. |
| Marion Miller ([email protected]) |
| Peony in Love by Lisa See |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A very original story, but it's just a little too long. |
| Lea Ann in Seattle ([email protected]) |
| Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I give this 4 stars, rather than 5, only because it seems I have read rather numerous books in which World War II plays a dominant role. In this book, one gets a sense of the war from the point of view of both the persecuted Jews and of German civilians who only gradually become aware of what their government is doing. It is not a "happy, feel-good" kind of book, but it does give insight into the good, the brave, the brutal aspects of the human condition during inhuman times. |
| Carol |
| Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Novik continues her fantasy Temeraire series. I thought this might be the last edition, but it looks like there may be more. The first book, HIS MAJESTY'S DRAGON was just delightful if you like fantasy. I was hooked. Whether the books are just average in the rest of the series, I'll still be reading. Novik has an amusing turn of phrase. She also gives an interesting alternate history. Like a good children's literature author, she keeps her characters coming back so the reader may "visit" with them again. |
| Kelly |
| Beastly by Alex Flinn |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Excellent retelling of the Beauty & the Beast fairytale from the beast's perspective, set in modern day NYC. It leaves you warm and fuzzy. This young adult title is highly recommended for fairy tale buffs. |
| Jane Squires |
| Mountain Sanctuary by Lenora Worth |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Stella Forsythe is struggling with a Mom who left her when she was young. When her mom dies, she leaves her a bed and breakfast. But, Stella cannot understand how her Mother could have walked away from her child. Adam Callahan was a cop in New Orleans. He turned his eyes to the fact his brother was gouging prices and ended up resigning his position and just driving until he ended up at the end. I would not want to ruin any of the surprises. You will laugh, cry and see the struggles all of us face whether in romantic situation or otherwise. All of us deal with having hope. |
| Debi |
| Ghostwalk by Rebecca Stott |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book really deserves 5+! When I first began reading, I thought it was going to be something I was going to have to really concentrate on because it is about Isaac Newton's involvement in alchemy. Actually, it is a multi-layered book that ties the present to the past with just a touch of the supernatural. Even though it didn't capture my attention until after the first couple of pages, I couldn't put it down until I finished it! |
| Krishna |
| I Shall Not Want by Julia Spencer-Fleming |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The sixth in the series of a female Episcopal priest and male Chief of Police. The two main characters were left hanging in the last novel with an emotional event. The author does a great job with the beginning of this book by presenting an event that takes place with one of the main characters being shot in present time then goes back six months earlier to show how they got to this point. The characters are richly woven into an interesting plot about the lives of migrant workers in the united states. The plot moves quickly but with jumps forward by months in between key events taking place between the characters. An excellent continuation of series I've come to love reading. I hated putting the book down to sleep. Its going to be a long wait for the next in the series. |
| Debi |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Although the beliefs in the afterlife presented by the author differ from my own, I found this book to be profound and endearing. I suppose I enjoyed it so much because the narrator is a dog. After I finished it, I looked at my four dogs that were asleep on the couch with me and wondered what their thoughts were. I am not a racing fan, but you don't have to be one to enjoy this book! |
| Susan Dyer ([email protected]) |
| The Dark Tide by Andrew Gross |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Once again, Andrew Gross has monopolized my whole weekend! This book is awesome and I can't wait for another one to come out! He wrote six books with James Patterson that were just as awesome! I would recommend this book, as well as THE BLUE ZONE, to anyone! |
| Janeh |
| The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I would give this novel 10 stars if I could! I was fortunate to receive an advance reader's copy of this wonderful book. I spent the weekend lost in its pages. It kept me spellbound, and when I finished it, I wanted to read more. Mysterious, thought-provoking and fascinating, the story has you in its spell. It is a must read! |
| Marsha |
| The Whole Truth by David Baldacci |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Have you heard of "perception management"? After reading this thriller, you will be more than conscience of it. What one man can do to boost the sales of his armament company is frightening indeed. |
| Kelly |
| Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Another installment in the Stephanie Plum series. It's not quite as funny as 13, but a treat nonetheless. |
| Bridget |
| Hold Tight by Harlan Coben |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Upper middle class suburban NJ families are connected to gruesome murder, teen age drug parties, and teen suicide. In the end, all the pieces of the puzzle come together. Like other Harlan Coben books I've read, there are lots of twists and turns in the plot. It's good, but not Coben's best. |
| Kathy V. |
| Don't Look Back by Karin Fossum |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The book starts out at a good pace, but it's hard to understand some of the names of places since it is a translated book from Norwegian. In the story, a teenage girl is found dead and this detective Sejer has to find out who did it it. There are plenty of suspects, so it does not get boring. A pretty good read. |
| Ivy |
| Pig Candy by Lise Funderburg |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Very well written, honest memoir about the author's relationship with her father as he is getting older and the requests he makes to go "home." |
| Kelly |
| The Host by Stephenie Meyer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was a bit slow going at first, but then, I was hooked. A definite page turner and an excellent examination of what it means to be "human." Loved it. |
| Kellie ([email protected]) |
| Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was another great book by Weiner. Any book that makes me cry is high on my list. I did not know this was a continuation of GOOD IN BED, 13 years later. It is a book about Joy and Cannie, and each chapter switches back and forth between them. Joy is the child of Cannie and Bruce (from the previous book, who wrote the article "Good in Bed"). Cannie is remarried to Peter, who has been the only father Joy has really known. Joy is 13 and is trying to figure our who she really is. I thought this book was funny and heartwarming all the same. I thought I knew the ending and was surprised when I got it wrong. This did not disappoint and I still consider Jennifer Weiner one of my favorites. |
| Phyllis |
| Girls In Trucks by Katie Crouch |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I enjoyed Sarah's mixture of love/hate with her Southern upbringing and traditions. |
| Marsha M ([email protected]) |
| Night of the Jaguar by Michael Gruber |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Creepy fun when a rain forest shaman travels to Miami in an attempt to find and stop the people threatening to destroy his little corner of Columbia. Poz, the now-former Miami detective, is drawn into the story when the investigation of dead Cuban businessmen leads to a giant jaguar and his father. |
| Catie 75 |
| Beyond Obsession by Richard Hammer |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
True crime story. Interesting and good writing. |
| Marsha M ([email protected]) |
| The Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the story of Jane Grey, the 16 year old who was Queen of England for a few days following Edward's death and Mary's reign. Moreover, it is the tale of plotting parents eager for wealth and status and the very real fears about religious enmity, should Mary become Queen. Jane, a studious and serious girl, is victimized by all this plotting. Yet, over and over she is depicted as having more sense and courage than her contemporaries. Even though the story is well known and the outcome a given, Alison Weir's storytelling makes for an engrossing and page-turning novel. |
| Jeanie |
| The Mascot by Mark Kurzem |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a true story of Alex Kurzem who was only a child when he was found hiding in the forest by Nazi soldiers who, not knowing he was Jewish, made him their mascot. This book should be required reading for students to show them the atrocities against the Jews during World War II by Hitler's army. As an adult, Kurzem's son Mark helps him to discover the truth to the memories of his past and release him from the chains that held his mind prisoner for many years. |
| Lorna |
| Sisters by Danielle Steel |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Very good story about 4 sisters who, because of a tragedy, live together for a year. They have different life styles but manage to make it work. It will make you feel good at the end. If I had sisters I may have given it 5 stars because I assume I could have related to a lot of the situations. |
| Linda V |
| I Shall Not Want by Julia Spencer-Fleming |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I read this in one weekend. Loved all the characters and the story. I have looked forward to her books since I read the first one, and I'm never disappointed. Very good read. |
| Phyllis |
| Urban Shaman by C. E. Murphy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Love this series - URBAN SHAMAN, THUNDERBIRD FALLS and COYOTE DREAMS. Great characters and stories. |
| Catie 75 |
| One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a sequel to CASE HISTORIES, in the series featuring Jackson Brodie. It's a mystery and a character study. There are lots of characters to keep track of, but it all comes together at the end. The author has a dry wit that had me laughing out loud numerous times. |
| Christine G |
| The Night Cafe by Taylor Smith |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The characters are great and I enjoyed the story line. |
| Lisa Kent |
| Lethally Blonde by Kate White |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Latest book in the Bailey Weggins series. It's just as entertaining as all of the prior ones. |
| Trudi Trainor |
| Audition by Barbara Walters |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Growing up, I never cared much for Barbara Walters, but after reading her book I have seen a different side of her. She has had a rough ride, although some of the ride was peppered with fun and wonderful experiences. |
| Geri Dosalua |
| Playing in Traffic by Gail Giles |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a YA novel. Gail Giles writes very edgy stories, and this one is no exception. Many things happened during the story that I found somewhat disturbing; however, I could not put the book down and read it very quickly. It is aimed at older teens and raises some interesting questions. As usual, you are left wondering at the end of the book as to what actually occurred. Read it and figure it out! |
| Geri Dosalua |
| The Book Thief by Markus Zusak |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book was fantastic, and is definitely one that can be read several times. You can tell that the author wrote this with very special care. I must admit that I got bogged down in trying to read the book. I couldn't stay focused. Then it was suggested that I try the audiobook version (unabridged). This I did, and it made all the difference. The reader did a fantastic job and he played the part of Death, which is the narrator. I highly recommend this book. It is like THE THIRTEENTH TALE as it is timeless with its messages. |
| Ezmerelda |
| The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I have to admit, it started a little slowly, but I couldn't put it down. This book brings out new information that explains lots of things in the series. |
| Areta ([email protected]) |
| The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is even longer than any of the Harry Potter books :0) and every bit as mesmerizing. The number of characters is not daunting because you get to know each and every one of them, and even the most evil ones find a way into your heart --- though you might like to kill them. Great book to read on vacation if it rains all the time (because you would waste the sunshine and beach time reading...). |
| Jud Hanson |
| Dirty Pool by Steve Brewer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the fifth entry in the series featuring Albuquerque PI, Bubba Mabry. This time, he's competing against a fellow PI from TX to find a millionaire's son --- only things aren't always what they seem. Throw in a surprise reunion with the father he's estranged from, and you have the makings for a mystery that leaves you wanting more. I will definitely go back and read the previous 4 books in the series. |
| CC |
| Midwives by Chris Bohjalian |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I was disappointed in this book. It was "just ok" --- not as good as what all the hype had led me to believe it would be. |
| Martha |
| The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Ghosts and a family secret add to the interest of this latest novel by Joshilyn Jackson. Ms. Jackson's characters are always well developed and unusual, but reminiscent of people everyone knows. Her southern settings are authentic and the family situations as complex as those in real life. Another intriguing family story from an author who is proving to be extremely creative and original in thought. |
| Mary |
| The Secret Scriptures by Sebastian Barry |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The writing is outstanding! I found myself pausing and rereading lines to savor the beauty of the Barry's words. The story slowly unwinds as 100-year-old Roseanne McNulty tells her the story of her life set in County Sligo, Ireland. |
| Marsha M ([email protected]) |
| Mudbound by Hillary Jordan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the story of two farming families in the rural Mississippi delta during the years immediately following World War II. The McAllens buy the farm upon which the black sharecropping family, the Jacksons, have lived and worked for generations. Conditions in the farmhouse are extremely primitive and desperate for the McAllens' city-bred wife who must learn to work from dusk to dawn just to keep the household together, from pumping water to baking bread. Additionally, she must learn to navigate the social racism of the area. Told from the perspective of each of the characters, the facets of the unfolding conflicts come into focus both from within and from out each home. Added to the mix are returning family members whose combat experience has wounded and changed them. The black /white friendship that develops between the sharecropper's son and the farmer's brother violates the social order of the time. The cruelty and violence that erupts leads to tragedy for both families. This book is satisfying and unsentimental. |
| Vicky |
| The Rock Orchard by Paula Wall |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is one of those "fun" reads. It takes place in a town in the South. The characters are really funny. I think it would make an excellent "beach read". |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| Twisted by Andrea Kane |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Former FBI Special Agent Sloane Burbank and Special Agent Derek Parker work together to determine who is behind the abduction of several females known to Sloane. A suspenseful novel, but there are too many acronyms. You have to keep referring to the definitions in the front of the book to understand what they stand for. |
| Cindy Sheets ([email protected]) |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I admit that I wondered what this book was really about --- especially since the story is told from the family dog's point of view. But I found it to be surprisingly poignant and an interesting look at how humans behave! |
| Christine Preston ([email protected]) |
| Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall and Lisa Pulitzer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was quite a haunting book and is still currently in the news. As a Mom and a Christian, my heart goes out to this young girl. |
| Christine Preston ([email protected]) |
| Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is my very first Jodi Picoult novel and I can't believe that I've waited this long to read one of her books! I can't put it down! I want to know what happens as I'm only half way done! |
| Judy |
| How Not to Look Old by Charla Krupp |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
OK...This is Summer Reading so it's OK to be a bit shallow! Having reached 50ish I enjoyed this book, which covers everything from trying to look too young to looking just right. There are many tips to look 10 years younger, 10 pounds lighter and 10 times better. At the end of each chapter is "Brilliant Buys" with recommendations how to achieve the perfect look. |
| Renee |
| The Cat Who Talked Turkey by Lillian Jackson Braun |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
i haven't read anything from this vast collection of The Cat Who... books. If I run into another one, I certainly will. Enjoyable, fun, light reading. |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| A Wicked Snow by Gregg Olsen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
After reading and enjoying A COLD, DARK PLACE , I had to go back to read Olsen's earlier works. This novel keeps you in suspense up to the last few pages. The book centers around Hannah Griffin and what happened on Christmas Eve many years ago. Her brothers were killed in a fire that night, but their shoes turned up on Hannah's desk twenty years later and the past is brought into the present. A novel not to be missed! |
| Sherrie |
| Loving Frank by Nancy Horan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A complex and inviting story of love, and what two people give up for that love to thrive. Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Cheney are very interesting people who make choices in their lives that are very selfish, self-fulling and eccentric. At first you think of Mamah as a very spirited and free-thinking woman, and she is that still after you come to realize that she is willing to give up her husband, sister, and her two children to live what sometimes is a nomad's life. How do you make that decision, and live with yourself? Wright is at first a complex character who is a loner --- in the midst of his family of sisters, mother, wife and six children --- entirely focused on himself. I'm enjoying the progression of history as well as the perceived love affair that wreaks havoc on so many lives. This is hard to put down. |
| L. Hann |
| Chill of Fear by Kay Hooper |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent. Find out why the children of the Lodge have been disappearing for over 20 years. This book will have you one the edge of your seat. |
| Readingrat |
| Once by James Herbert |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An unusual combination of horror story, faerie tale, and erotica --- definitely not recommended for arachnophobes. |
| Fran |
| My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book held me on the edge of my seat until the end. I loved the characters, the story line and the writing style. Once I was done, I rushed out to purchase the sequel, IN LIVING BLOOD. |
| Janet Hoyt ([email protected]) |
| The Invisible Wall by Harry Bernstein |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The story takes place at the beginning of World War I in a small English mill town. Harry Bernstein's family lives on a street that is separated by an 'invisible wall' that divides Jewish families on one side of the street from the Christian families on the other. It's Harry's mother, who's dream of a better world for her children, who is the most moving. It's a great story! |
| Janet Hoyt ([email protected]) |
| The Wishing Year by Noelle Oxenhandler |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is a memoir of the authors yearlong journey to make her three wishes of a new love, healed soul, and a house of her dreams come true. The book also takes us on a journey of the the art and mystery of wishing. Do our wishes come true? Maybe not always as we expected, and then sometimes they do...and along the way, we learn a lot about ourselves and what it takes to make our wishes happen. |
| Mary ([email protected]) |
| The Senator's Wife by Sue Miller |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Her character studies are always memorable! |
| Pamela Klinger-Horn ([email protected]) |
| The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This novel is a poetically beautiful, modern retelling of the Hamlet tale. Despite being a story about a boy and his dog, the author never becomes saccharine, and the dogs are not anthropomorphized into the ridiculous. An "unputdownable" read. |
| Bridget |
| The Dark Lantern by Gerri Brightwell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
"Upstairs, Downstairs", JANE EYRE and Sherlock Holmes all shook up together --- that's what this delightful novel of Victorian London seems like. It's told mainly from the point of view of Jane, a young servant new to London. She's an innocent (but clever) country girl who learns who to trust (and not) really fast. At times the action is slow, but overall, it's a must read for fans of period mystery. A lot of attention is paid to setting details which makes the book realistic and interesting. |
| Laurie Blum ([email protected]) |
| Away by Amy Bloom |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
An old-fashioned immigrant story with a twist! This historical fiction novel has well-developed characters, vivid description that takes the reader into old New York, Chicago, Seattle & Alaska. A worthwhile journey-filled read! |
| Lisa |
| Folly by Laurie R. King |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A distinct departure for King, who writes modern and historical mystery series. This is a stand-alone work, and while the mystery does play a role in the book, the more fascinating aspect is how much of what main character Rae is telling is the truth, her imagination, or selective memory. Rae suffers from significant bi-polar issues, among other traumas that have happened to her in her life. It's very different but engrossing all the same! |
| Coral Harrison |
| Hold Tight by Harlan Coben |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A story of parents who care about their teenage sons and daughters but don't know what to do. It's probably best book Coben has written, and he has written some good ones. |
| Reva Wamsley ([email protected]) |
| Killer Dreams by Iris Johansen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Iris Johansen's books never disappoint. This wasn't one of the best, but it was still a good read. Sophie had originally created a drug to help people with nightmares, but now it's about to be used for mind control. |
| Warren Deluty |
| Dead Heat by Joel C. Rosenberg |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Another great read, in the tradition of his previous books. |
| Bonnie |
| Outtakes From a Marriage by Ann Leary |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Write what you know --- Ann Leary, wife of actor Denis Leary, wrote a novel about marriage to an actor. It works. |
| MarilynD |
| The Shack by William P. Young |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A book categorized as religion at the top of the best seller list, this drew my attention and I wasn't disappointed. All I can say is wow! |
| Elizabeth V |
| No Second Chance by Harlan Coben |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
If you like books that keep you reading long past bedtime that get you so involved you don't get sleepy, this is it. |
| Jud Hanson |
| Thunder in the Deep by Joe Buff |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
THUNDER IN THE DEEP is the second installment in Joe Buff's bestselling series about Captain Jeffrey Fuller and the crew of the USS Challenger. This book finds the Challenger on a rescue mission to save the crew of the Texas, which was disabled by the high-tech German sub, Deutschland. What follows is a successful rescue, followed by a cat-and-mouse chase through the North Atlantic. This is an excellent book if you like naval adventures. |
| Cynthia Polansky ([email protected]) |
| In the Land of Invisible Women by Qanta Akhmed, M.D. |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
In this narrative memoir slated for September release, a young, female, British-reared, U.S.-educated doctor of Pakistani heritage spends a year working in a Saudi Arabian hospital. The distinguishing factor of this memoir? Dr. Akhmed is Muslim. Her perspective of Saudi Arabia's strict Islamic laws is an interesting change from memoirs of American soldiers, corporate contract workers, and humanitarian professionals who have temporarily worked in Islamic countries. The writing is lyrical and educational, quite an achievement for any author. |
| DA Bowen |
| Executive Privilege by Phillip Margolin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A President with a wandering eye; the chief of staff/friend who cleans up his messes; a private eye with pictures of the most recent young woman meeting the President; and a lawyer representing a serial killer on a murder he DIDN'T commit ---- they all intersect for an interesting and fast summer read. |
| Angela Satalino |
| The Whole Truth by David Baldacci |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Another winner from Baldacci. Action packed, intriguing and thought-provoking, it makes you wonder if there really is anyone behind the political wars currently being fought. |
| Elizabeth V |
| The Demon in the Freezer by Richard Preston |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I accidentally gave this only 2 stars last week. This is a correction. It is one of the best books I've ever read. Preston is one of the best writers around and may be *the* best because he can relate scientific facts, which would be dull to most of us ordinarily, not only in an interesting way but in such an interesting way that this book is a page turner. I didn't want to put it down. And I had the flu when I read it, which made it even more scary. You'll see why if you read it. |
| Coralie ([email protected]) |
| The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book was intriguing on many levels. It seemed to be part of a mystery the author was attempting to solve about a distant relative taken by pirates into slavery from England and part of her life now. The book went from 1625 to the present day...and whichever time you were in, you could not wait to get back to the other part of the story. The characters were excellent and it was a really good read. |
| Debbie ([email protected]) |
| Blood Trail by C. J. Box |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A mystery set in Wyoming amid the hunting world. A vivid picture of hunting, "dressing" the kill, and the plight of the game warden. An uneasy look at both sides of the hunting issue. |
| Janice G. |
| The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I read this because Ms. Kidd also wrote THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES, which I really loved. This one was okay and I did finish it, but it's not up to the first one. The ending is disappointing. |
| Marsha |
| Hit and Run by Lawrence Block |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Block writes masterfully about a hit man named Keller. His adventures are always entertaining, but this one is his best. Keller is set up to take the fall for a hit on a governor. He is out of money and his only contact is dead. Thus begins his saga. |
| Linda M. Williams ([email protected]) |
| Swan Peak by James Lee Burke |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
James Lee Burke's books are "comfort food" to me. I loved this one just as I have loved every other one. Dave Robicheaux and Clete Purcell are the main characters but this one takes place in Montana instead of Louisiana. I never get tired of James Lee Burke. Write faster! |
| RitaB |
| Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This chronicled the author's year of recovery after divorce and a difficult breakup. She eats her way through Italy, prays at an ashram in India and learns more about love in Indonesia. I've heard it reviewed as "life altering" and I definitely wouldn't say it was that. It's amusing, interesting and spiritual. Some of it is a bit much to wade through, but in the end, I'd say it was good. |
| Booky ([email protected]) |
| Bark of the Dogwood by Jackson Tippett McCrae |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book will not be for everyone, but it is well worth reading. It's a story within a story about serious and even shocking happenings, but told from a unique point of view and with surprising humor. The author in the story is assigned to write a series of articles about historical Southern homes, but this turns into his revisiting the Southern homes of his childhood. With obvious references to Helen Keller, Truman Copote, and Dickens as well as not-so-obvious allusions, this book has layers of meaning and gives the reader so much to think about. Do read it. I loved the complexity of the story line and had real affection for some of the characters. |
| Kristie |
| The Shack by William P. Young |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a great Christian fiction novel. I just started, but it's definitely holding my interest so far. |
| Readingrat |
| Coraline by Neil Gaiman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Pure Neil Gaiman, but appropriate for younger readers too. |
| Julie |
| Duma Key by Stephen King |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A great beach read. The story takes place on a key off the west coast of Florida. Lots of weird things and paranormal stuff happening there. |
| Booky |
| Dragonwell Dead by Laura Childs |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This mystery has all the charm of the cozy English mysteries that I love to sneak in between "weightier" books. The book is loaded with Southern charm and characters you would like to know. A little mystery, death, and a good cup of tea fills the bill. If you like gardening, so much the better. |
| Kristie |
| The Cedar Cove series by Debbie Macomber |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
There are seven books so far in this gossipy series. The inhabitants' lives of a fictional town in Washington really make you feel like a neighbor. I can't wait until the next book comes out in September 2008. |
| Booky |
| Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book presents an issue that grabs the reader from the start. When a prominent Southern white couple's first child is born reflecting unmistakable African features, how does this affect those around them. Though the result is not so unexpected, the journey the characters take is an absorbing one and will have you talking to others long after you put the book down. |
| Booky |
| The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
If you love to travel, learn about cultures through fiction and enjoy real characters, read this book. Maggie, a food writer, has just learned that her recently deceased husband may have fathered a child in China. She goes to search out the truth and meets Sam, a Chinese-American caught between two worlds. He has returned to his Chinese home to prepare for the contest to decide who will be on the 2008 Chinese Olympic team for cooking. Mones's descriptions of the lore of cooking in China opens up a new world to the reader. A review of this book warns readers not to pick it up when they are hungry --- the aromas just rise from the page. |
| Booky |
| The Bright Side of Disaster by Catherine Center |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A young expectant mother is jilted at the last minute by her lackluster boyfriend. How Jenny survives through the sleepless nights, the trials of raising a child alone, and all the "things" you didn't know about the day-to-day raising of a newborn are here. For mothers everywhere --- it takes one right back to those glorious days and the ups and downs of those first months of motherhood. The story is a bit predictable, but you like Jenny so much that you are rooting for the happy ending and want to see it happen. |
| Pat Miller |
| No Time For Goodbye by Linwood Barclay |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I never read this author before and was pleasantly surprised. Good thriller and page turner. |
| Pat Miller |
| Retribution by Jilliane Hoffman |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is another author I've never read but enjoyed it for a different pace. |
| Pat Miller |
| Under The Sabers by Tanya Biank |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
If you faithfully watch "Army Wives" on Lifetime, you'll love this book. |
| Gale in Houston |
| Chasing Darkness by Robert Crais |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It does not get any better than the Elvis Cole/Joe Pike novels by Robert Crais. 12th in the series, CHASING DARKNESS is a perfect blend of people, plot, and mystery. When the LAPD discovers evidence that suggests a man Cole helped exonerate of a murder charge actually was to blame, the guilt-ridden detective seeks answers. Did Cole's mistakes allow two more victims to die by this man's hand? Wonderful. Stop reading now and go get a copy of CHASING DARKNESS. |
| Sandra Lee Smith ([email protected]) |
| The Broken Window by Jeffrey Deaver |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Spellbinding! This latest novel featuring criminalist Lincoln Rhyme and his assistant Detective Amelia Sachs delves deep into the world of information service and identity theft. I love the characters of Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs, and if you haven't read any of his earlier books, you are really missing something. One of Deaver's earliest books about these characters was made into a movie (The Bone Collector); I'm surprised that the movie industry hasn't done a sequel or two. You can't put the book down. |
| Debbie |
| Dewey by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This nonfiction book about a cat who comes to personify the library in Spencer, Iowa, is sort of the feline equivalent of MARLEY & ME. It's got heart, pathos, spunk, and --- best of all --- Dewey, a lovable orange cat. Cat lovers and book lovers will enjoy this. |
| Gale in Houston |
| Blue Smoke & Murder by Elizabeth Lowell |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a fun romantic-suspense read, with a bit of a sense of humor. BLUE SMOKE & MURDER is another installment in Lowell's St. Kilda Consulting series. This one features an interesting art scandal, series regulars Joe Faro and Grace Silva, and several new characters. |
| Pattie Berryhill ([email protected]) |
| Clapton by Eric Clapton |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Eric shares his musical stories about Cream, Blind Faith, etc. He also tells of his life with addictions to heroin and alcohol. |
| Denise G |
| No One You Know by Michelle Richmond |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the story of a young woman's murder and the pain still suffered by her younger sister and family 20 years later. The murder was allegedly solved by a true crime writer, but new secrets will be revealed. It was very well written in Michelle Richmond's lyrical yet crisp, grounded style. |
| Gale in Houston |
| The Angel by Carla Neggers |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Neggers is a recent addition to my normal repertoire of authors, and I am enjoying her novels. THE ANGEL, her newest, has action divided between Boston and Ireland --- with a bit of New Hampshire thrown in, as well. While researching folk stories in Ireland, illustrator Keira Sullivan faces some decidedly human threats. Search-and-rescue expert Simon Cahill, a friend of a friend, helps her navigate her way safely. |
| DeniseG |
| Before the Storm by Diane Chamberlain |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is part family drama and part suspense with many secrets to be learned. I am a huge Diane Chamberlain fan, and this novel was one of her best. There will also be a sequel (AFTER THE STORM), which I heartily look forward to reading. |
| Sue Spetz ([email protected]) |
| The Pajama Girls of Lambert Square by Rosina Lippi |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a relationship book that is easy reading. It is humorous, mysterious, and dramatic. Although you will like the ending, you will also be weeping. |
| Marsha |
| Executive Privilege by Phillip Margolin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What a page turner. When the suspicions turn to the Washington, D. C. halls of power --- and maybe all the way to the White House --- careers of investigators are in jeopardy. Who can anyone believe? |
| BookFestival |
| Five Skies by Ron Carlson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Ron Carlson is the director of the graduate writing program at UC, Irvine in California, so, of course, this is a very elegantly written book. FIVE SKIES gives you a look into the hearts of three damaged men. This book, especially the ending, is perfect for a book discussion group. |
| Diana Kirkwood |
| A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A great story set against the volatile events of Afghanistan's last thirty years --- from the Soviet invasion to the reign of the Taliban, to post-Taliban rebuilding --- that puts the violence, fear, hope and faith of this country in intimate, human terms. It is a tale of two generations of characters brought jarringly together by the tragic sweep of war, their trials and tribulations. |
| Sue De Feo |
| Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
The author is to be commended for opening schools for girls in Pakistan where the government failed to build and the situations were at times dangerous. However, this format is repeated over and over again for each school. Very little is engaging to the reader after the first 5 schools. |
| Debbie |
| Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the first of the Gaslight Mystery series, set in New York City in the early 1900s. The main character is a midwife who gets caught up solving a murder. It's a bit melodramatic at the end, but overall, it's pretty good and I look forward to the rest of the series. |
| Kathy Chiocca |
| Beneath A Marble Sky by John Shors |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An exotic tale about the daughter of the woman the Tal Mahal was built for. The story, as told by the daughter, Jahanara, recounts the building of the Taj Mahal by her father, Shah Jahan. He is so consumed with grief over his wife's death he orders the monument built as a testament to his and his and his wife Mumtaz's love for each other. The descriptions are wonderful. The story also tells of the clash between Muslim and Hindu religions even then. |
| Anita Nowak |
| Dreams of My Father by Barack Obama |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a wonderful autobiographical study into the personal life of our democratic nominee for President. In it, Mr. Obama tells of growing up in Hawaii and his visit to reunite with family in Africa that he had never met until he was an adult. It also tells of his work with the underprivileged in Chicago after he graduated from college prior to his entering Harvard Law School. I usually read mostly fiction, but this was well worth the change. |
| Bob W. ([email protected]) |
| The Sight by David Clement-Davies |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
David Clement-Davies follows up his excellent first novel, FIRE BRINGER, with another wonderful multi-layered animal fantasy. THE SIGHT explores the landscape of our fairy tales and nightmares in the company of animals --- primarily wolves --- whose capacity for loyalty and savagery mirror our own. Clement-Davies has created a plot that is rich with suspense, pathos, and tenderness; he has also developed characters that will stay with this reader forever (e.g., Larka, Hutttser, Palla, Fell, Bran, Kar and Morgra to name a few). THE SIGHT is more than just an excellent book --- it is an excellent reading experience. You'll find yourself filled with joy and, all too often, with pain as you feel that you are right there with these wolves going through their incredible journey. I very highly recommend THE SIGHT, which should have wide appeal across age and intellectual levels. Do yourself a favor and put THE SIGHT (as well as Clement-Davies's FIRE BRINGER) high up on your reading list. |
| Noreen Brown |
| Simple Genius by David Baldacci |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A real page turner made even more interesting as I lived in the Camp Peary area and had driven to its gate. |
| Judy |
| The Romanov Bride by Robert Alexander |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The chapters in this book alternate between two parallel stories. One is of Ella, the beautiful, enchanting Grand Duchess of Russia (sister to Alexandra, the tsarina). She did her duty as Grand Duchess, but there didn't appear to be much happiness in her marriage. When the Duke is assassinated by revolutionaries, she begins a life of service to others. The other story is of Pavel, the revolutionary who plotted to kill the Duke and ultimately the Duchess. The historical background of the story is interesting, but the telling of the two stories in the novel falls flat. |
| Mary Champagne |
| The Secret of Lost Things by Sheridan Hay |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The story is told by18-year-old Rosemary Savage, who leaves her home in Tasmania after her mother dies. A close friend who owns a book store buys her a ticket to America to shake her out of her grief, and to send her to a new life. She is unprepared for the big city, but enchanted with it and she finds a job in the Arcade Bookstore, a huge store that specializes in rare books. I have always dreamed of working in a book store, and I must say that the staff at the Arcade has given me serious second thoughts about that idea! Rosemary falls for the self absorbed, asexual Oscar, but herself becomes an object of romantic obcession by Walter, the Albino store manager who is going blind. The staff at the bookstore includes a transsexual, Pearl, Art the obese expert in the Art department, George Pike, the store owner, sort of a character our of Dickens and a couple of other colorful and eccentric types. The novel is about a lost manuscript "Isle of the Cross," by Herman Melville and the intrigue and even death that accompany the search for it. Rosemary's name means remembrance and she has memories mostly of loss of her mother lost to death, her father whom she never knew, and of Tasmania where she and her mother were outsiders. By the end of the story she is a year older and many years wiser, and she has survived her first immigrant year and moved on to a job as intern at a publishing company. The Melville references are interestingly woven into the story , but I wondered sometimes if the book store IS the story. "Are books more important than people?" I couldn't put this book down. |
| ck |
| Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Bridget is a social worker in NYC dating the police commissioner. Meghan, her sister, is a famous TV morning personality who makes a profane remark. not realizing the mike is still live. It seems that New Yorkers and the entire country can talk of nothing else. There are many dynamics working to make this a very satisfying book: the life of the rich and famous versus the poverty and problems in the Bronx projects, the super star's image and the effect on her family, plus there is humor. The reader empathizes with the dilemmas the characters face. This is a good book to pack in the suitcase on vacation. |
| Tensy ([email protected]) |
| Thirteen by Richard K. Morgan |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A solid science fiction novel by one of my favorite British authors. In a world of genetically enhanced humans, one kind is bread to serve as soldiers, the Thirteens. Marsalis, a 13, is enlisted to hunt down a fellow 13 who has gone rogue. Morgan writes very well and he tackles issues or race, identity and nature v. nurture in interesting ways. The novel could have been shorter, but overall, I enjoyed the book. I really recommend his earlier novel ALTERED CARBON, which is being made into a major motion picture. |
| Kate M. |
| The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is one of the richest pieces of fiction I have read in quite a while. That this a debut novel is quite amazing! |
| Bob W. ([email protected]) |
| Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
In his first time at bat, Smith has hit a home run with CHILD 44. The plot is riveting, the prose is spot on, the narrative is engrossing, and the characters are fully developed. Smith weaves his tale in such a way that I, as the reader, felt I was right in the middle of all the action with the main characters. Basically, CHILD 44 is the story of Leo Demidov, a rising prominent officer in Stalin's Soviet Union State Security force during the 1950's. Demidov is a former war hero whose only ambition is to serve his country, to defend the worker's paradise, and to guarantee a secure life for his parents and for his wife. Ideological crimes --- crimes of disloyalty, crimes of thought and crimes against the revolution --- are forcefully suppressed without question. And then the impossible happens; in that a different kind of criminal --- a murderer --- is on the loose, killing at will. At the same time, Leo finds himself demoted and denounced by his enemies. The only way for Leo to save himself and his family is to uncover this criminal. From this point on, be ready to be unable to get up from your chair until you finish this exciting, extremely well-written story (which is based on fact). If you pay careful attention to the early details in CHILD 44, I think you will (as I did) be able to guess who the murderer is in advance of the ending. This, however, does not detract from the riveting reading experience that Smith has provided in his debut thriller. CHILD 44 is one of the best books I've read in a while, and I highly recommend it to you. Enjoy! |
| Sal Williams |
| Breakfast On Pluto by Patrick McCabe |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This intriguing and unsettling saga of a young transvestite named Pussy who travels to London in search of her/his destiny is a compelling read. The heroine will win you because she/he is such a rare bird. A bit racy, Pussy's search for her birth mother is interspersed with many liaisons as sleeps her way through the population. Her love affair with a Brit politician, his assassination, her run-in with the IRA and then, the police, make this novel a page turner. Not enough can be said in praise of McCabe's mastery as a storyteller. This novel is pure gold. You will not want it to end. |
| Gina |
| Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
These novels get better as the numbers get higher...this is the funniest yet. LOVED it! |
| Bob W. ([email protected]) |
| Marley & Me by John Grogan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
MARLEY & ME is a well-written, heartwarming and memorable story of a family and their neurotic but very lovable dog. I don't agree with the author, John Grogan, that Marley was the world's worst dog. While Marley was probably one of the most mischievous dogs, he was far from being a "bad dog." As a matter of fact, he was the type of friend that all people should hope to have --- undyingly loyal, treasuring every moment of attention you gave to him, enjoying every detail of his life no matter how trivial. Despite his neuroses, Marley taught his family (as well as the readers of Grogan's tribute) very valuable lessons about what really matters in life. As a writer, Grogan deserves all the credit and rewards he has received for reinforcing in his readers an important lesson about life and love, and for writing a book that is both heartwarming and ultimately heartbreaking. Grogan was not a bad owner by any means; although he might not have been as deserving of the adulation given to him by his loving dog, Marley. Would a person who proclaims himself to be a loving owner and best friend, as Grogan does, try to justify his decision to not spend the couple of thousand dollars to give his best friend of thirteen years the surgery needed to try to save his life because "it seemed obscene, almost immoral, to spend that kind of money on an old dog at the end of his life when there were unwanted dogs put down every day for lack of a home, and more important, children not getting proper medical attention for lack of financial resources?" What a cop out and warped rationalization! Grogan, who was a notable newspaper columnist at this point in Marley's life, was not offering to donate this money to people who were more in need than his old dog, Marley; he just didn't seem to want to spend it on his old friend. Without going into details, there are a few other instances that might make you question if Grogan was as deserving of Marley's unwavering devotion. Putting aside these personal gripes I have with Grogan as a dog owner, MARLEY & ME is a very worthwhile read and is highly recommended. |
| Bob W. ([email protected]) |
| The Accident Man by Tom Cain |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
THE ACCIDENTAL MAN, Tom Cain's first novel, provides an interesting plot premise in that on August 31, 1997, a professional assassin is hired to arrange an "accident" to happen to a man and woman driving below a bridge in Paris. Unknown to the Accident Man, the woman is Princess Diana. However, Cain fails miserably in his ability to create credible characters and dialogue. I can't remember the last book I read when the characters were so stick-like and cartoonish, and the dialogue was so unrealistic. As a thriller lover, I usually can overlook most writing flaws as long as the plot execution is satisfying. This, for me, was not the case as the plot was very predictable with almost no surprises. Sad to say, the biggest thrill for me was when I finally finished this highly disappointing book. Do yourself a big favor and skip THE ACCIDENT MAN. |
| Gina |
| The Gatecrasher by Madeline Wickham |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I'm more than halfway through this novel and while I like the story overall, I am a much bigger fan of Sophie Kinsella's (aka Madeline Wickham) other novels that have a much lighter note. Intriguing characters in this novel made me keep reading, and I am curious as to how it will turn out. |
| Bob W. |
| Rules Of Deception by Christopher Reich |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This starts of very exciting, but the excitement gradually dissipates throughout much of the book. It starts to steam again towards the end, but overall, it was too little too late. |
| Sharon |
| The Virgin Lover by Philippa Gregory |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Ms. Gregory is at her best writing about royal British history. This time, the story is about Elizabeth --- the Virgin Queen and her lover Robert Dudley. While the story is fiction, there is such detail that you feel what it is like to be part of Queen Elizabeth's court. |
| Tensy ([email protected]) |
| The People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
| In this novel, a series of plot lines all center around the preservation of a centuries-old Jewish book used during Passover and known as the illustrated Haggadah. The present-day heroine is an art restorer who is called to Sarajevo to inspect the book, and then the novel weaves in and out, retelling the stories of the people who were instrumental in preserving the book over the centuries. The stories are captivating and I love learning about the details of book preservation. |
