September 19, 2008 - October 2, 2008
Last contest period's winners were Ana Marie, Joan, Jodi, JPetersonand Marisa P., who each received a copy of THE OTHER QUEEN by Philippa Gregory and RED KNIFE: A Cork O'Connor Mystery by William Kent Krueger
| Audrey Starkey ([email protected]) |
| Calligraphy of the Witch by Alicia Gasper de Alba |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Rarely does a novel awaken all my senses, and stir every emotion possible in the human soul. This is definitely a story I will not soon forget, and definitely will be remembered as one of my favorite novels. This is a historical novel that takes place in the late 1600s, during the famous Salem Witch trials. Concepcion is a bastard child born to a Mexican government official and an Indian mother. Abandoned by her mother in Mexico after she had been indentured to a nun convent, Concepcion runs away with a friend only to be seized by Pirates and taken to New England. She arrives in New England pregnant after being repeatedly raped by the ship's Captain. The captain discovers her gift of calligraphy, renames her Thankful Seagraves, and sells her to a Boston merchant who plans to have her manage her father-in-law's farm while caring for the crippled man. Unable to speak English, deathly ill and terrified, Thankful gives birth to a daughter who her owner's wife covets. For 8 years, Thankful and her daughter are pulled between two worlds. Although she proves herself in her ability to care for the crippled man, learns to speak and write English and brings profits to the farm, she is considered unacceptable as a bi-racial servant who speaks a foreign language and is Catholic. Rebecca, her owner's wife, slowly turns her daughter against her. Throughout the novel, Concepcion keeps a journal that she hopes one day will be read by the daughter she loves so much. The journal gives you insight into what life was like in the 1600s. When the hysteria of the Salem witchcraft trials begin, Concepcion's own daughter implicates her as a witch, sending her to the cold, filthy dungeons. The ending is bittersweet, creating a surge of emotions for readers. |
| Helen |
| Death At La Fenice by Donna Leon |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A good mystery set in a opera house in Venice, Italy. |
| Cathi D. ([email protected]) |
| Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A brilliant and intense story regarding a dwarf girl, Nazi Germany and the human condition. |
| Marsha M |
| Twisted by Andrea Kane |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
An absolutely thrilling thriller! A former FBI agent, still recovering from a serious hand wound, is hired to investigate the disappearance of a former girlhood friend who vanished over a year ago. In order to cover all bases, she must contact the agent currently in charge of the case, someone with whom she has a history. As her investigation progresses she comes across some strange coincidences-other woman who have disappeared under similar circumstances with either direct or tangential associations to her. And of course must work with the FBI agent who would rather track down a serial killer in NY carving up Asian prostitutes. How all the plot lines and relationships converge is a page turning, adrenaline charging experience. |
| Marsha M |
| Let Me Go: My Mother and the SS by Helga Schneider |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A short but emotionally charged memoir by a women trying to come to terms with her estranged mother, who volunteered to be an SS guard at the camps during World War II. Helga, her father and her brother, were abandoned by her mother when she went to "fulfill the call to arms in Germany". She would not see her again until the early '70s when Helga and her son travel from Italy to Berlin for a reunion. Their visit to her mother's home is brief as Helga is horrified by her mother's attitude and actions. With her cousin along this time for emotional support, Helga visits her ailing mother once more almost thirty years later. She is now living in a nursing home and suffering from dementia. Their emotional encounter is almost surreal. It reveals much about the human heart, especially how the absence of empathy can lead to horrific crimes turning into human evil. |
| Debbie ([email protected]) |
| And Not A Penny More by Kathryn R. Wall |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The 2nd of the Bay Tanner series set in Hilton Head, SC. This involves the Interpol, cruise liners, old widows, and unfinished Miami mob. Bay meets Darnay --- what a match, but will their romance flourish? |
| Clint Redd |
| Jason Of The Valley by J. K. Melby |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I discovered this book through Amazon.com and I was very impressed. It was funny and moving, and completely addictive. I could not put it down. The characters are so rich and full. I loved this book and everyone I've turned on to it has enjoyed it as well. This book was a refreshing change of pace compared to other titles of the gay fiction genre. I only hope there will be more from this author in the future. |
| Cynthia Baxter |
| The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is about a boy (Edgar), his family, and the dogs his family have been breeding and training for generations in rural Wisconsin. Edgar is born without the ability to speak but his hearing is unaffected. But Edgar seems to possess a bit of the sixth sense and I think that's what's so fun about this book -- it goes in a lot of different directions, yet it works somehow. For example, the prologue opens in a mysterious back alley in Japan during the second World War. A sailor obtains some extremely effective poison from an apothecary in order to "rid his ship of a rat." Hmmm, you don't say? And then BAM! The book starts and it's this lovely story about a farmer who clears the land and builds a farm, then sells it to Mr. Sawtelle who then converts the farm to a kennel in order to raise a highly specialized breed of dog unique to the world. Fast forward to the modern day and we meet Edgar, his father Gar, his mother Trudy and his Uncle Claude. All are richly developed and the story comes together beautifully. This is a story with dogs but not about dogs - does that make sense? It's not a Marley and Me type of book. But you do meet some of the dogs and of course, they have their own characteristics and some even get to tell their story. I dare you to not love Almondine! For his debut novel, Wroblewski has proven that he is a master at weaving together a very complex story yet as a reader, you never feel lost. I think it has to do with how he filled in the backstory --- so that when you come to present day --- you understand the culture, the history, the reasons why and what for. This is --- I think --- an Epic story. I rank it right up there with Yahn Martel's LIFE OF PIE as one of those "life-changing" books that becomes a part of you --- it has soaked to your core. |
| Kristie |
| The Longing by Beverly Lewis |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This third book in the series was enjoyable; however, the ending was quite predictable. |
| Kristie |
| Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The author builds schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan to educate children, especially girls. Amazing how one person can make such a difference. |
| Cynthia Plaza-Harney |
| The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It is a story that is half history, half myth and very magical. Most of this ancient tale has the lead character to be male, but not in this story --- it is a female. I enjoy the book because it makes you think out of the box. It is not a book I would read again. |
| Kay Keller |
| The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book was a compulsive read! I couldn't put it down, and the twists and turns kept me guessing until the end. I will read more books by this author. |
| Cynthia Plaza-Harney |
| Broken Colors by Michele Zackheim |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I love the story and it was well written. I can see this as a movie, and it be a chick flick all the way. It is a complete story from birth to the end of a woman's life. The writers' personal experience as a painter is reflected in her writing. It has love, hurt, pain, and the art of forgiving and loving again. |
| Eva |
| Address Unknown by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book was published in 1938. Two friends, Martin, a German, and Max, a Jew, own an art gallery in California. Martin returns to Germany and they keep in touch through letters, which become more and more horrific as Martin slowly becomes a Nazi. Very, very good! |
| Jodi Tanner |
| Beside a Burning Sea by John Shors |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I'd describe BESIDE A BURNING SEA as a classic love story, one set at the end of World War II in the South Pacific. The novel tells the unlikely (but believable) story of an American nurse who falls in love with her Japanese patient. John Shors really knows how to write (something not all bestselling authors seem to truly grasp). His novel is beautifully written, and had me hooked from the first page to the last. The lyrical way that he describes people, relationships, nature, is just second to none. I highly recommend this novel. |
| Jean |
| The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I found the book, which is written in the epistolary style (in the form of letters), to be tedious. I was constantly checking to see who was writing the letter and to whom it was being sent. There were parts of the book that were very charming, but overall, I thought the book was just okay. |
| Debbie ([email protected]) |
| In For A Penny by Kathryn R. Wall |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The first of the Bay Tanner series that sets the tone for the later books. The main characters are introduced and the setting of Hilton Head, SC is detailed. In this book, the tone is on trust and the violation of that trust due to a faulty investment scheme and blackmail --- the reason will be explained in a later novel. |
| Kris T |
| The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Borrows |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved this story, told in letters about a time period and event that I am always interested in --- the take over of the Channel Islands by the German Luftwaffe during World War II. You will love the funny characters that live on this island of Guernsey and find out about how the society came to be. It was delightful and also sad. A great read! |
| krisT |
| Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
If you want an in-your-face kind of read about what it takes to get skinny and get healthy, then this if for you. Some things to me were a bit crazy and over the top, but some just down right funny. I think there are things to learn and this is kind of a wake-up call to your health. Really, doing anything is better than doing nothing when it comes to feeling better and looking better. |
| krisT |
| The Green Mile by Stephen King |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a touching story about prisoners and prison guards on cell block - E. It takes place in the south in the 1930s, I believe, and I was very gripped by this story. I did not know how good King could be. |
| Kris T |
| The Sitting Swing by Irene Watson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I saw so much in this memoir about addiction and addictive personalities. I think anyone, whether you have one or not, can benefit from this author's life. |
| L. Hann |
| Coming Home by David Lewis |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent. Great read. I have never read anything by David Lewis but I have now found a new author to read. |
| Maureen H |
| Club Dead by Charlaine Harris |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is just a fun read. I had to keep turning the pages. Loved it!! |
| Karen Gervasi |
| Mama Does Time by Deborah Sharp |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Himmarshee, Florida, the setting for this new series, may be a small town but it is brimming with colorful characters who have lots of secrets. Mama, having enjoyed the delights at the local Dairy Queen, is wrongly accused of murder when an unidentified body is found in the trunk of her "big as a cruise ship "car. She frantically calls her middle daughter, Mace, to come to the police station to straighten out this little misunderstanding. Mace arrives with alacrity and confronts Detective Martinez, the handsome new officer in town. Mace's two sisters, Maddie and Marty, arrive and add to the mayhem. The daughters are mystified as to how Martinez could possibly believe their Mama, former Sunday School teacher, southern belle when she wanted to be, could commit murder. Everyone loves Mama --- hasn't she been married four times and has prospect number 5 in sight? Isn't she always well dressed in perfectly coordinated clothing? Wasn't she playing Bingo at the Seminole reservation with a witness? Nevertheless, she has to spend some time in jail! Not being one to let the police pursue the investigation without interference, Mace begins to look into the murder and finds there is more than one person who had the opportunity and, more importantly, the motive to want the victim dead. When it turns out the murdered man was Jimmy Albert , facts turn up he was not who everyone thought he was. What they thought was he was just the short term fiance of Emma Jean, receptionist at the police station. Martinez reluctantly concedes he needs to look elsewhere and Mama is sprung from the slammer. Although threats and warnings ensue, the sisters continue to look into who murdered Jimmy and why someone is trying to get them to stop putting their noses where they don't belong. What follows is a highly entertaining story of kidnapping, disappearance, and more hi jinks with all three sisters and Mama involved. There is even an incident involving Ollie, the one eyed alligator. With lots of local color at the Hair Today, Dyed Tomorrow beauty shop, the Abundant Hope church ,the Speckled Perch and the Pork Pit, the reader is taken on a rollicking romp through small town Florida's back roads ,swamps and wildlife parks. Lots of secrets and confessions are revealed along the way in this well crafted cozy. Add some undercurrents of budding and rekindled romances . Throw in a tight plot full of red herrings , clues ,a heart thumping denouement and round it out with a cast of well drawn , credible, likeable characters, a few four legged friends and you have the recipe for a non-stop fun read. Highly recommended! |
| Mary K. |
| The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a novel that I literally could not put down and finished in two evenings. It begins as the protagonist --- a shallow, drugged-out, womanizing porno star --- crashes his car. The car explodes, and he suffers dreadful burns over most of his body. He endures months of torturous healing, surviving mentally only by making elaborate plans to kill himself when he gets out of the hospital. Then he finds Marianne --- or rather, she finds him --- and everything begins to change. The only reason this did not get a 5 star rating from me is because the ending was not quite as strong as it should have been, but the journey was worth every moment I spent reading instead of sleeping for those two nights. |
| Kathy V. |
| Killed By Clutter by Leslie Caine |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a Domestic Bliss mystery and the author really draws you into the story and characters. It's about an interior decorator who gets caught up in her customers' lives. In this one, her customer is a pack rat and she needs to clen out the house as well as keep the other older lady safe. The house keeps getting broken into and other people keep dying. |
| Angela Satalino |
| The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What a delightful read. You're drawn into the characters immediately and can't wait to read what happens next. |
| Susan Myers |
| Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book was a compelling read, dealing with the issue of unwed motherhood in 19th-century England. We follow young Charlotte through her challenges, and as we do, we learn about how unwed mothers and foundling babies were treated in England during this period. This book will grab you from the beginning, and you will be drawn into Charlotte's life. The book has surprising plot twists, appealing characters, and is wonderfully written. I highly recommend it. |
| Kellie ([email protected]) |
| Nadia Knows Best by Jill Mansell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A Mansell novel is one of my "reading pleasures". I have enjoyed every book I've read by this author. This was pure Chick Lit, "fast furious and fabulous fun". I loved it! |
| thisisit |
| Master Of Disaster: A Behind the Scenes Mystery by Ira Teller |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Based on the author's real life experiences on the set of the movie, The Crow, where he was the last person to interview star Brandon Lee hours before his tragic and mysterious death, this is a fast, action- packed, at times funny and surreal, roller coaster of a ride revealing much about movie making and marketing, yet attacking the excesses that go with both. |
| Judy O. |
| The American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the story of Charlie and Alice Blackwell --- their relationship and subsequent marriage. Alice is a thinly disguised Laura Bush, and Charlie is obviously George Bush. It's a fascinating, fictional account of their lives to date. My only criticism is the length of this book is about 550 pages. There was so much description of everybody and everything. About 100 pages of this could be deleted, and the enjoyment of this read would still be there. Sometimes less really is more. |
| Masha |
| The Rock Orchard by Paula Wall |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Pure Southern Gothic fun. Take a small-town setting in the 1930s, throw in some wild women, crazy townspeople, love, romance, a little magic, and you get a great first book by a terrific new author; a book that will make you laugh, think, and leave you smiling. |
| Cindy |
| A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I'm midway and can't put it down. |
| L. Clark |
| Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
NIGHTS IN RODANTHE is a brief love story about two lost souls who fall in love while stranded at an Inn during a weekend-long hurricane. The love story falls flat as the couple fall in love after a few meals and conversations together. Sparks spends much of the story telling us about the love, rather than showing it, and so it is difficult for the reader to truly connect to the characters and feel that the love is real. The storyline is sweet and sentimental, but too brief and cursory to truly touch the reader. The redeeming aspect of this novel is that it is short, so it won't take up valuable time that could be spent reading more engaging literature. |
| Christy H. |
| Healing Promises by Amy Wallace |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This 2nd book in the Defenders of Hope series picks right up where RANSOMED DREAMS ended and reunites us with all of the characters from the previous book, but with Clint and Sara's story taking center stage. A gripping and thought invoking read dealing with two different yet interconnected storylines. With my Mother having just finished battling with chemo and radiation treatments, it was emotional for me to readhow Clint and Sara both struggle to cope with this disease. The kidnapping/serial killer plot is compelling and suspenseful and will keep you hooked to the very end. I"m looking forward to reading Michael and Hanna's story in the next installment. |
| Readingrat |
| Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This story is loosely based on the life experiences of the author's own grandmother and is a compelling coming-of-age story. |
| Ana Marie |
| Looking For Peyton Place by Barbara Delinsky |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Delinsky is one of my favorite authors but as I started to read this book, I felt like I was reading about Erin Brockovich. I will read the entire book but so far, it's not one of my favorites by this author. |
| Ana Marie |
| Hello, Darkness by Sandra Brown |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
If you like mysteries pick up this book. It will not disappoint you. It keeps you guessing until the end. Sandra Brown never fails. |
| Julie |
| Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Hilarious journey of Jen trying to lose some weight at the insistence of her doctor. It's laugh-out-loud funny! Another great read by this author. |
| Lesa D |
| The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I'm reading this after watching season one of "The Tudors" on DVD. Very interesting to see how many historical liberties the show took with the story! |
| Lesa D |
| Twilight by Stephenie Myers |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I'm reading this with my daughter. I thought I would just read along to keep up with her, but I found myself pulled into the story. |
| Bambi |
| The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
My favorite book this year! It's a definite page-turner with a great twist. I highly recommend this book to everyone. (The movie coming out this Dec. starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams.) |
| Marie B ([email protected]) |
| Plain Jane: A Novel of Jane Seymour by Laurien Gardner |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Jane Seymour was Henry VIII's 3rd wife, and said to have been his favorite. (They do rest in peace together.) There is little known about her personally, for early on, she died bearing Henry's only son who lived to rule. The author did a wonderful job of creating her character, bearing in mind this is fiction, and she held my interest till the end. I could have done without the constant reminders from Jane that she was plain and therefore useless. Other than that and the slight inconsistencies with reality, I really did enjoy the book, especially since Jane is a mostly unknown figure. |
| Readingrat |
| Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins by Rupert Everett |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This memoir is basically a collection of loosely chronological anecdotes from Rupert Everett's life. He is a wry storyteller and most of his anecdotes are highly enjoyable, but the book really could have used an editor to give it some cohesion and flow (not to mention someone to correct those pesky little grammatical errors). I did enjoy reading it, but had no problems setting it aside either. |
| Julie |
| The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A real page turner. This is a sweeping saga about heroine Fiona Finnegan's struggle to overcome unbelievable hardships during the time of Jack the Ripper in London and become a very successful tea merchant. I can't wait to read the sequel, THE WINTER ROSE. |
| Kelly Currie |
| Good-bye and Amen by Beth Gutcheon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a continuation of the wonderful family of characters the author gave us in LEEWAY COTTAGE, but it can stand alone as a good read too. The entire book is presented as short journal-type entries from numerous characters, an interesting device that gets us inside the minds of all the people involved. It's fascinating to see how the same events can be interpreted by different people in such different ways. A great glimpse into an extended family. |
| Martha |
| Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
In eight short stories, Lahiri demonstrates her mastery of the craft of writing. The stories are about Americans who are Indian by ethnicity, but whose lives must be lived in American culture. Relationships are key components of these outstanding stories. |
| Kay |
| Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is a fictional account of the life of Marilyn Monroe. Written to show what her life could have been in real life (and probably was). I like Joyce Carol Oates's books because she doesn't try to tie everything up in a nice little bow at the end, making her books seem more like real life. Her characters are people coping the best the can with the what they've been given, scars and all. |
| Debbie |
| Careless in Red by Elizabeth George |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I've loved all the Inspector Lynley books, and this one is no exception. It takes place a few months after the death of Helen, Lynley's wife. He has spent six solitary weeks hiking the bleak and rugged coastline of Cornwall. He stumbles upon a dead man and though he does not want to participate in the investigation, he gets drawn in. The reader gets drawn in, too, not only into the investigation but into Lynley's mourning of Helen. |
| Debbie |
| The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
In the same vein as The Lord of the Rings, this novel is good on so many levels. Rothfuss has revived the fantasy genre with his hero and storyline. I haven't gotten to the second novel in the trilogy, but it is on my list. |
| Kelly Currie |
| No One You Know by Michelle Richmond |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Richmond has done it again! This is a character-driven story that contains a whodunit mystery. If you like novels with strong character development, you will love this book. Although the mystery keeps you turning the pages, it is ultimately the main character, Ellie Enderlin, that kept me glued to the story. Ellie lost her sister to a violent crime many years ago, and has accepted the story of what happened. Now, a chance encounter with the person she always assumed committed the murder has her rethinking her life and her own story, in addition to her sister's fate. |
| Sharon |
| Washington Square by Henry James |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
When I was young --- oh so many years ago --- I use to devour books, including the so-called classics. I failed to recognize the quality of the writing, the development of the characters and plot, etc. So now I am re-reading these novels really for the first time to understand why someone labeled them classics. WASHINGTON SQUARE is an example of quality writing. It is the story of a young but plain woman who is the daughter of a rich doctor. Finally, she has a beau who courts her as though she Is the most beautiful woman he has ever met. She naturally falls in love, but the doctor believes that the suitor is more interested in her inheritance than her beauty. Does love triumph in the end? Well, you have to read it to find out! |
| Juanita |
| Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was selected for our book club discussion --- I am surprised that I have enjoyed it as much as I have. It is very interesting and thought provoking. I am sure it will make for a good discussion. |
| Shyeyes |
| Bridge Called Hope by Kim Meeder |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent stories about a real ranch that saves broken kids and broken horses. The horses have been abused, as well as the children. Kim and her husband bring them together, and with God's grace the horses and children seem to heal each other. Heartbreaking and awe inspiring. |
| Carol B |
| The Shack by William P. Young |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A wonderful read that challenges the perception of who and what God is. It made for a lively discussion in our book group. |
| Robin ([email protected]) |
| Light My Fire by Katie MacAlister |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the third book in the Aisling Grey, Guardian series, and like the first two, it is a really fun read. The world Katie MacAlister has created is unique and different from other paranormal romances I've read, with dragons in human form and a wise-cracking lower-level demon in Newfoundland dog form. |
| Vicki |
| Bitten by Kelley Armstrong |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I was shocked by this book. I was prepared to not really like it, and read it as a recommendation from an acquaintance, but it turns out it was a fun, enjoyable read. I loved the main character, too! |
| Readingrat |
| Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Maeve Binchy always makes me want to hop on a plane and run away to someplace else for a month or two. First it was London; this time it's Greece. |
| Readingrat |
| Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A wonderful example of pacing, plot and the expert use of an unreliable narrator. |
| Kaye |
| Belle Weather by Celia Rivenbark |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Celia Rivenbark does it again, y'all, with her latest offering, BELLE WEATHER: Mostly Sunny With a Chance of Scattered Hissy Fitselle Weather: Mostly Sunny with a Chance of Scattered Hissy Fits. The author, a true G.R.I.T.S. (girl raised in the South) knows how to tell it like it is with her own particular wit and style. Celia offers up her views and experiences of remodeling the family mansion, being a Mom to the "Princess", her views on men and then the last section highly amuses the reader with observations of random things. In the first section on remodeling, she tells us Granite is not just for tombstones anymore. This was an absolutely hysterical rendering of selecting and buying granite (and definitely not from the back of the pickup truck) for that kitchen makeover you have been dreaming about. Her experiences with the non-English speaking sub-contractors left me almost in tears from laughing so hard. I just don't know why they didn't want to hear about her uncle in their native language! In the Just Kid-ding section, you will be regaled again with stories of motherhood, but with a truly unusual slant. From dealing with science projects to reading Nancy Drew, or not, and living with birthday party expectations, this section will leave you howling. How to avoid Mortuary Summer Camp is one of the particularly hilarious chapters. Also, in this section, Celia writes a letter to Brittany Spears that will have you rocking in your seat with out loud laughs. The way she describes these situations is like none other I have read, so what is the difference, you might ask. Well, honey, it's that Southern sass and pert prose that will amuse you to no end. So, get yourself a glass of iced tea, throw some strudel in the toaster, and be prepared for lots of fun, Southern style. How she comes up with these scenarios, I don't know but am glad she did because I truly enjoyed reading this book. Highly recommended! |
| Katy ([email protected]) |
| Wisdom Hunter by Randall Arthur |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I don't quite know where I got this book, and despite its age, WISDOM HUNTER is a tremendous read. In fact, I can't wait to read other titles by this author. |
| Julianne Perretta |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Great for dog lovers and/or race fans. |
| Phyllis |
| The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson, Michael Ledwidge |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A clean superhero book for children. |
| Carol H. |
| A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
For readers who enjoyed BAREFOOT, this novel does not disappoint. A great read. |
| Marcia |
| Loving Frank by Nancy Horan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Informative and entertaining. When I finished reading it, the ending seemed too impossible to be true. After googling it, I found the author really did stick to the facts. It was interesting to learn more about Frank Lloyd Wright. It was a touching and heartbreaking story about a love affair that never reached its potential. |
| Marcia |
| The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Engaging thriller with some repeat characters from a previous novel, THE MEPHISTO CLUB. It's kind of fun having them re-appear and seeing relationships develop further. Also I learned more about archaeology and mummification. It was good to the end without being too predictable. |
| Jacqueline in Atlanta |
| The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Interesting book. I expected a mystery, but it really was not. It was more like a collection of short stories or vignettes. What I enjoyed most was the picture of Africa it painted for me. |
| Janice G. |
| Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Gave me a totally different perspective on life in Pakistan and life as a Muslim. It also confirms that one person can make a big difference in the world. Greg Mortenson built schools for uneducated poor Pakistanis, especially girls. |
| kathleen |
| Deadly Night by Heather Graham |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series. |
| Phyllis |
| It's A Kind of Magic by Carole Matthews |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I really enjoyed this book. It combines the problems of expecting too much from people and relationships, with a little touch of fantasy. Emma and Leo learn a lot about themselves and each other. The story is told with lots of humor. |
| Phyllis |
| Swine Not? by Jimmy Buffett |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Definitely not Buffett's usual type of book, but a nice children's book. |
| Phyllis |
| The English American by Alison Larkin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Pippa Dunn was raised in England and decides to find her American biological parents. A very good story of Pippa's emotions and coming to terms with being "English-American". |
| Bonnie |
| Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
If you're looking for fun, light reading with more than a chuckle or two, this is the book for you. Here, Lancaster tells of her efforts to lose weight via various diets and exercise. Funny stuff. |
| kaye |
| Women of Silk by Gail Tsukiyama |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
What a wonderful story of rural China in the early 1920s. An impoverished family has to sell their daughter, Pei, to the silk factory. Pei learns the silk work while she lives in the girls' house and becomes part of the sisterhood. Over the years, she adjusts to her life but misses her family, particularly her mother and sister. When the silk factory is closed, Pei must make here way to another life in Hong Kong. This story, written in beautiful prose with a simplistic clarity, takes the reader back in time to another way of life. It is hard to fathom today of a family selling a 8-year-old child to work 12-hour days in a factory and not see that child for years to come. It was an accepted way of survival back then. The characters were well drawn and very credible. A truly enjoyable and highly recommended read. |
| L. |
| Off Season by Anne Rivers Siddons |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A great read! I wanted to immerse myself in this story and forget about the rest of the world for awhile. |
| Beverly |
| The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A wonderful story! Ms. Cooper explores her childhood and how this shaped the woman she has become. |
| Sherrie Gil |
| Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
It is required reading for our high school students. It will make you think, but there is also a mystery too. |
| L. |
| Fractured by Karen Slaughter |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Slaughter's books are an addiction for me. I love her writing and the fact that each book is truly different from the previous. No boiler plate novelist here. |
| Sharon Bedell ([email protected]) |
| The Barrymores: The Royal Family In Hollywood by James Kotsilibas-Davis |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book predates Drew Barrymore's contributions to Hollywood, but focuses more on the legendary siblings Lionel, Ethel, and John Sr. (Drew's grandfather). This book also focuses more on the Barrymores' film careers and not their theatrical beginnings. Complete with whimsical quotes and plenty of photographs, it provides interesting insight into a legendary movie-making family. |
| Anne Knaack ([email protected]) |
| The Garden of Last Days by Andre Dubus III |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
A real disappointment. But I didn't really enjoy HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG either. Sorry; I realize he is a good writer. |
| Rose Hately |
| The Outlander by Gil Adamson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
An excellent read -- drama, mystery and romance! THE OUTLANDER is a superb first novel by an accomplished writer. |
| Susan De Feo |
| The Gravediger's Daughter by Carol Joyce Oates |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The first half of the book depicts a cruel and belittling husband and father who later kills his wife and himself. The second half relates the daughter's life afterwards and how she survives an abusive husband. |
| Barbara Stahr |
| Peachtree Road by Anne Rivers Siddons |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is written in the first person and tells a very interesting tale of the main character's relationship to his cousin. It has much detail, around the Buckhead area of Atlanta and the adjustment of the families to the changing times. The paperback book has 797 pages that keep you reading to the end. |
| Julia Desmond |
| The Expected One by Kathleen McGowan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
An intriguing mystery with a religion as the backdrop. A long book but easily readable. It matches, if not exceeds, THE DA VINCI CODE. Great reading! |
| MJB |
| One of Those Malibu Nights by Elizabeth Adler |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Private Investigator Mac Reilly and girlfriend Sunny Alvarez work together to try and solve a case that becomes more and more complex as people involved in a murder want to hire him for their protection. People go missing and bodies are found as Mac tries to figure out his case. Adler once again weaves a good story along with amazing descriptions of distant places such as California, Mexico and France, and with mouth watering cuisine. After reading this book you will feel like you have been on vacation. |
| Rita |
| Touching Tomorrow by Debra Faulkner |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The wonderful true story of Emily Griffith, who began the Opportunity School in Denver, a pioneering vocational and equal school. Her murder remains a cold case. |
| Jan Kanowitz ([email protected]) |
| Lottery by Patricia Wood |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book tells the story of a man that has an IQ of 76 and wins the lottery. His Gram teaches him about people and how to get along in this world. This is a heartwarming story that teaches us what is important in life. |
| MaryinHB ([email protected]) |
| Once Bitten, Twice Shy: Jaz Parks, Book 1 by Jennifer Rardin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It's a little slow at first, but then the action started. I couldn't put this down as it had the perfect balance with dialogue, action and description for me. If you like Gena Showalter, you will love this series. |
| Sharon Bedell ([email protected]) |
| Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry by Maya Angelou |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I have been enjoying the autobiographical series of books by the incredible Maya Angelou and was surprised by this third installment, as I had not known how much Ms. Angelou had performed on stage in her past! Not to mention the legendary people that she met in the early stages if their careers. Easy reading, great writing...enjoyable! |
| D. Lohrding ([email protected]) |
| Run by Ann Patchett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I finished this book last night. It's excellent! It's suspenseful, heartwarming, humorous and even an eye-watering...all of the components that make a book a great read! Ann's writing reminds me quite a bit of Jodi Picoult's work, which I also enjoy. |
| Jan ([email protected]) |
| The Prey series by John Sandford |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I like to read series books in order and have started the Prey series, which begins with RULES OF PREY. The main character is somewhat crazy, so I am beginning to tire of him but will continue on a little bit longer. They are violent and have quite a bit of sex. |
| Susan Reimers |
| The Taste of Conquest by Michael Krondl |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
An amazing and thoroughly readable book by a food critic about the international trade and politics of the three great cities of spice --- Venice, Lisbon and Amsterdam --- and, of course, the local foods at the time of these cities' reign. This book has deepened my appreciation for spices, changing me forever. |
| Barbara S. |
| The German Bride by Joanna Hershon |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
An engrossing story set in the mid-eighteen hundreds. It tells the tale of a young German-Jewish girl from a well-to-do family who struggles to survive as a new bride in the rough-and-tumble world of Santa Fe, New Mexico. |
| Merle |
| The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The story and characters draw you in. An incredible epic of the Middle Ages, which is hard to put down. |
| Jaye |
| Foreign Body by Robin Cook |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
FOREIGN BODY is a real page turner --- a medical thriller set in Delhi and the US. I couldn't put it down! |
| Rita |
| Somewhere in Heaven by Christopher Anderson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The wonderful love story of Christopher and Dana Reeve. This is truly an inspiring book, and one that made me say all my troubles have been little ones. |
| Lori S. |
| The Haunting by Shirley Jackson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I think this was the first "haunted house" novel I ever read, way back in elementary school. Since then, I have read it once or twice and recently took it along on vacation, where we stayed in an old Victorian house that had been turned into a beautiful Bed & Breakfast. But, sitting up alone at night reading this book in an old house with creaky hard wood floors and rain tapping against the windows... I really got the full effect. It was a great read ---- again. |
| Lori S. |
| High-Spirited Women of the West by Anne Seagraves |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is because it was too short. This is a very entertaining book that profiles 10 bold, rebellious and dedicated women who helped shape history. From famous outlaw Belle Starr to Abigail Scott Duniway, a wife and mother who fought fervently for women's rights and the right to vote, they are an amazing and often inspiring group of women. |
| Lori S. |
| The Beach House by Jane Green |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I have read all of Jane Green's books, starting with JEMIMA way back, but this is my favorite. It's the story of free spirit 60+ yr old, Nan Powell, who --- in need of an income --- opens her ancestral seaside home to a diverse group of younger people, each going through their own personal trials. How they help and learn from each other makes for a non-sappy feel good story. |
| Danelle Drake ([email protected]) |
| A Mercy by Toni Morrison |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What a moving book. I have read it twice and it has touched my soul. Read it slowly, when all is quiet, and it will move you! |
| Danelle Drake ([email protected]) |
| The Geography of Love by Glenda Burgess |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wow! What a powerful book. This should be required reading for everyone! |
| Anne Knaack ([email protected]) |
| The Other by David Guterson |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I made it halfway through this book, but it was boring, and the characters were forever doing drugs and so on. He's just not the writer for me. |
| Reva Wamsley ([email protected]) |
| The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I know this is an old book, but I just got around to reading it. There are some slow spots in the book but for the most part, it's interesting. It's a true account of Ted Bundy, a serial killer, by a woman who knew him personally & never suspected. |
| Anne Knaack ([email protected]) |
| America America by Ethan Canin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I have read most of his novels and short stories, and this is his best writing yet. Don't miss it! |
| MaryinHB ([email protected]) |
| Just One Bite: Dead End Dating, Book 4 by Kimberly Raye |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a very fun, light-hearted read. Can't wait for the next one in the series. Although it is another paranormal romance series, it does set itself apart from the pack. |
| Pamela HD ([email protected]) |
| Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I found myself smiling as I read the last page. The fourth book in the Blossom Street series, TWENTY WISHES, brings back some familiar characters and introduces several new ones, all of which are familiar --- so like my neighbors, friends or me. I've started my list of wishes! |
| MaryinHB ([email protected]) |
| The English American: A Novel by Alison Larkin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Excellent story about adoption and the realities of finding your birth parents who don't live up to the romanticized ideals. |
| MaryinHB ([email protected]) |
| Midnight Brunch: Casa Dracula, Book 2 by Marta Acosta |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This series keeps getting better, with very good, snarky humor. It's not a typical paranormal romance, but the girl does get the guy. |
| MaryinHB ([email protected]) |
| She's a Witch Girl by Kelly McClymer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I just loved this series. It's mini paranormal chick lit at its best. I really hope there is another to this series. |
| Judy O. |
| Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanvich |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I did not like this book, even though I have read all of the others. This one just did not seem funny to me, and even though I was 50 pages from the end, I did not finish it. The formerly funny characters just seemed rather stale to me, and I just did not care how it ended. |
| Bev ([email protected]) |
| People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderful book --- I really enjoyed the fabulous writing, and all the travels and history. I believe this is a true story? |
| Pam |
| 1491 by Charles C. Mann |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a mind-altering book. Mann explores history in the western hemisphere before "1492 when Columbus sailed the ocean blue." Many of us were taught that not much transpired in the Americas --- not much that we needed to know --- before the Europeans arrived and brought civility. This book opened the window to the period of time centuries before Columbus from Alaska to Peru and all points in between. |
| krisT J |
| The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Fun, sci-fi story that will appeal to many young adults, like his Maximum Ridebooks. |
| krisT J |
| The Kings of Innocence by Micheal Burns |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Can you go home again? The main character goes home to house sit, check on his younger brother, and relive his youth only to find that it is not all he thought it was. This is a good coming-of-age story, even though he is already in his 20s. |
| krisT J |
| Swimming to Antarctica by Lynne Cox |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This woman showed unbelievable courage and daring to learn to swim in some of the coldest waters in the world, and endure. This story was very uplifting to me, and showed that you never know where your talents can help the world. |
| krisT J |
| Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Third in the Twilight series, I felt it was starting to explain a few more things but still had a slow-moving story line. I am still looking forward to the newest release. |
| krisT J |
| Meridon by Philippa Gregory |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The third in the Wideacre Trilogy by Philippa Gregory and a fitting ending to the saga. I love her storytelling ability. |
| krisT J |
| Swine Not? by Jimmy Buffet |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A cute and funny pig tale! It was fun reading something so different. |
| Kathy Marsh |
| Fractured by Karin Slaughter |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A great story full of ups and downs, with interesting characters. The audio version of this book is excellent. The narrator is very good. |
| krisT J |
| The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book draws you in and won't let you go. It had a great story that I did not want to end! |
| Marie B. |
| Anne Boleyn: A New Life of England's Tragic Qu by Joanna Denny |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is one of many books about the life of the second of six of Henry VIII's Queens. Her reign was short-lived but she is the mother of the later Queen Elizabeth. The author portrays Anne in a different light than as traditionally portrayed as a spoiled woman and there is actually quite a bit of research done to complete the book. Although I enjoyed the different point of view and the focus on the religious aspects some of the conclusions the author makes are not sufficiently supported. This is a good book for a 'beginner' history buff, but will not be a good book for those who have already read David Starkey and Alison Weir. In fact, Weir and Denny seem to have different points of view entirely. I give it three stars for the research and the focus on the reformation, but minus the other stars for failure to keep my attention and for the unsubstantiated claims she made a few times. |
| Pam |
| I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
As the cover notes: "a saga". It's a tad too long, but very very readable. The story follows 3 generations of an Italian-American immigrant family and the challenges of having a paranoid schizophrenic identical twin. So many social topics are addressed: HIV, incest, suicide, homosexuality, mental illness, spousal abuse, etc. that it leaves the reader wondering, "what's next?" But they are addressed in a gripping, can't-put-down manner. I highly recommend the audio book version of this --- superb! |
| Janice Hoaglin ([email protected]) |
| The Camel Bookmobile by Masha Hamilton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I am really enjoying this book. The conversations about the power books can have, the conflicts around "learning new ways" versus survival of the tribes' nomadic culture in the midst of drought and famine, are all woven into the story in a very skillful way. |
| Kathie |
| The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love by Joan Medlicott |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a story about 3 women whose circumstances brought them together. They have all lost their husbands, and their children are all grown. One of them inherits an old estate in NC, and they remodel it together and decide to make it their home. This is proof that a woman's life begins, not ends, at a certain age. This is a great book about love and friendship. |
| Kellie ([email protected]) |
| The Cider House Rules by John Irving |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the fourth Irving novel I have read. It did not disappoint. Irving writes a COMPLETE story. It takes him a long time to tell the story and develop the characters but when the story ends, it has come full circle. He doesn't leave anything out. This is what I love about his writing style. His ideas are eccentric; his imagination is vast and his character development is stellar. I can't say enough about his writing. |
| BookFestival |
| Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a very interesting true story about two young college students, the first women to ever work on the floor at Tiffany's. This story takes place the summer that World War II ended. There is a lot of history in this true story. I liked it very much. |
| Joanne Mosher ([email protected]) |
| Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
GODS BEHAVING BADLY is a very humorous novel about the lives of Greek Gods living in the present, surrounded by humans who no longer believe in them. |
| Elizabeth V |
| The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penny |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I'm still reading the same book I was reading last week. That's because it's so slow. I still don't know why the title is THE TENDERNESS OF WOLVES. I'd quit reading it, but it was a gift, so I feel obligated to finish it. |
| Pam ([email protected]) |
| Loving Frank by Nancy Horan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I loved this piece of historical fiction about Frank Lloyd Wright's mistress. The interesting context of the time period, the well-drawn characters, and the intricacies of the relationship between Frank and Mamah make this a great read. |
| Lori S. |
| Sweet Shattered Dreams by Stanely Gordon West |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Sonny Hollister, a once-famous folk singer, is down and out and running for his life. Suddenly, in a strange twist of fate, he is given a second chance and decides to stop running away from love and hiding from life, but will try to get it right this time. |
| Bonnie |
| An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Home... by Brock Clarke |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
The cover blurbs say this book is "wildly, unpredictably funny", "absurdly hilarious", and "funny, profound." In reality, it's mildly amusing, but not very interesting. A letdown. |
| Lynn Clifford |
| Bound by Ann Gunning |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Our group just completed discussing BOUND and chatted with the author. We loved the story of a young girl who traveled from Europe to Cape Cod and upon her arrival, was sold as an indentured servant to pay the cost of the ship's journey. The tribulations of her new life were eye opening in this lovely piece of historical fiction. |
| BBSue |
| Red Knife: A Cork O'Connor Mystery by William Kent Krueger |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Krueger continues to get better and better in his plots and characters. RED KNIFE is the best among the Cork O'Connor series, where Cork comes into his own as a hero and a man among lesser men. The twists and turns in the story kept my eyes and mind glued to the pages long after bedtime. Indeed, as Krueger mentioned, the book will make some angry at him, but it is one that needs to be read. It has a powerful and riveting plot that centers around the tensions between red man and white man. Cork has to make a life-changing decision, which he does. His second daughter Annie also plays a major role in the tension. This is simply a great book by a fine author. |
| Sherrie |
| Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Beautifully written book about two boys --- their growing up, and becoming men --- and reuniting from a small town in New York to Venice, Italy. There is lots of detail and emotion. |
| Annette ([email protected]) |
| A Place Called Canterbury by Dudley Clendinen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A great look at the concept of the aging American, and of those who are currently doing it! |
| terri |
| The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Bohjalian never disappoints, and this is one of his best! Two very interesting stories intertwine with a twist that has you wanting to re-read it immediately. |
| Pam ([email protected]) |
| Autsentland by Shannon Hale |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Fun frivolity for fans of Jane Austen abounds in this novel from young adult author Hale (author of PRINCESS ACADEMY and THE GOOSE GIRL). A young woman is awarded a trip to an estate where she can live out her fantasies in the style of Austen's novels, complete with period costumes. |
| Karen F |
| Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Another adventure with Stephanie Plum and all the oddballs she meets along the way. I love this series --- it is funny and a quick read. I find myself laughing out lot and shaking my head often at the situations that arrive. |
| Pam ([email protected]) |
| The Last Beach Bungalow by Jennie Nash |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A sweet story about a recovering breast cancer patient who not only has to recover from the physical manifestations of her disease, but also the toll it takes on her emotional and spiritual well being and her relationships with others. |
| Martha |
| Last Call by JD Seamus |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
My boyfriend asked me to read what I thought was another macho guys' book. Boy, was I surprised. I think the initials JD must stand for a woman's name because the author's descriptions of relationships were right on the money. LAST CALL is a terrific read for women of all ages. |
| Pam ([email protected]) |
| Sail by James Patterson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
What more could go wrong? This story of a troubled family on a sailing trip is fraught with intrigue, weather disasters, equipment malfunctions, treachery and sharks. It's a very quick read (chapters are 1-2 pages), and there are lots of twists and turns. |
| Pam ([email protected]) |
| Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
As a mother of a thirteen-year-old girl, I could really relate to this story. Weiner writes wonderfully relatable chick-lit stories and I loved that she returned to the character of Cannie from her 2001 novel, GOOD IN BED. Catching up with Cannie was like visiting with an old friend. |
| Phyllis ([email protected]) |
| Last Call by JD Seamus |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Delightful first novel from an author who really can write dialogue. Great characters abound in this dark humor novel about friends loyalties. |
| Debbie ([email protected]) |
| Original Sin by P. D. James |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
An interesting story about an old publishing company in England housed in a beautiful building that ravages any profits. Suddenly, pranks begin and an ex-employee is murdered. The twists and turns of this mystery hinge on events during World War II and revenge. But as usual, the revenge is not sweet. |
| Barbara S. |
| The Garden of Last Days by Andre Dubus III |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a worthy successor to his first novel, THE HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG. He creates fascinating, human characters who are struggling to survive in the seedy world of striptease clubs. |
| Bea |
| Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Almost everyone in our book club gave this a 9 or 10. It is an autobiography of a woman who was raised in the Moslem culture of Africa, escaped (bringing shame to her family), and became a member of the Dutch Parliament. It's very interesting and pertinent to our times in terms of immigration problems and the whole Middle East crises. |
| Lori S. |
| The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The story of the compilation of the Oxford English Dictionary, started in 1857, sounds like it would be a pretty dry yawner of a tale. Not so. It is an extraordinary tale of the obsession of two remarkable men. Prof. James Murray was the head of the committee to oversee the definitions that were pouring in. When he discovered that one man, Dr.W.C. Minor, had submitted more than 10,000 of those definitions, the committee insisted on honoring him only to discover that Dr.Minor was an Amer.Civil War veteran and also an inmate at an asylum for the criminally insane! Yes, there is a fine line between genius and insanity. |
| Carey |
| The Lost Diary of Don Juan by Douglas Carlton Abrams |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Swashbuckling adventure, spine-tingling excitement, and steamy love scenes! |
| Carey |
| Midwife of the Blue Ridge by Christine Blevins |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Frontier life in Colonial Virginia. An exciting historical novel! |
| Carey |
| The Lost Queen by C. W. Gortner |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Fantastic historical novel about Juana, princess of Spain. |
| Sharon |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Enzo, the narrator of this story, is a dog who is dying. He knows that he will return to earth as a man, and this book tells the events of his life as well as those of his master. Because it had the elements of happiness, sadness and suspense, I couldn't put the book down. |
| Sharon |
| Stoner by John Williams |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Originally published in 1965, this reprinted novel is one of the finest I haver ever read. The writing is flawless, and the character development brilliant. This is an example of how you can't judge a book by its cover, because the cover is unappealing. This is a beautiful portrayal of academic life in the early 20th century. The reader lives through the main character, Stoner's, triumphs and defeats. |
| Eileen Quinn |
| Off Season by Anne Rivers Siddons |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was truly a wonderful saga about a family. The development of the characters in the story was superb. The visual acuity of the landscape was delightful. |
| Bev |
| Chaos by Ted Dekker |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the last book in Ted Dekker's Lost Books for young adults, based on hisCircle Trilogy. And although I am far from being a "young adult," this was a must read for anybody who enjoys adventure-packed novels that quick paced and totally fun. I recommend that you read the whole Circle Trilogy first so you can keep up with the setting and the storyline behind this series. Other books in this series include CHOSEN, INFIDEL and RENEGADE. |
| Marlie Warren ([email protected]) |
| The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Isn't *everyone* reading The Twilight Series? If not, they should!! All you have to do is carry one of these books with you to the doctor's office, dentist, or the salon while you get a pedicure and you'll make immediate friends. You'll get more attention than if you have a baby or a dog with you! It's incredible how many people are really into these books --- from the young to the old! Even my 67-year-old dr. is reading them! |
| Joanne Mosher ([email protected]) |
| Ghost In The Mirror by Leslie Rule |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This novel is a collection of true-life accounts that Leslie Rule has gathered that all investigate paranormal events that involve mirrors. It also presents information on the supernatural history and folklore surrounding mirrors. |
| MrsDoctorWho |
| The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was a satisfying conclusion to the Gemma Doyle trilogy. Very atmospheric, and just a great read. |
| Jen |
| The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Cute story! Thought it was funny at times, and sad at others. It reminds me of my babysitting days (things not going right, funny things that happened, bad stuff)and I'm glad not to be babysitting anymore. This book will remind all those who did babysit of their own memories, and those who didn't are glad they didn't do it. |
| Priscilla |
| Dream When You're Feeling Blue by Elizabeth Berg |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The story takes place in Chicago during the time when World War II started. It is a story of 3 sisters (and members of their family, the Heaney's). It is a novel love and family strength. |
| Judy |
| The Soloist by Steve Lopez |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
LA Times columnist Steve Lopez spots Nathaniel Ayers playing his heart out on a two-string violin on LA's Skid Row. Knowing a story when he sees one, Lopez discovers the man had attended Julliard decades ago, but mental illness crept in and sent a once-promising student into the depths of unchartered mental and physical territory. It's a wonderful story, sometimes funny, sometimes sad and scary, and always evocative. It brings mental illness --- and society's shame --- out in the open. It was fascinating to get glimpses of Nathaniel's mind during lucidity and the maelstrom that is his everyday life. (It's soon to be a motion picture release with Robert Downey, Jr. as Lopez and Jamie Foxx as Nathaniel...I can't wait to see it; if they follow the book, Foxx could easily be on his way to another Oscar). |
| Vicki ([email protected]) |
| Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
As always, Ms. Picoult weaves a mesmerizing tale, this time of an Amish girl who gives birth in a barn, and then is accused of her baby's murder. This book was not her "best" in my opinion, but still a very delightful read. |
| Carey |
| The Black Tower by Louis Bayard |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Restoration Paris and the real-life French Sherlock Holmes. A great mystery. |
| Marsha |
| The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
My second reading of this immense novel was as rewarding as the first. When I discovered this book many years ago, I was enthusiastic and recommended it to anyone who would listen. Keep the book, you may want to reread it ten years from now. |
| Marie |
| Anne Boleyn by Joanna Denny |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Packed with historical data with the author's opinions surrounding the 1530's, this is one among many books on the tragic queen of England, one of Henry VIII's wives. She was a reformer and this book does delve more deeply into that subject then other books on Anne B normally have, so this is another look at what may have been a life force for Anne. It does not read quickly like a novel, so Phillipa Gregory fans will be disappointed. Of course that is pure fiction, this is non-fiction. Yet, there are certain conclusions the author makes which may or may not be accurate but you wouldn't notice it if you haven't read other authors on the subject. All in all I give it 3 stars for the author's research but I have detracted the stars for not pursuing all possibilites and also for not being able to hold my interest perpetually. |
| Danelle Drake |
| The Bible Salesman by Clyde Edgerton |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A great Southern read... |
| L. Clark |
| Such A Girl by Karen V. Siplin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
SUCHA GIRL is a romance/drama that everyone can relate to. Nine years ago, Kendall broke up with her college boyfriend Jack because her friends did not think he had a future. Now, Kendall works as a lowly telephone operator at a hotel in New York when Jack shows up as a successful and affluent hotel guest. Kendall is forced to evaluate both her personal and professional life and finds herself wondering where she went wrong. This story is filled with tension and regret, and offers a realistic, rather than fairy-tale, view of life and love. Anyone who has ever wondered where their life took a turn from well-laid plans or who has loved, lost, or regretted a lost love will enjoy this modern-day romance and will have difficulty putting it down. |
| Emily B ([email protected]) |
| Fisherman's Bend by Linda Greenlaw |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
To me, the characters felt underdeveloped and contrived, and the small seaside town setting was a letdown in comparison to, say, L. R.Wright's version. I wanted to like it, I really did, but found myself wishing it had cooked a little longer before being served. I guess I wanted a heavier editor's hand, and either a solid and believable archetype --- or a solid break from archetype --- in Jane Bunker. She was likeable enough, and I felt like the potential was there for a truly interesting character. The nautical know-how was interesting, the whole independent (but for the paternal figure Cal) woman in authority thing is appealing, and there is potential. Unfulfilled potential. Granted, it's the start of a series (well, the second book in), and Bunker is new on the scene. But consider Grafton's Kinsey Millhone --- you could sense the cynic with underlying hope, the stubborn independence and toughness right from the start of A IS FOR ALIBI. The short sentences, first-person narrative, the flat statement of facts --- and the implication that there is more to the story than what is immediately apparent --- is all right there in the first paragraph. Perhaps a little obvious, but it really does set the stage for the entire series. Even with Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch, when he first appeared in THE BLACK ECHO, his past experiences triggered emotions in the character (and, more importantly, in the reader) that informed the present. There is more to these characters, they have a history, they have prejudices, they have desires, guilt, secrets and flaws, all woven together to make them real. And the writing, while not flawless, was easy to read, effortless; I wasn't stumbling over unlikely interactions or being taken aback by clumsy descriptions. I guess I want an author to show, not just tell; inform by the actions of the character more than by description. Every reaction by the character to the events should either reinforce what we know to be true about the character, or reveal something new about them (something plausible, of course). Beyond my issues with the protagonist, I felt like the whole small-town, family/gang of seafarers lacked.... motivation. The Indian chief who steals from the dead just made me cringe. The constant use of simile was like the 5th day of turkey leftover creations since last Sunday's roast. Okay, that was facetious, but the first two sentences of the book start with a painful metaphor (the rainbow sherbet foliage) and an uncomfortable simile (a stand of hardwoods stretched up and around the rocky bluff like an Indian headdress), and the comparisons continue with three more doozies in the next six sentences alone. Maybe I'm being too harsh. I read an awful lot, and I admit I'm used to the ease of reading experienced writers. I definitely admire having the chutzpah to go ahead and *write*. It may be that the editor(s) just didn't come down hard enough. |
| Jud H. |
| The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
If you liked THE DA VINCI CODE, you'll love this. It does pretty much follow THE DA VINCI CODE formula but the plot revolves around the Templar Knights and their interesting history. Like the Dan Brown book, the focus of the plot is a secret which, if revealed to the world, would potentially rock the foundation of Christianity. You have the requisite heroes and requisite bad guys, although this time the "bad" guys aren't with the Vatican; instead, they are Templars themselves, under the leadership of a Templar who seeks revenge against the Pope and the Catholic Church. Steve Berry does a exemplary job of weaving together fact and fiction to produce a book that could be as controversial as THE DA VINCI CODE. |
| Sandra |
| Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
The story of Sarah Walters, a Charleston debutante, who can't be good no matter how hard she ties. I found this book boring and kept waiting for something to happen, and it never did. |
| juli |
| The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An intense twisting of the fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel, set in Poland during World War II. It is the survival story of 2 Jewish children --- renamed Hansel and Gretel --- as they are abandoned in the forest by their father and stepmother to avoid the genocide being carried out by the Nazis. |
| Kaye |
| Forced Out by Stephen Frey |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another home run for Frey! Unlike his previous books of financial intrigue and conspiracy, this book centers around baseball. When Jack Barrett, former Yankees scout, sees what he thinks is a major-league talent, he makes an all out effort to connect with the elusive player. Meanwhile in NY, we meet Johnny Bondano, hit man for the mafia. How the lives of these three men converge is a nonstop ride of thrilling suspense as only Frey can do. Throw in a lot of terrific subplots and you definitely have a literary home run. Highly recommended. |
| Alessandra |
| Coraline by Neil Gaiman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A deliciously creepy children's book that will interest kids and adults alike. Gaiman is very good at developing an atmosphere of increasing terror, so that the reader is more and more drawn towards the conclusion of the story. |
| L. Clark |
| Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
This companion to Marr's WICKED LOVELY left me more than slightly disappointed. While I found it difficult to put down the first book in this series, I had to force myself to finish INK EXCHANGE. The story, about the tension between the worlds of mortals and faeries, focuses on different characters than the first novel, characters that I found hard to relate to. Although this book did have some "can't miss" moments, for the most part I struggled to read it and probably would not have finished it if I had not been reviewing the book for a local library. The book is geared toward young adults, but some scenes in the novel are not appropriate for younger teens. The story is solid in its own right, but disappointing when compared to its companion. |
| Iris Rose |
| Some Assembly Required by Lynn Kiele Bonasia |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I loved this book! I enjoyed the characters and their stories. There was just enough humor mixed with real doses of reality, and the writing was poetic at times! Let's see some more from Ms. Bonasia in the future! |
| Aditi |
| The Bourne Ultimatum by Robert Ludlum |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Believe it or not, this was the first Ludlum book I picked up, and I haven't even read the first 2 in the Bourne series. What started out as a trial read has become almost like an addiction! The book sure is interesting, and the emphasis that Ludlum puts on certain words in his text makes for a very impactful read. Can't wait to read the first 2 when I'm done with this one! |
| Debra Kelley ([email protected]) |
| Faces of Fear by John Saul |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Another scary novel by John Saul that deals with the 'beautiful people' in California, and the plastic surgeon who plays a pivotal role in many beautiful women's lives. There is also a serial killer who is mutilating women. This book makes for a scary, can't-put-the-book-down type of read. Snuggle up with a drink and this book and your evening will be set. Enjoy this scary novel! |
| Cynthia |
| The Midwife of the Blue Ridge by Christine Blevins |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I really loved this book. It combined some of my favorite elements. It was historical fiction, it had Scotland and Scottish people, early American history, a local tie (it takes place in or near the Blue Ridge mountains near where I live), and romance...it just was great. |
| L. Clark |
| Stori Telling by Tory Spelling |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A light and easy read that takes you behind the scenes of the life of a rich Hollywood debutante. I was never a fan of Tori, until I began to watch her show on Oxygen and then fell in love with her as a regular gal. This tell all is not as juicy as some would say; rather it goes just a little below the surface of the starlet's life and skips over much of her emotional reaction to the events of her life. The most telling and interesting part of her story begins when she meets Dean, mostly because this is when she allows her true feelings to show through. I would recommend this book to a friend as a beach read, but would probably suggest borrowing from the library, rather than purchasing it, as it is not something to reread again and again. |
| L. Clark |
| If Only It Were True by Marc Levy |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A light romance, upon which the movie Just Like Heaven was based. Fans of romance and of the movie will certainly enjoy this light read about a man who falls in love with a ghost from the afterlife. Discovering that she is not yet dead, he must find a way to save her before time runs out. Set in San Francisco, the novel has some imagery of California's northern coast that had me interested in learning more about the bay area. Although I enjoyed the story, I only gave the book three stars because I hold high standards for books in the four and five category. This is a good beach read that I would definitely pass on to a friend. |
| KBGraham |
| The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel by David Wroblewski |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Intriguing novel about dogs, parent-child relationships, and heartaches of growing up knowing a secret. Wroblewski makes the reader forget that Edgar is mute. What a great first novel. |
| EC |
| Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Stegnar deserved the Pulitzer for this novel and any other award for writing. The novel is well written, interesting, and contains a good story. The reader cares about the characters. This is excellent literature. |
| Cynthia |
| The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a different, but excellent book that kept my interest on many levels. Enjoy! |
| L. Clark |
| The Night Villa by Carol Goodman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I did not think it was possible for Goodman to top my favorite novel of hers, THE LAKE OF DEAD LANGUAGES, but in her newest novel THE NIGHT VILLA, she may have done just that. Goodman's novels have so many elements --- from the literary references, to ancient mythology, to the hint of mystery that permeates all of her books --- she leaves me, a fellow writer, in awe of her ability. THE NIGHT VILLA takes its readers from the heat of Texas to a breezy summer on the island of Capri, and a dangerous archaeological dig to find the scrolls of a long-dead researcher. This novel will captivates its readers, particularly those who are scholars of literature and mythology. This is one novel that is difficult to put down. Goodman is an author that I have recommended to many friends, and I have not found a reader who does not enjoy her work. |
| Readingrat |
| The Dead and The Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
If LIFE AS WE KNEW IT is dystopia 101, then this companion book is the next course up. This story takes place in New York during the same time frame as LIFE AS WE KNEW IT, but this is a much darker tale and consequently much more believable. |
| Vicki |
| When The Day of Evil Comes by Melanie Wells |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This book is a Christian Suspense novel. It was a good, creepy read. |
| Readingrat |
| Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This series is both the best I've read from this author, as well as the best I've read of this genre. This installment doesn't disappoint. I absolutely love Grandma Mazur! |
| Brenda K. |
| Little Heathens by Mildred Armstrong Kalish |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I found this book to be easy and fact-filled reading. I enjoyed the sunny spin the author put on her difficult everyday life during the "Great Depression." This book would be a good one to have students read while studying that time period, or Iowa history. |
| Lorna |
| Gone by Lisa Gardner |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I wouldn't say this was the best by this author, but suspenseful just the same. If you have read previous novels by this author, you will be reunited with Rainie and Quincy. You certainly won't be disappointed. |
| Frannie |
| The Usual Rules by Joyce Maynard |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A poignant, coming-of-age novel of a 13-year-old girl who loses her Mother on September 11th. Despite the fact that this book was fiction, the story is portrayed realistically, taking the character through the many stages of grief following a traumatic loss. As we approach the 7th anniversary of the World Trade Center attack, this book brought up many feelings in me. It tells the story of the many little girls and boys whose mothers and fathers did not come home that day. Joyce Maynard approaches this subject delicately, addressing the profound loss of the character's family yet infusing the story with the healing process they undergo along the way. |
| Readingrat |
| Saint Maybe by Anne Tyler |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is typical Anne Tyler --- full of wonderfully realistic characters and themes that keep you thinking. |
| Ginny Gambino ([email protected]) |
| Callie's Redemption by Rebekah Kasey |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I liked this novel because it focused on: Where God is in a troubled world. It is about one woman, Callie MaCraw, who is struggling through the death of her nephew, and her reconnection with God. |
| Rita Carter ([email protected]) |
| Silent Thunder by Iris Johansen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A fast, thrilling page turner. You're never quite sure who is good and who is bad, or if they are who they say they are! One of the best books I've read in a while. |
| Jeri |
| The Rook by Steven James |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I haven't finished it yet, but as a thriller/suspense, it is one of the better ones I have read. The bad guy feels no pain and has just bitten off his own finger while being interrogated by one of the main characters. There is a subplot involving a 'device' based on a shark's ability to detect electromagnetic waves. |
| Brenda K |
| The Art of Racing In The Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was a very human-feeling story told by a narrator that is a dog. I really enjoyed the emotions shared in this story. The author did a wonderful job making the narrator believable, I could imagine a dog thinking this way. I enjoyed the themes of "you have control of your life," and "the race of life is not finished until you cross over the final finish line." I found the ending believable, where some of my friends did not believe it. |
| Kathleen Cutsail |
| A Respectable Trade by Philippa Gregory |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book was very interesting to me. I didn't know much about the slave trade in England in the 1700s, and this was very informative. This is my first book by this author but will certainly not be my last. It held my interest throughout. |
| Dawn |
| Every Mother Is A Daughter by Perri Klauss |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A touching series of essays between a mother and her daughter about life, love, habits, etc. |
| Marie Brown |
| Time is a River by Mary Alice Monroe |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Loved loved this book. Didn't really think I would, since I couldn't care less about fly fishing...but I finished it in two days! I could relate to the breast cancer aspect, and I thought the author did a great job tackling a survivor's point of view. |
| Carolyn |
| City of Dreams by Beverly Swerling |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I am halfway through and cannot put it down! Enthralling! |
| Judy O. |
| The Year of the Fog by Michelle Richmond |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A compelling story about a lost child. Abby Mason and her soon-to-be stepdaughter Emma are walking along the beach in San Francisco in the fog, and all of a sudden Emma disappears. Abby is filled with guilt because she took her eyes off of Emma for seconds while she looked at a dead baby seal. Abby and Jake, the child's dad, spend almost a year looking for her at great cost to their own relationship. This is a compelling story, but I did feel that it was too long with lots of angst and repetition. Editing out about fifty pages would have made it better. |
| iubookgirl |
| The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a wonderful novel that humanizes a dark time in our nation's history, the Salem witch trials. |
| iubookgirl |
| The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a fun mystery that kept me guessing all the way through. Despite the two widely disparate subjects, Superman and Cain, Meltzer succeeds in weaving a believable and entertaining novel. |
| Laura Lanik |
| The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is an amazing little book! It is only 59 pages including the Afterward, but wow, it is powerful. |
| Kathy V. |
| Murder Is Binding by Lorna Barrett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a brand new series and a really good one. Tricia Miles opens up a new book store for mysteries and ends up finding her next-door neighbor dead. A good read. |
| Mary Ferwerda |
| The Secret Between Us by Barbara Delinsky |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
We used this in our book group. Everyone loved it and most read it in two days. It is not only a good story, but also deals with moral issues anyone could encounter. |
| Marie Brown |
| A Summer Affair by Erin Hilderbrand |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I liked this story. It slowed down quite a bit in the middle, but it was a quick read. |
| D.W. |
| The Geurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This title confused yet intrigued me. I'm so glad it got my attention. This takes place during 1946 as England is recovering from the war. Juliet is an author searching for a new topic but is uninspired as she stays in the rubble of London. She begins writing letters with the residents of the British island, Geurnsey. These are people who barely survived a 5-year occupation by the Germans. They are soon telling Juliet about their various stories and the bonds formed during their darkest days. The Geurnsey Literary Society was their book group originally formed to fool the Germans, but soon becomes an integral part of their very survival. The letters from the different community members are touching in their memories, but also have humor and charm as they enjoy the attention of an established author who is sincerely interested in their stories. Juliet has discovered a new topic for her book and a new group of friends. This was such an enjoyable book and I can see why it's at the top of the bestseller list. It was such a good story with a history lesson as well. |
| Brady ([email protected]) |
| Sick Girl by Amy Silverstein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I was prepared to stop reading this book if it got morbid; it was the opposite...a compelling read by a person able to tell in an interesting way her life experience with a diseased heart and, eventually, a transplanted one. You learn how a person survives with another's heart in you and all of the daily requirements necessary to stay alive. A bonus is the great love story, of which I am convinced that Amy would not have made it without her man. A most interesting story. |
| Mikki ([email protected]) |
| Beside a Burning Sea by John Shors |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved BENEATH A MARBLE SKY, which was the first novel by John Shors, and so I was eager to read his second, BESIDE A BURNING SEA. He didn't disappoint me. It is a wonderful, classic love story set in the South Pacific at the height of World War II. I was crying by the end of the story, which was powerful, and gave me a new perspective on the war. His writing is beautiful. At times, it's almost like reading a poem. |
| Melissa S. |
| The God of Animals by Aryn Kyle |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I was hooked right away to this coming-of-age story and how this teenage girl found out how the world worked around her. I had a hard time with some of the story about the treatment of the horses on the ranch, but it was part of her world --- she could not change it at her age. |
| Melissa S. ([email protected]) |
| The Abstinence Teacher by Tome Perrotta |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I love this book --- it reminds me a lot of my upbringing in a Christian school. I identified with the struggle with faith even now as an adult. |
| Sandy |
| Duma Key by Stephen King |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Stephen King fans will love this one. Lots of ghosts and scary things to keep you awake at night. THE STAND is still his best, though. |
| Beckie Dicke ([email protected]) |
| Finn by Jon Clinch |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Huckleberry's pap is the mysterious black sheep that springs from Mark Twain's classic novel. Finn is a horrific character who will do just about anything for a drink. His father, known as the Judge, is loath to even set eyes on this son who owns up to his evilness, but never rises above it. The description and characterizations in this novel make it second only to a trip back in time on the Mississippi. |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| The Broker Window by Jeffery Deaver |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Identity theft is the fastest-growing crime and is devastating to its victims. Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs work to determine who framed Lincoln's cousin for a vicious murder by using his stolen identity, and uncover why he was targeted. They discover that data collected and stored by a data management firm has been manipulated to frame innocent people. An excellent and eye-opening book about all the data that has probably been collected on all of us. |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| Angel Falls by Carla Neggers |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
While researching old Irish legends for her new book, Keira Sullivan travels to the Emerald Isle and is almost killed while searching for an ancient statue of an angel. When she returns to the United States, her stalker kills someone close to her. With her friend Simon Cahill, she searches to find out who is responsible and why. |
| Debi |
| The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Since I'd never read this author before, I was afraid that I had stumbled upon a dark, Gothic novel. As I continued reading, a well-developed murder mystery evolved. Detective Rizzoli uncovers a history of evil as she investigates a series of murders. It kept me reading to the very end! |
| Mikki ([email protected]) |
| The Book Thief by Markus Zusak |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved this book. I didn't love it immediately, as the form was unusual (a lot of random musings from the narrator and so forth). But about 100 pages into it, the novel really got rolling. What a powerful tale of a good family caught up in the horrors of Nazi Germany. |
| M. Monahan |
| Dubliners by James Joyce |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A little difficult to follow at times, but an entertaining read about the people of Ireland. |
| Debbie ([email protected]) |
| Blood Orange Brewing by Laura Childs |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A Tea Shop Mystery novel set in Charleston, SC. I love to hear about the old houses and their preservation. Of course, the delicious food and tea are enticing. This time, Theodosia enlightens upon exotic animal selling, but the ending is happy. |
| Anne Knaack ([email protected]) |
| The Other by David Guterson |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Two stars are for his effort, but I found this book to be so boring, which is why I gave up on it about halfway through. |
| Anne Knaack ([email protected]) |
| America America by Ethan Canin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I have read all of this author's books and loved them, but this one is his best. I highly recommend it. |
| Anita Nowak |
| The First Patient by Michael Palmer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I really liked this book --- it was a medical thriller which was very interesting, and quite a page turner. Basically. it was about a person or group trying to harm the President of the US. I enjoyed it up to the end. Though, I felt the end was very unrealistic. Even though it was unexpected, in my mind, it didn't make much sense. |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| Where Are You Now? by Mary Higgins Clark |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Charles MacKenzie Jr. (Mack) disappeared 10 years ago but has made a telephone call to his mother each year since his disappearance. His sister, Carolyn, decides to search for him and put an end to the agony he is putting his mother through. The police become involved and notice that Mack is in a photograph of a missing young lady. Could he be a killer? As Carolyn investigates his former roommates and apartment, she becomes suspicious of everyone. Who is telling the truth and who is hiding information? This is a book you won't want to put down until you find out who the villain is. |
| Sandy Greathouse ([email protected]) |
| The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
There are not enough stars for this one! It's the best book I've read in ages, and would recommend it to everyone. Loved it! |
| Debi |
| Mr. Monk Goes to Germany by Lee Goldberg |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I had to switch from a serious mystery, to a light-hearted one! I love Monk! In this one, Monk follows his beloved psychiatrist to Germany. In order to survive the plane ride, his anti-depressant drugs make his trip memorable...for the other passengers, that is! |
| Noreen Brown |
| Parting Gifts by Charlotte Vale Allen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A wonderful story with great characters. It has sorrow, joy, goodness, and evil. |
| Sherrie Gil |
| Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a great long novel that will really help you to understand life in India. |
| Sandy Greathouse ([email protected]) |
| The Penny by Joyce Meyer and Deborah Bedford |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderful book. I'm so glad I got to finally read it. Very inspiring! |
| Wendy |
| Murdering Ministers by Alan Beechey |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The second book in the Oliver Swithin series, MURDERING MINISTERS hearkens back to a kinder, gentler mystery. Witty, intelligent and with enough twists and turns to keep you interested, this installment finds freelance author Swithin doing research for a satirical piece on religious practices in Britain. His trip to the local parish of the United Diaconalist Church leads to a missing teen and a murder. |
| BethD |
| The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I loved this book. The alternating stories work very well, and I feel like it gives an interesting glimpse into what it may be like to have Alzheimer's. |
| gracee v |
| Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar... by Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
This is supposed to be a quick read (less than 200 pp) of "Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes." There must be a reason I'm not much of a philosopher. The jokes were decent, I just didn't see much of a tie in to the philosophical explanations |
| gracee v. |
| The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Pretty darn close to being an exceptional book. It had a great storyline and great characters. I love big fat books, so this is right up my alley. However, the story often seems to stagnate. The evil characters do the same evil thing to the same helpless people. The outrageous characters, while their actions were outrageous in one chapter, repeat the same outrageousness. I guess the first time was great, so a second go round will be even more shocking --- right? Wrong. I'd much rather see a story evolve.. than SOS (Same Old Stuff). Nevertheless, it was a great read. I'm glad I read it. It really is a page turner! |
| Brandi G. |
| Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I really loved this book because the author writes with a lot of humor! Personally, I enjoyed it because it takes place in the South (Savannah, GA) and the characters love to go antiquing. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a fast-paced, funny beach read!! |
| Mary |
| How Elizabeth Barrett Browning Saved My Life by Mameve Medwed |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A fun read for all who have ever thought they might bring a treasure to Antiques Road Show and have it be worth a fortune! |
| Karen |
| Hide and Seek by Wendy Aron |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Tracing her problems back to her unsupportive family, the author embarks on a year-long journey to close her 'misery gap' and help her anxiety and depression. While taking a series of self-help classes, esteem-building seminars, and creativity courses, she discovers that she is not alone in her feelings and that life is all a matter of perception. Along the way, she also finds time to try speed dating, personal relationship counseling and weight watchers meetings. Aromatherapy and assertiveness training round out the search and add to the growth process. If this is not enough to contend with, there is her mother and the 'High Priestess of Marketing' at work. These chapters will have you laughing out loud. Although this is a work of non-fiction, it does not read like it. Ms. Aron treats a serious subject with a fresh perspective and her writing is incredibly witty and humorous. Definitely a recommended read! The bibliography includes ten sources for more information about mental health. There is also an extensive list of helpful web sites and organizations. |
| Mary |
| Wild Irish Women by Marian Broderick |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Eclectic collection of portraits of unique, brave and ambitious women from or connected in some way to Ireland. Women have been "doing for themselves for a long, long time"! |
| lisa |
| When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A quiet, elegantly told story about Japanese Americans from the San Francisco Bay Area being sent to relocation camps during World War II. Despite being a very short book, it captures the mood with grace, and reflects the different responses by various family members to the events as they unfold. |
| D. Lohrding |
| Run by Ann Patchett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the fist book I have read by this author (not sure where I have been), and it is great! I literally cannot put the book down. Each chapter is almost another story, yet all the stories build upon each other to make a truly great read! |
| Carol T. |
| The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
THE SUMMONING is the first in a series about Chloe, who in growing into a young woman, taps into her ghost-seeing abilities. Trouble ensues due to her perceived craziness, which lands her in a home for disturbed teens. Some really great, creepy scene writing and characterization by this author made this young adult novel a winner even for this 40-something gal. |
| Dory Stewart ([email protected]) |
| First Daughter by Eric Van Lustbader |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
True to form, Lustbader keeps you in suspense with unusual, but credible characters that are beautifully drawn. Nothing lacking in the surprise ending, either. |
| Dolores ([email protected]) |
| The Naked Olympics by Tony Perrottet |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a fascinating history of the original Olympic games in ancient Greece. It is full of interesting details and truly drives home the point that today's athletes and competitions are not really so very different from those of the past. |
| Mary |
| The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The phrase "page turner" is thrown around pretty freely in book reviews, but this book really is one that you can't put down. It interweaves so many fascinating elements: a Salem setting, twins and loss, the supernatural, delusion and mental illness, maternal love, friendship, romance, suspense, and domestic violence. There is just so much here in a format that is pure storytelling. I did not want it to end. |
| Mary |
| Tell No One by Harlan Coben |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A thriller about a man who thinks his wife is dead, but then starts to believe she is alive and sending him messages. It's lots of fun with many twists. |
| Shelley |
| Bread Alone by Judith R. Hendricks |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A good read. The characters are well drawn and the story is believable. |
| Shelley |
| Martyr's Crossing by Amy Wilentz |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Thought-provoking novel about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. This should b required reading for all. |
| Dolores ([email protected]) |
| The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R King |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is very well written. The author really brings the Sherlock Holmes character to life and introduces us to a new detective that is equally interesting. I definitely intend to read the others in this series. |
| Dory Stewart ([email protected]) |
| Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It may or may not make up your mind about who to vote for, but it's worth the read. Interesting insight into someone who wants to be president. Keep in mind: it was written in 1995. |
| Debby Creager ([email protected]) |
| Garfield Hogs the Spotlight by Jim Davis |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Every now and then I love to drag out the old Garfield books and have a laugh. It is almost like seeing them for the first time. They are always funny and you feel like a kid again. |
| Karen Haney |
| Upside Down Inside Out by Monica McInerney |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Eva and Joseph both travel to Australia for different reasons. When they meet, quite by accident, they take on different names and personalities. The humorous, tender, and oftentimes frustrating relationship takes off with neither having the right opportunity to tell the other about the "game" they are playing. Things escalate, as do their feelings for each other, and both are heading for a crash landing if they can't connect in time to reveal their secret before the other finds out from a different source. An emergency erupts and tears them apart, ending their vacations and possibly a lovely budding romance. The puzzle pieces are there to be put together for Eva and Joseph if the timer doesn't stop the game too soon. 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. |
| Janice Hoaglin ([email protected]) |
| Other Women's Children by Perri Klass |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Truly one of the best books I have ever read. This was a reread for me, as I first read this 17 or 18 years ago. The heroine, as well as the author, is a pediatrician who struggles to balance all the joys and sorrows of working with sick, and sometimes dying children, with her own family and her personal life. If the author is as fine a doctor as she is a writer, her patients are very lucky. |
| Daryl Sedore ([email protected]) |
| Duma Key by Stephen King |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I absolutely love the setup --- it's done with humor and real life (believable) angst. A definite must read... |
| Annette Juba ([email protected]) |
| The Welsh Girl by Peter Ho Davies |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I'm 100 pages into the book. The chapters alternate between a girl in Wales and a German POW who is being held in a camp in the same town. I'm fascinated by the author's ability to sympathetically portray the plight of the German soldier, and about the details of the evacuation of children from England's cities to farm families. I'm looking forward to finishing it! |
| Robin Coker ([email protected]) |
| The Shack by William P. Young |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I liked this book. But you need an open mind to read it. It is about a man who loses his daughter, and a few years later gets a note from God to meet him at the Shack. It definitely makes you think about your relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I don't usually read stuff like this, but someone gave it to me. I've been told by some that it changed their lives. I'm not in that group, but I think if you have had tragedy in your life, this little book can help you through it. |
| Pamela Klinger-Horn |
| The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A charming novel about a little-known period of World War II history. |
| Angela Satalino |
| The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Intriguing and unbelievable to read how people can literally get away with murder through the ineptness of the investigators. Very well written and easy to follow, despite the cast of thousands of suspects. |
| Gina |
| Off Season by Anne RIvers Siddons |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A confusing book. At first, it was quite readable and interesting. The final third of it changed genres and became a spooky, eerie mystery. The mystery ending was a confusing hodgepodge, and the reader is left wondering what really happened. |
| Gina |
| Beach Road by James Patterson and Peter DeJonge |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Just finished this novel and found it to be a page turner from the get go. I have read a lot of mysteries and can honestly say this is the first time I didn't have a clue as to who the killer was. Great book! |
| Sara ([email protected]) |
| Waiter Rant by The Waiter |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Although I was not a reader of The Waiter's anonymous blog "Waiter Rant," I stumbled across this book on Amazon. Intrigued, I purchased it and can't say how much I loved it. I had it with me at my family's cabin over Labor Day weekend, and I had to continuously search for it as my relatives and guests kept picking it up and becoming quickly engrossed in it themselves. I was taken aback by how much humanity is shown through the eyes of a restaurant waiter; and, how very thoroughly we get to know him, despite his anonymity. For anyone who's ever struggled to figure out who they want to be, or anyone interested in writing, this is just plain phenomenal; I can't recommend this book enough. It was absorbing from page 1 --- it was funny, it was pensive, and it was very insightful of just how revealing we are in one of our most primitive rituals: going out to dinner. |
| MaryinHB ([email protected]) |
| Competition's a Witch by Kelly McClymer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Excellent paranormal series for the teen set. It's very light hearted and with a good, positive message. |
| MaryinHB ([email protected]) |
| Nerd Girl Rocks Paradise City by Anne Thomas Soffee |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A nicely written and entertaining memoir really about growing up, and not so much about heavy metal bands. Though, it's filled with the typical too much alcohol and drugs that are usually found in books like this. |
| MaryinHB ([email protected]) |
| Secrets of the Hollywood Girls Club by Maggie Marr |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the second installment of the Hollywood Girls Club series and a great follow up for the behind-the-scenes mysteries in the movies. |
| MaryinHB ([email protected]) |
| 101 Damnations by Michael J. Rosen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Very funny essays on what Hell truly is, all written by a bunch of great writers. I really enjoyed the one about personal websites: "Sartre wrote that hell is other people. Pat Benatar said hell is for children, therefore hell is other people's children." Of course, I paraphrased this... |
| CC |
| American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The first part of the book was very enjoyable, but the last part felt intrusive. Overall, a good read. |
| Barbara Dormer ([email protected]) |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It was an excellent idea to write in the voice of the family dog. Intriguing! |
| Tara O'Donnell |
| Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
HEARTSICK brought us Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell, a twisted couple who rivaled Dr. Lector and Clarice Starling for sinister soul mates. In SWEETHEART, Archie and Gretchen manage to outdo them both,thanks to the quick thinking creativity of Chelsea Cain. |
| Mary Ann |
| Run by Ann Patchett |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A very interesting story about a father raising his biological son and two adopted African American sons after his wife dies. The story takes place over a 24-hour period where an accident involving one of the sons and another lady occur. A young girl and an adored uncle/priest are thrown into the picture. There are touches of religion, race, politics, integrity, and sports. This author, who also wrote BEL CANTO, did a great job. |
| Susan |
| The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I was pulled into the story from the beginning, although I was hoping that I wouldn't like it too much as I have a huge stack to read. The interaction of the characters is very real and I often feel as though I am freezing on the trail as they search for a murderer. |
| Audrey B |
| The Boleyn Inheritance by Phillipa Gregory |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Love her books. I can't wait for the next one. |
| Julie |
| Finding Nouf by Zoë Ferraris |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Nayir is a Saudi desert guide engaged by the wealthy Sharwis family to discover what happened to Nouf in the desert. Nayir faces many challenges in a very closed society as he tries to piece together a female's life. |
| Julie |
| Stalking Susan by Julie Kramer |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
TV reporter Riley Spartz lands some information about a couple cold cases involving women all named Susan who are killed on the same day, but in different years. |
| Elizabeth V |
| The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penny |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This should have been better. It's a historical thriller about life in Canada around the time of the U.S. Civil War. A man from France turns up dead in a settlement in Canada. A woman's son is missing, so he's a suspect. Most of the book is about the woman, a half Indian, and an employee of "the Company" looking for the son. I'm finding it slow. I thought I'd be more interested because I don't often see historical fiction about Canada. |
| Joyce J. Farris |
| Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
If you have been looking for something different to read, try this one! Not only is the story different, having more than 2 or 3 main characters to choose as your favorite, the story itself is written in the form of a series of e-mails on the Internet. Ready for something different? This one is it. |
| Jacqueline Miller |
| The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A fantastic read with wonderfully developed characters. At the end, I was sad to say goodbye to them. |
| Kathryn ([email protected]) |
| The Pig Did It! by Joseph Caldwell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This funny, quirky mystery set on Irish coast had me laughing aloud! I can see it as a BBC show. I am very curious to see how the next two books of this trilogy follow along this plotline?! |
| Anne F. ([email protected]) |
| Company of Liars by Karen Maitland |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book reminded me of Bergman's THE SEVENTH SEAL: a fourteenth-century group finds itself traveling from town to town in the English midlands trying to avoid the plague. One of them has a secret, and who is the mysterious little girl that follows them? Will they survive the Black Death? |
| Mary Ann |
| Peony in Love by Lisa See |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A great look at the culture of 1600s China with all the traditions, religions, and perceptions. The writing was excellent. The story, however, was long winded and the whole idea of roaming as a hungry ghost isn't too appealing. Nonetheless, it's very interesting. |
| MIchele Desaulniers |
| So Brave, Young, and Handsome by Leif Enger |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Once again, Leif Enger introduces us to realistic, thoughtful characters and provides quiet insights into the common feelings and lessons we all share. A great read. |
| Carol T. |
| Assassin by Grace Cavendish |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The first in a young adult/children's series set in Elizabethan England features Lady Grace in this smartly written mystery. Lady Grace may be young, but she is about to be betrothed to one of three men. Soon one shall be dead. Grace uses her wits and wiles to discover the killer. Excellent period language from writer Patricia Finney, under the Cavendish pseudonym. |
| Barbara Dormer ([email protected]) |
| Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was a second read for me as it was our book club choice. It was even better the second time around. |
| Colleen Wenger ([email protected]) |
| Mr. Knightley's Diary by Amanda Grange |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
For any fan of Jane Austen, this book is a fun look at her famous stories from the gentleman's perspective. |
| Dorothy |
| Sail by James Patterson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I'm a big fan of James Patterson, but this was a disappointment. It was predictable and not up to his usual work. Maybe his reputation has gone to his head and he knows anything he writes will be a best seller |
| Dorothy |
| Being Elizabeth by Barnara Taylor Bradford |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the third in a trilogy and although I've read the other two, I would have enjoyed it more if she referred more to the previous books, as I have forgotten all the details. However, it is a good read. |
| Tara O'Donnell |
| The Book Of Lies by Brad Meltzer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Meltzer's mix of two legends --- Cain and Superman --- may seem like oil and water at first, but they wind up becoming as compatible as peanut butter and jelly. |
| Helen T. |
| In a Dark Season by Vicki Lane |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Vicki Lane's Appalachian mystery is rich, detailed, and enchanting. A madwoman, a rape and murder long ago, and the tale of a dark beauty all wind their way through this deep mountain mist of a story. Vicki Lane should not be missed. |
| MaryinHB ([email protected]) |
| Just One Bite: Dead End Dating, Book 4 by Kimberly Raye |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a very fun, light-hearted read about Dead End Dating. Vampires and demons with romance and a little mystery thrown in. I can't wait for the next one. |
| Teresa ([email protected]) |
| The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I found this book interesting, weird, and gritty. At first I wasn't sure how I felt about the narrator, a burn victim with a questionable moral past, who just wants to heal enough to leave the hospital to commit suicide. He meets a sculptress of gargoyles who believes they were lovers in 1300s, and then things start to change. Our narrator's journey from attractive person with no character to "monster" with feelings of depth is both thought provoking and fascinating. Throw in themes of Dante's Inferno, the medieval church, gargoyles and legendary lovers and I was captivated by the novel. |
| RitaB |
| The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This reads pretty quickly, but is much better than the usual "quick read." Roseanne Clear is the oldest resident of the regional mental hospital. She decides to write down her life and hides the manuscript under the floorboards. Dr. Grene, the resident psychiatrist, has been given the task of assessing Mrs. Clear as the ancient institution is about to be shut and decisions must be made about the disposition of the inmates. Dr. Grene, curiously drawn to Mrs. Clear, is compelled to research her history as the circumstances leading to her commitment are uncertain. The resulting work, showing the similarities and differences of each one's story, leads one to wonder about Mrs. Clear's sanity and questions the reasoning behind mankind's attempt to "do right." |
| Janice G. |
| Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Absolutely uplifting encouraging nonfiction book although at times reads like a fiction adventure. I really learned a lot about poverty and tribal ways in Pakistan and India. The author proves that one person *can* make a difference. He certainly did. |
| Anthony Romano ([email protected]) |
| Rules of Deception by Christopher Reich |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A great deal of excitement in this book. It's also an easy read that keeps you guessing. And don't try to figure the outcome. I enjoyed the book . |
| Sally |
| Netherland by Joseph O'Neill |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I gave this four stars because the writing is exquisite, but the story was a little slow. |
| Darlene Reilly |
| Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book was a great look at what one person can do to change the world and make it better one step at a time. What a great story on how educating boys and girls could help promote world peace. |
| Jacqueline in Atlanta |
| Green River, Running Red by Ann Rule |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
True crime genre. Not a bad book, but it could have been way better. She could have focused on a few characters rather than just given us a "newspaper clippings scrapbook" style of story. We never really got into the murderer's head to comprehend why he killed 49 young girls and avoided capture for 20 years. |
| RitaB |
| The Mercedes Coffin by Faye Kellerman |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The latest in the Peter Decker and wife series. The last couple of books haven't actively included Rina. This one started well but is lean on action. A lot of surmise about the suspects. |
| Carol T. |
| Don't Tell A Soul by David Rosenfelt |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
While Tim Wallace is in bereavement after his wife's violent death, he encounters a stranger who confesses to murdering a woman. Having dumped this confession on Tim means Tim will do the right thing --- pass the info onto police. But, now the police think Tim has murdered his wife and the unknown stranger. Run, Tim, run! |
| Patricia Soule |
| Written By Herself by Jill Ker Conway, editor |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Interesting collection of self-told life stories of 25 American women. Their own words really make their experiences come alive. These stories begin 150 years ago with a slave running to freedom, and end with our contemporaries. |
| Peggy Kincaid ([email protected]) |
| Blacklight Blue by Peter May |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a book due out in November. If you love British mysteries, this is one you can't miss. Meet Enzo MacLeod, a Scotsman living in France. If you think you've got family problems, check out Enzo's two daughters, but even more, Enzo's life is about to take a rather steep curve. Someone wants him dead and they're willing to hurt anyone close to him to achieve their goal. This book is a mystery wrapped inside a mystery and you won't be sure what is going on until the last page. Best read I've had this summer. |
| booklogged |
| Admit One by Emmett James |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a memoir of James's childhood through the present day. Each chapter starts with a film title that correlates to life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. |
| Amee |
| Looking For Alaska by John Green |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Great coming-of-age novel! |
| Maureen |
| Everything Changes by Jonathan Tropper |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A funny, entertaining read about a man engaged to a woman but falling in love with his deceased best friend's wife. Laugh-out-loud funny in parts. |
| JPeterson |
| Promises to Keep by Joseph Biden |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What a wonderful, interesting book. It's well written, and makes you glad you're reading about a quality, experienced, ethical, positive, family values-in-practice person who is running for vice-president of the usa..it gets even better and more hopeful for me with every page turned. |
| Nancy |
| Heart Of Texas by Debbie Macomber |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Good continuing stories with happy endings --- great escape reading. |
| Maureen |
| The Girl With No Shadow by Joanne Harris |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
3.5 an entertaining read but not as good as CHOCOLAT. |
| Linda M. Johnson ([email protected]) |
| The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
As a kid, I loved the Illustrated Classic Comic Book version of this book. What took me 40 years to read the entire thing? It was chosen as our book discussion choice for August. A variety of editions were made available, and all but one person chose the unabridged version. I'm glad I did --- even if there are almost 1500 pages. This is a verbal version of the weekly movie or TV or radio serials --- tune in next week to see what happens. Edmund Dantes is wrongly imprisoned, due to the manipulations of three men who have something to gain by his disgrace. While spending 14 years in prison, Dantes plots to pay back those who wronged him. |
| Danelle(I really want to win RED KNIFE) Drake ([email protected]) |
| Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Both of her books so far have been very good. They stretch your imagination and make you think. It was very entertaining; I can't wait to read MY HULA GIRL. |
| Len Nowak |
| The Suspect by John Lescroart |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I liked this book for it's suspense and though it was a page turner, I didn't think it matched up to some of Mr. Lescroart's older novels. The suspect was, of course, the husband whose wife is found dead in the hot tub. It starts to look like he really did the deed. You really have to keep reading to find out who and why she was murdered, or was she? |
| J Peterson |
| Magic Time by Doug Marlette |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
We're reading it for our book club and it will make for a very interesting discussion...what a good read! |
| Debbie |
| The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The unabridged version I'm reading has about 1243 pages, not counting the introduction and footnotes --- and it's a fabulous read! I'm 2/3 of the way through it and hurry to read it whenever I can because the story of Dantes is so much fun, with his imprisonment, escape, and patient retributions. The writing is wonderful and the story engrossing. Don't be put off by the size of the book --- it's well worth your time. |
| Jean |
| Quietly in Their Sleep by Donna Leon |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
If you love Venice and you love mysteries, then Donna Leon will have you covered. Her Commisario Brunetti mysteries will keep you intrigued while whisking you away to the mystic city of Venice. Pure enjoyment! |
| Ricki ([email protected]) |
| Thank You For Arguing by Jay Heinrichs |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A great, easy- and fun-to-read guide to debate and rhetoric. |
| E. Quinn |
| What Happened to Anna K. by Irina Reyn |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
If you liked ANNA KARENINA, you will love this book. It really is not a 'remake' of Tolstoy, but gives a fresh new version that is psychologically thrilling. The Russian-Jewish immigrants of New York City are celebrated with all the pomp and circumstances that Tolstoyians expect! |
| Joanne Mosher ([email protected]) |
| The Front Porch Prophet by Raymond L. Atkins |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
What an unstoppable story! Once you read the first paragraph you won't put it down till the end. This fantastic first novel combines humor, loss, feelings of responsibility and coming to terms with death. All of this is set within a small southern community where all of the characters jump off the pages with their zany personality's and quirks. I loved this book and hope to see much more from terrific author Raymond L. Atkins. |
| Linda M. Johnson ([email protected]) |
| Dress Your Family in Denim and Corduroy by David Sedaris |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
My introduction to David Sedaris. I know others think he is hilarious. I do appreciate his writing ability and off-kilter take on his world. (Or is it his kilter take on an off-kilter world?) This won't be my last Sedaris book. |
| Carol |
| Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The best book I've read all year. People had recommended this book and I kept putting it off. It should be read by every teacher in America. We take for granted the walls of our schools. This book is about building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. It's such an inspiration! |
| Carol |
| Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A slightly sentimental journey of a single mother discovering there is more to life than work. A knitting club in her yarn shop takes on a life of its own and becomes a focal time for all of them. Each character has his/her story and development. A fun read! |
| Bonnie |
| The Burnt House by Faye Kellerman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It amazes me how entertaining and well-crafted Kellerman's mysteries are each time. And there's always something unexpected. Best sign of a good book -- can't put it down. |
| Carol |
| The Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is the first in the Mobile Library Mysteries series. It is set in North Ireland and features an Englishman as the recently hired librarian. Some may find the book witty, but for me, it just didn't seem that interesting. I won't bother with the rest of the series. |
| Pat Forbess ([email protected]) |
| Die for Me by Karen Rose |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
| In my opinion, this is Karen's best book so far; I'm starting on SCREAM FOR ME tomorrow. It has nonstop action, a lot of "gore," and great characters. The plot is amazing. And, as always, she ties everything up at the end. |
