February 18, 2011 - March 3, 2011
Last contest period's winners were Billie B., Marlene H., Dave, B.J. S.and Norene W., who each received a copy of TREACHERY IN DEATH by J.D. Robb, WHEN THE KILLING'S DONE by T.C. Boyle and A WIDOW'S STORY: A Memoir by Joyce Carol Oates.
| Sharron |
| Niagara Falls All Over Again by Elizabeth McCracken |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Although it reads like a memoir, this book is a fictional account of a man who spent his life as a "B" showbiz personality. Starting with vaudeville and moving into movies, this straight-man sidekick from Iowa struggles with loss, trying to succeed, relationships, etc. An interesting read. |
| T. Thomas |
| Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools by Victoria Twead |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
An English couple retires to Spain and restores an old house. This book includes Spanish recipes. It was interesting, but not compelling. |
| T. Thomas |
| Tough Without a Gun by Stefan Kanfer |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a biography of Humphrey Bogart. It focuses more on his professional life than his personal one. It is okay, but that's all. |
| Sandy |
| Roadside Crosses: A Kathryn Dance Novel by Jeffrey Deaver |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A chilling tale of a vigilante seeking revenge in the online --- and real --- world, ROADSIDE CROSSES takes place over the course of four days, and is filled with the plot twists, cliffhangers and heart-rending subplots that are always in Jeffery Deaver books. |
| Tanya |
| The Widower's Tale by Julia Glass |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This book was just an okay read for me. It is about a widower's interactions with his family and friends after his wife dies suddenly. |
| Linda B. |
| Run by Ann Patchett |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I enjoyed this book. It's the first of Patchett's that I've read, and I plan to read more. The families involved were well defined, and I loved Kenya. |
| Linda B. |
| The Girls from Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I really enjoyed this book and could relate to it well, as my daughter is the same age as the girls from Ames. Though a male author, Zaslow did a wonderful job bringing these girls to life. I want my 40-something daughter to read it. |
| Lynn |
| What This River Keeps by Greg Schwipps |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved this book! Frank and Ethel are second generation farmers, who are working land backed by a small river in southern Indiana. Tension mounts when the Army Corps of Engineers decide to dam the river for the "betterment" of the whole community. The main characters are men, and they are not cops, lawyers, or private investigators --- which was so refreshing!! This debut novel is well worth your time. |
| LuAnn in Holland |
| Room by Emma Donoghue |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Wow. I am still thinking about this book, and I probably will for quite a while. It's one of those books that "haunt" you, as they say, for days afterward. Donoghue really stretched the limits with this book. She bravely took a chance on writing it in this style. At first, I was annoyed and agitated by it. But I stuck with it, and gradually, I just couldn't stop reading for want of finding out what would happen next. Give it a chance. Read on. I like to read a variety of genres so that I can mix things up. ROOM certainly did just that. |
| Lynn |
| Decision Points by George W. Bush |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
President Bush focused on the most important part of his job: making decisions. As a result of seeing into his decision-making processes, I discovered that the most important decision any president makes is choosing wise, experienced advisors. This book was easy to read, and I immensely enjoyed it. |
| Jessica M. |
| The Boy with the Cuckoo-Clock Heart by Mathias Malzieu |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
THE BOY WITH THE CUCKOO-CLOCK HEART is a whimsical, though fatalistic, novella about a boy with a clockwork heart and the pain and suffering of love. In some ways, it's sort of a fairy tale, though a dark one written for adults. Jack, the main character, is born with a frozen heart on the coldest day ever recorded, so Dr. Madeleine connects a cuckoo-clock to it to keep it going. The story follows Jack through his love for a little singer named Miss Acacia and the journey he undertakes, both geographically and emotionally, to be with his her, which goes against all of Dr. Madeleine's warnings that his cuckoo-clock heart could not survive love. The writing is beautiful, and the story is well told. I couldn't help but think the whole time that I was reading it that it would make a perfect Tim Burton movie. |
| Bonnie |
| Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog by Lisa Scottoline |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A laugh-out-loud funny book of essays about being a woman of a certain age. Loved it. |
| Kathy C. |
| Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Twins boys are born on the same day that their mother, a nun, dies of complications from her hidden pregnancy. The father vanishes. This is a story about love, betrayal, compassion and redemption. |
| Kathy C. |
| Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo, with Lynn Vincent |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A young boy needing emergency surgery recovers and begins telling his family about heaven, Jesus and relatives he never knew existed. He even asks his mother about the sister he never had (his mom had had a miscarriage). A skeptic would believe the images were provided by his preacher, his father and Sunday School lessons, but I'm not so sure. I really enjoyed the young artist's depiction of Jesus in the back of the book. The book really makes you wonder if it was possible that the little boy did, indeed, get a glimpse of Heaven. |
| julie |
| A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the sequel to A GAME OF THRONES. Again, I find George R.R. Martin's prose riveting and engrossing. I can't wait to read the entire series, which is about kings and knights and battles and court intrigue. |
| Debbie |
| Murder in Little Italy: A Gaslight Mystery by Victoria Thompson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I enjoy this series, which is set in New York in the 1890s. The main character is a widowed midwife, who always seems to fall into a murder investigation. In this story, a baby is born to an Italian man and his young Irish wife. The wife is murdered after the baby's birth. Riots and fights begin between the Irish and the Italians, with Teddy Roosevelt calling in extra help to quash the problem. Thompson presents the Italian immigrants as people who firmly believe in blood ties and will honor these ties no matter what. Thompson also shows the plights of the factory girls and their lives of drudgery. Thompson also exhibits the workings of Tammany Hall. |
| Debbie |
| Morning, Noon, and Night by Arnold Weinstein |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is an interesting book that relates and explores life through books. At first, I thought that Arnold Weinstein would be pedantic and as boring as a textbook. Instead, Weinstein presents an educated and delightful journey into life via literature. I have read about 60% of the works mentioned, and I feel compelled to read the other authors. Weinstein's book gives insight into the works of many different writers. At times, I found Weinstein's jumping back and forth between literature and life stages to be irritating and confusing, though. It's a book I plan to reread when I am not as rushed with my reading. |
| Sylvia R. |
| The Penny by Joyce Meyer and Deborah Bedford |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A very good novel. You have to keep reading to see what happens to the children in this book. A true-to-life story. |
| Marion M. |
| Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This book takes place in the "near future." At times, it is frightening, especially when you start thinking that what happens to America in the novel could logically happen to America in real life. At other times, though, you are laughing out loud. There were also times when I was bored. |
| Amy S. |
| Trixie by Tori Alexander |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I won this book in an ARC drawing from Library Thing, and I have to say that I struggled through this one, but I made it. I found the writing to be flowery and wordy for my taste. This is a story about a stripper named Pixie, who meets another stripper named Trixie (that one right there is a little weird). Pixie is telling Trixie's story, intermixed with her own. At the begining of the story, Pixie states that Trixie is dead, but does not say why or how, and herein lies the story. The author takes you through a short period of time in which many, many events take place that lead to Trixie's death. The end of the book was a total disappointment for me. It was not what I had expected, but that may or may not be a good thing. Throughout this book, I kept trying to like it, but the truth is, I thought it was only so-so, and I found myself hurrying through it so that I could get on to my next book. It was just not my cup of tea. |
| Amy S. |
| Learning to Swim by Sara J. Henry |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I won an ARC copy of this book from Goodreads. And let me start out by saying that I LOVED it! I'm an avid mystery/crime reader, so this book was right up my alley. The way that Ms. Henry allows her readers to really connect with her characters is amazing. Without giving too many details away, I will try to review this without getting too excited! Troy Chance is a female freelance writer who lives in Lake Placid, NY. She was on a ferry to go visit a male friend, when she thought she witnessed a small child either falling off or being thrown off another ferry that was going in the opposite direction. Without thinking, she immediately dives into the cold waters of Lake Champlain to potentially rescue this child, which she does successfully. What comes next is a series of twists and turns that will keep the reader glued to this book. Troy finds the boy's (Paul) father, Phillipe, and goes about trying to solve the attempted murder by herself. Troy finds out that Paul and his mother, Phillipe's wife, were the victims of a kidnapping that had been kept out of the media for various reasons. This leads Troy to suspect that someone who was close to the boy and his mother had been involved in Paul's kidnapping and attempted murder. This is a fast-paced, intriguing and enjoyable read. As I mentioned, the author has a talent for connecting her readers to the characters of this story. I see that this is Ms. Henry's first novel; I am looking forward to reading more from this author. I have nothing but good things to say about this book, and I would recommend it to everyone!! |
| shirley s. |
| Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I love going back to one of my favorite eras (the turn of the century). I adore historical novels ---after I finished reading them, I usually do some research into the subject, and I can't wait to learn more about Clara. To effortlessly learn about Tiffany glass makeing and the lives and struggles of the men and women who created the beauty is a joy. This book is reminiscent of the Irving Stone novels I read in high school. (Yes, I am that old!) Believe me those books transported me during away from the trails and tribulations of being a teenager. Clair and Mr. Tiffany transports me from the busy world of today. |
| Suz |
| Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
An excellent book, with great characters, a great story and great action. I thought it was interesting that they wanted a very compassionate, empathetic person with a killer instinct to save the world. The main characters may have been children, but they had intelligence and maturity far beyond their years. It had a cool ending. I would recommend this book, and am looking forward to reading #2 in the series. |
| melydia |
| Don't Know Much About Mythology by Kenneth C. Davis |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Wow, this book is long. I mean, it's interesting, but there's so much information covering such vast a scope that reading it is like running a marathon. Each section covers a geographical region, such as Africa or Western Europe; the regions boasting the most well documented mythologies, like Egypt, India, Greece and ancient Rome, get the most treatment. Each section includes a timeline, a "who's who" of gods and goddesses, relevant quotes and answers to common questions like, "Was there really a Trojan War?" Though many comparisons are made, there is no separate section for Judeo-Christian mythology, since the author covered it in-depth in his other book, DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE BIBLE. Davis holds nothing back, describing a representative sample of each culture's (often hilarious) myths in detail. For example, I was surprised (and kind of disgusted) by how many creation myths involved excrement and other bodily fluids. The little asides and pop culture references were also often amusing. Though this is not meant to be a thorough compendium of mythology (and I would have loved for the "New World" section to have been much longer), it is certainly an excellent start. The writing is very accessible, and it has made me want to read more of the original myths, particularly the Norse and Egyptian tales. A word of warning, though: Once you read the section on Egypt, you will never see the Washington Monument the same way ever again. |
| Lorna |
| You Suck: A Love Story by Christopher Moore |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
I just couldn't get into this silly satire about vampires. I tried...I put it down and picked it up again, but it just wasn't my kind of book. If it wasn't so vulgar, I would let my teen girls read it. |
| Anita N. |
| Slay Ride by Chris Grabenstein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I just read this book while on vacation. I have never finished a book so quickly --- it was a mystery that was a real page-turner. It starts off with a man who is waiting for his limo driver to get to the airport; when the man arrives late and starts driving recklessly, things get very, very interesting. I had never heard of this author before, and I just happened to pick this one up at a sale. Hopefully, I will be able to find more of his work. If I could, I would give this one more than five stars. |
| Judy O. |
| Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore, with Lynn Vincent |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wow, another great nonfiction book! I've read several lately, and they've all been so good! This is a very touching story of friendship and loss. An affluent couple, Ron and Deborah Hall, begin working at a homeless mission in Fort Worth. There, they meet a homeless black man by the name of Denver Moore. An intense friendship develops. Denver has lived on the streets for many years, and he is angry and often violent. He has lived a horrendous life of poverty and loss, but Ron and Deborah give him unconditional love and friendship. This is a very touching book, and there were several moments when I had to get out the box of tissues. |
| Sally B., San Antonio, TX |
| The Unquiet by John Connolly |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is #6 in the Charlie Parker series, but it's the first one for me. The PI is hired to protect a woman from a man who is harassing her; he wants info on her father, who disappeared many years earlier without a trace. Her father is a psychiatrist who specializes in working with abused children --- and he was possibly linked to cases of child abuse at the time of his disappearance. |
| Billie B. |
| Above the Law by J. F. Freedman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Compelling and beautifully written. |
| Martha |
| The Queen of Patpong: A Poke Rafferty Thriller by Timothy Hallinan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was a new author for me. I was really impressed with the story; it's not your ordinary crime-solving tale. This provides a look at the red-light district of Bangkok, where young girls become prostitutes, as it unravels the story of Rose --- a very personal event for Poke Rafferty, who finds himself fighting for the survival of his family and others. Help comes from an unexpected quarter. A great thriller with a very different story line. |
| Leslie |
| How The Government Got in Your Backyard by Jeff Gillman and Eric Heberlig |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The shear number of rules and regulations, plus the propaganda, issuing from both the left and the right is enough to confuse most people. Public opinion has become polarized on environmental issues, with contradicting information coming from each side. HOW THE GOVERNMENT GOT IN YOUR BACKYARD sifts through the politics to get to the facts about these issues. It is a book without a political agenda. If you are seeking information from both points of view, you have come to the right place. This book is timely, relevant and well researched. Its downside is that it reads more like a textbook than a narrative, and the individual chapters can be read in any order. I would recommend this to anyone who's interested in learning more about the environment. |
| Amy S. |
| The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
At first I had a hard time with the Japanese names and customs, as I am not familiar with them. However, as the book went on, it got easier to understand. I really liked this book...I can see why Keigo Higashino is a popular author in Japan, and I'm glad that he is releasing books in the US. This is a story of Yasuko, a single mom, who accidentally kills her ex-husband while he is in her home threatening her and her daughter. Yasuko's neighbor, Ishigami, who has a romantic interest in her, hears what is going on next door and goes over to see if everything is okay. Ishigami is a brilliant mathematician, who devises a plan to cover up the murder. What transpires after this is the enactment of a genius plan that kept me enthralled throughout the rest of the book. An old college friend of Ishigami, who helps the police with their investigations, gets involved with the case, and things get more complicated. This is one of those books, that has an 'AHA!' ending. The book is so well written; I am really looking forward to reading more of Mr. Higashino's novels, as I thought about this one for days after I finished reading it. I will definitely read it again, and I will recommend it to my friends. A great book! |
| Amy S. |
| The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I won this book in a contest from Readinggroupguides.com. I thought this book was pretty good. I, myself, have no sisters, so the bond between the sisters, Rosalind, Bianca and Cordelia was not something that I have related to in the past. This is a story of three sisters, who because of different recent failures in their lives, have come home to live at home and help take care of their mother. The paths that these women have taken are obviously the wrong ones for each of them, and they begin healing and righting their wrongs with the help (and hindrance) of each other. There are quite a bit of Shakespearean quotes and references in this book, so if one doesn't have a knowledge of Shakespeare and his works, it may seem a bit droll. All in all, it was a pretty good book, especially for those who like "feel-good" stories. I would recommend this book to friends! |
| Marsha |
| A Mountain of Crumbs: A Memoir by Elena Gorokhova |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A beautiful memoir about life in the Soviet Union during the '50s, and the author's struggle to survive with dignity in the suffocating oppression of Communist rule. What courage it took for a young woman to study English with no hope of ever visiting the West, and then to actually leave her home country when the opportunity arose! This will give you a glimpse of the passion and determination that's needed to totally abandon your family and the things with which you are familiar for a brand new experience. |
| Amy S. |
| Dirty Little Angels by Chris Tusa |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I won this book as an ARC from Library Thing, and I really enjoyed it. I was "warned" by the author that it was going to be pretty dark, and it surely was, but it was so very good! It was a book that I didn't want to put down. This story is about a 16-year-old girl, her 19-year-old brother and their parents. The mother had just had a miscarriage and has holed herself up in her room. She isn't paying attention to either one of her kids, and the father, who recently lost his job, drinks too much and is down at the local pool hall most of every day. This is a story set in New Orleans, a place I've never been. There are many references to different areas and/or street names. The 16-year-old girl, Hailey, is in a state of constant turmoil throughout the book, for many reasons that are explained over the course of the novel. It's a great story of family dynamics, mistrust and the importance of being supportive of your family members. I would strongly recommend this book, as it has all the elements of a great story line: adventure, mystery, betrayal, religion, love, etc. Great book, Mr. Tusa! |
| Emily |
| The Blue Notebook by James Levine |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An exploited female child on the streets of Mumbai, India writes in her diary as a means of surviving and transcending the devastating routine of her life. While this book is a novel, it is based on the lives of millions of children, who are sold into prostitution in India and elsewhere. It is a difficult read from an emotional perspective, but it is a necessary one that brings the subject of human trafficking to life! |
| Oregon Sunshine |
| To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I could not have appreciated this book in full as a teen; the beauty of the language and the era and all that it encompasses would have escaped me. Moreover, I'm not sure that I'd have noticed the changes in our culture that have occurred in just a few decades. Now, Boo Radley would be less likely to have access to the children. They'd have been raised to avoid him and, by omission, fear him. Nor would the children have been able to play and walk all over town, or perhaps even spend time with their neighbor. Life is so very different and much less friendly today, and this book really brought those changes home to me --- not only in terms of how our children are raised and the changes that have taken place within our community, but also with civil rights and how all people are perceived today. |
| kg |
| The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
THE KITCHEN HOUSE is the story of Lavinia, a 7-year-old Irish girl who lost her parents while they were traveling to America by ship. She becomes an indentured white servant on a tobacco plantation. She lives with the black slaves on the plantation and comes to love them as her family; they love her in the same way. I don't want to give away any of the story, but I must say it is a riveting one. I could not put this book down --- it is definitely a must-read. |
| Susan J. |
| When the Thrill Is Gone: A Leonid Again Mystery by Walter Mosley |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The last thing I need is another mystery writer whose series I want to read, but dang it, I've gone and done it again and found an author whose writing I thoroughly enjoy. WHEN THE THRILL IS GONE is the first book I've read by this author, even though it is the third in his series about PI Leonid McGill. Now I have to go back and read the first two, and maybe some other novels by Mosley. Leonid is a hard-boiled detective who is not always right by the law.okay, he's almost never right by the law. And he used to be even worse --- I've gotta find out those details. Anyway, a very rich woman comes to him because she thinks her husband is going to kill her; two of his former wives are now dead, and he is behaving oddly. But the woman's dress and demeanor don't quite seem to suit her wealth. So what is really going on? The book is heavy on the testosterone, with lots of tough guys doing tough things, but the violence isn't overly gruesome. The characters are interesting, and the plot has enough turns to keep me interested. The characters aren't black-and-white either, and they're all shades of good and bad. McGill's relationship with his wife is especially interesting. For me, the book had just the right amount of description. In describing the characters, Mosley usually described their skin color, with no two being alike: "Her color was that of maple syrup in a glass jar, but in shadow." I loved that. All in all, a great read for fans of the genre. I was given an uncorrected proof of the book by the publisher, which I very much appreciated. |
| Lorna |
| Summer by the Sea by Susan Wiggs |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved this story, which is about a young woman who runs an elite restaurant in a summer town. She reconnects with her first love when he comes to town after his mother dies, and goes through what once was their summer home. Rosa discovers things about the past that she never would have imagined, as she falls in love again with her first love (or maybe she just never got over him). |
| Elaine W. |
| River Angel by A. Manette Ansay |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I picked up this book at the local library and was hooked by page one --- I was up till midnight for a couple of nights. Within a week, I had ordered two more titles on Amazon and bought one used title at 2nd and Charles (a used bookstore). The plot is great, and Ansay tells the story beautifully. |
| Debbie |
| Murder on St Mark's Place: A Gaslight Mystery by Victoria Thompson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Thompson writes of New York in the 1890s in this mystery series, The Gaslight Mysteries, which features a midwife named Sarah Brandt as the main character. Thompson shows the plight of young, unmarried immigrant women, who desire more than the hard life of a married woman. These unmarried, pleasure-seeking women are called Charity Girls due to the fact that they give sexual favors for trinkets instead of money. Sarah Brandt jumps into the murder investigations of four of these girls when she learns that the police will not pursue the killer. Thompson exposes the state of the police department in New York and hints at the reform started by Teddy Roosevelt. She also points out the differences between the poor and the rich, as well as the origin of the term "Knickerbockers." Thompson describes the pleasures and sights at the newly opened Coney Island, as well as the expense of pleasure. Sarah Brandt, a widow, is a strong-minded, independent woman at a time in history when women either married or lived with parents. I hope to read more of this series. |
| CherylS22 |
| Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is an intriguing book about Cleopatra's daughter and her rise to power in the Roman Empire. I thought this book was a well-written, interesting historical fiction with a unique setting. |
| Brady |
| Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a true story of WWII that gives you a lot of history in the form of a man's life before, during and after the war. It mostly delves into how the Japanese treated American POWs, and the life of one man who was a world class runner and was picked on by the guards --- and by one guard in particular, who was evil to the core. It also includes his harrowing experience of being shot down over the Pacific Ocean (he was a bombardier on a bomber), and how he survived after a search by our Air Force failed to find him. There was never a dull moment in this story. |
| Shiela |
| Mothers and Other Liars by Amy Bourret |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
If I were placed in this position, I am not sure what I would do. I very much enjoyed reading this book and will be passing it along to others to read; I'm looking forward to enjoying the discussions that will follow. |
| Dave |
| Mission of Honor: An Honor Harrington Novel by David Weber |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I have read all of the books in the series and enjoyed them all. |
| chunter |
| Crow Lake by Mary Lawson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I've had three people tell me this is good, and so far, it is. |
| Oregon Sunshine |
| My Empire of Dirt by Manny Howard |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
So far, so good! I wonder how a New Yorker is going to fair growing all their own food in Brooklyn. I like the premise, the idea of sustaining yourself for 30 days only off of the food you can produce. It sounds tricky to do in the city. |
| Audrey A. |
| Second Sight by Amanda Quick |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a thriller/love story set in England near the turn of the century, when they used horses and buggies. Each of the two main characters has a paranormal gift. It is the first in a new series called The Arcane Society. |
| Karen T |
| Fall of Giants: Book One of the Century Trilogy by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was a great read. The book was gripping and exciting, and I think that it is one of his best. I found myself cheering for some characters, and wishing that others would get what they deserve. It had mixture of love, betrayal and war. It is so good that you kind of ignore the fact that the book is almost a 1000 pages long. |
| freckles |
| Rush Home Road by Lori Lansens |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is the reason why Lori Lansens is one of my favorite authors! When five-year-old Sharla Cody is abandoned on her doorstep, Addy is not sure she if she is ready to take on the responsibility of caring for her. Addy is 70 years old, and throughout the novel, she reflects on her own childhood, teen pregnancy, history of love and loss, and the other hardships that she's endured over the years. The end is a beautiful tribute to her life and the story of Addy and Sharla, who really save each other. |
| Julie |
| The Lake of Dreams by Kim Edwards |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
I couldn't even get through this book; in the end, I gave up on read it. This was so disappointing because I loved this author's first work, and I wanted to love this one, too. |
| Julie |
| This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
So far, it's only okay. It seems to be missing some of Tropper's signature humor. |
| Debbie W. |
| The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I read this at the recommendation of several reading friends. I thought it was pretty good, and I will read the sequels. That said, it is certainly a dark vision of post-apocalyptic America and how people are controlled through the Hunger Games, a grim, fight-to-the-death version of the "Survivor" TV show! |
| bookczuk |
| The Art of Keeping Secrets by Patti Callahan Henry |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I feel really bad that I just don't like this author's premises that much, but obviously it doesn't keep me from trying again whenever one of her books comes my way. She loves the low country; I love the low country. We have that meeting ground. But honestly, I sometimes think that we inhabit two different worlds. I understand all the angst and drama that surfaced for Belle, who lost her beloved husband in a small plane crash two years before this story starts. What I can't understand is why she immediately concluded that this man, who she shared her heart and life with, was unfaithful to her when his body was found alongside that of another female passenger. I could construct a number of other reasons for that that would be just as plausible. While reading the novel, my sympathy was for Knox, and I wanted him to be vindicated. But Knox was dead, and I had to deal with his wife and two kids, as well as Sophie, the daughter of the dead woman on the plane. I must say that I think PCH's writing is getting stronger, better defined and more evocative. I'm just not so crazy about some of the characters and stories that she creates. I also don't think that the occasional secret from the past is necessarily a bad thing. It's not everyone's style, but for some people, it's probably better not to let the nightmares out of the closet, nor the stuff out of the box. Not all boxes are like Pandora's, with hope at the bottom. |
| bookczuk |
| The House at Riverton by Kate Morton |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I'd read Morton's THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN and liked many things about it. THE HOUSE AT RIVERTON was her first novel, and it provided a nice diversionary read from the cold and rainy weather. The foreshadowing is a tad heavy-handed, but all in all, the story of sisters Hannah and Emmeline Hartford, as told by Grace (a housemaid at the family home, Riverton) and later by Hannah's lady's maid, was a good one. It started in the days before The Great War and is told through Grace's recollections at age 99. Secrets abounded at Riverton, and Grace's memories are interwoven with the tale of her present life in a nursing home. Her life after she left their service was only hinted at, and it sounded fascinating. I'm sorry that it, too, was not a part of the back story, but perhaps Ms. Morton is saving it for another novel. |
| bookczuk |
| Days of Gold by Jude Deveraux |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I have to admit it: I checked this out of the library's audio book collection strictly because I wanted to hear the voice actor, Davina Porter, do more Scottish accents. She's probably my favorite reader. The story wasn't great, but the reading was excellent. |
| Jerry K. |
| The Last Boy by Jane Leavy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Nothing is better than reading a baseball book in the middle of a nasty, Northeastern winter. This is one that baseball fans who remember the Mantle era should not miss! I grew up in post-Dodgers Brooklyn, so by some kind of genetic quirk, I followed the Yankees and, of course, worshipped Mickey Mantle. As an adult, I became aware of the realities and had to reconcile the disparities between the legend and the man himself. Jane Leavy captures those conflicts and truly brings both the man and the times to life. A must-read. |
| Eileen K., Ph.D. |
| Mr. Chartwell by Rebecca Hunt |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book will be loved by everyone. It was such a fascinating read, and it had a great premise. Without giving too much of the plot away, Winston Churchill is one of the main characters. He is brought out of the darkness by a person who he did not previously know. It is a smooth read, and it's filled with hope! |
| Rhoda M. |
| Wild Man Creek: A Virgin River Novel by Robyn Carr |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Robyn Carr is an excellent writer; another great Virgin River book. This one is about an executive named Jillian, who loses her job and goes to Virgin River, where she starts a gardening enterprise. She meets yet another Riordan man, who is trying to figure out his own life. |
| Rosemary S. |
| Delirious by Daniel Palmer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wow! I couldn't stop reading this! A really great first novel, and I hope to see many more from him! |
| Reva W. |
| Four Blind Mice by James Patterson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Alex Cross is helping his friend John investigate a murder that his friend from the Army is now on death row for committing. The problem is, he's innocent. They start to suspect that the real killer has also murdered others and set them up to look like other ex-Army men have committed them. A very good book. |
| Debra K. |
| The Distant Hours by Kate Morton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Like her novel THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN, THE DISTANT HOURS easily takes the reader from the present day back to London and the surrounding countryside during WW II. This one features a castle, three sisters, two bodies, love, loss and betrayal. A classic read that will stick with you long after you've finished it! |
| Audrey A. |
| Bone Crossed: A Mercy Thompson Novel by Patricia Briggs |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
One of my favorite series. Mercy is a mechanic who is also a "walker," and she can change into a coyote. She was raised by werewolves and lives near the local alpha. She's torn between him and the head American alpha's son. She also manages to get herself mixed up with lots of trouble. This time, the vampire queen is out to get her. |
| B.J. S. |
| The Janus Stone: A Ruth Galloway Mystery by Elly Griffiths |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This mystery was not as compelling as the first one in the series, but I like the characters, and I will definately read the next one. |
| Patricia R. |
| Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Based on the real-life experiences of former Olympic runner Louie Zamperini, this book describes the horrors that Allied POWs endured in Japanese prison camps during WW II. This is a story of the indomitable human spirit, and one man's determination to overcome horrendous torture and humiliation at the hands of the enemy. Zamperini and his fellow prisoners are repeatedly beaten, but they find a way to maintain their dignity. A truly inspirational read! |
| Sharon K. |
| Promise Me by Nancy G. Brinker with Joni Rodgers |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A wonderful book about Susan G. Komen and her family, and how one promise led to an amazing organization that has helped change the fate of women around the world. |
| Jan A. |
| Little Bee by Chris Cleave |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This gives a whole new slant on political refugees and illegal aliens. |
| Sandy |
| Before and After by Rosellen Brown |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Set in the small town of Hyland, BEFORE AND AFTER centers around Carolyn and Ben Reiser and their two children, Judith and Jacob, who have moved to New England for the comforts of rural life. Carolyn is a pediatrician who devotes her time and energy to making young lives painless and healthy. Ben is a sculpter whose imagination is working overtime. Jacob is their 17-year-old son, and his shyness conceals darker impulses that he keeps hidden from his parents. And Judith is his unforgettable sister, who is puzzled by her brother's secrecy and his sexual preoccupations, and is suspicious of his suppressed anger. When the chief of police comes looking for Jacob one evening to question him about the death of his teenage girlfriend, the Reisers' lives are changed forever. This is the best book I have read in a long time!!! |
| Mary W. |
| Bury Your Dead: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Louise Penny writes well, and this quiet detective novel provides a great background story on the city of Quebec. |
| Celeste |
| The Paris Wife by Paula McLain |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I was fortunate enough to read an advance copy of THE PARIS WIFE, and I absolutely loved the story and Paula McLain's writing style. Her vivid descriptions of the sights, sounds, and even aromas make you feel as if you are Hadley, living her life. The love story between Ernest and Hadley is bittersweet. McLain captures their love for each other perfectly. Now that I have finished this book, I would love to reread THE SUN ALSO RISES. I would definitely be reading it from a new perspective this time around. |
| Pattie B. |
| Mr. Monk on the Road by Lee Goldberg |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
This doesn't do justice to Monk's character. He seems flat and uninteresting. |
| Pat M. |
| Tick Tock by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Anything by James Patterson is good. |
| Julie C. |
| Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Could I say four to five stars? ...I really enjoyed this book! So interesting --- a well told history of this woman, who is my age and lives an entirely different life! I enjoyed the way the author explained Islam and the Muslem religion. I would love to talk with her and invite her to dinner. She was born in Somolia, and then moved to Saudi Arabia and Kenya in her youth. Very good and informative. |
| Susan J. |
| I'd Know you Anywhere by Laura Lippman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Laura Lippman very rarely misses; this one seems like something that could very well happen. I loved it! |
| CJ |
| 61 Hours: A Reacher Novel by Lee Child |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The Jack Reacher novels are always fast-moving and intriguing. This is one of the best in the series |
| Pat M. |
| What The Night Knows by Dean Koontz |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is about a serial killer that re-emerges after 20 years. Some of Dean Koontz's past books have been really weird, but this one was pretty good. |
| Pat M. |
| Unto the Daughters by Karen Tintori |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is about a Sicilian family and their relationship with the mafia. A young girl was supposed to marry into the mafia but chose to elope with a barber instead, and the story picks up from there. I loved this book! |
| Tanya |
| A Widow for One Year by John Irving |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This book has 537 pages. It just goes on and on about...well, I don't know what. It started out pretty good, and then I had to just make myself keep reading. Don't get me wrong, the author is a brilliant writer; this book just wasn't my cup of tea. |
| GMP |
| The Brave by Nicholas Evans |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I was very surprised at the reviews that this book got when it first came out. Then, I was in a bookstore, and I discovered that it had been marked down 50%!! I just finished it, and I have to say that I did not find it deserving of those terrible reviews, nor did I think that it deserved to be discounted by 50% early on. Actually, I did find that it took a while to get into the story, but after that it was pretty darn good. It's definitely worth reading. |
| ck |
| Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Hiroko was badly burned when the bomb dropped on Nagasaki, killing her fiance. She eventually leaves Japan for India to meet his half-sister Elizabeth --- their families and lives keep intersecting in Pakistan, England and NYC. |
| Tanya |
| Eighteen Acres by Nicolle Wallace |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This insider novel about life in the White House is hard to put down. Follow the first female President in this author's first novel, which is full of love, betrayal, family and politics. Can she get elected to a second term? |
| Gil |
| The Confession by John Grisham |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An absorbing story of a man who was wrongfully convicted of murder and is now sitting on death row. He was tortured into a confession, and all the attempts to overturn the conviction got tied up in Texas politics. It was a page-turner with many surprises. |
| Stella |
| The Falls by Joyce Carol Oates |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I'm just 200 pages into this fascinating story, which is set in Niagara Falls during the 1950s. The plot is dark, dramatic and ever-so-interesting, as the author weaves this tale of a family in crisis. |
| Sean from OHIO |
| B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Sue Grafton has created such a believable character in Kinsey Millhone. She is fun and smart, and she's not the usual ultra-superior protagonist. Here, the mystery is decent, and the novel has a good conclusion. Overall, a solid story with plenty of steam to keep the series moving forward. |
| Carol G |
| The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What can I say that hasn't been said about this book? Fantastic! Superb! Tightly written...I couldn't put it down. |
| Elizabeth V |
| Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A Jewish 10-year-old girl is rounded up with her family and all the other Jews in Paris in 1942, but she locked her little brother in a cupboard, where she thought he would be safe. She thought she'd be right back to let him out. An American woman works as a journalist in France in 2002. She's lived there for years, and has a French husband and daughter. Her article for an upcoming issue of a magazine involves research into France's 1942 roundup of the Jews, who were then sent to Auschwitz. Chapters alternate between the story of Sarah, the child in 1942 France, and that of Julia, the adult in 2002 France. It was difficult for me to read some of the Sarah chapters, with their upsetting details about children being torn from their mothers and the horror the children had to live with. But then the book got very good. Julia, the 2002 journalist, is researching for her article, and she finally learns of Sarah in particular. Still, the book would have been better with more character development, especially with Sarah. There was some character development of Julia, but it was pretty soap-operaish, in my opinion. Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" could have been written for her husband, but who cares? The last couple of chapters, which were about Julia trying to find Sarah, are full of contrived coincidences and characters saying and doing too many implausible things. Another writer could have done more with this story line. |
| Sally B., San Antonio, TX |
| Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What a great book! I laughed and cried, and sometimes did both in the course of the same chapter! A young girl, Ceclia Rose, whose Mother has a mental problem, is sent to live with her great aunt in Savannah, Georgia. |
| Judy O. |
| Zeitoun by Dave Eggers |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What a wonderful, but outrageous story! Abdulrahman Zeitoun is a successful painter/contractor in New Orleans. He stays in the city during the hurricane, even though his wife and children leave for Baton Rouge. After the flood, he spends a week tooling around the city in a canoe, rescuing people and dogs. He keeps in contact with his wife, who is now in Phoenix, by a working land-line phone that he finds in the city. Suddenly the phone calls stop, and his wife, Kathy, becomes frantic. Weeks go by without her hearing from him, and she fears that Zeitoun is dead. What happens to this gentle man is outrageous! And this all happened in the USA! I listened to the audio book on a trip, and now I have read the book. A fascinating story! |
| Julie H. |
| Beautiful Darkeness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is Ethan's story, through and through. The same Ethan Wate, who in a very George Bailey sort of way, couldn't wait to shake free of Gatlin, SC. But the arrival of Lena in the previous novel, BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, and the mysterious layers of Gatlin that were revealed changed all that. Ethan's such a great character; even as Lena is pulling away from him after her uncle Macon's funeral, he perseveres. The bond created between them by the authors is that strong. I just loved the flow between the ever popular paranormal and Southern gothic lore. The story turns into a grand road trip, with Link once again proving he is the best buddy character in teen lit right now. Even I want to know what hold Amma has over him...just what the heck were they doing in the basement when they were nine?! |
| Lynn D. |
| The End of Marking Time by C.J. West |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the first book of C.J. West's that I have ever read (thanks to a bookmark). When I got it, I read the back, etc. --- it isn't a book that I would have just picked up and bought! The drama keeps you going, but best of all, it makes you really, truly think --- and think hard! Truly a mind-boggling, make-you-think kind of book! I am going to reread it now...and look for more of CJ West's books! |
| Julie H. |
| Third Degree: A Murder 101 Mystery by Maggie Barbieri |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Professor Alison Bergeron's streak continues as she accidentally witnesses a death at a local coffee shop. Never one to let the cops investigate on their own, the snooping begins in earnest. I always enjoy Alison's stories and the return of many secondary characters, as well. Barbieri has found a great setting and female detective; I hope there's more to come! |
| MarisaP |
| A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
During WWII, after Italy broke off their alliance with Germany and joined with the Allies, Germany occupied Northwestern Italy. This is the story of that occupation told from many different perspectives, from small children to native Italian Jews, to Jews from other European countries who fled to Italy thinking they'd be safe, to Catholic nuns and priests, and even some of the Nazis themselves. The devastation of war comes through loud and clear. But what is so special about this book is the beauty of how all the disparate groups of people worked together to disrupt the Nazis to just survive the war. Priests and rabbis and nuns and partisans and children and old women all joined forces. This book was impossible to put down, and it will stay with you long after you've finished it. |
| Judy O. |
| Fierce: A Memoir by Barbara Robinette Moss |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is a sequel to CHANGE ME INTO ZEUS'S DAUGHTER. Barbara is now grown up, trying to pursue her art career, and is a single mother. She is still haunted by her past, and is especially trying to overcome the emotional scars of growing up with an abusive, alcoholic father. A really heart-felt memoir from a woman who died of lung cancer at age 54 in October 2010. |
| Debbie |
| What You Have Left by Will Allison |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
The story of a daughter's determination to find the father who abandoned her over 30 years ago and her struggle to find her own identity, told in different voices. I enjoyed the first part of the book, with the exploration of the lives of Holly and her grandfather. Once the grandfather dies, the book falls into despair with gambling, addiction and loss of purpose. Allison's use of different characters reminds me of Faulkner's THE SOUND AND THE FURY, but will less substance. |
| T. Thomas |
| Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Phillips |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A delightful romance. A fast read. |
| Sheri D |
| Left Neglected by Lisa Genova |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Lisa Genova is the author of STILL ALICE (which I loved!). This new novel doesn't disappoint. The book is narrated by Sarah, a busy business woman and mom who crashes her car while talking on her cell phone. The crash leaves her with a condition called "left neglect," and now her brain doesn't recognize that her body has a left side. Sarah describes her life before and after the accident, when her estranged mother reenters her life. As she struggles to recover and reconnect with her mother, she must come to terms with the fact that her life will never be the same again. |
| Kellie |
| The Big Gamble by Michael McGarrity |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
#7 in the Kevin Kerney series. An abandoned warehouse burns to the ground. Two dead people are found, but one of the bodies has been there for years. Kerney's son, the newly appointed Deputy Sherriff, investigates the homeless vet's murder, and Kerney investigates the newly opened cold case. These mysteries are pretty good. I like the southwestern setting. Clayton is married with two kids, and is trying to adjust to his new job and Kerney, his newfound dad. Kevin is trying to handle a long distance relationship with his pregnant wife, and is also adjusting to a new job as the Police Chief of Sante Fe. Clayton and Kerney work the cases separately, until they are brought together at the end. The suspense is good, and the action at the climax is rewarding. The only negative thing I find about these books is that the characters are sometimes hard to follow. McGarrity has a lot of players in his plot, and I get confused as to who is who. Other than that, I enjoy this series. |
| Allie |
| Summer's Child by Diane Chamberlain |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A great story about life at the beach in North Carolina, with a great mystery. |
| Patricia |
| Homer & Langley by E. L. Doctorow |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Loosely based on the Collyer brothers of New York City, who were famous as hermits and hoarders and for their bizarre lives and deaths in the early 18th century. I discovered how fictional this author's account was, but only after having finished reading and enjoying this 206-page quick read. It made me want to learn much more about the real Homer and Langley, and the disorder manifested in the accumulation and hoarding of stuff. Also, I enjoyed his writing style enough that I have begun reading more of Doctorow's works. |
| Dianna D. |
| Freedom by Jonathan Franzen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is about several decades of family history and how one person can affect everyone's lives. |
| Nina P. |
| Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved this book; if you like humor reading at all, then this is for you. He tells about moving back in with dad when he was in his upper 20s after having lived on his own for years, and when dad's wit gets to him, he starts posting his dad's sayings on his Twitter page. They're hilarious, the unique quips dad comes up with. People start to notice and start telling him that he should write a book. The book is out, and now there's a show on Thursday nights with William Shatner. I like the show, but I LOVE the book! |
| Elizabeth http://silversolara.blogspot.com/ |
| The Killer of Orchids by Ralph Ashworth |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
"A little forensic investigation, conducted from the safety of the Cloisters, might excite things a bit. He and Xander could puzzle out the tricky little murder reported in the paper (page 144)." It definitely wasn't a little murder...it was something out of the ordinary. A Samurai running through a parking lot swinging a sword, deliberately targeting two men, and then slicing them to pieces is definitely not a typical occurrence in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Who could the murderer have been? Two men are dead, and there is not a clue as to where the killer went. Why would these two specific men be chosen as victims? Only one person knows the whole story. As the tale unravels and the mystery is solved, you get to enjoy the characters and share a part of their unusual and interesting lives. It is a mystery, but it is also amusing...it is more about the investigation and characters' lives than the murder. Jeff, a computer expert, and Xander, an 11-year-old, want to discover who was responsible for this brutal evening. They go back to the scene of the crime, and even to the homes of the victims, to look for clues. They also go to the funeral home and attend each victim's service, and they definitely do some wild and dangerous detective work. Vernon Roman's wake was quite a show...what happens will actually make you laugh. Roman's family is undeniably an eclectic group. The wake of Marshall Chester was the complete opposite, filled to the brim with students and colleagues paying their respects to one of their distinguished and well-loved faculty members. This book doesn't seem to be well known in reading circles, but it is a good read. The comedy and the mystery hold your interest. It gets a little tense at times, but isn't that how mysteries work? If you are a mystery lover, you will definitely enjoy the book. Five out of five. |
| Tanya |
| The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I have been trying to include more classics in my reading. This story of the "opera ghost" is one that I will read again, and I highly recommend it. |
| Stephanie |
| Truth & Beauty: A Friendship by Ann Patchett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A wonderful book about friendship, love and loss. I couldn't put it down. Ann Patchett is a beautiful writer. |
| Jud H. |
| Liars for Jesus, Vol. 1 by Chris Rodda |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Although a little dry in some spots, an excellent examination of the various myths perpetuated by evangelicals and others about the role of religion in the founding of our country. |
| Dianna D. |
| The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Another view of the Salem witch trials. Very well written; it kept you wondering what was happening next. |
| Martie L. |
| Will's Elf by Pepys Blake |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Will is a boy with a problem. In fact, he has several problems. He attends a boarding school that is straight out of a Dickens novel; he has the responsibility of having to look after a demanding younger brother; oh, and he has a best friend who is annoying, irrational, and always in trouble...and who just so happens to be an elf. An exciting teen fantasy novel, which has a surprisingly dark and serious message beneath the light humor and fun frolics. |
| Patricia |
| The Confession by John Grisham |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I enjoyed this read, but I honestly didn't enjoy this story as much as some of his earlier works. However, it was filled with facts regarding the Texas judicial system and their obsession with the death penalty, even in this case, which had no body and no physical evidence. Grisham obviously did a lot of research on Texas death penalty statistics. I wondered if this story was loosely based on an actual case. |
| David C. |
| Dead or Alive by Tom Clancy and Grant Blackwood |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A continuation of his earlier novels. |
| Suzie N. |
| The Savage Garden by Mark Mills |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A beautifully written story, with mystery, suspense, romance, travel and a surprising twist. A perfect novel. |
| Stacey K |
| The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a great book about the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. The most intriguing part of the book are the sections about H.H. Holmes, who is thought to be America's first documented serial killer. Leonardo DiCaprio is playing the lead role in the upcoming movie version of the book. I can't wait! |
| Phoenix |
| Dewey's Nine Lives by Vicki Myron |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the tale of a library cat in a small town that changed the lives of many of the people he encountered. This sequel contains nine more stories about Dewey, the author, other cats and their people. A good read for Dewey fans and cat-lovers. |
| Kathy V. |
| Roast Mortem: A Coffee House Mystery by Cleo Coyle |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the latest in the Coffee House Mystery series. Someone is fire bombing the coffee houses in town, and Clare gets right in the middle of it all, so she starts getting threats. And then people start dying. It's hard to put down, like the rest of the series...and then there are the recipes in the back. |
| Sean from OHIO |
| Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Seriously, how can a nearly thousand page novel about building a church be so riveting? The answer is simply that Ken Follett wrote it. Here, he so deftly crafts an entire society that you feel like you know everyone and are aging with them through the decades. The villains are despicable, and the heroes are likable. This book shouldn't be good, yet it's almost great. Fantastic stuff! |
| Jackie R. |
| A Lonely Death: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery by Charles Todd |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A great storyline, with interesting characters. I wish I had started the series from the beginning, but Todd makes it easy to pick up any book in the series and read as a stand-alone. I have 100 pages left to go, and I'm enjoying every minute of it. |
| Leslie |
| 13, rue Thérèse by Elena Mauli Shapiro |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This beautifully written and illustrated book is a magical tale woven around a box of artifacts owned by the author. They tell the story of Louise Brunet, a woman who lived in the early part of the 20th century, as imagined by Trevor Stratton, an American academic working in present-day Paris. Throughout the pages, the book is illustrated with color photos of the actual objects that inspired the novel. Each of the photos is also displayed on an interactive website, which can be reached through links in the book --- a wonderful enhancement to the story. This is a book that must be seen to be appreciated. |
| NOREEN |
| Pray for Silence by Linda Castillo |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Even though I didn't read her first book, that didn't affect the story. The Amish setting and the facts about their community added to a good mystery. |
| Linda |
| Pao by Kerry Young |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
PAO is the story of a young boy who comes with his family from China to Jamaica to live in the Chinese community there. His mother's friend, Zhang, is the leader of the community's Chinatown. Pao learns a lot from Zhang and eventually becomes Zhang's successor. It is interesting how he handles his position, his friends, his family and his own life during turbulent times, but it may not be a surprise to some. Although I enjoyed the novel, I would have liked to have had a few more dates so that I new how much had gone by during the story. |
| Patricia P. |
| The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A very enjoyable read that takes you back in time to your childhood, and all the decisions that you had to make while you were growing up!! |
| Bonnie |
| A Cup of Friendship by Deborah Rodriguez |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A fascinating first novel set in Afghanistan by the author of KABUL BEAUTY SCHOOL. It takes you into the heart of Kabul with believable characters, both Afghan and American, and makes you care about their lives. |
| Sharon |
| Voices from Chernobyl by Svetlana Alexiavich |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Heartbreaking interviews with people who were living near Chernobyl and the families of the people known as liquidators, who were sent in to clean up the mess. They were given little or no protection against the radiation, and most people had no knowledge of radiation is or what kind of damage it can do to humans. |
| Gaylene E. |
| Ghost Night: The Bone Island Trilogy, Book Two by Heather Graham |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Book Two of The Bone Island Trilogy. Two people are murdered while they are filming on an island. When Katie's brother wants to film a documentary about it, the trouble starts! |
| Rhoda M. |
| Wild Man Creek: A Virgin River Novel by Robyn Carr |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another good Virgin River book. I have enjoyed them all. I like series that follow families. |
| Cynthia S. |
| The Known World by Edward P. Jones |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I started this book about life in the antebellum South with some trepidation, as there were so many characters in this novel. It focuses on an African American freedman who becomes a plantation owner and a slave holder. He dies, and the novel deals with the intrigue surrounding his slaves, his widow and the other residents of Manchester county, and their eventual triumph over slavery. It brought this period of history to life in stunning detail, and it painted what life was like in the South, where slavery was the norm. This is an unusual plot for a novel, as this sort of thing hardly ever happened in real life, but I loved this book. |
| Gaylene E. |
| Ghost Moon: The Bone Island Trilogy, Book Three by Heather Graham |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Book Three of The Bone Island Trilogy. A gentleman is found dead in his home. Can Katie's cousin Liam find the killer before he kills again? |
| Frannie |
| Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Jodi Picoult tells a compelling story about a convicted murderer, Shay Bourne, from four very different points of view --- that of June, the mother and wife of Shay's victims; Father Michael Wright, Shay's spiritual advisor, as well as former juror who originally sentenced Shay to the death penalty; Lucius DuFresne, Shay's fellow inmate on I-tier; and Maggie Bloom, Shay's athiest lawyer, who takes on the mission to help Shay donate his organ to his victim's sister. This story poses fundamental questions about religion (without seeming either pro nor anti-religion), as well as the social issues surrounding capitol punishment. Parts of the story, including miracles performed at the local prison, can seemed far-fetched, but they added to the religious debates and the characterization of the main character. In true Picoult style, the story unfolds with the introduction of Shay's sister, who gives us a glance into Shay's past, and the story tumbles into a surprise plot twist at the end. As usual, Picoult is at her best in this novel. |
| Frannie |
| Room by Emma Donoghue |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I found this novel a little hard to get into in the beginning, however I was glad that I kept with it. This is the story of a mother and her five-year-old son, told completely through his eyes. Jack is born and raised by his mother in the room where his mother has been held captive since she was kidnapped seven years ago. As the plot unfolds, Donoghue takes the reader on a suspenseful journey through their escape and the emotional roller coaster they experience when they re-enter the world. The depiction of the outside world from the eyes of a five-year-old child who has never stepped outside of a room was fascinating, yet sad. Parts of the story, particularly the escape, seemed unbeleivable, however interesting and suspenseful. Without giving away too many spoilers, the ending takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride, which is realistic, but not what one hopes for. |
| Pattie B. |
| Damaged by Pamela Callow |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I learned about CJD, a disease I hadn't heard of before. This book held my interest. |
| Martha C. |
| Deadly Climate by Richard Barth |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was the cutest book to read; it was so good that I read it in four hours. Margaret and three of her friends from New York City traveled to Miami in a motorcoach that Margaret won in a church raffle. |
| julie |
| A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is a continuation of the author's series, which began with A GAME OF THRONES. Just like the first book, I can't put this one down. All of these books are 800 to 1,000 pages, and I go through them so quickly. The characters are so well developed, that by now, I feel they are old friends. If you like stories that take place during the time of knights and have a little magic thrown in, then this is for you. Highly recommended. |
| Reva W. |
| The Chamber by John Grisham |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
When it comes to writing, nobody can hold a candle to John Grisham. There may be some stories I like better, but when it comes to writing, he's the best. This book is about a young lawyer whose grandfather is on death row for setting off a bomb that killed two young Jewish boys several years ago. His family had moved away when he was a young boy, and he didn't find out about his grandfather until his father died when he was 17. He decides that, with a month to go until execution, he will try to get his grandfather off. |
| Judy O. |
| The Sentry: A Joe Pike Novel by Robert Crais |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I remain very lukewarm about this new book. Joe Pike and his friend PI Elvis Cole are trying to find a missing woman and her so-called uncle. They very quickly realize that this is not a simple gang-land crime, but something far more sinister. The closer I got to the end, the muddier things got. There were too many names to keep track of. I'm glad it was a library book. |
| Dianne M. |
| Procession of the Dead by Darrien Shan |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is author is new to me, and the book jacket made it interesting. So far it is fair, but not outstanding. I just finished CLEOPATRA and needed something lighter. |
| Frances H. |
| 21 Aldgate by Patricia Friedberg |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Without a doubt, a bestseller. Set in London during the build-up to WWII, it is a story of a family, its fate, class distinction and star-crossed lovers story. It's about a remarkable woman who overcame obstacles, and against all odds, achieved her goals. I loved it. |
| Gaylene E. |
| Ghost Shadow: The Bone Island Trilogy, Book One by Heather Graham |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Book One of The Bone Island Trilogy --- it's a very good book about a murder that takes place in a museum. 10 years later, Katie wants to buy the museum to reopen it, but the accused murderer comes back into town. |
| F Tessa B. |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Magnificent! Enzo has been a great dog and is ready to die so that he can return as a man, which will allow him to find his master and send him a message. Enzo narrates the story of his life and that of his family. In turns philosophical, funny and touching. |
| barbara s |
| Seal Island by Kate Brallier |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A young woman, recently unemployed, inherits property in Seal Island from an "aunt" who was a friend of her late mother. Some time after arriving on Seal Island to claim her inheritance, she learns that her aunt was murdered, and the mysteries about her continue to unfold. |
| Elizabeth V |
| The Distant Hours by Kate Morton |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
THE DISTANT HOURS by Kate Morton introduces us to Edith. Edith is an editor who gets stuck having to, needing to, or wanting to unravel various mysteries throughout the book. All of them, in one way or another, have to do with "the sisters Blythe" and their father, who is an author. There are three sisters Blythe: two twins, and their much younger half-sister. We meet them first in 1940s England, during World War II. They live in a castle with their father. And we get snippets of their lives --- through flashbacks, and also in the 1990s --- as the story progresses. In this way, we learn more and more about each of them and the castle's hold on them. The Blythe family is strange. But Morton tells their story well --- so well that, by the second half of the book, I didn't want to put it down. But I had to get through the first half first. It was all interesting, and it told me what I really did need to know about the Blythe family history. But I could have done with fewer details. I got the gist by skimming the first sentence or two in many of the paragraphs. The second half, though, is outstanding. I'm very glad I stuck with it. |
| Elizabeth V |
| Play Dead by Harlan Coben |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Harlan Coben's first book, PLAY DEAD, had been out of print. It's been reissued in paperback now. A gorgeous model marries a Boston Celtics basketball player, who disappears and is supposedly found dead. But something's going on that's fishy-fishy. Everyone seems suspected of something, and so the reader is taken for a ride. And another basketball player shows up whose moves on the court are MIGHTY suspect. Coben prefaces this book with a plea for readers who haven't read his other, later books: please don't read this one first, he says. So I was all set to dislike PLAY DEAD. But I didn't. It kept me up reading until late at night, and that's a good book, I think. I give it four stars rather than three because I wasn't happy with 1 ) the story of the brother (or the lack of his story) and 2) the end, which was a bit lame compared with Coben's usual endings. If you like Coben's books, though, you will this one, too. Don't be put off by his preface. |
| Elizabeth V |
| Dead Head: A Dirty Business Mystery by Rosemary Harris |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
After 20-plus years, a financially well-off woman is found to be a fugitive from the law, and a financially hard-up landscaper/gardener finds the person who turned her in. Carolyn is a rich suburbanite with a husband and three kids, living in a nice neighborhood in Connecticut. Then some suspicious strangers came to town and blow her cover. Years ago Carolyn was named Monica. She lived in Michigan, and she had been sentenced to 20 years in jail on drug charges. She escaped. Now, after so many years of freedom, she is taken back to jail. Her husband wants to know who would do this to her. So who does he go to? A gardener, of course. Paula is a landscaper/gardener. But no one's been hiring her lately. Carolyn used to pay for her services, and they had become friends. So Paula reluctantly agrees to look into this. The story is good, and it's told with a lot of humor. |
| Elizabeth V |
| The Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The first of the three books in The Millennium Trilogy, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, has a slow beginning. The first half presents two separate lives in Sweden: that of Mikael Blomkvist, a 40-something journalist convicted of libel, and Lisbeth Salander, an eccentric, 24-year-old computer hacker working for a security firm. The first half was boring, but the book eventually gets better when Blomkvist and Salander join forces to find the murderer of a member of the Vanger family, who disappeared 40 years ago. The Vangers, including the husbands, wives, adult children, cousins, aunts and uncles, are all very rich and very strange. Together, they own a worldwide corporation, and they mostly hate each other. Blomkvist and Salander uncover their deep, dark secrets, discovering things that are much worse than they bargained for and become more horrible with every page. The book is billed as a mystery/thriller. But mystery/thriller lovers should be warned: in my opinion, only a small portion of THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO can be classified as a thriller. That is near the end of the book, when Blomkvist, after figuring things out and confronting someone, discovers the hard way (the really, really hard way) that, as bad as he thought things were, it was way, way worse in reality. Again, that is near the end of the book. The majority of DRAGON TATTOO is a mystery, not a thriller. And too often the mystery is tedious, as Blomkvist and Salander search through old newspaper clippings, picture archives, snapshots, other people's write-ups, etc. I was assured that the other two books are better than the first, so I read the next in the series, THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE. However, I feel that this book is also bore for the first half. Most of it describes Salander (the girl) in more detail than DRAGON TATTOO did. Frankly, the extra detail made me like her less. I saw her as nothing but a caricature, not someone I could care about. In the second half of THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, Salander, who has managed to get copies of several people's hard drives, learns that Blomkvist plans to publish the findings of a fine, upstanding couple who is investigating sex trafficking crimes. This interests Salander. So she visits the couple, and the next thing we know they're dead. Salander is accused of murdering them and, within a short time, she is all but convicted of the crime in the eyes of the public and the Stockholm police. (Don't forget, this story takes place in Sweden.) The rest of the book involves Salander hiding out from the law and is about how the few people who think she's innocent do the job of the police. All the new characters introduced in PLAYED WITH FIRE are more caricatures. I can easily imagine them in a Saturday-morning cartoon, especially the giant who feels no pain and is afraid of the dark and the pony-tailed, pot-bellied bad guy who's no match for Salander. I could clearly see words like "ZAP" and "POW" during the batman-like fight scenes between the bad guys and the unbeatable Salander. The third book in the series, THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST, is a continuation of the story in THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE. HORNET'S NEST does not have a boring first half, and it is, indeed, better than the other two. In this book, Blomkvist is a tramp, who is seemingly taken to bed by, every attractive female who comes along --- even as he organizes "The Knights of the Idiotic Table," a group of all the people who want to see a good outcome for Salander. She's in the hospital, miraculously still alive after being shot in the head. The police are guarding her room because they think she is a murderer. When she recovers, she goes to jail. But "the knights" are investigating a small group within the Swedish police force who they suspect are corrupt. When they get to the bottom of this, Salander will be free. Of course, Salander helps by illegally hacking into the computers of any high-level official. And she does so from her guarded hospital room. In the meantime one of Blomkvist's love (read "sex") interest, Erica, has an ordeal of her own going on. Not surprisingly, Salander helps her, too, as she illegally hacks into the computers of newspaper reporters and managers --- again, from her guarded hospital room. Of the three books in the series, THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST is the best. But the series as a whole does not deserve all the attention it is getting. Classics --- the kind of books everyone remembers years later, the books I'm proud to have in my bookcase --- are the only books that deserve this kind of praise. The Millennium Trilogy is up there with former bestsellers like PEYTON PLACE and THE STEPFORD WIVES --- the kind of books that get attention for a while. But the books in The Millennium Trilogy are not classics. |
| Jan K. |
| The Gendarme by Mark T. Mustian |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
An excellent book --- Emmet Conn, age 92, relives his traumatic history as a gendarme in WWI and his role in transporting Armenians to Syria during the Armenian genocide. At turns violent, Emmet falls in love, but due to the war, he loses contact with the woman. He suffers an injury during the war and winds up in England, where he marries an American woman and moves to America. His life is told in "dreams" as he relives his past. A truly informative historical novel. |
| F Tessa B. |
| Hunger: A Novella and Stories by Lan Samantha Chang |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Luminously written stories about the effects of longing and want --- hunger for success, for acceptance, for love, for tradition, for revenge. This is the second time I've read this gem of a book. |
| Debbie C |
| These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Heather Gudenkauf did not disappoint. The book starts with a young lady, Allison, getting out of prison. From there on, the book takes you on a race to learn about the where and why of her life. Allison desperately wants to reunite with her family, but her secrets are too deep. It is a book that keeps you wondering what really happened to Allison's baby. The twists and turns make this a book that you will want to read in a day. |
| Janice H. |
| Finding Nouf by Zoe Ferraris |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is a good murder mystery; I didn't suspect who the culprit was until the end. But the more interesting aspect for me was the glimpse this book gives into the culture of Saudi Arabia through the lives of the characters. Nouf, the girl around whom the mystery centers, and a female investigator, Katya, are two women who are challenging the submissive role women are constrained to within this conservative Muslim country. The other investigator, Nayir, is a very traditional and formal man; as this investigation unfolds, and everything about Nouf and her desperation to escape her assumed destiny is revealed, Nayir draws closer to Katya, and he begins to soften and open up. I hope there is a sequel. |
| Jean M |
| California Girl by T. Jefferson Parker |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I like this book. It won the 2005 Edgar Award for Best Mystery Novel and was a finalist for several other awards. I have found that this has not always been the best way for me to pick books that I will enjoy reading, but in this case, it seems to be working out. The book follows the children in two families from their adolescence onward, and it takes place during the time of the Vietnam War, the War on Drugs, etc. |
| Jean M |
| Native Tongue by Carl Hiaasen |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I was disappointed in this book. It was hard for me to get into it at first. got easier toward the middle and end, but I don't believe I'll be reading any more of Hiassen's books --- even though many of them have won and/or were finalist for several book awards. |
| Sandra S. |
| Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Take a story that starts with an event in the present and then throw in a mystery from the past, and you have me hooked. Jane Lindsay had the perfect marriage, or so she thought. After her husband is gone, things change. She finds a ring in a box and sets out to discover the details about the person whose name is inscribed in the ring, Jane. This is a story about the strength of women, and their ability to hold onto it even when they feel powerless. Once again, this author has brought forth an inspirational story for all to enjoy that will lift us up. |
| Sandra S. |
| Make a Wish by Marlayne Giron |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Marlayne Giron, author of THE VICTOR, has written a series of "wish stories" for different people and combined them into one book. She asks the question, "If you had one wish, what would it be and why?" She then takes your wish or your heart's desire and spins it into a beautiful story. These stories inspire you and lift you up. Just make sure you have a box of tissues when you sit down to read this book. |
| Sandra S. |
| Beloved Castaway: Fairweather Keys Series #1 by Kathleen Y'Barbo |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book had a combination of everything I loved. It was faith-based and historical in nature. I look forward to reading more from this author, who's new to me. |
| Hilary D. |
| The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was a book club selection, and it's the second book we'v read by this author (the first was THE SHADOW OF THE WIND). The story, which is about a writer who sells his soul, is compelling, with rich and lush language. |
| Michele |
| Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffmann |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Even though I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I had to give it a rating of three stars. I liked the premise and enjoyed the characters, but I thought that it was very superficial. We chose it for our book club, but it is more of a beach read. As I finished each chapter, the book kept me asking for more, but more in the way of more detail and insight. In my library this is classified as a teen read, and I didn't realize it until after we picked the book for our book club. I didn't recall reading that it was a teen read in all the hype about it on this website. |
| Elizabeth V |
| THE POSTMISTRESS by Sarah Blake |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
THE POSTMISTRESS by Sarah Blake takes place in the early 1940s, shortly before the U.S. entered World War II. But the war was raging in Europe, and Londoners were enduring continual bombings from the Germans. I don't know why this book is called THE POSTMISTRESS, because the postmistress is just one of the main characters. (By the way, there's no such thing as "postmistress" in the US She would have been properly called "postmaster" here.) There's also a young doctor, who feels a mysterious need to leave his new wife and go to London to help the victims of the German bombings. And there's the young wife he left behind who, of course, is pregnant. (Isn't that almost a cliché?)And then there's the Austrian man that everyone thinks is German. He's Jewish, but he doesn't tell anyone. And, to show how mean we are to people who we think represent the enemy, almost everyone is suspicious of him. And there's the postmistress's boyfriend, who watches for U boats. And there's also an American radio reporter in London, who gets an assignment to travel on trains across Europe and record the refugees who are trying to get out. I thought the book was a bit dull at first, but it got better with the story of the radio reporter. But when the story moved back to the US, it was a bit syrupy for my taste, with people having premonitions of bad news. Blake tried too hard to remind the reader that this was the 1940s, which was so different from the present day. Everyone smoked at every opportunity, and she even went so far as to describe a woman having her period in the time before tampons Blake even described the woman's use of a Kotex belt rather than the oh-so-modern adhesive. Gimme a break; that was more than I needed to know! The book wasn't bad, but it didn't live up to the recommendations I'd read, especially the one that called it a "Bets On pick." |
| Jessica S. |
| The Insider by Reece Hirsch |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I normally don't read legal thrillers, but I won this book from Goodreads. The first chapter alone drew me in, and so far, it's been a great read. |
| melydia |
| Expiation by Greg Messel |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Dan and Katie are high school sweethearts who break up during their first year apart, after they go to college in different states. They completely lose touch with each other for 30 years, then reconnect and fall in love again. Their friends and family are completely supportive. And that's pretty much the entire story, but it's not a spoiler because it happens in the first two chapters. In fact, most of the book is thoroughly summarized in the early chapters, and then again right before being described in detail. Dan is narrating, and considering that both he and the author are former newspapermen, it wasn't so surprising that this novel was laid out much like a news article. I felt like I was having a story described to me, rather than actually reading one first-hand. With so much advanced warning for every event, I felt no emotional response whatsoever. Of course, it didn't help that Dan and Katie were completely devoid of personality. I have absolutely no idea what they saw in each other because the only thing they ever talked about was how in love they are and how attractive they still find each other. I remember having similar conversations with beaus in high school, but I can't imagine being satisfied with such empty talk in my late 40s. It wasn't all bad, of course. I liked Dan's first wife, Wendy, and his brother, who both had strong and memorable --- if a bit stereotypical --- personalities. The reading was reasonably fast, allowing even a slow reader like me to plow through multiple chapters in a sitting. The issue was mostly a lack of conflict, which led to a lack of plot. I really wish more had been done with the pack of letters, or Dan's marital troubles, or even Diana's financial woes. If you like simple romance novels, you may enjoy this one, since that's essentially what it is: a story about a romance. I, alas, am a more demanding reader. |
| Karen T |
| Paul is Undead by Alan Goldsher |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is funny, gross and scary. It is about the Beatles, who are zombies. They want to rule the world as the undead. |
| Allie |
| A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A great, romantic read about true love. |
| Reniazen |
| Elliott Smith by Autumn de Wilde |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A moving photographic biography, with wonderful interviews and some of the best live music ever recorded. |
| CC |
| Caught by Harlan Coben |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another thriller from Coben. He never disappoints! |
| Elizabeth V |
| Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
MOONLIGHT MILE is Dennis Lehane's latest book, and it's a continuation of hisKenzie and Gennaro series. Lehane had said he's all out of ideas for this series, and this book even sounds like it might be his last. (Lehane fans, fear not. I mean his last in the series, not his last book. And I might even be wrong about that.) Patrick and Angela are private investigators. In this book, they're married and have a four-year-old daughter. Consequently, they're a bit more careful than they used to be. And Patrick hates his job. If you've been reading this series, you remember when Patrick and Angela found a child who had been kidnapped from her neglectful (and trashy) mother. It turned out that the little girl had been taken by a loving couple who the child would have been better off with. The couple went to jail. Against Angela's wishes, Patrick returned the child to the awful mother. Now it's more than 10 years later, and Patrick and Angela revisit this case. The girl, who is now 16, is again missing. Although Patrick and Angela can't afford to, Patrick gets sucked into the case. And speaking of not being able to afford things, our country's sorry economy is also a theme in this book. This is another great Dennis Lehane book. It was a quick read because I didn't want to put it down, which is how all books should be, but unfortunately, so few are. |
| Norene W. |
| The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The author's words resonate with today's world. |
| Karna |
| House Rules by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
If you ever want to get a better understanding of autism and, specifically, Asperger's Syndrome, then this is the book for you. It's well written and informative. |
| Karna |
| My Antonia by Willa Cather |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
What a delightful read. One can't help but fall in love with Antonia --- she's strong, yet tender. |
| Karna |
| Left Neglected by Lisa Genova |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Written by a neuroscientist, this incredible book describes the experience of a multi-tasking corporate mom who is recovering from a head injury that has left her unaware of her left side. Given the recent incident in Tucson, it will help you understand the devastating effects of a head injury and the recovery process. |
| Elizabeth V |
| THUNDERSTRUCK by Erik Larson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
THUNDERSTRUCK by Erik Larson tells two stories, and you won't know how they have to do with the other until almost the end. On one hand, there's Marconi. He's from Italy, but lives in England. Marconi made practically instantaneous ship-to-shore communication possible (although that is contested by others from the start). On the other hand, there's Dr. Crippen. He's from the United States, but lives in England. He killed his wife. Although THUNDERSTRUCK gets good reviews, I found it tedious. It went on and on about every little inconsequential detail. This was more than I wanted or needed to know. And Larson knows it, too. He prefaces the book with a warning that he does this. Somewhere I read that this book is a page-turner. It's not. |
| Jackie J. |
| Run for Your Life by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
James Patterson writes the best supense novels. |
| S.Cole |
| In the Garden with Billy by Renea Winchester |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I stumbled upon this book by chance at a local bookstore. This gem features Billy Albertson, a loveable farmer, and his unexpected (and very inexperienced) "helper." Their journey begins in his garden and ends with a joyous relationship. This is an unpredictable book that has you crying one moment, laughing the next, and seriously considering raising urban chickens. Truly a fresh voice for readers who love Southern literature. |
| Mitzi C. |
| The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I am reading the whole series. I can't wait for the American version of the movie to come out. |
| LuAnn from Holland |
| The Owl & Moon Cafe by Jo-Ann Mapson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
An average story about four generations of women who must come to terms with their past decisions, and how those decisions affected their family members. A bit predictable, but light-hearted. An enjoyable, easy read. |
| Debbie |
| The Charming Quirks of Others by Alexander McCall Smith |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is another in the Isabel Dalhousie series set in Scotland. In this episode, Isabel must investigate three candidates for a principal in a local boy's school. I like the way Smith exposes the private thoughts of his characters. Isabel is really a busybody, but she justifies herself as a philosopher. I feel that, at times, Isabel is too candid and too direct in her questions. Isabel is in love with Jamie, a much younger man. Together they have a small son. I feel that Isabel is not confident in this relationship, and that this will eventually cause a rift. Smith's Dalhousieseries always brings many hidden issues to the surface, including love, hate and death. |
| Kathy |
| Julia's Chocolates by Cathy Lamb |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It's funny and inspirational! |
| Asha |
| Family Affair by Debbie Macomber |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was lighter in tone than Debbie's other books, but it was still a good read. |
| Carolyn M. |
| Two O'Clock, Eastern Wartime by John Dunning |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The characters are interesting, and the protagonist believable. Sometimes, I find myself forgetting that I am in the year 2011 and enjoying a book about the 1930s. |
| Rosemary S. |
| The Best American Mystery Stories of 2010 by Edited by Lee Child and Otto Penzler |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
As with any collection, I really liked some stories, but others left me cold. |
| bookczuk |
| The Nobodies Album by Carolyn Parkhurst |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The basic premise: Octavia is a moderately successful author with a lot of personal tragedies. (Her husband and young daughter had died together, leaving her and her nine-year-old son to pick up the pieces and carry on with life.) On the way to deliver her latest manuscript to her publisher, she learns that Milo, her now-estranged son who's a rock star, has been arrested for the murder of his girlfriend. Octavia's manuscript, "The Nobodies Album," takes the last chapters of her previous novels and gives them different endings --- new opportunities for the characters, new interpretations of the stories. Her son's arrest gives her the chance to possibly do the same thing with her life and their relationship. The author has interspersed Octavia and Milo's story with the original endings and the re-dos of Octavia's books. Given that I normally really like stories within stories, it was somewhat surprising that I really disliked the interruptions in the basic story line here. I speculate that maybe it was because I was only fed an ending, not told a full tale, or that maybe because I wouldn't have read Octavia's novels, since they were so full of the sadness of her husband's and daughter's deaths. And maybe, it's because I have mixed feelings about alternate endings. If you re-write history, especially personal history, do you change who you are? Or can you learn from your mistakes, the things that would have been "re-dos," and grow even more? |
| Betty Jo |
| Imperfect Birds by Anne Lamott |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I had to get through the first 80 pages before I decided to like this one. This story of a rebellious teenage girl and her parents is one that, sadly, most of us can relate to...if it is not going on in your immediate family, it is probably the reality for some of your neighbors. Lamott's strong belief in the recovery program shines throughout this novel. |
| Elizabeth V |
| Never Enough by Joe McGinniss |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Joe McGinniss --- author of several bestselling true crime novels, such as FATAL VISION --- moved into the house next door to Sarah Palin. The book he writes about her will hopefully be nonfiction. He's accused of stalking her. I don't know whether the book is out yet. I used to read McGinniss's books. I haven't in years, but I was curious about whether my taste had evolved or whether I would still like him enough to read what he had to say about Palin. So I read one of his later books that I hadn't read, NEVER ENOUGH. Rob and Nancy, who are both attractive, meet in a nudist colony, fall in love, and then marry. Nancy is a waitress; Rob is on his way to becoming a rich banker. They move to Hong Kong after Rob gets a humongous promotion and live in luxury there. Nancy eventually has an affair when she is back in the US decorating their second home. And, of course, Nancy eventually murders Rob. NEVER ENOUGH also covers the aftermath: Nancy's lame cover-up (which was as stupid as stupid can be), her trial, her relatives' fight over guardianship of Rob and Nancy's three children, and the troubles of Rob's brother. Like McGinniss's other books, this is nonfiction --- true crime. And my taste has, indeed, evolved. I didn't care for it. But, for lovers of true crime, NEVER ENOUGH, like McGinniss's other books, is better than most. McGinniss doesn't write as if he is just regurgitating newspaper articles he gathered; he writes thoughtfully and intelligently. Therefore, this book could be a page-turner for some readers. |
| Sandy |
| The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is actually for young adults or teenagers, but I read it anyway and will now pass it on to someone in the younger crowd. It's the story of Noelle and Tessa. Noelle disappeared two years ago and then escaped and returned home. She became a different person, but Tessa is still her best friend. |
| Wendy |
| 1984 by George Orwell |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I have never read this, which is tragic, as I am an English teacher turned librarian. I don't love it. I wanted to like it more. |
| Darcy |
| The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Orringer delivers a totally satisfying and well-written historical fiction with this one. A young Hungarian Jew goes to Paris to study architecture, and during that time, WWII breaks out. He is forced to return to Budapest, where he's subsequently forced to serve in the labor crews for the Russian army. A harrowing, but rewarding read, with a wonderful romance thrown in. |
| Darcy |
| The Bells by Richard Harvell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A wonderfully poetic story about the castrati of Europe --- boys who were surgically altered in order to preserve their soprano voices. A mesmerizing story! |
| Marilyn |
| The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I learned a lot about Diego Rivera and Frieda Kahlo, as well as Trotsky. I can remember the "Red Threat" among the artisitic writers, movie people and other performers. However, at times, I thought the narrative went too far and dragged on a bit. |
| Pamela |
| To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I am rereading it for the umpteenth time, and I continue to be amazed by the richness of this book. Love it. |
| Annette S. |
| A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book will get you hooked after the first few pages. It is set in England and Malaya, after World War II. There are wonderful characters and descriptions of places in London. |
| bookczuk |
| The Map Thief by Heather Terrell |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I'm not quite sure why I stuck it out with this book, though I did start skimming towards the end. There were two back-stories involved (one took place in China in 1421, and the other in Portugal in 1496), which were what kept me reading. The modern day arc didn't capture me, especially since I didn't read the first book about the main character, and now I'm not going to read it on principle. I understand references are needed to help fill in the plot or give the story background, but these were more annoying than informative. Oh, well. The book did help me recall some of the Chinese history that I'd forgotten. |
| Marlene H. |
| Halfway to the Grave: A Night Huntress Novel by Jeaniene Frost |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I just started reading it, but it's funny. I like it so far. |
| Eileen K., Ph.D. |
| The Widower's Tale by Julia Glass |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I just love the hero in the story. He is so lovable! His name is Percy Darling, and even his name amuses me. Of course, you know from the title of the book that he is a widower, and with that knowledge, you also know that all of the issues that are associated with being a widower are discussed in the book. It takes place on the East Coast, and Percy just fits in with his surroundings so well! He has two very different daughters who have complicated lives that intertwine with his. Mr. Darling has so much vim and vigor that he dances through the pages. I just enjoyed him so much! |
| Sally B., San Antonio TX |
| A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True by Brigid Pasulka |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Three and a half stars. A young Polish girl grows up during Poland's liberation from the Germans and the Russian rule. Alternately, the chapters go back and forth between the 1940s and contemporary Poland. There were some Polish words that I didn't understand. |
| Marlene H. |
| Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was a very good book that kept my interest. Barron and MacKayla have major issues, but man oh man, do they have some sexual tension between them! And good grief, this book also had a major cliff-hanger at the end. You have no choice but to read the next book in the series; you can't stand not knowing what happens. |
| Marion M. |
| The Man in the Wooden Hat by Jane Gardam |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A lovely love story that takes place in England the the Far East during the 40s and up to the 90s. It has interesting characters and an intriguing story. |
| Marion M. |
| Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An interesting historical fiction based on a story about the first female pope, which could very well be true. The Church tried to cover it up, but facts support the idea. A good picture of life in the MIddle Ages. |
| bookczuk |
| Insatiable by Meg Cabot |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Meg Cabot does vampires --- or rather, Meena, her main character does a vampire. Given all the fascination with vampires in today's society, I thought I'd see what an author I like did with them. (I like Cabot's Heather Wells series, which I've listened to on audio). There are nods to historical facts, the Bram Stoker version and even the Twilight and Sookie Stackhouse series, and I'm betting this is going to be book one in a series itself. |
| EC |
| Basilica by William D. Montalbano |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Set for most part in Vatican City, this book turns out to be a very good thriller. It is not really a statement about the Catholic Church; rather, it includes a cast of interesting characters who happen to be part of the Catholic Church. This is a quick read. |
| Julie H. |
| The Blonde Theory by Kristin Harmel |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A very smart blonde (a lawyer) decides she needs to try out the dumb blonde role to find a boyfriend. A cute story, but nothing too earth-shattering. |
| T. Thomas |
| A Stranger in Mayfair by Charles Finch |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The fourth book in the series. I had a hard time getting into this one; it isn't as good as the previous books. |
| Maureen |
| A Thousand Cuts by Simon Lelic |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
| A very good story about a school shooting, with a bit of a different take. I am enjoying this book very much. |
