This contest period's winners were Josephine C., Judy O., Karen C., Lynn T. and Sherre L., who each received a copy of THE DEEPEST SECRET by Carla Buckley, GLITTER AND GLUE: A Memoir by Kelly Corrigan and STILL LIFE WITH BREAD CRUMBS by Anna Quindlen.
Jan Zahrly
Essence of the Dhammapada by Eknath Easwaran
A lovely book - a clear discussion of the Buddha's teachings and movement toward Nirvana. This is an excellent book for the non-Buddhist to understand what Nirvana is and to compare the teachings of Buddha and Christ without all the "religious" overtones. I have been taught Christian ideals and beliefs and know little about other philosophies of life. The teachings are a blueprint for anyone who lives in the world and seeks a peaceful existence.
Karen K. Nicholson
Trains and Lovers by Alexander McCall Smith
In his own unique style the author allows us to overhear some very personal conversations about new love, enduring love & even lost love all set in exotic locales. The entire novel involves four rail passengers traveling from Edinburgh to London. Alexander McCall Smith gives us a physical description of each one and their story provides an inner portrait that we take away with us.
B.Klaassen
The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story by Lily Koppel
Because I grew-up while these "Space Programs" were going on, I found this background information on the astronaut's wives to be interesting and educational. I was sad to find out so many marriages broke-up. I shed a few tears for the wives who became widows. The author's writing style caught my attention from the beginning and held it all the way through. This memoir is worth the time it took to read.
Jo Simon
David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell
This book is an easy read, and Gladwell is an excellent storyteller. The book is about battling giants and it could be summed up by saying it's about advantages, disadvantages and turning disadvantages into advantages.
Kristi Herbrand
Through the Ever Night: Under the Never Sky, Book Two by Veronica Rossi
Hard to put down! This is the second book in the series, and I can't wait to finish it and go on to the next one!
Susan Johnson
Hunting Shadows: An Ian Rutledge Novel by Charles Todd
This story takes place after WWI and follows a veteran who becomes a police detective... and the imaginary former friend who travels with him. This particular book deals with an unexpected death at a society wedding. The true star of the story is the essence of the time and people living with the aftermath of the war. The characters come to life and the story is captivating.
Barbara
Phantom: A Harry Hole Novel by Jo Nesbo
PHANTOM is one of books in the Harry Hole series written by Jo Nesbo. In this book, Harry, a very unconventional detective, returns from Hong Kong to investigate a murder supposedly committed by his ex-girlfriend's son, Oleg. Oleg was involved in Oslo's drug scene and Harry is drawn into it as well. A great read, highly recommended!!
Kathy Miller
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Wonderful character development, a complicated series of family secrets, and the most accurate description of childbirth I have ever read. That being said, The Victorian language of flowers, and how they help an emotionally damaged former foster child help other emotionally distraught strangers heal, is amazing.
Allison Gardner
The Beach Trees by Karen White
A great story about New Orleans.
Judy Oswood
The Tulip Eaters by Antoinette van Heugten
Nora de Jong comes home from work one day and finds that her infant daughter is missing. Nora's mother is dead and so is a mysterious unknown man who is lying on the floor of her home. The search for her daughter takes Nora to Amsterdam, her former home. We also see back in time to when the Nazis took over the Netherlands. Good, but not great.
Josephine Carroll
South of Broad by Pat Conroy
Beautifully written, wonderful plot and great character development. Loved the book!
Suzanne Mazzei
We Are Water by Wally Lamb
So disappointing! The book is way too long and full of shallow conversations and characters.
Gina Wills
Through the Evil Days: A Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mystery by Julia Spencer-Fleming
This book is the latest in a series which combines mystery with the romance of an Episcopalian priest and a town sheriff. I was impressed with the realistic dialogue and emotions between the
two protagonists. The plot was quick paced.
Wendy Catalano
The Vanishing by Wendy Webb
THE VANISHING is a hauntingly good ghost story, fans of Gothic Suspense will thoroughly enjoy it.
Julia has lost everything --- her husband, her family, her friends --- and is about to be arrested for a crime she had nothing to do with. A mysterious stranger suddenly appears on her doorstep offering her the chance to escape the ruins of her life and to start fresh as the companion to his aging mother, a famous horror novelist who faked her own death. Julia accepts his offer and moves into "Havenwood" where she instantly feels a connection to the mysterious mansion. She is drawn to Havenwood and it's secrets even though every instinct tells her to get out.
I thoroughly enjoyed this modern day Gothic horror story.
Tessa B C
The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow by Rita Leganski
2.5** Leganski’s work has elements of Southern gothic, as well as the supernatural and magic. There is a nugget of a great premise here. I like how she used the innocence of a child to help the wounded adults around him heal. I liked that Bonaventure was surrounded by people who loved him and nurtured him – maternal grandmother notwithstanding. I wish she had spent more time on the story. I was interested at the beginning, but by the time the identity of William’s killer was revealed I just didn’t really care. Had I been her editor, I would have trimmed 100 pages. I get that Leganski was going for an ethereal quality, but I think she went too far in that direction and forgot the story.
Tessa B C
The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice
I really enjoyed this novel set in 1950s London. I connected to the characters, they felt real to me, and while I have no desire at all to relive my teens, I was happy to go along with them on their journey towards adulthood.
susan gannon
The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman
I learned about collectors and true love.
Beverly Gardiner
Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini
Love this book! Easy to read, history, and a subject matter I had not thought about-dressmakers in the past. We go to the store and buy our clothes taking so much for granted and back then
there were these great seamstresses. I like the history part, also, which is always good to learn more about. Plan on reading the following Chiaverini books on this subject-just interested me...
Izella Cadwallader
Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler
Loved this book! The story takes place in the area where I live which made it very interesting for me. It was a heartbreaker but the relationship between the women was the ending kept me thinking about the book long after I finished it. I will certainly recommend it to my book club for a future pick.
Judy Quast
The End of the Age by Pat Robertson
Very good read. It's what could happen to the earth at the end of time.
Dorothy Boyum
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
I just started reading this book and have found it very interesting. A friend's book club read it and said they had a great discussion about it and that's why I'm reading it.
Patsy
The Weight of Heaven by Thrity Umrigar
American couple moving to India after the death of their child. Interesting view on life in India. And the pains of losing a child is just too much for the Dad that obsessively latches on to their servants' son with dire consequences. Very Good.
M J Arnold
Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson
Haunting, compelling, realistic, intense, heartwarming and heartbreaking, memorable Characters who speak to the readers. A page turner. In the same genre as THE BOOK THIEF, SARAH'S KEY, SOPHIE'S CHOICE, etc. Well worth reading for oneself and for discussion with a book group. Not to be overlooked.
Mary Hayden
Behind the Shattered Glass by Tasha Alexander
I always enjoy reading Tasha Alexander's books. This one was written in a slightly different format. As I read on I began to see the reason and really think it was the proper format for the story. I will continue to look forward to her upcoming books.
Jeff
The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson
A stunning achievement. How he did it is a mystery that could only be explained by traveling into the author's subconscious. He only spent a week in North Korea. And even though he seems to have done exhaustive research into defectors accounts, this is a fully realized world that could only have been constructed through acrobatic feats of the imagination. Yet it's all horrifically believable. I listened to the audiobook, and it was the first time I experienced the audio equivalent of "I couldn't put it down." I could not stop listening. It's very well done, with three actors reading all the characters and narration. Highly recommended.
Catherine Pedigo
Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford
Excellent story -- what I had expected. Although I liked Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet better, this story of Chinese life in the 30's is rather raw in some places but very descriptive. Would read anything that Mr. Ford writes.
Phyllis Relyea
Radiance of Tomorrow by Ishmael Baeh
Oh, My! I would certainly like to meet this young author in person! I had read his memoir, A Long Way Gone, and admired his way with words and his first attempt at a novel does not disappoint. He grew up in Sierra Leone where this novel takes place and his descriptive style is impressive even if the topic is a difficult one for Western readers.
Gail Spitzer
Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks
I could not put this book down. I read it for a book club to which I belong. It is the story of a little boy with problems who has an imaginary friend. The imaginary friend (who has other imaginary friends in the book) relates the story which involves some family issues and a kidnapping of the little boy.
Dorothy Gordon
Doctored Murder by Donna Leon
Fascinating ins and outs of the Venetian insular community. Solving a murder that has already been solved the plot becomes more and more complex. A good read.
Judy
Fallen Women by Sandra Dallas
My first read from Dallas, and it was a good one. I suspected Everyone of being the bad guy so I was not too surprised at the end.
Karen Catignani
The Age of Desire by Jennie Fields
The Age of Desire is historical fiction about a period in the life of author Edith Wharton. It is about the friendship of Edith and her former nanny/secretary/friend Anna Bahlmann and how it is tried by Edith's affair with a young journalist. Ms. Fields's writing is beautiful!
Susan Currant
Tell The Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Blunt
A novel set in the 1980's when little was know about AIDS. A young teen has a terrific relationship with her Uncle a well respected painter who is dying from aids. The teen meets the Uncle's partner at the Uncle's funeral and their relationship blossoms.
Wendy Zuckerberg
The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro
A bit uneven but interesting.
Rosemary Sobczak
White Fire by Preston/Child
Great excitement and Pengergast's Sherlockian method.
Elaine
The Supreme Macaroni Company by Adriana Trigiani
This is the final book in Trigiani"s Valentine series. In this book we read more about Valentine's family, romance, and very unexpected turns of life events. Written in Trigiani style of warmth and humor it's a fast read. Keep a box of tissues nearby. This book would make for great discussions for Book Clubs.
Beth Z
Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty
Yvonne Carmichael is a highly respected geneticist in London, 50's, married with grown children. One day she meets a stranger, known mostly as X, and begins a reckless liaison with him. The events quickly spin out of control. I really liked the straight narrative style used by Doughty as she detailed the events. Kept me up til the wee hours of the morning!
Rebecca Sue Chome
On Off by Colleen McCullough
Tricky, right up to the very last page. This murder mystery is so different from "Man of Rome", "Thorn Birds", and others. What a talent!
Robin Coker
Divergent by Veronica Roth
I'm only half way through this book but already love the characters and hooked on the story. I had been told it was very similar to The Hunger Games and it is, but different...I have already downloaded the other 2 books in the series.
Suzanne Long
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Delightful! Different! Laugh out loud funny! I'd like to read the sequel and learn what 40 years of marriage brings to them.
Becky
The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell
All starts out seemingly normal with our working girl...then, slips from our girl as we think, "Why did she say THAT?" "Why did she go along with THAT?" Well, by the end of this psychological
thriller, we find out.
Becky
The Magdalen Martyrs by Ken Bruen
This is my second read by Bruen. This was a good story about a former policeman who follows his own set of justice and does it well. I was hoping to find out a little more history about the girls who were imprisoned in the Irish convents.
Becky
Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson
This story has a very good premise about justice for horrors of the past, but I found it rather slow-moving.
Emma Smith
The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkein
A bit long and drawn out at times, when the characters are merely traveling from place to place. When the action and dialogue do come, they are excellent and intriguing.
Fran
Love Lucy by Lucille Ball
Fall in love with Lucille Ball all over again in this wonderful memoir. The memoir was found by her daughter years after she passed away. I really enjoyed the birds-eye view into the life, love and hopes of young Lucy as she rose to stardom!
Karen Stigers
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
This was a very intriguing read. The author's description of her characters truly brought them to life. I felt she really captured the times & the dilemma of slavery that the main character in particular faced. I would recommend this book as a great book club read. The author is coming to Changing Hands Book Store in Tempe, AZ on Feb 13th & our book group is going to hear her speak about this book. Were all very excited!
Ken Huiras
Robert B Parker's Bull River by Robert Knott
Very good!
Ken Huiras
King and Maxwell by David Baldacci
Great read!
Ken Huiras
Sleight of Hand by Phillip Margolin
Great book by a very fine author.
Anne Marie Koschnick
Evan's Gate by Rhys Bowen
I fell in love with Rhys Bowen's writing with her Royal Spyness series, so I wanted to explore some of her other books. This series is based on a Welsh constable Evan Evans. It has a different pace and a totally different "class" of people that it deals with. It started out slowly, setting the background for the mystery, but then moves forward at a faster pace once the basics have been established. This is the first one in the series that I have read and appears to be about the 8th book in the series. I like Evan. The character is unassuming and intelligent, and I would definitely want to read more---perhaps going back to the first book where it all began. I can see why Rhys has won an Agatha Award---her writing is consistently good.
Mary Rodriguez
The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers
A real page-turner about understanding the human heart.
Aaron Polish
Haunted Ohio II by Chris Woodyard
Great book of haunted ghosts in Ohio.
Bill Hamilton
Cross My Heart by James Patterson
Both my spouse and I found nothing of value to recommend this book in the Alex Cross series. The book is sloppily written, the master criminal comes out of fantasy land---absolutely nothing about him or his accomplice ring true---and the premise of the plot is plain silly. To add insult to injury Patterson leaves the reader hanging at the end of the book forcing the reader to buy the next volume to learn of the outcome of the Cross family. I've got better use of my discretionary income than to line James Patterson's pockets. So long Alex and family. I hope you survive.
robin fuller
Saturday Night Widows by Becky Aikman
I had read good reviews about this book, but I was disappointed in the plot and the characters.
Linda Zarett
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
If given the option I would have given 4 1/2 stars to this intriguing story about a 13-year-old boy, Theo Decker, and the evolution of his life in the face of tragedy. Characters such as Theo's friend, Boris and Hobie are very likable. Boris is as neglected and lonely as Theo, but together they create a friendship that makes their dangerous relationship and set of circumstances very endearing. Hobie offers Theo kindness when he desperately needs it. Many of the characters are despicable, such as Theo's father and his father's girlfriend, Xander; they are neglectful and self-involved. They hurt Theo immeasurably. The book takes the reader on an absorbing journey, but its length detracts from the excellent storytelling.
Veronica Earley
What She Left Behind by Ellen Marie Wiseman
I could not stop reading this story until I finished. A very haunting story.
Veronica Earley
Paris Was the Place by Susan Conley
If you haven't been to Paris, when you're done reading this novel you will definitely want to go.
Veronica Earley
Serena by Ron Rash
Before the movie comes out you will want to read this novel. Ron Rash does a great job describing the lumber business and forming the national forest.
Dawn Byers
The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin
What a wonderful book. I could read this over and over. The characters are strong and the story is so loveable and enjoyable.
Anna Robinson
The Dovekeeper by Alice Hoffman
My daughter recommended this book to me. I didn't think I would like it, but surprise; I am enjoying it very much. It is very different from anything I have read in a long time. I would recommend it to my reading friends.
Linda Carlson
The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer
An "interesting" book about the lives of six teenagers who meet at a summer camp in the early 1970s. Well written, thought provoking. I liked this book.
Michelle
Zoo by James Patterson
This is very different from his usual books. But I really enjoyed it. I love all his books. He is a great writer.
Janet Kadel
The Silence of Bonadventure Arrow by Rita Lengaski
This book was riveting to read! The characters were so intriguing and a gamut of personalities. The mystery was well written; kept one guessing to the end and what a surprise ending! Our book club thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Russell Howen
Refusal by Felix Francis
My most recent book read is REFUSAL by Felix Francis, a racing novel out of England. It contained action and suspense with the love of a man for his wife, his daughter, and the racing industry. I gave it five stars, because I could not put it down.
Christen Bezoski
The Bat by Jo Nesbo
I was super excited that this first book in the Harry Hole series was finally translated into English! It was nice to read the story that is referenced is a lot in the subsequent books.
Rena Ackley
In the Sanctuary of Outcasts by Neil White
Memoir of Neil White who was sentenced to a year in a Louisiana prison for bank fraud. The twist is the prison is part prison, part leprosarium. White chronicles his time spent at the prison, getting to know the leprosy patients, and getting to know himself better. He does an excellent job of leading us through this journey and the changes in attitude as he allows himself to interact with the leprosy patients and seeing them as people with real lives and realizing the prisoner are the ones infringing on the rights of the lepers. Extremely interesting book.
Lynn Jarrett
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Despite the large number of pages in this book (775), it was a rather fast read. The storyline covered the full gambit of emotions and left one feeling rather depleted emotionally by the end of the book. The story covers the life of Theodore Decker from the time he is 13 years old until he is in his mid to late 20s. Even though the number of years is not that long, the tragedies and losses Decker suffers far outweighs what the normal person would encounter in the same amount of years. Without giving away any spoilers, I will add the reader will learn a great deal about art, furniture, drugs, alcohol, deceit, and, above all, the true meaning of friendship. One surprise letdown is the many typographical errors encountered throughout.
Lucille Armintor
Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
One of the very best books I have read in a long time. The characters were so interesting. I could barely do anything else for wanting to read the book which was a Christmas gift. I believe Ms. Brunt is a first time author. I can't wait for her next book. June was so unlike me as a 14-year-old that I was mesmerized by her brave actions.
Raylene Wauda
The Expected One by Kathleen McGowan
THE EXPECTED ONE is filled with intrigue, suspense, and insight into the legend/life of Mary Magdalene. I was brought up in the Lutheran church and filled with Bible class every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday plus Sunday school and church on Sunday. Then, there was confirmation class. However, I found it interesting to consider that Jesus (Easa) married Mary Magdalene and had children with her. Whether or not this happened, the teachings of love and forgiveness hold true, and Kathleen McGowan writes a beautiful novel. She has done many years of research and knows her characters. I also enjoyed reading about scenes in Paris and other parts of France that I've visited.
CAROL Custer
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
A complex and beautifully written book. The characters are interesting, the descriptions exquisite. A very good read
Gloria Riffie
Save Me by Lisa Scottoline
A story about a mother and young daughter that moved to a new neighborhood and are trying to "fit in" at school and with mom's social group and things don't go very well. An accident happens at the beginning and the mom won't let things rest---being blamed for the situation and her investigation leads to much trouble and problems for her.
Debbie M
Defending Jacob by William Landay
This is a very disturbing book that centers on a parent's love and protection for a child. Jacob Barber is accused of murdering a classmate and the story jumps back and forth between the past and the present. he transition is jerky. The language in the book is harsh and the grammar is atrocious, especially for white-collar workers. The cursing is too extensive. The story presents other characters that might have committed the crime: a pedophile and other classmates, but Jacob becomes the primary choice. The before, during, and after the trial scenes provide a glimpse of the life of the accused family. The doubt of the mother cascades into depression and action. The big issue of the story is the age-old argument of nature versus nurture.
Renee' Booker
Who Asked You? by Terry McMillan
Very good novel when you want to read about a grandparent raising their Grandchildren and understanding their grown kids to what went wrong. Plenty of laughs and I agree with the author writing.
Katherine Bennett
Sycamore Row by John Grisham
I couldn't put it down. One of his best!
Carolyn
Defending Jacob by William Landay
DEFENDING JACOB was written well, but I didn't care for the reality of the story.
Sharon
The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure
The storyline is of a gifted architect who reluctantly designs hiding places for Jews in Nazi-occupied Paris. If you enjoy reading this genre, you will find it hard to stop reading until the end.
Richard N B
When a Crocodile Eats the Sun by Peter Godwin
There really is no way for Godwin to tell his family story without also telling the story of Zimbabwe. I think he does a respectable job of journalistic reporting on the country and its issues, while still giving us a very personal and intimate look at his relationship with his parents and his home.
Faith Erickson
Take Down Twenty by Janet Evochich
Her books are always very good. But I don't think this book was as good as the rest of them. She seemed to lack something in her writing this time. It just wasn't an attention-getter as the others where. Disappointed.
Margie Bunting
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
I couldn't help but picture Sheldon from "Big Bang Theory" when I was reading this book---he and the narrator/protagonist have a lot in common when it comes to their personalities. It's a quirky story about a man looking for his perfect mate---but who could actually put up with him? Nevertheless, you'll love it!
Sharon Shirlen
Sinister by Lisa Jackson
Awesome, scary book! Can't put it down.
Linda Johnson
How Does Aspirin Find a Headache? by David Feldman
I needed something to listen to at work. I found this on the Ohio e-book project but did not realize until I started listening that it was an abridged version. This book is presented as a quiz show with the author-narrator asking the imponderable questions which are then given answers by Adam, Betty, and Cal. Only one is giving the correct answer. The listener is allowed to decide which answer is correct. Only took an hour to listen to.
Dara Montgomery
Bitches Ruin Everything by Chelsea Lin
This is a pretty good story for a self published book. Not too fond of the ending
Linda Johnson
In the President's Secret Service by Ronald Kessler
Interesting behind-the-scenes look at the Secret Service and the Presidents they served. Dishier than I expected (who had affairs? who had trouble with alcohol? who was rude? who was nice?).
Not an easy job under any circumstances. I always enjoy Kessler's books. This was no exception.
Ellen Whitney
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
A very intense novel, grabbing your throat and not letting go until its last words end the novel. A story of several generations on both sides of the holocaust. What is justice? What is peace?
Elaine Beierbach
The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley
I liked the plot.
stephanie polonyfis
Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen
I found it different from her prior novels. I enjoyed it but found it a tad slow for my taste.
Felice Mikelberg
The Burgess Brothers by Elizabeth Strout
Engaging story about family bonds and how they sibling relationships change---and don't---over the course of one's life. Highly recommend!!
Francisca E B
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Audio book performed by Jeff Woodman. I had previously read this modern fable in 2003. After their ship goes down Pi finds himself sharing a life boat with a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a 450-lb Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. How Pi faces survival and co-exists with Richard Parker makes for a fascinating study. It's thought-provoking and, at times, disturbing. Without giving away anything, I will tell you that my F2F book group had a very interesting discussion on why some of us were more ready to believe the "alternate" story line.
Laura Gold
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Don Tillman is the novelized version of Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory). So brutally honest, funny, and endearing. It is laugh-out-loud funny.
Jane Squires
What Once Was Lost by Kim Vogel Sawyer
God put this book in my hand just when I needed it. Walking through obstacles and adversity, this book encouraged me. Little did I know what I would face yesterday. Christina and Levi may seem the characters that weave the story together. But Tommy, Cora, Louisa, Rose, and all the others of the Poor House will touch your life. You will feel all they endure. Even Mr. Dresden who caused so much trouble will show how God used all the bad for good.
So many lost find their way after a fire displaces all those who lived at the Poor asylum.
This whole story is about God's plan. It shows how something meant bad can be turned into good for God. Spiritual eyes are opened. A community comes together.
Judy Oswood
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
Harold Fry, a recently retired man, lives in a small English village. He and his wife have had a poor relationship for at least 20 years. One day he gets a letter from a dying woman who used to be a friend of his from work. He reads the letter, writes an answer, and heads out to mail it. He decides to just keep walking until he reaches the bedside of the woman in the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, about 600 miles away. So, we are swept along with Harold on this long "pilgrimage" that he takes. I really enjoyed this book. Very poignant, and the reader really roots for Harold along the way.
Jan Zahrly
Goose in the Pond by Earlene Fowler
This is a Benni Harper mystery and is a good Southern read. Even though the action is in California, Benni and her relatives are from Arkansas and have sweet memories, regional traits and so many characteristics that are familiar to those who grew up in the South. Benni is newly married, director of a folk art museum and is organizing a Storytelling Festival when she finds one of her storytellers dead. Gabe, her husband, orders her, as usual, to stay out of the investigation but people come to Benni and she asks questions of friends. Into all of this, Gabe's almost grown son appears, along with Benni's flirty cousin and her grandmother. Like all Benni Harper mysteries, there are many suspects and a lot of false turns. Quick reading.
Brady
Her by Christa Parravani
The author is one of a twin where her sister committed suicide unintentionally by an overdose of drugs. The entire book is her lamentation of her missing twin and it does get boring. I was expecting insight of the life experience of how twins mirror each other or how they differ in certain aspects. This non-fiction story explored none of that yet certainly did expound the closeness and affection of twins. There was a lot here of interest, but I seldom read books that I feel are downers.
Dianne
Remember Me by Sophia Kinsella
Good light read for February.
Fran
Alabama Moon by Watt Key
This was a very cute story! The main character, Moon, was the most endearing character! He made the story!
Lynn Tamms
The Death of Santini by Pat Conroy
Pat Conroy's dad, the Great Santini was a wife and child abuser. He abused them physically and emotionally. This is Pat Conroy's memoir. As his dad's life draws to a close, his children treat him like a king. Although I believe in forgiveness, I believe that their attention was more a longing for the approval and love they never got from him. I found the book depressing. Conroy lives in Beaufort, SC and I visited there last Fall. I loved all the references to that beautiful city.
Lindsay Smith
Merry Birthday by Lise Marinelli
Sam hates his birthday...It's not fair that he gets boring holiday sweaters or even worse---the dreaded "combo" gift---one present that's supposed to be for both his birthday and Christmas. Even Champ, his dog, has a birthday in the summer. Sam hates his birthday. Until he finds out that there's something worse that having a birthday on December 27th. MERRY BIRTHDAY is an endearing story of a young boy's acceptance of a situation that he can't change, and the teacher who helps him. All children, especially those with a birthday near a holiday, will appreciate this heart-warming story.
Stacey K
City of Women by David R. Gillham
A thrilling historical fiction book about the city of Berlin during the end days of World War II. It makes us all think about what we would do in the situation that the main character, Sigrid, is in. The wife of a German soldier, she begins to help hide Jews from the Nazis, putting herself and her family in grave danger. A wonderful debut novel!
Linda Reck
Mission to Paris by Alan Furst
Alan Furst has once again written a spectacular espionage novel. France has been undermined by Fascist sympathizers. Many of the military leaders did not follow what their Intelligence Agencies were telling them about German intention and tactics. I enjoy historical fiction expecially about WWII. MISSION TO PARIS is profoundly realistic and has a gripping action-packed atmosphere. It's suspenseful. and well-researched. Alan Furst is a writer at the top of his game.
Marsha
Cross and Burn by Val McDermid
This Tony Hill novel has Tony incarcerated for a murder on flimsy evidence. Carol Jordan has gone missing after a trauma but upon hearing of the problem is brought back to solve the dilemma. The characters are well-drawn and the plot expertly executed. Plus there is a short story from her new book included as a bonus.
Julie
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
This book is a sequel, many years later, to Stephen King's THE SHINING. Danny, the boy with "the shining", is now an adult. He has many inner struggles & personal battles to overcome, but the biggest fight happens when a little girl with the same "shining" gift contacts him for help.The book had me hooked from the start, and I'm not even a big Stephen King fan! It is an amazing story.
Joan Chance
Life After Life by Jill McCorkle
As a senior living in a 55+ apartment complex I looked forward to the wit and fun in this book about a senior citizen complex. I did find some humor but mostly it hit too close to home and too much about dying. We are reading this book in our book club and I wonder how others will feel. I pray it doesn't make them too morose.
Emily Comella
The Maid's Version by Daniel Woodrell
A novel doesn't have to be long to have exceptional writing and an exceptional plot line. Woodrell's novel of 176 pages revolves around the 1929 Arbor Dance Hall explosion in West Table, Missouri. Alma, whose sister Ruby died in the fire, recounts the events for her grandson Alek. She explores the question: who caused the explosion and why? You will be thinking about this book long after you finish the last page. Woodrell explores the themes of: the meaning of family; justice and community; and a way of life in small town America. I highly recommend it.
Lynn Hough
A Suitcase Tale: Lee Ann by Linda Bishop Foley
I would definitely consider this a "feel good" kind of book. It is the 2nd in a series and isn't normally my type of book (faith plays a large role), however I really enjoyed the story and am hopeful that there will be a 3rd book to learn more about the other sister.
Becky Haase
A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard
Jaycee Dugard suffered unspeakable horror for 18 years. Kidnapped by a pedophile at age eleven and kept for 18 years, Dugard bore two children and came to depend upon her captor all while striving to maintain her “self” and remember her “real” family, especially her mother.
Her memoir tells of her heroism and fortitude in the face of unrelenting adversity. Often the voice of that eleven year old is heard; often the voice of a struggling 19 year old woman and mother is heard. She, at times, voices a maturity earned through pain. She struggles to shield her children from the press even while acknowledging the impossibility of that task. It is impossible to read this memoir without your heart breaking.
Michael McAdam
Sycamore Row by John Grisham
A sequel to A TIME TO KILL. Unexpected but very much enjoyed...Another race-related case for Jake Brigance (no spoilers here---that is all you get). I LOVE a good courtroom drama and this one delivers. It lags a tiny bit in the middle but otherwise a page turner! I had to know what happened. I especially liked the ending. Worth a read!
Susan Spencer
Sycamore Row by John Grisham
One of his best books.
Susan Spencer
The Last Word by Lisa Lutz
Funny light reading.
Elizabeth
Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
It's outside my usual genres, and the phonetic spelling of the dialects wore on me at times. Otherwise, I was fairly impressed with this tale's blending of historical and military elements, as well as its heroine. I would not be surprised to see a hit film or PBS adaptation of it in the future!
Linda Harrison
At Last by Jill Shalvis
Books by Jill Shalvis are always good. Great romance and sex with down-to-earth humor are a staple. This book is about a former runaway teen who has faced her demons and now has a new life with a potential hot forest ranger known as Ranger Hot Buns.
Linda Harrison
The Cove by Ron Rash
Outside the small town is a gloomy cove where Hank and his sister Laurel live on a small farm. The area is avoided as most of the superstitious mountain people believe Laurel is a witch because of a birthmark on her face. She longs to be treated as other young women and thinks she will never have the opportunity when she finds an injured stranger in the cove. He brings Laurel happiness but the cove won’t let its inhabitants stay happy. This is a haunting kind of book that will leave you remembering it long after you have finished reading.
Linda Harrison
The Abominable by Dan Simmons
At over 600 pages, this book was a little long but the story was well written and kept your attention. The book was based on journals left by an old man who recounted his adventurous life, mainly as a mountain climber. Trying to climb Mt. Everest with several other climbers, they faced danger from the elements as well as man.
Linda Harrison
On Dublin Street by Samantha Young
Jocelyn Butler moved to Scotland after the deaths of her family members and first saw Braden Carmichael when both tried to hire the same cab. Then, she found out that Braden was the brother of her new roommate. Although they were highly attracted to each other, Jocelyn did not want any sort of commitment because she believed that fate took away your loved ones when you allowed yourself to love. This is what happened to her family and she is afraid of it happening again so she closes herself off. Braden has to make her realize that her fears are unjustified.
Linda Harrison
Can't Help Falling in Love by Bella Andre
A sweet love story about a fireman saving a woman and her daughter from their burning apartment. Once betrayed by a woman he had saved from a fire, Gabe Sullivan vowed to never get attracted to any woman he saved. But that doesn’t include a little girl named Summer.
Linda Harrison
Candlelight Christmas by Susan Wiggs
Darcy Fitzgerald has just survived a bitter divorce and is certainly not looking for a new man. Her best friend India has other ideas and knows Darcy will be just right for her brother Logan O’Donnell. India was right and Darcy and Logan fall for each other. But there are complications in their relationship and Darcy is gunshy. Logan has to convince her of his love.
Linda Harrison
Welcome to Harmony by Jodi Thomas
Reagan learned about the small town of Harmony, Texas from one of the patients at the retirement home where she worked. When the woman died, Reagan did not have anywhere to go and decided to pass herself off as the woman’s granddaughter. Once in Harmony, she found that it was everything that had been described to her. Although Jeremiah Truman knew that she was not his sister's granddaughter, he liked her spunk and let her stay.
Linda Harrison
Two of a Kind by Susan Mallery
A great story of love finding a way as a former prisoner of war returns to the States only wanting solitude. Instead he finds someone he met while overseas. Felicia was a child prodigy and was raised in a scientific lab while actually helping the scientists. Although extremely intelligent, she does not know how to relate to people. Now in the magical town of Fool’s Gold, both Felicia and Gideon find a way.
Linda Harrison
The Imposter Bride by Nancy Richler
A sad tale of a young woman who never really survived the horrors of World War II. Taking the identity of a dead woman, she tried to start her life over in Canada but could not face living a lie. She walked away from her husband and daughter leaving her daughter to always wonder why her mother left her.
Linda Harrison
Cross My Heart by James Patterson
Alex Cross is back and this time, he is facing an unknown psychopath. Each of his family members has been kidnapped and pictures have been sent to Alex via the phone showing each family member shot in the head. Ava, the long-missing foster child, has found Alex and pointed out that the photos sent via the phone were not real. Although told not to do so, she contacts Alex’s partner John Sampson. This is where the book ends so hopefully it won’t be too long before the next Alex Cross novel is forthcoming.
Linda Harrison
Under a Texas Sky by Dorothy Garlock
When a young actress is signed on to star in a movie, she thinks her dream has come true. The movie is to be filmed in Texas. Once onsite, numerous accidents begin to occur, too many to be coincidental. Was someone sabotaging the movie? But who and why? Anna and Dalton had to find out and stop the person before anyone was killed.
Linda Harrison
Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman
One Thanksgiving night, Teddi Overman’s brother Josh left the family home and disappeared. Even though she tells herself he is probably dead, in her heart, Teddi believes that Josh is still alive and fighting for the wildlife he loves so much. When a dead poacher is found tied to a tree, Teddi believes that Josh was responsible. When she turns their family home into a wildlife refuge, she knows that Josh would be proud. One night, proof of this is left for Teddi and she knows that Josh is still alive.
Linda Harrison
Below by Ryan Lockwood
If you ever thought you wanted to be a deep sea diver, you would change your mind after reading this book. You never know what is in the water, especially in the unseen depths. There are several groups, or shoals, of this creature swimming northward from the warm waters of Baja. Since so many of the fish have been overfished, food is scarce and they are hungry. Some turn on each other while others turn on anything or anyone who might be unlucky enough to be in the water.
Gladys Paradowski
My Champion by Glynnis Campbell
With a wit that was as sharp as his sword's blade, he protected her through heroine-invited dangers. Terms and words of yesterday make for interesting variety from contemporary love stories. Chilvary, chicanary and nerve-chilling dangers keep the reader spellbound.
Brandi G.
Innocence by Dean Koontz
I really am enjoying reading this book---it has me intrigued!
Phoenix
The Soundtrack Of My Life by Clive Davis
An insider's look at the music industry, from the '60s to the present day.
mal kaplan
My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor
Thoroughly engrossing and informative. Gives hope that you can achieve what you wish if you work at it. 5 stars and more if I could!
Barbara Taylor
The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes
Beukes used beautiful language that defined even minor characters with great clarity, and at the same time created some intense and grisly scenes. The back-and-forth flow of the chronology took some getting used to, but made for a compelling read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Crystal R Blackburn
Heat Wave by Richard Castle
Richard Castle and Kate Beckett are the main characters on the ABC television show "Castle." He is a writer. She is a homicide detective with the NYPD. He follows her around for research. This is the first book in his "NIkki Heat" series using that research. The characters on the TV show talk about this book like it's real. Now it is and it's actually quite entertaining.
Summer Grinstead
The Bungalow by Sarah Jio
This is a charming read. I love her books and how they take you to another time and you get lost in the story.
Allison Walders
Divergent by Veronica Roth
I really enjoyed picturing the city Chicago post potential war. I love that it is a love story! I am a hopeless romantic so reading a love story is always up my alley. I also like that there is lots of action and twists and turns. I never know what is going to happen next!
Allison Walders
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
This is the second book in the Divergent Series written by Veronica Roth. It is set in the midwest which is cool because that is where I am from. It is an action packed love story. You never know what is going to happen next. It is also a quick read, so I got through it relatively quickly (which is saying a lot for me). I enjoy reading things set in the future as well, because it makes me think about what we are leaving behind for our kids and potential grandkids! Hard to put down!
Elizabeth
Me, the Mob, and the Music: One Helluva Ride with Tommy James & The Shondells by Tommy James with Martin Fitzpatrick
I'm not a Shondells superfan, but I devoured this book in a single sitting. James relates his amazing, often shocking story in a matter-of-fact way, and still manages to emphasize the music.
Bonnie Gluhanich
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
Almost gave it five stars, but it faltered toward the end, in my opinion. Nevertheless, a fascinating novel about a singular woman.
Caitlynn Hatteras
Labor Day by Joyce Maynard
Once in a great while a novel comes along that is simply good. This is one of those stories. Story about loneliness, grief, fear, coming of age, trust and ultimately love. One of the most endearing books I have ever read.
Kara Shamy
Screenshot by John Darrin
Fellow fans of the thriller and suspense genres, I highly recommend you put the novel Screenshot high on your reading agenda. John Darrin's writing is incredibly sharp, and I didn't lose interest in this book at any point -- it's a total page turner.
The only other thing I feel I should say is that I am increasingly stingy with the five-star rating. If you see fit based on this contextual information, please upgrade my rating of this wonderful book accordingly in your own mind.
One more thing I know I should say: Please be advised that I was super lucky; I received my copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I look forward to reading it again fairly soon.
Kara S
Buck by MK Asante
This memoir is the author's own coming-of-age story set in an African-American family living in the Philadelphia area. Asante's style can be described as "urban"-influenced, and much of his story has to do with the specifics of "urban" environments -- with their attendant dangers and disadvantages, peculiarities and personalities, and unique and rich local culture(s).. The main theme is his self-education and deepening understanding of himself and where he comes from. Buck is not just a memoir, but a bildungsroman of an intellectual and an artist. Asante is fearless in experimentation with form, giving the story a unique yet authentic voice. He uses language with great purpose and frequent brilliance -- the book is unmistakably art.
Kara S
Sixteen, Sixty-One by Natalie Lucas
Author Natalie Lucas pulls no punches in this tremendously original, sophisticated, and potentially inspirational/cathartic memoir. Sixteen, Sixty-One describes her experience in a sexual relationship with a 61 year-old man when she was only -- you guessed it -- 16 years of age herself(!) She doesn't spare the man in question or the reader from the nasty details of her liaison. I respect this unforgiving truth-telling. Lucas engages with wholly novel ways to unpack her feelings and experience; the book is ultimately in dialogue with the tradition of the epistolary novel and literary criticism of the same. You could say the topic of this book includes a lot of navel-gazing, but this struck me as absolutely fresh, unique and empowering. A++
Dennis Beierbach
The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley
Good book to thrill you.
Lois Belliveau
Under the Wide and Starry Skies by Nancy Horan
I received this ARC from Random House.
Under The Wide And Starry Skies is a historical novel about the life and love story of Fanny and Robert Louis Stevenson. It was intriguing and informative, as I was unfamiliar with Stevenson's life. Nancy Horan does a wonderful job bringing humanity to this famous author as we learn about his health issues, his wife and their travels around the world in search of a life-saving climate.
Francisca E B
The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman
Audio book read by Noah Taylor. Stedman delivers a wonderfully complex psychological study of love – between a husband and wife, parent and child. Central to the plot are issues of forgiveness, loyalty, ethics, compassion, and revenge. The reader is constantly wondering … Might she …? Could he…? Would she…? What would I do in their place? Taylor’s Aussie accent was a little difficult to understand in places, so I was glad I had a text version to consult.
Kathy Vallee
Banana Split by Josi S. Kilpack
I love this series! I think one of the best things about this series is that the main person is my age so it is one of the best parts of them. In this one she is trying to help a young boy find peace with his mom's death, without getting herself killed.
Jessi Hafeman
No More Perfect Kids: Love the Kids You Have, Not the Ones You Want by by Jill Savage, Kathy Koch
This book is amazing not only in what the chapters relate but also because of the appendices that are included at the end. There is so much valuable information in an easy to find spot. I especially love the prayers adapted from Bible verses. Each chapter details different aspects of the realities our kids are growing up within, especially social media like Facebook. Technology has been a convenience for both adults and kids, but these conveniences affect kids in a different way. I think this particular chapter will really grab your heart. There are clear pictures given through examples and exercises that really dig deep. It doesn't just point to truths but opens your heart. A must read for moms. *I received an advance copy of this book.*
B. Klaassen
Vienna Waltz by Teresa Grant
I discovered a new author! I enjoyed the writing style of this author. The characters were well developed. The plot had me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen next. I enjoyed the description of the period. I will be seeking out this author again in the future.
Jane Warth
A Patchwork Planet by Anne Tyler
This novel centers around a man who works for Rent-a-Back and all the interesting people he meets while working there. It is sharp, funny, and tender. Tyler is a master at depicting my hometown of Baltimore.
Glenda Jackson
Always Hers by Edward Cole
This is actually a little book of poems and short stories. The poems are all in and around a page long. They are quite lovely and very romantic. I liked the poems Fire & Morning. The stories are a mix of genres. There are some quite brief ones that are more little flashes and then there are much meatier ones like Lights, Camera...that is a mix of new love and old love together.
I was given a copy as I think you can only get it on Amazon.
Melanie S.
Knitting by Ann Bartlett
While I was reading this book for our newly formed Needles and Novels book group at my local library (we read books and knit while discussing), I was wishing that I was reading something else. The characters and the story really didn't grab me, but I have to say our discussion and analysis as a group made the story more interesting than I had thought originally. I guess this would be considered a chik-lit-crafter lite book.
Marsha
Artic Chill by Arnaldur Indridason
This is a Reykjavik thriller featuring Inspector Erlandur who investigates a killing of a young Thai boy. This police procedural gives insight into the Icelandic culture--outwardly a liberal, multicultural society but with all the prejudices and inequalities that abound..
Laura Beierbach
The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley
Cool story. Liked and will share.
Bonnie Gluhanich
Dear Life by Alice Munro
Nobel prize-winning author's book of short stories. These are quiet but will sneak up on you. She speaks to the human condition eloquently.
Jan Zahrly
His Word In My Heart by Janet Pope
A beautifully written book about how to gain insight into the Bible. It is definitely a Christian book; the point is to memorize material from the religious book you want to follow. It could apply to the Torah or Buddhist teachings or the Quaran/Koran. She shows methods and gives helpful hints about memorizing material and thereby, thinking more deeply about what you are reading and memorizing. Pope is a great writer and may be repetitious but her point is always clear. She provides many examples and testimonies to her methods.
A great read for anyone on a spiritual quest.
Robin Rabie
Until I Say Good-Bye by Susan Spencer-Wendel
This book is as uplifting as it is sad. A young woman is diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and faces joyfully what she believes might be her last year of life. She is funny, insightful, and very positive in her thinking in the face of a terminal illness.
Gloria Fabijanic
Sycamore Row by John Grisham
Typical Grisham, no surprises. An easy enjoyable read.
Rachelle Strachar
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler
I enjoyed this book -- the story of a girl who grew up with a chimp for a sister. It was not what I expected. The story was good -- but had a few holes toward the end.
Jeanette Barney
Hunting Shadows by Charles Todd
Ian Rutledge is one of my favorite literary characters. He is haunted by his experiences of WWI, but does his job as a Scotland Yard inspector by solving murders. To me, this book was a stay up all night and read kind of book.
Diane Berlin
The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles by Katherine Pancol, William Rodarmor and Helen Dickinson
I found the book a little bit quirky (which is good). It's a story about family, friendship and some misdirections that I can relate to in my personal life. Even though it takes place in France, it is a story that is can be told anywhere. I really enjoyed reading it, and would recommend it for a book club discussion.
Rachelle Strachar
The Dinner by Herman Koch
A very interesting book about the dynamics between a politician and his sibling, husband/wife, parents, father/son/ What would you do if you learned your child did something horrible and was getting away with it? How does it affect the lives around you..friends, relatives. A great bookclub pick-- lots to discuss.
Sherrie Lidderdale
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarity
This was a book club selection and so I read it reluctantly because I really didn't think I'd like it. I don't usually like the chick-lit type books but this one was fortunately more than that. In addition to being well written it was also a read that I finished quickly and didn't skim. The characters were interesting and all three women were characters that I could relate to. I kept thinking as I was reading "what would I do if I were in the same situation". I suspect that this book will be one that I think about and remember.
Rosalie Calloway
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
This is a delightful, enlightening read!! One of the best written books I've read in a long time. Love the story of women, slavery, love, mothers and daughters....all written with the twist of part fiction, part non-fiction! Would love to see this made into a movie!!!
Bonnie A Tollefson
Judgment Call by J.A Jance
Enjoyed the wrapping up of some old mysteries but hope the series continues.
Carol Weigel
Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
Marchetta writes such powerful young adult books. This is the 2nd in the series. Just as good as the first. Bravo.
Phyllis Relyea
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
The setting is 1920's Alaska and the descriptions of snow and the landscapes is amazing for this debut author. Even though the story is based on a Russian fairy tale, I really cared about the characters...highly recommended! I read it for our Library Book Club and cannot wait for the discussion!
Suzanne Turziilo
Under the Wide and Starry Sky by Nancy Horan
Great book. As always, Nancy Horan has well developed characters. Would highly recommend book.
Janice Baly
The Death of Santini by Pat Conroy
Conroy has an amazing facility with language.
Jane Coward
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
Sue Monk Kidd has given us another book as wonderful as Secret Life of Bees! A women's must-read that is enlightening and informative. Her characters come to life to teach us much about the lives of a slave and her mistress on a Southern plantation in the early years before the Civil War. The difficulties of being a young girl growing up during this time period are heartrending yet the author shows empathy and understanding from both their perspectives in her portrayal. Will be a book I read time and again and share with friends.
Karen Stigers
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
I loved this book & couldn't put it down. Very well written. The characters were ones you really cared about. I hated for this book to end.
Deb Muzik
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
After loving The Secret Life of Bees and then being disappointed by The Mermaid Chair, I wondered what The Invention of Wings would be like. I must say that Sue Monk Kidd has redeemed herself with a heart-warming story reminiscent of The Wedding Gift but with more twists and turns.
Barbara Clark
The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin
I am almost half way through this historical novel and am really enjoying it; I want to keep reading when necessities like food, laundry, and sleep get in my way.
DEFINITELY A FIVE STAR READ.
Marcia Sailer
The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom
I really enjoyed this book. The mystery is whether the phone calls received are truly from deceased loved ones, or a hoax. As you can imagine the press, supporters and doubters are out in force. The characters and their reactions to the calls were wonderful. Not everyone is pleased to hear from their loved one, but some are ecstatic. It was very interesting to see how lives were changed by this phenomena. It was a very enjoyable book and raised some good questions.
Nancy Schulte
The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder by Charles Graeber
This was the month's selection for our book club, it was so shocking and intriguing.
This one man may have been responsible for up to 400 murders while working in a series of hospitals in New Jersey and Philadelphia. I loved the detective work and the way the case was finally solved.
Jessica Musselman
From the Kitchen of Half Truth by Maria Goodin
Imaginative and unique, I'd never read a book with so many "tall tales" sprinkled throughout the story. Meg's mother has always filled her life with far fetched explanations for Meg's birth and early childhood, some of which Meg believes until adulthood when she really starts to wonder what is really true and why she has "memories" of some of the outlandish claims of her mother. Returning home to ask for explanations Meg realizes her mother is terminally ill and questions whether she needs to get to the bottom of live spaghetti plants and scars caused by a crab cake bite, or just enjoy the time she has left. The mother/daughter dynamic is beautifully told in doubt, realizations and truths as Meg begins to find answers.
Barbara Kirch
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
I love this book! The story of Sarah and Handful really brings to life slavery and the desire for abolition. The girls build a relationship beyond mistress and slave as the story progresses.
This is the best of Sue Monk Kidd's books yet!
Rachelle Strachar
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
I loved this book. It has plenty of mystery and intrigue --- I was glued to it!!
Rachelle Strachar
Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead
I enjoyed this book. A coming of age for a young African American man. Having grown up not far from where the book took place, I really enjoyed hearing about the locations. It is well written and an enjoyable read.
Rachelle Strachar
City of Thieves by David Benioff
A coming of age book about a poet's son in wartime. I am really enjoying it.
Julie
Flowers In The Attic: Dollanganger by V.C. Andrews
I was curious to read this book after the TV movie came out this month. I'm embarrassed to say I was not familiar with the author, she was a very prolific writer. My daughter told me that this was required reading in high school.
Nancy Coughlin
A Street Cat Named Bob: And How He Saved My Life by James Bowen
I challenge anyone to get through this book without shedding a few tears. The author faces himself and acknowledges his mistakes. Hopefully a good life will be his.
Gini Saville
Songs of Willow Frost by James Ford
I love Ford's historical background of Seattle in this book and his first novel.
Christen Bezoski
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
An interesting book, but it is punctuated with unnecessary language and descriptions which seem only intended for shock value.
Saundra McKenzie
The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg
This novel is an absolute joy to read, you can't put it down and you don't want it to end. he book is written with a dual story line, one in Alabama as a modern story and the other in Pulaski, Wisconsin in the forties.
Sharon Elliott-Fox
Maisie Dobbs: The Maisie Dobbs Series by Jacqueline Winspear
I really enjoyed learning more about the era of WWI --- one I was not very familiar with. The setting is England and focuses on Maisie Dobbs. Masie is a bright young girl whose mother has died and whose father has the opportunity to place her "in service" in an enlightened household where her talents are discovered and nurtured. She goes to college, but leaves to train as a nurse during the War, serves on the Front in France and returns to England to establish herself as a private investigator.
Tessa B C
Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones
The first line of the book is, “My father, James Witherspoon, is a bigamist.”
I was completely drawn into the story of two sisters, only one of whom knows the other exists. Jones crafts a tale of a different family model that rings true. I recognize my own emotions and reactions in the characters, from the desire to be “Daddy’s little girl” to the need for recognition. The choices the characters make effect not just themselves but a wider circle of people, often with unintended results. In the end Jones shows that we must all live with the results of choices --- whether it was our choices or someone another persons. Every character wins and loses.
Joanne Anderson
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Once I started this book, I did not want to put it down! The story sweeps you through decades and the characters are believable. I very highly recommend this book to everyone!
Susan Currant
King and Maxwell: A King and Maxwell Novel by David Baldacci
King and Maxwell are private investigators whose new client is a 16 year teenager who has been told by the US Military that his Dad was killed during a mission in the Mideast. Tyler would accept that if he hadn't received an email from his Dad after he was presumably killed. He hires King and Maxwell to help him find out the truth. Bullets start flying as they dig for the truth.
Margaret Gulick
Lucia Lucia: A Ballantine Reader's Circle Novel by Adriana Trigiani
I have just starting reading Trigiani's books and so far this is my favorite. It takes me back to a simpler time, wanting to live in the Greenwich Village of the 1950s and work in B.Altman. I saw AT at a book signing recently, and I love the way so many of her characters are based on her grandmothers and their experiences.
Allison Gardner
Very Valentine: The Valentine Series by Adriana Trigiani
A great Italian story.
Dianne
Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
A delightful love story for February.
Lisa Nekich
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Captivating, which is good because it is lengthy. However, I was a bit disappointed in the ending, finding it a bit preachy.
Marilyn Shapiro
The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar
This book was an excellent book club read. It provides a wealth of topics for discussion starters and elicits great responses from the participants.
Helen Duncan
Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival by Bernd Heinrich
This book is packed with fascinating information about how all sorts of creatures manage to survive winter in the wild. It's so entertainingly and charmingly written that I seldom had any sense that I was being educated about the subject. Of course, I love animals and nature so that might make a difference. I highly recommend the book.
Colin Beierbach
The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley
I enjoyed the book, but I was able to guess the secret.
Anne Marie Koschnick
Evan's Gate: A Constable Evans Mystery by Rhys Bowen
Right from the beginning you have two missing children --- one who was killed 25 years ago and one who recently vanished. Is the killer the same person? Does a family reunion mean anything to the crimes? This is the eighth in the Constable Evan Evans series and he is now in plain clothes, but hi is still as gentle and thoughtful as he is in uniform. This time, he is personally involved --- he discovered the body of the child who was missing 25 years ago, and she had been a friend of his. Now the rush to find the recently missing child is on. While I suspected some of the ending, I still enjoyed the procedure and the info about Wales that I gleaned from the book. An enjoyable read.
Lois Lilling
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
I'm so sorry the book has ended. The characters are memorable, and I see people I know in all of them. Olive is a gem --- love her and the book.
Betty Chrastka
The Preservationist by Justin Kramon
A good suspense/thriller and page turner.
Susan Jacobsen
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
Love this book and it's a great read for book clubs. The story and the characters were very interesting and kept the book moving. I hated to see it end.
Linda Reck
Mission to Paris by Alan Furst
Alan Furst writes realistic historical fiction. In this book, France was undermined by Fascist sympathizers. Many of the military leaders did not follow what their intelligence told them about German intention and tactics. The book is action-packed and thoroughly researched --- very suspenseful. Alan Furst is an espionage writer at the top of his game.
Debbie Maskus
The Silence of the Library: Cat in the Stacks Mystery by Miranda James
This is the Cat in the Stacks mystery series that I have read. I whole-heartedly enjoyed this reading, as opposed to the first book of the series, MURDER PAST DUE. Charlie Harris is a loving, gentle soul that comes across as blasé in the first novel. In this book, Charlie has a little more gumption and flair. The story highlights the syndication of mystery series writers for children. The casual information about the authors of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys books has prompted me to revisit these early treasures. The old, forgotten, and quaint mystery writer, Electra Barnes Cartwright resembles the actual Mildred Wirt Benson, and gives the readers a glimpse into the life of earlier mystery writers.
Pattie Berryhill
House of Earth by Woody Guthrie
I loved the Texas dialect all throughout the story. It is a genuine portrayal of the Depression era in rural America.
Lynn W
A Spear of Summer Grass by Deanna Raybourn
Delilah Drummond is forced to leave Paris after her latest scandal. She is shipped to her favorite step-father's manor house on the lush savanna in Kenya. There in the dark, savage, but complex beauty and joy of Africa she discovers what's worth fighting for and what she cannot live without. The 1920s and Africa----lovely....
Mindy
The Life List by Lori Nelson Spielman
This book really made me think about what my dreams and goals were as a teenager. Did I end up living and achieving them as an adult? Did they change as I grew? Do I have regrets that I wish I could change? It was a really good read that I would recommend to other Book Clubs.
Betty Ramsey
The Pyramid by Henning Mankell
This book is a compilation of five stories from Det. Wallander's first cases as a young man. I have read many of the Wallander books and was happy to find stories about his early career as a police patrolman and later a detective in Sweden. Wallander is one of my favorite characters, probably because I identify with him so much. He is so conflicted...so intuitive in his work but so unsure of himself, second guessing himself constantly. He's always thinking he could have done something better. His personal life is a mess...he doesn't understand why his marriage is falling apart, his relationship with his father is deteriorating, he puts himself in danger too often. But...I'm a fan of police procedurals and this one is a great read.
Stephanie Levy
The Descent: Book Three of the Taker Trilogy by Alma Katsu
I am so disappointed in this final book of try series. I loved the first two books, THE TAKER and THE RECKONING. This book fell flat. I hate to discourage anyone from reading it, but I expected more based on the first two books.
Marilyn MacDonald
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
A very up-beat, satisfying read with a mystery to solve and great characters. I loved it!
Pam Adamovich
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
As a nurse who specialized in pediatrics and worked as a High School Nurse for 13 years, I felt especially close to these characters. I wept like a baby at the end, as I have experienced similar losses in my career and know of people going through this now.
Sandra Hughes
The Moon Sisters by Therese Walsh
The story of two sisters who are as different as day and night. After their mother dies and their father starts to drink more the youngest sister sets out on a quest. She wants to find the dream that her mother was searching for. She wants to go to the bog and find the will-o-the-wisp. The older daughter is in close pursuit, and together they meet some very interesting characters.
Judy Murden
Wolf Hall: Wolf Hall Series by Hilary Mantel
If the mark of a book is the lasting impression it leaves on a person, I'd give this book five stars. I'll be traveling to London later this month and plan --- thanks to Wolf Hall --- to pursue all things concerning Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell. That said, while the writing in this novel was subtle and at times thought provoking, I found it too subtle (hint: "he" almost always refers to Cromwell) and very tedious. I'll wait a long time before tackling the next two books in this trilogy.
Michelle
Chill Factor by Sandra Brown
So far it is pretty good.
Sue Kachtik
The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan
I have read most of Tan's books, this was not my favorite but I am glad I read it. The story got a little bogged down in too much graphic sex but a good plot and lots of info about Chinese life and history in the early 20th century was worth the read.
Judy
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
This book reminded me that one person, no matter what age can, change life as we know it in dramatic ways. Despite the threats of powerful people, I am reminded that others only have as much power over us as we allow.
Sue Kachtik
Best Kept Secret: Clifton Chronicles by Jeffrey Archer
One of my favorite authors of many years. This is the third in his "The Clifton Chronicles" series. It was my least favorite of the first three, but I am eager to read the final one that will be published in March, 2014. Lots of very well-developed characters that are seldom unbelievable. A fun and easy-to-read series.
Sue-Marie Rendall
I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Emily Bell believes in destiny. When she sees Sam Border at the back of the church while singing a solo she never wanted to sing, she feels they are connected. Sam feels it too.
Their relationship is tentative and fragile at first, but they gradually become comfortable being together.Then Sam's father takes him and his younger brother Riddle away from everything they've come to find comfort in, and destiny may mean something altogether different.
This is an engrossing story of connections that can be forged, what it means to be a family and how circumstances beyond one's control can become part of who one is.
Sharon Elliott-Fox
Murder Makes a Pilgrimage by Sister Carol Anne O'Marie
Sister Mary Helen wins a trip to Spain for herself and Sister Eileen. It's a tour group of ten people, none of whom apparently knew each other prior to embarking on the trip. It's Sister Mary Helen who decides to take an early morning walk to the cathedral and finds her way into the crypt --- where not only do the bones of the Saint reside, but there's a dead body. In the ensuing days of sightseeing, Sister Mary Helen has three "accidents", any one of which could have been fatal. Why should anyone want her dead? What does she know that puts her in danger?
Lisa Patton
We are Water by Wally Lamb
This was an excellent book club selection! We had such interesting viewpoints and observations --- really great for conversation!
Terese Tessar
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
This is a wonderful book. I love historical fiction, and this story brings to light a little known piece of American history. It is so sad that siblings were lost and not found again until it was too late.
Melanie S.
Mary Coin by Marisa Silver
A well-constructed historical fiction based on the famous photograph taken by Dorothea Lange of a migrant worker named Florence Owens Thompson during the Great Depression. The writing is beautiful and evocative, the story reminiscent of The Grapes of Wrath. It lost a bit of momentum in the middle of the story, but it ended in an interesting, if somewhat predictable, conclusion. A worthwhile quick read.
Donna Kitchell
The Cider House Rules by John Irving
I didn't realize how much I would like this book. It covers the controversial issue of abortion in an open and interesting way and makes you think twice about all the rules we live with throughout our lives.
Rebecca Anderson
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
Painful but riveting. A real mind-stretcher!
Barbara Mardones
Jewelweed by David Rhodes
Amazing insights into so many characters rooted in Midwestern towns. Their amazingly deep, complex and interwoven lives would have remained invisible to a less insightful author. This is his second novel, equally dense with description and the ability to draw the reader into the world of Words, the small WI town which nurtures these lives.
Kay Norman
The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin
Excellent historical fiction, well written with strongly drawn characters. Even though we know the Lindbergh story, this book captures interest from beginning to end.
Denise Beierbach
The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley
Not as thrilling as I thought it might be.
Anne Spier
The Illusion of Separateness by Simon Van Booy
This book was recommended to me by a fellow reader whose opinion I respect; I was very disappointed. Although it was a quick, easy read (if you don't mind being confused) it was a little too contrived. People who think they have no connection to others turn out to be very much connected, but then you already knew that from the title
Fran
Saving Cicadas by Nicole Seitz
I did not realize this was a Christian, pro-life book until half way through.... not impressed.
Wendy Catalano
Unseen: A Will Trent Novel by Karin Slaughter
UNSEEN is the seventh book in the Will Trent series. Along with Slaughter's Grant County series, it is one of my all-time favorites.
UNSEEN is an exceptional addition. The story focuses mostly on Will, an undercover GBI agent and Lena, a Macon County detective, whose paths cross when all hell breaks loose. Two investigations collide with intense and shocking twists and turns involving both sides of the law.
A dynamic cast of familiar characters, emotional rawness and spine-tingling suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. It is everything a violent mystery/thriller should be. I highly recommend this series!
Kathy Iwasaka
Speaks the Nightbird by Robert McCammon
Historical fiction at it's best. At 800+ pages it is not a quick read, but it pulled me along and kept me "bewitched" throughout the adventure. The book is an adventure, a mystery, a love story and a look into how life might have been lived in the late 1600s.
Jane Hopkins-Fisher
Someone by Alice McDermott
A haunting story and insightful character development leaves you thinking for days after reading. It resonated with everyone in our book club.
Sharon Elliott-Fox
The Summer Kitchen: Blue Sky Hill Series by Lisa Wingate
A lovely book of reconciliation, salvation and joy as a family works through challenges and finds new meaning in helping others. A story of drawing a community together.
Gretchen Kempff
Pavilion of Women: A Novel of Life in the Women's Quarters by Pearl S. Buck
An intriguing insight into the mind of an upper class Chinese woman. On her 40th birthday she tells her family that she will bring another woman into the house for her husband. She decides she no longer wants to bear children and deserves her own life. She acquires the service of a priest to tutor her second son in foreign languages. A relationship forms between the woman and the priest, and it effects her for the rest of her life. This book is my club's February selection and should be an interesting discussion.
Dawn
Done Deal by Rene D. Schultz
Death does not begin with the loss of the ability to breath or the last beat of your heart. Author Rene Schultz gives us a very eye opening look into that journey. Her magnificent writing lets the reader join our protagonist, who recently discovers she has a terminal illness. We walk along with Cassie as she heads towards the end of her life fighting for justice in the world of big business, pharmaceuticals and insurance companies.
Dawn Whidden
Jonathan's Locket by Lorraine Carey
Not since Mark Twain has an author been able to capture the spirit and mind of two young boys and put it on the page for the reader to absorb. This story follows the adventure of two different teenage boys from two completely different eras of time and is done masterfully by the author. The reader becomes engrossed in the passion each boy feels for where he is headed and what he is looking for --- what happens next is magical.
Pirates, ghosts and broken spirits make this book a seaworthy gift or bedtime story for any adolescent.
Elaine Baxter
The Diary by Eileen Goudge
Made me wish that my Mom had written something of her life before she became someones' wife.
Lorraine Carey
Faceless: A Mystery by Dawn Koplan Whidden
FACELESS was my second book by Dawn Kopman Whidden. I knew I would once again be blown away with another gripping murder story. We find homicide detective Jean Whitley and her partner Marty Keal on the trail of a serial killer who fancies pretty young teens. This killer seems to have an agenda, and it’s not pretty as he torches their once beautiful faces and leaves them for dead. I love the character of Jean Whitley, she has so much passion for finding the killer. She is on a personal mission when she finds our her own daughter may hold some hidden information for her. There are plenty of questionable suspects on the list here, and the reader is drawn to each one as more clues are discovered.
Judy O.
Teatime for the Firefly by Shona Patel
A tea plantation in the wilds of the Indian jungles in Assam is the setting for this fascinating book. Layla Roy marries Manik Deb, an employee of the company that owns one of the plantations. This is a fascinating look at that life.
Sue Pellegrino
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
This is a worthwhile reread of a book I read as a young adult.
Tessa B C
The Double Comfort Safari Club: A No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Novel by Alexander McCall Smith
Book on CD narrated by Lisette Lecat. In the 11th installment in the popular “No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency” series, we find Mma Precious Ramotswe faced once again with some people who are behaving very badly. What I particularly love about this series is the way Smith depicts Botswana --- the land, the culture and the people.
Jan Zahrly
40 Days of Grace: Discovering God's Liberating Love by Rich Miller
This is a Christian book focused on the influence/impact God can have in one's life. I did not find it very different from most of the books of this genre. There are many interesting short stories that the author used to make his point. Above all, one must have faith in Christ to gain from this book.
Jan Zahrly
On Off: A Carmine Delmonico Novel by Colleen McCullough
This is the first of McCullough's books about an old fashioned detective in a small university town in Connecticut. It seems to drag at times, as we see the detective use an employee of the research institute for information and then change his feelings about her. There is a strange death, the body discovered by accident at the research institute in a restricted area. All the employees of this university research lab are suspects and the detective and his crew keep hearing about missing girls in the area. Sometimes the girls show up dead but always on the property of a researcher at the lab. There are many false clues, but the ending is well worth the read. Spoiler --- do not read the last page!
Peggy Farmer
Ma, He Sold Me for a Few Cigarettes: A Memoir of Dublin in the 1950s by Martha Long
I'm sorry to give this book such a low rating because I really admire the author for surviving and being able to write about such a dismal childhood. My book club members were all so depressed by it, it didn't get much discussion. If you thought ANGELA'S ASHES was a hard read, don't even attempt this one.
Shirley Smith
Under the Wide and Starry Sky by Nancy Horan
I was so sad when I finished the book. It transported me to a different time and place and painted a brilliant picture of life.The tumultuous life of RLS and Fanny was like a roller coaster. I just finished the book and can't bring myself to start another quite yet. It is the kind of book that sticks with you.
Nancy Horan did it again. I had very similar feelings when I read LOVING FRANK. As a matter of fact I may go back and reread it...
Lynn W
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel by Deborah Moggach
I hope the movie was better than the book. I found the book unrealistic, the humor sad and the whole thing depressing.
Angela Satalino
The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani
Trigiani, as usual, engrosses you with her characters and their lives. I feel like I know, or want to know, every character.
Michelle Brown
Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roach
Another great Mary Roach read! She has this wonderful writing style that turns science into a hilarious tale through random tid-bits and factoids. GULP follows suit, and even would-be stomach-turning stories come across as humorous and interesting, rather than gross. I learned more about the Alimentary Canal than I ever thought I would want to, and my curiosity has been piqued to learn even more!
Barbara Brooks
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
A very "unlikely" story unfolds in this fast reading book. As silly as some of the characters' actions seemed, it certainly held my interest. I will be attending the Book Discussion this week, and am curious to find out what the other members of our group thought about the book.
Deborah Carlton
Starter House by Sonja Condit
This novel starts out innocently enough. A young couple are looking for their first home. The wife is pregnant and for her, the house they move into must be "perfect". The husband will settle for a starter house. After seeing many houses with no luck, they find a cute cape cod in a good neighborhood at a good price. Too good to be true, right? They move in and get busy nesting. But the husband works long hours and the wife is left alone a lot. Then things start to go wrong. She falls down the stairs, needing a trip to the hospital. She hears strange noises when no one is there. From here things get more eerie. Is there a ghost in the house? Is it after the baby? This novel will keep you turning the pages to find out.
Shelly
Killing Cupid: A Jaine Austen Mystery by Laura Levine
Janie is excited when she gets a call from Joy Amorso and tells her that Marvin Cooper (Marv the Mattress King) recommended her to write advertising copy.
Lance, Janie’s next-door neighbor is thrilled as he tells Janie that the “Dates of Joy” is always in the papers and that Joy if famous and only has high-end clientele.
Janie is hesitant, but she feels the money will certainly help pay the stack of bills she has accumulating in the kitchen. Besides Joy, there is Cassie the receptionist and Travis the computer geek. Joy is not exceptionally nice to her employees and likes to give orders to everyone, including Janie.
We also have the hilarious emails from Janie’s parents who always seem to get into some kind of trouble.
Donna
The Wolves of Midwinter: The Wolf Gift Chronicles by Anne Rice
A great new series. Rice makes the old werewolf legends her own, much as she did with vampires. The characters and locale are more interesting than plot points, and parts do get a little bogged down especially with the Yule decorations. But her characters drive this book. Looking forward to the next one.
susan gannon
The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
Great religious creation finale. Beautiful...
Pauline Brower
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
A novel that reads like both a memoir and a multi-murder mystery with a poignant sense of time and place in a small town.
Rosemary Sobczak
Andrew's Brain by E.L. Doctorow
Much too confusing for me.
Sean Penrose
The Alienist by Caleb Carr
Caleb Carr weaves an interesting tale in and out of history. While the crimes are gruesome, the methods of solving those crimes is fascinating to see in their infancy. While at times I felt Carr was unnecessarily wordy, his prose was very good. The characters were complex and even the writing style somewhat unusual, in a good way. I'm looking forward to checking out more by Carr.
Crystal R Blackburn
Naked Heat by Richard Castle
The second in the Nikki Heat series tie-in to the ABC TV series Castle is very entertaining.
Jan Zahrly
Jar City by Arnaldur Indridason
A wonderful mystery solving a current murder and more. Inspector Erlendur (in Iceland) is introduced in the first of a series of books about Erlendur and his staff. While most of us may not know the details about Icelandic locations, the mystery story is still there. It goes back 25 years or more and the detective and his staff have to confront victims and their families about crimes that have been hidden and memories that have been repressed for decades. This is one of the best mysteries I have ever read. I will follow this author.
Maya Beck
The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan
It was an easy, enjoyable read but I didn't love any of the characters. I wanted to like the theme of the book, the Paris Opera House, but it was a little slow.
Linda Reck
Still Life With Breadcrumbs by Anna Quindlen
"A few minutes after two in the morning, Rebecca White woke up to the sound of a gunshot and sat up in bed". What an original way for Anna Quindlen to begin her seventh book...Rebecca Winter has changed. She's divorced, can't afford to live in her upscale apartment anymore. She sublets her apartment and rents a cabin. A photographer, Rebecca, is known for her Still Life With Breadcrumbs series. but she hasn't photographed anything worthwhile for years.This is a powerful novel. It shows emotions that lie just beneath the surface. It is a refreshing love story, and Rebecca finds herself again..
Crystal R Blackburn
Mr. Monk and the Two Assistants by Lee Goldberg
The defective detective/police consultant Adrian Monk runs in to his ex-assistant, Sharona in San Francisco. Murder, mayhem and mystery ensues.
Diane Wall
Winter Garden by Kristen Hannah
I enjoyed reading something in history that I didn't know about in an interesting story.
Beth
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
Sue Monk Kidd has done it again. This historical fiction book gives a personal
view of the life of slaves in the 1800's in the south.
Aletheia Allen
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
Fantastic. This book lived up to its promise, delivering a heart-wrenching and heart-warming tale that made me inspired to be healthier, live freer, and get back out there and hike! I was so excited about the book that I started investigating pictures of Strayed on her journey before I'd even finished, and I am REALLY excited for the movie! (and yes, I do think Reese Witherspoon is an excellent selection). Highly recommend to readers and book groups alike.
Francisca E B
The Painted Veil by W. Sommerset Maugham
Audiobook performed by Kate Reading. In Kitty Fane, Maugham gives us a “heroine” who is so flawed, so unlikeable, so self-centered, shallow and obtuse … and yet … over the course of the novel she gains insight, and despite some stumbles comes to a new realization of how her life MIGHT be different. I would have liked to have more of Walter’s thoughts and feelings. To me, he really came across as a cardboard cutout – I sympathized with his plight, but had a hard time empathizing. Still this is an excellent book and I highly recommend it.
Nola Glass
The All Girl Gas Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg
This is a great book and touches on the subject of women who flew planes during WWII. Book goes back and forth between current times and a town in Wisconsin in 1940's.
Diane Fuhrer
Close My Eyes by Sophie McKenzie
This book was impossible to put down. Readers will find themselves sympathetic to Geniver, the main character and her plight. With so many plot twists and turns, it was hard to know which characters you could trust. When you think you know what's going on, something happens to change your mind. A good read if you like psychological thrillers.
Michael McAdam
The Death of Santini by Pat Conroy
Pat Conroy is one of my favorite authors - I even read the book he wrote about the books he has read. :) This non-fiction memoir really gave me insight into where his book ideas came from - his own life. I was fascinated by his life growing up and the odd characters that were/are his family. My one gripe is that this book is very non-linear. He would tell a story and I would have no idea when in his life it took place. He would tell 2 stories back to back and I would assume one caused the other to find out later they took place 10 years apart. That kinda bugged me a little - but I still loved it.
Marsha
The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly
The Lincoln Lawyer is back in top form. The characters are so well drawn that you are immediately brought into their "world". You feel their pain, their anger and their anxiety. The author seems to write better and better with each book. That's high praise and well deserved.
Tessa B C
A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley
Audio book performed wonderfully by Jayne Entwistle. Third in a series, and I’m still in love with Flavia de Luce and her indomitable spirit, not to mention her ability to lie through her teeth.
Fran
History Lesson for Girls by Aurelie Sheehan
A cute, coming of age story. Easy read that reminds you of when you were 13 and different!
Nancy Anderson
Night Road by Kristin Hannah
This was such a thought provoking book. I think it would be an excellent book club selection because it addresses the dangers of teenage drinking and the dilemma of parenting young people at that age and how one act of poor judgment can change the lives of so many people.
Walter Kretzmann
The Buzzard Table by Margaret Maron
As always, I couldn't put this Deborah Knott mystery down. Love Maron's characters, descriptions, humor, and the way she wraps up each novel with no loose ends. I have read the whole series and this is one of my favorites.
I wonder if some of the bad reviews are because the reviewer disagrees with the political views portrayed in her books. If so, that doesn't justify a lower rating! Kudos to the 2013 Grand Master! Can't wait for Designated Daughters due Aug 2014.
Walter Kretzmann
A Matter of Justice by Charles Todd
I like to be original in my reviews. Unfortunately reading the Charles Todd mysteries I can't do better than being redundant...."I only recently (within the last two months) began to read the Ian Rutledge Mysteries. I am exceptionally impressed with Charles Todd (and his mother) for writing such a series. I go from one book to the next - without hesitation and in anticipation."... All I can say is if you want to read the series - buy ALL the books at the same time and read them in order !!!
Walter Kretzmann
Broken Harbor by Tana French
I'm a big Tana French fan, so this newest offering was eagerly anticipated. Unlike her previous novels, I guessed the outcome easily this time. The story line is a good one, with the usual psychological views into the character's lives. Unfortunately, in this book, there's just a bit too much of that view where the main character is concerned. I had the impression she was just adding more words to make the book longer.
Walter Kretzmann
Boy21 by Matthew Quick
Boy21 is an awesome read for anyone who wants to see the real definition of friendship. You travel with the main characters Finely as he discovers himself, what real friendship is, and what it means to love unconditionally. You will pulled right into the novel and will not be able to put it down till you finish it. I recommend that everyone read it!
Walter Kretzmann
A Darkness More Than Night by Michael Connelly
Like most of the other reviewers, I have read all of Connelly's work. He has got the "pulp mystery" down as far as style. He is uneven on plot, though. Sometimes this means a complete surprise ending involving characters that were not even relevant until the last 20 pages -- clueless (to the reader) perpetrators, in a sense. "Darkness" is the opposite. The readers know who did it within the first 30 pages and also knows that the leading suspect throughout the book is not the guilty one. So disappointing to know so quickly where things are going and then read on to discover you were right. A good effort with a major weakness.
Walter Kretzmann
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
I enjoyed Half of a Yellow Moon, The Thing Around Your Neck, and Purple Hibiscus but this book seemed an unedited mess. Adichie wrote everything she had ever wanted to write and everything she thought was funny all in one book! I finished this book only because I'd promised a friend I'd read to the end. Very disappointing!
Walter Kretzmann
We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
I guess the book is an analogy for the depressing life style that is in Africa. However, life in America does not seem much better. The writing style drags and there is one horrific incident after another. When the protagonist gets out her life changes, is it for the better? Who knows. I did not enjoy this book.
Becky Haase
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
Kidd’s retelling of the Grimke sisters and their fight for equality for women and the abolition of slavery is told with sympathy and fact. Although much of the story is fiction, Kidd manages to remain true to the real life story of Sarah and Angelina Grimke in the days and decades before the Civil War. A number of “big names” appear in the sisters’ ongoing struggle to be heard in a male dominated South and respected in a male dominated North.
The tale loses momentum in the middle, possibly because the sisters’ actual lives also stalled in their middle years. The addition of the totally fictional characters of Charlotte and Hetty carry the story well, giving the slave side of Southern life.
Francisca E B
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buch
Audio book performed by Anthony Heald. This is an epic tale of the peasant farmer Wang Lung and his family. Buck writes in a very simple style, with few complex sentences, and only enough description to set the scene. The result is a story that the reader experiences along with the characters, whose many facets are revealed through their thoughts and actions over the years.
Bonnie Gluhanich
August: Osage County by Tracy Letts
Powerful play, powerful movie. I read it for book group and recommend seeing the movie first, then reading the play. I'm drained after reading it.
Marguerite Keller
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
Wow. I started a group on fb just for book lovers so we can give each other ideas of which book to read next. Someone posted about The Kitchen House. Well, the minute I picked that book up, I could not put it down. The story is riveting. It's about an orphaned girl from Ireland in the late 1700s who becomes the property of a captain whose home is in Virginia. She is placed in the slave quarters and the slaves take her in as one of their own. They make her a part of the family and hold no ill will towards her. There is one tragedy after the next - you really never see them coming. The way the author builds up your anticipation is heart stopping. Loved, loved, loved this book!
Lynn W
The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister
A lovely little book of food for the body and soul.
Debbie Maskus
Moving Target by J.A Jance
This is the first book by J.A Jance that I have read, and I enjoyed the novel. I strongly disliked the use of an initial instead of a name. This feature will probably prevent me from reading more of the long list of J.A Jance novels. I always enjoy a novel that has one than one plot, which this book contains. This is an advance and unedited copy, and the book contains many errors. I felt the characterization of Ali Reynolds to be a little weak. In the beginning, I felt that Ali was a young woman in her 20's or 30's, when Ali is probably in her 50's. I guess that the books covering Ali Reynolds need to be read in sequence, so I missed many of the events of Ali's life. I never felt that any of the characters are flesh and bones.
Debbie Maskus
How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny
I enormously love reading Louise Penny. Her books bring cascades of tears to my eyes due to the friendship and love. Inspector Gamache inspires me to press on and not fold in spite of the odds. The story demonstrates what love and hope and loyalty will accomplish. I adore the ending, and know that the series will not end. Penny does show greed and corruption, but as the title implies, the light will get in. I would love to move to Three Pines and experience the camaraderie of a small village. Does such a place truly exist? Each novel brings out the whole village, but the story usually centers on a few of the characters. The reader can see each lovable character through Penny's writing.
Jodie Busch
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
I've only just begun reading this book, but I'm really enjoying it. Tartt writes so beautifully. It's a real joy to find a book that draws you in so swiftly, makes you stay up way past your bedtime, and gets you out of bed early, just so you can spend some time reading it.
Sandra Canales
Hollow City: The Second Novel of Miss Pergrine's Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
If you read the first book, Miss Pergrine's Home for Peculiar Children, then you will be quite excited to read the second continuation of the beloved children that you grew to care and love in Hollow City. It still has the wonderfully curious and yes, odd too, photos to help the story along. But be warned, the story will not be resolved in this second book but will conclude in Book 3. Maybe, depending on what Mr. Riggs creates next. At moments you may feel overwhelmed with the enemies seeming to have all the power, but with any peculiar fan of the books, a reader is airlifted into the sublime when once again the author takes his readers into the complex world of magic, mystery, mayhem, and yes hints of young love. Come prepared to explore!
Marsha
Merry Christmas, Alex Cross by James Patterson
Detective Alex Cross is ripped from his family's Christmas celebration to thwart hostage situation and then on to a terrorist plot. Law enforcement doesn't take holidays. The situations are well described and the pace is quite relentless.
Susan Bishop
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Beautifully written, gripping, and hard to put down.
Joan Fillot
The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Ms. Goodwin not only gives us biographical details on Teddy Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and Sam McClure; she also integrates them with those of their wives and closest associates and interweaves the biographical matter with the historical events surrounding them in order to provide a living picture of the zeitgeist during the end of the nineteenth century and the early part of the twentieth.
Lorraine Kleinwaks
I Always Loved You by Robin Oliveira
I can't sing the praises loud enough for Robin Oliveira's historical fiction. This is her 2nd novel, just published on Feb. 4th; her debut, My Name is Mary Sutter, also exceptional (Civil War time period). She's a meticulous researcher. I Always Loved You is fictionalized, based on the 40 year relationship between Edward Degas and Mary Cassatt. In May 2014, the National Gallery of Art is exhibiting their art together, examining the impact of both artists on each other's work. This novel couldn't be more timely and fascinating.
Marion Webb
The Daughters of Mars by Tom Keneally
Two sisters, both nurses, leave their home in Australia to serve in military hospitals during World
War I. Following a dangerous sea voyage, they finally end up in Greece, and ultimately on the
Western Front, coping with wounded and gassed soldiers, sometimes poor administrators,
and terrible working conditions, but making great friendships throughout the years. The historical
accuracy of this novel, and the realism of the characters, make this a memorable book, not easily put down once you begin reading it.
