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gloria_mundi@my-deja.com
THE COLLECTED STORIES OF MOACYR SCLIAR by Moacyr Scliar, 5 stars
This is a most wonderful collection of short-stories by the Brazilian Jewish writer Moacyr
Scliar, who deserves to be better known in North America. Several of his novels appeared
in English in the 1980's to great critical acclaim, but sadly, they are now all out of
print. So, it was a pleasure to find this collection of his short stories, published by
the University of New Mexico Press a couple of years ago. Magic realism is an expression
that comes to mind upon reading Scliar's stories, which defy easy classification. These
stories, always highly imaginative, are a mixture of fables, biblical parables, political
allegories. Humorous, surreal, bleak, haunting, magical -- are adjectives that came to
mind as I read them. It is a book that I highly recommend to lovers of great fiction.
nlephart@shol.com
THE BRONZE HORSEMAN by Paullina Simons, 5 stars
This is a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful epic of WWII Russia --- one of the best books I
have read in a long time. The story evolves around a young girl in Leningrad who falls in
love only to discover that this is the same soldier that her older sister has been seeing.
Refusing to break her sister's heart, Tatiana sacrifices her own feelings and turns
Alexander away --- Alexander loves Tatiana, but a dark secret from his past stands in the
way of his loving Tatiana. The plot does indeed thicken and a well-rounded love story.
GDurisin@aol.com
THE DEARLY DEPARTED by Elinor Lipman, 2 stars
THE SYNDROME by John Case, 4.5 stars
VickieBlue@aol.com
SAVING MILLY by Morton Kondracke, 4 stars
An awe inspiring book about this famous Washington D.C. reporter, Morton Kondracke, and
his personal challenge to fight Parkinson's disease after his beloved wife, Milly,
contracted it in 1988. Fascinating and fast read. Morton Kondracke is very open about his
life and his feelings and experiences as he mobilizes his efforts to persuade Congressmen
to devote more funds to research.
INTIMACY by Hanif Kureishi, 5 stars
This book can be read in one night. A powerful, provocative and insightful book about a
man in a mid-life crisis. It is the day before he has decided to leave his wife and
children. He writes about his thoughts and feelings and observations of his wife and
family who are unaware of what he is about to do. Very moving and memorable book.
THE ICE MASTER: The Doomed 1913 Voyage of the Karluk by Jennifer
Niven, 5 stars
A wonderful book and true story about a group of scientists who set out to discover what
they believed was an unexplored continent hidden in the polar ice in the Arctic Ocean. The
author researched the event for over ten years. She was a journalist who quit her job to
work on this fabulous book. She pieces together the journey of these scientists and their
triumphs and tragedies along the way. It is also a study in how people from different
walks of life are thrown together and must confront each other for survival. This is a
remarkable book and a page turner. One of my favorites.
UKHRH@aol.com
THE BLUE NOWHERE by Jeffery Deaver, 5 stars
Per usual, another fast paced, twisted, in your face thriller from the author of The Empty
Chair. Set in the criminal world of cyberspace also known as the Blue Nowhere, Deaver,
using/speaking computer lingo never lets this complex language take over, he slowly
adjusts the readers thinking. The story itself set deep in the mind of a culprit with
superb computer knowledge shows the strength of relationships that Deaver wonderfully
weaves!
WE WERE THE MULVANEYS by Joyce Carol Oates, 5 stars
A family saga of richness, joy, and love, in a small upstate New York town. The story
takes an unexpected twist revealing this family's weaknesses and strengths and ultimately
glues itself back together through fierce tension, hidden anger and the ultimate
tie...love of family.
CRUEL AS THE GRAVE by Sharon Kay Penman, 4 stars
Penman, as is her style, gives us well-written characters full of depth and understanding.
Though the mystery in Cruel is weak and rather easily seen through it should be read as an
opaque insight into the reign of King Richard I. Her astounding ability to describe with
awesome wonder the sights, sounds and life of London through her main protagonist, Justin
de Quincy, offers the reader a unique perspective of life in this turbulent time. Penman
is definitely at her best when writing mainstream historical fiction and doesn't quite
have the necessary tools to create a deep and involved mystery, which is why I highly
recommend this book be read for its descriptive detail and not it's sometime vague
quizzicality.
DAVENAYMEG@aol.com
LONE EAGLE by Danielle Steel, 2 stars
She repeats so much these days. She will tell you something about the character and then
two paragraphs later say the same thing. This story did not have much of a plot and the
little it did have, well, lets just say it got rehashed over and over again. A guy who
loves planes too much and a woman who loves him.
books4mel@yahoo.com
BLEEDING HEART by Mary Freeman, 3 stars
Third in the Gardening Mystery series, Rain Country Landscaping owner Rachel O'Connor
finds herself in the midst of another murder mystery while on the job. Good, but not as
good as the first two.
MAP OF LOVE by Ahdaf Soueif, 5 stars
A wonderful story of political unrest, family and romance in early 1900s and present-day
Egypt.
MY DREAM OF YOU by Nuala O'Faolain, 4 stars
A melancholy tale of a fifty-something travel writer working on her first novel based on a
divorce decree from the mid 1800s Ireland.
THE PROMISE REMAINS by Travis Thrasher, 4 stars
An inspirational novel about love, marriage and spirituality.
A HEARTBREAKING WORK OF STAGGERING GENIUS by Dave Eggers, 4 stars
A brilliant novel based on Eggers' life when his parents passed away, leaving him in
charge of his younger brother Toph.
STOLEN LIVES by Malika Oufkir and Michele Fitoussi, 4 stars
An emotional re-telling of Malika and her family's twenty year inprisonment by King Hassan
II of Morocco.
DBinPgh@aol.com
DROWNING RUTH by Christina Schwarz, 5 stars
Really kept my interest throughout. I was tempted many times to peek at the end!
THE WEIGHT OF WATER by Anita Shreve, 4 stars
I read this book because I understand it will eventually be a movie. It was a good read
but I have read better. I think it will make a good movie though.
OPEN HOUSE by Elizabeth Berg, 4 stars
An enjoyable read.
nana@toast.net
THE BRETHREN by John Grisham, 5 stars
Excellent.
cindyanddiane@webtv.net
BAD GIRL CREEK by Jo-Ann Mapson
A warm, funny, tragic, moving book. It will definitely make you FEEL. Highly recommended.
zaraya@optonline.net
EMPIRE FALLS by Richard Russo, 5 stars
A slow starter, this book relies on character development to hook you in. You'll meet
Miles, a decent man, who has 'settled' for less than he had been destined for. Always
trying to do the right thing, Miles seems to have traveled nowhere and landed back home in
the small dead New England town of Empire Falls. You will learn to love him and his
daughter Tick and ne'er do well father Max. Thrown into the mix is the mystery of Miles'
mother and wealthy town patriarch CB Whiting. Don't miss this one.
BREEZYWRITER@aol.com
SILENT JOE by T. Jefferson Parker, 5 stars
I've followed Jeff Parker's books since his first one and loved them all --- but this has
to be his best. The unusual characters stay with you long after the book is finished.
KyHoneypie@aol.com
Left Behind Series by Tim F.LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
They are very good books...very insightful also. Try them; you will get hooked. I love the
books. Each one is better than the last. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.
marysarko@yahoo.com
NO GREAT MISCHIEF by Alistair MacLeod, 4 stars
An ambitious telling of a Scottish clan transported to Cape Breton and then to Toronto.
Richly detailed, elegaic, and evocative.
EDMARYMOM@aol.com
HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG by Andre Dubus III
Great story, lots of twists. Interesting to learn about a different culture and all the
things we take for granted. Points out that people are not always how they appear.
THE READER by Bernhard Schlink
Some readers in our group were very upset with the older woman seducing and altering the
life of a young boy. It was a quick read, and not what we expected. Overall, it was a
"thumbs up".
lyn1256@execpc.com
OVER TUMBLED GRAVES by Jess Walter, 5 stars
It's the best book I've read in a while. The author portrays his main characters with such
ability and insight that they seemed very real to me.
MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN by Jonathan Lethem, 3.5 stars
theaerie@skybest.com
THE RED TENT by Anita Diamant, 3 stars
I enjoyed the book mainly from a historical level, but the story didn't exactly move me.
HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG by Andre Dubus III, 4 stars
Such a good read, hard to put down; it was a "page turner" for me. The story
unfolds through the eyes and perspective of such different characters from different
cultures.
CarolyngriffinNH@aol.com
HOTEL DU LAC by Anita Brookner, 4 stars
This is a relatively short book about an English woman alone on holiday at the Hotel du
Lac. At the beginning you know that Edith is enduring a type of self imposed exile from
her friends and lover in England. Toward the end of the story the reader learns of Edith's
behavior that led to her retreat. Throughout the book you're delighted with vivid and
humorous descriptions of the other hotel guests, and their relations with each other.
BSch195680@aol.com
ARTEMISIA by Marine Bramly, 4 stars
Very realistic and entertaining for a quick summer read.
BriannaMG13@aol.com
SILENT SONG by Robert Bullock, 5 stars
Any of his books are fives.
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE by J.K. Rowling, 5 stars
Joyfuljess@aol.com
FINAL TARGET by Iris Johansen, 4 stars
I liked the main idea of this book a lot. At first, I was really excited when I realized
what the plot of the book was, however, I was disappointed because it just fell flat. It
could have been so much more intriguing and exciting but it just ran out of gas and
resorted to cliched type characterizations. Ms. Johannsen has done much better.
CHILL FACTOR by Chris Rogers, 5 stars
This was a great book, lots of action and a fantastic ending. I really liked this book.
THE PERFECT STORM by Sebastian Junger, 5 stars
I never saw the movie so this was a fresh experience for me. I was completely taken in
with the story of the ill-fated crew of the Andrea Gail and all the details of the storm
that overcame them. I literally could not put this book down. I stayed up until 1:00 am to
finish it ---that is a sign of a terrific book.
ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE by Mary Higgins Clark, 4 stars
A typical damsel in distress type mystery, but good regardless.
VALAITISH@aol.com
THE SEARCH by Iris Johansen, 3 1/2 stars
A good beach or airplane book. It's a little contrived, but it passes the "so
what" test.
Lucky4750@aol.com
ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE by Mary Higgins Clark, 5 stars
A great read of two murders that take place a century apart in a small town in N.J.
SUMMER ISLAND by Kristin Hannah, 5 stars
Relationship or lack of between mother and daughter and the healing and forgiveness that
takes place.
PICTURE PERFECT by Jody Picoult, 4 stars
Led37@aol.com
THE LADIES OF COVINGTON SEND THEIR LOVE by Joan Medlicott, 4 stars
Author's first novel and a delightful story of three older women and their friendships.
DELIRIUM OF THE BRAVE by William Charles Harris, 5 stars
This book is also a first novel of the author. The setting is Savannah, GA and parts are
almost as decadent as some of the situations in MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL.
Taking it very slowly near the end because I don't want the book to end and am also afraid
to read on to discover what has happened to some of the characters.
Bossu49@aol.com
THE END OF ENEMIES by Grant Blackwood, 5 stars
THE SEARCH by Iris Johansen, 4 stars
dawnymae@micron.net
THE STORY JAR by Robin Lee Hatcher, Angela E. Hunt, and Deborah
Bedford, 5 stars
This is a book for anyone who wants to read a good heart wrencher. Women have
catastrophies and yet overcome them and find the love they always knew they had in their
mothers and within themselves. This is three separate stories with a similar theme that
love will overcome.
CHOSEN PREY by John Sandford, 5 stars
Again Lucas Davenport is pitted against a very able adversary. Someone is killing women at
an alarming rate and has been labeled the gravedigger. Very quick read, you can't wait to
get to the end.
DREAM COUNTRY by Luanne Rice, 5 stars
Very good book about family relations, the bonds that bring familys together and yet tear
them apart. Very well written with lots of heart, beautiful descriptions of wild Wyoming,
and the characters are so vivid, alive, and real.
falbo@villa.edu
THE BOURNE IDENTITY by Robert Ludlum, 3.5 stars
I enjoy comparing movies with books, so when I learned (belatedly!) that Universal is
filming "The Bourne Identity," I decided to reread the novel. Ludlum's books
make up in suspense for what they lack in depth, and Bourne is definitely one of his best
thrillers.
Booksagain@aol.com
TALES FROM MARGARITAVILLE by Jimmy Buffett, 5 Stars
If you can't be in Key West this summer or other southern ports of call, this book will be
a good substitute until you can be.
JWIsley@aol.com
SEVEN UP by Janet Evanovich, 5 stars
NotSoSweetOne@aol.com
P IS FOR PERIL by Sue Grafton, 2 stars
The most recent Kinsey Millhone book seems darker than many of this series. Grafton adds a
lot of characters into the mix, but they're not fleshed out well enough to make them
interesting. I found myself just trying to plow through whole sections waiting for it to
get better. Very disappointing outing.
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