*****

mdb123@earthlink.net
The Well-Fed Writer, Financial Self-Sufficiency as a Freelance Writer in Six Months or Less by Peter Bowerman. 5 stars.

It presents a very clear, down to earth plan for a person with good writing skills to establish their own freelance writing business by serving business and non-profit clients.

*****

Whom the Gods Love by Kate Ross. 4 1/2 stars.
A Broken Vessel by Kate Ross. 4 1/2 stars.
The Devil in Music by Kate Ross. 5 stars.

As soon as I finished one, I began the next. I am desolate that there will never be any additional books in the series. It will take me a few days to recover from being so engrossed by the magic of these books. At the moment, I am deeply saddened that I have finished the last of them. I will read all four books (including the first, "Cut to the Quick") again in the future. I would prefer my contribution remain anonymous. Thank you.

*****

ebie2003@aol.com
Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King. 5 stars.
Blood and Gold by Anne Rice. 5 stars.

Both books are good if you like science fiction and are a follower of Stephen King and Anne Rice books.

*****

BJWeisz@aol.com
The Corrections by Jonathon Franzen. 2 Stars.
I am disappointed in this book after reading all the rave reviews. I can only read so much at a time about these depressing people. It's a hard read but I'm determined to finish.

*****

Bjglu@aol.com
Blue Italian by Rita Ciresi. 4 stars.
I was drawn to this book since the author's a native of New Haven, Ct and the story takes place there. It's a bittersweet novel of a young married couple, their love, their differences, and how they deal with a life-altering event.

In My Hands by Irene Gut Opdyke 4 1/2 stars.
This is Opdyke's riveting story of her life as a young Catholic woman in Poland during the Holocaust. She hid many Jewish people (in the home of a Nazi leader where she was forced to work!) and aided many in their escape efforts. A truly gut-wrenching, harrowing, wonderful heroic story.

*****

Coribrown23@aol.com
Grimms Fairy Tales by Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm, 1812.
This collection includes fifty-nine stories as well as 231 pictures illustrated by Janusz Grabianski. The short tales make an enjoyable and satisfying read in a short time. My favorites in this collection are Hansel and Gretel and my all time dreamy fairy tale of all... Rapunzel.

Let down your hair and enjoy every page of this collection!

*****

Whimsey03@aol.com
The Stand by Stephen King. 5 stars.
I'm currently halfway through this one. (Yes, I'm the one who hasn't read it yet.) I have seen the miniseries, so not a lot of surprises, but it is such a good read--King is just a master.

If Ever I Return Pretty Peggy-O by Sharyn McCrumb. 4 stars.
This is the first of the ballad series by McCrumb. I had the pleasure of meeting the author two weeks ago. Her ballad series is delightful.

*****

Bberrycrk@aol.com
A Good House by Bonnie Burnard. 4 stars.
It is the story of a couple and their children and then grandchildren, the evolution of the generations as they move through the years. Wonderfully written with insight and attention to details.

*****

Kathy@aol.com
Nashville Gold by Dekker Malone.
Awesome book! Being from Texas myself, this book really hit close to home! The author's vivid detail and description of Texas, horseracing and country music were wonderful. I loved the characters and hope the sequel to this book is out soon - I'm dying to know what happens to them next!

The Summons by John Grisham
This book is definitely more the old Grisham style novel. The 2 main characters are great. As I usually do, I started this book at night and ended up staying up the whole night - reading it cover to cover! I must say I thought I had this one figured out and Grisham pulled a fast one on me at the end of the book!

*****

katmouse@attbi.com
Nashville Gold by Dekker Malone
This is a great book! It will make you laugh and it will make you cry and it definitely leaves you wanting more. I can't wait for the sequel to this book so I can find out what happens to these wonderful characters.

The Summons by John Grisham
This is a John Grisham book that all Grisham loyalists will love! He's back to his more traditional style of writing and this is definitely one worth the read! I knew I'd better start it on a Friday night - I stayed up all night finishing it!!

*****

Toad0212@aol.com
Up Country by Nelson DeMille.
I'm about half way through the book and very glad the weekend is here and no definite plans to spend the weekend. I'm so engrossed in the book that I haven't gotten to sleep before Midnight since I started the book on Tuesday. As always, DeMille has grabbed my attention and held on tight. You don't have to have read The General's Daughter to follow the this story; but some of the inside jokes are understood better if you have. Great read so far.

*****

Bibliobabe2@aol.com
O Jerusalem by Laurie R. King. 4 stars.
This is the fifth entry in King's Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series (which rates 5 stars overall) . The great detective and his apprentice travel to the Holy Land at the behest of Holmes' brother, Mycroft, where they shortly encounter numerous nefarious doings, while their courtship (yes, even Holmes can fall in love), begun in the exceptional The Beekeeper's Apprentice, continues to gain momentum. Intelligent and robust, King's Russell/Holmes novels are superb entertainment.

*****

JUTTZ@aol.com
Black House by Stephen King.
If you can get through the first 50 pages of this book it is very very good. I started to put it down because I just couldn't get into it... by the way it would be the first King book that I didn't finish but when he introduced Jack it was a thrilling book to read...I truly enjoyed this book and I recommend it to anybody. just don't get discouraged -- it gets really good.

*****

dmiech@mediaone.net
With the Weathermen: The Personal Journal of a Revolutionary Woman by Susan Stern. 5 stars.
An open, honest, and personal account of a time filled with social and political upheaval. The author includes details of her experience that offer insights into the era beyond those of a simple report.

All Families Are Psychotic by Douglas Coupland. 5 stars.
A highly entertaining fictional romp that goes above and beyond the call of duty to convey the essence of its title.

*****

BJWeisz@aol.com
The Corrections by Jonathon Franzen. 2 stars.
I am disappointed in this book after all the rave reviews. I have to take frequent breaks from these depressing characters.

*****

GandmaRI@aol.com
Without Reservations by Alice Steinbach. 4 stars.
It is a non-fiction book about a woman who puts her life on hold for a year and travels to "find herself" and to discover the world about her. Quite intriguing and interesting. It keeps you turning the pages to see where and what she discovers next.

*****

lindaharriet@msn.com
The Spirit Catches You and Then You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. 4 stars
This is a true story about the Hmong people living in Fresno, in particular, a young girl named Lia, who has epilepsy, which is the meaning of the title in Hmong. There are misunderstandings throughout, due to language and cultural barriers. I'm reading this for my next Book Club meeting. Some of the technical and medical information caused me to lose the thread of the story. I'm reading Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks, a novel of a plague town in England in 1666.

*****

jlangseth-liu@bookzone.com
Snow Falling on Cedars. 5 stars
I picked this up because I am visiting Bainbridge this summer, the fictionalized setting for this novel. Love the imagery of the fisherman's lifestyle and learning about the cultural history surrounding WWII and the internment of Japanese citizens.

*****

DThomson@ric.edu
The Analyst by John Katzenbach. 5 stars.
This is one of those books that you'll want to read slowly to savor the intricacies of the plot and the quality of the writing. Dr. Frederick Starks leads a quiet, predictable life until his 53rd birthday, when his entire existence is changed by a stranger bent on destroying Ricky's life. How Ricky survives using only his skills as a psychologist to thwart a seemingly omniscient and powerful unknown foe makes for a highly intelligent and intense thriller.

*****

polarbear90@attbi.com
In a Dry Season by Peter Robinson. 3 stars.
A British murder mystery, more substantial than most. Set in the Yorkshire Dales, it switches viewpoints and time periods to give a picture of life in the countryside in World War II.

*****

Lankford0714@aol.com
A Darkness More Than Night by Michael Connelly. 4+ stars.
Connelly is one of my favorite authors. I have read other books by him that I think were superior to this one.

Right As Rain by G. Pelaconos. 5 stars.
It was excellent and I was very impressed by the way he handled the subject.

*****

Alanh2062@aol.com
Schmidt Delivered by Louis Begley
Schmidtie is a loveable curmudgeon of a guy; a guy out of real life, flawed but trying t do the right thing as he sees it. and funny. Read the first Schmidt book, About Schmidt - it'll make you laugh and say "I know this guy!"

*****

jacsim091@symet.net
Dracula by Bram Stoker.
A classic, by all means.

Cross Roads: A Collection of Six Horror Stories by Jack Dave

Pet Sematary by Stephen King.
I didn't find it too fearsome. It was okay.

*****

mgalla@tampabay.rr.com
Almost by Elizabeth Berg
I am reading this for my book club. It is not what I expected.

*****

bigshermama57@msn.com
The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough. 5 stars.
This is a fascinating account of the devastating flood of 1889 in Johnstown PA that caused the death of over 2000 men, women, and children. It can often be difficult to write historical information in an entertaining and informative way, but McCullough does a wonderful job. His descriptions help you to visualize what the area must have been like at that time in history, what the huge earthen dam must have looked like, and what the monstrous wall of water and debris must have been like as it barreled toward the unsuspecting towns down river. Quite often during the book I felt that I was there experiencing what the townspeople were trying to live through. It was both educational and interesting and I would highly recommend it.

*****

las9657@yahoo.com
Midnight Embrace by Amanda Ashley. 5 stars.
I like vampire love stories and Amanda Ashley can write them well. It is hard to separate her books individually because they are all good.

*****

beparoo@prodigy.net
Tishomingo Blues by Elmore Leonard. 4+ stars.
It has been a great read, full of bad guys and twists.

*****

Grandmareadme@aol.com
Last Man Standing by David Baldacci. 5 stars.
Anything Goes by Jill Churchill. 4 stars.

Reason for Hope by Jane Goodall. 4 1/2 stars.

*****

Dchi612@aol.com
Up Country by Nelson DeMille. 5 stars.
Couldn't wait for DeMille's new book to come out since all his books in my opinion are 5 star. This book is a very interesting story about post-war Vietnam. DeMille is such a great story teller and keeps you interested in each and every page. Love his books. This one is right up there with his other books.

*****

AUGER77777@aol.com
Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom. 4 stars.
This was an enjoyable and thought-provoking little book about Mitch's favorite old college professor (Morrie), who is dying of Lou Gehrig's Disease. They meet each Tuesday and discuss a variety of subjects, giving the old professor the opportunity to impart a few last nuggets of wisdom and philosophy to his friend and former student.

The book was well-written and dealt with a sensitive subject (death) in such a way that one could feel quite comfortable reading about it. My only problem was with Morrie's admitted liberalism while a professor at Brandeis University. He told how all the professors, being very anti-military and against the Vietnam War, agreed to give all their students a grade of A in order to enable them to keep their deferments and avoid the draft. This did not strike me as fair, since it meant that deadbeat students deserving a C or D (or even an F) would stay is school, necessitating someone else to take his place in the draft. That someone, maybe the son of a West Virginia coal miner, or an inner-city black, who could not afford to attend college, would go and perhaps die in place of one of Morrie's "A" students.

Did this thought ever occur to Morrie? Mitch listed the subjects they discussed, but Fairness and Justice were not included, so I guess we'll never know if Morrie ever had second thoughts about the consequences of his grading system.

Still, for overall readability and some valuable wisdom that Morrie taught.

Plum Island by Nelson DeMille. 5 stars.
I didn't realize that The Lion's Game was a sequel to Plum Island, or I would have read them in the right order. It didn't really matter; both were excellent books that kept me turning pages long into the night.

Plum Island introduces the reader to the sarcasm and rapier wit of Detective John Corey, a character I hope to see a lot more of in the future. Strange how a suspense novel can have you speed reading to see what comes next, while rolling on the floor laughing at the same time. Corey is the most refreshing character I have encountered since Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum.

*****

ELEANORREST@aol.com
Thursday's Child by Sandra Brown. 3 stars.
Not her best work but enjoyable.

*****

rtaddeo@rochester.rr.com
The Hours by Michael Cunningham. 5 stars.
This literary novel, soon to be a film also, rewards a second reading. The writing is beautiful, even poetic. The three stories, that eventually converge, deal with the philosophic theme of happiness ... which moments bring it, how often does it happen. The novel stays with you long after reading it.

*****

falbo@villa.edu
Dialogues of the Dead by Reginald Hill. 4 stars.


Hill is a master of psychological suspense, but this work is a tad too long. Features lots of clever wordplay and solid detective work

*****

Krebsman@aol.com
Roman Blood by Steven Saylor. 4 stars.
Murder mystery set in ancient Rome. Quite vivid. Excellent of its kind.

Ira Gershwin: The Art of the Lyricist by Philip Furia. 4 stars.
Insightful book that is both biography and guide to the craft of lyric writing, with an emphasis on the latter.

Somewhere for Me: A Biography of Richard Rodgers by Meryle Secrest. 3 stars.
Some useful information, but a great deal that is irrelevant.

Uncle Mame by Eric Meyers. 3 stars.
Biography of "Patrick Dennis". It's very uneven, like its subject. Parts are not very interesting, others are hilarious (especially the quotations from Chris Alexander), but ultimately it's rather disturbing.

The Unknown Errors of Our Lives by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. 4 stars.
Beautiful emotional stories of culture clash with a distinctly feminine sensibility. A very satisfying reading experience.

Fascinating Rhythm, the Collaboration of George and Ira Gershwin. 4 stars.
Interesting analysis of the brothers' collaboration. This book had a great deal of information that was new to me (for example, George Gershwin and Oscar Hammerstein II collaborated on a show, the significant influence of Fred Astaire on the Gershwins, etc.), although some of the song analyses got tedious.

*****

LSzerlip@cs.com
Grand Avenue by Joy Fielding. 3 stars.

I wanted to love this book, because I have enjoyed her books in the past, but this book although well written, made me sick.

Tending Roes by Lisa Wingate. 5 stars.

I read about this book on Word of Mouth and bought it and I was so happy I did. For anyone who has an elderly parent or loved one, this book really shows us what is important.

The Courage Tree by Diane Chamberlain. 3 1/2 stars.
Well written not all that believable, but a good beach book.

*****

c_s_gross@hotmail.com
Hanna's Daughters by Fredriksson. 3 stars.

A good read.

Vinegar Hill by A. Manette Ansay. 4 stars.

A great story of a woman's courage.

*****

kbischoff@CommonHealth.com
The Nanny Diaries. 4 1/2 stars Hilarious romp through the closets (including insight on chic Jill Sander outfits AND skeletons hidden there) of the wealthy set of NYC. I was a personal assistant to one of these Uptown women, and the biting reality of these stories rings very true to me. I laughed continuously and finished the book the night I bought it.

*****

sms53216@yahoo.com
Step 339 by Nathan Shepard. This book rocks with an excellent fiction plot. Two men want to release a bio-weapon in Washington DC during the Fourth of July Parade. Book keeps you in suspense and on the edge of every page with real life characters defeating the perfect terrorist plan. The author sizzles in writing action that you feel and taste. Step 339 is the last step of the perfect plan to release the bio-weapon that left out only one problem, the response of the people. Excellent cliffhanger suspense with an unexpected ending. The author created this world of chaos in response to the threat and then shows the courage of people triumph. Written before 911 I found this book to be an inspiring source of strength.

*****

smtroy@hotmail.com
Spirits of a Feather by Charles Shirriff.
Souls of a Feather is a continuation of the first novel although it stands alone without Spirits of a Feather.

*****

Rozpet@aol.com
The Analyst by John Katzenbach. For a thrilling reading experience, I recommend this new novel. This psychological cat & mouse game will keep you on the edge of your seat and reading into the night. John Katzenbach always keeps me riveted to his stories, but The Analyst even surpasses his previous works.

*****

jhbandcats@attbi.com
Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem. 5+ stars.

Fabulous! I laughed so hard I almost fell out of bed! I can't recommend it enough!

We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates. 1 star. I can't stand her writing style, it's so heavy-handed, as though the reader were dense and moronic.

Vinegar Hill by A. Manette Ansay. 4 stars.

what crisp tight prose, and what a relief after the Oates book! A good, albeit melancholy story of being forced to live w/ horrible in-laws with a milquetoast of a husband.

*****

mohendies@earthlink.net
Anything by Robert Goddard. 5 stars.

His latest is Dying to Tell which I was only able to get off a British website. His other books are available in the US. He writes suspense. The ending of his books are always a surprise.

*****

nedsmith@hotmail.com
Palladio by Jonathan Dee. Engaging and engrossing novel, the improbability of its plot line notwithstanding.

*****

wnheinehb@aol.com
Andorra by Peter Cameron. Our book group just read this book. We don't always have access to reviews but one of the members did discover that it is all a fable. The narrator is in prison and imagines the whole story. Worth reading for vivid descriptions. Did anyone else get behind the joke?

*****

Lisabookz@aol.com
True North by Mark Harrison. 5 stars.

(Fiction) "Set in 1931, genesis of glamorous industry -- commercial air travel." Read this book! This is a true page-turner with more twists and bumps than the taxiways at Newark! Nonstop action and adventure set in early 1930s. The author has created a solid and true American hero -- a former Ace Pilot from World War I who has great wit, charm and good looks -- and will stop at nothing to uncover the truth in an accident investigation. Great characters: from lovely warm friends to evil nemesis and sexy love interests. I learned a bit along the way too about what it would've been like to fly in those days! Fast and fun like Grisham, but with more character development.

*****

JWIsley@aol.com
Up Country by Nelson DeMille. 5 stars.
It was equally as good as the first book in the series. I can't wait for them to make a movie out of this one too.

*****

JFWisherd@aol.com
The Smoke Jumper by Nicholas Evans. 4 stars.
It is an informative book about fire fighters as well as an interesting story with believable characters.

Elvis, Jesus and Coca-Cola by Kinky Friedman. 5 stars.
For lots of laughs and fun reading pick up a Friedman book. Light reading mysteries and highly entertaining.

*****

mi3son@bellsouth.net
One Door Away From Heaven by Dean Koontz. 5 stars.
I really like this book. It was about a little girl Leilani who is handicapped and beautiful who meets Mickey Birdsong. Mickey's life is changed forever and made better when she saves Leilani from her evil stepfather Preston Maddoc and her mother Sinsemilla with the help of the homeless boy who is an alien and is becoming Curtis Hammond and the dog Old Yeller and Noah Farrel a PI who's comatose sister is murdered by a nurse in the nursing home. It is about murder, bioethics, love, and hope. It is one of those books that you can't put down until you finish it. This is one of his best.

*****

rileyydog@aol.com
The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly. 5 stars.
Excellent, gripping story of Harry Bosch's pursuit of "The Dollmaker", a serial killer, and the civil trial against Bosch.

When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro. 5 stars.
Elegantly written story of a Chinese-born Englishman's search for the truth about his childhood and parents.

Circus of the Damned by Laurell K. Hamilton. 4 stars.
#3 in the Anita Blake, vampire hunter series. Horror genre.

*****

OLTLFREAK@aol.com
Jemima J. by Jane Green. 5 stars.
About a overweight girl who finds love on the internet, loses weight and the process of it all. I can relate because I just lost weight too, and I'm ready for romance. A good read.

Mr. Maybe by Jane Gree. 4 stars.
A good one too.

*****

IRISHMAE@aol.com
Warning Signs by Stephen White. 5 stars.
It is better than all of the others in his series.

*****

SAMABILLY@aol.com
Julie and Romeo by Jeanne Ray If you want a good laugh with teary eyes, read this page turner, I have never read anything so funny.

*****

Stebie2003@aol.com
Pay the Devil by Jack Jiggins. (Unabridged). 1 star.
I have heard of this author but had never read any of his books. I was not too thrilled with the book. I think the book is okay if you like books set in the 1800's and based on the idea of a wealthy gentleman who fights injustice by donning a highwayman disguise, similar to the Robin Hood genre. I am not sure if the narration performed by Richard Poe was the reason or maybe the novel itself. Overall, the novel just bored me.

Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King. 2 stars.
I usually love all of Stephen King's work until I read Hearts in Atlantis. At first, I thought the novel would consist of several surreal short stories in one novel which it does to some extent. There is even several references to The Gunslinger (Dark Tower Series) which made it more interesting at times. However, most of the book is composed of war references and the effects of the Vietnam war on the people of a small town. I did not like the terrible references even though the story is fictional in nature. This is the first time that I was disappointed in a Stephen King book.

*****

joanna1012@hotmail.com
Local Girls by Alice Hoffman. 4 1/2 stars.
A quick read at only 198 pages and is just as well written as the rest of her other books have been.

Anne's House of Dreams by LM Montgomery. 5 stars.
This is book 5 in the series and the whole series flows well and are a delight to read.

Absence of Nectar by Kathy Hepinstall. 5 stars.
My first Hepinstall read and a great one! Great characters and style. One of my top ten reads this year!

Tara Road by Maeve Binchy. 5 stars.
This is a well written, well developed and well told story with a great Irish setting and emotionally overwhelming but in a good way.

The Awakening by Kate Chopin. 2 stars.
I know is a classic but it was too dry for my taste but I may try it again later.

*****

JBarr933@aol.com
Envy by Sandra Brown.
I know that this has been recommended already but I thought it was so intriguing that it should get a second notice.

*****

Ginger.Louden@sendit.nodak.edu
The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer. 4 stars.
It is a book written prior to a miniseries by Stephen King - Rose Red, which aired on TV. It is very interesting. It is all written in detailed diary form with the author leaving out parts she thought too inappropriate. They can be found on a website listed in the book. It is mysterious, somewhat sensuous, and a little crazy!

*****

cleas@earthlink.net
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. 5 stars.
A romantic/historical adventure -- loving it.

*****

CoMountainHiker@aol.com
Germs/Biological Weapons & America's Secret War by Judith Miller, Stephen Engelberg, and William Broad. 4 stars.
The book transports you into the harsh reality that is everyday life for some. It shows us that we (USA) have been involved for a very long time with factual evidence you won't want to believe.

*****

myoung@PillsburyWinthrop.com
Up Country by Nelson DeMille. 5 stars.
He's a fantastic writer and I enjoy every single word.

*****

HLRIGHT@aol.com
Nashville Gold by Dekker Malone. 5 stars.
The book ended long before I was through reading. I can't wait for the next book from this author.

A Painted House by John Grisham. 4 stars.
Have always loved anything from Grisham but I think he is better when he stays in his own arena.

Cane River by Lalita Tademy. 4 stars.
A good book but moving a little slow.

*****

gojessgo@looped.com
A pretty good read. A story about a man whose wife is tragically murdered by a serial killer 8 years earlier, but is somehow contacting him now. I liked this book, but I got tired of the author trying to convince me how IN LOVE this couple was. I got it with the first corny conversation, I didn't need to be hit over the head again and again with example of their oh-so-special love.

Thunderhead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. 4 stars.
A very engrossing, interesting book about an archeology expedition to find a lost city of gold that turns sinister and evil.

The First Lady by Michael Malone. 3 stars.
Have you ever been to a party and there's a guy there who would not shut up and kept talking about how wonderful he was, or kept prattling on about himself? I bet ten dollars Michael Malone is one of those guys. This book was WAY to wordy and I got the distinct feeling that Malone was really digging all of his sly little southern metaphors and the implied southern aristocracy. GAG.

*****

hckid49@aol.com
Nashville Gold by Dekker Malone. 5 stars.
Captivating, fast paced and full of characters you'll consider your own friends long before the final chapter. This book DEMANDS a sequel!

*****

WhannW@aol.com
Reunion in Death by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts). 5 stars.
For me it is a put down book and has everything I enjoy, humor, suspense, romance. I stop reading everything else to read a J.D. Robb book.

*****

User599046@aol.com
I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb.
A superb read. Although lengthy with enough storyline and material to cover three novels, it becomes a mystery novel in the last one-third of the book. It would be of interest to anyone who enjoys understanding multiple and deep motivations for behavior and the thrill of discovery. It should appeal to all who are interested in psychiatry, Italian (especially Sicilian) culture, and mysteries.

*****

brady538_91208@yahoo.com
Dangerous Beauty by Mark C. Ross. 5 stars.
It is a true story of a safari and the beautiful balance of wild animals to each other along with the flora and fauna of the entire area. It helps one to full appreciate the balance of life...to a point. That point comes about three quarters of the way through the book. WOW! What a story about being captured by a guerilla force and how they lived through the ordeal. This is nail biting, fast-turn-the-page reading.

Twin Towers by Angus Kress Gillespie. 4 stars.
Enjoyed this book as it tells all about the construction of the twin towers as well as the activities that took place there on a day to day basis.

Only My Life by Louis De Wijze. 4 stars.
This is a true story of the author's life during WWII and wile in concentration camps and how he was able to survive. A very good story well told.

About the Author by Alfred and Emily Glossbrenner. 5 stars.
This is a reference book as it gives a short bio of many authors as well as all the books they have written and other interesting information.

Test of Courage by Christopher Robbins. 5 stars.
A fabulous true story of a most gifted human being. A Polish Jew who escapes the ovens of Germany 2 or 3 times, works in the French Underground, then is in the U.S. Army interrogating German troops, then coming to America and creating a fantastic program of learning foreign languages.

Gal: A True Life by Ruthie Bolton. 4 stars.
This is the true story of an uneducated black lady who gets beaten constantly by her grandfather who plays the role of her father. It takes place from her young childhood to her adult years probably to around 50 or so though she doesn't tell. Her lack of education gets her in trouble at times, but also her total lack of self esteem.

Comfort Me With Apples by Ruth Reichl.
This is really an autobiography of Ruth Reichl that has great interest on every page. It is particularly interesting when she talks about how Wolfgang Puck started up his first restaurant in Los Angeles. It was so good, I got my wife to read it who also liked it.

Sleepers by Lorenzo Carcaterra. 5 stars.
Apparently this is a modern "classic" but I was unaware of it until I discovered it on the shelf. This is one great true story about the life of 3 boys who were the closest of friends and how they pulled an "innocent" trick that sent them to a "boy's school" in N.Y. and their terrible treatment there...and the aftermath of that.

When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago. 4 stars.
This is an autobiography where at least 4/5ths of the book takes place in Puerto Rico. This is about a girl growing up in a poor family under living conditions that are reminiscent in Angelas Ashes. I read this aloud to my wife and both of us like it a lot.

Black Livingstone by Pagan Kennedy, 4 stars.
This non-fiction book reminded me of when I read many books about Africa when I was a child and young adult. I was introduced to a person and incidents that I was unaware of and was glad to have read the book. There are passages where the author surmised the events, however, she tells you in the forward of scanty available information in various areas of "Black Livingstone's" life and I think she did a fine job of making the story interesting. Events take place, primarily, from 1890 to 1910 and the dangers confronted and the accomplishments made are worthwhile reading.

The Adversary by Emmanuel Carrere. 3 stars.
Another critic stated that this book reads like a newspaper article and that is about as accurate as is possible. This is the true story of a man who lived his entire life...or at least his adult life...as a complete lie. How is this possible? It is the truth and most complicated...and expensive. Even his job is a lie and how he acquires money to live and entertain on is a felony all by itself. The story is an amazing one, however, the telling of it is a translation from French and there is no urgency on the part of the reader to hurry on to the next page. The facts are so compelling that you must keep going, but not in a fascinating way. I have not had a favorable experience reading translated works...in fact many of them I quit sometime along the way. At least this one I had to read from beginning to end.

*****

Dchi612@aol.com
The Cottage by Danielle Steel. 5 stars.
Enjoyed the story, loved the characters and just couldn't put the book down.

The Summons by John Grisham. 3 stars.
After reading all his books found this one to be a disappointment. Found it to be slow moving and a little boring at times.

*****

Iamshort830@aol.com
Bloody Sunset in St. Augustine by Jim Powell and Nancy Mast. 3 1/2 stars.
It was based on a true story that happened in St. Augustine in 1974. It was written in newspaper form, so it might be hard to read to some people. It was very good. Lots of details, suspense, and good writing by the authors. I wouldn't recommend a child read it or even a younger teenager because of the vivid details.

The House on Hope Street by Danielle Steel. 3 stars.
This book was good. It was sad, I cried. The main character(s) in the book were Jack and Liz Sutherland, they ran a law firm, Their children, all 5 of them, and the doctor that saved Peters life, Bill Webster. If you like tearjerkers, this is book for that.

*****

burnisetuck@yahoo.com
Walter Benjamin at the Dairy Queen--Reflections at Sixty and Beyond by Larry McMurtry. 5 stars.
I'm in the middle of this wonderful memoir and highly recommend it.

The Sixteen Pleasures: A Novel by Robert Hellenga. 5 stars.
About life, art and love in Italy, book restoring, and a lot more. A great "biblio-novel", highly recommend also.

*****

Britadon@aol.com
The Dress Lodger by Sheri Holman. 4 stars.
Close to 5 stars, but is a little difficult to get into. Set in the 1830's in London, it is a real eye-opener on the life of the poor during an epidemic of cholera and frogs. Quite a different slant on early medicine, also.

Princess by Jean Sasson. 5 stars.
This is a true story, written in 1992. I cannot recall when a book has so affected me. I am appalled at the condition of women in Saudi Arabia after reading this book. I have her next two books and am hoping that there might be some improvement but I fear there has not been for centuries. I hope the woman telling the story does not lose her life for doing so.

Roses are Red by James Patterson. 5 stars.
Must be as I read it all in one night. Patterson can be very graphic at times, but I felt that this book did not go overboard. Really enjoyed the storyline though I did solve it about 2/3 through.

Hotel of the Saints by Ursula Hegi. 3 stars. But, my rating might not be fair as I am not a lover of short stories and this is a book of short stories.

Be Cool by Elmore Leonard. 2 stars.
Sorry, you Elmore Leonard fans but I felt that there was not much of a story or of a mystery here. Doubt that I will read another of his.

*****

Nomad61@aol.com
The Bridge by Doug Marlette. 5 stars.
This authors first book is incredible. Rich, passionate, he doesn't waste a word. He is just as masterful with his words as he is with the black ink pens he uses for his political cartoons. (are you kudzu fans... ) He won the Pulitzer for his cartoon, The Challenger, absolutely powerful!

*****

Lucky4750@aol.com
A Cold Christmas by Charlene Weir. 3 stars.
It was a good read, nothing great and definitely not a "I can't wait to turn the page" story. The usual crime story about a murder in someone's basement and it leads the woman police chief on a search that unravels a lot of mysterious evidence and raises even more questions.

Dr. Death by Jonathon Kellerman. 4 stars.
A Dr. Kevorkian type story. Dr. Death becomes the victim in this story. And now the hunt is on for the person or animal that killed the famous Dr. Mate. It was pretty good but not as good as Kellerman's last books I have been reading lately.

*****

TNCOWBOY01@aol.com
The Poet in Exile by Ray Manzarek. 4 stars.

Gigantic by Marc Nesbitt. 4 stars.

*****

SistahSunflwr@aol.com
A Kiss of Shadows by Laurell K. Hamilton.
This is great writing by my favorite fiction author Laurell K. Hamilton. If you like Mystery, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance, and or alternative histories you will love this series. A Kiss of Shadows is book one of the Meredith Gentry novels. Merry is a Faerie Princess, undercover in modern LA She is being hunted by the Faerie Queen's assassin to be brought back. Very steamy reading!!

*****

ILENESTEPH@aol.com
First Counsel by Brad Meltzer.

The Tenth Justice by Brad Meltzer.
Both are very compelling reads -- better than his most recent books.

*****

Ery222@aol.com
Sacred Contracts by Carolyn Myss. 5 stars.

Dreamcatcher by Stephen King. 4 stars.

*****

MysteryNut19@aol.com
We Were The Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates. 2 stars.
There is a review on the cover of this book that claims it "will break your heart, heal it, then break it again". Personally - I found this book to be so lacking in character depth and so disjointed in storyline that my only reaction was surprise that so many people on this site wrote raves about this book!

*****

Dolfandmj@aol.com
Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton. 4 stars.
This is the first book I've read by this author. I've recently started reading many of the Oprah Book Club selections, and this is the first one I didn't completely enjoy. Even though it was wonderfully written and filled with vivid character detail, I found the lives of these people so sad and depressing, that even the hope maintained by the title character didn't leave me with any hopeful feeling myself.

The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman. 4 stars.
About 3/4 of the way through this story and really enjoying it so far.

*****

Irsmeg@aol.com
The Mugger by Ed McBain. 4 stars.
Why this book alone is good I have found the series on the whole to be wonderful. It is very real plots and easy to relate to characters.

*****

Yodasmommy@aol.com
Cold by John Smolens. 5 stars.
I loved this book! Read it in two days and now I am going to find his other books to read. It takes place in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where I understand it is VERY cold right now!!

*****

MzWiggly@aol.com
Soul of the Fire by Terry Brooks. 5 stars.
This is the fifth book in the Sword of Truth series. It's a light, humorous book that makes me really care about the characters. Without telling too much about the book, in case you haven't read the other 4, I'll be brief in my description. The author does a great job of getting you to like the main character, Richard, who has know idea what he's doing but seems to keep.. 'saving the day.' And the relationship between he and his 'teacher' Zedd is always full of humor especially when he has to explain the trouble he's gotten into and what he's learned without the help of his 'teacher'. It's a great fantasy book (series) that isn't too far out there and it isn't a Sci-Fi fantasy either. Just a good book and series. I really like the authors wit and his writing style.

*****

mot123@bellsouth.net
The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer by Joyce Reardon. 5 stars.
This is a very interesting book that was the basis of Stephen Kings movie Rose Red. It is a book that you can't put down. It catches your interest from the first page until the last.

*****

nlp0410@email.msn.com
These Granite Islands by Sarah Stonich. 5 stars.
A beautiful first novel; you are taken on a journey through the summer of one woman, and her chance encounter with a free spirit (painfully bound by the ideals of a society from a simpler time) that changed the way she looked at love & life; that haunted her to her last dying breath. Beautifully written.

*****

JJesse813@aol.com
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. 5 stars.
What a romp of a read Enger has offered, with eccentric but endearing characters who struggle dearly with the torments of choice, remaining undaunted, resilient and faithful to themselves and their family to the end; with writing that will leave you gasping at times; and enough of the miraculous to make you question the depth of your own faith. It's been a few years since I've cared so much about the characters and the outcome of their journey.This book will rest on the shelf beside The Catcher in the Rye, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Huckleberry Finn, and To Kill a Mockingbird. It is that good.

Plainsong by Kent Haruf. 4 stars.
This is a fine, fine book, simply and sparingly written, with all the marks of an enduring work. It deserved to be a finalist for the National Book Award, no doubt. A tale of a small town on the plains of Colorado, we participate in the affectionate acts of kindness and support so characteristic of the rugged life in settlements in the middle of nowhere. If for no other reason, read this book for an introduction to the McPheron brothers. This book moved me, truly, but in comparison to Enger's Peace ..., work failed to grab and engage me with the same force or enjoyment. Perhaps me, perhaps not.

Nonetheless, I hope Enger picks up an award for his work, a Pulitzer or a National Book Award. If anyone has read both and disagrees, I'd love to hear from you.

*****

cjherd@yahoo.com
Reading the Bible Again for the First Time by Marcus Borg. 5 stars.
Subtitled: Taking the Bible Seriously, But Not Literally. Iit's tremendous. I bought a copy for each of my 3 adult children, telling them to, "Put it beside your Bible. If you don't have time to read it now, some day you will!" It's difficult reading, but has a lot of good meat in it. Fundamentalists won't like it though!

Never Change by Elizabeth Berg. 5 stars.
About a nurse & her patients. Excellent, as Ms Berg's books always are.

The Ice Child by Elizabeth MacGregor. 4 stars.
I read every other chapter, because there were 2 stories running throough the book, & I only liked the one about humans, not the one about polar bears!

Beloved Stranger by Clare Boylan. 5 stars.
I like books that give you something to think about during & after reading them. This one really did. Parents of an older generation where the wife was subservient to the husband, & when he goes mad, she can't cope w/her new role in the marriage.

Open Season by Linda Howard. 4 stars.
It was a "page turner" from the 3rd chapter on! Daisy, with her make-over & Chief Russo, become an item, even though he is keeping her from meeting eligible men she thinks. There's white slave traffic involved & somebody wants her murdered.

Cozy by Parnell Hall. 4 stars.
Max, the cat, can do a trick: in the shell game, he can pick out the cup with the sardine under it every time. No one knows how he does it, & when it comes time to pick out who was the murderer, Max knows who it is! I've read Parnell Hall's books about the Puzzle Lady, also. He's an old timer when it comes to murder mysteries.

Suzanne's Diary For Nicholas by James Patterson. 2 stars.
I thought. this was a cheap trick. I could just read Mr. Patterson's mind after he read Bridges of Madison County: "...why I can write a love story just like that with different characters & location, & make a killing..." And he did.

*****

stebie2003@aol.com
Pay the Devil by Jack Higgins. 1 star.
I have heard of this author but had never read any of his books. I was not too thrilled with the book. I think the book is okay if you like books set in the 1800's and based on the idea of a wealthy gentleman who fights injustice by donning a highwayman disguise, similar to the Robin Hood genre.

I am not sure if the narration performed by Richard Poe was the reason or maybe the novel itself. Overall, the novel just bored me.

*****

gregc2@bellsouth.net
Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews, aka Kathy Hogan Trocheck. 3 1/2 stars.
A fun read that kept the pages turning, and made me want to return to Savannah and see a different side of the town, junking estate sales. MK Andrews knows how to hold the readers without being intense.

*****

PFLucas@aol.com
French Lessons Adventures With Knife, Fork, and Corkscrew by Peter Mayle. 4 stars.
A book related to Mayle's series of living in the South of France. This book is mainly about food and dining. Chapters are devoted to the gastronomic pleasures of France: truffles, cheese, and snails and Mayle describes in great detail experiences regarding festivals that are held in parts of France to celebrate these favorite foods. The book also offers information about the history of the famous Michelin Guide.

The Persia Cafe by Melany Neilson. 4 stars.
The Persia Cafe is center stage in this story of a young girl growing up in a small Mississippi RIver town in the early 1960's. This is the author's first novel.

*****

Bossu49@aol.com
THE LAST PRECINCT by Patricia Cornwell. 5 stars.

1ST TO DIE by James Patterson. 5 stars.

*****