*****

sai_pushp@hotmail.com
The Hammer of Eden by Ken Follet. 3 stars.
It is a very interesting book and clearly shows the price that we are paying for progress and how it can affect us.

*****

c_s_gross@hotmail.com
Stones Throw by Linda Opdyke. 5 stars.
This is a great story of a woman searching for her 4 month son sold on the black market by is father.

*****

ATENC3@AOL.COM
1st to Die by James Patterson. 2 stars.
A fast read. I was rather disappointed. Not the usual Patterson suspense for me.

The Loop by Nicholas Evans. 5 stars.
All as good as The Horse Whisperer. Looking forward to reading his next one.

*****

*****

Lgluhani@aol.com
Don't Let's Go To The Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller. 4 stars.
Fuller is a young woman (white, British) who grew up in Africa. This is a biting memoir of her family life, largely dysfunctional, and relationships between the natives and the British who colonized.

*****

Mystrytx@aol.com
Tensleep by Sarah Andrews. 5 stars.
A Fall in Denver by Sarah Andrews. 5 stars.
Mother Nature by Sarah Andrews. 5 stars.
Only Flesh and Bones by Sarah Andrews. 5 stars.
Bone Hunter by Sarah Andrews. 5 stars.
An Eye For Gold and in Hardback by Sarah Andrews. 5 stars.
Fault Lines by Sarah Andrews. 5 stars.

Finally have gotten around to reading an author whose books I've been buying for about 6 years and what I've missed! Sarah Andrews, a real live professional geologist with a masterful hand at writing! I highly recommend!!! Listed are the books in the Em Hansen-Forensic Geologist series, in order!

Give yourself a real treat and read!!

*****

Bjglu@aol.com
Spilling Clarence by Anne Urdu. 1/2 stars.
Just finished this novel and its creativity and great writing are a marvel. Imagine a town where a "drug spill" causes all the citizens to remember their past lives with an unimaginable clarity. The effects of these remembrances on the characters are the heart of the novel. Richly rewarding and thought-provoking.

*****

PNormart@aol.com
Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness by William Styron. 5 stars.
If you or someone close to you has ever suffered from depression, you have got to read this book. The author pours his heart out to the reader, giving a voice to all those who have experienced this life-threatening disease. The writing is both lyrical and powerful. I view mental illness differently now, more compassionately, after reading this book.

Michelle and Me: The Incredible True Stories of a K-9 Search-and-Rescue Team by Tom Shelby with Victoria Houston. 4 1/2 stars.
I haven't finished with this book yet, but I'm enjoying it so far. As an animal lover I'm always intrigued by how people and animals live and work together. But the obvious reason I picked it up was to understand how the search-and-rescue teams at Ground Zero operated. Interesting stuff.

*****

mnboylan@yahoo.com
Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts. 5 stars.
First book of Roberts I've ever read but definitely not the last.

Tara Road by Maeve Binchy. 5 stars.
This book flips back and forth between two different lives and two stories with ease. Could not put it down.

*****

GDurisin@aol.com
Second Chance by James Patterson. 4.5 stars.
The second Women's Murder Club book is as good as the first, written in Patterson's trademark short-chapter, fast-paced style. Lindsey Boxer again takes the lead in investigating a series of killings that appear to be racially-motivated, but may have additional purposes as well.

The Oath by John Lescroart. 5 stars.
As always with this author, great characters and plot make a most enjoyable read. Dismas Hardy and Abe Glitsky start out on opposite sides of the investigation when a doctor is suspected of murdering an administrator at his hospital who had been brought in to the Emergency Ward following a hit and run accident.

Conflict of Interest by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg. 4 stars.
A prosecutor develops sympathy for the defendant based on his mental disabilities, and initiates further investigation of a robbery case. Interwoven into this plot is the story of her own recovery from the trauma of her children's abduction by her ex-husband. It doesn't all hang together perfectly, but well enough to result in a suspenseful narrative.

Up Country by Nelson DeMille. 4 ½ stars.
A fascinating glimpse at the horrors of the Vietnam Way and its aftermath in Southeast Asia, interwoven in a suspenseful story of the investigation into a murder believed to have been committed during the war by an American officer. DeMille has a great ear for dialogue, and uses it well to bring his characters to life.

The Analyst by John Katzenbach. 4.5 stars.
Intriguing premise - a psychiatrist receives an anonymous letter, hand-delivered to his office, challenging him to identify the sender within fifteen days or kill himself, lest one of his fifty-two relatives, identified in a list accompanying the letter, be killed by the sender. Very well-plotted, with only one element that really rang false: the analyst had kept no patient records (not even billing??) and could rely only on his memory to identify the vengeful previous client he had apparently failed to help. Despite this, the ending was particularly satisfying.

*****

bookmarm98@yahoo.com
Hostage by Robert Crais. 5 stars.

L. A. Requiem by Robert Crais. 5 stars.

I've just finished Hostage for the fourth time, and L. A. Requiem for the fifth time. Both are richly powerful and exciting reads, impossible to put down until completed!

Purple Cane Road by James Lee Burke. 5 stars.
Loved it, couldn't put it down!

First Lady by Michael Malone. 5 stars.
It's WONDERFUL; worth the wait, and caused me to go back and reread all his books. EACH and every one are superb!

*****

VALAITISH@aol.com
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling. 5 stars.
This is the second book in the Harry Potter series. Like the first, it's an absolute delight. The creativity and cleverness of the Harry Potter books is just amazing. I'm thrilled that the author has gotten the notice she deserves.

*****

Barsha@aol.com
House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus. 5 stars.
I recommend it highly. He uses three different voices to tell a gripping story. Although none of the characters are particularly likable, you really care about what happens to them.

*****

MarionK105@aol.com
The Lions of Lucerne by Brad Thor.
HOST BKPG DEN originally recommended it to me in Bookaccino and so I knew it was going to be a great read and I wasn't disappointed. I love technology and the author was up on the latest and greatest weaponry and telecommunications gizmos in this book about a modern-day kidnapping of the president of the US. The author took us to Switzerland from out west where the president and his daughter were skiing when mayhem ensued. I couldn't put the book down until I finished it. It was fast-paced, edge of your seat fun!

*****

polarbear90@attbi.com
John Adams by David McCullough. 4 stars.
I'm reading this for my book club and am finding it quite a chore. I have great hope that it will improve based on the reviews that claim it reads like a novel. I’ll be reading this one for a while.

*****

Buterfl2@optonline.net
2^nd Chance by James Patterson. 4 stars.
James Patterson has done it again - 2^nd Chance has all those moments that we expect from Patterson - humor, mystery, emotion - and good easy reading. I liked 2nd Chance much better than 1st To Die - and look forward to the future development of this series.

*****

mcneilbook@email.msn.com
My Best Friend by Laura Wilson.
This is Ms. Wilson's third novel and as compelling a read as the first two. The story is about the consequences of keeping secrets. A famous children's author has two children and the youngest, a son named Gerald, finds his sisters dead body in the woods behind his home in 1944. We flash forward to present day and Gerald is now a middle aged man who is a bit weird. He is also the main suspect in a missing teenage girl's case. Why Gerald ended this way is tangled up in the past and the book flips back and forth to tell the tale.

This is not a classic mystery although it starts with a dead body and includes a missing girl. Ms. Wilson writes in a style close to Ruth Rendell's Barbara Vine novels of psychological suspense. Highly recommend as are her first two novels, A Little Death and Dying Voices. All three have been published in the US.

*****

zaraya@optonline.net
The Correction by Jonathan Franzen. 1 star.
I bought this book with high expectations. It seemed destined to win every book award. It was supposed to be literature, not just popular fiction (as per the whole Oprah fiasco). I found the story of this dysfunctional family totally unreadable. A bunch of mean-spirited, nasty, unloving characters people this novel . Its sarcasm was too vicious for my gentle soul. I put it aside about a third of the way through. I consider Corrections a waste of my money and my precious time. Sometimes the critics are way wrong. Next time out I will be much less willing to succumb to the media hype. There, I've said it!

*****

dannalamb@aol.com
The Last Precinct by Patricia Cornwell. 3 1/2 stars.
I have lost endless hours of sleep reading Cornwell's books, and am a true fan of her skills at character development and plot. However, The Last Precinct moved very slowly, revealing so little from chapter to chapter, that I found it difficult to finish. Nonetheless, it was worth the effort and I am eager to start her next book!

*****

bluhrig@inct.net
Everything's Eventual by Stephen King. 5 stars.
I haven't started reading it, but have encountered some of the stories in other formats.

Ryrie Study Bible, Expanded Edition. 5 stars.
While reading information about the Q'uran, I became interested in the Old and New Testaments. I borrowed Ryrie Study Bible, Expanded Edition from a friend. It is annotated and contains maps. It’s another winner.

*****

AUGER77777@aol.com
Up Country by Nelson DeMille. 5 stars.
Having recently finished Plum Island and The Lion's Game, I have become a devoted fan of DeMille. His main character in Up Country is Paul Brenner, a retired Army CID man who is asked to return to Vietnam, where he served two previous tours of duty during the Vietnam War. The purpose of this visit is vague and the clues to who and what he must discover are all but nonexistent. Nevertheless, he takes the assignment. He finds Vietnam greatly changed, yet also familiar in many ways. He is surrounded by deception, intrigue, and corruption. He teams up with his initial contact, and American expatriate named Susan Weber. But who is Susan? She speaks fluent Vietnamese and knows her way around the country, but can she really be trusted? As Brenner works his way "up country" toward Hanoi in an attempt to complete his mission, the suspense and danger only get stronger. I strongly recommend this book to all readers, especially Vietnam veterans.

*****

brady538_91208@yahoo.com
That's Amore by Ricci Martin with Christopher Smith. 5 stars.
One of Dean Martin's sons wrote this about his family and primarily his dad. This is an easy to read, informative story with pictures on almost every page which add to the story. Dean’s home life is the opposite of his public persona and he was a most loved man by his children. The family events and personalities are fun to read and this is an entertaining read about a privileged family.

Thirteen Senses by Victor Villasenor. 4 stars.

Rain of Gold by Victor Villasenor. 5 stars.
I recommend reading Rain of Gold first as this lays the foundation for Thirteen Senses. This is a story well told, however, the flaw in this book is the overabundance of personal philosophy by Salvador's mother Dona Guadalupe who is a Mexican Indian. You can skip many paragraphs when Dona gets carried away as she does too often. Religion is a central part of the story and for me there are many comparisons to the American Indian's medicine man and the ability of changing from human to animal and back to human again. Most interesting! I read this out loud to my wife and she also enjoyed the story with a comment of "too much Papito Dios."

*****

PreshieHarrison@aol.com
True North by Mark Harrison. 5 stars.
Like good sex, this novel is perfectly satisfying from beginning to end. A page-turner with intelligent plot twists and nonstop action and adventure set in the early 1930s. The author weaves in authenticity from the era, and actual events to support the tale. He also educates without boring us, and he gives us a solid hero/protagonist in a former World War I Ace Pilot. "Blue" has great wit, sarcasm and tenacity. He'll stop at nothing to uncover the truth in an accident investigation, and you'll route for him all the way. Great characters: from the sublime to evil, and throw in some sexy scenes. Fast and fun like a John Grisham book, but with characters to love and hate.

*****

Yodasmommy@aol.com
Three Women by Marge Piercy. 4 stars.
It is about the lives of three generations of women whose lives are intertwined with love and fears. Gives a person a lot to think about. I only give 5 stars to books that keep me up way past bedtime!!! This one does come close though.

*****

ToriDWms@aol.com
This Bitter Earth by Bernice L. McFadden. 5 stars.
This is the sequel to Sugar. Both books are written in tremendous detail. I couldn't wait to get to the next page to find out what was next. The images McFadden creates in the readers mind makes one feel like the proverbial fly on the wall.

*****

Tygerprince@aol.com
The Lonliest Muse by Tyger B. Dagosta. 4 stars.
I highly recommend this book which I found extremely enjoyable. I found it reminded me when I was a teenager and felt of place among others my age. The characters are misfits among their kind: HOPE a Muse who lacks a talent in which to inspire others, SANDY a Mer-Girl who is afraid of water, CAL a near-sighted Centaur-Boy, IGGI a 4 foot Fairy who fights with his wings <my favorite> and a multi-colored Dragon named HUGH. what a hoot! I definitely recommend this book. I can not wait for the second book.

*****

DRHAN48@aol.com
The Journey of Joshua Senate by Robert Mixson. 4 stars.
This is a great love story! Joshua Senate is a journalist who falls in love with Cassie Stanfield...but Cassie leaves him with little explanation. Joshua then travels the world, following stories to exotic places, in an effort to forget Cassie. Check it out!

*****

JIngenito@aol.com
The Charm School by Nelson DeMille. 4 stars.
As usual, Mr. DeMille had another winner here. Keeps your interest, has witty dialogue, suspense, twists, it keeps you glued to the book. would make a hell of movie.

*****

IMABookie@aol.com
Sick Puppy by Carl Hiaasen. 5 stars.
Another true howler from the king of great beach books, with characters even crazier than his usual. I generally tend towards "literary" fiction, but Hiaasen is the great leveler. Come one, come all---the laughs will cure what ails you.

*****

LDragonreader@aol.com
She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb. 5 stars.
It was all those things that you read on the cover of a book-warm, funny, poignant, triumphant. It is the story of a girl from age 4 to age 40 and the fears and anxieties that she struggles to overcome. I found myself saying, "That's me!" if you haven't read this book, take the time to do so-you will be very amazed!

*****

VRich65584@aol.com
Me x 3 by Alex Mitchell. 4 stars.
I loved it. It can be read anytime - on the subway, curled up in a chair or on a lunch hour. It put me in a good mood.

*****

HERBWORLD@aol.com
Losing my Mind: An Intimate Look at Living with Alzheimers by Thomas DeBaggio.
An excellent, compelling book by a writer that is diagnosed with Alzheimers. It's a journey of the slow death of memory written on 2 levels. The current journal entries of decline filled with memories of the past. It's both hard to put down and difficult to read because you feel the pain of someone to whom words are an integral part of life. Highly recommended.

*****

spaltro@worldnet.att.net
In The Fall by Jeffrey Lent. 5 stars.

In The Fall is Mr. Lent's first book and skillfully and beautifully written - this author really knows how to get into our heads - so intuitive - and his prose is written like music to the ears.

Pen Pals by Olivia Goldsmith. 5 stars.

Pen Pals is engrossed with a subject most of us probably never take the time to think about, females in prison. Written with Goldsmith's usual alacrity, we become thoroughly involved from beginning to end - the fictionalization makes a disagreeable subject all the more palatable and we become engrossed with all the characters. Attention, all females, this is required reading!

*****

Jajimeg@aol.com
Don't Let's Go To The Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller. 5 stars.
A very delightful and well written memoir of being raised white in Africa. The book was of particular interest to me since part of Ms. Fuller's years were spent in Malawi a country in which I served two years in the Peace Corps. More than a portrait of Africa it is a very honest look at her family, particularly her mother and father. Ms. Fuller's writing style is unique and engaging.

The Wooden Sea by Jonathan Carroll. 4-5 stars.
I've just started this book so am unable to rate completely yet, but I'd say it carries promise. This is an odd, but mesmerizing story. It is the story of a man whose world begins to unravel in strange ways when he adopts a 3 legged stray dog who subsequently dies. This book is hard to put down at night. I have no idea where the story is going, but so far the path has been interesting.

*****

DS428@aol.com
The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson. 5 stars.
This book is absolutely wonderful. When I have to put it down in order to work, etc., I can't wait to get back to it. It's a wonderful story of a world dramatically changed by a very few survivors after 99% of the world is destroyed by plague. Starting out in Asia, we proceed across the world and through historical time periods; history occurs but not in the way we now know it!

The Shell Collectors by Anthony Doerr. 5 stars.
Many short story collections are rather bleak in mood, even when well-written. This collection has stories that will leave the reader with anxious, yet intrigued connections not only to characters but to their connection with nature. Most unique collection I've come across in a while.

Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich. 5 stars.
Interconnected short stories weave a Native American tapestry that is fascinating. Erdrich is a master of setting tone and character description to create a picture of possibilities and obstacles in the Native American experience. Subtle yet oh so powerful plot connections leave the reader aware that cultural assimilation is oh so costly and successfully demonstrates that cultural appreciation and identification creates a "whole" person.

Saturday Morning Murder by Batya Gur. 5 stars.
I couldn't put this down and was so sorry when it ended. An intelligently told, unpredictable mystery fascinates the reader with the exposure of conscious and unconscious motives and resulting behavior that so dramatically affects everyone, whether that be the psychoanalysts, the analysts or the brilliant, patient, and sensitive detective sleuth, Michael Ohayon.

*****

EZREADER1265@aol.com
Up Country by Nelson DeMille. 5 stars.
I enjoyed it very much. Fast moving. Took a few turns, and gave different perspectives on Vietnam then and now 5 stars.

2nd Chance by James Patterson. 5 stars.
Love those women. Loved the story line.

*****

Anonymous
Portrait in Sepia by Isabel Allende. 5 stars.
Passion of Artemisia by Susan Vreeland. 5 stars.

*****

psinglet@jhmi.edu
Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner.
Absolutely howl out loud funny!! Only half-way done. Is about a plus sized woman written about in a national magazine by an old boyfriend.

The Pearl by John Steinbeck.
It was very good. Had a bit of mysticism to it. You can almost tell that there is something evil going to happen.

Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Banks.
Made me very glad that I was married and hopefully will never have to date again.

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant.
Fictional account of the story of Dinah, from Genesis. Very good story. I was just so caught up in the story, I had to take a day off from work to finish the book.

Bel Canto by Anne Patchett.
A simply fabulous story. Kind of like an epic. Just so fantastic, I didn't want the book to end. When it did, I cried like a baby. Simply beautiful.

*****

martin_04@msn.com
Black House by Stephen King/Peter Straub. 2 stars.
Advertised as the sequel to The Talisman, this was a huge disappointment to me. Any relation to the original book seems more accidental than designed.

A Place of Execution by Val McDermid. 5+ stars.
I am ashamed to admit I may have been a bit too parochial when it came to reading British mysteries. I just never felt that the stories flowed smoothly in a language usage that felt foreign to me. This fictional works reads as true as any book in the true-crime genre. I kept having to remind myself it was fiction. Ms. McDermid has found a new reader for her earlier works. Can I give it 6 stars?

*****

LMADREADER@aol.com
To Trust a Stranger by Karen Robarbs. 5 stars.
Excellent book, excellent characters.

Conflict of Interest by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg. 5 stars.
Excellent book

Long Time No See by Linda Howard. 4 stars.
Great book, love the characters

*****

The Grand Compliction by Kurswell. 3 stars.
I would characterize it as a puzzle book for lack of another category. I like the library references but then, I'm a librarian.

*****

MontagueCLB@aol.com
Peace Like A River by Leif Enger. 5 stars.
It was the best read I have encountered in a long time. It reminded me of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD in that it involved a strong father with two younger children...all with a lesson to learn. The writing was rich and pungent and oh so funny in places. The blurb on the back cover by Frank McCord indicated it was such good reading that you would be "clawing yourself with pleasure" and I am happy to report I am just now healing!

*****

Dchi612@aol.com
Three Weeks in Paris by Barbara Bradford Taylor. 3 1/2 stars.

The English Assassin by Daniel Silva. 4 stars.
An espionage thriller.

2nd Chance by James Patterson. 5 stars.
Full of drama and suspense. Another great thriller.

*****

brady538_91208@yahoo.com
A Smile as Big as the Moon by Mike Kersjes with Joe Layden. 5 stars.
This is a true story that makes your heart swell up with thanksgiving, graciousness, and pride of being a human being. (Almost) Every person noted in this book adds to the betterment of the human race because a few people did a job that helped a class of students who were mentally challenged due to a number of reasons. All of the class was changed from no self discipline to supreme self confidence when their presence and talents were "on the line." This is a book that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside just because you read it. Don't miss this one; it is a wonder!

*****

tomstitt@cox.net
A Distant Crossing by Thomas Parks. 5 stars.
This is simply the best book nobody ever heard of. Suspenseful, fast moving, great characters.

*****

toriphile20@yahoo.com
Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind. 4 stars.
I read this a few years ago and it was so awesome, and I don't even like fantasy. It's especially interesting to read it now after seeing Lord of the Rings.

*****

WRKGRK@aol.com
The Good Scent From A Strange Mountain by Robert Olin Butler. 5 stars.

*****

GoingPlacesGal@aol.com
State of Mind by John Katzenbach. 4 stars.
After reading Hart's War and finding Katzenbach a formidable storyteller and writer I decided to read his earlier works. State of Mind is set in the near future where crime is prevalent and thugs abound. A new state is being carved out of some of the former Northwest Territory as a haven. The price is the total sacrifice of the Bill of Rights. However, a serial killer is outwitting all controls and a professor of crime psychology is forced into the case because it could be his father who does these evil acts.

*****

Bribre911@aol.com
Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King. 3 stars.

Amazon by Clive Cussler. 4 stars.

*****

John2415@aol.com
Jackdaws by Ken Follett. 3 stars.
This one is pretty good, but like so many thrillers, the early parts set the story and characters excellently, but the finish is rushed. Many thrillers by authors who turn out books regularly make me feel that the author had to hurry through the last several chapters to make his publisher's deadline.

*****

Valjeang@aol.com
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park.
The latest Newbery winner (best children's novel by an American author published the previous year). I just finished reading it and enjoyed it very much. I was involved with the characters enough that I even got a little teary-eyed at the end! It's about a Korean orphan in the 1300's who is homeless and living beneath a bridge. He becomes involved with a potter and hopes to become his apprentice until he learns that the tradition is a potter passes his knowledge on only to his own descendants. Tree-ear is discouraged but continues to work for the potter doing menial jobs, such as gathering up the clay that Min needs. It is a well-written quiet story with strongly written characters and setting. I think adults who only read adult books would benefit from reading the chosen Newbery and Prinz winners (young adult) every year. By and large I find children's literature better written than most adult books in terms of the literary elements such as figurative language, etc.. Give them a try. The award winners are announced every February.

*****

mkri100@aol.com
The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. 5 stars.
This is the most recent in a series of historic time travel novels written by Gabaldon. I think they are fascinating! She combines a thoroughly researched historical perspective, assorted romances and a of all things -- TIME TRAVEL -- into a series that is hard to put down. The stories begin in Great Britain, travel to France and then to colonial America. I have read all in the series and am looking forward to the next. 

*****

BJWeisz@aol.com
The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman. 3 stars.

*****

Kufungee@aol.com
Last Man Standing by David Baldacci. 4 stars.
I only knocked one star off because for some reason even though it was a wild short first chapter it took three "re-starts" to actually get into the book. Overall, the book was excellent, no doubt about it. The characters were fascinating, the locale was interesting, and the question of just who the bad guys were wasn't resolved until the very end.

*****

Tess1RN@aol.com
Black House by Stephen King and Peter Straub. 5 stars.
Very spooky

The God of Small Things by Ahundrati Roy.
Interesting study of East Indian life and culture.

John Adams by David McCullough.
Great, very informative and interesting.

*****

DILUDE@aol.com
Moment in Peking by Lin Yutang (80th Birthday Edition). 5 stars.

A Darkness More Than Light by Michael Connelly. 4 stars.

1st to Die by James Patterson. 4 stars.

*****

Kitcoe@aol.com
Lamb by Christopher Moore. 5 stars.
I don't want anyone to buy this book!!!! Just go to the bookstore, pick up a copy of Lamb and stand there and read the first 10 pages!!!!! After that I KNOW you will buy Lamb. It's the funniest, politically incorrect, out of left field, best darn novel to come down the pipe in a long, long while! Christopher Moore is the most overlooked writer out there today, but I guarantee, that won't be the case for long.

*****

sdout2604@aol.com
Salt by Mark Kurlansky.

The history of the world imbedded in salt. This is a great read. One cannot realize what an impact something like common salt has had on the history. It reads as a painless and entertaining narrative of world history in a unique way.

*****

FD02169@aol.com
The Stone Monkey by Jeffrey Deaver. 4 stars.
This is another page-turner featuring Lincoln Rhyme. The theme is topical, the smuggling illegal immigrants into the U.S., but Deaver introduces the usual twist which makes the story more than what is expected. I think I have read all the Lincoln Rhyme stories; in this book, I did feel that I had missed a major step in the relationship between Rhyme and Sachs.

*****

GeoBarb636@aol.com
2nd Chance by James Patterson. 5 stars.
If you like solving murders and mysteries, James Patterson's books are a good read.

The Judgment by D.W. Buffa. 5 stars.
Haven't finished this one yet, but I'm really enjoying it. I thought Grisham was the best when it came to writing about the justice system, but Buffa is good!!!(if not better).

*****

mdb123@earthlink.net
Writing Articles From The Heart: How to Write & Sell Your Life Experiences by Marjorie Holmes.
I rate this book for its intended market niche of freelance writers because she very thoroughly covers the topic of personal experience writing and how to create articles that work well. A general audience probably would find less value in reading the book.

*****

Caliauds@aol.com
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.

I'm only about half way through but I love it so far. I like the format it is written in, alternately told through each of the children, makes it extremely interesting.

*****

snoopyshen@earthlink.net
Turtle Baby by Abigail Padgett.
This novel is about life at the border - the border between Mexico and California. Two child abuse investigators from the US are investigating a case of a baby being poisoned. The two investigators names are Bo Bradley and Estrella Benedict. Bo and Estrella find the mother but she is soon dead. Bo and Estrella attempt to find the killer. Whether they find the killer or not I do not know for I have not finished reading the book yet.

I enjoy Turtle Baby especially since I live in San Diego, and recognize many places named in the mystery. I also like Abigail Padgett's form of writing. Almost every other chapter has a quote after the chapter number. For instance, after stating "Chapter Twenty Three, the next line reads in italics and quotes "Just let it be found..." Also, Ms. Padgett's writing seems to flow, no matter how many different characters there are. I know that is difficult since I am working on a story too right now.

I hope you will find Turtle Baby as engrossing as I am finding it right now.

*****

sandrasc@optonline.net
Hard Feelings by Jason Starr. 5 stars.
A noir story you can't put down. The prose is simple, tight and reminiscent of Jim Thompson. I kept wondering how this story about a computer system salesman could hold me. And that's the trick Starr accomplishes. Not to be missed.

*****

MagsWins@aol.com
Middle Age: A Romance by Joyce Carol Oates. 5 stars.
Oates is a keen observer of human nature, culture and mores. She captures the lifestyles of her characters so well that you would think you knew them intimately -- in a way that reminds you of someone you know.

*****

Mvourneen@aol.com
100 Secret Senses by Amy Tan. 4 stars.
I loved the beginning, Kwan, and Tan's writing; couldn't warm up to Olivia and was disappointed in the trick in the plot. Any book by Amy Tan is worth reading

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. 5 stars.
I have been putting off reading this novel for years because I had always heard how depressing it is. Plath's poetry certainly is. But it is so good and much of it is written with a wry sense of humor and keen observation of people and their foibles. I have only a little left to read. Maybe nothing that is truly well-written is completely depressing.

The Deptford Trilogy by, Robinson Davies. 4 stars.
The first of the trilogy, Fifth Business, is by far my favorite, but the reading the complete set gives a wonderful twist to the plot and an interesting look at the world.

Birdsong by Sebastien Faulk. 3 1/3 stars.
Ehhhh, ok. It has the best picture of World War I trench warfare I have ever read. After that, it's just ok.

Star for Henry by Roddy Doyle 5 (big) stars.
This a great picture of non-Hollywood Ireland, the Time of Troubles in Ireland, and what the ordinary Dubliner went through. The Irish gift for language makes the book sing.

Reading in the Dark by Seamus Deane. 5 stars.
If you want a picture of the Irish in the North, read this book. It is a good companion to Star for Henry.

*****

Booksagain@aol.com
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck. 5 stars.

Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck. 5 stars.

*****

TheBookNook1@aol.com
The Devil's Due by Melanie George. 5 stars.
I found this author with her first book in the series, Devil May Care. Though The Devil's Due is more serious-toned than the other two books in the series, this author writes some of the best dialogue I have ever read and her characters leap off the page -- and when she is being dryly humorous, or even outright hilarious, my husband generally finds me in a fit of laughter on the floor and wonders if I've gone insane. This is definitely an author to read.

*****

Lucky4750@aol.com
A Woman Betrayed by Barbara Delinsky. 5 stars.
A love story about a couple happily married for twenty years, 2 kids and wealthy. Then the husband doesn't come home from work one day . During the investigation to find him his wife and kids are shocked at the real man their husband/father really was. Good story, surprises and suspense with every page. Delinsky does it again.

The Gardens of Covington by Joan Medlicott. 3 stars.
Story of a small town where the living is easy. Read how the townspeople try to stop the building of new homes and condos that will change life in Civington Gardens. It's an okay book. I have definitely read better.

*****

MFila985@aol.com
Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy. 5 stars.
Not as good as Tara Road. It was a little far fetched but enjoyable all the same. I would recommend this book.

The Last Time They Met by Anita Shreve. 5+ stars.
Very good love story with great passion. Move you from past to present again and again keeping my interest from start to finish.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. 5+ stars.
It was very nice to visit this wonderful book again after more than 25 years. It is truly amazing that this book is just as good if not better than the first time I read it.

*****

Ginger.Louden@sendit.nodak.edu
Last Breath by Michael Prescott. 4 stars.
It is your usual mystery type of story, but it takes on a unique twist toward the end. Good Reading!

A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines. 5 stars.
It was a book that was hard to put down. It took a look at human nature during struggling times. It dealt with family, tradition, small town, and death.

*****

Elann121@aol.com
Jackdaws by Ken Follett. 5 stars.

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. 4 stars.

Sacred Ground by Barbara Wood. 5 stars.

A Dog's Life by Peter Mayle. 4 stars.

Smoke in Mirror by Jayne Ann Krentz. 4 stars.

*****

Cipsi2@aol.com
Lady of Arlington by John Perry. 4 stars.
Except for Abigail Adams, wives of famous men usually don't get much notice. But this book, about Robert E. Lee's wife, is fascinating. The author wrote the book to clear up some misconceptions about her that have emerged over the years, derived from tiny sentences picked out of context in letters written by both Lee and his son. Perry has written an engrossing book which paints a kindly picture of a lady beset with debilitating rheumatoid arthritis at an early age.

President Nixon: Alone in the White House by Richard Reeves. 4 stars.
During Nixon's presidency I was busy with starting a family and trying to finish up my education. I was pretty much apolitical and didn't pay much attention to the goings on in the white house. This book is a real eye-opener.

You Got Nothing Coming by Jimmy A. Lerner. 5 stars.
Lerner, a husband, father and drug addict with no run-ins with the law, is sent to prison for voluntary manslaughter on a plea-bargain. His true story is based on notes he took while serving his time in a state prison. He balances the shock he experienced with the unusual and creative ways he used to adapt to prison life. The reader must be prepared for really crude language, but in the setting it is appropriate and certainly rings true. The story of what brought him to this situation is not told until the end of the book, and there is no whining in it of "poor me." This is not my usual reading genre, but after hearing him interviewed on the Today show, I knew it would be a good read. It was.

The Cat Who Went Up a Creek by Lillian Jackson Braun. 3 stars.
Cat-lovers always like these books. They are nice little pieces of fluff, but we have become so familiar with the characters and the cats that each book is enjoyed. Reading "The Cat Who...." books are always a welcome break from the tough stuff.

*****

PMargalski@aol.com
Good Harbor by Anita Diamant. 3 stars.
I'm only about one-third the way through this but so far its very good. I'm reading this book because I absolutely loved The Red Tent by this same author.

*****

MysteryNut19@aol.com
Home Fires by Luanne Rice. 3 stars.
Ms. Rice has a flair for romance & drama. This story revolves around a woman who lost her child and a man who lost his wife. They struggle separately with their losses, come together and then face further trauma. Sad at times, but makes up for it in the end. Just a warning - this was a little more sexually explicit than some of her work.

West of Dodge by Louis L'Amour. 4 stars.
This is a compilation of short stories that his family found and published after his death. Each story has such wonderful characters and settings that you feel as if you are part of it and hate to see the end. He remains the master storyteller of the Western frontier.

*****

NCT49@aol.com
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. 5 stars.
This Oprah pick from last fall finally found it's way to our group and it is a wonderfully written, gripping story of immense humanity...very intense and sobering in it's depiction of the lives of four people in mid 1970's India. It is long but well worth the 600 + pages it takes to tell the stories.

*****

HOSTBKPGShark@aol.com
The Trench by Steve Alten.
This is the sequel to Meg, his first book in the story. It's like Jaws just bigger, 65 feet and 20 tons of hunting machine! Meg was a good story till the last few chapters, where the main character, an ex-Navy submersible pilot - turned Marine Paleontologist, takes down the prehistoric shark, the Carcharodon Megalodon. In The Trench, Alten continues the story with the capture of one of the 'Meg's' offspring, a mere 13 foot long baby just a few weeks old. With any luck, this one will end with a little more ingenuity than 'Meg' did.

*****

Lankford0714@aol.com
Boy Still Missing by John Searles. 4+ stars.
It is his first novel and is very good. This is an author with the potential to go far. I would have rated it a 5 if he would have taken a little more time with the ending and cleared up some questions that still linger in my mind.

*****

ALILabRat@aol.com
Open House by Elizabeth Berg.
I recommend it to any woman who has been through divorce or who is going through it now. I found it to be a survival manual with laughs.

*****

Tjbwawczak@aol.com
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. 5 stars.
FINALLY, one of the books on Oprah's list has intrigued me. At first the names and places, being Indian were hard to follow in a "read", but once you get past that you probably are not reading them correctly the jist of the story is great.

As usual, in Oprah's books, there is a lot of misery, but the reason I'm enthralled with this novel is that the times and environments are true to life. I was never aware of a place like this - India is becoming a fascinating world. Maybe not one to go visit, but surely one to read about.

*****

mot123@bellsouth.net
A Clean Kill by Mike Stewart

All three of his books are ones that you can't put down once you start reading them. They all take place in Alabama. I am anxiously waiting for the next book to continue the life of Tom McInnes.

*****

Adpabers@aol.com
Burn Factor by Kyle Mills. 4 1/2 stars.
Really hold your attention and gripping end!!! A great for mystery readers.

*****

LadyVolz@aol.com
Kleopatra by Karen Essex. 5 stars.
Excellent fictional account of Kleopatra's (Greek spelling of her name) early years from age 3 to 18. Volume II comes out this summer.

*****

MRJ1234@aol.com
Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King. 5 stars.
I love this book because I could identify with so many of the characters as ones I knew while going to college at Ohio University in the mid and late 60's.

*****

Tea4g@aol.com
The Summons by John Grisham. 4 stars.
I never read mysteries, but this book was chosen by a member of my monthly Book Club so I had no choice. It was an easy read & I have to admit, I was surprised in the end to find out who killed Judge Atlee. Granted, it did not have great depth, but I could relate to the geographical areas Grisham mentioned & it was nice to want to keep reading to find out "who did it!" I enjoyed it & will be inclined to read some of his other books.

*****

JUTTZ@aol.com
Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. 5 stars.
I have to say I am not a romance reader anymore but this series is so well written that you cant put them down. I have bought the first 4 books and I’m on number 3 right now.

*****

CyberHandl@aol.com
Easy Money by Jenny Siler.
The plot seems a little predictable, and much of the detail feels like filler....superfluous. However, there are some well developed, quirky characters, and some exciting action scenes.

*****

GandmaRI@aol.com
The Sweet Potato Queens Book of Love by Jill C. Browne. 5 stars.
This book is an absolute hoot! I've laughed until the are tears rolling down my cheeks. I might have had a different view of men and relationships if I'd read this book at 15!

Hunting Season by Nevada Barr.
No comment yet. I'm just getting started reading this one, but I'm sure I won't be disappointed. Nevada Barr and her "main woman" Anna Pidgeon are always on my must read list. Haven't read a book of hers yet that has disappointed me.

*****

Kec200@aol.com
A Theory of Relativity by Jacquelyn Mitchard. 4 stars.

The Gingerbread Man by Maggie Shayne. 4 1/2 stars.
Loved both books! "Relativity" was very interesting with the family dynamics and the issue of blood and adoption. "Gingerbread Man" was thrilling and romantic at the same time. Very good plot line that kept you guessing about different aspects all through the book.

*****

Grandmareadme@aol.com
The Lost Son, A Life in Pursuit of Justice by Bernard B Kerik. 4 3/4 stars.

The Explorers by William Stuart Long. 3 3/4 stars.

My Last Days as Roy Rogers by Pat Cunningham Devoto. 4 1/4 stars.

The Queen & Di: The Untold Story by Ingrid Seward. 3 stars.

The Northwest Murders by Elizabeth Atwook Taylor. 4 stars.

Reason for Hope, A Spiritual Journey by Jane Goodall. 4 3/4 stars.

Warning Signs by Stephen White. 4 3/4 stars.
As you can see, I read a lot of books at the same time because I never know what mood I am in when I sit down to read. I like to have a wide variety of books going as the same time. This was I don't become bored.

*****

Eyzarblu@aol.com
Seneca Falls Inheritance by Miriam Grace Monfredo.
This book is so good you only want to read it in bits and pieces so that you don't finish it! It's about the suffragette movement (hence Seneca Falls) with a murder mystery who-done-it twist. The time/places are accurate, however, the murder mystery is the twist. So in essence you are reading about a piece of time long ago but the murder mystery is so good (I'm half way through the book and still don't know "who did it!") it feels more like a novel than a history lesson!

Ms. Monfredo has a serious of books and apparently all of them are just as good. A person that has had a lot of influence on my life turned me onto this author, although he wouldn't give me all of the books at once. Now I know why!! I have no doubt that this book (once finished) will leave me clamoring for more!

*****

Kufungee@aol.com
Up Country by Nelson DeMille. 5 stars.
As always, the author weaves a most interesting mystery tale involving a very amusing ex-member of the NYPD. Excellent read.

The Wheat Field by Steve Thayer. 4 stars.
This novel does not hold a candle to The Weatherman which was an excellent mystery. However, it is intriguing and holds your interest as the details surrounding the deaths of two people found in a wheat field unfold.

*****

skibumma70@yahoo.com
2nd Chance by James Patterson. 5 stars.
The Women’s Murder Club solves another murder case. A thriller that makes it hard to put down! Highly recommended as a follow up to 1st to Die.

*****

Dolfandmj@aol.com
We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates. 1 star.
I couldn't get past the first couple of chapters. It just dragged on to much. Hated it.

Girl With A Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier. 5 stars.
What a wonderful story, set in the beautifully depicted 1600's Holland. I loved following the hopes and dreams of the heroine in this sweet story.

The Dress Lodger by Sheri Holman. 4 stars.
Much like a Dickens tale, a fascinating character study. Interesting.

*****

Iamshort830@aol.com
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. 4 1/2 stars.
I loved this book. It was good. I loved how there was suspense in the book. J.R.R. Tolkien knows how to write. I enjoyed this book. I’m glad the hobbit returned safely.

*****

sckoch@lacon.net
Mystic River by Dennis Lehane. 5 stars.
I finally got to this book, it is his best.

*****

pfrison@pellaks.com
Everything's Eventual by Stephen King. 5 stars.
It is nice to sit down and read a story by King in one setting.

*****

DIANWILLY@aol.com
The Summons by John Grisham. 3 stars.
Not as good as John Grisham's earlier books. Moves slowly and a bit drab.

Bias, A CBS Insider Express How the Media Distort the News by Bernard Goldberg. 4 stars.
Very interesting. More ethics stories are needed. People need to know the truth held from them. Things need to change.

*****

MACN4MONEY@worldnet.att.net
Disobedience by Jane Hamilton. 4 stars.
Reflections on a family during the son's senior told by the son 10 years later. I was most interested in the characterization of his younger sister. The father and sister are obsessed with Civil War enactments. I like family stories that are about relationships amongst the family members. This had a bit of generation gap, family secrets, survival, love, discontentment, tragedy, and coming of age. Ms. Hamilton writes without melodrama.

Peace Like a River. 5+ stars.
I LOVED this book. I cared about each of the characters. I wept because it was so real. A tale of family tragedy and how the family deals with it. I highly recommend this book.

The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie. 3 stars.
A Miss Marple mystery. I was disappointed because Miss Marple doesn't show up until close to the end. Maybe if hadn't known it was a Marple mystery, I would have enjoyed it more. I just kept waiting the entire time for her to show so I was distracted.

An Invisible Number of My Own by Aimee Bender. 4 stars.
This was a type of writing far different from anything I have ever read. It was so strange at first that I had to keep reading so I could find out if it ever made sense which it did. I suggest that if you are put off at the onset, keep going and give it a good try. For me it was worth it.

*****

CoMountainHiker@aol.com
The Falcon at the Portal by Elizabeth Peters. 4 stars.
The yearly gathering of the family for their archaeological dig has many surprises in store. It's a very thrilling read.

*****

Graham2124@aol.com
Holy War: The Crusades and Their Impact on Today's World by Karen Armstrong. 4 stars.
I have not finished this book at this writing. I believe that by the end of it I will give it 5 stars. After reading Armstrong's A History of God and The Battle for God, I was very excited to come across this book. Even though it was written prior to 9/11, her views and perspectives on the historical relationships between Judaism, Christianity and Islam are very timely. Ms. Armstrong is a voice of reason that needs to be heard.

*****

khansen@stmartin.edu
Winter and Night by S. J. Rozen. 5 stars.
This is the latest in the Bill Smith-Lydia Chin series that just gets better with each new offering. The characters are well drawn and the writing is lyric and creative. This plot has Bill and Lydia tracking down his nephew and leading them to a small town replete with secrets and scandels. Great book from a great author!

1st to Die by James Patterson. 4 stars.
Great new characters from the master. I found myself getting involved in the lives of these four women and caring about what happens to them. Read this in one sitting on a plane trip.

*****

CarolyngriffinNH@aol.com
Wind by Nevada Barr. 3 stars.
This time Nevada Barr's park ranger crime solver, Anna Pidgeon, is assigned to the Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. Anna gets involved with locals working at the park, finding out about their personal and professional lives. When a good friend is found dead in a kiva at Cliff Palace, Anna realizes things need investigating. This may not be Barr's best mystery, per se, but the descriptions of Mesa Verde are worth the read.

*****

Bberrycrk@aol.com
Wish You Well by David Balducci. 4 stars.
I enjoyed this change of pace book.

A Painted House by John Grisham. 4 stars.

*****

Beachbums282@aol.com
Fleeting Thoughts by Michael McGan. 4 stars.
It is nonfiction in the form of humorous essays and brief stories. Easy reading and very entertaining.

*****

dbelk105@adelphia.net
One Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley. 4 1/2 stars.
A story of a dysfunctional farm family told with many layers. This Pulitzer Prize winning book is well worth reading, although a bit wordy for my taste, but a book you won't soon forget.

The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara by David Kertzer. 4 1/2 stars.
The true story of a little six-year-old Jewish boy taken from his home in 1858 by the Catholic Church because a maid sprinkled water on him when he was about one. The Church claimed he was therefore a Catholic and had to be raised in that faith. This caused a furor all over the world, to no avail. Read it with wonder that such things could, and did, happen.

*****

gojessgo@looped.com
Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner. 5+ stars.
I cannot say enough about this book. I simply loved it. It is about an overweight woman named Cannie whose ex-boyfriend writes an article in a national magazine using the intimate details of their relationship as fodder. At first I thought this book would be the typical "fat woman can't find true love" kinda book, but it is so much more than that. I laughed and cried through this book, it was so good.

Liar by Jan Burke. 5 stars.
Installment in the"Irene Kelly" series. Very good. I think that thing that impresses me with Ms. Burke is that she is so original in her storylines and never dull or repetitious.

2nd Chance by James Patterson 4 stars.
This book was okay. I can't rave about it, but neither can I say it sucked. It was interesting in a movie of the week fashion and the plot twist did suprise me. I hope James Patterson gets some fire back soon.