*****

sckoch@lacon.net
Widows Walk by Robert B. Parker.
The last Spencer book was a little lame. He makes up for it here. Classic dialogue and all the usual suspects. I have read them all and always find Parker reliable, even if he misses the mark a little

*****

stevensa@shenandoah.k12.ia.us
The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh. 5 stars.
The True Travels and Adventures of Lydie Newton by Jane Smiley. 4 stars.
The True Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Brashares. 5 stars.
For teens.

*****

dmilburn@alltel.net
The Man Who Ate the 747 by Ben Sherwood. 2 stars.
I read this book clear to the end because the whole idea was so totally ridiculous ...as was the story. If you're looking for something profound, this isn't it but if you'd like to read something strictly for the fun of it...this is your book. Totally unbelievable. I've heard of people doing lots of things for the sake of love but this goes too far.

*****

jewel33064@go.com
The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan. 5 stars.
My first Tan novel, and what a good one! If you're looking for a good read, this is it! Telling the story of Ruth, it chronicles the many things that women can all relate to -- her relationships with her significant other and the twisted feelings and complexities involved in it; her relationship with her mother, who has given her the key to a family secret; and her feelings toward her job. Woven throughout the present-day story is a sub-story about her mother's life AND a sub-story about her grandmother's life (most interesting and unusual of all). I whipped through this book and had a very hard time putting it down!

*****

smb341@prodigy.net
Suspicion by Barbara Rogan. 5 stars.
Very suspenseful, not a typical ghost story.

*****

Booksagain@aol.com
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. 5 stars.
The Pearl by John Steinbeck. 5 stars.
Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck. 5 stars.

*****

Buttercupmlm@aol.com
My Antonia by Willa Cather. 4 stars.
This is a classic book that I'm just now reading for the first time. Willa Cather's depiction of Nebraska prairie life is based on her own first-hand experience. The story took me back to a time totally different than my own, but not without similar challenges of adjustment. I'm glad I took a break from the latest novels to read this great classic!

*****

Vikkivand@aol.com
Girls Poker Night by Jill Davis. 4 ½ stars.
Enjoyed reading this book....I liked the characters.
The Buffalo Soldier by Chris Bojhalian. 4 stars.
Well written.

The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman. 4 stars.
Lots of twists...plot was a little unbelievable.
Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews. 4 stars.
Funny.

Sea Glass by Anita Shreve. 3 ½ stars.
Well written, but I thought the story was somewhat dull.

*****

Nama59@aol.com
The Banyan Tree by Christopher Nolan. 1 star.
I am reading this for book group and having a very difficult time getting through it. I hate picking it up becuase it appears to me to be so much style and little substance. But all the reviews are great so maybe I'm missing something! I'll finish it, but we'll see.

*****

MARGOU5253@aol.com
Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris. 4 ½ stars.
This a mighty tome but I am completely, well almost, engrossed in it. Life at the turn of the last century and the political aspects of the issues of the day are most interesting. TR himself is such a multi-faceted character and the author relates interesting details about his life and his presidency. As I read every word of every book, this one will take quite a while, but it is well worth the effort. The footnotes too are excellent, pertinent, and quite detailed.

*****

EZREADER1265@aol.com
On Secret Service by John Jakes. 4 stars.
I like the book, the characters and I really enjoy anything pertaining to the Civil War

*****

Dolfandmj@aol.com
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Imagine characters from the Bible, both well known and not at all, who come to life in this well written story. The author has woven history with drama and taken you back to a time when the lives of women were so far from life today.
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie. 4 stars.

Though I am still reading this one, I am enjoying it so far. The coming of age of two Chinese "city youth" in China who are banished to the country for re-education under Chairman Mao's directive is fascinating.

*****

SOPHIENED@aol.com
Cry Of The Peacock by Nahai. 5 stars.
Wonderful saga of Iranian Jews.

Nearer Than The Sky by T. Greenwood. 5 stars.
Disturbing beautifully written.

*****

shifel02@aol.com
2^nd Chance by James Patterson.
Always enjoy everything he writes and would recommend it.

*****

KCBinSC@aol.com
Cane River by Lalita Tademy. 4 stars
This is a very interesting novel about several generations of the author's ancestors and their struggles during the slavery and post-slavery era.

*****

Swooman@aol.com
Never Change by Elizabeth Berg. 5 stars.
I just finished reading this book and was very moved by the dynamics of a home health nurse who became the nurse of a former high school classmate in his final stages of a brain tumor. It is written in first person as she weaves the story of her life, being plain, unseen during high school, however, becoming a nurse and touching people in very tangible ways with wisdom and care. However, she herself doesn't seem to realize the impact of her life on others. Thus, she discovers more about herself as she guides, supports, and for the first time falls in love with Chip as he journeys towards his transition into eternity. This is a very moving book. And one I think would be a good recommend for those who are facing death with someone they love and care about. Good lessons.

*****

IKNOWBKS@aol.com
Chiefs by Stuart Woods. 5 stars
This multi-generational mult-layered saga is one of Woods's first books. It is the fascinating story of a small town and the series of sheriff's who watch over their territory, as each new generation grows up. The link from one lawman to another is a series of missing boys over a 40yr period. The first sheriff begins to think of a seriel killer but he is gunned down...his successor finds the files and sees connections...he is killed...and so it goes until the end when the killer is found and the town is finally able to face it's prejudices and bad history in order to move on to better things. This was a 1983 mini series you might want to view on video!

*****

GDurisin@aol.com
Daddy's Little Girl by Mary Higgins Clark. 3 stars.
A quick, enjoyable mystery set in Westchester County, NY. A young female journalist launches an investigation into her sister's murder some twenty years earlier.

Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross. 4 stars.
Miss Julia is one of the most endearing characters I've encountered in a novel, and her escapades in this comic novel were delightful. I enjoyed every minute of this book, as Miss Julia escaped from the stifling "care" of the patronizing men in her life, and began to "speak her mind."

Hotel World by Ali Smith. 2 stars.
"Literary" fiction, with a writing style that was sometimes delightful, sometimes obscure and bizzarre, this novel about five people associated with a hotel (one of whom died in an accident involving the hotel dumbwaiter, and narrates the opening of the book as she waits for her spirit to be fully freed from the world) never really came together for me.

Spilling Clarence by Anne Ursu. 4 stars.
A vapor leak from a pharmaceutical manufacturer specializing in psychotropic medications begins to affect townspeople's brains, opening an uncontrollable and inescapable flood of memories, with both positive and negative after-effects.

Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris. 5 stars.
Harris has developed a complex plot with well-drawn characters, blending themes of occupied-France, collaboration and survival, with a compassionate look at mother-daughter relationships and family secrets. An outstanding read!

Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. 2 ½ stars.
My interest wasn't always sustained, but for the most part, this exposé of the fast food industry and its impact on American society was enlightening and worth reading.

One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus. 4 stars.
Fergus has written a fascinating first novel, based on the premise that President U.S.S. Grant responded affirmatively to the proposal by a Cheyenne chieftain to trade white women for horses so that the next generation of the tribe could be assimilated into the white culture (a proposal that apparently was made to the historical Grant but one he actually rejected). Woven into the story is a rich evocation of a lost culture and a dismal portrayal of the Indians' betrayal by the white society that greedily destroyed the native American culture.

A Perfect Arrangement by Susanne Berne 2 stars.
Mirella, a lawyer, and Howard, an architect, need a new sitter for their two children. They hire Randi, a young girl who quickly becomes an integral part of the household and all of their lives. She seems to have a special bond with Jacob, who seems to have features of autism but who is regarded by his parents as just a little delayed. Berne hints at mysteries in Randi's past, but never fully develops this aspect of the book. The ending was unsatisfying to me in its vagueness, but perhaps this was intentional, reflecting the unknown facets of all of our lives.

The Stone Monkey by Jeffrey Deaver 5 stars.
Fast-paced and exciting story centering on illegal immigrants to US from China. Lincoln Rhyme is put to the test as he leads the search for a mass murderer who is stalking the handful of immigrants who survived the voyage, and the equally important investigation into just who is hampering the search, and why.

Three Weeks in Paris by Barbara Taylor Bradford. 1 star.
Trite and superficial story about three young women reuniting after a feud that sounds more typical of a group of sixth grade girls.

Savannah Blues by Mark Kay Andrews 4 stars.
A recently divorced "junker" (antique hunter) finds the dead body of her ex-husband's fiancé when she sneaks into an old plantation house outside Savannah. In addition to being the prime suspect in the murder, she's soon embroiled in a plot involving phony antiques and a battle between the "hysterical" preservationists and greedy businessmen making some shady deals. Fun reading with well-written laugh-out-loud scenes.

*****

SONealwrite@aol.com
Act of God by Susan R. Sloan. 5 stars.
Possibly the most important fiction book released in 2002, and brand new on 4/10/02. An allegory for the dangers of extremism, the author uses the single most controversial issue in modern American society, abortion, combines it with the horror of domestic terrorism, and shows in 500+ stunning, unputdownable pages that in worlds where extremists rule, there are no solutions, no compromises, no possibility for peace: extremists just want to win. Period. And that usually means everyone else loses.

A facility in Seattle housing family services, women's clinics, a day care center, and an abortion clinic, is bombed, resulting in almost 200 deaths. A trail points to a young, squeaky-clean (or is he?) Naval officer, who becomes the most hated man in America for the pro-choice crowd, a freedom fighter poster boy for the pro-lifers, and he is put on trial for his life. His attorney, an ambitious career woman with secrets of her own, believes in his innocence, and sets out to defend him. But all is not as it seems: political factions, religious groups, subversives, all with their own agendas, jump on one side of the bandwagon or the other in an effort to sway the case or use it to their own advantage, and a fascinating trial and shocking outcome are the result. DO NOT read the last chapter first!!!

Do not be put off by Act of God's graphic violence. It is a gut-wrenching, important part of the tale. Be alert for Ms. Sloan's multitiered story, with its astonishing correlations to the world we live in after 9/11, Afghanistan, and the current Middle East Crisis.

WARNING: This book was impossible to put down. If you need a good night's rest, don't begin it before you go to bed!

*****

Starrwy@aol.com
The Last Time We Met by Anita Shreve. 5 stars.
I highly recommend this book. It keeps you reading and reading and reading. It is a totally different structure in time for a book, so if you are looking for a great book to snap you out of a rut, read The Last Time We Met!!!!

*****

Stebie2003@aol.com
DreamCatcher by Stephen King. 5 stars.
One of his best thrillers. The story begins with 5 boys who have been childhood friends since high school. The plot starts off alittle slow and methodical but then picks up when four of the boys, now men in their thirties, rendevous at a hunting lodge up in Bangor Maine one cold winter day. While hunting, they stumble upon two people who were abducted by aliens. From there the story builds to the climactic battle between human life and a possible alien take-over. I don't intend to reveal the conclusion because it will spoil the ending for those who have not yet read the book.

If you are a an avid Stephen King fan, sciene fiction lover or just like to read suspenseful, macabre genre, this is the book for you.

*****

ebusby@optonline.net
Back When We Were Grownups by Ann Tyler. 3 stars.
Not a bad book, but a little slow and the story didn't really grip me.

*****

janiah333@yahoo.com
The Quest Study Bible
I have been studying it for 8 years - never get tired of it, always learn something new and it is forever fascinating. The Greatest Story Ever Told - for certain!

*****

Cairo1953@aol.com
Blackbird by Jennifer Lauck. 5+ stars.
A beautifully written memoir spoken through the language & perspective of Lauck's childhood self. Remarkable! A heart-wrenching story of a child's struggle for survival. I admire Jennifer Lauck for telling the world her story & for her incredible strength. Her true story continues in her sequel, Still Waters. I look forward to reading this book.

*****

Ginger.Louden@sendit.nodak.edu
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. 5 stars.
I have just finished this old classic. I forgot how well this book is written. It is sometimes fun to go back and read the old classics.

*****

Jamacd7@aol.com
When the Elephants Dance by Uriza Holthe. 5 stars.
Its an amazing story of survival. It really made me appreciate where and when I live. Even now with terrorist alerts and increased airport security we are still very fortunate. This book also underscores the importance of family and history in time of crisis. I hope you choose to highlight this book because everyone

should read it.

*****

Author40@aol.com
Far Above Rubies by Cynthia Polansky. 4 stars.
This book is a page turner about a Dutch woman who voluntarily accompanies her six stepdaughters to Auschwitz during WWII. Her courage and sacrifice are inspirational and uplifting.

*****

brady538_91208@yahoo.com
You're Only As Good As Your Next One by Mike Medavoy with Joah Young. 5 stars.
This is the true story of how movies get made by a studio head/executive who loves the process. This is an intelligent author who is focused on rewarding entertainment rather than merely effect and violence. This talks about the nuts and bolts of creating a movie and is more oriented toward the creative process rather than the movie star content. The infighting in the executive suites and the amount of money that is needed to accomplish their goals is awesome. Movie making is a high risk endeavor and this book tells you how and why.

*****

Lucky4750@aol.com
2nd Chance by James Patterson. 5 stars.
A great second read to the Ladies murder club he introduced in 1st To Die. Of course I couldn't put it down until I was finished. A great page turner. Now the wait for the third book in this trilogy.

*****

Indigo6126@aol.com
Year Of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks. 5 stars.
Year of Wonders is a fascinating study of the plague years in England. Specifically, it is about a small town that under the advise of the town's Pastor decides to isolate itself from the rest of the world as a divine plan to prevent the outward spread of the plague. The story is narrated by a young woman (I'm sorry, her name escapes me for the moment) who had already lost so much due to hardships in her life. The Year of Wonders truly belongs to the narrater as the reader observes her intellect, compassion and gentle strength of character in a world that was literally crumbling under the atrocities of the Plague.

*****

CShank1246@aol.com
Fall On Your Knees by Anne-Marie MacDonald. 4 stars.
This is one of the most talented writers I have ever read. Her depiction of a family and the convoluted stories of their lives are amazing. I couldn't even skim any parts.

Four to Score by Janet Evanovich. 3 to 4 stars.
What wonderful characters. I read her books between more serious works as if they were sherbet between courses. Love them.

Lucky Man by Michael J. Fox. 5 stars.
Excellent writing. Excellent life.

Falling Angels by Tracy Chevalier. 4 stars.
I loved Girl With The Pearl Earring and this second novel was very good. I had to keep referring back to previous chapters however in order to keep the characters straight in my mind. It was a good exercise.

*****

Cipsi2@aol.com
The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newman by Jane Smiley. 5 stars.
This was a re-read for me, and it was as good this time around as it was the last. Smiley has created such a wonderfully strong female protagonist; you root for her throughout the whole book. The setting is in Kansas Territory, when the border ruffians from Missouri and John Brown from New York and the abolitionists from the New England Emigrant Aid society all were trying to claim the destiny of Kansas - Slave or Free. Into this milieu comes Lidie Newton, newly married, wide eyed and trying to figure out both Kansas and her new relationship. Smiley has done a superb job telling an engrossing story in the midst of one of the most turbulent times in the expansion of our country.

*****

GraceP@aol.com
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. 5 stars.
Our book club just finished this. Everyone loved it and we had a very good discussion. We are reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith for our May discussion.
Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross. 5 stars.
Midwives by Chris Bohjalian. 5 stars.
Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks. 5 stars.
Silk by Alessandro Baricco. 5 stars.
The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve. 5 stars.
Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver. 5 stars.
The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver. 5 stars.

*****

Avery85282@aol.com
Carry Me Across the Water by Ethan Canin. 4 ½ stars.
The story of a Jewish boy, who left Germany in the 30's, with his very perspicacious mother. He lives a rather ordinary life, fights overseas, gets a job, marries his love,has children, makes money, does good works and finally lives long enough to perform his last and most important mitzvah. He was a wonderful, ordinary man, who was, in my eyes, a mensch. I loved this book and its central character. It was not a "good read" but well-worth reading; not a page-turner but irresistible; the characters were certainly not charismatic, but they were lovable.

*****

Violets Are Blue by James Patterson. 4 stars.
Another good Alex Cross mystery. Patterson just keeps cranking out good books!!

I prefer my contribution to remain anonymous.

*****

CGoslee@aol.com
The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. 3 stars.
I have enjoyed every book in this series. She writes some of the characters with a Scottish dialect. And after this book, I actually missed the dialect. This book is set in the Carolina hills just before the Revolution.

The Songcatcher by Sharon McCrumb. 3 stars.
All of her books are enjoyable to me. This one is two stories intertwined. One is current and involves the hills of Appalachia, and the other one is from the 1800's and involves the hills of Appalachia.

Murder on a Girl's Night Out by Anne George. 4 stars.
Someone told me about this series, so I tried to start with the first one. It is a hoot--like Evanovich, it made me laugh out loud. A joy to read and quick too.

The Summons by John Grisham. 3 stars.
This story about two brothers set in Mississippi used Tunica as a partial backdrop, not one of his best.

Tishomingo Blues by Elmore Leonard. 3 stars.
This story about a high diver set in Mississippi used Tunica as a backdrop. (I read this one with The Summons, who knew?) I thought the ending was contrived, but I still liked it.

The Single Shard by Linda Sue Park. 4 stars.
This Newbery winner deserved to win. A good read for all ages. This book is set in the 1200's in Korea, the little orphan boy grows up through hard work and love of pottery. We should all be so lucky to find our calling and be able to do it.

*****

EADW1352@aol.com
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom.
This is a true story. The adventure is amazing. The woman was very courageous being a militant of the anti-Nazi underground. I plan to reread this one.

*****

BREEZYWRITER@aol.com
Plain Jane by Fern Michaels. 1 star.
Wooden dialogue, convoluted plot, forgettable characters.

Born in Fire by Nora Roberts. 3 stars.
Pretty good for a fast read

*****

IIMA42N81@aol.com
Roses Are Red by James Patterson. 4 stars

*****

LUCKYANDIKNOWIT@aol.com
Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchey 5 stars
Wonderful!

*****

JRG0143@aol.com
The Brethren by John Grisham. 4 1/2 stars.
It's not his normal style of writing but very funny and easy read. Those old judges were a "hoot!" Would be a great beach read.

*****

Shamrock@theseason.org
Everything's Eventual by Stephen King. 4 stars.
A set of 5 short stories, Everything's Eventual includes Autopsy Room Four; The Little Sisters of Eluria; Luckey Quarter; The Road Virus Heads North. In Stephen King's consistant masterful style Everything's Eventual is a collection of short stories which explore the simple nature of the human spirit blended with the unending capacity for both good and evil. With less emphasis on far out fiction, and more emphasis on basic everyday life gone horribly wrong, King makes the terror personal for the reader. For a glimpse of characters to expect, the set begins with 'Dinky Earnshaw' a 19 year old Pizza boy in the first short story called 'Everything's Eventual', to 'Howard Cottrell' a golpher in 'Autopsy Room', to a gunslinger in a deserted town named 'Eluria Roland' in 'The Little Sisters of Eluria' to Darlene a single mother in Reno in 'Luckey Quarter' and last but not least, to an author who commits suicide in 'The Road Virus Heads North'. If you are a Kingoholic this is your chance to discover him all over again.

*****

SheilaD@aol.com
Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris. 3 ½ stars.
This one came highly recommended by my local independent book store owner. Harris, who is the author of Chocolat and Blackberry Wine (which I enjoyed), tells a good story and writes with real sensuality about food, France, the earth and human nature. This book is dark, though, and the characters so seemingly unsympathetic that I had to struggle a bit to finish it. The payoff, however, was worth the effort.

*****

ATENC3@AOL.com
Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor. 5 stars.
A classic to be leisurely enjoyed.

*****

The Alchemist by Donna Boyd. 4+ stars.
A book I really enjoyed. I have read her two previous novels. I liked her style of writing, but felt they were a little too romance genre for my taste. The Alchemist is amazing, same story within a story format, and powerful ending. The novel is tightly written, only a little over 200 pages. Although I wanted more, it would have weakened the story. I definitely recommend it.

Living Dead In Dallas by Charlaine Harris. 5 stars.
I stumbled across the first book in the series, Dead Until Dark last year and loved it. It was one of the most entertaining books I read last year. The sequel is as delightful as the first. It reminds me of the early Laurell Hamilton stories with good plots and wry sense of humor, only the heroine is sweeter. Plus it has charming southern colloquialisms sprinkled throughout.

I prefer my contribution to remain anonymous.

*****

Jberg81834@aol.com
Up Country by Nelson DeMille. 3 ½ stars.
I am currently finishing a series of Nelson DeMille's books. Some time ago (1-2 years) I bought The Lion Game, but always put it on the back burner to read. Once I finally got around to it, I couldn't put it down and then read two other books he had written. I am now reading Up Country . I enjoy his humor, but in this book, I feel he is spending too much time on the "road map of Vietnam" and not enough into the story. I am halfway thru the book, so perhaps I shouldn't make any harsh judgments.

*****

afalbo49@yahoo.com
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. 4 stars.
If you're at all interested in India, this novel is a must-read. The author's fine characterizations and detailed settings bring to mind Dickens's best work.

*****

Yodasmomy@aol.com
Every Breath You Take by Ann Rule. 5 stars.
It took me a really long time to finish this true story. I don't know what planet I am on when these stories are in the news, but I never hear about them until Ann Rule writes a book or until it is a mini-series. This book is going to be a mini-series sometime this year. I can't wait for that. Of course, it won't be as good as the book. She tells the complete story of the murder of Sheila Bellush and the conviction of the murderers. Very very good!!

*****

Georgepaw@aol.com
Sick Puppy by Carl Hiaason. 3 ½ stars.
Fall On Your Knees by Ann Marie McDonald. 4 stars.
Gap Creek. 4 stars.
Everything's Eventual by Stephen King. 5 stars.

*****

shoff@adelphia.net
Cordina's Crown Jewel by Nora Roberts. 3 stars.
3 stars for entertainment value, and 0 stars for depth. This is a cute story, almost a "trashy romance novel" that will entertain you for the time it takes to read it. (me: three hours). After that, it's over. It's like eating potato chips, they taste good while you chew, but when the bag is empty, so are you. To really enjoy this story you have to pretend you are sitting in a broken lawn chair, in front of an old mobile home, with pink curlers in your hair. Not all novels have to be award winning, thought provoking, life changing reads. Some are just temporary escapes. Like this one. Just my not-so-humble opinion.

*****

robmedcalfjr@earthlink.net
Masque of Dreams by Bruce Boston. 5 stars.
Excellent. 16 poems, 16 short stories, and 6 novelettes. Science fiction and fantasy spanning 30 years of writing.

*****

Mlauerba@aol.com
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. 5 stars.
Learning abut the making of a geisha is fascinating. I am always interested in how other cultures live, grow up and think. Understanding of cultural differences could help us all live better and in peace.

We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates 4 stars.
I haven't gotten very far into this one but I am mesmerized by the family and although some of the description is too much I know I will be sorry when the story ends.

Final Payments by Mary Gordon.
I read it once before many years ago. This is my book group's next book for discussion and I am really looking forward to rereading it.

Stories of Isaac Bashevis Singer
I am skimming many of his stories looking for a specific theme but I especially like his children's stories.

*****

Ratacheck1234@aol.com
No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod. 5 stars.
The MacDonald family have come to Canada from their native land of Scotland. This traces the journey of patriarch Calum MacDonald and his 12 children. They have an uncertain future in the New World. The narrator cares for his alcoholic older brother. The writing is superb.

The St Patrick's Day Murder by Lee Harris. 5 stars.

I continue with this series, the 4th one. Christine Bennett is a former nun and when a NY policeman is murdered on St Patrick's Day, Christine and her police detective boyfriend do get involved. This is a series that I'm enjoying as I'm knowing the character better and better with each book.

Murder Can Cool Off Your Affair by Selma Eichler. 4 stars.
Rich Uncle Victor has only a few months to live. Edward, his favorite nephew and heir to his fortune, is shot. A second nephew is seeking help from Manhattan P.I. Desiree Shapiro. First for me in this series, even though it is the 9th one.

*****

DEJA2002@aol.com
The Smoke Jumper by Nicholas Evans. 5 stars.
Quick moving, educational, entertaining book - one of his better ones.

Three Weeks in Paris by Barbara Taylor Bradford. 3 stars.
Her usually well written story, but seemed to be drawn out, then wrapped up in the final few pages. Not one of her better ones.

The Lightkeeper by Susan Wiggs. 4 stars.
One of her "bodice rippers", but keep you reading page after page. Would recommend for one of those relaxing days.

*****

Bicx@aol.com
24 Hours by Greg Illes.

Such a good mystery writer; hard to put down.
Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy.

Still reading this one with 100 pages to go. The characters are so real and have such problems especially Cathy with her awful mother in law. Good drama - highly recommend.
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett.

Glad she won an award with this great story of people held hostage while attending a party. Good character studies and great plot. Also an unexpected ending!
Back When We were Grownups by Anne Tyler.

I really enjoyed this story of a woman who worked hard in a business all her life without it being her chosen career. Many crazy family members and a widow looking for love in all the wrong places!!! Nice warm story.

*****

thf33@hotmail.com
Crow Lake by Mary Lawson.
A first novel and extremely well done! Also Callings by Gregg Levoy for a non-fiction reading group.

*****

PFLucas@aol.com
The Blue Nowhere by Jeffery Deaver. 4 stars.
Jeffery Deaver masterfully creates a plot that twists and turns in this high-tech page turner. A former computer hacker is released form prison to assist the California State Police Computer Crime Unit find a killer. The killer, another computer hacker, invades his victim's computer and eventually takes their life. The police are involved in a race against time to outwit, and capture him before more are killed.

*****

DBinPgh@aol.com
Tell No One by Harlen Coben. 5 stars.
This is a great thriller! I highly recommend it!

Summer’s Child by Diane Chamberlain. 5 stars.
This is a good story that kept my interest to the end. I have not been disappointed by any of Chamberlain's books!

*****

archrev@gwi.net
Dialogues of the Dead by Reginald Hill. 5 stars.
I love the combination of gritty British mystery and intelligent writing that make up each of these Dalziel & Pascoe books! I am enjoying this so much I am limiting the amount of time I read it each day so I can savor it.

*****

OLTLFREAK@aol.com
Kentucky Rich by Fern Michaels. 5 stars.
This is a great book, a easy and fast paced read. I was glad to see an extension of the Colemans brought back! The only bad thing is having to wait to September to read the next book.

*****

sisterdot@attbi.com
Longing by Landais.
This was the best read of late. The music world of Europe in the late 1800's was far from hum drum, and the focus on the Schulman household made for great reading. The great composers were showcased, warts and all, and their love affairs (with giant egos) make for great reading.

Clara Schulman is the wonderful hero in this book. She went from a domineering father who took all of her money from her successful European concert tours, to a crazy, eccentric, genius husband whom she loved. The pictures of the salons of musical Europe were so vividly drawn, and I could almost hear the compositions being played and the egos dueling.

Landais takes a fascinating subject that has not been written about in detail, makes it come alive, has us rooting for the Schulman's, and hoping for a recovery for the manic depressive composer.

Even a non musician (as myself) can read this book and learn from the rich historical fabric, enjoy the compositions, ponder over the intrigues, and cry with the imprisonment of a musical genius in a mental asylum. I found myself reveling in the language deep into the night when I should have been sleeping. Beautiful descriptions and powerful characterizations.

*****

MiriamQueensen@aol.com
Stern Men by Elizabeth Gilbert. 5 stars.
It's funny, great characters, and very well written. It's the story of a girl growing up on an island off Maine, where the locals will fight to the death over their lobster territory.

*****

gregc2@bellsouth.net
Nannie Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. 2 stars.
At times a funny read; however, it's more hype than anything. Nanny is written with a little too much tongue in cheek and is insulting to nannies as well as the Mr. & Mrs. X's of the world. You may have better reads for your time.

*****

EdMBurgess@aol.com
Charity’s Reward by Ronald K. Blaylock.
It is a great book, the characters come alive, and the book transported me back to a time brought to life by stories told by my Mom and Dad about the early times in our community when they first started on a 65 year journey together. The refreshing thing about the book was that it wasn't one of the typical, "cranked out" versions often done by the more familiar authors, who seem to copy the same story over and over, just change the names and the places. It is available on Amazon.com and is, in my opinion, a bargain.

*****

petrole@netway.com
Limbo:A Memoir by A. Manette Ansay. 3 stars.
This is a memoir of the author's mysterious neurological disorder and how she makes the journey from gifted pianist to accomplished novelist. Touching, though not overly sappy. A very good read!

Good Harbor by Anita Diamant. three stars. It's quite a change from The Red Tent...about two middle aged women friends who live by the sea in Glocester, Massachusetts. One is a school librarian; the other is a romance novelist. Both friends are dealing with complex problems, but they find comfort in each other. The plot is somewhat predictable, but the writing is good. Also, it's a fast, easy read. I read it in two days.

*****

RGNNNR@aol.com
A Collection of Beauties at the Height of Their Popularity by Whitney Otto. 5 stars.
I'm 60% through this wonderful book. I read a review that said the characters are easily forgettable after telling their stories. That reviewer must have had an upset stomach while writing the review. The characters are beautiful, unforgettable people and all but one is in their 20's or 30's and living in San Francisco in the 1980's. I find myself stopping continuously and reminiscing about my own youth (I'm 54). This book is comparable to The Joy Luck Club.

*****

jigsymom@earthlink.net
Househusband by Ad Hudler. 5 stars.
This is a really great book. This book "really" sees what a normal day in the life as a stay at home spouse is like. Its not a "sit on the couch and eat bonbons" story. I give it a top score as a fun read

*****

SBlack1047@aol.com
The Summons by John Grisham.
I just completed The Summons. I thought it was a major disappointment. Can i get my money back? I promise to forget what the book was about.

*****

Shell725@aol.com
The Villa by Nora Roberts. 3 ½ stars.
Perhaps it isn't the most recent book of hers, but Nora's books usually transcend time anyway. This book was raved about and, if I'm not mistaken, even made the NY Times bestseller list. Well, it took me 100 pages to get into the book, and that's not typical for when I pick up anything written by Nora. Granted, the prologue tries to draw in the reader with a murder, but that's as far as it goes for the next 99 pages. I was rather disappointed with the book up until that point, even going so far as to read an entirely different book just to get away from it for a while. Now, however, it seems to be redeeming itself. While it hasn't changed my opinion of Nora being a brilliant writer, I would have preferred a better hook to keep me in suspense sooner.

*****

songoden@earthlink.net
Big Bad Love by Larry Brown.
I saw the movie first (not usually a good idea). This time it worked out. The movie borrows ideas from Brown's short story collection, but the two works stand on their own with neither suffering from comparison to the other. The movie was great. And I'm enjoying the stories as well.

*****

THEROC916@aol.com
Revelations: The Years 2000 by Janet Markey. 4 stars.
The book is amazing. The characters are great and the plot keeps you in suspense. Its easy to follow the intriging story-line. I recommend this book to everyone because I was unable to put it down. I just passed it on and my cousin is really into it....This is a must read if I must say so.

This book has definately changed my life as it will many other's. The book is so breathtaking all I can say is "Ya Gotta Read It!

*****

Toad0212@aol.com
Capital Schandal by Sarah Gregory. 4 stars.
It was the first book of hers I've read and am preparing to head to the book store this weekend to get more of her books. It's a murder mystery set in Washington, DC. The main character, Sharon Hays, is an attorney from Texas who, with her partner, has been hired by the Senator from Texas to defend her son (a congressman himself) of murdering an intern (sound familiar). The book pre-dates the current events in DC however. It was a little predictable, although the story moved nicely and was well told. Having been to DC several times, I was able to envision the different places mentioned throughout the story. I'd recommend the book. It's a quick read and held my attention.

*****

VALAITISH@aol.com
Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths by Karen Armstrong. 4 stars.
A history and analysis of the importance of Jerusalem to Judaism, Christianity and Islam and how each faith put down roots in the city.

*****

Wprmfr@aol.com
You Can If You Think You Can by "Big" Bill Rinaldi. 4 stars.
This is an inspirational autobiography of a man with a severe physical disability. It is an honest and intimate personal account of his life. He was diagnosed with a fatal, genetic, developmental disease during a backward era when discrimination and the denial of basic civil, social and political rights reigned supreme.

Most people thought it was highly unlikely that he would survive. Even fewer imagined that he would thrive in the "mainstream". Yet, with undaunted perseverance and resourceful imagination, he went beyond all expectations to lay claim to many victories and successes.

The challenges of being "first" in a narrow-minded time tested "normal" attitudes and environments. Yet he consistently said "I can" to school systems shutting him out, employers turning him away, social, civic and religious groups unwilling to accept him. Defying them and their negativity, he fought to make his way.

In the process, Ihefound many friends - three Presidents, popular celebrities, people who loved, inspired and assisted him to become an Educator, a Public Official, and a respected leader, advocate, artist, and activist.

By exposing his deformed body, his determined will unleashed a mission beyond himself. His words and deeds served as linchpins of hope, and his successes became an anthem for the denied and dejected, a validation that "you can if you think you can".

*****

Amicusmagnus@aol.com
Agatha Raisin and the Love From Hell by M.C.Beaton. 4 stars.
I love this series of murder mysteries. They are light and entertaining reading. The character is a blend of contrasts. She is arrogant and irritable, but lovable all the same. She is a character that is forging her way thru life, solving murders that keep cropping up in her neighborhood of the English Cotswalds

*****

AndreaCarter3270@aol.com
Oprah's Book Club. 2 stars.
I for one was glad to hear of the demise of Oprah's Book Club. I was quite excited about it when it first began, particularly when she was recommendeding authors like Ursula Negi and Toni Morrison, but over time I've seen the book club lag dramatically, and the day I saw her pick Maeve Binchy as her "author of the month" I knew it was time to give up [has anyone ever tried to READ that woman's "writing"?). It also became clear quite early that the books Oprah was recommending were so similar in subject and tone and it was like reading the same book over and over and over again. I also suspect the flap over the book The Corrections may have had something to do with all of this. Anyway, I'm glad to see the club come to an end, and hope Oprah goes back to her previous practice of recommending a book when she ran across it instead of waiting to choose a book-of-the-month. Also, for those critics among us, I'm sure we've all noticed that the Book Club shows were, for the most part, a great paean to the author, with little if any critical discussion of the book in question. Does anyone recall ever hearing any honest CRITICISM of the book Oprah picked in any given month?

Dreamcatcher by Stephen King. 1 star.
I've been reading King since Carrie and haven't skipped a novel except for Christine, which I put down after a couple of chapters. Normally I think King is a very good writer whose work is badly underrated, and that he deserves far more recognition than he gets. But Dreamcatcher just didn't do it for me. He spent so much time over-characterizing the characters in the book that by the time we actually meet the aliens [which are truly awful aliens], lots of us who attempted to read the book no longer cared. I read about 250 pages before I gave up. I know a lot of folks really liked Dreamcatcher, but I'm not one of them [and I'm somewhat acquainted with the man, living just 2 miles away from his home, and like him very much]. My advice is to read On Writing and Everything's Eventual, which ARE worth your time and effort, and skip Dreamcatcher [unless you're one of those folks who like to wait 200 pages before any action sets in -- I'm not that patient.]

*****

BettyB6768@aol.com
The Falcon at the Portal by Elizabeth Peters.4 stars.
This is about the 4th mystery of hers that I have read and I have 3 more lined up. She has written about 13 I guess at this time. They are tongue-in-cheek about Egypt around the turn of the century. The main character and her husband have a son called Ramses and you can take it from there.

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver's. 5 stars.
I have just finished this one. I guess I am later than others in getting to it.

*****

Bibliobabe2@aol.com
Bubbles Unbound by Sarah Strohmeyer 2 stars.
This purportedly funny book left me wondering why it has generated such good buzz. Bubbles has been favorably compared to Janet Evanovich's truly laugh-out-loud funny Stephanie Plum books, but in my estimation falls far short. The mystery was barely there, the writing was often confusing, the dialog was inane, and the characters mere cardboard cutouts. I didn't care "who dunnit" or why, and only skimmed the last 100 pages or so. All the fizz in this bottle of Bubbles has gone flat.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. 5 stars.
Would you want to live forever? Young Winnie must decide this after meeting the Tuck family, who once drank from an enchanted spring and found in it everlasting life. This is a children's book, but please don't let that deter you from reading this marvelous book. The story, though simple, is involving and wrenching, the themes are thought-provoking, and the language is fiercely beautiful.

*****

Bjglu@aol.com
Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner. 4 stars.
Embarrasing title to carry around, but light, frothy, very funny reading. Story of an overweight single girl whose ex-boyfriend writes a column about her for a glossy magazine. Leads her to do some hysterical soul-searching. Anyone who's been over their ideal weight will identify!

*****

cfurgason@ADESA.com
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio by Terry Ryan. 5+ stars.

*****

safynegaia@aol.com
Exposé by Laura Van Wormer. 4 stars.
This is a very funny & interesting mystery. The heroine of the novel is 30 year old journalist Sally Harrington.

She works for her local newspaper & one day on the job she helps a gentleman with a panic attack. The family is so grateful for her help that they repay her with a job at their magazine to write an exposé on a powerful woman that runs a media conglomerate.

But back on the homefront there is a murder that is a mob hit. Sally finds the body. To find out that this might be related to her father's death that was ruled accidental.

She also has a successful boyfriend who's a district attorney. She's falling in love with another man in New York.

The book is witty, & funny. She's strong, but not perfect. I love her dog in the book, & the writer could spin off a whole series just on this dog.

*****

DStegmanCrawford@aol.com
Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan. 5 stars.
An excellent story of ancient China and a family relationship that survives the test of time!

Fortune's Rocks by Anita Shreve. 1 star.
An old, tired, story of a young girl and old man in a relationship. Nothing surprising or revealing in this same old plot.

Fatal Care by Leonard Goldberg. 3 stars.
A medical thriller about genetic manipulation. Not much new for plot line there, either.

*****

Dustball1127@aol.com
The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien.
I last read this book when I was in high school, (over 20 years ago!). I loved it then and even more now, it is highly recommended.

*****

EDMARYMOM@aol.com
2nd Chance by James Patterson. 5 stars.
This book is great! Fast paced and Lindsey Boxer is a fantastic new character! She and her female friends realistically build bonds between themselves. This is Patterson's second in this series. Lindsey is an intelligent, perisistant and believable character. The story takes plenty of turns, and keeps the reader turning those pages. Can't wait to read #3....

*****

ebusby@optonline.net
Last Man Standing by David Baldacci. 4 stars.
Good story and very suspenseful. One of my favorite writers and I am enjoying it

*****

Ferrellac@aol.com
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. 4 ½ stars.
Three Fates by Nora Roberts. 4 ½ stars.
24 Hours by Greg Iles. 4 ½ stars.
One False Move by Harlan Coben. 5 stars.

*****

Fezabel@aol.com
The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. 5 stars
The Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton. 3 stars
Princess in Love by Meg Cabot. 5 stars
Reunion in Death by J.D. Robb. 5 stars
A Caress of Twilight by Laurell K. Hamilton. 4 stars
Everything's Eventual: 14 Dark Tales by Stephen King. 5 stars

*****

Jaebord@aol.com
The Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum. 5 stars.
This is a classic children tale that goes beyond the movie. As we all know it is a story about a girl who tries to find her way home after being trapped in an enchanted land. However, it has a good message for children and adults that we need to be content with what we have. I enjoyed the movie as a child, but I have never read the book and I am enjoying it. It is a good book that will take you away to a simpler time as well as entertain you. It is also a good read-a-loud story for your children.

*****

How to Read a Film by James Monaco. 4 stars.
Great book for those interested in the study of film. Chapters cover not only the typical history of film and its technology, but also why film is considered an art form. The book is filled with movie stills to illustrate the various concepts.

Plainsong by Kent Haruf. 4 stars.
The title may imply that this is a simplistic novel, but the language is rich with details.

I would like my contribution to remain anonymous.

*****

jetsixteen@hotmail.com
The Ladies Auxilary by Tova Mirvis. 4 stars.
I really enjoyed this book about a close knit Orthodox Jew community of women in Memphis. They have a new neighbor move in who has a different outlook on their shared religion. She is a breath of fresh air into the community and makes everyone examine their life and choices, even if they don't want to. It is a good book about group dynamics and what it is life is like for Orthodox Jews in a modern 'McDonaldized' kind of world.

*****

JIngenito@aol.com
Sula by Toni Morrison. 4 stars.
A story of 2 black girls and their different upbringing and background who become friends. someimtes a little difficult to understand the "black" language, but worth a look at the life and problems of the African-Americans during the depression.

*****

JKVENTON@aol.com
Tell No One by Harlan Coben. 4 stars.
Very suspenseful, hard to put down. A young doctor whose wife, his soul-mate, was abducted and murdered 8 years earlier suddenly starts receiving cryptic e-mail messages, with phrases that would be meaningful only to the 2 of them. Could she possibly still be alive? Her body had been identified by her father and uncle.

Bodies start turning up, Elizabeth's best friend is horribly murdered, and Dr. Beck finds himself on the run from murderers and the FBI. Many plot twists and surprises along the way. You won't want to put it down until you finish it.

*****

jhbandcats@attbi.com

Dune: House Atreides and Dune: House Harkonnen by Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson. 2-1/2 stars.
The stories, some if not most developed by Frank Herbert, the original author of the six-part Dune series, are fabulous. Alas, the writing is atrocious. There are too many examples of awfulness to enumerate, so I will mention only one. The authors repeat information as though they think the readers aren't going to be paying any attention: in House Atreides, Kailea's "emerald" eyes are mentioned so often that I figured the authors had done a "Find and Replace" search on her name.... The book is wordy and loose, not at all like the tight, crisp writing of Frank Herbert (who died in 1986). Not a page goes by that I don't wonder why these books weren't edited properly. However, because the story line is so good, I keep reading. I would only recommend these books to someone who could somehow overlook form for function, just to get at the stories themselves. When Dune: House Corrino comes out in paperback, I'll read it, too, despite my complaints about the writing. However, I'm most looking forward to going back and rereading the original Dune once I finish House Harkonnen, just to get the taste of that terrible writing out of my mouth.

*****

juliecbarnard@yahoo.com
A Portrait of a Lady by Henry James. 5 stars

This is one of those books people read in school, but I never did. It's a story of a young American girl who goes to England with her aunt. I haven't finished it yet, so I don't know how many proposals she turns down. But the story is entertaining and the characters well-drawn.

*****

JWIsley@aol.com
Dust to Dust by Tami Hoag. 4 stars.
Its a thriller.

In A sunburned Country by Bill Bryson. 4 stars.
It has a lot of interesting information about Australia and some that i really didn't need to know:i.e. they have giant worms there that you can here as they travel through the ground. Mr. Bryson is an author that is both informative and humorous.

*****

KAT8286@aol.com
During the Reign of the Queen of Persia by Joan Chase. 5 stars.

*****

Kec200@aol.com
When Venus Fell by Deborah Smith. 4 stars.
I love Deborah Smith and When Venus Fell was wonderful! It has a little intrigue, a little romance, lots of lovely characters and makes you want to travel to the Tennessee mountains in search of the inn. You really want to visit this place and meet all these people!

*****

welshdragon@rushmore.com
Cane River by Lalita Tademy. 4 ½ stars.
A gripping story that you don't want to put down. And proof that the best stories come from our own past!

*****

KGraetzRSP@aol.com
Up Country by Nelson DeMille. 4 stars.
Paul Brenner, the character from The General's Daughter returns to investigate a murder that occurred during the Vietnam War. The descriptions of Vietnam and the people are worth reading. There's a romantic relationship that is fun to read and it keeps you guessing. I did figure out the ending early and it was somewhat predictable, but also very enjoyable. DeMille has a great sense of humor and I found myself laughing out loud quite often.

Selling the Lite of Heaven by Suzanne Strempek Shea. 4 stars.
A young woman attempts to sell the engagement ring from her fiancee after he cancels the wedding to join the priesthood. It's a fun read with a lot of laughs and quirky characters.

One Thousand White Women: The Journal of May Dodd by Jim Fergus. 5 stars.
The U.S. Government agrees to give the Cheyenne Indians one thousand white women as brides in order to appease them for a treaty and assimilate them. The women are volunteers and the story is told through the eyes of May Dodd. Although this was written by a man, I couldn't put it down. The characters were developed and the story has many twists and turns.

*****

polarbear90@attbi.com
Katherine by Anchee Min 3 stars.
I read this one for a book discussion at our library. It's about the impact of an American teacher on a group of Chinese students not long after the Cultural Revolution. Very sad. Come to think of it, I've never read a hopeful book about China.

*****

MargotTC@aol.com
A Suitable Vengeance by Elizabeth George.
I love mysteries, but every time I tried to read George I had a hard time getting into the story and would not finish the book. A retired college English professor suggested I start with George's first book (A Great Deliverance). It worked - I was able to get to know the characters and found myself not able to put the book down.

*****

mnboylan@yahoo.com
Neither Here Nor There by Bill Bryson. 5 stars.
A very funny memoir of his travels to Europe.

*****

martyph@charter.net
Last Man Standing by David Baldacci.
His newest. No way was it as good as his first one, Absolute Power. I always wonder why an author's later books don't live up to the first one. I found myself just reading to see how this one ended. He hooks me on the plot, then lets me down in delivering the ending. Hoping for a better experience of Baldacci, I am now reading his off-genre Wish You Well. So far, so good. No FBI, heavy weapons or diabolical plots in this one. Baldacci goes back to mountain country in his native Virginia for this one. I keep hoping this will be THE best Baldacci yet!

*****

matate10@swbell.net
All families are Psychotic by Douglas Coupland. 4 stars.
It was and outlandis tale of a really messed up family. Reminded me alot of the the way Carl Hiaason creaqters a madcap plot

*****

marychambers@yahoo.com
Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons. 4 stars.
It's a truly moving and uplifting story about a young girl caught up in the Childrens Services system. She renames herself with the last name of Foster in order to find a decent and loving home for herself.

The Endurance by Caroline Alexander. 4 stars.
The true story of Shackleton and his crew including many pictures. Their struggles and survival is a story for the ages.

Bias:An Insider Exposes The Media by Bernard Goldberg. 4 stars

A look at the way the news media decides which stories they will present and how they want us to look at them. Goldberg worked for CBS until he fell out of favor because of his truthfulness.

Jump Off Creek by Molly Gloss. 3 stars.
This is a novel taked from the diaries written by a women homesteading alone in Oregon Territory. Jump Off Creek is a real place in Washington State. My book club read this book and enjoyed it.

*****

Acujab@Prodigy.net
Suzanne's Diary For Nicholas by James Patterson. 4 stars.
Very different from Patterson's usual offerings (Thank goodness). He didn't fool me with the two "Matt's" but I did not anticipate the final twist. Good Read.

Up Country by Nelson DeMille. 5 stars.
Anything by DeMille is well worth reading (I notice your correspondents agree with me.)

Wilbur Smith

Anything by Wilbur Smith! My knowledge of Africa comes from his books; I read them in order of publiction.

*****

Mvourneen@aol.com
Cider House Rules by John Irving. 1 star.
I don't like it at all, but said I 'd read it.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt. 4 stars.
Fascinating piicure of interwoven lives in a particulr time in Savannah.

Star for Henry by Doyle. 5 stars.
Such a good pictue of Ireland in the "time of troubles," not at all Hollywood.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. 5 stars.
Wonderful, couldn't' put it down, not unremittingly depressing as I was afraid it might be.

*****

NEPR@aol.com
Saving Grace by Lee Smith.
Grace is the product of religious faith at its most radical--the child of a snake-handling evangelist and a former nightclub dancer. This southern girl's jouney from abject poverty and ignorance of the world into womanhood through love, hate, awareness, and loss to acceptance and redemption is sad, tragic and entertaining.

The Choir by Joanna Trolloppe.
This story is set in an old cathedral town in England. The town becomes divided when, in order to repair the cathedral, one group decides to elininate the boys choir. The conflict affects the personal lives of everyone involved, and when it is resolved, nobody is the same. Wonderful, interesting characters.

*****

PamMacHig@aol.com
At Weddings and Wakes by Alice McDermott. -0 stars.
It is the most boring book I have ever read....could only read it about 10 minutes at a time. I stuck with it as I was reading it for a book club. I have never read anything else of hers and never intend to and am amazed that she has won awards for her writing....it amazes me that this ever was published.

*****

Pegeth@aol.com
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris.
Humorous essays -- nice pick up and put down book.

Back When We Were Grown-Ups by Anne Tyler.
Interesting family, questions about love and whether or not we can recapture our "first loves,' questioning our identities as we age.

*****

annie.haynes@netxv.net
The Grand Complication by Allen Kurzweil. 5 stars.
This is a must-read for librarians and bibliophiles, in my opinion! It is a quick, easy read but amazing in the use of detail and nuance. The plot and the characters are quirky and refreshing. It made me want to improve my penmanship, too!

Evan and Elle by Rhys Bowen. 3 stars.
I love this cozy mystery series set in a village in Wales with lovable characters.

*****

Iamapepr@aol.com
Circumstance of Conception by Irene Louise. 5 stars.
Well-paced story of a woman who is raped on her way home from work. While the perpetrator of the crime is not a mystery to the reader, it's evident that the focal point of this novel revolves around so much more. Conflicts arising with each character offer many perspectives to controversial issues in this emotionally demanding novel. I cried, felt angered, but mostly found myself wondering about my own vulnerability and the choices I would make if I was the main character. I cared about all the characters, even Jackson, who at times I despised. Louise's ability to grasp all angles of a family dealing with the aftermath of a horrifying crime are compelling, giving all who turn the pages of this novel food for thought.

*****

NancyK321@aol.com
Ambling into History: The Unlikely Odyssey of George W. Bush by Frank Bruni. 4 stars.
The author is the New York Times reporter who accompanied George Bush on his campagin for the presidency. It is an interesting insight into the personality and character of our president, full of whimsical anecdotes of incidents that took place before and after the election.

The author seemed too preoccupied with trivia and his own interpretation of it. However, for those of us who respect and admire George W. Bush, this is history to be cherished.

*****

susie@leasetexas.com
Wicked by Gregory Maguire. 5 stars.
The life and times of the Wicked Witch of the West. This is the old Oz story from the witch's point of view, complete with her early life and college days, where she meets up with Glinda. Offers explanations for those winged monkeys and green skin that will amuse and delight. A great read and an amazing look at what is evil and what is merely misunderstood. The book is a feast of language; you may need a dictionary to truly enjoy it all!

*****

LMorris804@aol.com
Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggaeh.
This book combines a bit of history re the tulip mania which spread throughout Holland in the 1630s, a bit of art ala The Girl with the Pearl Earring and Hyacinth Blue, all with a touch of romance and mystery. Not a lengthy book, but an intriguing one. Now I'm moved on to reading Up Country by Nelson DeMille which has begun with DeMille's usual flair.

*****

Bossu49@aol.com
Lucky Man: A Memoir by Michael J. Fox. 5 stars.
Mercy by Julie Garwood. 5 stars.

*****

Caroline@swtexas.com
Church Folk by Michele Andrea Bowen. 3 stars.
I just finished this book and I found it to be a very good read. Not what I was expecting, but a good read just the same.

*****

AUGER77777@aol.com
2nd Chance by James Patterson. 5 stars.
He's been churning out a lot of books lately, and, frankly, I wasn't expecting something this good. I guess I thought he would be overworked or something and come up with a weak plot. I was pleasantly surprised to find this prolific writer had another superb novel of suspense (a sequel to 1st to Die). He had me guessing right up to the end who the killer was. (It wasn't the butler.) This was a really great read and I look forward to his next book, and his next, etc.

*****

Caliauds@aol.com
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. 5 stars.
It's been quite a while since I last read this humorous novel. It brings back memories of childhood and my own adventures and is a book I truly enjoy reading. I recommend a reread of this old classic.

*****