hoffman@sandiegodefense.com
I just finished reading Mortals All by Bruce Golden. It's a character-driven, science fiction love story that I couldn't put down. I'd give it 5 stars.
donald.alspach@acsalaska.net
The Way To Bright Star by Dee Brown is a breath of fresh air! It has everything: good storyline and great characters!
Peace Like a River is Leaf Enger's first book and I look forward to his second. Good story and good character development and two unforgettable children.
lgettle@iserv.net
Maggie Needs an Alibi by Kasey Michaels. 5 stars.
This book is pure fun.
RGNNNR@aol.com
The Rainbow by D.H. Lawrence. 4 stars.
I've read only short stories by Lawrence in the past. This is my first attempt at one of his novels. If you like poetry, you will like this book. I'm 75% through it and would be finished by now, except that I tried to read it as a novel and that was a difficult go. It's really beautifully written but should be approached as poetry in prose.
Bettys1870@aol.com
Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer.
It's a little difficult to get into but worth the travel. After trying to teach foreign students how to speak English, I find this book a trip through nostalgia.
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon.
A big book with lots of big words--could have shortened the 600+ pages by about 150. Tells a good story of the early days of superhero comic characters and their authors/illustrators. It is also a story of unrequited love and its regrets, a Jewish teen immigrant in New York City, a young man sent to a god-forsaken place in WWII, and magic tricks.
The Scandalous Summer of Sissy Leblanc by Loraine Despres.
The book is a bit racy but fun. It takes place in the Deep South. Sissy is married but yearns for an old beau who just happens to return to town. Her Southern Belle upbringing hinders her some, but not completely.
Stone Kiss by Faye Kellerman.
Kellerman again taunts us with Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus adventures. The boys are now college students. Peter is asked to come to New York City to help with a problem facing his biological family, but he is thwarted when he tries to solve the case. Rina goes to NYC with him because her sons are in school nearby. This gives Peter and Rina a chance to get a short visit with them.
Sea Glass by Anita Shreve.
Honora walks to the beach to clear her mind and finds bits of glass transformed by the waves. Each piece has a story--as do all the people Honora meets in this small town.
Classymae@aol.com
Interestingly enough, I stumbled onto a new release published by iUniverse,
Anonymity, by Margie Gosa Shivers. After browsing to read the first chapter, I was magnetized and bought the book. In less than four days, I read it all, word for word, and thoroughly enjoyed it. This book tells what happens in the age-old institution of marriage, a suspenseful twist relative to the plot. I loved the main and supporting characters, as they are so real and bounced off the pages. The story is set in Chicago at a time when television shows, movies and print media are all focusing on men and women relationships. Anonymity does it all: it entertains, gives you a reason to keep reading, and has a surprising ending.
Grandmareadme@aol.com
Linda Barnes has finally come out with her next book in the Carlotta Carlyle series. I am so enjoying it. The characters appear to have remained true to themselves, and the flow of the story is the same. I am so happy she is writing again and hope there is not such a long time between this book and her next one. Way to go, Linda.
Mystrytx@aol.com
I'm reading the Sammy Keyes Juvenile mysteries by Wendelin Van Draanen. Excellent, excellent, excellent ... they may be for kids, but I enjoyed them tremendously and was not bored. I'd says 5 stars for children OR adults who don't have to have blood and guts to enjoy a good read.
Sesame705@aol.com
It's A Miracle: Real-Life Inspirational Stories Based on the PAX TV Series It's A Miracle, Selected by Richard Thomas.
Although I have only just gotten a taste of this book, I have to tell you that by the second story I was reaching for the tissue box and a comforting cup of hot chocolate! The stories read like the way the television series plays, with a sense of wonder and inspiration that makes you consider the meaning of love and coincidence in the midst of a chaotic and often unforgiving world. The stories cover the areas of romance, emotional strength, the role of animals in our lives, rescues, medical miracles and gifts, and unexplainable divine intervention. They are S-O-O-O GOOD, so uplifting and intriguing! I am looking forward to savoring this book, though I think I better stock up on Kleenex before I go any further!
FtLicky@aol.com
A recent read of mine that I found to be quite a fun mystery is Hanging Hannah by Evan Marshall (who is a literary agent and author). I would have to give it 4 stars. The characters are interesting, and the plot is an exciting one to follow. And who can't resist a good cat cozy?
kj4fm@chartertn.net
I am currently reading The Paris Option, a Covert-One novel written by Robert Ludlum and Gayle Lynds. I would rank it at a 3 1/2. It is not as good as some of the others.
Lgluhani@aol.com
The Scandalous Summer of Sissy Leblanc by L. Despres. 3 1/2 stars.
A simple, fun read that takes you to a different place and time.
Motherhood and Hollywood by Patricia Heaton. 4 stars.
The star of "Everybody Loves Raymond" writes about becoming an actress and life in La-La Land. It's funny and true. You feel like you could have Patricia in your kitchen for a great chat.
Vikkivand@aol.com
July, July by Tim O'Brien. 3 1/2 stars.
This book is about college friends from the 60's who get together for their reunion in July 2000 and how their lives turned out.
Doot65@aol.com
I'm reading From A Buick 8 by Stephen King.
QueenGP@aol.com
The book I am currently reading is The English Assassin by Daniel Silva. It keeps you on the edge of your seat all the time.
jennysnell@netspeed.com.au
I have discovered New Zealand novelist Elizabeth Knox's beautiful tale, The Vintners Luck. This is a highly original story that will no doubt question your philosophy on God, angels, heaven and hell. It was written in the most lyrical prose and was full of extraordinary characters. I was drawn into this amazing world that follows the complex relationship between man and angel, which takes them both on a lifetime journey of self-discovery. A truly special book that I wish would never end.
AUGER77777@aol.com
I just finished reading Thunderhead by Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston. This was a terrific and exciting read about a group of archeologists in search of a lost city in the Southwest, reputed to have been sought after by Coronado and filled with gold treasure. The team meets up with a wide variety of dangers which continues to whittle their numbers down, even as they find the city and get closer and closer to locating the real treasure. The building suspense makes this a real page-turner. 5 stars.
juliecbarnard@yahoo.com
Just finished Family MattersA Fine Balance, I wasn't surprised at all that this book was every bit as good. Wonderful characters, a touching and multi-faceted plot, and a well-realized setting make this a great read. Definitely, without any reservations, 5 stars.
And I just started Cloud of Sparrows by Takashi Matsuoka. No evaluation yet, but the first pages are beautiful.
I'm looking forward to Welcome to Higby by Mark Dunn, whose first book, Ella Minnow Pea, was one of my favorites of 2001.
Mittens0831@aol.com
Many years ago, I read The Clan Of The Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel. I also read the other three books in the series. Since it has taken so long for the next book to come out, I have decided to read all four books again and then finish up with her new book, The Shelters of Stone. This should keep me busy for a while!
harrises@bayou.com
I am currently reading The Monk Downstairs by Tim Farrington. So far I give it 3 stars…enjoyable but not the page-turner I am always looking for.
WJHMCB@aol.com
These Is My Words is a very great read.
SOPHIENED@aol.com
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. 5 stars. An amazing book. This year's Kavalier and Clay. Fantastic!
mi3son@bellsouth.net
Dreamcatcher by Stephen King. 5 stars. This book is very creepy and scary. It tells of four childhood friends who go on a hunting trip and whose lives are changed forever with an encounter with another hunter who is a host for aliens. It is also about how some humans are worse than the aliens themselves. It is one of those reads that you can't put down.
kathyharmon45@hotmail.com
Madam, the Grass is High by Dennis H. Christen. 5 stars.
About this time every year, I start doing a lot of reading. This book tops my list for Christmas gifts. It's fun and romantic at the same time and not just for the young either. Two people, voted most unlikely to ever meet, let alone fall in love . . . fall in love. It is touted as a love story about the old, for the young. It's actually a love story for everyone. Beautifully written with rich, funny characters.
GandmaRI@aol.com
This week still finds me reading Red Rabbit by Tom Clancy. I'd rate the book 4 stars so far...if I could just read more than one chapter in the bath and one chapter before I doze off! As always, Clancy builds his characters well. Now, I'm waiting to get to the interaction!
tfranzen2124@attbi.com
Shadow Man by Mary Gordon. 3 stars.
This is a memoir about her absent father, and her adult search to make him real.
DIANWILLY@aol.com
What Time Is It? You Mean Now? by Yogi Berra. 5 stars.
Light reading and written as only Yogi can say it. This is great for baseball fans and the kids in us all. It's a quick book at 160 pages with smaller pages and graphics throughout. As the cover states "Advice for Life from the Zennest Master of Them All."
BettyB6768@aol.com
Zelda by Nancy Milford. 4 stars. It is the sad tale of Zelda Fitzgerald, F. Scott Fitzgerald's wife, and it was Nancy Milford's first biography. She has done extensive research and shows how, despite battling schizophrenia, Zelda produced short stories and novels. Nancy Milford has
gone on to write a bio on Edna St. Vincent Millay, also good, and is out with a new one. She is in Chicago with the Humanities Festival at this time.
Laduea@aol.com
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. 5 stars
The Cottage by Danielle Steele. 5 stars.
Love most of her books with the exception of maybe two.
Angel Falls by Kristin Hannah. 4 stars.
Just started reading some of her books, they're very good.
AdmiralSaul@aol.com
My reading list contains mostly older books, though I do like some of the newer books:
To Asmara by Thomas Keneally. 4 stars.
A nicely written novel, though tame compared to the reality of the situation that
exists in Eritrea today. Slow in some parts, but overall quite moving.
The Smoke Jumper by Nicholas Evans. 4 stars.
This novel by Evans takes the reader inside one of the most dangerous professions, and allows the reader to experience a full range of emotions throughout this book.
Caverns of Socrates by Dennis L. McKiernan. 4 1/2 stars.
An excellent sci-fi/fantasy adventure that I feel will appeal to non-readers of the genre. It's extremely well written and full of action that keeps one reading on. I had difficulty putting it down.
Desecration by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. 4 stars.
The continuation (Book Nine) of the Left Behind Series. This team has produced the longest series that I have had a desire to keep up with.
The Shelters of Stone by Jean M. Auel. 3 stars.
The continuing saga of Ayla and Jondalar in the Earth Children series. The
extended length of time between books being released is tedious. Though the
books are very well written, I have to go back and reread the others just to
keep up with the series.
blackrx@qwest.net
Recently, I've discovered the works of Laurence Shames, author of The
Naked Detective. I just finished reading Sunburn and am delighted with it and cannot
recommend Mr. Shames' works highly enough.
Valjeang@aol.com
Finishing a three-week break and I read some excellent adult novels. (I'm a teacher who is usually reading children's novels, so I can direct reluctant readers to wonderful books). I am amazed at how John Grisham always "gets me" so involved with his characters. I just finished The Chamber last night and actually found myself crying! I also enjoyed Rainmaker in the first week of my break. In addition, I enjoyed B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton. I didn't like The Gazebo very much though (I've forgotten the author already). From the looks of the other recommendations here, I need to read The Lovely Bones next!
DebMillinFla@aol.com
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. 3 stars.
Daddy's Little Girl by Mary Higgins Clark. 5 stars.
Bamboo & Lace by Lori Wick. 4 stars.
Leota's Garden by Francine Rivers. 5 stars.
Crazy for You by Jennifer Cruise. 5 stars.
joswood@adiis.net
The Tiger's Child by Torey Hayden. 5 stars.
Torey Hayden is a special education teacher, and she writes movingly about some of her students and the successes and failures that they have when they are in her class. I love her books. This is a sequel to One Child, a book that she wrote many years ago about a girl named Sheila. The Tiger's Child has us meeting Sheila again when she is a teenager. It is enormously satisfying to know what has become of her and to see her reunited with the teacher who meant so much to her as a child.
Beautiful Child by Torey Hayden. 5 stars.
This is the story of another girl in Torey Hayden's care. She is almost catatonic for most of the year, but through great persistence and love, Torey reaches this student's inner soul. It is so moving and heart-warming.
Dark Horse by Tami Hoag. 2 stars.
I found this book to be quite boring and hard to finish. There were just too many characters and sub-plots to keep track of. I don't think the author did a good job of developing the characters of many of the suspected villains, so I found that I was
quite distracted and uninterested in all of them. It was about 100 pages too long.
hibar14@earthlink.net
I just finished reading Trust Fund by Stephen Frey. It's an interesting, quick read. I give it 4 stars.
Shrimpy816@aol.com
Here are a few of the books I have recently read and would recommend:
Alex Kava: Split Second
A Perfect Evil
The Soul Catcher
Nora Roberts: Dance Upon the Air
Heaven and Earth
Face the Fire
JD Robb: Purity in Death. #15 of the Eve and Roark In Death books. I have read them all and am waiting for the next one due out in March - as are four other people I work with and share books with.
Deb1teach@aol.com
Killjoy by Julie Garwood. 4 stars.
A little slow.
The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen. 5 stars.
A great murder mystery.
GDurisin@aol.com
The Education of Mrs. Bemis by John Sedgwick. 4 stars.
I began reading this one when excerpts were sent to me from Chapter-A-Day book club, a good source for new reading selections. My library copy is classified as mystery fiction, but it's not your typical whodunit. The story centers on an unusual relationship that develops between an elderly woman and a young female psychiatrist who begins working with her after the woman is found disoriented, curled up in a bed at Filene's department store. This story has excellent character development, with a particularly nice portrayal of a well-to-do young woman coming of age in the WWII era.
The Murder Book by Jonathan Kellerman. 3 1/2 stars.
In an unnecessarily complicated plot, Alex and Milo return to an early case of Milo's that he failed to solve, their renewed efforts prompted by Alex's receiving from an unknown source a photo album including crime scene pictures. At times the story bogged down in their endless hypothesizing about multiple unsavory suspects, so much so that by the end it almost seemed not worth finding out just who was guilty of what.
Blessings by Anna Quindlen. 2 1/2 stars.
When a teenaged couple deposit their baby on the steps of a garage on a country estate, they set off life-changing events for an elderly woman and her young groundskeeper. Confusing transitions between past and present made the story a bit difficult to follow.
MysteryNut19@aol.com
Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton. 4 stars
Kinsey Millhone is assisting two retired policemen in trying to find the identity of a woman murdered eighteen years before. This book again finds Kinsey struggling with her newly found family and the subsequent identity issues they raise within her. In a neat twist, Grafton used a real life unsolved murder as a starting point for this story. The end of the book has pictures of the facial reconstruction of the real life victim, as well as a plea for info.
Smartwlegs@aol.com
I read The Poisonwood Bible years ago and loved it. I just decided to try something else by Barbara Kingsolver, and I am loving her work again. I recommend this highly.
caliauds66@aol.com
City of Bones by Michael Connelly. 4 stars.
As always, Michael Connelly writes a great book that you can't put down. I highly recommend it and can't wait to read his latest.
rvick@neo.rr.com
Just finished Robert Parker's Shrink Rap and I loved it!
Bdalton412@aol.com
I was intimidated when I first picked up The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber. It actually weighed more than any book I had purchased in recent history. I read several positive reviews before I actually when out and bought it. Everything that is being said is true. It truly reminds me of something penned by Dickens. However, it has a more modern ring to it, even though it is set in 1874 England. If you love a character-driven novel, this one is for you. I can't say enough good things about it.
marychambers@yahoo.com
Dearest Friend by Lynne Withey. 5 stars.
A biography from a different point of view of Abigail Adams. My book club loved it.
Little Altars Everywhere by Rebecca Wells. 4 stars.
This book takes place before Divine Secrets of the Yaya Sisterhood and I liked it much better.
Plague Ship by Frank G. Slaughter. 3 stars.
This book was written several years ago and didn't have the punch of some of the modern "plague" thrillers.
Three Junes by Julia Glass. 1 star.
I didn't like it at all.
Leaving Cold Sassy by Olive Ann Burns. 5 stars.
This is the sequel to Cold Sassy Tree. It also has a short biography of the author. This is a book I will keep.
The Midnight Club by James Patterson. 3 stars.
I read this for my book club. It is pretty seedy, but Patterson is an excellent writer.
The Awakening by Kate Chopin. 4 stars.
This book is a great classic. It was a topic before its time and not well received. This was the only book Chopin wrote because of the bad reviews, even banning her book.
A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel. 5 stars.
This is my favorite book that I've read recently. I'll read it again, recommend it to my book club, and get my own copy.
cfurgason@ADESA.com
Auto Focus: The Murder of Bob Crane by Robert Graysmith. 5 stars
Leechildisgr8@aol.com
Although my favorite genre is thrillers (Lee Child's Tripwire, which I give 5 stars), I recently read Grisham's The Painted House and found it wonderful (4.5 stars). Even better, and in the romance/women's fiction category, was Kathy Thomas Holian's Wickenbridge Park. Similar to Waller's Bridges of Madison County, it will be enjoyed by all women, and best of all, has a happy ending! 5 stars.
shifel02@aol.com
Now reading The Master of Rain by Tom Bradby. It's a very interesting story about Shanghai in the 20's
yodasmommy@woh.rr.com
Just finished House Under Snow by Jill Bialosky. It is the story of a mother with three daughters, devastated by the accidental death of her husband and the toll it takes on all their lives. I would give this book only 3 stars. It was good but took me a long time to get through it. I really wasn't dying to know what happened next.
John2415@aol.com
A King's Ransom by James Grippando.
Dchi612@aol.com
The Murder Book by Jonathan Kellerman. 3 stars.
Not one of his best books by far.
Eleventh Hour by Catherine Coulter. 5 stars.
Couldn't put the book down.
Jymece.Seward@ed.gov
The Curing Season by Leslie Wells. 5 stars.
The Hero's Walk by Anita Badami. 5 stars.
Sugar by Bernice McFadden. 5 stars.
A Woman Betrayed by Barbara Delinsky. 4 stars.
Songs in Ordinary Time by Mary McGarry Morris. 5 stars
caroline@swtexas.com
Carrie by Stephen King. 3 stars.
I know this is an old one, but with Halloween right around the corner, I thought it would be neat to re-read it. I think I liked it better the first time.
TonyBrandin@peoplepc.com
A Short History of Finland by Fred Singleton. 2 ½ stars.
I saw a movie set in Lapland during World War II and decided to learn more about Finland. Really, I read a short history of Finland! The book (Finnish history?) becomes progressively less interesting the closer it comes to the present. Unfortunately, Singleton's book ends before the collapse of the Soviet Union; Russia has played a huge role in Finnish history, and what happened in Finland after the collapse of communism could well be intriguing. Oh, well, at least I know Helsinki became the capital in 1812!
Graham2124@aol.com
Down to a Soundless Sea by Thomas Steinbeck. 5 stars.
The son of John Steinbeck has written wonderful, entertaining short stories relating to Steinbeck Country of Salinas and Monterey in California.
TLWood61@aol.com
Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate. 5 stars.
I was hooked after the first page. Tender story of family and faith.
The Girlfriends' Club by Judith Henry Wall. 4 stars.
Fairly common story of four friends who meet in elementary school and share their lives, loves, ups and downs.
eclcowan@attbi.com
Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris (Also Blackberry Wine) is another great book by the author of Chocolat. I highly recommend this book – 4 stars!!!
cfurgason@ADESA.com
My Forbidden Face by Latifa.
About a young woman growing up under Taliban rule.
Sbence@twmi.rr.com
Here are my suggestions:
Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon. 5 stars.
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. 3 stars.
The Dive from Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer. 3 stars.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. 5 stars.
The Law of Similars by Chris Bohjalian. 2 stars.
Jilljbdnd@aol.com
Hi! I am reading and loving Stephen King's From A Buick 8. I just finished The Murder Book by Jonathan Kellerman and was very disappointed. It was slow moving and the characters (who were interesting and exciting in previous novels) I found to be boring and a bit stale. Thanks for asking…I love this newsletter!
Fgiitter@aol.com
The most interesting book I've recently read was Letters of a Nation, edited by Andrew Carroll. It's a compilation of fascinating letters written by the famous and not so famous during the history of this country, with information about subsequent events. Definitely five stars! I'm looking forward to reading the follow-up compilation, War Letters, in a few days.
Now, I'm finishing the 1998 edition of The Best American Mystery Stories, edited by Otto Penzler and Sue Grafton. I enjoy most of the short stories selected for these annual editions and read one about every four months. Based on the editions read so far, my rating would be four stars for the series.
SybilNY@aol.com
Three Daughters by Letty Cottin Pogrebin
GraceP@aol.com
Uphill Walkers by Madeleine Blais - a wonderful memoir of a family - brings back lots of memories for those who grew up in the 60's.
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett - hard to put down.
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks - wonderful historical fiction.
MsLadyluckM@aol.com
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen.
Although this book was written for the young adult, I love Carl Hiaasen's writing so much that I decided to read it. Another fantastic book by him! Very age appropriate and yet still like his usual stuff. Less violence and not racy or crude like his adult stuff, but what a great way to introduce your teens to the problems of ecological destruction and the mistreatment of the environment by humans. As usual, his characters are furious with a developer for some wrong against an animal and they let the developer know how they feel! His love/hate relationship with Florida always makes me laugh out loud. This should create a lot of future fans for his regular grown up books. As always for Mr. Hiaasen, 5 stars
The Beach House by James Patterson.
He's an author that I'll always read, even if I'm not intrigued by the reviews or the cover flaps. I'm never disappointed. His 2-3 page chapters make for easy reading, and his books just fly by. This book about a man investigating his brother's "suicide" is quick to draw many emotions. He is a little guy fighting the big guys and, with his allies, his chances improve. His grandfather is quite spunky and adds a nice spice to the book. The ending is farfetched, but not completely unbelievable. I'd give this 4 1/2 stars
Baby Doll Games by Margaret Maron.
This book was a tough book for me to get into, but I couldn't quit reading it either, and halfway through the book I couldn't put it down. The murder of a dancer/actress in front of an audience of children is investigated and, with so many suspects, it keeps you guessing. There are a few interesting twists. If you have an interest in plays and acting, it should be interesting for you right from the start. I would give this book 3 stars.
vze4qbku@verizon.net
The Blood Doctor by Barbara Vine. 2 1/2 stars
Not nearly as good as her previous books, either as Barbara Vine or Ruth Rendell. The book dragged with too much talk of Parliament and hemophillia. Usually I love her books, but not this one.
BarbWhitti@aol.com
I just finished reading Standing in the Rainbow, the latest Fannie Flagg novel. It had Flagg's usual cast of unique southern characters, each with his/her own rich story to tell. I was so caught up in this one that I felt I was there in Neighbor Dorothy's living room listening first hand to her radio show as she made her announcements, gave tidbits of town gossip, and shared her favorite recipes.
IdaPearl@aol.com
Don't miss The Girl From the Coast by Pramoedya Ananta Toer. After reading it, I rushed out to buy another of his books and am just starting The Fugitive. Toer was imprisoned by the Dutch as a political prisoner for his role in the Indonesian revolution after WWII. His books are banned in Indonesia, but have been translated and are read all over the world. You won't be able to put The Girl From the Coast down. I am also in the midst of The Distant Land of My Father by Bo Caldwell, which opens in prewar Shanghai. Wonderful book.
holli19019@yahoo.ca
The 3 most recent books I have read are:
Grave Secrets by Kathy Reichs. 5 stars.
This is Kathy's latest in the Temperance Brennan series. It takes place mostly in Guatemala, though there is a brief foray to Montreal, Quebec (Canada). Tempe, as she is called by most everyone, is a forensic anthropologist, who is in Guatemala to help determine who is who in a mass grave to give their families some peace and so that the remains may be buried. While there she is pulled into another crime involving four missing girls. Tempe needs to find out if all four girls are dead and, if so, who killed them. The book moves along at a steady pace and the reader is taken along for the ride, wondering, deducing, rethinking and finally, if they are lucky, figuring it all out correctly. However, the last is not likely because there is more than meets the eye in this story as there is in all the previous books Ms. Reichs has written about Temperance Brennan.
Tami Hoag's Dark Horse is a 5 as well.
Dark Horse is about a former police detective who is thought by her ex-compatriots to have inadvertently caused the death of a fellow officer. Elena Estes is then given a new "job" by a friend, who tells a reporter for a magazine that she is a private detective. Though the magazine is only read by those involved in what is called the horsy set, it leads to Elena being hired by a young girl to find her missing older sister. Along the way, Elena helps solve a murder and find the missing girl. As the story unfolds, you worry about the missing girl and feel sorry for her and what she has endured. You also feel sorry for Elena and what she is going through - you admire her determination and see her beginning to put her life back together.
The last book of the three that I have read in the past week is Michael Palmer's Fatal. This book is a 5. You read about a young doctor, Matt Rutledge. You learn about why he is against his hometown's leading employer and the love he felt for his late wife. You see Matt falling in love again and solving a series of what appear to be unrelated "accidents". Matt and two women start out as strangers, and then realize they are all looking for the same answers. Fatal is a fast paced novel that takes place in Virginia for the most part, though travels to Massachusetts and Maryland as well. In the end it is all tied together in a manner that is surprising yet not, leaving the reader saying to himself/herself "I should have known that."
The three above novels will have you turning page after page, eager to find out what is happening and yet wanting the book to continue.
Mimiklein43@aol.com
I just finished reading Tricky Business by Dave Barry, and haven't had so much fun in a long time!! Since I live in Florida, where this story takes place, I enjoyed his so-called fictionalized story, which is quite true at times.
DizeM4T@aol.com
I am currently reading Little Altars Everywhere which is the prequel to The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. I read Ya-Ya and watched the movie. What a draining experience that was with the past I personally have experienced, though it would "do me some good" to delve a bit more into Vivi's life and Siddalee's bitterness. An interesting read overall -- 4 stars.
charris@pcnuthut.com
Sophie's World by Jostien Gaarder. 3 stars.
Random Winds by Belva Plain. 3 stars.
Slow Dollar by Margaret Maron. 5 stars.
Seldom Disappointed by Tony Hillerman. 6 stars.
DesrosierP@aol.com
I'm currently reading The Last Girls by Lee Smith. I know she's a beloved southern writer but living in the DC area makes it a challenge to find her works. This book is so enjoyable, as there is a lot of truth in the women she writes about as they gauge where they are in life, and as they look backwards and ahead. One of the best of hers I've read to date. And a blessing to have to distract me during our just ended sniper crisis.
EPaton@aol.com
Everything's Eventual by Stephen King. 2 1/2 stars.
This book has 14 dark tales and yes they are dark but they are also VERY disappointing. I have not found one that I like yet. I know I will like Riding the Bullet because I have already started it in the e-book version but one out of 14 is disappointing. This collection is NOT anywhere near the caliber of Nightmares & Dreamscapes or Four Past Midnight.
ccckgjs@aol.com
Anything and everything by the inimitable and eponymous Kinky Friedman. I discovered this wonderful writer during the summer when I happened upon his delightful Spanking Watson in Borders Bookstore. Since then, I have literally been devouring all his mystery novels. I find they are like comfort food for me: simple, tasty and easily consumed but with lasting satisfaction. Presently I am enjoying one of his earlier works, Musical Chairs. As someone I met online through Kinky's website puts it: People either "get" (that is, click with or appreciate) Kinky or they don't. I DO!!! (And, for the record, I am a 56 year old grandmother of five).
It is 5 stars and then some!
shifel02@aol.com
I'm reading Kilo Class by P. Robinson. It's an interesting story about our trying to keep China from getting a lot of submarines from Russia. It would have cut us off from keeping Taiwan free at that time.
HLTassin@aol.com
My current reading list:
Dark Horse by Tami Hoag. 4 stars.
Estes is a flawed but lovable heroine.
Wild Pitch by Mike Lupica. 4 stars.
A little disappointing to think our baseball heroes are (mostly) shallow womanizers, but Lupica's book is humorous and entertaining.
Faking It by Jennifer Cruise. 4 stars.
You'll never think of muffins and donuts quite the same way again!
bachristian2@hotmail.com
I am reading The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, for the second time! I was so enthralled after reading the first sentence that I couldn't put it down the first time I read it! I ended up finishing it in two days! Now, I'm savoring the literary genius of Alice Sebold by reading her book for the second time much, much slower!
camurray@webtv.net
I am reading Seven Up by Janet Evanovich. 5 stars. I love her books.
Laduea@aol.com
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. 5 stars.
Angel Falls by Kristin Hannah. 4 stars.
The Cottage by Danielle Steele. 4 stars.
I have read all of Steele's books. She is my favorite author.
I am presently reading Lake News by Barbara Delinsky. I have also enjoyed most of her books, though I have not read some of her earlier novels.
jlharver@yahoo.com
I just finished City of Bones by Michael Connelly, as well as P is for Peril and J is for Judgement by Sue Grafton. I just started Absolute Rage by Tanenbaum. I will then start Naked by David Sedaris
ecooper502@aol.com
I am now reading The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, and at the same time I am slowly reading and digesting If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat by John Ortberg.
MASTERSCOTT69@aol.com
Bones by Jan Burke. 5 stars.
I'm never quite sure about reading books on serial killings even if they are fiction, but this one you just can't put down. Very quick-paced reading.
DancingGram7@aol.com
Black Mass is the true story of an unholy alliance between the FBI and the Irish Mob in Boston, Massachusetts. This is an interesting true story and someday will make a terrific movie! I didn't read the book but listened to the tape. I get more out of tapes sometimes ... more interesting if the reader is good. Its very informative but hard to rate. I would call it a documentary rather than a story.
Cknapp262@aol.com
I am reading The Lovely Bones, and I just finished Why I am a Catholic. That book is very interesting to read in regard to the situation of the church, especially the role of the pope. It is filled with history and details the entire papal history. The last chapters spoke to the Vatican II councils and what they were trying to achieve, but I don't think it went as Pope John would have liked it because he passed before it was completed. The final chapter on The Creed and the meaning of the verses were very enlightening. I have planned to buy this book and read his previous, Papal Sins. I would recommend this book to Catholics and others.
DCSEAMENS@aol.com
My Own Medicine by Geoffrey Kurland. 4 stars.
Very well written and extremely educational. It's moving in that Dr. Kurland has given so much to so many children suffering, he now experiences their pain, emotions and anxieties with his own sufferings. It received very good reviews in the New York Times.
suzannej@tulane.edu
Here are my latest reads:
At Swim, Two Boys by Jamie O'Neill. 5 stars.
An amazingly complex novel that parallels love of country with human love--in this case, between two adolescents caught up in the months and days leading up to the Irish Easter Uprising. The language is poetic, the characters richly developed. The homosexual theme (though not graphic) might bother some readers.
You Are Not a Stranger Here by Adam Haslett. 3 stars.
I'm not a big fan of the short story genre, so take that into account in my star rating. Had any of the stories been expanded into a novel it would get a 5—the writing is crisp and elegant, the characters provocative. All of the stories deal in some capacity with mental illness, but it is without pathos or humor. Just people.
Bossu49@aol.com
Light Music by Kathleen Ann Goonan. 5 stars
Great imagination!
Act of God by Susan R. Sloan. 5 stars
Suspenseful courtroom thriller
LTWilson@southark.edu
I have just finished:
Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding. 3 stars.
The Edge of Reason (Bridget Jones's Diary Part 2) by Helen Fielding. 3 stars.
Fun if you're in the mood for something light, and if you're a woman.
Hunters and Gatherers by Francine Prose. 2 stars.
What happens when a regular woman gets involved with a group of New Age Goddess worshippers
sylarmstrong@earthlink.net
On Green Dolphin Street by Sebastian Faulks. 4 stars.
tfranzen2124@attbi.com
Perfume by Patrick Suskind. 2 ½ stars.
A murder mystery set 1738 Paris – an interesting read.
NHstorm@aol.com
Fatal Truth by Robin Burcell. 5 stars.
Robin Burcell hooks you on the first page and doesn't let go. Helping to raise a teenage nephew after the untimely death of her brother would be hard enough for anyone. Kate Gillespie is dealing with that, her career as a homicide inspector creates many problems for Kate. When she receives notice of a teen's gang related death, Kate is handed the job of interviewing witness, a crazy old lady who is convinced the CIA is watching her and has called the police many times with various complaints. Was the lady really a witness? Is that why she was brutally beaten and left for dead? If this isn't enough for Kate, she gets a frantic phone call from one of her snitches who needs to meet with her as soon as possible. Following procedure, Kate calls her partner who has arranged for another investigator to cover. While waiting in an alley for back up, Kate sees her snitch from the rearview mirror being pursued by another investigator, Abonathy. This investigator fires at the snitch, hitting him in the back. Before Kate could react, Abonathy turns the snitch over and fires point blank. Kate leaves the scene and high tails it towards her house as her nephew and her landlord are not answering the phone. She's afraid to trust her fellow officers as the snitch's last words were "The blues are bigger than you." For a thoroughly engrossing read, pick up a copy of Robin's book and help COPS, a nonprofit organization to benefit police officers who were killed in the line of duty.
billiegirl20@hotmail.com
I'm currently reading Lamb by Christopher Moore and TRULY enjoying it! I haven't EVER laughed out loud in so many parts of a book as I am with this one. Our reading group has teamed it with The Last Temptation of Christ for November, and I haven't started that one yet. Lamb is beautiful, though. I love it so much!
Denisespnc@aol.com
From the Dust Returned by Ray Bradbury. 2 stars.
They have lived for centuries in a house of legend and mystery in upper Illinois - and they are not like other Midwesterners. Rarely encountered in daylight hours, some of them have survived since before the Sphinx first sank its paws deep in Egyptian sands - and some sleep in beds with lids.
Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon by Michael P. Ghiglieri & Thomas M. Myers. 5 stars.
Gripping accounts of all known fatal mishaps in the most famous of the World's Seven Natural Wonders. Spellbinding!
lemonpi@iopener.net
Currently I am reading Survivors Club by Lisa Gardner - I would give it 3-1/2 stars. Other authors I like are: Stephen King, John Sandford (love Lucas Davenport), Jeffrey Deaver (with Lincoln Rhyme character), Dean Kootnz --yes I do like horror.
Douglas Preston with Lee Child – Riptide. 5 stars.
James Patterson - 5 stars for anything he writes.
Jonathan Kellerman - 3 or 4 stars for just about eveything.
Caleb Carr - Alienist - excellent historical crime.
Adriana Trigiani - Big Stone Gap - a delightful, easy read - no violence, a little suspense, very interesting characters.
SalbyC@aol.com
Recently I have greatly enjoyed Falling Angels by Tracy Chevalier, True To Form by Elizabeth Berg, and Unless by Carol Shields. All very different, but fascinating!
bencanada1@yahoo.com The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. 5 stars. Excellent.
bbrukner@radiks.net
I just finished Enough Rope by Lawrence Block. I would give it 4 stars just for the sheer volume of quality stories he has put out over the years. From his early pulp stories to Keller the hit man to his New York Detective Matt Scudder, they are all great. I confess I found myself skipping some stories just so I could finish the book in a timely manner. It is just so darn thick!!!
Myrnapen@aol.com
I just finished Richard Russo's Empire Falls. 4 stars.
It's a beautifully crafted novel set in a small fictional town in central Maine. The characters feel like real people. A great read!
catchpole007@yahoo.com
Innocents by Cathy Coote. 5 stars.
Dark, disturbing, weird, and funny. If you've ever been to Catholic school, you need to read this gripping, sexy story of seduction and power. Despite the graphically erotic writing, it has an intelligent message at its core, which is that the need to control can itself enslave - control freaks are prisoners of their nature even as they try to exert their influence over others.
ipass2@netzero.net
DAMNED GOOD NOVEL: Piddler on the Hoof by S.I. Fishgal
The derisive living truth, escapades, eccentricity, idioms, life and death emotionally awake a preschooler in the Red Army's Rearguard during World War II and trigger readers' thrills, laughter and bittersweet tears. S.I. Fishgal spills the guts in this potent, rich, vivid, fascinating, stimulating, gripping and teasing novel.
