DebMillinFla@aol.com
The Lake House by James Patterson. 3 stars.
It continues with the storyline from When the Wind Blows, but it didn't hold my interest. The ending left things open for another book. I hope if there is one, Patterson will have a stronger story.

Still Life With Crows by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. 5 stars.
This is the latest book with the returning FBI agent, Pendergast. If you liked his character in the other books, you will enjoy this one as well.

Helenme23@wmconnect.com
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. 4 1/2 stars.
This is a lush, beautiful book that weaves the lives of three people into one story. The author's knowledge of nature radiates throughout the story, allowing us to feel the intricate balance between all living things and mankind. A delightful tale that held my interest throughout. One of those books I truly regretted had to end.

maestraw@msn.com
Say When by Elizabeth Berg. I would give this 3 out of 5 stars.
Bread Alone by Judith Ryan Hendricks. This was a great book. I would give it 5 stars.

dmilburn@alltel.net
Mrs. Kimble by Jennifer Haigh. 5 stars.
I couldn't put this book down. Mr. Kimble was a real scam artist and all his wives really fell for his shenanigans. Nevertheless, I kept reading just to see what in the world might happen to the current wife next. The ending left some loose ends, but otherwise a good summer read...although pretty grim at times. You'll want to just shake each of the wives.

catfish@millardmanor.com
I'm currently reading The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, Say When by Elizabeth Berg and finishing up The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl. In the stack by the bed are Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner, The Pursuit of Alice Thrift by Elinor Lipman and, yes, East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

charris@pcnuthut.com
Sunshine and Shadow by Earlene Fowler. 4 stars.
Good mystery that always has something about quilts, a mystery and the local law enforcement.

Lost Light by Michael Connelly. 4 stars.
Good mystery and quite suspenseful.

Second Glance by Jodi Picoult. 4 stars.
Picoult is one of the best mystery writers.

A Fever in the Heart by Ann Rule. 4 stars.
I enjoy her way of writing about real mysteries.

Danny Boy by Malachy McCourt. 4 stars.
Excellent short book about the song "Danny Boy" and what it means to people

DM155@aol.com
I am reading The Dive from Clausen's Pier. I am enjoying this book. I like that Carrie is making so many changes as the book continues.

DStegmanCrawford@aol.com
No Second Chance by Harlan Coben. 3 stars.
Went on TOO long.

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. 3 stars.
Very surprise ending.

Lupe Solano Private Investigator series by Carolina Garcia-Aguilera. 4 stars.

ASirkin@aol.com
Peony by Pearl Buck and all of Anne Morrow Lindbergh's diaries.

Rosemarie104@aol.com
I have just finished reading Outlander and Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon. If you willing to be swept away into a "timeless" love story of Claire and Jaimie, then these books are for you. They are truly wildly romantic with a historical background. I give them 4 stars.

lindaharriet@hotmail.com
I just finished Water Lily by Susanna Jones, a compelling story of desperation and obsession. 4 stars.

DIANWILLY@aol.com
More than Courage by Harold Coyle.
I like war novels with insights to people's reactions and teamwork. Too many gore and murder novels with lawyers twisting the law are being written. Those are influencing, wrongly, people too much as the "Thing to do."

AndreaCarter3270@aol.com
At the moment I'm reading Mary, Called Magdalene by Margaret George. This is not my usual choice of reading matter, but I have enjoyed George's other work, and so for some reason I not only picked it up, I'm almost finished. It's a surprisingly literate and historically accurate account of the life of this woman about which we really know so little and recounts her association with Jesus of Nazareth and his disciples. Definitely a good read.

Flahoney33@aol.com
At Risk by Alice Hoffman. 4 stars.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling. 4 stars.
Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult. 3 stars.

MECUSTER@aol.com
The Shelters of Stone by Jean Auel. 4 stars.
Fans of the series will have to read this one. Not as compelling as the first couple of books, but unusual reading.

Rickimc@aol.com
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis. 5 stars.
A classic.

Flowers in the Attic by V. C. Andrews. 5 stars.
I cannot believe I waited so long to read this extraordinary book by one of my favorite authors.

BREEZYWRITER@aol.com
No Second Chance by Harlan Coben. 5 stars.
Coben is one of my favorite authors now that I've discovered him. I've read his last three and every one was a page-turner. I plan to check his backlist and see if I enjoy them as much

Rosen2000@aol.com
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi.
Very enjoyable and it gives insight into a very different culture. Pertinent to what is happening in many Arab countries, regarding their education at college level.

Yodasmommy@aol.com
I am almost finished with The Seduction of Water by Carol Goodman. I would give it 4 stars. For Iris Greenfeder the sudden impulse to write a story about her mother, Katherine, leads to a shot at literary success. The piece recounts an eerie Irish fairy tale her mother used to tell her at bedtime and nestled inside is the sad story of her mother's death. When Iris returns to the remote Hotel Equinox in the Catskills, the place where she grew up, to write her mother's biography and search for her mother's missing manuscript, she unravels a haunting mystery.

EZREADER1265@aol.com
You've Got Murder by Donna Andrews. 4 stars.
Wanted something a little different, and I got it. It's futuristic, fun and the cyber sleuth is an artificial intelligence personality...good read.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling. 4 stars.
Wanted to see what all the hype was about. I read the first one and I was hooked. I loved it. She has found a formula that reaches everyone. This is the 4th in the series...each one has been an adventure.

A Cold Heart by Jonathan Kellerman. 5 stars.
Alex Delaware, Milo and a few strange deaths. Great for a rainy afternoon and in the Northeast we have had plenty.

ginawjax@attbi.com
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. 4 stars.
I was intrigued by the premise of this book (dark, windy night, no way off the island, danger lurking, criminally insane inmate escaped) but the writing itself let me down.

Kufungee@aol.com
I am currently reading Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier. I had read a lot of negative things about it and had stayed away from it because of that, but I read that it's being made into a movie so I decided to give it a whirl and am finding it really interesting. The author really paints through words a detailed view of what life was like during the Civil War for both the average foot soldier as well as for those left behind to try and carry on at home.

Aj5fan@aol.com
I'm reading:

Blessed Assurance by various authors, including Victoria Christopher Murray and Jacqueline Thomas. 4 stars.
Anthology featuring six authors who have taken Bible stories and transformed them to contemporary situations.

Blind Faith by Patricia Haley. 5 stars.
College friends are derailed on the path to love by narrow-minded relatives. Thought-provoking; may cause you to alter your reactions to similar situations.

Mocha Love by S. James Guitard. 1 star.
Relationships and love from a male perspective.

This Bitter Earth by Bernice McFadden (the follow up to Sugar). 5 stars.
Sugar Lacey returns to her southern roots and faces the truth of her existence. Riveting, emotionally charged.

Threesome by Brenda L. Thomas. 3 stars.
A woman's extramarital affair has startling repercussions. Fast-paced.

KLOZIER40@aol.com
Move to Strike by Perri O'Shaughnessy. 4 stars.
A good murder mystery that has a surprising perpetrator.

Strange Fits of Passion by Anita Shreve. 5 stars.
A woman with a small child moves to a remote small town and finds she can't escape a crazy husband.

One For the Money by Janet Evanovich. 5 stars.
The first in a series featuring a woman, Stephanie Plum, who by necessity becomes a bounty hunter and her very scary and sometimes very comical rounding up of the bad guys.

tmzemke@comcast.net
I'm currently reading Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. So far, it's turning out to be one of those books that pulls you in and you hate to put it down. Calliope Stephanides, a Greek-American girl living in Grosse Pointe, is the unlucky recipient of a recessive gene that affects her sexuality. Essentially, she is part girl, part boy. Spanning 80 years, this is promising to be a read that I'll fly through and I imagine it will probably be made into a movie at some point. The author also wrote The Virgin Suicides, which was adapted into a movie. 5 stars (so far).

I just finished Around Sarah's Table by Rivka Zakutinsky and Yaffa Leba Gottlieb. Ten Hasidic women meet once a week for bible study and this book is a glimpse into their world. The book jacket describes it as a Hasidic "Joy Luck Club." I don't think that comparison is dead on, but the theme is similar. It's a good read about lives full of traditions, religion, love and family, and is especially recommended for those not familiar with the ultra-Orthodox Jewish world. 3 1/2 stars

UGottaFrndnme@aol.com
The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw. 3 stars.
This is not a new book, but world events made me want to see how previous generations of Americans fared both before and after great world conflict. I find the book interesting but not engrossing, and I did not learn anything of the generation that produced the Baby Boomers that I did not already know.

User116712@aol.com
Dark Passage by Junius Podrug. 4 stars.
Time travel with a twist. Due to a miscue, a young Palestinian boy from the time of Christ is transported to a U.S. Southwest research site. As a result, Islamic terrorists return to pre-Passover Mideast during that same time period. Three ordinary but not so ordinary people are sent to find them and neutralize the effect of their knowledge of modern weapons to prevent the changes that would occur. Interesting and obviously well-researched. An interesting plot and a surprising climax. Not your ordinary time travel adventure.

Suspicion of Madness by Barbara Parker. 3 stars.
I am a big fan of the Gail Conner-Anthony Quintana series, but this one does not seem to be up to Barbara Parker's usual style. I still love the series, and for those who are unfamiliar with it I would recommend it. Be sure and start at the beginning with Suspicion of Innocence, however.

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. 3 stars.
I guess I must be the only one, but I did not think that it lived up to the hype, though I was impressed with the amount of research that went into it.

White Doves at Morning by Jame Lee Burke. 4 stars.
A real departure from the other Burke books that I have read. This story features Burke's own ancestors and offers a poignant glimpse of rural Louisiana and its people right around the time of the Civil War. The story truly illustrates how war creates victims, no matter the participant's side or how honorable the cause.

Bush's Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential by James Moore and Wayne Slater. 5 stars.
Karl Rove occupies an unprecedented seat at the presidential table. He is a political advisor but occupies a place in the White House staff. When the political operative, James Carville, got Clinton elected, he disappeared. That is not the case with Karl Rove. He is answerable to Bush and, as such, is hardly on the radar of the average American. He is a long time advisor and has been associated with the Bush family for a long time. He wields an unbelievable amount of power and as such should become more familiar to the American voter, no matter how one feels about George W. Bush. As a Texan, I remember Rove well and the authors have obviously done their homework and are very familiar with Karl Rove, his history and his modus operandi. A must read before the 2004 elections.

bradylee@myway.com
My Invented Country: A Nostalgic Journey Through Chile by Isabel Allende. 3 stars.
Ms. Allende spent most of her youth living in Chile, though she lived in Venzeuela for 10 years and has lived near San Francisco for many years. Her heart still resides in Chile it appears. She left Chile when Pinochet began his dictatorship, but you get a good feeling of the people of Chile and their love of the law and of legalities in almost all transactions. They are more formal than other peoples of South America, yet are gregarious and most accommodating to guests. Apparently their food preparations are "to die for", though the author does not go into detail in that area. The book is interesting and is a quick read.

Newcrain@aol.com
Derailed by James Siegel. 5 stars.
Incredibly suspenseful. How can one man's life change so quickly from "normal" to so totally out-of-whack? But Siegel makes it believable. The main character's life gets so screwed up that you put the book down mid-read with a sigh and are glad to get back to your own normal life...only to pick it up again because you can't wait to see how he gets out of his many "issues". This one will keep you up until wee hours of the morning. Very creative plot.

ayancey@charter.net
The Lake House by James Patterson. 5 stars.
It's an absolute great read.

Petersonjup@aol.com
Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson. 4 stars.
The Odd Women by George Gissing. 4 stars.

ufouria@bellsouth.net
The Empty Chair by Jeffery Deaver. 5 stars.
This is the first book by Jeffery Deaver that I have read. A friend gave it to me because she thought I'd like it. Well, she was right! Very suspenseful, great characters and plot. If you like James Patterson, you should like this as well.

Naked Prey by John Sandford. 4 stars.
I've read all of the Prey series and this is one of the better ones. Lucas helps to solve a double murder in small town Minnesota. Full of interesting plot twists.

bradylee@myway.com
The Memory of All That: Love and Politics in New York, Hollywood, and Paris by Betsy Blair. 5 stars.
This autobiography is written by the ex-wife of Gene Kelly and it is primarily about her. However, as she was married to Gene for about 16 years, there is a lot about him and it is all interesting. The importance of education while young is certainly pointed out. Betsy was indoctrinated into Karl Marx and Communism while very young, and this became her lifelong passion --- so much so that she was eventually blacklisted and never worked in Hollywood again.

This story is a good example of how you must live with your actions. In Betsy's case she was forced to leave the USA, though she comes back for visits. She eventually lived in Paris and this would be Part II of this story; not as interesting as Part I, but good just the same. The author talks about searching for herself, though she does a pretty good job of accomplishment I think, but at age 35 she finally "finds herself" while in an affair. This should be especially appealing to females in general.

rdiaz@synergymicro.com
Cheet by Anna Davis is a frolicking romp through the typical London cabbie's life. That is, if having five lovers and a stalker can be considered typical. Kathryn Cheet is that cabbie, and, in Anna Davis's American debut, she works her way through her life, full of deception and lies. She must, to keep her five lovers. Each lover has his or her own distinct personality, own neurosis, and rings a different colored cell phone in Kathryn's purse. This is how she keeps them and her deception organized.

As we meet the lovers, we realize that they are each deeply troubled, and wonder why she attracts such losers. There's Richard, who seems decent enough, but with daughter, Dotty, yearns for a family life that Kathy isn't willing to give him. There's Stef, the wannabe gangster, who's too small time. There's Jonny, the angst-ridden never-was rock star. There's Joel, the beautiful young man with the sexuality questions. And, my favorite, Amy, who's the "lipstick lesbian, with the cutest butt you've ever seen", who is waiting for Kathryn to admit that she's gay. Each has a piece of what she wants, but none is a complete package.

Then walks in Craig, a mysterious man with some secrets of his own. Why does he know so much about her and what does he want with her? You'll have to read the book to find out.

As for Kathryn herself, she's got some issues of her own (beyond being able to say "no" to potential lovers); she suffers from "mazophobia", an affliction that makes her deathly afraid of corridors and unknown doorways --- so afraid, that she has the same recurring dream about a nightmarish color that she can't describe. She is also coping with the death of her mother, fifteen years after the fact. How does Craig fit into this? You can only guess.

All in all, the book was an easy read --- I finished in about three days. Will Kathryn get caught? Will she ever discover the meaning of her dreams? What is Craig up to? It has an element of suspense and intrigue that made it hard to put down. And, vivid descriptions of the lesbian couple, making it appealing to guys as well. (Sorry gals, but it's true! The guys can back me up.)

One hint: you have to read the words with a British accent for it to make sense..."S logic, innit?" ("It is logic, isn't it?")

Cheet is a good summer read that makes you hope that there is a part two and a movie. Chick Lit that is good for the gals and the guys.

Pros: Easy summer read, interesting characters, fun plotline
Cons: London slang
Recommended: Yes
Bottom Line: Buy the book for those days next to the pool.

FATDADMKT@aol.com
I just finished Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling and it is 5 stars! If you liked the other Harry Potter books, you will be glued to this one. We get all kinds of information in this book that tie together all the books!

PandoraO5@aol.com
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. 4 1/2 stars.
This is the perfect book to go out and read in the hammock. It's easy, flows nicely, and really touches you. I found myself falling in love with all of the characters.

billiegirl20@hotmail.com
Probably along with everyone else, I'm reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling, and am about halfway through it. At this point, I'm going to have to give it 4 stars. It's amazing to me how quickly you can be transported to Potter's world just a couple of pages into the book. A wonderful read!

I've just finished Fight Club by Chuck Palahnuik. It's a frightening and, at times, TOO REAL novel. I'll have to give it 3 1/2 stars, just because it's one of those novels that will come back to you at strange times for months after you've read it.

Mystrytx@aol.com
The Best Revenge by Stephen White. 5 stars.
A great read, a great series.

bencanada1@yahoo.com
Blue Horizon by Wilbur Smith. 4 stars.
An excellent and thrilling adventure with great descriptive passages. Wonderful novel and characters.

Cjple@aol.com
From The Corner of His Eye by Dean Koontz. 5 stars.
This has been one of the best books I've read of his yet. I love the way he intertwines the storylines that eventually come together in the end. I just finished another of his, Darkfall, which was also a very good read. But From The Corner of His Eye has definitely been one of his best. I had tears in my eyes at the end of it.

FalseMillennium@aol.com
A Box of Matches by Nicholson Baker. 2 stars.
This small novel tells the story of Emmett, a middle-aged man finding life passing him by. Every morning, he lights a fire with a match and writes his thoughts in his journal. He arises before dawn and performs the tasks of lighting the morning fire and making coffee in the dark. As he strikes the match of the morning, he shares his observations with his readers: the effects different objects have while burning --- Home Depot flyers, belly button lint, apple cores, pizza boxes. He goes into minute detail about everything from feeding a duck to peeing in the middle of the night. I felt the entire time I was reading this book that it would be appreciated as a very clever writing exercise at a writer's workshop, but if Baker had not already built his reputation on such ruminations, would publishers make allowances for this in a new writer? Baker has already established in past work that he has mastered minutiae, and he fashions his scenes and sentences superbly. For those readers who can enjoy a novel with nothing more than "I know these moments," then A Box of Matches will satisfy.

Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper --- Case Closed by Patricia Cornwell. 2 stars.
Some writers of nonfiction can cross over into creative writing, and some creative writers can cross over and write decent nonfiction. Portrait of a Killer is not one of those examples. Other than the deadened writing style, I found fault with the author proclaiming at times to have settled, through her exhaustive investigation, the case of the true Jack the Ripper; while at other moments she states that the evidence on hand couldn't be deemed 100% reliable. It seemed odd to me to declare the case "solved" when it has not been. Cornwell certainly presents many interesting points regarding the life of artist Walter Sickert that might make him a possible suspect, but there is not one piece of evidence that directly ties him to any of the murders.

A.L.T. by André Leon Talley. 4 stars.
An autobiography from a long-standing editor at Vogue and Women's Wear Daily magazines. Talley writes of the two most influential women in his life: his maternal grandmother and Diana Vreeland, the Empress of Fashion." I had expected a book full of the usual Vreeland maxims --- "Pink is the navy blue of India," or "Blue jeans are the most exquisite things since the gondola," interspersed with gossip from the jet set. Instead, we are presented with a heartfelt homage to two women from divergent worlds who both set personal standards of strength that continue to resonate in Talley's life to this day. Talley has a wonderful memory for detail that makes both women live again in his pages as the paragons they so obviously were in his life.

Iamtoadie@aol.com
In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O'Brien. 5 stars.
When he loses his bid for the Minnesota Senate after the long hidden secret of his participation in the My Lai massacre during the Vietnam War is made public, the protagonist and his wife take refuge in a secluded cabin on the shores of a wilderness lake on the Canadian border to try to repair their lives and their marriage. The wife, however, disappears. That is only the beginning for the reader, who is taken through an imaginative romp of possibilities. What might have happened? What did happen? Where does the imagination stop and reality take over? O'Brien is one of the greatest contemporary writers of our time.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. 4 stars.
A novel set in the Civil Rights South that explores race relations, coming of age, the bond between mother and daughter, the meaning of family, and the vastness of spirituality. An interesting light read.

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers. 3 stars.
A "new autobiography" that paints an apt portrait of what it is to be twenty- something in contemporary America, this nonfiction novel is interesting in its unevenness. The story of a brother left to rear his younger brother when both parents die within months of each other from cancer is compelling, but the book suffers from too much commentary and a self-conscious telling that leaves the reader wishing for a good, old-fashioned editor. Skip the tiresome MTV interview.

Savage Beauty by Nancy Milford. 4 stars.
A biography of feminist poet Edna St. Vincent Millay and a compelling read for anyone interested in her work by the biographer of Zelda Fitzgerald.

Horse Heaven by Jane Smiley. 5 stars.
Everything you ever wanted to know about the world of thoroughbred racing told from every point of view (including the horses'). An interesting read and difficult to put down despite its length. It drags you into racing and makes you care enough to want the details.

mcarmen1@adelphia.net
I just finished reading The Interpreter by Suki Kim. I give this book 5 stars. It's a mystery novel about a Korean American family. I could not put it down until I found out why the parents were murdered. A must-read.

charris@pcnuthut.com
Stonebrook Cottage by Carla Neggers. 3 stars.
The Associate by Phillip Margolin. 5 stars.
The Sinister Pig by Tony Hillerman. 4 stars.

KINDLEELF@aol.com
The Lost Army of Cambyses by Paul Sussman. 5 stars.
Fast-paced, good read.

The Master Butchers Singing Club by Louise Erdich. 5 stars.
Wonderful!

A Restless Evil by Ann Granger. 3 stars.

Jennifer Government by Max Barry. 2 stars.
Not my type of book.

Your Mouth is Lovely by Nancy Richler. 5 stars.
Do not be put off by the title. This is an excellent read, full of history and mystery.

Great Neck by Jay Cantor. 4 stars.
I occasionally lost the gist of the author's intention but did enjoy this book

Somersault by Kenzaburo Oe. 4 stars.
I felt parts of this novel were redundant, so even though the author has won many awards, I can only give this a 4.

The Vanished Man by Jeffery Deaver. 5 stars.
An easy read, good entertainment.

Sims by F. Paul Wison. 5 stars.
I loved this book.

Happy reading everyone!!!!!!

lgettle@iserv.net
The Face by Dean Koontz. 5 stars.
An unusual story. This novel is a mystery, suspense, paranormal, enduring friendship thriller with a slow but steady pace that entices the reader all the way to the last page.

Passage by Connie Willis. 3 stars.
Two doctors try to prove that near-death experiences are dead people having an hallucination. Right. Starts off okay but has a lackluster ending.

gmld@attbi.com
Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn. 5 stars.
This is an excellent and very creative book. I have never read anything quite like it before, and I believe it is destined to become a classic and read for generations to come.

SHrri555@aol.com
Black Dahlia Avenger by Steve Hodel. 3 stars.
It is the true story of a retired detective and his investigation of an infamous murder, and the revelation of the real killer. Very compelling and thoroughly researched.

GandmaRI@aol.com
This week I'm reading Touching Evil by Kay Hooper. I'd definitely rate it 5 stars. I'm having a problem getting anything else done but read. The book is rather gory and might not be a good read for the faint of heart and weak of stomach.

wbanks873@earthlink.net
I am reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and I absolutely love it. It is her best book yet.

maestraw@msn.com
I just completed The Vanished Man by Jeffery Deaver. It was one of his best. There were many elements of true suspense. I was fooled many times while reading it. I would rate it a 4 on a 5-point scale.

SOPHIENED@aol.com
Family History by Dani Shapiro. 5 stars.
I could not put the book down. A beautifully written novel about family dysfunction. Comparable to Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones.

bookworm1957@adelphia.net
I think that Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code is a book worth reading. It has intrigue, and twists and turns that you don't see coming. I give it 5 stars. This book really keeps you guessing throughout.

Haddow@aol.com
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling. 5 stars.
Surprise, surprise, I can't put it down. Ms. Rowling is the primo storyteller of our age.

MLWReader@aol.com
I am reading Robert Dallek's An Unfinished Life, a biography of John F. Kennedy. It is unbelievably interesting, I can't put the thing down. I can remember hearing so many of the names mentioned in the book, and about many of the events, but as a high school student I wasn't interested enough to pay real attention. Now, the people and the events of those times, the '40's, '50's and '60's, are fascinating, and it is all making sense. And I get such a sense of the total man who was JFK. Hats off to this extraordinary biographer for presenting such a fair and well-rounded portrait of JFK. This is definitely a 5-star book!

I am slowly making my way through The Years by Virginia Woolf. I got interested in Woolf again after seeing The Hours, which led to reading Mrs. Dalloway. I think more than her novels, I am very interested in Virginia Woolf and will have to get her biography before long. I'd give this one 3 1/2 stars.

Finally, I am reading Doreen Virtue's newest book, Archangels & Ascended Masters. This book is very well-written and thoroughly researched. Dr. Virtue has done a wonderful job. I confess that I am envious of what must have been an enormous amount of time spent in research. What a treasure hunt for her! 4 stars for this excellent work.

Carosp@aol.com
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. 4 stars.
I loved this book. I just wanted to keep turning the pages to see what was going to happen. My only small criticism is that at times the main characters were a little dense about clues. When I can figure out something long before they do, I know something is wrong! But I highly recommend this book.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling. 4 stars.
I'm only halfway through, but so far it's another great Harry Potter book. I can't wait to see what happens next.

sevans3@tampabay.rr.com
I am currently reading The Survivors Club by Lisa Gardner and really enjoying it. She is now my new favorite author. Prior to that I read Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich and very much enjoyed it. I think it was her funniest yet.

Lorilann@aol.com
I am reading Bad Girl Creek by Jo-Ann Mapson. 5 stars. After reading The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and its sequel Divine Altars Everywhere last summer, I have been interested in these types of novels...funny, heartwarming, tear-causing!!! Real, yet funny at the same time. I picked up Bad Girl Creek and love it. Set in California, it is about four women who come together to mend their lives and learn to cope. Excellent read!!!!!

Bossu49@aol.com
The First Billion by Christopher Reich. 4 stars.
Super thriller!

Light Music by Kathleen Ann Goonan. 5 stars.
Great imagination!

Act of God by Susan R. Sloan. 5 stars.
Suspenseful courtroom thriller.

kmmjarko@highstream.net
The Jester by James Patterson. 4 stars.
A Parchment of Leaves by Silas House. 4 stars.
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. 4 1/2 stars.
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. 4 stars.
The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber. 3 stars.
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. 5 stars.

I love to read!!!!

harrises@bayou.com
I have just begun I Am Madame X by Gioia Diliberto. It starts with a bang in Louisiana escaping from the ravages of the Civil War. How did that six-year-old girl become known later in life as the most famous painting by John Singer Sargent? 4 stars.

Bsluvnj@aol.com
Roots by Alex Haley. 5 stars!!
This is my second time reading this incredible book. I can't put it down! Don't let the length of the novel sway you because it will go by fast. It takes the reader on an emotional journey through the life of a man taken from his home in Africa in the 1700s and used as a slave in America. It goes on to describe the life of his family generations later. It's history we have all heard before, but the detail in the novel is what makes it truly special.

Pigletstl@aol.com
I just finished Lorna Landvik's Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons. As with all her previous books, I loved it. I would give it 4 stars. She has a way of making you feel her characters are your neighbors and friends. I also thought the way she constructed the book was different and interesting, each chapter with a different voice --- sometimes first person and sometimes third person. Intriguing.

I am currently reading Wish You Were Here by Stewart O'Nan. This is the first time I have read any of his work and just came across it in the bookstore a few weeks ago. It is one of those books that, even when you are not reading it, you are wondering what the characters are doing. He makes them that real. 4 or 5 stars --- I will let you know when I finish which, but I do recommend it.

Newcrain@aol.com
I just finished Cold by John Smolens. I heard him speak at a local Writers' Conference and was taken by his personality, sense of humor, and insights into the world of writing and publishing. So I went on to read his other book, The Invisible World. Then I read his book of short stories, The One and Only Bomb Shelter. His books are good mysteries. Both are deftly plotted. The novel Cold began as a short story of the same name within his book of short stories. I'd recommend all of them: Cold - 5 stars; The Invisible World - 4 stars; and the short stories - 4 stars.

Fbower444@aol.com
I am currently reading Digital Fortress by Dan Brown. I am only a little way into it but it is good so far. On the negative side Brown takes literary license in describing the actual secrecy of NSA and the functions they perform. I can overlook that though.

After comments on Bookreporter, I decided I wanted to read Dan Brown. The Da Vinci Code was mentioned, but I decided to start with some of his earlier work.

Cathysmail2@aol.com
The book I read is The Fourth Hand by John Irving. This book was not my favorite of John Irving's --- the story lagged. If I read more than a few paragraphs at a time, I would catch myself daydreaming off course. When I finished this book I felt almost relieved --- the opposite of how I feel when I read a great book.

Flahoney33@aol.com
Choke by Chuck Palahniuk. This is an excellent book.

KuniP@aol.com
A Cold Heart by Jonathan Kellerman. It was soooo good. I love the Alex Delaware series.

Kufungee@aol.com
I am currently reading Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier.

yodasmommy@woh.rr.com
I just finished The Master Butchers Singing Club by Louise Erdich. I would definitely give it 5 stars! The title had me worried, but it was recommended by a good friend, so I gave it a shot. Awesome! If you like Historical Fiction and I mean Fiction, you will love it. A German immigrant comes to America with a suitcase of sausages and sells them to finance his trip across America. The story is unlike anything I have ever read before.

corrieb@rogers.com
I am reading The Princess Bride by William Goldman. It was one of my favorite movies and now the book is just awesome.

Vikkivand@aol.com
All He Ever Wanted by Anita Shreve. 5 stars.
A sad story of a man's unreturned love for his wife. I have always loved Anita Shreve's writing and I enjoyed this story.

JWIsley@aol.com
I just finished Plainsong by Kent Haruf. 5 stars.
A very nice, easily read book about living on the Plains east of Denver. It is very emotional and one that leaves us with a lesson to be learned.

billiegirl20@hotmail.com
I'm currently reading a collection of short stories by Madeleine Thien called Simple Recipes. The stories are sweet, but I'm going to have to give it only 2 stars. The characters and their stories are a bit too sad and melancholy for my tastes.

Bjglu@aol.com
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. 4 stars.
Totally unique, absolutely creative, thought provoking and the funny story of a hermaphrodite of Greek heritage and his family saga.

DancingGram7@aol.com
Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen. 5 stars.
I bought this hardcover book at the library's book sale for 50 cents, along with five other books. I can tell you I got my money's worth. This book held my interest from the start. It was like the author lived through the abusive marriage that the content of the book deals with. It starts with Franny telling us about how at 19 she fell in love with Bobby Benedetto, how their passionate marriage became a nightmare, and why she stayed so long. It tells about starting a new life with her 10-year-old son in Florida and all the things she had to give up and all the secrets she had to keep from all the friends she makes. She had to give up her nursing career and start at a lower level job. It tells of her relationships and her fears. It is a thought-provoking book to say the least. I did enjoy reading it.

bradylee@myway.com
The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly. 5 stars.
If it wasn't for Word of Mouth, I would have never discovered this wonderful book and story. I am seldom able to find a novel that "turns me on," but this one did and does. The main characters are Fiona and Joe; however, there are many more and all are easy to keep track of. I thought I was going to learn a lot about tea, but this entire story is about relationships: parental, lovers, and friendships and, eventually, business dealings revolving around the tea and fresh vegetable industries...all interesting. The 544 pages kept me busy for a week and resulted in a most satisfying reading experience. There are 2 or 3 villains that are dastardly and keep you on edge at times, but the love stories are the vision of note.

caroline@swtexas.com
The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve. 3 stars.
This is the first Shreve book that I have read. It was good, although I wouldn't consider it great. It's the story of a pilot who dies when the plane he is flying explodes. After his death, his wife is forced to deal with the fact that he kept many secrets. She also must help their young daughter deal with the tabloids that are reporting the crash was a suicide.

afalbo49@yahoo.com
I've been "traveling" during the past week through my reading, all of which I recommend:

First to England with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling. At least 4 stars!

On to Thailand with a really unusual mystery, Bangkok 8 by John Burdett. 5 stars!

Off to Scotland with a Glasgow crime, The Cutting Room by Louise Welsh. 4 stars!

And now to Shanghai with a new book by Qiu Xiaolong: A Loyal Character Dancer. 4 stars again!

kat_kraz@bellsouth.net
All or Nothing by Elizabeth Adler. 4 stars
A good suspense thriller with some romance involved. I will be reading ALL her books.

The Next Accident by Lisa Gardner. 4 stars.
I am reading now and I am intrigued!

bradylee@myway.com
Gene Kelly: A Celebration by Sheridan Morley and Ruth Leon. 4 stars.
This is a biography of Gene Kelly and his professional life as compared to his personal life you can read about in The Memory of All That by Betsy Blair. This book talks of the many accomplishments that Gene had, but it also digs into the many failures that he experienced. He had many friends and was most popular among his fellow actors. Like many others, he was a perfectionist and this story points out his most important films and the "dogs."

WFleet305@aol.com
I read everything that Dean Koontz produces. I was disappointed in his current novel, The Face. Perhaps, it was my current frame of mind but it took forever to really become engrossed. I will continue to buy his books as soon as they come out, because this really was the first time I have felt this way!

plamken@ci.jackson.wy.us
I am reading The Seven Daughters of Eve by Bryan Sykes. It is excellent.

maestraw@msn.com
I just finished The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst. It was a Today Show book club selection, and I can see why. My son picked it up for me at the library this afternoon, and I had finished it by this evening. The premise is that Paul wants to teach his late wife's dog to talk, as the dog was the only witness to his wife's sudden death. It is poignant, funny, sad, and deeply moving. Probably one of the best books I have read this summer. 5 stars.

bradylee@myway.com
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. 3 stars.
I discovered this book through Word of Mouth and others have enjoyed it a lot; I thought it so-so. It is similar to the writings of Agatha Christie and I was not a fan of hers, though I guess I am the only one on the planet who did not care for her stuff. Mr. Smith did relate a good feeling of Africa by describing the country of Botswana and its environs. I read this to my wife aloud and she gave it a C-rate. The names Mma Ramotswe and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni were used so often I wondered why something shorter wasn't attempted...like "Pres." or "J.B." or whatever.

Valerie.Russo@RIAG.com
I am reading Veronika Decides To Die by Paulo Coelho. I have heard so much about this author. So far the book has made me give a lot of thought to the way society puts constraints on us all. It's a pretty interesting book. 3 stars, perhaps 4.

JCermak@aol.com
Hughes: The Private Diaries, Memos and Letters by Richard Hack. 5 stars.
If you haven't read a really good book on Howard Hughes, now is the time. I was shocked at his entire life but especially the last twenty years. This story is better than any fiction I have read in quite some time.

You can't miss his memo on how to open a can. There must be about one hundred steps to preparing the can, cleaning the can, and removing the contents.

Is there or has there been a more eccentric person on the face of this earth? I sure would like to hear about them. Otherwise, Howard gets my vote.

Auntgoogie@aol.com
Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith. 5 stars.
This was a delightful book and one that was recommended by Bookreporter.com. The characters were lovable, the dialogue between the main characters was charming, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Josetta@aol.com
I just finished The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly. I couldn't put it down...staying awake most of the night, neglecting my chores and, at times, forgetting to eat! It is the story of young impoverished Irish woman, living in London in 1888 during Jack the Ripper's rein and her dreams of becoming wealthy with the love of her life and the shop they plan to open. When the city of London quite literally rips her life apart, she flees to New York. If you need a great "triumph over tragedy" story, this is a definite 5 stars.

Maleen803@aol.com
I bought The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown on a Sunday and finished it on Thursday. Very cleverly crafted, good suspense levels and intriguing "new" ideas about Christian/Catholic cover-ups that may have always been there but maybe never exposed quite like this. I feel it is a "must" to have an art history book with da Vinci's Last Supper, Madonna of the Rocks and Vitruvian Man pictures available to look at as you read. The references are so much clearer when you see the paintings to which Brown refers.

There is a controversy initiated by Lewis Perdue who wrote Daughter of God in 2000. He claims that Brown "stole/plagiarized" his ideas for that novel. I got Perdue's novel from the library, and although the themes of cover-up, art and the Catholic church are found in both books, they are miles apart. In Perdue's book there is more bloodshed than in a Die Hard movie, and the number of "agencies" who are all acting in their own "good" are so numerous you almost need a scorecard. Both are good books. If you only have the inclination for one, choose The Da Vinci Code. It is a 5+. Daughter of God is a 3 1/2.

Songino@aol.com
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry.

pfloyd63@msn.com
Private Demons: The Life of Shirley Jackson by Judy Oppenheimer. 5 stars.
Excellent book, though it has been around for quite some time. Still an excellent biography of such a gifted writer and person. Delving into her life, interests, psychic connections and such, it gives the reader insight into the authoress/wife/mother who created such haunting pieces of literature as The Lottery, We Have Always Lived in the Castle and The Haunting of Hill House.

Whoever Fights Monsters by Robert K. Ressler and Tom Shachtman. 5 stars.
If the reader is into serial killers, FBI profiling and the like, then this is the book to read/have. The author is a retired FBI agent whose career delved into profiling killers, criminals and the like. Discussing past cases, he allows the reader to go with him to various places without patronizing. I really enjoyed this one.

Clive Barker's A-Z of Horror by Clive Barker, complied by Stephen Jones. 4 stars.
Mr. Barker presents the reader with a fascinating look at how the media views horror in real life, books, movies and TV. Lots of news photos, illustrations done by the author himself, as well as movie/TV stills. I found this one slightly lacking in trivia, but the side commentary does add a bit to the book.

The best book for last: The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Mafia by Jerry Capeci. 5 stars.
I had so much fun with this one. I thoroughly enjoyed all the little tidbits thrown in, from the denial of drug sales by the mobsters themselves to how a New Jersey mob family compared themselves to The Sopranos on HBO. I wish the book was longer, but the mob only lasted so long. Lots of fun.

NorkRich12@aol.com
Last month our book club (20 members strong) read Michael Datcher's Raising Fences: A Black Man's Love Story. Not only was this a moving and inspirational narrative of Mr. Datcher's experience, but what was more touching was Mr. Datcher's honesty. He revealed many of his fears as a man, a human and a black man --- and in so doing he allowed us to understand our men and ourselves better. But more importantly he made us fall in love with love all over again.

Although some might tend to view his account as the typical "out of the projects" narrative, Datcher in a unique style manages to involve his readers in his constant quest for truth, love, and self. We loved this book. We loved the poetry in it. At our meeting we read his proposal to his wife and their vows, and wept. We were touched with the beautiful awakening that love between a man and a woman can still be romantic, strong, honest and everlasting.

joswood@adiis.net
Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews. 4 stars.
There was a murder in an old plantation house in Savannah, a house that is doomed to be razed to make way for a paper plant. Even so, this is a lighthearted romp into the world of antiques, love, divorces, and mayhem.

Fallen Idols by J.F. Freedman. 4 stars.
This is a great book about family relationships and what happens when we deceive those family members we love. We also get to delve into the life of an archaeologist at an ancient site. A great read.

KLOZIER40@aol.com
Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich. 4 stars.
Stephanie Plum is still a bounty hunter and gets herself in and out of trouble throughout the book, with plenty of humor.

Lucky by Alice Sebold. 3 stars.
Alice's personal story of her own rape.

YZAP@aol.com
I am currently reading Envy by Sandra Brown. I have always enjoyed reading her books. This one has not let me down. This novel has a more murder mystery suspense theme, besides the romantic twist.

Before this novel, I read Dean Koontz's novel, From the Corner of His Eye. Very intense and different plot lines...one of my favorite authors.

dmilburn@alltel.net
The Survivors Club by Lisa Gardner. 5 stars.
This was the first book I've read by Lisa Gardner but it certainly won't be the last. Talk about suspense, twists and turns, and unexpected events. If you're a real mystery fan, read this. But you better start it on a weekend or when you have some time. You won't want to put it down.

SBence@twmi.rr.com
My top five books for the current reading season are:
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. 5 stars.
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. 4 stars.
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. 3 stars.
The Hours by Michael Cunningham. 2 stars.
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. 1 star.

Catslady5@aol.com
The Shelters of Stone by Jean Auel. 5 stars.
This is the fifth book in the Earth's Children Series. I am almost finished with this book and must say that after re-reading the first four I am going to miss it. There was a long time between books, and I surely hope the next one will come very soon.

Buttercupmlm@aol.com
The Second Time Around by Mary Higgins Clark.
Higgins Clark is a very clever writer, which is why she is so popular. This is the first book of hers I have read, but it will not be the last.

vitale@grantsburgtelcom.net
I just finished Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy. This was a heart wrenching, compelling read about a 9-year-old girl who undergoes multiple surgeries for Ewing's sarcoma, a rare and deadly form of cancer. The surgery removed half her jaw, and she underwent dozens of surgeries after that to try to repair the damage. Children can be so cruel to each other, and this book underscores that. Just the thought of what this little girl went through makes me want to cry. Her clear prose moved me to tears many times. Lucy Grealy died last year at age 39. I don't know whether her cause of death was related to her childhood cancer. Her book is a long-lasting memorial to her spirit. I highly recommend it.

rtjeffrey@shell.com
Land of the Living is my first Nicci French read. It will be my last. The story starts nowhere, goes nowhere, and ends oh-so conveniently. Big stretch to give it 1 star.

The Face is one of Dean Koontz's top-tier. Interesting concept, great imagery, inspired writing. Easily 5 stars.

Naked Prey by John Sandford. I haven't finished, but if you like Davenport, you'll love this one. Mr. Sanford never disappoints. Again, an easy 5 stars.

Melajessi@aol.com
The House on Beartown Road: A Memoir of Learning and Forgetting by Elizabeth Cohen. 5 stars.
A wonderful story of a mother who finds herself caring for her infant daughter and her Alzheimer's afflicted father one winter in rural upstate NY. Her husband had promptly left her as soon as her father arrived and she finds herself in the middle of two minds. One mind is learning and one mind is forgetting. The idea that our memories define our being is the center of this story, and how being stuck in the middle of the beginning and the end of memories offers a unique story of courage and survival.

TonyBrandin@peoplepc.com
Number9Dream by David Mitchell. 3 stars.
Eiji Miyake is a 20-year-old "country bumpkin" from south of Japan's southernmost main island, searching for his birth father through the heart (geographically and spiritually) of Greater Tokyo. Number9Dream is David Mitchell's follow-up to Ghostwritten, a similarly structured episodic novel. Ghostwritten spanned continents; Number9Dream explores modern kaleidoscopic Tokyo. In the course of his search, Miyake experiences brutal violence, mind-bending sex, and random happiness. All sorts of people seek to harm him and to help him, always unexpectedly. Number9Dream is engrossing, except for its two middle sections, which offer horrifying, extreme violence followed by nonsensical faux-folk tales (the latter feature "Goatwriter," a satyr whose name is a too-obvious play on the title of Mitchell's first book). The title is explained in the final few pages, which end Miyake's journey ambiguously indeed. Number9Dream at times can be difficult reading, but Miyake's search is always compelling.

IgneousSmurf@aol.com
Swan Song by Robert McCammon. 4 1.2 stars.
It is 956 pages and I read it in 3 days.

Mystrytx@aol.com
The Best Revenge by Stephen White. 5 stars.
A super page-turner; a look at revenge. Do we really want it? Mr. White just keeps getting better and better.

GoingPlacesGal@aol.com
Wild Justice by Phillip Margolin.
It tells the story of the illegal harvesting of organs for profit. The twist in the guts of the story is that the doctor involved also thrills to the terror and pain inflicted on his victims. The plot dwells more on the process of finding and capturing this sadistic killer rather than the crime with inventive devices that keep you Sherlock Holmesing till the satisfying resolution.

Norbles@aol.com
Atonement by Ian McEwan. 5 stars.
The Color of Water by James McBride. 4 stars.

Smilamas@aol.com
Real People Don't Own Monkeys by J. Veronika Kiklevich, DVM. 5 stars.
These are true stories from a veterinarian who works with all kinds of animals.

Indigo Dying by Susan Wittig Albert. 5 stars.
Another suspenseful book by Albert. In this one you learn all about using natural materials to dye wool.

MLWReader@aol.com
I am still reading the biography of JFK, An Unfinished Life. It is very rare for me to take more than a week (sometimes a day - LOL) to read a book, but this one, although completely engrossing, is filled with material that takes some time to digest. I think it is extremely well researched and written. I was a young girl when Kennedy was killed, and this book allows me to see the full person that JFK was, warts and all. He was a fascinating person.

I am also re-reading Spiritual Notes to Myself by Hugh Prather, an excellent book.

Pennie0801@aol.com
Housebreaking a Husband by Lori Soard is both funny and serious. It's a very enjoyable read and I give it five stars.

BSmith@Townsendtree.com
Loving The Highlander by Janet Chapman. 5 stars
A wonderful time travel from the past to the present. The author has a very vivid way of writing that transports the reader into the story. I highly recommend this book. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, Wedding the Highlander, to be released in October.

suzyj555@yahoo.com
I have just read all of the Harry Potter books (the first four again). They are of course very entertaining. J.K. Rowling has a way of making you care about her characters and worrying about them. They are of course very amusing in parts (enough to make you laugh out loud). But the best part of all the books is that all ages are reading them and it gives you a chance to chat with lots of different people about the books. Of course the new book Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was longer than the previous four but still just as entertaining, and it runs the gauntlet of emotions. The only problem is when will the next installment appear?

GerryD8784@aol.com
The Distance from Normandy by Jonathan Hull. 4 stars.
Mead, a widower, takes in his troubled grandson Andrew after the boy is expelled from high school for pulling a knife on a bully who had taunted him. The two have little in common other than family ties. Mead views Andrew as a spoiled and ungrateful punk, while Andrew sees his grandfather as stuck in the past, a prisoner of his wartime memories. The two are unable to accept and connect with one another until Mead's neighbor, Evelyn, reaches out to Andrew, and the bond that begins between them soon stretches to include Mead as well.

Cold Springs by Rick Riordan. 4 1/2 stars.
In a story whose background continues to unfold right up to the very end, an English teacher starts a new career and a new life in Texas, after his daughter commits suicide at age 15. His job involves "escorting" problem teenagers to a boot-camp style recovery program. But nine years later, he is called to escort a friend's daughter --- the child for whom his own daughter had been babysitting the night of her death --- and must once again face the memories and secrets he had worked so hard to push aside.

No Second Chance by Harlan Coben. 5 stars.
A surgeon awakens to find himself in the hospital, having been unconscious for twelve days. His wife is dead and their six-month-old daughter missing, and soon he's the prime suspect. Great plotting, Coben's best so far!

When the Wind Blows by James Patterson. 4 stars.
Genetic engineering experiments lead to murder, when the product --- human children with avian traits, including functional wings --- escape from a lab hidden in the Colorado mountains.

The Jesus Thief by J. R. Lankford. 4 1/2 stars.
A microbiologist leading a team of scientists permitted to examine the Shroud of Turin takes the opportunity to gather DNA from bloodstains on the shroud in hopes of bringing Jesus back to earth by cloning.

I'm Not Scared by Niccolo Ammaniti. 4 stars.
Ammaniti has a talent for realistic portrayal of childhood, and the child's first encounter with the complexity and evil of the adult world. His protagonist in I'm Not Scared is a nine-year-old boy who makes a shocking discovery and then is torn between loyalty to his father and his desire to do what he knows in his heart is right.

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. 5 stars.
A pair of federal marshals investigates a hospital for the criminally insane on a remote island when a patient is reported missing.

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. 4 1/2 stars.
A curator at the Louvre is found dead in the museum and, with him, an apparently coded message that police believe identifies his killer. While they build their case, the man they wrongly suspect is also searching for the killer, both to save himself and also to solve the mystery the curator died to protect. Very well-written, and made more interesting by the inclusion of a great deal of historical detail with which I was unfamiliar.

A Cold Heart by Jonathan Kellerman. 4 stars.
Alex Delaware advises homicide investigators in a series of murders of performers, artists, and writers, each killed as he or she appeared poised on the brink of success. He's also coping with his separation from longtime love Robin Mantagna and trying to move on to a new relationship, when Robin becomes a target of the same killer. The series continues strong, and once again Kellerman lives up to his reputation for well-plotted mysteries solved by his likable cast of characters.

NGroves@aol.com
Gap Creek by Robert Morgan. 4 stars.
This Oprah pick from a few years back is the story of a pair of newlyweds as they try to make a success of life and marriage in the community of Gap Creek in the Blue Ridge Mountains at the end of the 19th century. Married after a very brief courtship, Julie and Hank have a lot to learn about each other as well as about life. They face innumerable hardships, including fire, floods, dangerous drunks, swindlers, joblessness, and hunger in their first year, essentially without family support since they left their homes in order to start life together in a new place. The story is told from Julie's perspective, and you come to admire the toughness that women had to summon to cope with the hardships of rural or frontier life, both in terms of the hard physical labor that was often required of them, as well as the psychological strength they needed.

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier. 4 stars.
This is the first of a trilogy of books set in ancient Ireland. The "daughter" of the title is Sorcha, youngest child of seven siblings and the only girl. It elaborates on the folk tale of brothers turned into swans by sorcery and the efforts of their sister to rescue them. It's a tale of familial love and loyalty, romantic love, and a bit of magic and fantasy, with a trace of a message about overcoming one's differences, as Sorcha and her Irish kin unexpectedly find themselves forming bonds with their enemies, the Britons.

The Charterhouse of Parma by Maurice Stendhal. 3 stars.
This 19th century novel, written by a Frenchman, is considered a literary classic. It describes the adventures of a young aristocrat and the romantic and political intrigues in the Italian court. I read a new translation by Richard Howard.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling. 4 stars.
Everyone in my family is a Harry Potter fan, so naturally we read the newest volume in the series and/or listened to the audio book as soon as it was published. At 15, Harry is unquestionably a teenager, with even more to wrestle with than most of his real-world counterparts. Things go downhill almost from the start as the wizarding world is divided between those who believe that the powerful bad wizard Lord Voldemort has returned, an event that Harry witnessed in the fourth book, and those who think it's a wild story made up by a disturbed youth. Harry also suffers the death of someone who was close to him, but the book ends on a more or less positive note while hinting that, with two more books to go, the troubles aren't over yet.

A Night to Remember by Walter Lord.
The Titanic is endlessly fascinating, it seems. This nonfiction account of the disaster was first published, if I'm correct, in the 1950s, when the author could still find plenty of surviving passengers and crew to interview. The tone of the book seems a bit dated, but the story is still as tragic and as full of "what ifs" as ever.

bradylee@myway.com
The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices by Xinran. 5 stars.
This book should be included in Ripley's Believe It or Not. The true stories are so different and interesting that you will not put this book down! I don't know about the Chinese women being born today in July 2003, but the generations earlier had made life so difficult for her that, at times, you could not call females human beings. Some of the chapter titles shed some light on what you can expect as a reader: "The Girl Who Kept a Fly as a Pet" and "The Woman Who Waited Forty-five Years," and "The Woman Whose Father Does Not Know Her." You will thank your lucky stars you live in the West and, if you are a female, will give double thanks. This is a rare reading experience that you will never forget. You will also learn of the devastating effects the Cultural Revolution had on the whole country; you cannot avoid this subject when reading about "modern" China.

jgravino@optonline.net
I just finished reading A Nerd In Shining Armor by Vicki Lewis Thompson. I give it 31/2 stars. It is a light beach read but very enjoyable. I was having trouble putting it down, so I just sat in the backyard and finished it along with my tan.

XSTARGAIZER@aol.com
I've plowed through these two this spring:
The Once and Future King by T.H. White (as seen in the movie X-Men2). It was full of lessons of life and fun as well. Next I read The War of Art by Steve Pressfield. Very inspirational!

bradylee@myway.com
Julie and Romeo by Jeanne Ray. 4 stars.
This novel is a delight and a story of two families that hate each other, but the senior citizens on each side, Julie and Romeo, meet each other and like each other...alot. This is their story of how they get together with each of their families in an uproar from what they find out. Eventually, there is an altercation between two men of each side and they wind up in the hospital. This is the beginning of the end. Now I am not going to tell you about the end or what happens, as this is the nut of the story. It is a good one. I read this aloud to my wife and we both like it...a lot.

Britadon@aol.com
The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber. 5 stars.
I read this book after seeing so many recommendations for it on this site. Faber put in 20 years of research to write this book and it shows in the authenticity of his writing. This is a long book and moves somewhat slowly but never boringly in the earlier parts. The writing style is fascinating, as the reader is addressed directly at many points. The characters are well-developed and the plot has some interesting twists and turns. I stayed up until 4:00 A.M. to finish the last 200 pages, which always says something positive to me. Read and enjoy!

The Magic of Ordinary Days by Ann Howard Creel. 5 stars
An easy, one-day read that provokes thought and emotion. The poignant story takes place in southeastern Colorado and the writing is true to the setting. Reading about the prejudices of World War II times may seem remote but also left me thinking that only the minority groups have changed; the prejudices remain the same.

AMAF113@aol.com
The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst. 4+ stars.
It's a very fast read and a page-turner. It is a very unique read of a husband trying to find out if his wife's death was accidental or planned.

Blackbird by Jennifer Lauck. 4+ stars.
It is wonderful memoir of how she had to grow up with the loss of both parents. A very fast read. I am now reading the sequel Still Waters and am enjoying that just as much.

PennyLHaggerty@aol.com
Last Dance, Last Chance: And Other True Cases by Ann Rule. 4 stars.
Rule gives background information about a sociopathic doctor from New York, family information, how he thought, etc. A very interesting true crime story about a doctor who not only killed people, but also poisoned his family. It usually takes me about a month to read a book (I read once in a while) but this one only took me three days.

marychambers@yahoo.com
Beyond the Sky and the Earth by Jamie Zeppa. 4 stars.
The Hawk and the Dove by Leigh Franklin James. 4 stars.
How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill. 3 stars.
Caravans by James Michener. 4 stars.
More Than Petticoats: Remarkable Oregon Women by Gayle C. Shirley. 4 stars.
April Fool Dead by Carolyn Hart. 3 stars.
Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner. 4 stars.
Seattle by Charlotte Paul. 4 stars.
Abandon by Pico Iyer. 1 star.
The Americans by Daniel Boorstin. 4 stars.

dlhart@bellsouth.net
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. 5 stars.
The Da Vinci Code is a superb mystery-suspense-thriller tale. The action starts with the first sentence and the suspense steadily builds right up to the dramatic conclusion. I really like this kind of unfolding --- all too often authors bog the reader down with extended descriptions of the scenery, the weather, the clothes everyone wears, etc. Additionally, Dan Brown incorporates biblical and "secret society" historical details (mostly accurate) and a pretty good description of modern cryptological processes. Some of the religious elements were way out in left field, but after all, this is fiction intended to be enjoyed by readers, not a sociological study!

Comella2729@aol.com
Thank you Word of Mouth readers. I have read several of their
recommendations and found them to be outstanding. They are:
Losing Julia by Jonathan Hull. 5 stars.
Nobody Knows the Truffles I've Seen by George Lang. 5 stars.
Three Junes by Julia Glass. 4 stars.

I look forward to reading this column every month. Keep up the good work.

JDDistef@aol.com
5 great books to read:

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. 5 stars.
Incredible suspense. So many twists you have no idea what comes next.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. 5 stars.
The best classic I have ever read.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon. 5 stars.
Deserved the Pulitzer.

Empire Falls by Richard Russo. 4 stars.
Interesting novel about life in a small town.

Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. 4 stars.
Shocking memoir. It's wonder he is still alive... and sane.

PFLucas@aol.com
The Book Club by Mary Alice Monroe. 4 stars.
The story of a long lasting friendship between a group of women who belong to a book club. Although their backgrounds are diverse, their support for each other is solid and inspirational. Each chapter begins with a famous quote from literature that parallels current events in their lives. The monthly book club meeting and book discussion and the lively debates about future book club selections make the reader feel like a member. An interesting and entertaining read with well-developed characters.

Buster Midnight's Cafe by Sandra Dallas. 5 stars.
Great!

Shasnetti@aol.com
I have recently finished reading Cane River by Lalita Tademy. I absolutely loved this book and found her family history very interesting. I respect the amount of work she put in to finding out all she did, and I envy the gift she gained because of it. 5 stars

I have just started reading The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I am only on the fourth chapter and love it already. I usually read before bed and I cannot wait for nightfall so I can find out what happens next. So far I'd give it 5 stars for it's uniqueness alone.

bradylee@myway.com
I Am the Central Park Jogger by Trisha Meili. 4 stars.
As the author does not remember any of the events when she was almost killed in Central Park, this book is about her life after the accident. It is interesting learning about all she had to go through to get back to a "normal life" and how she will continue to improve as long as she lives. People throughout the world sent her letters and many prayed for her. Trisha is convinced those prayers helped save her life. An outpouring of love enveloped Trisha from those who never even knew her, and her employer also was a major contributor to her well-being and help. This is a heart-lifting story.

Verydeceptive1@aol.com
I have just finished reading The Correct Way To Fool Around by Jeremiah Dotson. It was extremely insightful, humorous, and much more than the title implies. A must-read for anyone involved in a relationship. 4 stars

No1MetsFan@aol.com
Here are some recent reads and what's next;
Uncatalogued by Julie Kaewert. 3 stars.
Fluke by Christopher Moore. 5 stars.
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. 5 stars.
Daughter of God by Lewis Perdue. Currently reading --- good so far.

Smartboo@aol.com
I just finished reading Catering to Nobody by Diane Mott Davidson and am hooked. I enjoyed the story line, the comedy of every life for the main character and the recipes! I want to read the other books in the series that the author wrote. Not only will I have a good laugh but a whole lot of new receipes to try.

j_gargus@hotmail.com
I am reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and I am taking it soooo slow! I don't want it to end, because I'll have to wait so long for the next one! It is somewhat darker than the other Potter novels, partly because Harry is not the eager-to-please wizard he used to be, but mostly because he can feel the evil more now. 5 stars!

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