CindyS2449@aol.com
I recently finished reading Life of Pi by Yann Martel. It started a bit slowly but by the middle it was a page-turner. When I read the ending, I had to go back and read both the beginning and ending again, something I rarely do! 5 stars.
hibar14@earthlink.net
I'm reading The Run by Stuart Woods. It's a real page-turner. If you like political suspense, you'll love this one. I give it 5 stars.
judayis@yahoo.com
Birthright by Nora Roberts. 4 stars.
Engaging from end to finish. Very touching and humorous at the same time. Details are given to each character. Definitely worth your while.
Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard. 4 stars.
Hilarious, sexy and mysterious at the same time!
Carosp@aol.com
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. 3 1/2 stars.
I enjoyed this book, which includes interesting stories about the author's adventures hiking the Appalachian trail, mostly with a somewhat comic sidekick, but also by himself part of the time. Bryson has a great sense of humor, and I laughed out loud at some of the things he said. I'd probably have rated this book higher had I not already read his In a Sunburned Country about Australia, which was just fantastic. I'd definitely like to read more of his books, no matter where he's traveling in them!
Old School by Tobias Wolff.
I'm only about one-third of the way through this one, so I don't want to rate it yet, but I love it. The author also wrote the memoir This Boy's Life, which was a great book and was made into a movie with Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. Old School is about boys in a prep school in America who are concentrating on literature. Great so far.
simpson_490@hotmail.com
The books I've been reading are the following:
The Next Accident by Lisa Gardner. 5 stars.
It was a good plot with interesting people.
The Visionary by Don Passman. 5 stars.
The book is a great read, and the ending was a surprise.
LJWASSON@msn.com
The Hanged Man's Song by John Sanford. 4 stars.
The Kills by Linda Fairstein. 5 stars.
cats200146219@yahoo.com
Emma's Secret by Barbara Taylor Bradford. 4 stars.
I enjoyed this book. It was easy to read and I would recommend it. The book is about the second and third generations of three families. I had not read any of the previous books in this series and found the number of characters in the book confusing and had to continuously flip back to the front of the book to see which family the characters belonged to and who their other relatives were. There are several themes in the book and not all are resolved. The author's note indicates that there are two future books in the series in which the themes will be resolved.
GMD1860@aol.com
Crow Lake by Mary Lawson. 3 stars.
Creative writing, but the plot is slow.
Mystic River by Dennis Lehane. 5 stars.
Edge-of-your-seat suspense. Wonderful writing and brings out much emotion. I laughed and cried reading this book.
lag110@mchsi.com
I am currently reading Hollywood Wives by Jackie Collins and give it 1 star. It is not very good, all sex and lies, but once I start a book I have to finish it.
mdcarter@netidea.com
Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson. 5 stars.
Great book with two more in the series to follow.
stoneyred@comcast.net
I am now reading Dirty Work by Stuart Woods and a book called How Does She Do It? by Sheila Ellison.
pureevil25@yahoo.com
Today I am reading The Last Juror by John Grisham. I would give it 4 stars. I love his style of writing!
OATESFAN@aol.com
I just finished Mystic River by one of my favorite writers, Dennis Lehanne. Although the story begins slowly, it soon grabs you and completely absorbs your mind in it. You go to sleep wondering about the characters. Murder, mystery, intrigue ... it's all here. Don't pass this one up.
Marric77@aol.com
I just finished Whisper of Evil by Kay Hooper. This is the second in a trilogy. This book did not grab me like her Shadows trilogy did. I rate it 3 stars.
FtLicky@aol.com
I'm currently reading The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett. It's an exciting fantasy novel filled with mystery, intelligence and talking animals. 5 stars.
hushpup@optonline.net
I have just finished an author who I hadn't discovered yet, but has been around little.
Charlotte Vale Allen --- her book Somebody's Baby was terrific. I would rate it 5 stars. The book takes place in both Manhattan and Connecticut. Snow Devane is an accomplished photographer and she finds out that her "mother" kidnapped her from a shopping cart in Manhattan when she was only a few months old. Shocked to hear such news, after her Mother dies she does some searching on her own.
The book keeps you interested and it grabs you from the very beginning.
cdonovan@peoplepc.com
I'm reading The Touch by Colleen McCullough and The Moonspinners by Mary Stewart.
Kelly636@aol.com
Critical Judgment by Michael Palmer. 5 stars.
This book has a copyright of 1996 but somehow I discovered a well worn paperback in my bookcase. I have no idea how it got there, but I really have to thank whoever left it. I'm very close to the end so I can't comment on the ending, but this book has it all: love, mystery, suspense, corporate intrigue, medical ethics. I'm normally great at figuring endings out very early on (which is very disappointing), but this book has me looking left and right and all over the place. It keeps me thinking about it even when I'm not reading it. I'm at the point where I can't wait to get to the end, but I don't want to get to the end. In the beginning the main character Abby is like most of us. She cares about causes but doesn't really want to get involved. But people push her a bit too hard and all that changes. This will get me looking at other books by Michael Palmer.
Ellsgram@aol.com
Don't Call Us Molls by Ellen Poulsen. 2 stars.
A textbook reading account of the John Dillinger Era and the women who ran with his gang. This nonfiction account appears to be well researched, but the dry, nonliterary delivery makes it difficult to get through and impossible to get excited about.
The King of Torts by John Grisham. 3 stars.
I enjoy John Grisham's books, but the denouement of this novel was just too obvious from the beginning.
East of Eden by John Steinbeck. 5 stars.
I reread this classic for my book club. It's a deeply moving novel. Buy the companion book, Journal of a Novel, for insight into the author's creative process.
Betty.Warner@jefferson.edu
Vinita Hampton Wright's Velma Still Cooks in Leeway is a 4-star representation of a small Christian town, as seen through the omniscient eyes of the local cook/cafe owner. Recipes and scripture quotes bind together the engaging narrative of the assembly of surprising characters.
lslott@optonline.net
The Princess Bride by William Goldman is a movie I have seen countless times and can quote lines from all day long. Recently my book group chose the book and I was reluctant to read it, but I am glad I did. Although I kept seeing the faces from the movies, the book was enjoyable on its own and, even though I knew all the jokes, was just as funny. A very enjoyable and fun read.
GeoBarb636@aol.com
The Last Juror by John Grisham. 5 stars.
Enjoy reading Grisham's book about Mississippi and how colorful --- and tasty --- he makes it sound! I would love to try some of the food he talks about in this book, especially if it is cooked by Miss Callie.
wmf38@rconnect.com
I'm reading Debbie Macomber's 311 Pelican Court and I give it 5 stars.
harrises@bayou.com
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier. 4 stars.
Love it.
Lily Quench and the Dragon of Ashby by Natalie Jane Prior. 4 stars.
I am reading an advance copy from the bookstore where I work. I will be recommending this to some of my young readers. It's about dragons, bad people, a prince disguised like a librarian and a girl named Lily who saves the day.
Niagara Falls or Does It? Hank Zipzer: The Mostly True Confessions of the World's Greatest Underachiever by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver. 5 stars.
I will also be selling this to my boy customers. It's so true to life, and as a mother of four boys I can relate to Hank. A great new series.
smleonetti@msn.com
Portland (Oregon) is reading Fahrenheit 451 for their annual EVERYBODY READS program, when the entire city reads the same book. Written over 50 years ago it is one of the best and at the same time the scariest books I have read.
Rickimc@aol.com
The Warrior's Bond by Juliet E. McKenna. 5 stars.
This story took place over a shorter amount of time than McKenna's previous Tales of Einarinn. And while she is one of my favorite fantasy writers, the mystery element of this volume made me like it best.
Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism by Georgia Byng. 3 stars.
Unlike many recent middle reader fantasies, this book does not hold much appeal for those above this reading group. A silly but enjoyable story with many morals thrown in.
kayaker9@juno.com
Private Sector by Brian Haig.
My first read by this author, and I can definitely say I will read his other novels as soon as possible. His JAG character Sean Drummond is witty, sarcastic, clever and gutsy, and you like him immediately. The book is a very entertaining thriller and you just want to keep reading until you reach the end ... but then again you don't want it to end. Highly recommended.
The Next to Die by Kevin O'Brien.
An exciting can't-put-it-down thriller. It moves fast and keeps you on your toes. Also highly recommended.
bookmark@sc.rr.com
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom.
DaraXact@aol.com
I am reading Hate Crime by William Bernhardt. It is wonderful. The twist and turns of the plot and the whole mystery of who did it and what is up with Ben Kincaid make the book one that is hard to put down. I have company at my home and it is hard not to be rude and read rather than visit.
KLOZIER40@aol.com
Murphy's Law by Rhys Bowen. 4 1/2 stars.
A story of Irish immigrants entering Ellis Island where a murder is committed. One Irish woman who assents to bring two children to America to be with their father gets caught up in the murder investigation. Enjoyable, light reading.
NGroves@aol.com
Wives of the Fishermen by Angela Huth. 4 stars.
The centerpiece of this novel is the friendship between two dissimilar women, starting in their childhood. Annie is the glamorous, flirtatious one who has all the boys eating out of her hand, while Myrtle is plain and down-to-earth and never expects to find herself desired by anyone. Both marry fishermen in their small Scottish fishing village and manage to keep their friendship going despite many dustups --- until the accidental death of Myrtle's husband, in which Annie's husband may have been at fault, triggers what may be an irreparable split. It's a sensitive portrayal of the lives and loves of two very different women.
Lost: A Novel by Lucy Wadham. 3 stars.
A thriller set in Corsica begins with the kidnapping of a little boy by a renegade member of a Corsican independence movement. The boy's fate is caught up in a power struggle between the independence movement, an organized crime leader and a jaded police detective. This is no island paradise for anyone.
Sula by Toni Morrison. 4 stars.
Sula and Nel share similar childhood experiences as young, smart black girls in a small Ohio town and are best friends until adulthood sends them along separate paths. Nel choses a peaceful domestic life as a wife and mother, while Sula leaves town for college and city life before eventually returning to her roots and, in the process, nearly destroys her friend's happiness. Morrison is a brilliant writer who vividly evokes this time and place.
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. 5 stars.
I've read this at least once before and enjoy getting back to it from time to time. It's the book that put "magical realism" on the map as a literary style in its account of 100 years of love, lust, curiosity, revenge, war and madness in the Buendia family of the mythical South American town of Macondo. The writing is simply astonishing.
fialakt1@aol.com
I just finished reading Willow by Carolyn Brown. I thought it was perfect for the Valentine's season. It is part of the Promised Land series and I think that the author does a wonderful job of telling a lighthearted romance in which all readers can fall in love with these strong-willed characters and their predicaments
mxwms@msn.com
I have just finished The Second Chair by John Lescroart. Since I have read all of his books in order of publication, it is great to return to the familiar characters like Dismas Hardy and company. Always exciting, always fun and always a good feeling after the last page has been turned. Now I just have to wait for his next one!
I am now reading Retribution by Jilliane Hoffman and must say all the hype about this book is true. Scary, interesting and will definitely be one of my authors to look for in the future. I recommend this one.
Mlauerba@aol.com
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner.
The Siege by Helen Dunmore.
mbmartin@prodigy.net
The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie. 5 stars.
As usual, a great read. It's listed on Christie's website as one of the top must-reads. It will keep you guessing until the end, but pay special attention to the title.
Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers. 3 1/2 stars.
Not one of her best. She rambles on sometimes, and I just didn't need to know that much about cricket! But it's still a good British Mystery. The setting is an advertising agency and there are some funny Sayers moments with regard to ad copy. You won't guess the murderer until the last pages.
resan@nyc.rr.com
I have just finished Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie. A good read. A good story. An insight into the stifling and closed Chinese society during the Mao era.
I also just finished Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Very much like a fable and reminiscent of an old movie I saw a long time ago called Rashomon, where there is a multiple ending and you have to decide for yourself which one is either the best ending or the real ending.
GandmaRI@aol.com
I'm about to start High Country by Nevada Barr. This novel is set in Yosemite National Park, where seasonal park employees are disappearing. Since Barr is a favorite author of mine, I'm sure that it won't take me long to read this book!
DStegmanCrawford@aol.com
I recently finished The Anniversary by Amy Gutman. Everything was going great. I was enjoying the book, the characters and the story when … the author ruined it for me. Yes, she wrote something so incredulously and patently FALSE for the "killer" … well, suffice to say that I HATED it after that. 1 star.
Currently I'm reading Shocking Pink by Erica Spindler. Good so far.
Donnaleggate@aol.com
I just finished Two Plays For Voices by Neil Gaiman. I really enjoyed these two plays: Snow Glass Apples and Murder Mysteries. 4 stars.
I also finished The Good House by Tananarive Due. It was very good; drawn out in some places but very good. It's about family voodoo and magic handed down from Grandma Marie to Angela and her son Corey, and what can happen. Be careful of what you wish for and how you wish for it. 4 stars.
lindaharriet@netzero.net
I enjoyed Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier so much that I had high hopes for The Lady and the Unicorn, but I was disappointed. It just didn't hold my interest. The best parts wee about the weaving process of the tapestries, but the characters were lifeless --- just fictional representations on people without much depth. 2 stars.
BDB530@aol.com
Mrs. Jeffries Reveals Her Art by Emily Brightwell. 4 stars.
A Victorian mystery story that moves fast and is, for lack of better words, a fun read. The hired help in an Inspector's house does all the footwork for him without his knowledge.
Mildred Pierced by Stuart Kaminsky. 3 stars.
Part of a series of mysteries with character Toby Peters as a sleuth in Hollywood, this time using Joan Crawford as a witness to murder.
WRKGRK@aol.com
I just finished Embers by Sandor Marai. I can see this as a play. It is about two men in their seventies who meet after forty-one years. The one-sided discussion is about what went on the day before one of the men disappears, only to return now. Is anything resolved? I read it for a book discussion and am eager to hear others' take on this book. I give it 3 stars.
ImNpieces@aol.com
The Midnight Club by James Patterson. 4 stars.
This is one of his earlier books that I happened to see in a bookstore. I really did enjoy it almost as much as his later books. The idea of a detective in a wheelchair was a little much to picture, but I could, thanks to his vivid descriptions. I thought The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver (4 stars) may have been inspired by the Patterson book. I just happened to read the Deaver book first. They are different, but there are distinct similarities.
jimlinda@sympatico.ca
The Stone Carvers by Jane Urquhart. 4 stars
Our book club read it for the month of February. An entertaining story of love, war, passion and loss. It's a rich and immensely satisfying story, impressive in both scope and depth. A definite read.
Makkedah02@aol.com
Judgment Ridge by Dick Lehr and Mitchell Zuckoff. 5 stars.
It's the true story behind the Darthmouth, New Hampshire murders of two professors, Half and Susanne Zantop. It goes into what happened in the small town where the two teenagers murdered the Zantops. The book starts with the background of the teenagers' lives and the town locals up until the murder. It then follows through with the heartbreaking trail. An excellent read!
chmesler@earthlink.net
Happy Days by Laurent Graff. 4 stars.
A quirky novella about a man in his thirties who checks himself into an old folks home to get out of the stream of life.
Heart, You Bully, You Punk by Leah Hager Cohen. 4 stars.
A very well-written and touching story about a high school girl, her dad and her math teacher, a triangle that produces surprising events.
Winner of the National Book Award by Jincy Willett. 3 1/2 stars.
A very funny send up of writers, readers, lovers and virgins.
dunn_k@fortlewis.edu
Granny D: Walking Across America in My 90th Year by Doris Haddock.
Doris is an amazing person, strong and intelligent. The sentences just flow.
DThomson@ric.edu
I have to give Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith 5 stars, as well its predecessor, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Set in modern-day Botswana, these books give the reader a glimpse into the life of a very modern Botswana woman, whose love for her country and her place in its history shine brilliantly throughout the tales of her adventures as a "lady detective."
susanrjensen@yahoo.com
The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen. 4 stars.
This is the first Gerritsen book I've read, and I was quite impressed by her. Although gory, this book provides a good, suspenseful story about a tough Boston detective who must find a serial killer before he finds her.
Grave Secrets by Kathy Reichs. 4 stars.
In this fast-paced mystery, forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan finds herself globe-trotting to solve several mysterious deaths, including those resulting from a mass killing in Chupan Ya, Guatemala. I love the characters and the science in this series, although the plots can sometimes be lacking.
Fatal Voyage by Kathy Reichs. 4 stars.
Another great Tempe Brennan novel. This one has Tempe investigating a mysterious plane crash that inadvertently leads her to another, much more grisly crime scene. Fast-paced and suspenseful.
The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst. 4 stars.
I enjoyed this book about a grieving man obsessed with finding answers about his wife's death, even if he has to teach his dog to speak to do it. Interesting, quirky, and a great read.
DancingGram7@aol.com
The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst. 4 stars.
This was a unique book and caught my attention right away. Paul Iverson returns home to find his wife Lexy has died under strange circumstances. The only witness to the death was their dog Lorelei. It's both a love story and a mystery. It is also unique in that Paul tries to find out about the last day that his wife died through his dog Lorelei by trying to make the dog speak!! Weird … kind of … but still interesting. I liked the book and recommend it.
AUGER77777@aol.com
I recently finished Utopia by Lincoln Child. This was a very good book, but the action seemed to slow down in the middle of the book, making it hard to pick up and start reading again. The ending was pretty good, but it was fairly predictable. 4 stars.
I have just started Trojan Odyssey, the new Dirk Pitt novel by Clive Cussler. Cussler has never failed to offer a first-rate thriller. This book has a new twist, as readers of his last Valhalla Rising can attest to. At the end, Dirk discovered that he had two grown children he had never heard of. They are now going to be up to their necks in the action. How much the old Dirk and his pal, Al Giordino, will contribute to this adventure remains to be seen. So far, I rate this book 5 stars.
kgrantdesigns@hotmail.com
The Zero Game by Brad Meltzer. 4 stars.
I listened to this as an audio book and it was very engaging! A very quick story and highly entertaining. The narrator was terrific, which can really add to an already good story. A nice twist at the beginning keeps you interested. The ending was a bit schmaltzy but all in all I would recommend it to anyone who wanted a quick, very good read. I enjoyed this author so much I went back and am now listening to an earlier book of his called The Millionaires … tape two of ten, so far so good!
Fbower444@aol.com
I just finished reading The Set-Up by Paul Erdman. I give it a solid 5 stars. For any reader who enjoys economics and high-finance within a fictional setting, then Paul Erdman is a "must."
Mr. Greenspan's successor (Charles Black) is attending a high-level economic meeting in Switzerland. He has just resigned from his position as head of the Federal Reserve and, as a favor to the administration, agrees to attend as the U.S. representative. But he has been set up so that when he lands in Switzerland, he is arrested for massive fraud. The evidence is supposedly overwhelming, but Black and his wife know he is innocent. The U.S. authorities don't want to get involved where the evidence seems to be so conclusive.
The action involves the high-risk derivatives market, the secretive Swiss-banking system and a most dangerous Sardinian.
This is my third book by Paul Erdman and I loved each of them. The first two were Zero Coupon and The Swiss Account. He has written other stories that are listed inside the cover of this book. He presently writes financial commentary for cbs.marketwatch.com and the credits list him as an international financier and founder of a Swiss bank.
The Set-Up is a must-read for those who like high-finance fiction.
John1rosie@aol.com
Boyhood by J.M. Coetzee. 2 stars.
Youth by J.M. Coetzee. 3 stars.
Given all the acclaim that Mr. Coetzee has earned, he is someone who must be read. In that these two volumes are brief (approximately 170 pages each), perhaps he has made the task easy? Not really. They are not that good, are they? I found Boyhood to be sparse, barren and desolate. Those adjectives describe too much of what is presented as John's early physical and emotional life. Poor John. What would he do if he didn't have his mother to blame? Unfortunately he can't figure out precisely what to blame her for and thus avoids any possibility of taking responsibility for himself or forgiveness of her. We get pages of a boy and a youth wallowing around because of Mom. Unless you really enjoy a good pity party it becomes a turn-off. A story mirroring life is a good thing for me almost only if at least some insights into the motivations of the main character are available. For me Boyhood lacked that, hence, in my opinion, it is rated 2 stars.
Youth is more of the same and different. It is different in that the author gives us more interesting scenes (a sexual affair at the beginning, for example. Later, humor so funny you could laugh out loud if you didn't feel that you would be laughing at John.) Sex and humor do "sell" me up to a point. However, the way John treats Marianne is forever unforgivable. That and other incidents caused me to doubt John having innate goodness and value as a person/character in his own or any world. John terminally lacks affect or personal involvement. He reminds me of Mersault in The Stranger by Camus, but John lacks the comparative vibrant personality of Mersault just as surely as Coetzee lacks Camus's talent as a writer. John is a flat, one-dimensional stone of a "person" skimming across the surface of the water of life en route from one barren shore to another. Really, why, except for some cathartic or therapeutic reason known (if known) only to the author, is John worth writing about or reading about? Life, for Mr. Coetzee is, I must suspect, more of a contest than it is anything else. He has enough resources to get to the finish line in good order, but one wonders if he ever enjoys either the training or the contest.
With all this slamming done, would I read another book by J.M. Coetzee? Yes, definitely. I only said that he lacks Camus's talent, I didn't say that his writing wasn't worth your reading time. Maybe, just maybe, he chooses to write books in which his main character is less than obsessed with Mother. Such books, if written, will surely be worth a read.
Pjwhome@aol.com
I just finished Peace Like a River by Leif Enger and absolutely loved it. By the end of the book, the characters were like family. I wish I knew them or were related to them --- they were all heroic in some way, yet ordinary and real. The story is part adventure and part tragedy, but an overall good-humored, inspirational story. Definitely 5 stars.
I also read Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven and while I enjoyed it, I must say it wasn't as good as I'd anticipated it would be. I'm not sure if that was because it was overly recommended to me or if it was because I'd just read Peace Like a River, which I liked better. An original concept and a quick read. I'd still give it 4 out of 5 stars.
yodasmommy@woh.rr.com
I just finished The Anniversary by Amy Gutman. I thought by the title it might be about a marriage, but it was about a serial killer. The ending was a surprise and I enjoyed this book very much. 4 stars.
I am currently reading Paranoia by Joseph Finder and it is a great book! 4 stars.
Dana_Cherrier@commerce.state.il.us
Retribution by Jilliane Hoffman. 4 stars.
There is a lot of hype surrounding this book. I thought it was an exciting thriller, well paced and well written. I didn't however find it all that original. For that reason, I would give it 4 stars.
EGWGOMA@aol.com
One Foot in Eden by Ron Rash. 5 stars.
A tight story of deception, woven in with a bit of witchcraft. A land cherished by many generations about to be flooded by a power company, lives interwoven with love and suspicion. Reads like pure poetry.
KINDLEELF@aol.com
Balance of Power by Richard North Patterson. 4 stars.
President Kerry Kilcannon marries his television journalist fiance, Lara Costello. Immediately following the ceremony, tragedy occurs.
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. 4 stars.
I read this from a recommendation on Bookreporter. The book reveals the travails of ancient womanhood.
A Gathering of Angels by Katherine Valentine. 4 stars.
Food for thought involving miracles.
The Time of Our Singing by Richard Powers. 5 stars.
Insight into the difficulties of interracial marriage. An excellent read.
Bjglu@aol.com
Old School by Tobias Wolff. 4 stars.
A first novel by a first-rate nonfiction author.
Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman by Elizabeth Buchan. 4 stars.
I was expecting a biting comedy a la The First Wives Club. But this is so much better. Honest and true with a somewhat ambiguous ending. I wish I knew the main character.
Enoughkath@aol.com
The Georgetown Ladies' Social Club by C. David Heymann. 4 stars.
Baudolino by Umberto Eco. 3 stars.
Not my kind of read; a little confusing.
yvettemb@earthlink.net
Recently I read A Farewell to Legs by New Jersey writer Jeffrey Cohen. This is a 5-star read mainly because it made me laugh out loud. Not an easy thing to do. This is the second in the Aaron Tucker series that began with the equally funny For Whom the Minivan Rolls last year. This is one of the few mysteries set in New Jersey and Cohen "gets" the absurdity of the suburbs just about right. His "detective" Aaron Tucker is a freelance magazine writer and stay-at-home dad in charge of after-school activities for his two kids, while his wife, the lawyer, earns the main family income. One of the kids, the boy, has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, but Cohen never pours on the sentiment. Aaron deals with this and all the other problems that come his way with a good-natured dose of irony. I love this series.
bab@tennis.com
Neither Here Nor There by Bill Bryson. 5 stars.
A hilarious and entertaining book written about this author's travels throughout Europe. Wit, humor and great stories abound in this fantastic and amusing book. Everyone would enjoy it.
Gfwebpge@aol.com
The Bond Unbroken by Diana Grayson, available from New Concepts Publishing.
It's a 5 big stars time travel. Thorough research, great writing style, factually accurate and a fun read.
sue.thompson@ctdi.com
I just finished reading The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer by Ridley Pearson. It was a big waste of my time. I thought the whole book was just plain silly. I think if Ridley wanted people to think it was a diary from the early 1900s, he could have put a little more effort into writing it that way. It reads too much like a novel, and not a very good one! I don't know if I can even give it a star. Maybe 1 star. If you see it on the shelf at the library, just walk past it.
amanda_turnock@charter.net
Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews. 4 stars.
It's hard to classify this entertaining book. It's a rollicking good whodunit mystery, as well as first rate Southern fiction full of the lush beauty (and a few lushes) of Savannah, GA and, not least, an interesting look at the life of a strong, independent, funny woman surrounded by eccentric, amusing friends and a few foes. The characters are very well detailed and true to their Southern heritage.
The main plot revolves around a thirtysomething, newly divorced, formerly wealthy divorcee who received the couple's detached garage in her bitter divorce fight over the historic townhouse she had picked out and decorated a few years previously as the couple's love nest. Instead of throwing up her hands in defeat to her business savvy ex-husband, she chooses to turn the carriage house into her home, and insists on doing what she loves for a living (buying great deals at estate sales and turning a profit on her terrific finds --- her mother calls her a junk picker). I like to think of this book as a pretty antique oil painting. Beautiful on the surface, but remove the canvas from the frame and discover a priceless treasure hidden underneath. This is a rich, multi-layered book, and is one of the best first novels I have read in many years.
askinsjp@earthlink.net
I just finished No Angel by Penny Vincenzi. Pretty good but it kind of dragged on in spots. Too much information that was not necessary. 3 stars.
I'm now reading Going to Bend by Diane Hammond, about two women friends and their hard lives. 4 stars.
I have John Grisham's newest, The Last Juror, waiting on my table. That one's next. I can't wait to start it.
SueOB@aol.com
The Red Hat Club by Haywood Smith. 4 stars.
Five women, friends since high school, are still best friends 35 years later. When one of the women suspects her husband of cheating, the friends decide to catch him in the act. A wonderful book about unconditional friendship (and revenge).
aleach6179@yahoo.com
I just finished reading The Secret Hour by Luanne Rice. It was a very gripping story about a man who is trying to help himself and his children heal from the untimely death of his wife and their mother, and a woman searching for her sister who she believes may have been the victim of a serial killer. I could not put this one down! 5 stars.
pureevil25@yahoo.com
This week I'm reading A Painted House by John Grisham. It's really good. I love his style of writing! I would give it a 4-star rating!
lindaharriet@netzero.net
Apprentice to the Flower Poet Z. by Debra Weinstein. 5 stars.
Annabelle asks, "What is poetry?" over and over again throughout the book. She's been appointed apprentice to the Flower Poet Z. Working with Z, Annabelle hopes her question will be answered. Instead, she learns about treachery, infidelity, tyrannical behavior and a dysfunctional family, the truth about Z's life and poetry. Z crosses the line and uses Annabelle's poetry as her own. When Annabelle is no longer Z's apprentice, she asks her for a letter of recommendation. Z sends her a blank page with only her signature. Once again, Annabelle is expected to write Z's words. What will she do? Knowing Annabelle, she writes the letter and then stores it away. She'll make it as a poet on her own. "What is poetry?" I think Annabelle knows the answer now. This book is written with a comedic flair and it reveals the difference between ambition and remaining true to oneself.
jalocke@comcast.net
The setting for City of Light is the early 1900s, burgeoning Buffalo, New York, the hometown of the author, Lauren Belfer. Infused with the excitement of the development of Niagara Falls, one of the greatest hydropower projects in the USA, there are factions that desire to control the distribution of electrical power… i.e. industrial vs. public usage. Rights activists attempt to protect the amount of water that the upper echelon may use for power purposes vs. for the natural beauty of the area and the public good. The elite use money, power and position to control the cast of characters represented in this historical novel. The activists use public rallies as well as secretive, physically destructive means to gain attention to their cause.
The Pan-Am Exposition is a primary historical event revolving around glory, greed, recognition, partnerships and the future of Buffalo NY, Niagara Falls and surrounding locations. Narrating character Ms. Louisa Barrett is elected to the position of headmistress to the prestigious Macauley School for Girls, reporting to a powerful board of elite men who back Louisa in her goals for the School. Proud of her protégés, Louisa represents a forward-looking woman who is highly supportive of education for women, instilling high values in Macauley students and its graduates and the paths they choose for their future in the world. Amid suspicious "accidental deaths" of a mysterious nature, the abduction of a Macauley school girl, leaden hands of control over Thomas Sinclair (head of the hydropower project), secrets of Ms. Louisa Barrett and her connections with Gloria Sinclair and Gloria's deceased mother Margaret Sinclair, racial prejudices combined with political plays and maneuvers for power are inherent and rampant.
City of Light contains moments of joy and triumph with much despair, sadness and tragedy. The author's talent of elegance in writing with finesse touches the emotions, with eloquence and historical knowledge, and is the prime positive factor of this novel. Author Belfer's ability to vividly describe the locations, scenes, scenery and resolve of the cast of characters persuades the reader to complete this tome to its ending, discovering justice unabated throughout the story. The author provides intelligent, informative facts of research representing events and the nonfictional personages who played a part in the role of rights, politics, progress and power. Among the historical cast are journalist Nellie Bly; President (Stephen) Grover Cleveland; Thomas Edison; President William McKinley; Vice President, then President Theodore Roosevelt; the famous Frederick Law Olmstead (landscaper-designer of Buffalo NY Parks, the well-known Manhattan NYC Central Park, plus other sites); rich and powerful magnates such as J.P. Morgan; and Mary Talbert (African-American rights activist). The Macauley School for Girls is a fictional name for the still existent Buffalo Seminary, Buffalo, NY. The attempted assassination of President McKinley and his subsequent death is dutifully recorded.
This reader is proud to have absorbed this novel, only regretting that it took so long to pull the 1999 publication off the shelf from within a plethora of tomes beckoning to be read. It is truly a writing that embraces the senses and emotions of the cast members, finding their demeanor truly human.
jalocke@comcast.net
The Cider House Rules by John Irving. 5 stars.
The movie was seen a few years back. Very good, excellent actors represented the characters. The book is a lot more involved, with more in-depth events in the story that are left out of the movie. However, readers are missing out on a lot of John Irving's writing talent if they don't read the book. A reader gets to know Irving's players in a way not many authors create and allow the reader to absorb them. Some readers put the book in a negative light by stating that the characters and issues are unrealistic. Whoa! That is definitely NOT the case. The issues existed then as they exist now and are in our sight always.
The setting is the State of Maine, an orphanage named St. Cloud's. The story centers on Dr. Wilbur Larch and orphan Homer Wells, and the relationship of their bonding. All characters deserve and are allowed compassion with understanding. Subplots are woven gracefully into the story, assisting the main essence of the theme. John Irving gives credence to issues in The Cider House Rules: abortion, friendship, family, love, loyalty, humor to laugh to and tears to cry with. Irving has become one of my top ten favorite authors. He was born in Exeter, NH, resides in NY and has also authored Hotel New Hampshire and The World According to Garp. This reader predicts that Irving's writings will be remembered on the bookshelves in future years among the "classic" writers.
Jewelry224@aol.com
One Door Away from Heaven by Dean Koontz. 4 stars.
I have always been a big fan of Koontz, but the last few of his books I feel have not been so good. However, One Door Away from Heaven is fascinating. It catches your attention from the very beginning. It has three different main characters and story lines that all come together in the end of the book. I'm not a big believer in aliens but did find this book good.
MPlo945872@aol.com
I have just finished reading We Must Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. This book is a must-read. While it is fictional, it will utterly amaze you at how nonfictional it reads. This is truly a book that will have the hair on your arms standing. The characters are driven together by the greatest of tragedies. 5 stars.
Debby236@aol.com
I am currently reading Divided in Death by JD Robb. This is a fantastic addition to her series about a detective in the future. I give this books 5 stars.
Vikkivand@aol.com
The Way the Crow Flies by Ann Marie McDonald. 3 stars.
I thought the writing was good and the story kept me interested for a while. The book was way too long with what I thought was unnecessary detail. I'm sorry to say that I got bored after getting halfway and had to stop. I wished that there had been less detail and more staying to the plot. Keep a French to English dictionary on your nightstand because there are too many French words, which made it hard for me to get through.
The Female of the Species by Lionel Shriver. 5 stars.
I think this was one of the author's earlier novels before We Need to Talk About Kevin. Once again, I love how this author develops the characters in her stories.
The Third Child by Marge Piercy. 3 stars.
This is the story of a politician's daughter who becomes romantically involved with an African-American student at her college. His father was executed while the politician was governor, and the student uses the daughter to access information that will bring the politician down. Melissa was really an irritating character.
Last Call by Laura Pedersen. 2 1/2 stars.
A scotch drinking Scotsman and a former cloistered nun dying of cancer find love. There were some funny parts, but overall it was just too unrealistic and religious for my taste.
JerJanKel@aol.com
I finished Angels & Demons by Dan Brown (I was hooked in by The Da Vinci Code) and, although it ultimately focused on a different religious theory, was too much like The Da Vinci Code for me to give it a big score --- maybe if I had read it first I would have the scores reversed, as it was a good read. I give it a 3 1/2 stars.
The other two books in the series I just finished were The Last Jihad and The Last Days by Joel Rosenberg. Not impressed with either --- too little character development and too many action scenes, but it will probably make a fairly decent television Movie of the Week. I give the two-book series 3 stars.
Marric77@aol.com
Closer Than She Thinks by Meryl Sawyer. 4 stars.
A great suspense that kept me guessing until the end. If you have never read this author, give her a try.
Mlauerba@aol.com
Late for the Wedding by Amanda Quick. 3 stars.
An okay read; the surprise ending redeemed it.
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner. 5 stars.
Great writing, description and story. I can see why he won the Pulitzer Prize in 1972.
Mab21080@aol.com
Dark Paradise by Tami Hoag. 5 stars.
All of her novels I have read, including Dark Paradise, have one thing in common: the description of her characters is unbelievable. She brings you in to the story and keeps you right from the beginning because of her characters. You think you know each character very well until you get to the end. She keeps you guessing but then surprises you every time. This novel is very easy to read and has a good flow to it.
The Perfect Husband by Lisa Gardner. 4 stars.
All of her novels that I have read are what I would call a quick read. Her character description and setting information are good, but she doesn't waste any time. From the first page she grabs you and takes you right to the end. The plot is simpler and easier to read than some others, but it is very exciting and suspenseful.
sokstad@netscape.net
A Superior Death by Nevada Barr. 5 stars.
Nevada Barr writes mystery novels, all set in National Parks or Forests. In addition to a good thriller, you also can learn a lot about the area where the story takes place.
clschomer@dmci.net
I have just finished The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant. The plot kept me reading because I wanted to know who the artist was. I was disappointed when I found the identity because it could not have happened. I like my historical fiction to be based on facts.
JerJanKel@aol.com
One of the most satisfying reads I have had in a long time and completely unexpected because I had never heard of this author, Jim Kokoris, and The Rich Part of Life. I absolutely loved it --- I just hated for this book to end. He has a new book out now that I can't wait to read in hopes it's just as good! I give it a big 5 stars.
Spizzyone@aol.com
I just finished a book that I heard about here. It is called Queen Bee of Mimosa Branch by Haywood Smith, and I'd give it 5 stars. It was so enjoyable. It is about a 50-year-old woman who is in financial dire straits after an ugly divorce and moves back home to live with her parents after being out of their house for 30 years. Her parents are 80-ish and are real characters, as are an aging aunt and uncle who also live there. It is a story about real girlfriends, coming to terms with one's self and putting the past where it belongs. The story takes place down south, and it is heartwarming --- funny from beginning to end. I really didn't want it to end.
lslott@optonline.net
Cry No More by Linda Howard. 3 stars.
This book was a bit of a letdown. The plot of a baby stealing ring starts off with a "bang" and never goes very far. Milla Edge is a woman whose infant son Justin is stolen from her shortly after his birth. From that point on she is a changed woman, spending all her time and money in the pursuit of not only her child, but many missing persons all over the country. When she is suddenly given some clues that may lead to her child, she hooks up with a quasi vigilante/government agent named Diaz. Along the way to solving the mystery of Justin's disappearance, Diaz and Milla fall in love.
While the initial story line is compelling, the final comeuppance of the "villains" is anticlimactic and is dealt with in about one sentence. The Diaz and Milla love story was highly improbable, with too many loose ends and not enough development of the bad guys, who seem to suddenly disappear completely from the book.
I enjoy Linda Howard's books in general, but she has written better ones than this.
tfranzen2124@comcast.net
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier. 3 stars.
A pleasant, lightweight read that nicely takes you to another place and time. It gently allows the reader to imagine one's own self in this predicament and then admire the uniqueness of human creation.
The Honey Thief by Elizabeth Graver. 3 stars.
This book was recommended by a friend because I gave her Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees (5 stars) a few months ago. Both use beekeeping as a look at society and tell good stories around it, but if you only want to read one bee book, definitely go with The Secret Life of Bees. That is so richly textured, so beautifully southern that it remains a must-read.
Catslady5@aol.com
He Said Yes by Patricia Waddell. 2 1/2 stars.
Just a light romantic read for those times when you don't want to think.
cable854@earthlink.net
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon!
Although published a while ago, I began this series of historical novels and cannot put it down. This is mystery, fiction, romance, thriller, horror and sci-fi all-in-one and fabulously written. A definite read for voracious readers. I just attended a book signing of Gabaldon's in Durham, NC and discovered she is adding two additional books to this series. The crowd was ecstatic at this discovery. If you want to get lost in a book, the Outlander books are the ones to read.
Before reading Outlander, I read In Her Shoes and Good In Bed by Jennifer Weiner. Another pager-turner set of books. I highly recommend both of these excellent and funny novels. Every woman over a size 12 should make it her goal to read Jennifer Weiner's books. I loved them.
harrises@bayou.com
The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst. 5 stars.
For some reason I loved this book. I can't really explain it, but anyone who has gone through the grieving process of losing a spouse can relate to the way the husband feels.
Swan Place by Augusta Trobaugh. 5 stars.
If you liked The Secret Life of Bees, then read this book. It's Southern and funny and heartwarming all wrapped in one title.
ALEMESH@aol.com
I just finished One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It is one I would not have picked up except it was recommended by Oprah. I had read Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton and loved it, and could certainly see similarities between South Africa and its treatment of the disenfranchised and our similar problems in America. But back to One Hundred Years of Solitude. I had heard of the mystical realism of Latin American writing before but had never read much of it, except for Allende, who I like tremendously and find easy to read. But One Hundred Years of Solitude was a difficult read. Even knowing of the allegories and symbolism within the novel, I must admit, I referred to SparkNotes when I finished the novel to fill in the parts I did not totally understand. It is certainly not like any other book I have ever read.
5 stars for Cry, The Beloved Country and 3 stars for One Hundred Years of Solitude.
smleonetti@msn.com
Pompeii by Robert Harris.
If all historical fiction was this well researched and written, we would all be a lot more informed.
mcq.bmcq@verizon.net
Book Finds by Ian C. Ellis. 4 stars.
Great book --- would be 5 stars if revised to 2004 information.
Rory & Ita by Roddy Doyle. 5 stars. Outstanding.
East is East by T.Coraghessan Boyle. 5 stars. A great book.
Angel of Light by Joyce Carol Oates. 4 stars. Very good.
What You Owe Me by Bebe Moore Campbell. 4 stars. An excellent novel.
hibar14@earthlink.net
Daddy's Little Girl by Mary Higgins Clark. 5 stars.
This is another great book by Clark. It kept me awake way past my bedtime last night!
tiffani_ba@hotmail.com
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. 5 stars.
A suspenseful and fascinating mystery novel about a modern search for the Holy Grail and the truth about Christianity.
Daughter of the Forest by Julliet Marillier. 4 stars.
A novel based on the Swans myth. Set in Ireland and England, it is the first in the Sevenwaters trilogy. After a sorceress turns her six brothers into swans, their little sister Sorcha must undertake an almost impossible ordeal to free them.
Rrrcaron@aol.com
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. 5 stars!
What a book. It gave me a whole new outlook on things that could have happened while Jesus was here on earth. The suspense grips you from the start and doesn't end until you have read the last page. The use of secret coding was phenomenal, as well as secret messaging in Art. The Da Vinci Code is a must-read for readers of all genres. You get a little bit of everything in this book!
BREEZYWRITER@aol.com
Flight Lessons by Patricia Gaffney. 4 stars.
Another great women's relationship book from Gaffney. Easy reading and well written.
Bberrycrk@aol.com
Blue Jelly by Debby Bull is an interesting book about how the author comforted herself with canning after her boyfriend dumped her. Full of canning recipes. 4 stars.
A Dog's Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me by Jon Katz. 4 stars.
Running to the Mountain by Jon Katz. 4 stars.
Grandmareadme@aol.com
I am reading the book Islands by Anne Rivers Siddons and it is a great book. I also just finished The Hot Flash Club by Nancy Thayer. It is a book about the power of female friendship and how important women can be to each other in the middle part of their lives.
nmdicke2@datasync.com
Michael Punke's The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge (Carroll & Graf Publishers, 2002) is without question the best book I've read in several years. From 1823-1824 a fur-trader, savagely mauled by a grizzly bear and left without his rifle, knife or even his fire-making implements, begins crawling through unexplored Indian territory to get even with the men who left him to die. A smooth, captivating writing style with only one minor typographical error. A perfect book!
mariel@fast.net
A Cold Heart by Jonathan Kellerman. 4 1/2 stars
Mystery revolving around a serial killer. Good plot development and interesting characters. Worth reading.
simpson_490@hotmail.com
The two books I'm reading this week are the following:
The Mulberry Tree by Jude Deveraux. 5 stars.
A great book.
The Miracle of Change by Dennis Wholey. 5 stars.
Also a very good book, with great ideas to change things within yourself.
jswsaw@greenapple.com
As We Are Now by May Sarton.
This book tells the story of Caroline Spencer, a 76-year-old former school teacher, mentally alert but physically frail, who is moved by her brother into a private nursing home. It is a haunting story of the helplessness and humiliation so often suffered in such places. It is a sad tale with a fitting end, a book that everyone should read.
Newcrain@aol.com
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. 5 stars.
I had read The Poisonwood Bible by Kingsolver, but this one is much more enjoyable. Great nature analogies and insights. Great characterization of small-town Appalachia.
LindaC955@aol.com
I just read two really wonderful novels, both debut works:
The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters by Elisabeth Robinson
A book about sisters, family, choices and consequences. It's written in letter format, but don't let that throw you; by the end of the book, you know those characters so well. She is a great new writer to keep watching. I will certainly read her next book.
The Song Reader by Lisa Tucker.
This book also has the theme of sisters but is more of a coming-of-age book. Very well written. I had both my teenage daughters read it after I did, and we all enjoyed it very much. I will be reading her next work as well.
Margie.Bunting@Siemens.com
The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon. 5 stars.
I read this book for a science fiction book club, and although I'm not an avid SF reader, this is the best book (of 20) I've read this year. In the future, a high-functioning autistic man has the chance to become "normal," but will it change his life in ways he can't accept?
Last Call by Laura Pedersen. 3 stars.
A man dying of cancer and a younger nun --- also dying --- hook up and celebrate life at the end of their days. The man's grandson goes along for the ride. Engaging, but somehow it doesn't hang together well.
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. 4 stars.
Still reading this lovely story, translated from German, about a man who haphazardly brings people and things out of books by reading them aloud. Unfortunately, one such incident led to losing his wife into the book and bringing out some unsavory characters who come back to haunt him and his family. Written for children, but may appeal to adults who enjoy reading Harry Potter books.
Norbles@aol.com
Le Divorce by Diane Johnson. 3 stars.
The Ditchdigger's Daughters by Yvonne S. Thornton, M.D. 3 stars.
Loveajoy@aol.com
A Slow Walk to Hell by Patrick A. Davis. 4 stars.
Fbower444@aol.com
I am currently reading Liberty by Stephen Coonts. I give it 5 stars.
This is another in Coonts's series with hero Jake Grafton. His stories featuring Grafton started with Flight of the Intruder, which was about Grafton as a young naval officer flying fighters from carriers into North Vietnam. In the current story, Grafton is an Admiral and has been tabbed by the President to help defend Washington and other east coast cities against use of tactical nuclear weapons by the terrorists. Besides Grafton, this tale involves a number of characters from previous stories.
Coonts's story emerged from the aftermath of 9/11 and was published in 2003.
rstruthers@rogers.com
The Crossword Connection by Nero Blanc. 3 stars.
This is a well written novel. It is fun and clever with a few crossword puzzles throughout the pages.
Dana_Cherrier@commerce.state.il.us
I am reading Dating Dead Men by Harley Jane Kozak because I read a lot of great reviews of it. I love it! Evanovich-like, yet not a copy cat. 5 stars.
marychambers@yahoo.com
Fool's Gold by Stephen Bly. 5 stars.
Bucking the Sun by Ivan Doig. 2 stars.
Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry. 5 stars.
Hawksmoor by Peter Ackroyd. 1 star.
One False Move by Harlan Coben. 5 stars.
House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III. 4 stars.
This is the second time I read this. I didn't like it the first time. I had a more solid sense of the characters this time.
The Quiet Game by Greg Iles. 3 stars.
The Mark of the Assassin by Daniel Silva. 4 stars.
Blessings by Anna Quindlen. 5 stars.
PFLucas@aol.com
Life Sentence by David Ellis. 5 stars.
This is a second novel for Ellis, his first Line of Vision won an Edgar Allan Poe Award. Life Sentence grabs your attention in the first few lines and keeps you reading on and on. There is a little bit of everything: courtroom drama, politics, scandal and murder mystery. Be prepared for an interesting ending.
jimrene2@juno.com
Quentins by Maeve Binchy. 4 stars.
I really enjoyed this novel but liked Tara Road by the same author better than this one.
Britadon@aol.com
Holy Fools by Joanne Harris. 5 stars.
Another excellent book by the author of Chocolat and Five Quarters of the Orange. She writes with such a lyrical voice and I was privileged to hear her speak and read from this book, and she is just as fascinating in person. Highly recommend, this novel is set in a convent off the coast of France in the early 17th century. The characters are complex and compelling, and the ending is very imaginative.
Ultimate Punishment by Scott Turow. 4 stars.
Nonfiction, so it is a bit difficult to rate for me. Turow writes an indictment of the death penalty in a short book that gives you something to think about. However, it was just a bit difficult for me to follow at times.
A Faint Cold Fear by Karen Slaughter. 2 stars.
Okay, but not wonderful. Actually, with so many excellent books out, I probably would not recommend bothering with this one.
Private Scandals by Nora Roberts. 4 stars.
Enjoyable light romance/mystery reading.
bradylee@myway.com
MR. S: My Life with Frank Sinatra by George Jacobs and William Stadiem. 5 stars.
This is one of the best Hollywood gossip books ever as the author was Sinatra's valet, cook and right hand, and was privy to everything that Sinatra thought and did. You will learn much about Hollywood celebrities and how they relate to each other. Mr. S. led a fascinating life, but was frustrated many a time --- just like you and me. A wonderful, wonderful read...if you like gossip.
Sing Me to Heaven: The Story of a Marriage by Margaret Kim Peterson. 4 stars.
This story is heavy and complex on the one hand, yet compelling and enlightening on the other. It is truly a love story with the admixture of barbed wire and rotting fence posts. We have a boy and a girl desperately lonely, unable to find a mate in the beginning stages of just OK. Then Margaret and Hyung Goo met and the fireworks started. The complication from the beginning was that Hyung Goo had AIDS. This is the couple's story of how their love grew while keeping Hyung Goo alive. You learn a lot about the treatment for AIDS and where friends and faith come into play. If you read this book, you will get all wrapped up in their story!
Passing for Thin: Losing Half My Weight and Finding My Self by Frances Kuffel. 4 stars.
I enjoy food a lot, but nothing like the author. If you read this book you will discover that for her, food is as addicting as heroin or hashish or ??? Frances has given us an interesting story with details of eating on the sly and planning forays of how to get food into her room without her parents knowing. At approximately age 40 she found a program that worked for her in losing weight, and the story of her accomplishments is great reading. Like an alcoholic, she knows she can fall off the wagon with the snap of a finger and gain 10 pounds almost instantly. Anyone wanting to lose weight should read this book. Oh yes ... if you don't need to lose weight, you should also read this book; it's really good!
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. 4 stars.
Every once in a while, you read a lilting sentence that bounces into your consciousness, like "Moments later shadows moved like spatter paint along the walls..." "But the bees remained there, like planes on a runway not knowing they'd been cleared for takeoff" or "The night seemed like an inkblot I had to figure out." This is a well written story that keeps your interest throughout, and reading other comments by Word of Mouthers, many agree. There is emotion galore here and the ending is most satisfying.
Losing My Faculties: A Teacher's Story by Brendan Halpin. 4 stars.
If you have any kind of interest in teaching children or have a yen to read a good memoir of a young man searching for the "right" job in teaching, then you should read this book. It is a good one that "tells it like it is." Brendan was brought up in Boston and he wants to get a teaching job in the inner city right after graduating from college. Read about his troubles in finding that job and what he has to do to reach his goal. You will rush through this volume to find out what happens next.
Iron & Silk: A Young American Encounters Swordsmen, Bureaucrats and Other Citizens of Contemporary China by Mark Salzman. 5 stars.
I just discovered Mr. Salzman with this book and you may be assured I will read his others. He is just fantastic. This is his narrative/memoir during a two-year period in the early 1980s where he goes to China (he already knows the language and a martial art) to teach English to medical students at a university. While there he learns a lot from the local citizenry, and you should be amazed and learn also the way to concentration and never giving up while reaching a goal. Chinese society is so different from ours; you will enjoy this book without question.
Powder Burn: Arson, Money, and Mystery on Vail Mountain by Daniel Glick. 3 stars.
This book is all about the founding of Vail, CO [the only town created just for the skiing crowd]. "From its inception in 1962, Vail Associates intended to cater to the wealthiest people in the world..." You discover what happens to a small town primarily run by the home grown merchant when big business buys into ownership and expands, wanting only the elite who can buy their 5 to 20 million dollar homes. Someone burns up five or six major buildings in protest and who did it is never discovered. I knew nothing about this area of our country, and it was interesting to learn of Vail and its environs.
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