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rodgers77@mchsi.com
I finished reading The Murder Stone by Charles Todd last week. One of the best mystery stories I've read in years. The last page made me go back and re-read a few pages and I still kept saying to myself "no way!" Definitely a 5-star read.
kelley899@yahoo.com
I'm currently reading Sit, Stay, Slay by Linda O. Johnston. I'd give it 5 stars so far. It's a simply delightful cozy mystery with very likeable characters and lots of pets.
Bjglu@aol.com
I just finished I Sailed with Magellan by Stuart Dybek, a beautifully written book of short stories, mainly taking place in the '50s and '60s in the Chicago area, but they're universal. 5 stars.
I have an advance reader copy of Simply Unforgettable by Mary Balogh. While I typically don't read romances, this book is well-written and is keeping my interest. Maybe I'll have to try some others! 4 stars.
Melody - Huntington Beach, CA
What made me interested in Jodi Picolut was her book titled My Sister's Keeper, but every time I went to the bookstore to get this book, there weren't any copies available. After reading the summaries of some of her other books, I bought three of them. I just finished reading The Pact. She develops the characters so you think you know them and in some instances maybe dislike some of them. She kept me guessing until the end and I like that. I hate guessing how a story will end. The only thing I was disappointed with was how abruptly the story ended after the verdict.
vnestin@bellsouth.net
Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah. 4 stars.
The memoir of an amazing writer growing up in an incredibly dysfunctional family. Painful to read but impossible to put down.
Tijuana Straits by Kem Nunn. 4 1/2 stars.
A beautifully written literary thriller set in the desolate no man's land along the border between Mexico and California.
Alize55@aol.com
Sideways by Rex Picket. 4 stars.
I finished this book just two days ago and my star-rating went up. The story definitely got better as I continued on. I still would highly recommend it to the male species. HA. I think it had some humor that only guys could understand. It was a lot like Swingers, the movie. One sweet guy who had just recently been divorced and his best friend, a very egotistical self-absorbed womanizing man who is a week away from tying the knot, go on a trip to the wine country in California. Between those two, a few women, lots of wine, and some adventures mixed in … you get a very humorous story. Oh, and if you like wine, this is a must-read. I don't, but I still enjoyed the story despite MUCH wine talk.
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. 4 stars.
I am only about halfway through the book and so far its great. It's heart-wrenching, which most of her books are in one way or another. The characters are great, and you can tell what a wonderful writer she is by the way she intertwines stories and characters. I will be sure to update my review once I am done with the book.
bradylee@myway.com
Irving Berlin: A Daughter's Memoir by Mary Ellin Barrett. Nonfiction. Published in 1994 with 300 pages. 5 stars.
An almost perfect biography that I call a feel-good book where you have that warm, wonderful feeling upon finishing that you have learned much about a most important person with a most normal, loving family. A story that makes you proud of being an American and thankful for men and families like Irving Berlin, with a daughter that tells the details in a most positive way of probably the best songsmith that ever lived...in my opinion. If you like reading about famous, talented people, this is one marvelous reading experience.
dfpursel@concentric.net
Entombed by Linda Fairstein
By a Spider's Thread by Laura Lippman
Donna from New Berlin
I just finished reading a book by a new author for me, Jonathan Nasaw's Twenty-Seven Bones. This book was so thrilling and refreshing I couldn't wait to finish it. It involved serial killers who believed they were carrying on an ancient tradition that would keep them alive and young. It leaves you wondering if it could be true or if they simply believed it to be so and were nothing more than serial killers. I will look for other books by Jonathan Nasaw after this one. 5 stars.
Rickimc@aol.com
Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman. 3 stars.
Adding bits of exposition throughout the story kept me interested. The ending seemed a little far-fetched, though.
Sonia Chopra
I am reading Chris Bohjalian's Water Witches and I am really enjoying it.
He captures the essence of small-town Vermont in a crisp, breezy style but what intrigues me is the fact that he is telling a story about three women --- his wife, his daughter and his sister-in-law --- who share the family gift of finding water. They can find hidden springs and wells, therefore they are "witches."
It's harder enough to depict the world through the eyes of one woman and he is doing it for three different women.
He is also balancing a volatile issue of environment with the tangled legal issue of being an attorney representing a big business that will bring big business and jobs and prosperity yet will cut down trees and use a lot of water.
It's brilliantly written and I can't wait to see how it will all play out.
tiffani_ba@hotmail.com
I'm currently reading Alexandra: The Last Tsarina by Carolly Erickson. It is a detailed, intimate look at Russian Empress Alexandra's life. Tragic and touching. 4 stars.
fochler@erols.com
Rosie Dunne by Cecelia Ahearn. 4 stars.
Very well written. Interesting story.
A Blessed Event by Jean Reynolds Page. 4 1/2 stars.
Very interesting story. Lots of questions about surrogacy are raised. This is one I couldn't put down.
Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews. 4 stars.
Another very funny "Chick Lit" story. She catches her fiance having sex at their wedding rehearsal and has a very old-fashioned southern Hissy Fit. Very funny.
tomjac0850@charter.net
I am currently reading The Charm School by Nelson DeMille. I thought that books about conflicts between the old USSR and the USA involving the KGB would be outdated and uninteresting, given the fact that the USSR has been dissolved and the Cold War is over. To my surprise, The Charm School is a fascinating book, full of suspense that is as readable as it must have been during the Cold War. The characters are very real, as is the evil of the KGB, the real ruler of Russia. Every time I put this book down, I find myself picking it up 10 minutes later to read another few chapters. Once again, Nelson DeMille has outdone himself. 5 stars.
myrtleme@sbcglobal.net
I just finished Compulsion by Keith Ablow, a pretty good book that I really got into. 4 stars.
Kim in Boston
Alone by Lisa Gardner. 4 stars.
Gripping suspense, loaded with interesting details about police snipers. This is a fast-paced crime novel that will have you guessing until the end.
Sandn2shoes@aol.com
I really wanted to like One for the Money by Janet Evanovich...everyone I know loves this series. Unfortunately, I did not. I found a few humorous lines in an otherwise trite storyline. I know that humor is subjective...what may have me laughing (like Fatherhood by Bill Cosby) may have others falling asleep. Well, Evanovich's first Stephanie Plum novel did that to me. Snore, snore. Maybe a 1/2 star?? I felt this way about the Mitford series too! I know I am in the minority on this.
MAP5402@aol.com
I just finished Survivor in Death by J.D. Robb last weekend. I'm a big fan of this series and this one lives up to my expectations. The stories are always predictable but still fun to read. The characters are developing nicely. Just a really good read. 5 stars.
A Killing Rain by P.J. Parrish is the latest in this series. I have to say this series just gets better and better with each book. I highly recommend them all. 5 stars.
mary2751@yahoo.com
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. 5 stars.
I found this fascinating for the picture of life in Afghanistan, and I became totally engrossed with the characters.
A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell. 5 stars.
As a fan of The Sparrow, I jumped at the chance to hear Russell speak several years ago; at one point she described the new book she was working on, and I've been waiting for it ever since. It's been worth the wait.
Dorothy from Calgary
The Tale of Hilltop Farm by Susan Wittig Albert. 4 stars.
This is a departure from Susan's usual detective stories. It is set in rural England around 1905, and features Beatrix Potter as the main character. If you like stories about life in a small village with a mystery and talking animals, then you will enjoy this. I am looking forward to more in this series.
Bloodlines by Jan Burke. 5 stars.
This is the latest in the Irene Kelly, intrepid reporter, series and spans a period of about 40 years, with a great mystery and wonderful characters. A great read, as always from this author.
suntee@aol.com
Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal is for anyone who loves lists, is curious about anagrams, and/or wonders about the minutiae of life and our somewhat idiotic daily existence. She is witty, clever and sees things pretty much the way I do but she can write it all down and make it sound funny. If you've ever had a good friend who hated a movie that you loved, or vice versa, this is the book for you. Like Ya-Ya clubs started a few years ago, I'm waiting for EOL clubs to start forming around the country.
Patricia Askins
The Vanishing Moon by Joseph Coulson
Right As Rain by Bev Marshall
GerryD8784@aol.com
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell. 4 stars.
Very readable and interesting discussion of the power of the "adaptive unconscious," the intuitive ability through which we often "know" more than we realize. Gladwell makes a good case that in some circumstances first impressions and snap judgments can be more accurate and valuable than carefully thought-out decisions based on a lot of data.
The Covenant by Naomi Ragen. 4 1/2 stars.
Four Auschwitz survivors, having made a Covenant in the concentration camp to do whatever they needed to do in order to protect one another and live good lives, are reunited when the husband and daughter of one of their granddaughters are kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists.
Entombed by Linda Fairstein. 3 stars.
This mystery incorporated a lot of information about the life and writings of Edgar Allan Poe and gave me a chance to learn a lot I didn't know about this classic American author. Somehow it lost steam toward the end, though, as one of two main sub-plots was given short shrift and the other wrapped up too quickly and neatly.
Trans-Sister Radio by Christopher Bohjalian. 5 stars.
A small town in Vermont is shaken when a respected female elementary school teacher falls in love with a man who reveals he is on his way to becoming a woman, and the two continue their relationship after the gender reassignment surgery. Narrated from the differing perspectives of the male-to-female transsexual, the female lover, her ex-husband, and their college-age daughter, Trans-Sister Radio explores gender and sex roles, and makes an initially bizarre situation feel surprisingly "normal." His characters are so realistic, and so completely sympathetic, that I couldn't help but wish for a resolution that could somehow leave everyone happy despite their difficult circumstances.
Another Bullshit Night in Suck City by Nick Flynn. 4 stars.
In his memoir of his father --- an alcoholic, often homeless ex-con, and would-be writer --- and of his own life-long struggle to come to terms with his mother's suicide and his father's emotional and financial non-support, poet Nick Flynn has created a deeply moving and thought-provoking portrayal of homelessness and of a segment of society most of us prefer not to acknowledge. Interesting coincidence: both Flynn and Divakaruni (below) teach at the University of Houston.
Queen of Dreams by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. 5 stars.
This novel was wondrous in both its style and its story! Queen of Dreams is the story of a young Indian-American woman, daughter of a dream-teller, who has tried all her life to understand and become like her mysterious mother. It is only after her mother's death that she is able to learn something of her mother's life and to reconnect with her father as well, a man she's long spurned as irrelevant. Highly recommended.
The Broker by John Grisham. 1 star.
The premise of this novel turned me off, and I eventually put it aside without finishing it. The CIA arranges for a lame-duck president to pardon a crooked lobbyist, then sets him up to be killed by leaking his whereabouts to governments suspected of wanting him dead. Though I've read all of Grisham's previous books, and enjoyed many of them, I'm realizing I no longer have any interest in or time for tales of sleazy politicians and their ilk. There are too many good books waiting to be read to waste my time on this one.
Windfalls by Jeanne Hegland. 4 1/2 stars.
Two young women are each faced with a difficult decision due to unplanned pregnancy. Neither of their choices is without consequence, and when their lives intersect many years later, each has something important to offer the other, as a result of the choices they made and the persons they became as a result.
tunaross@nc.rr.com
The 3-Hour Diet by Jorge Cruise. 4 stars. (Available 4/2005)
To me, this book is much more than a diet guide. It addresses resetting your metabolism. We all know that as we age our metabolism begins to slow down and work against us. By eating on a 3-hour schedule, you can reset your metabolism to work for you. Utilizing the proper balance of calories, fat, protein and fiber, your goal is to lose up to two pounds a week without counting calories, starving yourself until you binge or excluding the foods you love. The book contains a helpful daily journal section that includes a record of your food plan, an inspirational quote, diet tips and a success visualization. It motivates with diet success stories and tips from people who were successful, an exercise plan (although exercise is not required) and lots of sample recipes. In addition to losing weight, I feel better than I have in a long time --- acid reflux is diminishing, I have more energy, etc. At last I found a nice, gentle diet I can live with.
mbunting@sbcglobal.net
The Vanished Priestess by Meredith Blevins. 4 stars.
If you haven't discovered Blevins yet (her first was The Hummingbird Wizard), give her a try. Her literary mysteries about a widowed woman who married into a family of gypsies --- eccentric characters, all --- are a cut above the usual mystery fare.
Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear. 4 stars.
This is the second in Winspear's series about a girl who overcomes her impoverished background to go to college, serve as a nurse in the war, and become a private investigator --- with almost supernatural instincts --- in the 1930s. I found this entry to be even better than Maisie Dobbs, which was shortlisted for a number of mystery awards.
The Burnt Orange Sunrise by David Handler. 4 stars.
I love Handler's mysteries about NY film critic Mitch Berger, who has now settled in the country, and his lover, small-town policewoman Desiree Mitry. A brief, interesting read.
The Hot Flash Club Strikes Again by Nancy Thayer. 4 stars.
The followup to Thayer's The Hot Flash Club (of course), this book revisits the 50+ ladies who have become friends and co-workers/owners of a day spa, "The Haven," and adds three younger ladies and their problems. Not rocket science, but a pleasant read, especially if you happen to be a woman "of a certain age."
tfranzen2124@comcast.net
Used to be I would stick with a book no matter what. But I agree with the heart of something I read on Bookreporter.com: so many books, too little time. So if 50 pages don't engage me, I quit. Such is the sad truth with Mark Leyner's The Tetherballs of Bougainville. (1 star, because someone probably likes it.) I ultimately gave it away. To a stranger. (they liked the cover)
bencanada1@yahoo.com
Windfallen by JoJo Moyes. 5 stars.
A stunning masterpiece of a novel set in England after World War II. Excellent descriptive passages that give us an exceptional look into this beach town and the populace. Characters who are vivid and realistic and whose lives we share. Pathos and empathy galore.
joswood@msn.com
The Blue Hour by T. Jefferson Parker. 4 stars.
I have now read several of Parker's books and I really like them. This is a book about a serial killer but told with many twists and turns. I will look for other books by this author.
Hostile Witness by William Lashner. 5 stars.
I loved this book about a lawyer named Victor Carol and his first big case involving extortion and murder charges against a city councilman and his aide. Victor is one of the most likeable characters that I have met in a long time. This is also the first book in a series about this lawyer. There was so much depth and "meat" to this book that I could hardly put it down. It was about 600 pages, but the pages just flew by because it is just so well-written.
Puppet by Joy Fielding. 4 stars.
Bitter memories of her mother and of her childhood have plagued Amanda Travis all her life. She gets an unexpected phone call from her ex-husband in Toronto telling her that her mother has just been arrested for murder. Amanda goes to Toronto to see what is going on. There is a strong mix of romance and suspense that makes for great reading. I have also enjoyed Fielding's other books.
mccoy_bonnie@mchsi.com
I finished reading Body Double by Tess Gerritsen. Oh man was it great. I love all of her books. Each one is a one-night read for me. You just can't put it down. 4 stars.
Blow Fly by Patricia Cornwell lived up to the standards of all other Scarpetta novels. I absolutely love the books. I have about 3/4 of them in my own collection that I reread over and over. This book was just as good as all the others. You just feel like you know the characters. Blow Fly is so well-written you find yourself lost in the story and can't wait to get to the end. It's another one-night read. 5 stars
landis@arm-tek.net
Exile by Alan Folsom is an exquisitely crafted suspense novel that will keep you awake until the very last twist. Included in the complex plot is a vigilante police organization, a "clean" cop, and a serial killer with ties to the Romanov throne. 5 stars.
Fleshmarket Alley by Ian Rankin is the latest in the Inspector Rebus series and I found it to be every bit as good as the others. Rankin's characters are crisp and the writing is flawless. 5 stars.
Whiteout by Ken Follet started out a bit slow, but soon catches you up in the hero's dilemma. A great improvement over Jackdaws. 4 stars.
KKbarash@aol.com
Pearl by Mary Gordon. 4 stars.
I was very excited about the publication of this book since Final Payments by Gordon, published in 1978, was one of the best novels I ever read. Pearl is a well-written novel that explores, among other things, the mother-daughter bond. No matter how close this bond is and how well each thinks she knows the other, do we ever really know one another? This is definitely a worthwhile read, but not the 5-star book Final Payments was.
jackandnicksmom@comcast.net
My book club last month read A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry (5 stars), my all-time favorite book. I followed that up by Ambulance Girl by Jane Stern (1 star). Although I do like true life stories I found this one a little weak. I felt as though it was written for a fourth grade reading class. I am now reading Little Children by Tom Perrotta (so far I am really enjoying it). My book club also chose My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult (it came recommended as a 5-star book).
Marcia from Boston
I have to start my list with my favorite, a remarkable novel by Connie May Fowler. The Problem with Murmer Lee rates a strong and steady 5 stars. It is easy to fall in love with a character like Murmer Lee and all the more wonderful to find her within oneself --- and that is what this lovely book offers the reader. There are exquisitely written scenes and I cannot recommend it enough.
My second choice is The Ha-Ha by Dave King. I have to admit rating this book 4 stars might be a bit harsh because this is an important and beautifully written story. However, it seemed the plot fell apart a bit when the hero acted totally out of character near the end. It wasn't that I disapproved or couldn't understand his behavior but (for me) it seemed just too far removed from how he had handled his stresses before. King's novel is a story of how love happens, the gifts that come from unexplained places, and the hidden loyalties we sometimes cannot see.
Mrs. Kimble by Jennifer Haigh would be another 4-star book. Mr. Kimble is the silent character we learn about through the biographies of each of his three wives. Interesting and entertaining, the reader will enjoy each chapter. However, I found that the first part of the book could easily stand on its own as the story of alcoholism and how it affected a young abandoned mother and her small children. A brave and uncomplicated look at a family in crisis, it tugs at the reader and refuses to allow distraction.
Sismilli@aol.com
Love by Toni Morrison.
Since reading Song of Solomon in college I have been a big admirer of Toni. She is one of the true artists of our times in that she takes such artistic license in her style from book to book. Love is not written in what I like to call a linear style. The point of view varies and the story does not progress from point A to point B in any predictable fashion, but maybe that is symbolic of love. This was a great story with complex characters. It was at times erotic, mysterious, tragic and inspirational. There was so much here to be loved that at times I was frustrated that the writing style made it a little confusing to follow. I would definitely recommend you read it, and my advice is to be patient with the style and go with the flow; it all comes together in the end. Like all Morrison books, this one has stuck with me and haunts my thoughts even now from time to time. 4 stars for this reading. Maybe on the rereading we can crank that up to 5 as I am sure there is much more here to be discovered.
I have always been an absolute nut for children's fiction at all age levels. Recently I ordered two books from Kate DiCamillo from my book club: Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tiger Rising. I was not aware at the time that Winn-Dixie was going to be made into a movie and I must say the trailers look charming but I wonder if it could ever come close to the charm and enchantment of the book. A true delight! I may even read it again today. Great characters, great lessons, great story, great location and the cutest, cutest dog --- how can you miss with all of that? The Tiger Rising is a little big darker in story matter and tone, but if I remember right I shed a few tears in this story of redemption. Basically it is about two misfit kids who desperately need someone to rescue them and how they devote their energies into trying to save a tiger who is as caged up and hopeless as they feel. There is a great story and lesson here about love and redemption and how those things don't always look like what you thought they would when you finally see them. A big 5 stars for both of these.
CindyS2449@aol.com
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. 5 stars +.
I read this first a number of years ago, then read the sequel Children of God. I kept the paperback vowing to read it again because I had enjoyed it and thought I would enjoy gleaning even more from the second reading. I finally decided to try it again via books-on-tape. After my 40 minutes drive to and from work each day, I just wanted to keep driving and listening. The second "read" did not disappoint. In fact, I found it a richer, more meaningful experience the second time around. The story follows a Jesuit priest and his closest friends as they attempt a mission to find the "singers" detected through the SETI project and make contact. I really miss this book "family!"
Windfalls by Jean Heglund. 4 stars.
An intriguing story of two young women and their up and down again lives. I so enjoyed Heglund's first book Into the Forest that I was thrilled to find another. A good read, although I'm not quite finished, her work is always thought-provoking, looking at life choices in a very realistic way.
mbennett32003@earthlink.net
The Pardon by James Grippando 4 1/2 stars.
A fun legal thriller about a killer who is after the attorney and governor who sent an innocent man to the electric chair for the crime he did. He had given the attorney (who is the governor's son) the information (without revealing his own identity) to try to stop the execution, but the governor refused to stop it.
bradylee@myway.com
Lost in America: A Journey With My Father by Sherwin B. Nuland. Nonfiction. Published in 2003 with 212 pages. 4 stars.
This is an autobiography for sure, but also a bio of his father. His dad came from Russia in the early 1900s while a young man (who never did learn English) and was most silent about his family and life while in Russia. Dr. Nuland starts his story by describing his times in an institution while suffering from extreme mental depression and writes well about his experiences. Then the majority of his story is about his life as a young man and his father who leads a very strange way of living, which finally develops a reason of why toward the end of the book. The variety of human experience is endless and this book reveals an unusual chain of life's events to include a strange story indeed...but one that is enveloped with love as you watch a life unfold. A true human drama!
OLTLFREAK@aol.com
Retribution by Jilliane Hoffman. 5 stars.
This is the author's first book, and it was EXCELLENT. It's my number one book of the year so far. Reading it you get so involved in the storyline, and when it's over you want more. I hope she continues to write more!
Aphrodite by Russell Andrews. 4 stars.
It starts out slow, but picks up pace. I liked it.
Marric77@aol.com
Without a Trace, Beyond a Doubt and Into the Deep by Colleen Coble. 5 stars.
This series is awesome. It's inspirational suspense at its best. Now I just have to find out if there will be another book in this series.
susanrjensen@yahoo.com
The Summons by John Grisham. 4 stars.
Two brothers are summoned home by their ailing father to discuss the division of his assets. When Ray Atlee finds his father dead, plus a fortune stashed away in his decaying mansion, he embarks on a search into his father's life. Great story. I enjoyed the book but was disappointed with the ending, which seemed too abrupt.
GandmaRI@aol.com
This week I finished reading Midnight Runner by Jack Higgins. I'd rate it 4 1/2 stars. It's one of the Sean Dillon books. A good read and an easy read.
MomOMol@aol.com
I've just finished The Da Vinci Code. What a rollicking, absorbing adventure!! I figure I'm probably one of the last three people to have read this!
I just started I Dreamed I Married Perry Mason by Susan Kandel. I was intrigued by the title and was looking for something light before starting my next book club selection --- Peony by Pearl Buck, then The Kite Runner.
OLTLFREAK@aol.com
The Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. 3 stars.
I picked this book up at the bookstore manager's suggestion. At first I was unsure, but as you read it draws you into the story. I usually don't like books written by two people, and this one could have been shorter. At 600-plus pages, it tends to get a bit long. On about page 200 the action starts. I would suggest it, and I plan on trying another book to see how it goes.
Qoesls@aol.com
Whiteout by Ken Follett. 3 stars.
The kind of book I like for a quick, entertaining diversion from more "serious books." It did not disappoint. And I learned a little something about biosafety.
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers. 5 stars.
It was enlightening to revisit a book I enjoyed back in high school. It becomes so much more than I remember.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.
I couldn't wait to read this book I've heard so much about on this site. I just started it, but it's already proving to be excellent.
Kate502008@aol.com
I recently finished:
The Night She Died by Jennifer Patrick. 3 1/2 stars.
Very well-written murder mystery.
Coal Run by Tawni O'Dell. 4 stars.
It takes place in a coal mining town, with well-drawn characters. A very good book.
I'm currently reading Some Great Thing by Colin McAdam.
lkfdjf@polarcomm.com
P.J. Tracy is a new author I have just discovered. Monkeewrench and Live Bait are two of the best thrillers I've read in a long time. I could not put them down until I finished them. 5 stars for both of them.
Anonymous
A Death in Vienna by Daniel Silva. This may be the best yet from Mr. Silva! The suspense is riveting --- really a page-turner. I can't wait to read The Prince of Fire! 5 ++ stars!!
HeartSingr@aol.com
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. 5 stars.
I loved this book! It takes the romance novel to a place that I never imagined. The author captures well the chaotic feeling of the main character as he is thrown back and forth in time. At times I was confused, especially at the beginning, but as the novel went on, I found it exhilarating. Very good book!
maestraw@msn.com
I just finished I'll Be Watching You by Andrea Kane. It was pretty predictable but good. I had figured out who the stalker was, and even how he was stalking, long before Taylor and Reed did. I would rate it 3 out of 5 stars. It is a good beach read.
I was very impressed with Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock. It is achingly realistic and brutally honest in its portrayal of poverty and abuse. Just when it looks like Carrie and Emma might get a break in their young lives, tragedy strikes. The honest narration by 8-year-old Carrie was moving and poignant. This is 5 stars.
Cobblestonedrive@aol.com
I am reading Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks. Excellent writing, even the second time through. Great character development and surprise ending. 5 stars.
I'm also reading The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. Too soon to rate.
I could not finish Paging Aphrodite by Kim Green. Character development was going well, but I just didn't care enough about the story or the people to continue. 1 star.
OcalaRose@aol.com
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (year 1) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (year 2) by J.K. Rowling. 5 stars.
I have just finished reading the second in the series and found them to be wonderful stories. The writing is superb and the storyline winds wonderful details of Harry and his friends (and foes). My grandchildren love these adventures and I enjoyed them also. These are the beginning and continuing years at Hogwart's School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, and each book tells a completely new adventure. I can't wait to start the third book.
Brooke1955@aol.com
A friend recommended, and I have just finished reading, a marvelous new novel, Miz Fancy by Bonnie Moore, that is compelling. I became totally engrossed in the main character. She became someone I cared about and I wanted to keep discovering more about her. She seemed very real to me and it was wonderful to see her transformation. There are times when this story rings so true, and the inclusion of historical facts is done so well, that you begin to believe that it is a biography instead of fiction. In novel form, it reminds me of the gains that women have made that should not be forgotten or taken for granted. This novel brings you heart and soul into that reality. The book held my attention and I was eager to finish it.
The book is still so new that it has to be ordered, but it is worth the wait!
John1rosie@aol.com
Green River, Running Red: The Real Story of The Green River Killer - America's Deadliest Serial Murderer by Ann Rule.
The first part of this book is a collection of "the stories" of the female prostitutes who became the victims of the murderer. The stories are interesting until the reader becomes habituated to the boringly repetitive and then obviously superficial content. Ms. Rule does what she can to work around the superficiality and repetitiveness of most of "the stories" through having come up with the occasionally more in-depth social history of this girl or that. It is a good and much needed gambit. Ms. Rule's gift is not in writing or in criminology or psychology. Her gift is to be able to provide enough of a picture of her microcosm to give a future generation (us and those who will follow) an understanding of what life was like in her America. As much as anything, what Ms. Rule depicts is the state of police investigation relative to the case of a serial murderer. She pays the police direct compliments. Well and good because the two need each other. What Ms. Rule cannot avoid is that the facts show that the police are, to use a hunter's term, "dogs that won't hunt." The police never seem to really hunt the Green River Killer. The police never come off as proactive hunters or predators. They come off as gatherers. They view murder as necessitating a need to gather volumes upon volumes of what seems to be information. The police focus on the creation of jobs and bureaucracy to sift through the information they generate and gather.
I give this book 4 stars. It shows us our sad police history. It shows us how much better a police department might have been. It shows us how much better our world can be. It gives us a chance to do better next time. This book teaches a great deal and should be mandatory reading for every policeperson in America.
bradylee@myway.com
Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp. Nonfiction. Published in 1996 with 254 pages. 4 stars.
This book tells it like it is as to the realities of the life of an alcoholic, but particularly wine (white) and beer. Calling it a love story is most appropriate as her description of the "golden" liquid is described as a lover's attachment with all of the attending excitement and pleasure with each gulp. Her parents never revealed acts of love to each other nor to her, and she claims that she was just unaware of the joys of true love from anyone, including boyfriends of which there were many and all had to drink heavily or she wasn't interested. The life of an addict is no fun as you will discover if you read this.
Megan Battaglia, Buffalo, NY
I have just finished Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane (5 stars).To be honest, this book was recommended by many people but when I read the premise (a mysterious woman disappears from an institution for the criminally insane in the 1950s) I was not that excited. But, I promise you, once you get started, you will not want to stop. Dennis Lehane has a true gift for dialogue and character development. The plot twists are mind blowing in a mixture of mystery, suspense and psychological thriller. Take my word --- this book is not what you think it may be and everyone I have recommended it to has loved it.
A Reader from Middletown
I recently finished Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernieres. Very good book, but way too long. Some parts were slow but overall a good book. I give it 3 stars.
I am now reading A Day Late and a Dollar Short by Terry McMillan. So far I like it.
Annette Killingsworth
The Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King. 4 stars.
I enjoyed this story about 5 friends. It was set in the South. I found it to be heartwarming. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty. 3 stars.
I thought this book started out very good, but in the end it really bored me. I could not wait to finish it.
jrmcafee@utah.gov
I just finished Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper. What a great read! Have the tissues ready when you read this one!
Pompeii by Robert Harris, an intriguing and interesting look at the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Hard to put down...everyone needs a Marcus Attilias in their lives!!
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd is also on the bedstand. Just like the nectar from the hive...sweet and smooth. Great character development.
The True Story of Hansel & Gretel by Louise Murphy. A twist on the fairy tale set in the final days of the war and the horrible things the Germans did to the Polish people. At times this book was hard to read simply because of the subject matter and the evil acts portrayed. However, the main point of this book is the strength of the human spirit surviving in inhuman circumstances. Definitely worth your time!!
Denise Sebesta Lanier, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
John Dufresne's new book of stories, Johnny Too Bad, is much like my box of Valentine's Godiva chocolates: I want it to last Forever. I try desperately to restrain my indulgence. But the complex textures, the bite of the bittersweet, the soothing of the lush soft centers, the discordant scrape of nut against tooth like an unwelcome truth, even the crinkle of the thin slips of foil that sounds like whispers of kisses; forgotten, remembered. I put the shiny red heart box on top of the refrigerator --- I put Johnny Too Bad on my nightstand. From opposite ends of the hallway they tease me. I keep responding, and I'm not sorry in the least about giving in to either. I thank all that is holy for the tiny assaults of grief and the lingering embraces of grace that John Dufresne's characters and tales weave into my life (Lemonade and Paris Buns, Lefty). They fill me up, they change me, they make me better. My prayer is that John Dufresne will give birth to more and more stories; and Soon. I'll be waiting. Five glorious shining stars!
John1rosie@aol.com
The Italian Boy: A Tale of Murder and Body Snatching in 1830s London by Sarah Wise.
This nonfiction effort must be viewed in several ways. For the title, 3 stars for intriguing. 1830s London, what was it like? Body snatching, what exactly does that mean? Murder, 1 star for intrigue in just that word alone. The Italian boy, what was he doing there? For potential, 5 stars from one such as myself who is drawn to entertainment with a historical, psycho-social or socio-economic backdrop. For the issue of scholarship, and this one must come to the fore because there are footnotes and a bibliography galore, how many stars to award? For some readers the existence of footnotes and a bibliography allows for the compliment, "Well, the scholarship was (fill in a superlative), just look at all the footnotes! And the bibliography!" Others will ask if footnotes and bibliography are enough to guarantee a superlative story. For example, the footnotes tell that there were victims and criminals, trial, conviction, and execution, but is that enough of what is necessary to justify the awarding of a high number of stars to a book? There is the problem of bringing the potential held in the footnotes to life; depicting characters so that they are alive in the pages, depicting places that the reader experiences through the senses, depicting emotion, ah, there are the problems. For bringing potential to life, sadly, 1 star. For scholarship, not that the scholarship was bad scholarship, but because the scholarship was too often not enough to create a vibrant world between the covers of the book, 2 stars.
When all is said and done, maybe being an American makes me the problem? The author is English and perhaps this book appeals to the English audience more than I would understand. Maybe my expectations were too high. I wanted a vicarious opportunity to be temporarily under the skin of the characters. I wanted to be emotionally involved. Great Expectations? Still, I did get something more interesting than a superficial quick tour of 1830s London. 1830s London was shown to be an intriguing place in time when important social and political change was beginning. For this book 2 stars seems too little and 4 too much. 3 stars it is!
OLTLFREAK@aol.com
Sit, Stay, Slay: A Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter Mystery by Linda O. Johnston. 5 stars.
A great new mystery series featuring lawyer turned pet sitter Kendra Ballantyne. The book is 296 pages, and I read it in a day. It pulls you in and is well-written also. I will definitely buy more in this series as soon as she writes them.
Christine Citrano
About Grace by Anthony Doerr. 2 stars.
I eagerly picked up this book and began a long and rambling journey that took me from Alaska to the Caribbean and back. The main character ran away from life and then, too late, tried to pick up the pieces. I found myself impatiently waiting to finish it so that I could move on to something more worthwhile. A disappointment.
LyndaLSchu@aol.com
Honeymoon With My Brother by Franz Wisner. 5 stars.
This is a wonderful book that is the true story of the author's journeys around the globe over a two-year period as he struggles to heal a broken heart. After his fiance abandons him at the altar, Wisner suffers a reversal of fortune at his corporate job that eventually compels him to toss his previous life in the wastebasket and take up the life of a vagabond. His recently divorced brother joins him on the trip and Franz discovers wonderful lessons about family, love, and humanity as their journey crosses five continents. Unlike some nonfiction, this book has a strong storyline that keeps you turning the pages. It is witty and downright laugh-out-loud funny in many places.
I also recently read Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss and it is also a 5-star book. You wouldn't imagine a book about English grammar to be hilarious, but this one is.
Rebecca from Wilmington
Drop City by T. C. Boyle. 3 1/2 stars.
The book is set in the 1960s on a commune in CA. After complaints from nearby towns and the lack of funds to keep Drop City going, a group of hippies journey to Alaska to set up Drop City North. The clash between the two counter cultures, hippies and survivalist, is fascinating and funny. Incredibly descriptive writing, in both the setting and the characters. Everything comes alive while reading this book. Boyle is a master at writing what is real, all the flaws and all the glories. A nonjudgmental window into another world.
Kathy from Maryland
Unexpected Blessings by Barbara Taylor Bradford. 4 1/2 stars.
A very good book. I found it far more enjoyable than the last one in the series. Though the characters come across as real upper class and live unlike the way I or anyone else I know do, they are still well done and believable. There is a subplot that concerns a distant son that is not well-developed and really does not amount to much, but this does not detract from the storyline. The author probably should have eliminated that altogether or developed it better. I am eagerly awaiting the next in
the series.
Our Lady of the Lost and Found by Dianne Schoemperlen. 5 stars.
This is a really unusual book. I thoroughly enjoy the way the author presents history, since it is not like the dull, boring way people generally present it. The story plot shows definite creativity. She presents someone generally adored from afar as very human and very real. The mother of God seems so much like the next door woman that I forget who she really is, as I get involved in her stories of the past.
BREEZYWRITER@aol.com
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi. 2 stars.
I'm sure this is probably a worthwhile book, but I just couldn't get into it.
bradylee@myway.com
The Dogs Who Came to Stay by George Pitcher. 5 stars. Nonfiction. Published in 1995 with 163 pages.
If you enjoy true dog stories, this fast-reading book is worth your attention. It is filled with the emotion of love and an interesting story of how the author and his roommate met the two dogs and how it was not love at first sight on either side. It is a joy to read how a loving concern develops between man and animal and to learn the events that happened that were the means of cementing a mutual love affair for all time to come. You get a warm, wonderful feeling of satisfaction upon finishing this book.
Aileen in Methuen, MA
I'm finishing this month up with The Moth Diaries by Rachel Klein. Very interesting book written in a journal/diary form from a teenage girl's point of view. It takes place sometime in the '60s in a boarding school. The girl journals her thoughts and everyday happenings and events, of which she is not sure if some were actual or imagined events. Interesting story, with a supernatural/fantasy twist. I would highly recommend it. 4 stars.
Newcrain@aol.com
Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult. 4 1/2 stars.
A bit mystery story. A bit legal thriller. Amish community setting is interesting. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult seems to show a more sophisticated writing style developing by this author.
Helen in Buffalo NY
Two great reads:
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. 5 stars.
A fast-moving thriller with several twists and turns in the plot. Our book club of 15 members all read this book and loved it.
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. 5 stars.
The controversial issues of organ donations and genetic engineering of fetuses for tissue transplantation are explored through the different points of view of each family member. The heartstopping surprise ending was totally unexpected but very well-written.
JJDB29@aol.com
I just finished reading The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. I had wondered what all the hype was about and expected it to be full of a lot of historical and art facts that I really wasn't interested in. To my delight it was a page-turner. Its suspense kept me reading well into the night, although I must admit that I figured out the culprit before it was revealed in the book, which was a bit of a letdown for a book that kept me reading "just one more chapter" before I turned off my bedroom light. All in all it's as great as you heard. 5 stars.
Shari R, Soquel, CA
Serving Crazy With Curry by Amulya Malladi. 4 1/2 stars.
Devi moves back in with her parents after a major crisis. She won't speak at all to her family but pours herself into cooking classic Indian dishes with unusual ingredients, which helps in her recovery. Her family, unsure how best to help her, find themselves prompted to examine their own choices.
Frisco Pigeon Mambo by C.D. Payne. 4 stars.
Pigeons from a laboratory control-group are rescued and freed to San Francisco by a PETA-like group. Their efforts to lay their hands on booze and cigarettes get them labeled as the "Killer Pigeons." Oh yeah. They think they're human. Not my usual, but great fun.
mohendies@earthlink.net
Sex With Kings by Eleanor Herman. 1 star.
This book would have made a great documentary, but I found reading this book very dry. I didn't like the way she skipped around naming mistresses, kings, and even centuries within a chapter. It would have made interesting reading if it had been better organized.
Banishing Verona by Margot Livesey. 5 stars.
Loved this book! Great storytelling written from both Zeke and Verona's perspective. Loved the twists too.
Missing Monday by Matthew Costello. 4 stars.
Very suspenseful story! A mix of mystery, sci-fi and horror.
Crsntmoon3@aol.com
Twisted by Jonathan Kellerman was the book I just finished last weekend. I'd give it 3 1/2 stars as it wasn't one of his best (figured it out before the climax), but he is one of my favorite authors.
I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe was disappointing and tedious. Guess I'm glad that I listened to the abridged version. 2 stars.
peggyprobus@netscape.net
Twisted by Jonathan Kellerman
I've enjoyed all his and his wife's books for years, and this one is a very good read.
Hour Game by David Baldacci
Another author that I never miss. His books are great.
GliJ9@aol.com
The Sewing Circles of Heart by Christina Lamb, The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad, and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini are all about Afghanistan and are all great books.
abromber@optonline.net
I just finished reading We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. The book is written in the form of letters from a wife to her husband. At first you may wonder why she is writing, but the story slowly evolves. I don't want to give the subject matter away, but it is very timely. 5 stars.
bmailward@gmail.com
Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews. 4 1/2 stars.
The main character is Keely, who on the night before her wedding finds her fiance, A.J., messing around with her best friend. It starts out like any other Chick Lit but soon it goes much deeper than that. Her new client wants her to fix up an old antebellum house so that he can woo the woman of his dreams. Throughout the book we see Keely search for her mother who apparently skipped town when she was young.
mbond@netidea.com
The Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay. 5 stars.
The quote from Marion Zimmer Bradley says it all: "It's one of those rare books that changes your perception of the world forever afterward."
Sophie's World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy by Jostein Gaarder. 5 stars.
One of the most interesting, imaginative and educational stories I've read.
Kim in Boston
I'm reading How to Be Lost by Amanda Eyre Ward and really enjoying it!
Audrey Larson
The books I've been reading in January - February are:
Tool & Die by Sarah Graves. 4 stars.
Tara Road by Maeve Binchy. 4 stars
The Confession by Sheldon Siegel. 4 stars
Watch Out for the Wind by C.J. Mize. 4 stars
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett. 1 star. Can't even get into it or like it enough to finish it.
zandercage2003@yahoo.com
I just finished an awesome romantic suspense book: Depth Perception by Linda Castillo. This book was totally terrific. It's overflowing, action, intrigue and suspense. This is a must-buy book for fans of romantic suspense.
Debbie Miller - Valrico, FL
Lisa Gardner's The Third Victim was very suspenseful. The basic premise of the story was about a school shooting. This led us on to a search for the killer. Along the way we find it seems like everybody has a secret. The ending really wrapped it up and made me want more. 5 stars.
boldham@ntplx.net
I just finished Bloodlines by Jan Burke and give it 5 stars. I was anxious to get to the end and sorry when it was finished. Jan Burke's protagonist, Irene Kelly, is wonderful and although I have thoroughly enjoyed every book in the series, Bloodlines is the best.
I am currently reading Conviction by Richard North Patterson and The Girl Who Married a Lion by Alexander McCall Smith. Both authors are so different, entertaining but thought-provoking. Patterson addresses legal and social issues with great depth. McCall Smith takes the reader to Botswana, Africa with his series featuring Lady Detective Precious Ramotswe. I suggest readers start with the Lady Detective series, which has great insight into how the culture thinks and feels, at least the fiction has this very interesting point of view. The Girl Who Married a Lion is a series of African folk tales.
dani@newvisiontechnologies.net
Prep by Curtis Sittenfield.
This book had a slow start for me, but once I got into the story I found it very compelling. I felt very sympathetic towards the main character and thought the retrospective narrative allowed the heroine to admit to mistakes she made during her prep school days.
PPFQP@aol.com
I am currently reading:
French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure by Mireille Guiliano. 3 stars.
It seems too good to be true: just by incorporating some of the secrets of French women into your daily diet, your troubles with excess weight will disappear. And, like most things, it isn't quite that easy. However, the book is filled with delightful prose about the French way of life, and it does provide some very practical applications that may encourage readers to make small changes in their eating habits. It's worth the read for the tasty descriptions of French food, as well as the enticing recipes.
The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble. 3 1/2 stars.
This novel follows the lives of several members of a book club. Their monthly book selections often have very interesting relevance to their personal issues and problems. I liked that the book felt very familiar to me --- the characters' love of books, their enjoyment of their monthly book club meetings, the way that books fit into their lives. But I did find the style of the book somewhat disjointed as it jumped from character to character. It was somewhat difficult to keep the characters straight in the beginning, although a list in the front of the book helps overcome that if you're willing to keep switching back and forth.
Every Boy's Got One by Meg Cabot. 4 stars.
Meg Cabot's books are just plain fun, and her latest is no exception. Written in a series of emails, instant messages and journal entries, it describes the adventures of four individuals who head to Italy so that one of the couples can elope. The romantic element is totally predictable, sure, but there are plenty of other turning events that sprinkle surprises throughout the text. It's funny and silly and thoroughly charming. Perhaps the best feature of the book is the author's own commentary at the end. It was an unexpected treat, like finding one last piece of chocolate in a box when you thought it was empty.
Kikikane@aol.com
Currently I am reading Sideways by Rex Pickett. Great characters with a lesson on California wine. 4 stars.
AcornLiz@aol.com
The Falls by Joyce Carol Oates. 4 stars.
I live on l'Isle Grand mentioned in the book. It was fun to get an author's perspective on our area.
A Marriage of Consequence by Diane Norman. 4 stars.
A look at the Revolutionary War from both sides of the Atlantic.
Middlemarch by George Eliot. 3 stars.
A wonderful story, but bogged down by a bit too much commentary.
Le Colonial by Kien Nguyen. 3 stars.
An eye-opener about early colonialism in Vietnam.
OLTLFREAK@aol.com
Tuscany for Beginners by Imogen Edwards-Jones. 1 star.
I got this book as an ARC. I love Italy, and tend to read any book that is about Italy, takes place in Italy, mentions Italy. Even though this one was located there, I hated it! I read the entire book, even though I should have put it down after the second chapter. The author is English, so its written differently. It is due out in April. Don't waste your time.
JHIDEY@aol.com
The Queen's Man by Sharon Kay Penman. 5 stars.
A good mystery set in the time of Richard I.
The Summons by John Grisham. 5 stars.
Mimiklein43@aol.com
I just finished a nonfiction book entitled A Little Work by Z. Paul Lorenc, MD. This a book about plastic surgery that I found to be of great help for anyone who has contemplated having a nip and tuck. 4 stars.
I also read Matzo Balls for Breakfast by the late comic Alan King. It's a must-read for any person who wants a few belly laughs. He was a much adored comedian by many, and this was the last book written before his death. 4 stars.
MarshaNee@adelphia.net
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult. 4 1/2 stars.
Picoult does not fail to deliver in this latest of her gripping books concerning family dynamics. In Vanishing Acts she addresses alcoholism among other grim realities. Although the scenes in the middle of the book are definitely gritty, the book leaves you with many avenues of discussion. She is not for the faint of heart, but if you are looking for a page-turner, this is for you.
Alize55@aol.com
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. 5 stars.
I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this book. It began good but got...GREAT! After I reached the halfway mark, I could not stop reading. Everything about it is so captivating. The characters are simply amazing. And the story itself is beautiful, yet heartwrenching. The thing I loved about it was Picoult's capability to pull it all together at the end. Everything was tied up just perfectly into a pretty little perfect bow. She does an absolutely wondrous job of making us understand every part of the book, every character's viewpoint, and there is a reason for every action that took place in the novel. I absolutely loved it. Very good reading material!
Dawnymae5@msn.com
I am currently reading the biography Skywriting by Jane Pauley. I found it slow in the beginning but it picked up, and I found her life in journalism to be interesting and fascinating. I recommend this book to anyone who wonders about celebrity lifestyles.
pk5050@shaw.ca
I'm reading Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees. For me it varies in its ability to hold my attention, although I'm learning a lot about bees. Interesting story/plot line but believable. 3 stars.
KL Peters
I am about halfway through The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. It is intense, powerful and, at times, riveting. 4 stars.
LindaKLankford@aol.com
I am currently reading The Girl Who Played Go by Shan Sa. I am only halfway through, but so far I will give it 4 stars.
I just finished Winner of the National Book Award by Jincy Willett. Some early parts of this book have some great dark humor, but none of the characters are likeable and the book ultimately is a letdown. I would be very careful about who I would recommend this book to. I give at 2 stars.
I just finished The Known World by Edward P. Jones. Because this book won the Pulitzer Prize, it fell short of my expectations. It is a good read, but I would only give it 3 1/2 stars.
Also disappointing was Four Souls by Louise Erdrich. Only 3 stars for Louise.
The Plot Against America by Phillip Roth was typical Phillip Roth --- 75% excellent, 25% could have been left out. 3 stars.
FalseMillennium@aol.com
The Whole Equation: A History of Hollywood by David Thomson (Knopf, 2005). 4 stars.
An extremely well-written and absorbing account of the film industry, including, on one side of the equation, the artistic elements of writing, acting and directing, and on the other the bottom line businessmen, studio chiefs, producers, agents and other bean counters. Thomson chronicles the rise and fall of several key talents --- some well-known, some obscure. He also traces the many arcs of success and how often luck, both good and bad, affects trajectories in Hollywood. This book has a bit of something for everyone. Although written with a novelistic flair, the book adheres to an historian's discipline. Overall, a very nice job of providing a vivid picture of how the film industry operates.
Snobs by Julian Fellowes (St, Martin's, 2004). 5 stars.
From the author of the screenplay Gosford Park this is a novel of manners and mores tracking the progress of a young woman's climb into the folds of the British aristocracy. I stayed up all night reading this. You feel like you are on a wonderful trip to the field where Fellowes whacks the rara avis of country homes and hoary tweeds out of their natural habitat and into the light of day. He also has finely tuned eyes and ears to the nuances of relationships and what sustains us over time by our choices. I haven't read anything so bang-on accurate since the novels of Nancy Mitford and her essay on "U" and "Non U."
Feast by Nigella Lawson (Hyperion, 2004). 1 star.
The latest cookbook from the Domestic Goddess. As with her other books, loads of food porn shots of the author (hair tousled, lips licking) as well as quirky, uneven recipes. I've found this to be true of all of her books, and this is no exception. Some recipes sound lethal: one chocolate loaf involves baking it inside its pan draped with plastic wrap. A roasted potatoes recipe involves setting the oven "as high as it will go" and roasting the potatoes in several inches of goose fat. Both sound highly flammable. There are other oddities: Carrot and Coconut Halwa, which she describes as "excessively sweet" and requires you "keep your dentist's number handy." Now why would you prepare that?
mccoy_bonnie@mchsi.com
I just finished The Perfect Evil by Alex Kava. This was a great book. I absolutely loved it. Through the whole book I was on the edge of my seat. It was as good as a Scarpetta novel. It had so many twists and turns and a totally surprise ending. This book gets 5 stars from me.
madeintexas@mail.com
I have just finished reading Where Rivers Change Direction by Mark Spragg. It is a memoir about his life growing up on a dude ranch in Wyoming and the beauty of the wilderness and mountains. It is a superb book that is one of the best books I have ever read with his descriptions that are so full of life. 5 stars.
Britadon@aol.com
Orchid Beach by Stuart Woods. 5 stars.
This is an excellent mystery introducing Holly Barker in a new series. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the suspense it built up. I was actually nervous about the perps finding out what Holly and her team knew.
Orchid Blues by Stuart Woods. 5 stars.
This was the second in this series and the tense suspense continued with a new set of bad guys and the same good guys. After a very sad beginning for Holly, the story set off at a really good pace. I did think that Holly might have shown a bit more emotion than she did, considering the immediacy of the action.
The Prince of Beverly Hills by Stuart Woods. 2 stars.
What a huge disappointment after the other two books mentioned. This story takes place in Hollywood prior to and during World War II and it felt very contrived and the characters were shallow. It felt like someone was in a hurry to finish the story and most of the events appeared very unlikely.
Population 485 by Michael Perry. 3 stars.
This is a nonfictional account of a return to a small Wisconsin community by a writer, Michael Perry, and how he integrated himself into the community via becoming a volunteer firefighter. Although it is interesting and gives good insight into the life of an emergency first responder, it is also quite repetitious at times and I found myself skimming through to get the high points.
schot@cox.net
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. 5 stars.
If this is a first novel I can't wait for his next and all the ones to follow.
The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant. 5 stars.
This was a joy to read. Historical fiction mixed with art history and romance, a great book to recommend.
Sally B., San Antonio TX
I'm currently listening to Steve Martin's Shopgirl. He's a good reader and writer but I'm surprised at times when he suddenly comes out with the "f" word. 3 stars.
Justice by Dominick Dunne. 3 1/2 stars.
I'm only about a third of the way through. He tells of numerous trials that he attended and his take on them. He includes the trials of the murderer of his daughter, O.J. Simpson and the Menendez brothers.
tunaross@nc.rr.com
Falls the Shadow by William Lashner (available 4/2005). 5 stars.
I didn't think it was possible but this book is even better than the last in the series, Past Due. Victor Carl, a self-proclaimed shallow, hollow lawyer proves neither selfish nor materialistic as he uses his substantial wit(s) to connect the dots in this funny, engrossing legal thriller. Mr. Lashner delves into the very core of his characters showing us their basic humanity. Victor struggles to stand by his clients as he plods through the interrelated, convoluted plots. Even though he often deems himself unworthy, he always tries to do the right thing in the end. It is one of the best books I've read so far this year. The only question remaining is: When is the next book in this series coming out?
Claire Laskowski, Glendale, AZ
Yesterday, I started reading Ian Rankin's latest Rebus novel, Fleshmarket Alley. Admittedly, I've not yet read 50 pages so it really is too soon to rush to judgment, but I have to admit if the book keeps up at its current pace, it will be very disappointing. Something I've yet to experience with Rebus.
The story has Rebus and Shioban transferred to a new station. This happens following a massive reorganization. It appears the powers-that-be are doing their best to get Rebus to quit as he has no official desk, no phone and no computer. He is a floater, so to speak, and can be asked to help with crimes occurring in other divisions. He and Shioban have been called out to investigate a murder that has occurred in Fleshmarket Alley and that is about where I am at in the book, without giving anything away.
If I were forced to give this book a star rating at this point, it would be somewhere around a 2 and a 2 1/2. But, like I said, I've only just started.
Kahoho@aol.com
I am reading The Clearing by Tim Gautreaux, but I've read only about 25 pages so it is difficult to rate at this point; however, I did read Mr. Gautreaux's book The Last Step in the Dance a few years ago and liked it very much, so I anticipate The Clearing to be just as enjoyable. I will give it an advanced rating of 4 stars.
I just finished Off the Chart by James W. Hall. A heart-pounding modern-day pirate tale featuring Thorn, Sugarman and Thorn's most recent romantic interest, Alexandra. Vintage Hall and a must-read for his fans. 4 stars.
This month I also read The Egyptologist by Arthur Phillips for my book club. An incredibly fun book to read and a mystery to boot! It generated some lively discussion at my book club meeting, especially when we discussed who we thought could play the roles of Ralph Trilipush and Margaret should this book be made into a movie. Also 4 stars.
Anne-Marie Chandler
I am currently reading:
Holy Guacamole by Nancy Fairbank. 4 stars.
Get Shorty by Elmore Leonard. 3 1/2 stars.
A Place of Hiding by Elizabeth George. 5 stars.
NEPR@aol.com
Every Inch of Her by Peter Sheridan.
Funny but moving story of a 240-pound Dublin woman who runs away from her abusive husband and five children and seeks refuge in a convent. In the process of finding herself, she brings joy (and sometimes chaos) to the lives of the nuns as well as the people with whom they work.
R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton.
In a rare departure, Milhone plays a "supporting role" in this one, with the star being a parolee she is hired to help reenter society.
thekarachikid@gmail.com
I just finished Jeffery Deaver's The Garden of Beasts. Another terrific read by Deaver. The characters are rich and Deaver's descriptions of Berlin in 1936 just prior to the Olympics make you feel that you are standing on a street corner watching the action. With "cameo" appearances by Adolf Hitler, Hermann Goering and Joseph Goebbels, we also have a disciplined police officer who gets unwittingly tangled in the web. The main character is a professional hit man who wants to go straight after one last kill and join his family's printing business. However, at the last second he has to make a hard moral decision and sacrifice his future happiness in doing the right thing. Strongly recommended.
Deb1teach@aol.com
Kisscut by Karin Slaughter. A 5-star fast moving thriller.
Slaughter always does a great job of getting you involved quickly with the story, and Kisscut is not different. In the story Sara has to uncover a child pornography ring.
DStegmanCrawford@aol.com
I recently read Denial and Projection, two novels/thrillers by Keith Ablow. These are 5-star thrillers that are NOT for the squeamish. The protagonist is unlike any you have probably read about before --- he's a coke addict and a forensic psychiatrist, called to help in some unusual murders. Don't miss out. The third one is Compulsion, which I will read next.
I also read Hangman by Michael Slade. I love thrillers and this one nets 5 stars again! This is a great series about the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in the Pacific Northwest. Not to be missed!!
Barbara from NJ
I just finished Melancholy Baby by Robert B. Parker. It was a very entertaining, light read. I can't help but like Sunny Randall, an imperfect detective who tries her hardest to do it with conviction. 4 stars.
joswood@msn.com
Pier Pressure by Dorothy Francis. 5 stars.
This is a very suspenseful novel set in The Florida Keys. Lots of evildoings to keep you reading into the night. I also loved the flavor of the Keys and the vivid characterizations of the novel's protagonists and antagonists.
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult. 5 stars.
A new Jodi Picoult novel is a treat to be savored. I love her writing, and each book has such a different, timely theme. Delia Hopkins finds out that, at age 32, her whole life has been a lie. We meet many vivid characters along the way, and we get a good sense of the land and Indian history of Arizona. Don't miss this one.
GandmaRI@aol.com
I just finished reading The Maze by Catherine Coulter. It is one of the early Savitch and Sherlock books. It was very good and I'm going to read others by this author. I'd rate the book a 5. I'm just starting to read Stealing Shadows by Kay Hooper. Still in the first chapter, but I have enjoyed her earlier books in both the Evil and Shadow series.
mpicc@verizon.net
I just finished Alone by Lisa Gardner. I found this book to be very good but not quite as much of a page-turner as some of her others. The book got much better about halfway through when you finally started to figure out what was going on. All in all it was a good read with some very interesting characters. I give it 3 stars.
John1rosie@aol.com
Living to Tell the Tale by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
I never questioned the possibility that I could not get inside the autobiography A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz and I came out believing that it was the best autobiography that I have ever read. I never questioned the possibility that I could not get inside Living to Tell the Tale and I believed that the author could give Mr. Oz a run for my accolade. Right and wrong. I got in. I found the first 1/3 arid, lifeless. Mr. Oz continues to be the author of the best autobiography that I have ever read. Two hundred pages into Living to Tell the Tale by Garcia Marquez and I've decided to temporarily put it down. I found it thus far to be a colossal bore unworthy of reading time. It seems to be a book to be finished only by the intolerably stubborn, the blindly faithful, the hopelessly hopeful or perhaps someone locked in a small space and having nothing else to do. I will read the earlier work of Garcia Marquez. I know that he has done so much better than Living to Tell the Tale. Perhaps his writing career is now over? He has had a fine run. The first two hundred pages of Living to Tell the Tale are unworthy of even 1 star.
Sharlene Miers
I have just finished An Unfinished Life by Mark Spragg. This book is definitely 5 stars. I also just finished The Art of Mending by Elizabeth Berg. That one gets a 4 1/2, but only because it's not quite in the same league as An Unfinished Life.
GalNC@aol.com
I just read The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. It's definitely rated a 5! The story is about a boy who grew up in Afghanistan but then moved with his father to the U.S. Unexpected events have him return to Afghanistan, where he sees a country that is nothing like he remembered, ruled by the Taliban. The story is so good you don't want it to end.
MysteryNut19@aol.com
Big Girls Don't Cry by Donna Hill, et al. 4 stars.
A compilation of romance stories involving full-figured women. Spicy but not trashy.
JONIVERSON@aol.com
I am reading The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth. 4 stars!
vicklea@earthlink.net
My recommended reading list includes:
Honeymoon by James Patterson and Howard Roughan. 4 stars.
Different from the other Patterson thrillers, but in a good way. The plot skips around from scene to scene, and although the reader knows the killer from the beginning, the twists in the plot and the tension are palpable as you read. A definite 4 stars. It would get 5, but it takes reading about 50-60 pages before it captures you.
Every Boy's Got One by Meg Cabot. 5 stars.
An epistolary with huge chunks of humor. It is a really fun book to read and to share with others!
The Covenant Child by Terri Blackstock. 4 stars.
I have read Blackstock's Christian fiction for years, but somehow I had missed this one. It is an allegory of the prodigal son with a twist of a fortune awaiting twin girls who are raised by greedy grandparents. An excellent and entertaining read with all of the sentimentalism of Blackstock's other novels and very little witnessing to the reader.
Survivor in Death by J. D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts). 4 stars.
A quick and mind-grabbing read that quickly involves the reader in the macabre death scenes and the desire of Eve Dallas to capture a killer and safeguard an innocent child. I was a little disappointed with part of the ending, but I won't include that part so I don't spoil it for others.
martysmarty@hotmail.com
I just finished Mary Sharratt's novel The Real Minerva about a mythical small town in 1920s Minnesota to which an abused woman goes to seek refuge for her and her child from a husband who appears to be upstanding on the surface, but is very abusive and clever about not leaving visible signs of abuse. The woman is aided in her retreat and flight to safety by a local girl who befriends the woman and child, becoming a housekeeper and nanny. Mary Sharrat teaches creative writing in the Twin Cities and has previously published another novel about 1920s(?) St. Paul entitled Summit Avenue. Both are good reads. Rating 4 1/2 stars.
Sandra Kiley
I'm reading The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. His writing reminds me of Erle Stanley Gardner, the author of the Perry Mason stories. It shows writing in its truest form, his images come to life within his words, which are very descriptive, and tell of a time no longer with us. Most of today's mystery authors tend to skip the details and get down to the action, missing, what I feel, the words that build up a novel. By being descriptive, you see the rooms in Chandler's novels, you hear the voices that speak. It takes a little longer to get to the action, but the wait is worth it. A+ reading.
bradylee@myway.com
Hot Lights, Cold Steel: Life, Death and Sleepless Nights in a Surgeon's First Years by Michael J. Collins, M.D. Nonfiction. 5 stars.
What does it take to become a medical doctor and, especially, a specialist? You will get firsthand knowledge if you read this book and at the same time truly enjoy reading about it. This story is filled with human pathos and details of becoming an expert at what you love to do. Events harrowing and events giving great satisfaction are included by a doctor who also knows how to write…a great combination. Dr. Collins is one who loves life and is able to explain why. A real winner.
Anonymous
Two O'Clock, Eastern Wartime by John Dunning. 4 stars.
I have just finished reading this excellent mystery set on the east coast during the early '40s. Mr. Dunning's vast knowledge of radio broadcasting is a key element in the story. This is my first John Dunning story, but it will not be the last.
Honeymoon by James Patterson. 4 stars.
I am currently reading this new thriller by one of the masters of the genre. A quick read that I can't put down. Mr. Patterson knows how to snare us from the beginning and hold us until the mystery is solved. Very good!
SheilaD@aol.com
Sister Age by MFK Fisher. 4 stars.
Short stories about aging, written with insight and amazing attention to detail.
The Broker by John Grisham. 3 stars.
Made me want to return to Italy, but I wasn't as spellbound as I hoped.
Making a Literary Life by Carolyn See. 5 stars.
A terrific book about writing that is honest, funny and optimistic. Don't know how I missed this one.
Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson. 4 stars.
A classic novel, lyrical and lovely.
kzstephens@hotmail.com
Shades of Red by Doris Mortman. 4 stars.
I thought this started off slow, but am so glad I kept with it. Once I got into it, I was captivated. Great blend of romantic suspense.
Honeymoon by James Patterson. 5 stars.
I really enjoyed this one. What a change for him to be writing about a female killer. Same great Patterson style of writing.
Deb1teach@aol.com
I just finished reading Echoes by Danielle Steel. It's a story about the Wittgenstein family during WWII. It's also a love story about a young woman who is 1/2 Jewish but raised as a Catholic. I thought it was a fast read, and I feel in love with the characters. I give it 4 stars however because I was a little disappointed in the end.
tfranzen2124@comcast.net
A great truth-is-better-than-fiction book: Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson. I give this the 5-star treatment because this is not my usual fare. Well-constructed, this very immediate story kept me interested and turning pages once I got into it. The subject matter (diving, U-boats, New Jersey) isn't what I'd typically pick out to read, but I am very pleased I did.
Kathy from Maryland
The Real Mother by Judith Michael. 3 1/2 stars.
This book presents a moving story of a family being raised by the eldest daughter, after the mother has a stroke and the father deserts. Sara, the eldest daughter, has interrupted her aspiration to become a doctor in order to raise her two younger sisters and younger brother, when another brother, who had left home three years earlier, returns. Adjusting to this brother presents a real challenge to everyone in the family, especially Sara, who now finds herself competing for attention from her siblings. The authors develop the characters quite well. The plot, however, is not as well-developed, especially the subplots this returned brother brings. Having read several other books by this author, I concluded that this will not be among my favorites, but it is still worth reading.
bradylee@myway.com
Survive! by Peter Deleo. Nonfiction. Published in 2005 with 241 pages. 5 stars.
If you're into adventure stories then this is for you. The author, a self-employed businessman, learns to fly an airplane just so he can take a trip with a friend to the outer reaches of Canada. Before he does so, he and two billiard buddies take a joyride in his recently purchased airplane going over the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California. Unruly winds help create a downdraft that sends their plane crashing into a mountain. The author is the only person able to hike out for help where he leaves his two friends in the wreckage. This story is primarily about how he managed to hike to civilization (taking two weeks eating only bugs and drinking water from snow) even after major injuries suffered in the crash. This book tells you what a human is capable of when everything is against you except the will to survive. A perfect title for an adventure par excellance.
N. DeMay, Douglas Library
I am reading Downtown: My Manhattan by Pete Hamill, which is wonderful! Also, Case Histories by Kate Atkinson, Banishing Verona by Margot Livesey, and Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks.
Douglas Library
Our book club is reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks, and Brick Lane by Monica Ali.
MarshaNee@adelphia.net
The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan takes us to the Mogul Empire and the cuture of the region. It explores the connection between parent and child, familial loyalty and societal responsibility in Indian society in seventeenth-century India. Based on fact but written as a novel, the book opens our eyes to the role women played in this bygone era. 4 stars.
MoxeyH@mjsc.com
Plainsong by Kent Haruf. 5 stars.
Moving story about the lives of several people in a rural community, including a pregnant teenager who goes to live with two old bachelors.
The Effects of Light by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore. 4 1/2 stars.
I read this book after seeing it listed in Bookreporter's newsletter. It was thought-provoking and kept me turning pages until the end.
ajrevelli@sbcglobal.net
Change Baby by June Spence. 4 1/2 stars.
Avie Goss returns home to take care of her mother after she almost dies in a fire and is failing in health. During the next few months Avie finds out that her family isn't exactly the family she was led to believe. Determined to make some sense of her own life, Avie discovers in herself that family is really what you make of it despite all the skeletons in the closet. This was one of those easy-flowing books that I just didn't want to put down.
How I Paid For College by Marc Acito. 4 stars.
Absolutely hilarious and charming story of one guy's last couple of years of high school and the crazy plan dreampt up by his friends in an attempt at paying for Julliard. This book took me back to my final years of high school in which I could relate to some of the main characters' frustrations and such. Another quick, easy and painless page-turner.
War Trash by Ha Jin. 3 stars at this point.
Yu Yaun, once a Chinese officer and POW, writes his memoir of those times during the Korean Conflict. So far very poignant.
CherimoyaD@aol.com
I just read The Wings of an Angel by Jason Coleman and Pansy Coleman. It is their first book and I really enjoyed it. It is filled with heartfelt moments, action-packed adventures on Earth, battles in Hell, and travels in different dimensions. And there are lessons on life, which include having consequences for everything done in life as well as in death. This story will touch your heart, blow your mind, and leave you feeling all good inside with its surprise ending. This story should be made into a movie. I am rating this book 5 stars.
M. Miller, Black Mountain, NC
Ordinary Wolves by Seth Kantner is the most descriptive book I've read about living in the Alaskan bush. It's a work of fiction narrated by the youngest child in a white family that lives a couple of days dogsled ride to the nearest village. He grows up through the story and experiences the culture shock of Anchorage and Fairbanks. (What are ice cubes?) It's especially interesting to experience how the village culture changes over time due to television, snow mobiles, airplanes, substance abuse, and suicide. This book was printed in 2004 and won the Milkweed National Fiction Prize. I give it 4 stars because I got confused a few times, but I loved it.
saldragski@hotmail.com
I finished listening to Shopgirl by Steve Martin. It's unabridged on three cassettes and read by the author. Through the course of this book, I changed my mind about the rating 4 times! 2, then 3 1/2, then 3, and finally 4 stars. The "f" word put me off at the beginning but his reading and writing are superb. The thing that put him at the 4 rating was his take on the different thoughts/feelings that a male vs. a female will get from a conversation. He hits it right on the nose!
I started listening to The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty. I only listened to 1 out of 11 CDs. I was confused by his characters (were they normal or not?) and did not like the main characters' thought tangents. 1 star.
PFLucas@aol.com
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik. 5 stars.
There is nothing like best friends. Landvik reveals this truth in ways that lend to both laughing and crying. The story begins in the '60s and follows the friendships of a group of women into the nineties. I noticed that this book was displayed in the bookstore with a theme of "books about book clubs."
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. 5 stars.
Written from the point of view of an autistic, it is very interesting and moving.
Dale.Sivitz@TampaYMCA.Org
The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters. 5 stars.
I love all her books in the Amelia Peabody series and this is no different. The first person narrative exposes the reader to the inner workings of Amelia's thoughts and is thoroughly entertaining!
Resurrection Row by Anne Perry. 3 stars.
A little too heavy-handed in the political aspects of the story, but a well-told mystery.
Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton. 5 stars.
I love a humorous mystery and M.C. Beaton did not disappoint! The story is light and entertaining with all the clues and questions of a good mystery without the guts and grizzle.
The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason. 3 stars.
The characters were well-developed and the mystery was there, but the flow of the story was hard to follow at times. Also, things happened that I was never quite sure why, as if they had a significance but it was never explained.
Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters. 5 stars.
I got the audiobook from the library read by Barbara Rosenbladt to listen to in the car for a long drive, and I found myself longing to get back in the car to hear more. The reader's accent and different voices added an entertaining element to this already charming story.
kelley899@yahoo.com
I recently finished One Way Out by Michele Albert. I'd have to give it 4 out of 5 stars. It's a great light thriller where the protagonists must rescue a newly discovered intact T-rex infant skeleton. I love the paleontology aspects, as well as the great characters and fast pace.
BREEZYWRITER@aol.com
Double Homicide by Jonathan & Faye Kellerman. 3 stars.
This is the first time husband and wife writers have tried doing a book together --- and I thought it was okay but definitely not outstanding. There were two stories, which seemed to be a trial balloon for new characters in an upcoming series.
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