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S. De Feo (landladies@verizon.net)
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Rating: 4 Stars
It teaches one not to make all things perfect for your family; it will just not happen.
William P. Therrien
Beach Road by James Patterson and Peter de Jonge
Rating: 5 Stars
Excellent thriller with a "mind-blowing" finale!
Karen G.
Endymion Spring by Matthew Skelton
Rating: 4 Stars
It's not Harry Potter. It's not The Golden Compass, either. I was glued to this book all the way through, but the end left me kind of hanging. Is the author setting up for a sequel, or was I just getting so sleepy that I missed something vital?
Rebekah Crain (littleminx@cox.net)
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Rating: 4 Stars
This book was unlike anything I'd ever read before. The characters were beautifully drawn, and the storyline intriguing --- an all around good read. My only complaint, which is why I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5, is that it seemed to me that the author rushed things at the end. After having spent so much time building the story up, it was like she got tired of it and just rushed to get it all out in the last few chapters.
Rebekah Crain (littleminx@cox.net)
Naked by David Sedaris
Rating: 5 Stars
Hilarious! This light and humorous read is the perfect thing to pick up during this busy upcoming holiday season.
Debra Dixon
The Crossroads Cafe by Deborah Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
This is another big, satisfying romantic Southern novel from the author of reader faves, including A PLACE TO CALL HOME, and SWEET HUSH. This story is filled with tears, laughter and great, sophisticated romance. Set in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina, You can almost smell the woodsmoke from a mountain cabin.
Wally Johnson (wendybrooks1@hotmail.com)
The Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter
Rating: 5 Stars
This is truly a classic with something for everyone to learn from and appreciate. It is a great family gift for the holidays.
Lee T.
Everything's Eventual by Stephen King
Rating: 5 Stars
EVERYTHING'S EVENTUAL is a very satisfying read. All the stories are wonderfully crafted. This is one of King's best.
Roe
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Rating: 4 Stars
Refreshingly different, superbly written story --- a great read for any book club. This isn't fluff, but true literary substance. I wish more books were written like this.
Bonnie
One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer by Nathaniel C. Fick
Rating: 5 Stars
A terrific nonfiction book about the author's life from the time he graduates Dartmouth, attends Officer Candidate School, joins the tough Recon unit, fights in Afghanistan and Iran and his return home. Fick writes a compelling, literate, very readable story that helps a civilian understand what makes a Marine, or a soldier in general.
Stephanie
Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen
Rating: 4 Stars
I know that this book has received mixed reviews from critics and readers alike, but I found it to be very enjoyable. The writing was first rate, and the complex relationship between the sisters was both believable and identifiable. Great character study.
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
Echo Park by Michael Connelly
Rating: 5 Stars
In this novel, Harry is told of a possible confession in a case he has been trying to crack for years. The murder of Marie Gesto was never solved, but Harry has kept a copy of the murder book and revisits the details periodically to see if anything new pops up. The man who supposedly committed the crime seems to know even the most secret detail and is able to lead a team of detectives to the victim's body. But, something goes wrong at the scene, and Harry knows something just isn’t right with this confession. Connelly leads the reader through a mirage of twists, turns, and surprises. He definitely has not lost the momentum since the Bosch series began. They just keep getting better and better. This is another great read by the master of suspense.
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
Lucavarious by Stephanie Burke
Rating: 4 Stars
The characters Dark (a werewolf) and Lucavarious (a vampire) are unique and likeable with their quick-witted verbal exchanges and intense sexual encounters. I found this supernatural tale to be a fun and quick read.
Wackyjack
The Innocent Man by John Grisham
Rating: 4 Stars
This book opens your eyes to the present-time, real-life, could happen to you in your hometown, judicial system.
Jud Hanson
Origin in Death by J. D. Robb
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the second book I’ve read in the series, and I loved it. It is a combination of traditional crime thriller combined with a sci-fi plot. The book opens with the murder of a well-known reconstructive surgeon. As the story unfolds, peculiarities spring up concerning one aspect of his work, on which records appear to be well hidden. When the surgeon’s son is also murdered, it becomes clear to Lt. Dallas that someone has an agenda to settle with the doctors.
I can highly recommend this book as one that all lovers of crime drama will enjoy. I look forward to reading the rest of the ...In Death series.
Jennifer
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Rating: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed this book. I found myself in the story and asking what would I do numerous times throughout the adventure.
Marsha Miller, Black Mountain, NC
The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman
Rating: 5 Stars
I enjoyed this author's style so much that upon finishing it, I immediately dove right into the book he wrote before this one, and put his others on my Amazon wish list. THE WORLD IS FLAT is a perspective-changing book. Reading it is like talking to some really smart guy for hours and hours. He manages to get access to people with lives so much different from mine, and then he gets from them an anecdote that illustrates some major concept in his book. It takes a look at globalization from many angles. Like the author says, being in favor globalization is like being in favor of the dawn. It's happening whether you're for it or not. One parting thought: If you are the best student out of one million students in the USA, there are 300 like you. Nine hundred are one in a million in India, and 1300 are one in a million in China.
Carol (blackmagicgroovy@aol.com)
True To Form by Elizabeth Berg
Rating: 4 Stars
Berg writes "coming of age" stories of young girls so well. A delightful read.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons
Rating: 4 Stars
ELLEN FOSTER is about the other side of the railroad from TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD --- the white trash family, complete with the abused, worn-out mother, drunken father, and uncaring relatives. And to think that children actually survive in these conditions.
Jennifer
Fear of Flying by Erica Jong
Rating: 5 Stars
I'm not quite finished, but this book is incredible! It touches on everything a woman ever questions about her relationships and roles!
Ricki (rickimc@aol.com)
A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller
Rating: 2 Stars
This was very different from his other plays in this format, but the style is genuine Miller. Parts of the action were rather confusing, though.
Amy Honan
Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 5 Stars
Ms. Evanovich's books just get better and better. Stephanie Plum and the gang return in yet another funny story about murder, mayhem and a kidnapping.
Sharon J.
Any Bitter Thing by Monica Wood
Rating: 5 Stars
A beautiful novel with realistic character portrayal, excellent writing, and a wonderful story.
Sras
The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen
Rating: 5 Stars
There are few authors of mystery and suspense who write like Tess Gerritsen. Here she produces an astounding theory and laces it with her own mix of murder, mystery and everyday doings. Again, the main characters are Dr. Maura Isles and Jane Rizzoli --- sometimes odd friends, but here, at odds over several issues. Will they be able to bring justice to the murdered women portrayed in this book?
The plot winds and turns back on itself as a mysterious group of people fight against a very dangerous one. There is nothing easy about her plots and characters, but this is surely one of her most mysterious ones overall and makes for a terrific book for any discussion group. I've rarely wanted to discuss a book with anyone, but I feel I would definitely like to have some enlightenment on this one. This is one book that certainly makes you think.
Sandy (Yodasmommy@woh.rr.com)
Baby Proof by Emily Giffin
Rating: 3 Stars
At first I wasn't too crazy about this book, but it got better. When Claudia and Ben got married, neither of them wanted children; then a few years later, Ben changes his mind and Claudia has not. Pretty soon, they get a divorce.
This book is mainly about what people will and will not do for love.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
Out by Natsuo Kirino
Rating: 5 Stars
At first thought I would not like it, but the characters and situations were so compelling. A thriller and look into man's depravity. Where is the goodness in people?
Amy Honan
The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
Rating: 4 Stars
It was terribly difficult to put this book down. I got in trouble for reading it during school.
Rose (vinorosso@yahoo.com)
Abundance by Sena Jeter Naslund
Rating: 5 Stars
I am in the middle of ABUNDANCE, a narrative memoir and historical fiction about Marie Antoinette. Thus far, it's a marvelous read. I have learned a great deal about the misunderstood and misquoted woman who became the Queen of France. A gem of a read for women.
Rita Cameron
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 5 Stars
The best book I have read this fall. It has everything I would want in a book.
Arianna Hawkins (nanahwkns@yahoo.com)
The End by Lemony Snicket
Rating: 5 Stars
I thought the ending was pretty good for this type of series. I need to reread them all again along with the additional literature, but I remembered enough from the other books that I realized that there are a few very good life lessons and morals in Snicket's series. I think there is a deeper message to the whole story.
On a different note, one can't help but be amazed at how incredibly clever Lemony Snicket is as a writer. Indeed, I think he is one of the best children's writers in the last ten or fifteen years! There is nothing sloppy or sappy about his writing. His calibre as a writer is definitely worthy of admiration.
Rema C
The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright
Rating: 4 Stars
This contains Informative background about Bin Laden, Al-Zawahiri, and the formation of Al-Qaeda. Well written.
Arianna Hawkins (nanahwkns@yahoo.com)
Academy X by Andrew Trees
Rating: 5 Stars
I have not finished it yet, but it is immensely funny. At the same time it is very dismaying when one considers there really are filthy rich families who will do anything to get their kids into the Ivy League, whether or not they deserve it. This is a story from a teacher's point of view of the situation, and I trust the author's perspective and information as he is a high school teacher at a private high school in New York City, just like his character, John Spencer.
Arianna Hawkins (nanahwkns@yahoo.com)
Desert Flower by Waris Dirie
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a truly amazing account of a Somali woman's transition from a harsh nomadic life in Somalia to her current recognition as an international supermodel and a special ambassador to the United Nations. Waris should be an inspiration to everyone, I believe, especially to all women in the world. She is an excellent role model.
Caroline Ramirez (metalfiend11@yahoo.com)
Objection! by Nancy Grace with Diane Clehane
Rating: 3 Stars
A very informative read about the criminal justice system. Nancy unveils some of the biggest injustices in our system and covers some of the most infamous cases of our time.
Linda J. LeVan
Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin
Rating: 5 Stars
The story of Griffin's journeys in the 1950s South is just as moving now as when it was first written. The edition published in 2004 includes photographs Griffin changing his appearance from a white man to a black man, and truly adds dimension to the writing.
Rose-Hulman Mom (vinorosso@yahoo.com)
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Rating: 5 Stars
I highly recommend THE GLASS CASTLE. It will touch your heart and soul.
Theresa Norris (weceno@yahoo.com)
The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this romance. It's wonderfully written, with a great cast of characters and a very steamy and spicy hero and heroine.
Sandra F.
Menace by L. R. Wright
Rating: 5 Stars
A novel set in the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, featuring RCMP office Edwina Henderson. This was a good story with a solid plot and characters. This was the last book written by L. R. Wright before her death. Her fans will miss her.
Trish Thomas
A Briefer History of Time by Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow
Rating: 4 Stars
It would take another reading to really "get" all the data, but I feel I understand much more about time and physics than I did last week, say. It truly was very simplified --- I started the previous edition, but didn't get very far before I flagged.
LouBabe
Dazzle by Judith Krantz
Rating: 2 Stars
I guess my biggest objection was the constant graphic sex in this book. It really took away from the plot and got to be pretty darn tiring after awhile. I found myself jumping a couple of pages every time someone got turned on. I did enjoy the early Southern California history.
Jon
The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos
Rating: 5 Stars
This may be the best Pelecanos novel yet. Set in the Washington DC that tourists seldom are aware of, this is a gripping, fast-paced, hard-boiled novel by one of the masters of the genre.
Theresa Norris (weceno@yahoo.com)
Who Makes Up These Rules, Anyway? by Stevi Mittman
Rating: 5 Stars
This is in the Harlequinn Next series. The book has a great lead character, Teddi Bayer Gallo --- you'll feel like her best friend as she moves though life solving mysteries.
I loved it so much I bought the second book in the series. WHAT GOES WITH BLOOD RED, ANYWAY?
Trish Thomas
Mistaken Identity by Lisa Scottoline
Rating: 3 Stars
It was much more intense than DEVIL'S CORNER and her previous books (which were all intense as thrillers), but she was dealing with something in her personal life that she included in the story.
Katherine Puller
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Rating: 5 Stars
I read this book twice over the last week, and I can't remember the last time I enjoyed fiction this much. As soon as I reached the ending, I flipped to the front and started to read the novel again. I was amazed at the how clearly the mystery is revealed if you just know what to look for.
Lauri Wilson (wilson71730@sbcglobal.net)
The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer
Rating: 3 Stars
I'm halfway through and I'll probably finish this, but I would not read any more of his books. I'm not a fan of his style.
Megan B. from Buffalo, NY
Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchy
Rating: 4 Stars
I was lucky enough to be shopping in a Canadian bookstore and found a NEW book by Maeve Binchy (that won't be published in the US until March 2007). It is just as you would expect from Maeve Binchy --- warm, fun, great characters, wonderful story. I already have a waiting list of my friends who want to read it after me!
Suzanne (smazzei@myactv.net)
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Rating: 4 Stars
This book was selected by my book club to read. Not usually a nonfiction fan, I was hesitant. It turned out to be a very interesting story about the Chicago World's Fair. A little bit of history, a little bit of suspense, and a little bit of learning!
Barbara Beecher
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Rating: 4 Stars
Very interesting story of a search for both Dracula's tome and those we love.
Sandra F.
Murder of a Smart Cookie by Denise Swanson
Rating: 4 Stars
A light and very amusing read about a school psychologist who solves murder mysteries in her spare time. I would certainly read more by this author.
Sandra F.
Skinner's Trail by Quintin Jardine
Rating: 5 Stars
One of the best detective series on the go.
Susie Schachte (sschachte@mail.greenwood.lib.in.us)
March by Geraldine Brooks
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the continuing and fulfilling story of the March family that Louisa Mae Alcott introduced to us in LITTLE WOMEN. The author continues Alcott's voice and fills in the details of what Father was experiencing in the Civil War.
LouBabe
Night Shadow by Nora Roberts
Rating: 2 Stars
Like the previous book, NIGHT SHIFT, this doesn't hold my interest. Neither is what I have come to expect from Nora Roberts.
LouBabe
Night Shift by Nora Roberts
Rating: 2 Stars
This is not the best by Nora Roberts, and I had trouble maintaining interest in it.
Tracey Byram
October Dreams by various
Rating: 4 Stars
An anthology of stories about Halloween written by some of today's top horror writers. There are mostly short stories about Halloween with intervals of real-life tales of Halloweens from the writers' childhoods.
Pam
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Rating: 5 Stars
I'm sure most of you have read the book or at least seen the movie. If you haven't, you're really missing something. By the time I reached chapter seven, I was googling for pictures. I was so surprised to find a site about others who had done the same! They stated you won't find any pics because the book is fiction, while some were swearing up and down the story is true. That's the kind of book this is.It's very controverial because it's so moving and REAL.
Ginny (VCHL819@aol.com)
Widow of the South by Robert Hicks
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is amazing. Based on a true event, it relates the story of two women during the Civil War who care for the injured soldiers brought to their house-turned-hospital, and care for the dead as I've never heard of before. I would read WIDOW OF THE SOUTH again, and I rarely reread anything. Don't miss it!
Judy O.
Snow Blind by P.J. Tracy
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the fourth installment in the series about The Monkeewrench crew --- a quartet of computer whizzes who help solve crimes. Somebody is killing men, two of them policemen, and posing their bodies inside snowmen. The setting is in Minneapolis in January, during a horrendous period of blizzards and ice storms. This was a compelling, fast read. I actually had to keep looking outside to make sure that the weather wasn't that bad in Iowa, because it was so realistic.
Sandra F.
White Smoke by Andrew M. Greeley
Rating: 3 Stars
This is an interesting story of the events surrounding the election of a new pope. The best part of the book is the description of the traditions and politics surrounding the election.
Patricia Schrot
The Killing Kind by John Connolly
Rating: 4 Stars
I am working my way through the Charlie "Bird" Parker books and, while quite graphic , I think they are well written.
If you hate spiders stay away from this one!
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
What Came Before He Shot Her by Elizabeth George
Rating: 3 Stars
WHAT CAME BEFORE HE SHOT HER is a behind-the-scenes look at the events leading to the shooting of Helen Lynley. It takes a look at the utter despair of the have-nots, in which a single event changes everything. The plot and characters are well developed, and portray a descent into hopelessness.
Roxie
Good Night Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian
Rating: 5 Stars
Set in World War II, this book revolves around a lonely old man and the 8-year-old evacuee he takes in. The boy was abused by his mother and his change is heartbreaking....his transition to a normal healthy boy. I read this years ago and was just as captivated this time. You can't put it down until you find out what happens to him.
Rhea (leafan@telus.net)
The Ruins by Scott Smith
Rating: 4 Stars
I thought this book was great. Very believable and entertaining.
Rhea (leafan@telus.net)
The Weather Makers by Tim Flannery
Rating: 3 Stars
I am finding this very interesting but not too difficult to read. I think it is a must read for everyone.
Judy
The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen
Rating: 4 Stars
Does evil really walk in apparently human form? The members of The Mephisto Club believe so. The police have grisly murders complete with enigmatic symbols, upsidedown crosses. The ME (Maura Isles) and detective (Jane Rizzoli) leads have subplots of their own --- a forbidden love with the police chaplain (a priest), and an interesting set of parents, respectively. I couldn't put the book down, yet you have to decide for yourself what you truly believe.
Paula J. Hephner (PJeans63@yahoo.com)
Undead and Unappreciated by Mary Janice Davidson
Rating: 5 Stars
This author consistantly in produces GREAT novels! This one was no exception. The heroine, Betsy, is still coming to terms with being "Queen of the Vampires," because "oh my god, it's like, sooo stupid." This book is completely amusing, and if you love any of the Anita Blake novels, or the Dead series with Sookie Stackhouse, you'll love this!
Jen Deja
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Rating: 5 Stars
I couldn't put it down. The writing is excellent and the storyline, while not action packed, keeps you turning the pages.
Bettys
The Zero Game by Brad Meltzer
Rating: 5 Stars
Political Intrigue --- great for the season of elections. The House and Senate interns (and others) play a dangerous game of "who can win money by guessing which bills will be passed containing some irrelevant piece of fluff." Murder happens.
Patricia Schrot
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Rating: 4 Stars
I thought the book, while interesting, was overrated, and I have friends who couldn't even finish it.
It felt quite contrived and I would think Ms Setterfield must have been as surprised as anyone when it hit #1 on New York Times list!
Patricia Schrot
Act of Treason by Vince Flynn
Rating: 5 Stars
Flynn does it again! His books never disappoint me and keep me on the edge of my seat.
I would love to think that there is a real Mitch Rapp out there working for us all!
Rhea (leafan@telus.net)
A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book just as much as THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME. Mark Haddon's writing is unlike anyone else. He is so funny and his books are so different.
Rhea (leafan@telus.net)
Teacher Man: A Memoir by Frank McCourt
Rating: 3 Stars
This book is ok. I guess I was just a little disappointed because ANGELA'S ASHES is one of my all-time favorite books.
Rhea (leafan@telus.net)
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book. It was so moving and sad.
Sally Cantor (SalbyC@aol.com)
Digging To America by Anne Tyler
Rating: 5 Stars
Another exceptional book by Anne Tyler. It is the story of two very different families connected by their adoption of baby girls from Korea. They meet at the airport the day their infant daughters arrive, and they continue to celebrate "arrival day" each year as the girls grow. Of course, it is really about so much more than that. A wonderful read.
Bonnie Levy
Marley & Me by John Grogan
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a very touching and humorous story about a man and his dog. I loved this book and recommend it to all!
Marion Miller (lamamil@aol.com)
History of Love by Nicole Krauss
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a series of stories within a story. It is a fascinating book to read, about the history of a manuscript that starts out in Europe and travels to South America, and ends up in the U.S. This is a good book club selection.
Luann
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Rating: 5 Stars
One of those rare books that just reaches out and grabs you. I couldn't put it down. A must-read for all book lovers!
Bettys
Widow of the South by Robert Hicks
Rating: 4 Stars
Written about the Cival War era, this book deals with ordinary people rather than the battle. Thoughts of both the North and the South are given; however, Carrie McGavock, a Southern lady and her servant. Mariah (both as young and old women ) are the prominent characters. Young Carrie's house is made into a hospital for the Confederacy; in her old age, she becomes the caretaker of a cemetery of many of the young men who died in the war.
T. Thomas
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 4 Stars
I enjoyed reading about the circus.
T. Thomas
Jackal in the Garden by Deborah Ellis
Rating: 3 Stars
Another YA novel. JACKAL IN THE GARDEN is historical fiction about the Muslim world in the 1500s.
T. Thomas
Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a YA novel, but could be enjoyed by adults as well. It takes a different slant on "life" after death.
Patricia Schrot
Ricochet by Sandra Brown
Rating: 3 Stars
This was the first book by Brown that I had read. It started out very well, and I thought, "wow --- I have found a 'new to me' author." But, the ending was so disappointing; it sort of fell apart, and wasn't not satifactory at all, in comparison to how it started.
Sal
The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer
Rating: 3 Stars
A botched presendential assassination attempt leaves the president's best friend dead and a young aide disfigured for life. Fast forward eight years and the disfigured aide is now a staffer with the former president. He believes he sees the supposedly dead friend in Malaysia, and the hunt is on. Just who is hunting whom, and why, is the basis of the book. The characters are interesting, the conspiracy theories fly about, and the book kept me reading. However, by the end, I felt slightly let down even though all the threads were tied up (a bit too nicely, maybe). It's a long book, but a nice enough ride if you have the time.
T. Thomas
The Damascened Blade by Barbara Cleverly
Rating: 4 Stars
Third in the series. Another good one.
T. Thomas
Ragtime in Simla by Barbara Cleverly
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the second book in this series. It's a very good mystery.
Patricia Schrot
Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the first book I've read by Slaughter; she came highly recommended.
I felt this was a good mystery for her first novel, and I have been assured that her books improve in this series about a Police Chief and his ex-wife, who is a doctor.
It is surprising to me that so many authors feel that they have to have ongoing 'angst' between their recurring males and females; sometimes it seems like every book I read has that theme running through it.
T. Thomas
The Palace Tiger by Barbara Cleverly
Rating: 4 Stars
The 4th in the series. Only one to go.
Katharine Phenix (kjphenix@yahoo.com)
My Antonia by Willa Cather
Rating: 4 Stars
It's about time I read this. I'm experiencing the audio narrated by George Guidall, who is a great favorite among audio afficianados. It's strange that I am reading another book about Nebraska, which was completely unplanned. Cather is a classic, and I'm learning a lot through this lovely story.
Cathey (dbinpgh@aol.com)
At the Stroke of Madness by Alex Kava
Rating: 4 Stars
Another great suspenseful story!
However, it was a little gruesome!
Cathey (dbinpgh@aol.com)
The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
Rating: 4 Stars
A great holiday book! This was a very enjoyable holiday story, but it was predictable.
Carey Hemond (chemond@verizon.net)
Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man by Fannie Flagg
Rating: 5 Stars
This was great! I loved it and laughed all the way through. I have read other books by her, and all have been great.
Carey Hemond (chemond@verizon.net)
Family by Karen Kingsbury
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the 4th book in the Firstborn series. It is about the Baxter family, and in this one, Dayne meets his siblings. The Redemption series, which consists of 5 books, begins the Baxters' story. I don't normally collect books, but I bought all 9 from these two series published so far, and will buy the last book in the Firstborn series, plus the next 4 in the Sunrise series. I love Karen Kingsbury's books, they are wonderful. I can't wait for the next one...
Carol
She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb
Rating: 5 Stars
I finally got around to reading this book. It's extremely well written and covers some complex subjects well.
Debbie
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book. It's a wonderful story full of the memories of a ninety-something year old man, Jacob Jankowski, who joined the circus as a young man. It takes place during the Great Depression.
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS made me want to see the circus again.
Arlene (spizzyone@aol.com)
The Sacrifice by Beverly Lewis
Rating: 5 Stars
3rd in the Abrahm's Daughters series, this is a story about young Amish sisters as they come of age, fall in love, and make their way in the world. I really like this author and love her characters. My book group read the first book in the series, and I just kept on reading the rest!
Terry Leibel (t_leibel@hotmail.com)
Tyrannosaur Canyon by Douglas Preston
Rating: 5 Stars
A very entertaining science-based thriller that kept me glued from the opening page to the last. If you have never picked up a book by Douglas Preston, try this one. You won't be disappointed.
Katharine Phenix (kjphenix@yahoo.com)
The Echo Maker by Richard Powers
Rating: 3 Stars
I haven't finished it. It might be a 5* title --- it was a finalist for the National Book Award. I'm learning about sandhill cranes, Nebraska, and the wonders and pitfalls of the brain.
Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com)
Everything Must Go by Elizabeth Flock
Rating: 4 Stars
If you loved ME & EMMA, don't miss Flock's EVERYTHING MUST GO, a powerful American family saga!
A. Thomas
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larsen
Rating: 3 Stars
I just started this one this morning, so I haven't gotten far enough into it to form an opinion yet.
Sunny
The Girls by Lori Lansens
Rating: 5 Stars
Two conjoined twin sisters each write the stories of their lives from their own perspectives. Beautifully written, and alternately heartbreaking and humorous, I sometimes forgot that the book was a work of fiction. Five stars for sure!
Sunny
This Book Will Save Your Life by A. M. Homes
Rating: 5 Stars
A novel about a wealthy middle-aged man going through his midlife crisis in southern California, among the rich and famous. He's got a heart of gold and he's nothing like that stereotypical male you'd expect. I adored the main character and I adored the book.
L. Hann
In Their Footsteps by Tess Gerritsen
Rating: 5 Stars
Another great book by Tess. This one was very easy to get into, and I finished it in a couple hours. Great read.
Tim Eady (timeady@bellsouth.net)
A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving
Rating: 4 Stars
A very good read. The book follows the life of two boys in a small New Hampshire town. John's best friend Owen hits a baseball during a little league game and accidently kills John's mother.
Carol Newey (carford@aol.com)
The Brethren by Beverly Lewis
Rating: 4 Stars
This well-written book takes an interesting look into the Amish culture. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 for the story content.
.
Linda
The White Masai by Corinne Hofmann
Rating: 4 Stars
My daughter lived with the Masai for two months during a college internship, and this book has given me some wonderful insights into what that must have been like for her. This nonfiction book covers the five-year relationship and marriage of a Swiss businesswoman to a Masai warrior, and all of the rewards and difficulties of two extremely different cultures. Although not the best writing, I'm learning a lot and it keeps me interested and wanting to know more about the Masai.
Jen
Family Baggage by Monica McInerney
Rating: 4 Stars
A very enjoyable read about secrets in a family and the effects they have on everyone's life. Monica McInerney is an Australian author who also wrote THE ALPHABET SISTERS. Her books are enjoyable and engaging.
Myrna
Bella Tuscany by Frances Mayes
Rating: 4 Stars
I took this book along with me on a trip to Italy. When we weren't out sightseeing, it was perfect company for relaxing at night. It's a sequel to Mayes' UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN. Having an atlas beside me (to navigate our way through Puglia) allowed me to find the little towns she mentioned near her remodeled villa. The book gives you a vivid sense of the Italian way of life in Tuscany. It's light and charming; it makes you love Italy, if you don't already.
Rita Carter (gandmari@aol.com)
Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish
Rating: 1 Stars
I read this for a reading group. The consensus was a to give it 1 star. The reader just keeps getting hit over the head with the same themes. It was a neat idea, but we just didn't like how it was played out. It was too improbable, and it was hard to imagine talking to friends as they did. Immediate bonding with strangers with the only tie being Annie....come on!
E.Quinn Knight (eqkmath@gmail.com)
Girl Sleuth by Melanie Rehak
Rating: 5 Stars
For all those who grew up on Nancy Drew, this book is so much fun! The author gives us all sorts of background information on Nancy and the fact that there were two renditions of her work. This is an exciting piece of writing, and one that is interesting to all of us who hid under the sheets with a flashlight to read Nancy Drew.
Julie Towson
What They Didn't Teach You About World War II by Mike Wright
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a great book for anyone interested in World War II. It makes you so interested in the subject that you want to learn more. It is a very entertaining approach to examining the war.
Betty Jo (harrises@bayou.com)
The Devil in the Junior League by Linda Francis Lee
Rating: 5 Stars
For a laugh-out-loud funny book, try this one. It's so predictable, but so funny that it doesn't matter.
Arlene Herring (ekelks@msn.com)
The Good German by Joseph Kanon
Rating: 4 Stars
Jake Geismar --- an American reporter for Collier's --- is in Berlin, now divided into Russian, American and British zones. This spy story begings with Jake's search for Lena, his pre-war flame. The novel details post-war Berlin --- the displaced persons, the Russians and Americans fighting over who gets to keep German scientists before the war crime tribunals catch up with them, the horror of the 'griefers' (German Jews who turned in other Jews). People have compared Kanon to Le Carré and Greene. I don't think he's that good --- hence 4 instead of 5 stars. But, some scenes are excellent: the rubble, the press, the politics, the beginning of the Cold War. And the importance of shoes -- I won't give that away -- just heartbreaking.
NB: This book is being made into a movie.
Arlene Herring (ekelks@msn.com)
One Step Behind by Henning Mankell
Rating: 5 Stars
Inspector Kurt Wallander is the hero of Sweden's masterful crime writer's police procedurals. This book -- the whole series, in fact -- was impossible to put down. Wallander is a very human cop. In this book, he must find three missing teenagers. Are they runaways? Murder victims? He has to deal with their parents, a police beaurocracy, and more. This very exciting read was dramatic and lyrical, complicated, but not too dense. I can't think of enough superlatives. Mankell is Sweden's Ruth Rendell at her best.
Sandi
Gone by Lisa Gardner
Rating: 3 Stars
I'm not sure I will finish this book. It's OK, but it hasn't wowed me yet. Maybe I've read too many of this sort.
Quicy's wife has been ransomed for $10,000. I"ve found the wife to be tiresome, and the addition of a boy who has been given too many chances through the court system was annoying.
Sarah
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Rating: 5 Stars
This was an amazing story of the friendship betwen two women. I loved learning about the history of the Chinese culture, especially the footbinding. It was a beautiful, well-written story.
Sally B., San Antonio TX
Shadow Baby by Alison McGhee
Rating: 2 Stars
This book was recommended by a member of my book group. She said it was better than THE THIRTEENTH TALE.
An 11-year-old girl recalls the visits to an elderly neighbor, and also her questions regarding her dead twin. It was spoken in the voice of the child (which I didn't care for).
Valerie Giambona
History of Love by Nicole Krauss
Rating: 4 Stars
I love this book so much. It's really very beautifully done. The story and the way the book comes together makes the world seem small, but in a larger-than-life sense. The prose backs up the title. It's genius.
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews
Rating: 5 Stars
What an enjoyable book this was!! After her divorce, Weezie (Eloise) Foley is currently living in the Carriage house of a townhouse where her ex-husband now lives with his girlfriend. Weezie begins Daniel, the hunky cook at her friend Bebe's restaurant. When Weezie’s husband's girlfriend is murdered, Weezie is a suspect, and her Uncle James comes to the rescue. He does a little research and discovers some interesting information that gets Weezie off the hook.
This is a very light and funny mystery with a Southern flair. I have become a big fan overnight!
Terri L. (terri.loeffler@sbcglobal.net)
Killing Time by Linda Howard
Rating: 4 Stars
A great thriller/mystery involving time travel. When I first realized this, I expected something stupid, but it was exceptionally well handled and believable. I couldn't put it down!
Jeff
This Wild Darkness by Harold Brodkey
Rating: 4 Stars
In Ingmar Bergman's film, The Serpent's Egg, a Nazi doctor watches himself in a mirror as he bites down on a cyanide capsule. As I read Brodkey's book, I had the same eerie feeling of someone mercilously observing his own dissolution with a kind of morbid fascination. The difference, of course, is that Brodkey was a fine writer who bravely bared his soul with heartrending honesty.
Beverly Rowe (bevbooks@aol.com)
Candles Burning by Tabitha King and Michael McDowell
Rating: 5 Stars
Wow, what a book. Michael McDowell left this earth without finishing the manuscript, but Tabitha King took it and made it her own. This is a truly unforgettable story of murder, ghosts, and a convoluted family tree. This story will keep you guessing all the way through. Nobody is exactly as they seem.
Wendy Reiter
The Flamenco Academy by Sarah Bird
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a fascinating story interwoven with the history of flamenco dancing. You feel the depths of emotion felt by the characters alongside the passion of flamenco, which sends the readers kicking their heels to keep up with the frenetic pace of the story. A wonderful and exciting read!
Kendra (KendraPT@aol.com)
The Keeper by Sarah Langan
Rating: 4 Stars
This book totally sucked me in. I read it at the gym, where it did an excellent job of distracting me from the fact that I was exercising. It was absolutely mesmerizing and chilling. It's not a good book to read just before bed on a rainy night.
Kendra (KendraPT@aol.com)
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Rating: 4 Stars
I really liked THE THIRTEENTH TALE. It wasn't predictable, had plenty of twists and turns, and totally sucked me in to the story. I love books, so I felt very close to the main character, Margaret Lea, who in some ways lived her life through books. I can recommend this book as being well written, entertaining, and engrossing.
Karen Johnson
The Lay of the Land by Richard Ford
Rating: 5 Stars
In his moving, smart, and funny new novel, THE LAY OF THE LAND, Ford brings back his offbeat central character, Frank Bascombe, first introduced in his 1986 novel, THE SPORTSWRITER. In the Pulitzer Prize-winning Independence Day, Frank reappeared, grieving the loss of his son and coping with divorce. Now, a decade later, he comes before us, still besieged (he has prostate cancer, his second wife has just left him, the 2000 election fiasco is in play), still trying to make sense of things.
Randa
Act of Treason by Vince Flynn
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the latest in the Mitch Rapp series and although I am in the middle of the book, it is great. Flynn is a favorite read of our soldiers overseas, and his books are reported to be in tanks all the time. This is espionage at its best and all of the plots are very believable. Highly recommended and hard to put down.
Nicole Hulst
Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder
Rating: 4 Stars
A great followup to the wonderful POISON STUDY. Snyder is definitely a fantasy author to watch.
Renee (tfranzen2124@comcast.net)
Absolution by Murder by Peter Tremayne
Rating: 4 Stars
This book is the first installment in a fascinating mystery series, the Sister Fedelma Mysteries. It's set in a monestary in 600's. Great!
Joan
The Slow Moon by Elizabeth Cox
Rating: 4 Stars
I saw this book listed in the Reading Group guide and decided to try it. It's a really good read. A young girl is beaten and raped by a group of boys, and her boyfriend is charged. Until she can remember that night and who did this to her, she struggles to move forward. As the story unfolds, we learn of all the secrets and circumstances of family and people in this small town. You will not be disappointed.
Elaine Gutenstein
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Rating: 4 Stars
I had to re-read this after renting the DVD...I first read it in high school. Boy, does time and experience change your viewpoint. This is still one of the best nonfiction crime books; it's raw and moving...not to be missed.
Mary Ward (mamie316@sbcglobal.net)
For One More Day by Mitch Albom
Rating: 4 Stars
A very touching novel about life, dying, and the love of a mother. It had me in tears a few times and really crying at the end. There really is nothing like the love of a mother, and it's sad to think that we take advantage of that fact too often in life. FOR ONE MORE DAY is really a must read for everyone, especially mothers and sons.
Debra LeBarron
Friends by Debbie Macomber
Rating: 5 Stars
I really like her books a lot!
Donna Tanner
Fake: Forgery, Lies, & eBay by Kenneth Walton
Rating: 5 Stars
EBayers will love this. FAKE is an exceptionally well-written autobiography about selling art (real and forged) during the early developing stages on eBay. It's interesting to see how eBay had to literally be forced into devising a system that no longer allowed sellers to cheat/lie to buyers... fortunately for us! It may sound dull, but you won't be disappointed!
KG
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Rating: 5 Stars
Hilarious and extremely engaging story about a demi-god in the modern world. Remember how Zeus and the other Olympians had children with mortals all the time? Well, there's no reason to think they have stopped doing that, is there...?
Diana Flanary-Bray (imluna47@yahoo.com)
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Rating: 5 Stars
What if the world as you knew it came to a sudden end, and all you see around you is gray ash, killing everything and everyone who breathes it in?
A nuclear holocaust has caused the damage, and few survivors remain. Those who do survive find that all animal life except an occasional dog is extinct.
Food no longer exists, unless it was canned prior to the blast. People eat everything they can scavenge, or they starve.
Some begin to eat one another.
A father devotes what remains of his life to trying to keep his young son alive. They go on the road to try to find any decent human beings. In the process between starvation and life, they too become as despicable as those they don't want to be like. Their survival depends on it.
One lives, and one dies. Life is a very uncertain matter on THE ROAD.
Read it, and imagine what a nuclear holocaust could mean to you, to your family, to the world in general.
Conditions in the world today are such that it is not very hard to imagine. THE ROAD is a good book, thought provoking....
Sandi
Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama
Rating: 5 Stars
An interesting read by a rising political star. I am enjoying this book... and learning a lot.
Connie Jorgensen (hercteacher@yahoo.com)
Maybe a Miracle by Brian Strause
Rating: 4 Stars
Funny, insightful, touching. The teenaged narrator, Monroe, is keenly observant of the dynamics of family relationships, which he describes in an ironic, yet entirely humble voice. The uses and abuses of religion in current society are portrayed through various authentic and sympathetic characters. MAYBE A MIRACLE is laugh-out-loud funny, yet also thought provoking.
Judy O.
When Madeline Was Young by Jane Hamilton
Rating: 4 Stars
Aaron Maciver's young wife, Madeline, is badly injured in a bike crash a year after they are married, and she is left with severely limited mental powers. Aaron eventually divorces her and marries again, but he and his new wife take on the task of caring for Madeline for the rest of her life. It's quite an unusual situation, but Hamilton does a good job of making all this believable. The story is told through the eyes of Aaron's son, Timothy. It's an interesting read with some poignant moments.
Renee (tfranzen2124@comcast.net)
The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd
Rating: 4 Stars
A creative and honest story.
LaDonna Carrington (ladonnac@aol.com)
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book! I enjoyed it the most out of anything I have read in quite some time.
Janice Kind (kindleelf@aol.com)
What is Mine by Ann Holt
Rating: 5 Stars
A young girl disappears on their way home from school. Two days later, a small boy is abducted from his home, and he is found dead one day later. Another girl disappears, and the public is in an uproar; in the meantime an elderly lady dying of cancer wants an investigation into the innocence of a man jailed for 25 years that she is sure is innocent. These events tie together as the story unforlds. It's a super read.
Janice Kind (Kindleelf@aol.com)
Shark Dialogues by Kiana Davenport
Rating: 5 Stars
This story is about Pono, a kahuna of stature, tall and strong. She meets her soulmate Duke, striding from the waves he rode to shore. Pono and Duke fall deeply in love, then a serious disease forces them to flee inland. This impossible relationship indures for over 60 years, the consequences deeply affecting many lives. What an enjoyable book depicticting traits to greatly admire, and those to dispise.
Bridget
4th of July by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Rating: 2 Stars
I have never read anything else by this author, and I don't think I ever will. Several friends recommended this and I was sadly disappointed. It was violent, with a twist ending, but the dialogue was just too contrived and the descriptions were inadequate.
Marilyn Shoemaker
Pregnancy of Passion by Lucy Monroe
Rating: 5 Stars
This is Elisa and Salvatore’s story, one full of passion and pain that will, in the end, warm your heart.
All of Elisa’s life, she just wanted to belong. She craved acceptance from her American mother who chose not to marry her Italian father. Though she spent time in Sicily with her father and his wife and daughter, Elisa always felt somewhat like an outsider. Her lover, Salvatore, had shown her such passion, but when she told him she was pregnant, he didn’t believe the baby was his, and he left her after their child perished. She felt such pain and became a truly lost and broken woman.
Now a year later, Elisa is faced with seeing Salvatore, and this is where the story takes off on a roller coaster ride, and seductive journey that the reader will long remember. Lucy Monroe is a master at depicting strong passion between her two main characters, and again, in PREGNANCY OF PASSION, she has delivered a powerful punch. Be prepared for sorrow and pain, but also a passion not to be denied.
Janice Kind (Kindleelf@aol.com)
Night by Elie Wiesel
Rating: 5 Stars
Elie Weisel was a teenager when he and his family were uprooted from their home and sent to Auschwitz. His mother and sister were incinerated their first day there, while he and his father withstood unbelievable terror, physical beatings, cold and hunger.
One can hardly overlook the point that once again some nations are questioning the right for Israel to exist. Enough --- we must learn to love and respect one another. Any religion that promotes the elimanation of anyone who doesn't share their particular beliefs are again flirting with enormous inhumanity once more. Read this book.
BK
The Mission Song by John LeCarré
Rating: 4 Stars
An ever-innocent 29-year-old African orphan love child has become a stellar interpreter for the British spy service. He is sent on a top secret assignment, and what he hears puts him on the horns of a dilemma. As always, Le Carré is a masterful writer. The story has a twist that makes us question what sacrifices each of us should/could make for what is right.
Jayne
One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson
Rating: 5 Stars
Following Kate Atkinson's wonderful novel, CASE HISTORIES, is ONE GOOD TURN. Full of intrigue and humor, it is the kind of literary mystery that no one else seems to be writing. It keeps you guessing until the end.
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs
Rating: 5 Stars
A fast-paced read with plot twists that kept me reading from start to finish. This was my time reading a book in the Temperance Brennan series, but it won't be my last.
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
Wicked Wishes by Marly Chance, Stephanie Burke and Joanna Wylde
Rating: 5 Stars
This was a wickedly good read --- in A WISH AWAY by Marly Chance, Tiffany makes a birthday wish that is full of more excitement than she bargained for; Stephanie Burke's CRAVEN'S (DOWNFALL) is Nola's erotic wish come true; and in SERENDIPITY by Joanna Wylde, a little girl's wish for a Daddy brings Sarai and Jax together. I enjoyed all 3 other-world stories.
Laurene Miller
The Messenger by Tami Hoag
Rating: 4 Stars
I loved this book, it's a great thriller.
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
Things That Go Bump In The Night III by Cheyenne McCray, Stephanie Burke and Mlyn Hurn
Rating: 5 Stars
This was a really fun anthology of 3 different stories with friends, Natalie, Miznari and Kerry that are interconnected. "Possessed" by Cheyenne McCray is the 5th book in the Seraphine Chronicles series. Ms. McCray's stories always enchant me and leave me panting...for her next book. Stephanie Burke and Mlyn Hurn were both new authors for me. I enjoyed both of their stories and look forward to reading more of their work.
CC (breezywriter@aol.com)
The Florabama Ladies' Auxiliary & Sewing Circle by Lois Battle
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a charming portrayal of a group of Southern women who become unlikely friends.
bk
Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris
Rating: 4 Stars
GENTLEMEN AND PLAYERS is about a private boys' school in the UK. It seems to be a coming-of-age story, but then it takes a dark turn. This cautionary tale of suspense surprised me at the end. If I were a teacher, I'd think twice before crossing some kids! I also read her books FIVE QUARTERS OF THE ORANGE and CHOCOLAT (on which the movie was based) and enjoyed them too. There's always a clever, dark twist to her stories.
bk
The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan
Rating: 4 Stars
This is another compelling book by Amy Tan, in which she tells the story during 1940s China. A successful American daughter has little patience with her immigrant mother’s backward ways. Then, she learns the secrets of her mother’s life leading up to and during World War II in China. It pulls at your heart to know what many women endured in this ancient culture from their own families, plus the tragedy of the invasion by Japan. It reminds us, once again, that to be born a woman in the US is to be the luckiest woman on the face of the earth. It also reminds us to be patient with our elders who have had lives and challenges that they endured to give us a better life. Amy Tan is a great writer who is always enjoyable to read.
EHS
The Places In Between by Rory Stewart
Rating: 5 Stars
This brilliant and mad young Scot started walking across Afghanistan in January (yes, across snow-covered mountains) of 2002, shortly after the fall of the Taliban.
Woven into this tale of endurance is fascinating history and an unique perspective on the people of Afghanistan --- and a great dog story.
L. Gettle (lgettle@iserv.net)
The Widow by Carla Neggers
Rating: 4 Stars
A rookie police detective probes the seven-year-old murder of her husband.
Mary Ann (annieh@centurytel.net)
Fat Ollie's Book by Ed McBain
Rating: 4 Stars
Who dunit? This book keeps you guessing 'til the end. I love all the 87th Precinct Mystery novels, and I'm working on reading them all.
Brian Dunn
About Writing by Samuel Delany
Rating: 3 Stars
Dense, interesting take on the writer's craft.
sras
A Crack in the Edge of the World by Simon Winchester
Rating: 5 Stars
Though this is subtitled "America and the Great California Earthquake of 1906," the book actually tells us more about the geology of the U.S. than of the San Francisco earthquake. The largest single part describes that subject, but there is so much more about earthquakes in diverse parts of the continent north of the Rio Grande. It is more a book for lovers of geology than of history. I wish I'd known some of the little-known facts about the different fault lines that affect the continent, both the where the tectonic plates touch in Iceland as well as the better-known ones along the Pacific coast. It can be frightening to be faced with the facts of our future as a continent. Even the beauty of Yellowstone Park holds its own secret message. However, all this is supposedly still far in the future so that none of us living today are likely to be struck by the full force of what is ahead.
As in his previous KRAKATOA, Winchester hangs a very good geology lesson on an event in the past. The result is fascinating, especially for anyone interested in any aspect of geology. Fortunately, I am one of those enthralled by how the world was made.
sras
The Wrong Hostage by Elizabeth Lowell
Rating: 5 Stars
For sheer edge-of-the-seat suspense, there's no book equal to this. Grace has come up through the barrio to become a respected judge. Then, she gets a call that changes her life: her teenage son is being held as a hostage in a posh Tijuana private school. In an attempt to rescue him, she turns to a former lover who thought she had betrayed him. Now, she must choose between an honored position on the bench and the life of her child --- if she can move faster than the villains plotting against her.
Crystal Johnston (ez2love_98@hotmail.com)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the latest book in the Harry Potter series. Harry grew up in the last installment, and here he becomes a man. He learns the true impact of the the last book's prophecy and the importance of love as the antidote to fear.
The war against the archenemy of these books, Lord Voldemort, is not going well; even Muggle (magic people's name for non-magic people) governments are noticing. Ron Weasley (Harry's best friend) scans the obituary pages of The Daily Prophet, looking for familiar names. Not a way to live. Dumbledore (the smartest wizard ever born) is absent from Hogwarts (the wizard and witch school that Harry and his friend's attend) for long stretches of time, and the Order of the Phoenix (the forces againt Lord Voldemort) has already suffered losses.
So, it's the home front that takes center stage in the multilayered sixth installment of the story of Harry Potter. Here at Hogwarts, Harry will search for the complex story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort --- and thereby find what may be his only vulnerability.
Bennie L.
Sleeping with Schubert by Bonnie Marson
Rating: 5 Stars
A totally original tale that is beautifully written, moving, and very funny. My book group loved it and I can't stop thinking about it. I can't wait for more by this author.
L. Gettle (lgettle@iserv.net)
Angel Falls by Nora Roberts
Rating: 4 Stars
A woman witnesses a murder and no one believes her.
Donna
Judge & Jury by James Patterson and Andrew Gross
Rating: 5 Stars
I don't rate very many books with 5 stars, but this one deserves it. If you love James Patterson, you cannot miss this book. It is fantastic. A mob boss goes to trial and anything goes...
legbamel
ENDER'S GAME and SPEAKER FOR THE DEAD by Orson Scott Card
Rating: 4 Stars
These are two books about the same person, and together they make for a fantastic story. The first installment introduces you to Ender and how he becomes universally known. The second explains how this affects the rest of his life. Both are deeply affecting and well-written.
Anthony Romano (ARomano895 @aol.com)
State of Denial by Bob Woodward
Rating: 4 Stars
This book tells a teriffying tale of the Bush administration's screw up over Iraq. With two more years left with Bush, this country is in real trouble (I am not a Democrat, but was a life long Republican).
Sandy (Yodasmommy@woh.rr.com)
A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a memoir of Cupcake's amazing life! I couldn't put it down. Visit her website to see what the book is about and you will know if you will like it.
Fran
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
Rating: 4 Stars
Three separate mysteries are presented to one detective. It seems that the author will be unable to pull them all together until the end, when twists and turns result in an interlocking of events. This book had an awkward start, but I was hooked once I got into the story. I would recommend it to all.
Therese
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
Rating: 5 Stars
A beautifully written and compelling story ---what more can anyone ask for?
Bonnie
The Horizontal World by Debra Marquart
Rating: 3 Stars
THE HORIZONTAL WORLD: GROWING UP WILD IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE is a memoir about growing up in North Dakota. The author writes about her own and her ancestors' lives, as well as describes the history of North Dakota --- a topic about which I was totally unfamiliar. I'm glad I read it; I learned a lot and it was quite interesting, too.
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
Hour Game by David Baldacci
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the sequel to SPLIT SECOND, and I liked it better. Sean and Michelle are back again, this time investigating business in Wrightsburg, VA. There are a lot of twists and turns in this one, some of which were surprising.
Kathryn M. Medina
The Oath by Frank Peretti
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a great book. It make you look at you own heart and wonder what you're hiding inside.
THE OATH is about a small town that has a secret no one talks about. An out-of-towner gets murdered and the town covers it up, but his brother wants to find out what happened. The brother digs and if he doesn't defeat the monster in him, then he will soon get himself sucked into the towns secret.
I love to read, but I am bad at telling about a story with out giving away the ending completely. This book has some "religious" aspects that some readers may not like, but it is still a thriller that will keep you on the edge of you seat.
Matt
Valentine: A Love Story by Chet Raymo
Rating: 5 Stars
VALENTINE is a novel with remarkable resonances, its ideas startlingly relevant to our own times: globalization vs. fundamentalism, reason vs. superstition, the subversion of virtue by wealth, and the power of passionate love to overcome all obstacles to its consummation. This is a great work of historical fiction by a wonderfully underappreciated writer! A must read if you like the HBO series "Rome!"
Jon
Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell
Rating: 5 Stars
Another wonderfully written book by the underrated master of country noir, Daniel Woodrell. This may be his finest effort --- his descrition of the life of 16-year-old Ree Dolley is unforgetable. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this powerful work.
Mirjam
The Dark Land by Andrew Salmon
Rating: 5 Stars
I just finished this book and simply could not put it down. If you like science-fiction with heart, then I strongly recommend The Dark Land! The book has great, interesting characters, snappy dialogue with some great laugh out loud moments as well as lots of drama. I'm not much of a science-fiction fan, but this book delivers. Great entertainment!!
Heather Murdock (h_owens99@hotmail.com)
Love You, Mean It by Patricia Carrington, Julia Collins, Claudia Gerbas
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is amazing because it is told by four widows of the September 11th attacks, and shows how they met and bonded over a horrible tragedy.
I recommend this to all, and if I could give it a 200-star rating, I would.
Marijane
When Christians Were Jews by Wayne-Daniel Berard
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is filled with controversy! A must read for anyone thinking globally and seeking religious/spiritual connections today! Berard, adopted by Christian parents, discovered as an adult that he is, by birth, half Jewish. From the vantage point of this personal story, he examines the body of scholarship on the “historical Jesus” or the “Jewish Jesus,” but goes further. He strives to apply the life, practice, and religion of the Jewish Jesus to contemporary Christian life. Flawed, no! Controversial, yes! Enjoy!
Marijane
Bloomfield Avenue by Linda Mercadante
Rating: 4 Stars
An inspiring memoir built upon wonderful insite and lessons learned! Linda Mercadante tells of her quest for religious identity, a real home, good work, and a one-faith family. Her story holds key lessons for people from “mixed” backgrounds, those who long for the ideal family, and those who shun religion as a dead end. Publisher’s Weekly pegged the book as “colorful and compelling.”
Barbara in Jackson
For One More Day by Mitch Albom
Rating: 4 Stars
A truly good little book. In the style of Mitch Albom, it is clearly written and tugs at your heart in some very personal ways. It will be different for everyone who reads it, depending upon your own past and present personal relationships. Though this is a very quick read, when you finish it, you will find yourself thinking about your own family and those things that personally trouble us. It's well worth reading, but be prepared to spend a lot time thinking.
Peggy Soler
Summer at Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs
Rating: 4 Stars
This story is about renovating a family-owned summer camp for the renewal of wedding vows after a fifty-year marriage. While renovating the camp grounds, the story unfolds with lost love, friendship, insecruities created by divorce, and the coming of age of the youth who went to the summer camp. It is a heartwarming story of family.
Mary Schreiner
Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a very haunting tale. Amanda and Ruth's story is tragic and emotional. I could hardly put this book down once I started it.
Sue O'Doherty
Edges: O Israel, O Palestine by Leora Skolkin-Smith
Rating: 4 Stars
Leora Skolkin-Smith is an important and highly gifted writer. In EDGES, she demonstrates a Proustian command of the telling detail. I had forgotten the unique smell of the inside of the airplanes of my childhood. With great skill, she recalled this to me, along with the feel of the woods at night, and numerous other sensations that she evokes masterfully. I felt I was living in this book in an almost uncanny way.
Bob (bcoghill2@yahoo.com)
Goddess for Hire by Sonia Singh
Rating: 4 Stars
A light enjoyable "chick-lit" from the American-Indian (Asian) community of west coast USA.
Wally Johnson (wendybrooks1@hotmail.com)
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
Rating: 3 Stars
It was well written, but I did not like the characters or the academic setting.
Aurel Montgomery (aurelmontgomery@gmail.com)
The Complete Idiot's Guide To Managing Your Time by Jeff Davidson
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a reference favorite that I return to every year or so, to remind me exactly how I got into this mess in the first place, and how to get out.
Aurel Montgomery (aurelmontgomery@gmail.com)
Write Mind by Eric Maisel
Rating: 5 Stars
Maisel understands the way writers think and seeks to combat the negative self talk that keeps us from our muse and our joy: writing.
Jane (janebeatty92083@hotmail.com)
Frangipani by Célestine Vaite
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a delightful novel. I would recommend this book to everyone,and it is a great read. It will make you want to read another book by her.
Thomas (tomjac0850@charter.net)
The Wounded Spirit by Frank Peretti
Rating: 5 Stars
I would give this book 6 stars if I could. This should be a must for all parents, educators, and students. Peretti recounts his nightmare ordeals at the hands of bullies, and we know what tragic results can come from those encounters. Columbine leaps to the front of my mind. I was bullied as a student, and am sure most of us were, or were guilty of standing by and doing nothing as we watched others being bullied. This is is a problem that must not be ignored.
LT
Everything's Eventual by Stephen King
Rating: 5 Stars
One of his best!! I just can't get enough of Stephen King!!
Heather Murdock (h_owens99@hotmail.com)
Secret Society Girl: An Ivy League Novel by Diana Peterfreund
Rating: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed this book. It is both funny and serious, and the writing was fantastic.
I could relate, even though I was never in a society in college.
Laurie
I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb
Rating: 5 Stars
A very interesting book that reads quickly even though it is rather long.
Paula C.
Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston
Rating: 4 Stars
The end of a marriage shouldn't be a humorous story, but this is! It is meant to be entertaining, and touches the human spirit.
Jennifer Buhr
For One More Day by Mitch Albom
Rating: 5 Stars
This is an excellent read. It is cativating from start to finish.
Barbara Beecher
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Rating: 5 Stars
I just started reading this book. My daughter-in-law recommended it.
Rosalie Leon
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
Rating: 3 Stars
This book is written well, but the subject matter is so upsetting. It's hard to believe that parents can neglect their children. This is the story of a most disfunctional family, yet the author still shows her deep affection for her parents.
Linda Skelly (lindaskelly@comcast.net)
This Human Season by Louise Dean
Rating: 4 Stars
Gripping story that is raw and, at times, heartbreaking. I feel as though
I am living through the Irish Conflict
in Belfast.
Cheryl
Match Game by Beverly Brandt
Rating: 4 Stars
A light, enjoyable read about a conservative woman who has her identity stolen by a person who seems to be the complete opposite. The woman goes in search of the impostor and finds herself and love along the way.
Nancy
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 5 Stars
Wonderful characterization --- a main character that you'll want to know more about.
Laurie
The Makioka Sisters by Junichiro Tanizaki
Rating: 5 Stars
Having read MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, I found this book to be equally engaging. It is about four sisters who lead very complicated, strenuous lives, although on the surface nothing much ever happens to them. Part of a fading Japanese aristocracy in the years leading up to World War II, they cannot escape the wide net of the family name --- something always brings them back to the reality of "being a Makioka." Running out of money, living in falling-apart houses, growing older beneath the sunlight of the modern world, they do their best to preserve the rituals of the past. The two older sisters work diligently to arrange a marriage for the third sister, Yukiko.
Christy (oltlfreak@aol.com)
From Baghdad, With Love by L.C. Jay Kopelman with Melinda Roth
Rating: 5 Stars
I just finished this book, and I'm crying like a baby. I'm proud to be an American, and I'm proud a man like Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman his fellow soldiers all helped to bring this puppy back to the USA.
Just read this book!
Hugh Simpson
Paradigm by Robert Taylor
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is one of the most unique that you will read in 2006! Business Week calls it THE DA VINCI CODE for the Wall Street Set" because this fast paced, international financial thriller, has a REAL Code in it that got the author nominated for the Nobel Prize!
Ann Brown
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Rating: 5 Stars
I couldn't put the book down, it left me wanting more each time I read it.
Jana S.
The Ruins by Scott Smith
Rating: 2 Stars
The first third of this horror-in-the-jungles-of-Mexico tale was a tour de force, crafted with virtually flawless storytelling. Too bad I didn't stop reading there, because the final two-thirds of the book devolved into a close examination of bizarre behavior, unlikely characterizations, and needless gore, all resulting in an unsatisfactory conclusion. This was a huge disappointment, especially after such a riveting beginning.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark
Rating: 4 Stars
An amazing study of the kinship of twins, an almost supernatural experience. Clark, as usual, weaves a superb mystery.
Charlotte
The Greenlanders by Jane Smiley
Rating: 4 Stars
A very interesting story of Greenland in the 14th Century. It's historical and very well written.
Mike Crumpton
A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon
Rating: 4 Stars
I enjoyed the story very much and although it is told from several points of view, I did feel that the male point of view dominated, which was fine with me. I liked "..Dog at Night" --- the story is fast moving with a detailed feeling of understanding the charactor's thoughts and anxieties.
Vicki N.
The Mercy of Thin Air by Ronlyn Domingue
Rating: 5 Stars
A beautiful tale of enduring love. The main character dies prematurely, but remains "between," watching what happens in the lives of those she loves.
Vicki N.
Truck: A Love Story by Michael Perry
Rating: 4 Stars
Meandering essays on life, love and International Harvester trucks that are humorous and poignant.
Vance
Echo Park by Michael Connelly
Rating: 4 Stars
I love the direction this series has taken in the last few books. This story holds its own with Connelly's best.
Brady (bradylee@myway.com)
I'm Proud of You by Tim Madigan
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the most emotional book I have ever read. It points out the positive qualities of life through family and a best friend who literally touched our world with love, by the name of Fred Rogers. I wept many tears during this slim book and felt wonderful in the acknowledgment of the troubles inherent in life and the love of others that smoothes over the rough spots. This is a reading experience you should not miss!
Michelle Miller (miller4plusmore@bellsouth.net)
The Black Dahlia by Elmore Leonard
Rating: 3 Stars
I bought this book in anticipation of the movie. It was actually a hard read for me. I don't know if it was the period in which it was set or what, but I had to make myself pick it up sometimes. There were parts that were really good, but then it would fall back into plodding along (that's the only way I can describe it). I know Leonard is supposed to be a great writer. I guess his style just isn't for me, at least this book was not. I never made it to the theater to see the movie, so I'll have to wait for the DVD.
Judy (AZ)
The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard
Rating: 3 Stars
An unknown girl is killed in this small town years ago. The town rallied to give her a proper burial and the myth of the "Virgin of Small Plains" was set in motion. Fast forward to the present, with flashbacks, and the townspeople seem to have a lot of skeletons in their closet. The tale is interesting, but it wraps up a little too tightly.
Brenda Tucker (rango1971@yahoo.com)
Worst Fears Realized by Stuart Woods
Rating: 4 Stars
A serial killer is murdering the people close to Stone Barrington. WORST FEARS REALIZED is a very good read that keeps you going for more.
Michelle Miller (miller4plusmore@bellsouth.net)
The Ruins by Scott Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
Oh---my---God! What a book! I could not put this one down and I finished in less than two days. Smith is an excellent writer. He really knows how to illustrate human nature when it is exposed to something horrific. Read this book!!!
Michelle Miller (miller4plusmore@bellsouth.net)
The Night Listener by Armistead Maupin
Rating: 5 Stars
I rushed to the library to get this when I found out about the movie. I finished it before I saw the movie, and in this case, the book was much, much better. The movie tried to make it suspenseful and that is not what kind of story it is. It was an excellent read --- I read it very quickly. Maupin gave me insight into the gay lifestyle that I didn't already know. He has a great narrative style.
Pat Foster (eggerhouse@hotmail.com)
Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
Rating: 5 Stars
The sequel to INKHEART is as good as I hoped it would be. Funke really gives a glimpse into the love of reading, what books mean to people. She also creates a story that draws you in quickly with characters that come alive --- the silvertongue reader who can make stories literally come to life, the fire-singer who can make fire obey him from his fingertips, the black prince and his bear, the ruthless leader adderhead with his paralyzing fear of death. INKSPELL is a great read for young and old alike.
John Klos
S Is For Silence by Sue Grafton
Rating: 3 Stars
S IS FOR SILENCE is good mystery. I'm one of her fans. Grafton does a great job at keeping me in suspense.
John Klos
Hour Game by David Baldacci
Rating: 4 Stars
This book is a fast gallop, full of terrific action, rich plots, and great suspense.
Eve Altman
The End: Book The Thirteenth by Lemony Snickett
Rating: 5 Stars
Not just for kids!!! Because my grandchildren live on one side of the country and I live on the other, books are a perfect way to connect with them. We have read the whole Lemony Snickett series and discuss the books constantly. This book sadly put an end to the series, but it was as wonderful as all the others. I suggest starting at the beginning. Adults will get more out of the writing than children. So clever!
J. C.
The End by Lemony Snicket
Rating: 4 Stars
A fitting end to A Series of Unfortunate Events. There were many questions left unanswered, but I like seeing a children's book in which not all the loose ends get tied up.
Maureen
Charming Billy by Alice McDermott
Rating: 3 Stars
This book started off ok, but then just got boring. There were also too many characters. I didn't realize who was narrating the book until halfway through. The story just didn't go anywhere after about the first quarter.
Glenda York
Oh My Stars by Lorna Landvik
Rating: 5 Stars
I am really enjoying the latest of Lorna's books. Her writing is well done, full of humor and irony, and I find her characterizations of people and their motivations right on target. You can't go wrong with anything Lorna writes. This is another winning addition to her writings.
Renee
The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant
Rating: 5 Stars
Excellent! Ah, to be transported to another time and place!
Sandi
Doctored Evidence by Donna Leon
Rating: 4 Stars
I haven't quite finished this yet, but as with all her books, it's a great read! Guido Brunetti looks into the death of a nasty woman. Who wouldn't want to murder her?
This takes place in Venice during the summer and is keeping me warm while it's cool outside.
Roxie
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters
Rating: 3 Stars
TIPPING THE VELVET is an interesting story based on a lesbian in 1888 who leaves her small town for the city, the stage, and lesbianism. I wondered if there were actually many lesbians during that time period who were "out of the closet." This was a good enough book, but I thought Waters did a better job with THE NIGHT WATCH.
Sharon J.
Kitty Goes to Washington by Carrie Vaughn
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a sexy, sultry, funny paranormal romance that will keep you laughing all the way through it. Kitty is a werewolf deejay who is invited to testify at a senate hearing on behalf of supernaturals. KITTY GOES TO WASHINGTON is a fun read from beginning to end. I recommend it highly to all of you who enjoy a walk on the wild side!
bookczuk
The Plymouth Cloak by Kate Sedley and Rick Jerrom
Rating: 3 Stars
This book is nice for the descriptions of English life in the year 1473, but in general, it was rather predictable. The clues that characters Roger the Chapman also figure out fairly thumped me in the face when reading.
Paula Green (pgreen@aol.com)
A Tourist in the Yucatan by James McNay Brumfield
Rating: 5 Stars
If you are looking for a thriller, mystery set in an exoctic local this book is the ticket! Young couple gets in trouble while touring the ancient sites of the Yucatan. Lots of twists and turns and surprises, mixed in with the mystery of the Maya!
Dale A, Wellman
The Husband by Dean Koontz
Rating: 3 Stars
To me, this one did not seem as "suspenseful" as many of his others. The plot was interesting, and as usual, inventive. I think he could have gone into greater depth with the main characters' relationships and upbringing. (I don't want to spoil the story here.) Those relationships could very well be explored in another book or two. Still, a good read.
Carol Edgar
The Husband by Dean Koontz
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is a great read and a real page turner. Mitchell Rafferty --- a landscaper by profession --- receives a phone call that will change his life forever. Kidnappers have taken his wife and want a ransom of two million dollars in 60 hours for her safe return. The kidnappers don't care that Mitch only has eleven thousand dollars in his bank account, they are deadly serious. The suspensful adventure ricochets forward with many twists and turns that forever change his life's perspective as Mitchell must decide who will die or be killed in the name of love. The conditions are set and emotions are high as an ordinary man must accomplish extraordinary feats to prove his committment of love to his wife.
Renee
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Rating: 5 Stars
A great book for the sheer delight of reading. It has a wonderful gothic style that deserves all the press it's getting.
Glenda York
Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier
Rating: 5 Stars
The lyricism of Frazier's language is a joy. Though his first book, COLD MOUNTAIN, was sort of bleak, THIRTEEN MOONS is an interesting treatment of a period in time I find quite fascinating. Also, to see the "Indian situation" from both the white and Indian perspective is to be commended.
Gerry
The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry
Rating: 4 Stars
A different spin on the legacy of the Knights Templar has twenty-first century academics and former U.S. government agents exploring ruins in southern France and Denmark, seeking the Templars’ lost treasure.
Douglas R. Cobb (goofier1@wmconnect.com)
Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Rating: 5 Stars
TEAM OF RIVALS is many biographies in one. Doris Kearns Goodwin does an admirable job of depicting the lives of not only Abraham Lincoln, but those of his rivals, including Salmon Chase of Ohio and William Seward of New York. It's extremely interesting to read how Lincoln was thought to be of little consequence to his rivals, until he beat them all out for the Republican nomination in 1860 and eventually included them in the Cabinet he formed when he was elected President. It's a fascinating, very well-written portrayal of Lincoln and his immense political genius at crafting a Cabinet of rivals who worked like a well-oiled machine and led the country through the worst crisis of the history of the United States --- the Civil War. All of the great battles are here, such as the Battles of Vicksburg, Shiloh, Antietam, and Gettysburg, as well as Lincoln's thinking about and writing of the Emancipation Proclamation. It's a great book, and a must read for all Civil War and Lincoln buffs, and should be required reading for all Americans.
Liza
March Violets by Philip Kerr
Rating: 4 Stars
A great mystery set in pre-war Germany when the Nazis controlled everything and everyone. The hero is an ex-policeman turned private detective who disagrees with everything his country is doing, yet must be careful of what he says and to whom he says them.
Larena Wirum
Lifeguard by James Patterson and Andrew Gross
Rating: 5 Stars
James Patterson has written another great book.
Julie Towson
A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton
Rating: 4 Stars
This Oprah Book Club selection has wonderful prose and unforgettable characters. It is a story of guilt, betrayal and the terrifying ways our lives can spin out of control.
Carrie Hisler (tazaroo@mchsi.com)
The Cell by Stephen King
Rating: 5 Stars
I absolutely love Stephen King's books and this one is no different. I am only a fourth of the way through, but I can't wait till I have free moments to sit down and read it.
bookczuk
The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a book of pictures and music, captured in words. Burma comes alive through the telling of the tale of Edgar Drake, a London expert tuner of Erard pianos, who finds himself accepting a commission to travel to a remote village in Burma to repair a damaged piano. The instrument belongs to Surgeon-Major Anthony Carroll, who is a bit of a legend himself in the British army. The story gets more complex the closer Drake gets to meeting Carroll, and there is a bit of foreshadowing that kind of ruined the second half of the book for me, as I waited for my hunch to come true. But, the first half and the travel to Burma, the tales and legends encountered, and the glimpse of the world of the late 1800s was worth the read.
Roxie
The Last Town on Earth by Thomas Mullen
Rating: 3 Stars
This book was selected in several of my book clubs and was raved about. It is set in 1918 during World War I and the Spanish flu. It is an interesting story (that time was so violent!), but I found the ending disappointing.
Gerry
Full of Grace by Dorothea Benton Frank
Rating: 3 Stars
Though her Italian Catholic family refuses to acknowledge or meet her Irish, agnostic boyfriend whose work involves embryonic stem-cell research disapproved by Rome, Grace remains close to her family. She visits often without Michael, and tries to provide emotional support for her mother, who is constantly criticized and belittled by her husband and her own mother. However, when Michael is diagnosed with a brain tumor, her first allegiance is to him, and she increasingly resents her family’s unwillingness to recognize his importance to her, and her terror and grief at the prospect of losing him.
Roxie
Lucy by Ellen Feldman
Rating: 3 Stars
This is a work of fiction that revovles around Franklin Roosevelt, his wife Eleanor, and her secretary Lucy. I always find fiction based on real people interesting, but I felt this would have been better if we had heard from all major characters instead of the one. An interesting read, though!
Gerry
The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl
Rating: 1 Stars
A contemporary admirer of Poe’s poetry and fiction spearheads an investigation into the circumstances of Poe’s death. By the time this story ended, though, the investigation had become so protracted and dull (and the protagonist so completely annoying), I had long since ceased caring how or why Poe died. I finished this only because it was a selection for my book group; otherwise, I’d have put it aside after the first 100 pages.
Gerry
As Always, Jack by Emma Sweeney
Rating: 1 Stars
A woman discovers the father she never knew (because of his death in wartime) in a series of letters he wrote to her mother during their courtship.
Gerry
Pitching My Tent by Anita Diamant
Rating: 4 Stars
PITCHING MY TENT: ON MARRIAGE, MOTHERHOOD, FRIENDSHIPS, AND OTHER LEAPS OF FAITH is a collection of essays originally written for a weekly newspaper column. My favorite is “Nagging.”
Gerry
Idyll Banter by Chris Bohjalian
Rating: 4 Stars
IDYLL BANTER: WEEKLY EXCURSIONS TO A VERY SMALL TOWN consists of essays originally written for a weekly newspaper column after Bohjalian and his wife moved from Manhattan to Lincoln, Vermont. It makes for pleasant reading and a chance to get better acquainted with a talented author.
Gerry
The Middle of Everywhere by Mary Pipher
Rating: 5 Stars
I learned a tremendous amount from reading the accounts of refugees from political persecution and wars in such places as Sierra Leone, Bosnia, Iraq, and Sudan. Pipher’s book should be required reading for the many Americans now complaining that “their” country’s being flooded with immigrants.
Gerry
Not Even My Name by Thea Halo
Rating: 5 Stars
A biographical account of a Pontic Greek woman, from her childhood in Turkey, through the brutal death march that took the lives of many of her family members, to her new life in America, as told by her daughter.
Susan Curtis (bookmark60@sc.rr.com)
The First Desire by Nancy Reisman
Rating: 5 Stars
Loved it. I haven't raved about a book in a long time, and this is it. I usually don't go for family and character studies but this was drew me in. It's set between the late 1920s through the 1950s.
I
Gerry
Over My Head by Claudia L. Osborne
Rating: 5 Stars
My daughter's mentor at the hospital where she's interning recommended this book to her. She found it a bit boring and repetitive, but I thought it was fascinating! Osborne’s descriptions of her struggles, as well as those of her fellow trainees at the Rusk Rehabilitation Institute, to recover from TBI and rebuild a meaningful life were heart-warming and enlightening.
Matt
The Camel Club by David Baldacci
Rating: 4 Stars
The plot twists are what I have come to expect from Baldacci. Although some of the personalities have the typical "superhuman" traits and abilities, the story was entertaining and kept me up late to reach the finish.
L. Hann
A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley
Rating: 3 Stars
This is the first book I read by Jane Smiley. It is a nice novel that taps into farm life. While it doesn't deal with everything, it definitely covers how farmers knew each other. It is a good story. It is not what I normally read, but it was nice.
John Clark (berek@tds.net)
Behind the Eyes by Francisco X. Stork
Rating: 4 Stars
Gritty and realistic YA book about a smart Chicano boy, trying to stay below the radar line of trouble. When his brother is killed in gang-related violence, he loses it and attacks the leader of the rival gang, setting in motion a trip to a reform school. I like the way the story flows and brings in the previous relevant events in the middle. The characters are very real, and the ending is more realistic than most YA books.
Tracy Sachman
Rise & Shine by Anna Quindlen
Rating: 2 Stars
The storyline was not realistic and the characters were not developed fully. The outcome was way too predictable.
Anne Fescharek (annfes@yahoo.com)
Abundance by Sena Jeter Naslund
Rating: 4 Stars
I was skeptical about this since I tried AHAB'S WIFE and didn't 'get' it. This novel is quite touching, however. I gives you the impression that Marie was, at heart, a simple girl of 14 who was thrust into circumstances that were beyond her ability to control. Totally sheltered from the real world, we can simply sit back and watch her stumble headlong towards her tragic fate.
The only fault with the book is that it takes a rather long time to get there.
Audrey Larson
Until My Last Breath by John P. Deffes
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a story of love, flying and World War II adventures, and involves people from Montana to England, to Holland.
The author really understands soulmate-type love, faithfulness and sensitivity. The people are so real that you want their stories to continue way beyond the end of this book!
This is a fine book that you will hardly be able to put down until you have read every page. I give it 5 stars and 2 thumbs up!
L. Hann
Peggy Sue Got Murdered by Tess Gerritsen
Rating: 5 Stars
This is an older book by Tess, but it's still excellent. You will never figure this one out. The characters are great and the writing flows well throughout the whole book. You'll finish this one in a few hours. It's a great read for a Friday night or a Sunday afternoon!!
Debbie
The Gilded Chamber by Rebecca Kohn
Rating: 4 Stars
I could not put this book down. It's the story of Queen Esther. I am not familiar with this period of history, but I found this book to be fastinating. Esther is taken to be in the king's halem as a young virgin. The life in the palace is fastinating and you can almost feel yourself in the place of all of the women (young girls, really) who are taken from their families and prepped to be given to the King. Esther must win the heart of the king to survive. This book is passionate and suspenseful.
Lisa Brignall
The Marker by Robin Cook
Rating: 4 Stars
Somebody is killing healthy young patients in a hospital, and it's up to Laurie and Jack to find out who.
Debbie
Judge and Jury by James Patterson and Andrew Gross
Rating: 5 Stars
I have read all of James Patterson's books and this was one of my favorites. It wasn't "fluff," but had real substance. A must read.
Kay Massingill (bogueflower@aol.com)
The Little House series by Laura Ingalls-Wilder
Rating: 5 Stars
Every few years, I pull out my Little House collection and immerse myself in Laura's happy simple world. Even though I am 48, these books still bring me joy when I read them.
Kay from Savannah
Running with Scissors by Augustin Burroughs
Rating: 2 Stars
I had high hopes for this, and there were moments of disbelief bordering on funny. But, it was rough reading, especially the unnecessarily explicit descriptions of homosexual sex. Not for the faint of heart.
Kay from Savannah
Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen
Rating: 4 Stars
An engaging story of 2 sisters, one of whom is a high profile NY television personality. RISE AND SHINE Well written and this author has great diversity in her books.
Darlene Wright (wrig9945@charter.net)
The Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Rating: 5 Stars
I'm obsessed with these two writers! I just can't stop reading their books. THE RELIC takes place in the New York Museum of Natural History. Grisly murders start happening there, and people start to wonder if the old myth about a museum beast is true. Really a interesting book that combines science with science fiction. Go for the scary ride if you dare!!
A. Thomas
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Rating: 3 Stars
It's a slow start out of the gates for me on this one. Maybe I'll understand all the hype when I finish...
Ray Palen (razorramon@optonline.net)
The Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley and Ron Powers
Rating: 5 Stars
Bradley's heartfelt and moving depiction of his father's experience, both at the Battle of Iwo Jima and his participation in one of the most famous photos of our time, brought me to tears on several occasions. More than a war novel, this nonfiction tale reads like a great novel. Both the descriptions of the battles, as well as the bios of the men in the photo --- before and after Iwo Jima --- are enticing and kept me turning the pages. I read this to prepare for the Clint Eastwood film, but no film can capture what this book portrays. Highly recommended.
Marion Miller (Lamamil@aol.com)
Malinche by Laura Esquivel
Rating: 4 Stars
This story takes you back to 16th-century Mexico and the conqueror, Cortez. It is about his interpreter, Malinche, who has several different names in the book. There is a lot of interplay with the belief in the Gods that once ruled the Mexican people before the Spanish.
Melissa
In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner
Rating: 5 Stars
Lately, I've been reading books with main characters who think they have nothing in common, but they do. Such is the case with Rose and Maggie Feller --- sisters who are both very different, yet held together by a death, a grandmother and lots of shoes. Skip the movie as it doesn't do the book justice. I enjoyed Ms. Weiner's story so much that I can't wait to read the other three books I have by her.
JC fan
Cash by Johnny Cash and Patrick Carr
Rating: 5 Stars
Have you seen Walk The Line? It was based on the books CASH and THE MAN IN BLACK. When I first started this, I thought it would read as a movie tie-in. It's not. Mr. Cash could not only write songs, he could write books too. His style is lyrical and his story fascinating. If you're a Johnny Cash fan, don't miss this book.
Joan Woods
Out of the Shadows by Kay Hooper
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the third book of Kay Hooper's Shadow series. As with the other three, you don't know until the end who the killer or killers are.
Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com)
Scambusters! by Ron Smith
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a working manual filled with 60 ways that a senior citizen can get swindled, and how they can prevent it. It includes topics like identity theft, health care shams, financial investments, etc. Everyone should read this new book!
Melissa
What a Gentleman Wants by Caroline Linden
Rating: 5 Stars
Marcus, the duke of Exeter, lives a quiet, well-ordered life. However, keeping his mischievous brother David out of trouble is a full time job. When David devises what can only be summed up as the most unbelievable trick he's ever pulled, it turns Marcus's well regimented lifestyle upside down.
Hannah Preston is a widowed vicar's wife. She meets David after he falls during an unfortunate carriage accident. The two become fast friends and they soon wed.
However all is not what it seems. Soon, two people who by all appearances have nothing in common find they do have much in common.
WHAT A GENTLEMAN WANTS by Caroline Linden is a beautifully written, wonderfully scandalous, historical, romantic suspense. I enjoyed it immensely! It has inspired me to write screenplays.
Lindsey (bsb_chick76247@yahoo.com)
1001 Ways to Be Romantic by Gregory J. P. Godek
Rating: 4 Stars
I really love this book. It has some great ideas that I never even thought about. There are total "well, duh" ideas, but then you wonder why you don't just do it if it were so obvious.
Kay Keller
For One More Day by Mitch Albom
Rating: 3 Stars
This was OK --- and that's the best I can do! It is short and easy to read. It did keep my interest, and even though it wasn't compelling, I did finish the book. I wish there was more I could say about it.
Ry
The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters by Gordon Dahlquist
Rating: 4 Stars
Original, intriguing.
Vickie Mulvihill
Tinsie's Story: A Quilt's Reflections by Benny & Patty Morton
Rating: 5 Stars
TINSIE'S STORY is narrated by an heirloom baby quilt! What a unique twist. This book that will make you laugh and cry and consider family connections for their real value. It is a must read! I really felt as if I were a member of Tinsie's family.
Michele Lauer-Bader
Not Me by Michael Lavigne
Rating: 5 Stars
The plot of this story blew me away. Michael Rosenheim's father lives in Florida and has Alzheimers. When Michael gets there, he finds a set of journals in his dad's apartment that tell the story of a Nazi who takes on the persona of a Holocaust survivor and then goes to Palestine. Could this be his father? Is his father trying to tell him something? It asks the big question, "Can a bad person redeem himself and become a good person?"
Eileen Quinn Knight (knight@sxu.edu)
The Book that Changed my Life by Edited by Roxanne J Coady and Joy Johannessen
Rating: 5 Stars
For those of us who are bibliophiles, this is the best book ever. It gives us a taste of each of our favorite authors. I came home and read this in one evening. It supplies so much good nourishment for both the intellect and soul. There are 71 different stories and they are precious. Besides that, the proceeds of this buy a book for a child through the Read to Grow Foundation. It offers everyone something wonderful!
Fatih Ann H
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the 2nd history book I've read by Erik Larson, and it was even better than the first one (ISAAC'S STORM). He merges the story of the 1893 World's Fair with the story of a serial killer who uses the fair to lure his victims. The book contains excellent research and is very well written.
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
Split Second by David Baldacci
Rating: 4 Stars
This was OK. Not one of my favorites. Sean King is a former Secret Service agent who had someone die on his watch. Michelle is a Secret Service Agent who just recently had someone kidnapped on her watch. When an employee of Sean’s is found dead in his office, Sean and Michelle come together to try and solve and intricate mystery of deceipt, blackmail and murder. This book kept my interest and the red herring definitely swam through out the pages. I just thought the resolution was a little lame.
Shirley
Killer Dreams by Iris Johansen
Rating: 5 Stars
Geat reading! KILLER DREAMS starts out with a bang and holds your attention. Dr. Sophie Dunston is one of the nation's top sleep therapists, specializing in life-threatening night terrors. It's very suspenseful, and is another bestseller for Johansen.
Sheila
The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd
Rating: 1 Stars
If I could give this book 0 stars, I would. The author did a great job creating a self-centered, shallow character (Jessie) for whom I had absolutely no sympathy or empathy. Couple that with some completely absurd and ridiculously bogus legends and plants and, well . . . you get the idea.
Sheila
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Rating: 3 Stars
This book had an interesting premise, but it's not as great as all the hype, in my opinion. It's on the grim side with most of the characters battling various forms of depression. There did not seem to be a single moment of levity in this book.
Jo Ann Vick
Tyrannosaur Canyon by Douglas Preston
Rating: 3 Stars
This was not as good as the Pendergast books, but it was okay.
Sheila
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Rating: 5 Stars
I enjoyed reading this book immensely! I love the way the author nails a character or sets a scene in so few lines like this one: "Years of teaching had left him with that firm and didactic tone of someone used to being heard, but not certain of being listened to."
I enjoyed all of the literary references, as well as the excellent characters and very captivating story!
Carole
The King of Lies by John Hart
Rating: 5 Stars
I am loving this book. It is similar in style to the work of Nelson De Mille, who --- of course --- is wonderful. I am hooked on John Hart.
Deborah Oller (deboller@aol.com)
Must The Maiden Die by Miriam Grace Monfredo
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the 6th installment in the Seneca Falls Historical Mysteries series. The author is a master at mixing histrorical characters and facts with fiction and a woman's point of view. This book deals with an indentured young woman wanted for murder at the start of the Civil War.
Mia (CA)
The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer
Rating: 5 Stars
I have been enjoying reading memoirs lately, and this one is very interesting and well written. It's about a boy growing up in an odd family, and how a wonderful neighborhood bar becomes his refuge and the patrons become another family for him.
Kathleen Josephson
The Pull Of The Moon by Elizabeth Berg
Rating: 3 Stars
Nan, a woman reaching 50 years, gets up one day and goes on a road trip. She is doing what I believe most women would like to do at one time or another, run away from home, if only for a little while. The book consists of her journal, written about her thoughts and experiences, as well as some letters to her husband --- who one hopes is waiting for her to come home.
Djp
The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel by Diane Setterfield
Rating: 5 Stars
An enchanting story for all lovers of books and good writing. Setterfield delivers characters and "pictures in the mind" that will stay with me for a long while.
Andrea (andeeram@peoplepc.com)
The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritson
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderful, fast-paced, psychological thriller. It keeps you guessing until the end. I recommend all of Tess's books, they're all very intelligent reads with strong female characters.
Barry Brass
The Berlin Conspiracy by Tom Gabbay
Rating: 4 Stars
THE BERLIN CONSPIRACY is full of suspence and holds readers' interest. It's definitely worth reading.
L E Keene
Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser
Rating: 5 Stars
An excellent, well-written book. The movie by Sophia Copella is supposed to be based on this.
I highly recommend reading this nonficion work about this woman in history.
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