| Linda V. |
Innocent in Death by J.D. Robb |
Rating: 4 Stars |
One of those books you can't put down. It really keeps you interested. I love the love story between Eve and Rourke.
|
| Nick Richards (nick.richards@gm.com) |
Pizza Pie and Politics by Troy Place |
Rating: 5 Stars |
For anyone who has experienced the black hole that is life between college and the "real-world," this book is a must read. Place does an amazing job of developing characters that resemble the friends we all knew and loved in college. Whether your looking for insight into the future as a soon-to-be college grad or looking for a trip down memory lane to the "good old days," this book is a must read.
|
| Julie Peterson (jpeterson1108@comcast.net) |
The Good Good Pig by Sy Montgomery |
Rating: 3 Stars |
A light, enjoyable, feel-good read. Animal lovers will truly appreciate the relationship the author has with animals.
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| Julie Peterson (jpeterson1108@comcast.net) |
Ask Again Later by Jill A. Davis |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read -- I was able to read it in a couple of hours. I found myself chuckling to myself. Jill Davis has an terrific sense of humor that comes across in her writing.
|
| Julie C. |
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides |
Rating: 3 Stars |
This is the 4th time I've tried this book. The first three times, I got so bored in the first quarter of the book that I just quit and finally got rid of it. This time, I bought it on audio (for $1) and listened in the car. If I'd been reading it, I still would've quit. The book's 2nd half is much better than the first, which is about the older generations of Greek immigrants and their incestuous marriages. The second half is about the "main" character, Cal/Callie, a hermaphrodite who grows up as a girl and becomes a man. Her story and personality are far more interesting and should've been more of the novel. But apparently, I'm the only person who feels this way, because it's won awards....and even Oprah loves it.
|
| Bonnie |
The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Worthy recipient of the National Book Award, this is the non-fiction version of THE GRAPES OF WRATH. It's an amazing story of a little-known period in our nation's history. In these times of conservation and ecological awareness, it's a most timely book.
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| Bonnie (bgluhani@aol.com) |
At Risk by Patricia Cornwell |
Rating: 3 Stars |
A serviceable mystery, but I felt the author was just going through the motions. Nothing compelling or new here, but easy escapism.
|
| Judy (AZ) |
The Machiavelli Covenant by Allan Folsom |
Rating: 2 Stars |
I anxiously began reading this book, but was put off by the often very short chapters that jump from here to there, the unbelievable and overly abundant characters, and a premise that wasn't very solid. Maybe I've read too many "conspiracy" books, but I found this one difficult to plod through over 500 pages.
|
| Sandy |
Body Surfing by Anita Shreve |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is the story of Sydney. who --- by the age of 29 --- has been divorced and widowed. She is now a tutor for the Edwards' teenage daughter and is living with them at their summer home on the New Hampshire coast. Part of what happened in this story was pretty predictable, but overall, I really enjoyed this book.
|
| Kelly Davis |
Pizza Pie and Politics by Troy Place |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is an amazing book about that limbo time after graduation and getting a job in the real world. I loved all the characters with their strong friendships and history that they shared. I highly recommend this book.
|
| Linda Scott (scott2@einetwork.net) |
Edenville Owls by Robert B. Parker |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The first of Robert Parker's books for young adults. It's a very good one about how 5 14-year-olds band together to become champion basketball players and help their beloved teacher escape from an abusive ex-husband. A quick read and a good one for summer.
|
| Sherri R |
The Cold Moon by Jeffery Deaver |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book has many twists and keeps you reading regardless of what you SHOULD be doing. I love the Lincoln Rhyme series and this comes through as good as THE BONE COLLECTOR. A fast-paced great read!
|
| Jane Squires |
Lessons I Learned in the Dark by Beth Moore |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I was surprised how hard this book is to put down. These are lessons from a blind lady. A must read.
|
| Sherri R |
Rage Therapy by Daniel Kalla |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Although I had not read any of this author's books before. this I will be going to find more of his work. It brings home the fact that what you think you know about a person is really only what they allow you to know. A fast-paced read.
|
| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
The Book of Fred by Abby Bardi |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I know I am enjoying the book when I am frantically skimming sentences to find out what is going to happen next. I thought the story, told by four different characters, was ingenious. Bardi did a very good job changing her style from each character's point of view. You actually felt like you went from inside one head to the other. I thought the religious sect angle was interesting and unique. It was comforting to finally read a book in which the foster child actually has a good experience with the foster family AND the foster family falls in love with the child. I would love to read another book by this author!
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| Patricia A Beaver (pabtrek@excite.com) |
Otherland Volume Two: River of Blue Fire by Tad Williams |
Rating: 5 Stars |
As the title suggests, this is volume two of four of the Otherland series. Tad Williams continues to amaze me with his stories, which are so very different from other authors and each other. It's a thick book, but one that is as enthralling as the first volume.
|
| Kathy Boucher (kboucher@cableone.net) |
Mercy Falls by William Kent Krueger |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A wonderful read full of suspense, realistic characters and an intense plot. Sheriff Cork O'Connor is caught in the center of danger and intrigue, and finds himself going from the backwoods of Northern Minnesota to the high society of Chicago in a fast-moving, gripping tale.
|
| Judy O. |
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This has to be one of my all-time favorite books. It is the story of Liesel Meminger of Poland, who is placed with foster parents in a small village in that country. The Nazis invade Poland, and the little village undergoes great hardship. Through it all, we are treated to the strong spirit of Liesel and all the other people of the village, about whom we have learned to care so much. The writing is absolutely stunning in its poetic beauty. The narrator of the story is Death. It is just a wonderful book.
|
| Judy O. |
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a compelling book, which gives a deep look into the grim lives of the women of Afghanistan. It is also the story of a deep friendship between two women who happen to share the same husband. He is a violent, abusive man, and their deep bond with each other helps them cope with their otherwise dreary existence. It also chronicles the upheaval in Afghanistan and shows how the people of that country cope. A great story.
|
| Lori S. |
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I read this book a few months BEFORE it became an Oprah Book. I wasn't surprised when Oprah said it was "the book to read" for the summer, since I find most of her recommendations depressing. In the very beginning of the book, you learn that In about 1974, a female student at a girls school finds herself strangely attracted to another female student. That and the fact that she was not physically developing as the other girls were made her feel she was different. In fact, she wasn't a female, she was a hermaphrodite --- part male and part female. The book goes back to a small village in Greece, to her grandparents in 1922 and on through the Detroil race riots, tracing her genetic abnormality through 8 generations.
It was facinating, at times, but - like I said slow at imes - and - depressing,
|
| Harriet Stay (hstay@hughes.net) |
Bloodlines by Jan Burke |
Rating: 5 Stars |
As I headed out for some camping, I picked up a paperback by an author I've been meaning to try. Wow! What a story. It kept me glued to the pages, and there are plenty --- over 600.
Irene Kelly is a reporter for a newspaper in California and appears to have been featured in five previous books in this series.This begins with a back story, a series of murders where some of the victims were never found ... until 20 years later.
Can't imagine why I waited so long to read Jan Burke's books! Now to hunt for the rest.
|
| Nicole (mike810nicole@aol.com) |
The Art of Mending by Elizabeth Berg |
Rating: 5 Stars |
What a wonderful story! Berg delves into the world of family dynamics and our different perceptions of them as we grow up, not to mention how we deal with them. I truly loved this story and can't wait to read more of her novels.
|
| karen terry (mi3sons@mchsi.com) |
Deep Storm by Lincoln Child |
Rating: 5 Stars |
It is a nonstop edge-of-your-seat book that will have you think about the world we live in. Dr Crane thinks the island of Atlantis has been found, but it is more than he imagined. The danger that awaits will blow him away. One of Lincoln Child's best.
|
| Nicole |
Found by Karen Kingsbury |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I really enjoyed this book! This is book 3 in the Firstborn series.
|
| Eileen Quinn Knight |
After Dark by Haruki Murakami |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a fantastic book! The novel takes place between midnight and dawn and focuses on two sisters, Eri and Mari, and a few other characters. The novel intertwines time, space and memory of perspective. It investigates self expression and empathy. It is an extremely moving book. I also read KAFKA ON THE SHORE by the same author. He has incredible range!
|
| Helene |
True Evil by Greg Iles |
Rating: 5 Stars |
One of his best books yet. The story is interesting and suspenseful. I'd recommend this highly to all readers.
|
| Lisa Garrett (lag110@mchsi.com) |
Strange Brew by Kathy Hogan Trochek |
Rating: 4 Stars |
STRANGE BREW is #6 in the Julia Callahan Garrity detective series. You will love Callahan. She owns and runs a cleaning business with the help of Edna, her mother. Callahan is a detective on the side and is always running into trouble, mostly murders. The author also writes as Mary Kay Andrews and has a wonderful sense of humor.
|
| Debbie |
Better Than Chocolate by Bruce Golden |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A futuristic mystery where a Marilyn Monroe "celebudroid" (android) teams up with a policeman to uncover a conspiracy against mankind. It's engaging, funny, sexy, and very entertaining.
|
| Tony Romano (ARomano895@aol.com) |
At The Center of The Storm by George Tenet |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Well written and, in parts, shocking --- this is a highly informative tale of life in the CIA, written in terms that the uninformed person can understand. If you want to know why at times the Country is going to hell, read this book.
|
| Rita Powell |
The Book of Kills by Ralph McInerny |
Rating: 2 Stars |
This did not get interesting until the last quarter of the book. I kept thinking it would get better because I had heard good things about the author. Maybe his other books are better. Take a pass on this one about a university and its problems and a murder.
|
| Debbie Le (deble_2000@yahoo.com) |
Dream When Your're Feeling BLue by Elizabeth Berg |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a great book that takes place during World War II in Chicago. I fell in love with the main characters --- three sisters who all have boyfriends that go off to war. They attend dances for the soldiers and write letters to many. There was a twist I never saw coming!
|
| Linda |
Sunrise by Karen Kingsbury |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is the first book in her latest series, which is a continuation of the Redemption and the Firstborn series.
|
| Jeanie |
If I am Missing or Dead by Janine Latus |
Rating: 2 Stars |
This book was a disappointment. It is more of a family memoir of sisters with a lecherous father and misguided relationships.
|
| Marsha |
The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This novel travels between Gatsby's Long Island and rural New England with a focus on homelessness and mental illness. It is a very different experience.
|
| Nicky |
The Eyre Affaire by Jasper FForde |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is the first book a series featuring the heroine, Thursday Next, who is a literary detective. The author's sharp wit and devastatingly clever wordplay make this book and those that follow a rollicking good time!!
I've also listened to the audio version and that adds a whole different perspective. Since I'm American, I read in American English, but the audio is read in British English, and so it really brings Thursday and the other characters to life. Enjoy!!
|
| Christy (oltlfreak@aol.com) |
Eye Contact by Cammie McGovern |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An engaging mystery that pulled me in. I read it in one day, stopping only to eat. It gives a good view of the autism world also.
|
| Kay Keller |
Simple Genius by David Baldacci |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Ex-Secret Service Agents Sean King and Michelle Maxwell are once again partners investigating a possible suicide/murder, and end up involved in national/international security issues. Michelle also has more to deal with in this novel because she is recovering from a nervous breakdown! This author knows how to develop characters and write really good suspense.
|
| Terressa Reep |
The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A touching memoir of a young man's coming of age. Believable and easily read.
|
| Sally B., San Antonio TX |
The Book That Changed My Life by Roxanne Coady & Joy Johannessen |
Rating: 4 Stars |
"71 Remarkable Writers Celebrate the Books That Matter Most to Them"
This was a very good book with multiple recommendations that I wrote down. Proceeds from the sale of this book goes to the "Read to Grow" program in Connecticut.
|
| Christy Hawkes (hawkes@citlink.net) |
Blind Alley by Iris Johansen |
Rating: 3 Stars |
BLIND ALLEY is the fifth novel in the continuing story of forensic sculptor Eve Duncan and her husband, Atlanta police detective Joe Quinn. This wasn't my favorite book in this series, but it was still a fast read with plenty of suspense and intrigue.
|
| SueB |
The Piano Tuner: A Novel by Daniel Mason |
Rating: 4 Stars |
It was macho in the way of ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT by Remarque, quirky like Amelie Nothomb's THE BOOK OF PROPER NAMES, and lyrical like Irene Nemirovsky's SUITE FRANCAISE. THE PIANO TUNER by Daniel Mason was short and sweet and said so much.
The most interesting aspect of this novel to me is that Daniel Mason wrote this after spending two years in the jungles of Myanmar (Burma) studying malaria and before beginning medical school in San Francisco. The impetus was hearing a piano playing somewhere on the shores of the Salween River as he made his way by boat.
�The Piano Tuner� is set in Burma at the end of the 1800�s when Britain was in its colonization phase and prior to having control of the whole country, especially the southern Shan states. A Major-Surgeon by the name of Anthony Carroll (reminiscent of Antonio Correlli perhaps?) has set up a clinic in the only British fort in the area and appears to be brokering peace in a non-military fashion that the rest of the army either loves (soldiers) or hates (officers). One of his tools for peace is music (oh dear, this sounds like about four other war novels I�ve read lately) and specifically, piano music. He�s finagled an Erard grand piano into his jungle outpost and now has demanded that the Army supply him with a piano tuner. The finest Erard piano tuner in London is Edgar Drake.
Mr. Drake is commissioned by the army to travel by steamer and train, train and steamer to the jungles of Burma to repair and tune this magnificent instrument and his wife encourages him to go because she sees that this flight out of his own life will add the passion he so desires. The journey is long, arduous and at times perilous and Edgar has never felt more alive. The actual tuning takes relatively little time, but is followed by a bout of malaria, intense scenes of negotiating with the princes in the area for peace, Edgar�s love of a Burmese woman who is already attached to Carroll and then Edgar�s ultimate lack of desire to return home. He is forced to make the return trip when news of an imminent attack on the fort arrives. Unfortunately, Edgar�s wife will never truly know what happens to him since none of the letters he wrote and mailed ever made it out of the country.
�The Piano Tuner� is thoughtful, engaging and thoroughly prone to flights of fancy. The over-arching theme of the story is the fugue, both as a piece of music which Edgar is wont to play and think about; as well as the French origin of the word � flight which Edgar has certainly done by taking flight from his ordinary life. Readers will be enchanted by this exotic fiction based on historical figures and events.
|
| SueB |
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I always wondered what it would be like to consume a panoply of pharmacopoeia while washing it down with booze. Not exactly a "scared straight" adventure, but definitely a head scratcher. How he had enough brain cells left to write the Rolling Stone articles that became this book is far beyond my comprehension. Thompson and his attorney go to Vegas in 1971, ostensibly to write one article about a motorcycle race in the desert and another about a convention of District Attorneys discussing the serious problems of the drug culture. Whether those articles got written, I don't know, but at least he wrote about the experience. This book contained illustrations drawn by Ralph Steadman and if the reader isn't already having nightmares from Thompson's prose, the artwork will finish them off.
|
| SueB |
Faking It by Jennifer Crusie |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Matilda Goodnight comes from a long line (400+ years) of art forgers and fakers, and even now, her claim to fame is that she creates wall murals in homes and businesses of masterworks like Van Gogh's Sunflowers. Unfortunately, a collector has taken an interest in work she did as a child under an assumed name and bought a piece she'd been hiding from the public in her family's art gallery basement. When she attempts to "retrieve" the painting from Clea, the buyer, she encounters Davy, a con man who was bilked out of his money (or mostly his) by Clea's next-to-last boyfriend.
Davy and Matilda join forces to help each other and he wonders what kind of circus he's joined as a colorful cast of characters hustle and bustle through the art gallery and the apartments above the store. Hilarity ensues in the midst of trying to figure who is conning whom, and love does indeed bloom like the sunflowers Tilda paints. The only character that kept confusing me was Steve the dog. I kept thinking that he was one of the many young men flitting in and out until and then remembering he was the dog Tilda adopted from her last mural commission.
Crusie kept me laughing out loud throughout and I read it straight through in a day. What a hoot!
|
| christy (oltlfreak@aol.com) |
Play Dead by David Rosenfelt |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I've always enjoyed David's books before, but loved this one since Reggie the golden retriever was the star!
|
| Dorothy Francis |
Mad Mouse by Chris Grabenstein |
Rating: 5 Stars |
MAD MOUSE has strong characters and a strong plot. It also shows that what goes around, comes around, and that thoughtless unkind acts can boomerang. MAD MOUSE is an 'I can't put it down' book, so take the phone off the hook and read.
|
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
Dinner With Dad by Cameron Stracher |
Rating: 3 Stars |
A self-help book of sorts that describes how a workaholic father re-entered his family via dinner with his wife and children. DINNER WITH DAD takes a "stop and smell the daisies" approach to life, plus acts as a moral commentary on today's lack of family togetherness, and the dire consequences of this.
|
| Sandy |
The Blue Zone by Amdrew Gross |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book is by the co-author of LIFEGUARD and JUDGE AND JURY. This book has many twists and turns and keeps you guessing.
Of course, the ending is something I never expected. I hope Andrew Gross writes many more books on his own.
|
| Vicky Conradson |
Genghis: Birth of a Nation by Conn Iggulden |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I did not think I would like this book when I first got it, it was a prize for Bookreporter. I found the writing to bring history to life, another culture into focus, and the harshness of the times into existence.
|
| Jen Deja |
The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I was very impressed with the writing style of this mystery. Bohjalian's use of THE GREAT GATSBY and his development of the characters he created kept the ending a total surprise for me. This is one of those books you just can't put down.
|
| Sandy |
Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The gift given by Annie Freeman to her closest friends occurs when they follow out her plan for a 'traveling funeral'.
This story is at once poignant, funny, heartwarming, and inspiring.
|
| Dodalodle from Beautiful British Columbia (dglg@telus.net) |
The Hour Before Dawn by Sara MacDonald |
Rating: 4 Stars |
THE HOUR BEFORE DAWN is a wonderful story set in Singapore and New Zealand. The mysterious disappearance of a little girl sets up a series of events that will haunt future generations of the family. Fleur is the young daughter of an army colonel stationed in the far East, who falls in love with an army officer. They marry and have twin daughters, Nikki and Saffie. Fleur becomes devastated when her husband is killed, and then soon after, Saffie goes missing. Nikki has always blamed her mother for her sister's disappearance.
Twenty-eight years go by and now Nikki is all grown up and having a baby herself. She still has dreams and is tormented by her sister's disappearance. Fleur has been living in England and now flies to New Zealand to be with Nikki for the arrival of her new grandchild. She hopes to heal the rift between herself and Nikki. En route to New Zealand, Fleur goes missing and Nikki must journey to Singapore to find out what happened to her mother. Back in Singapore, the ghosts of the past surface, and mother and daughter are shocked by what they discover.
This is the moving story of how a family survives the disappearance of a child.
|
| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
Pale Kings & Princes by Robert B. Parker |
Rating: 4 Stars |
PALE KINGS & PRINCES is the 14th installment in the Spenser series, which I love because of its characters. Spenser is my favorite.
In this book, an editor from a newspaper hires Spenser to find out who killed their young reporter in Wheaton, Mass. It is rumored that Wheaton is heavy into cocaine trafficking. Spenser, as always, comes in like a bear and doesn't make friends. But in this case, the local police seem to be on the take as well. There weren't any ground breaking surprises in the personal story of Spenser. He is still with Susan and they are tighter than ever. She even helps him on the case. Hawk, as always, comes to the rescue and seems to appear and disappear like the wind.
I am totally hooked on this series. These are quick and fun mysteries that always keep me coming back for more.
|
| Sher |
The 6th Horseman by James Patterson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I am recommending all of James Patterson's books; he has a series with the same characters that is really awesome. His paragraphs are short, and it helps you read the book faster because you just can't put it down. He is a terrific writer.
|
| Marsha |
The Overlook by Michael Connelly |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This mystery focuses on missing radioactive substances that could pose a danger to Los Angeles. Conflict between the FBI and the LAPD bring a frantic pace to the investigation.
I would have liked to see a little more personal insight into the life of Harry Bosch. He is a most interesting character to those of us who have followed him from the beginning.
|
| Donna |
The Grail Conspiracy by Lynn Sholes & Joe Moore |
Rating: 4 Stars |
If you love books by Steve Berry and Dan Brown, you will love this one too. The search for the Holy Grail is an exciting adventure and definitely worth reading.
|
| Donna |
The 6th Target by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro |
Rating: 5 Stars |
If you love the Women's Murder Club series, you have to read this one. There are two cases going on at the same time and lots of excitement. This is another great addition to the series.
|
| Mary Jacobs (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
Hot Flashes and Cold Cream by Diann Hunt |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Aging Chick Lit -- how the over-40 and approaching-menopause set learns to deal with life and changes. This book has some very funny moments.
|
| Mary Jacobs (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
Engaging Men by Lynda Curnyn |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A very fun book. It's chick lit that deals with the issues of choice and what is best for you.
|
| Carole from Nevada (leonebear@aol.com) |
Every Visible Thing by Lisa Carey |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Once again, Carey delves into the complexity of family. The book is dark,brooding and complex.
|
| Jeanie (kary1716@aol.com) |
Love in the Present Tense by Catherine Ryan Hyde |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I was totally mesmerized by this book and Hyde's writing style. It's the story of Pearl who had "forever love" for her son, Leonard. Pearl had to leave him with a neighbor, Mitchell, to raise him, but her love stayed near him always.
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| Mary Jacobs (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
Girl's Guide To Witchcraft by Mindy Klasky |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Very cute paranormal Chick Lit with believable characters and excellent writing. I think it is being developed into a series, which would be great news.
|
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
I Heard That Song Before by Mary Higgins Clark |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I always enjoy Clark's stories of the wealthy and their secrets. This involves a murder and a suspected suicide over 20 years ago and what brings two unlikely people together. I really like the detective, who seems to turn up working for everyone. Nicholas Greco needs a little more development and might be features in a series.
|
| Sharon |
Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A coming-of-age novel with a cultural twist.
This would have been a great beach read.
|
| Dena |
The Husband by Dean Koontz |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I couldn't put it down. It's one of Koontz's better novels. Not only is it a thriller, I think it's also a romance. Mitch's wife has been kidnapped. He owns a small landscaping service, not the typical kidnapping victim. They want 2 million dollars and Mitch will do anything he can to get her back. There are some shocking surprises along the way.
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| Nicole H. (mike810nicole@aol.com) |
Secret Lives of Second Wives by Catherine Todd |
Rating: 3 Stars |
This was an interesting enough light read about a woman who is trying to find her place in a ready made, established family. It isn't always easy being the newcomer to an established "group." It was nice to know that I wasn't alone in some of my feelings.
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| Mary Jacobs (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Excellent debut about a PI family that is very well written and full of humor and drama. Fans of Janet Evanovich and Christopher Moore should love this book since the writing style seems to be a cross between the two. I really hope the author continues to write about this group of characters.
|
| Jackie Stott |
The Alibi Man by Tami Hoag |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Tami Hoag has outdone herself. Obviously, I am a big fan and if you love murder and querulous, quarrelsome characters with some money and sex thrown in, this is the book for you. Hoag tells a great story, but she also delves into her characters' feelings and their pasts, which make things more interesting for me.
|
| Rita Carter (gandmari@aol.com) |
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A coming-of-age story and a book about a boy and his hunting dogs. An old, classic story of love and devotion. Great for all!
|
| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I found this book to be frustrating and sad. At first, I thought the unnamed main character was your typical yuppie who is caught up in Manhattan's fast-paced, drug- induced night life because that is what young and unattached adults do. But then, you find out his wife has just left him. That's bad enough. And then you find out his mother died within the past year. His lifestyle makes more sense after these events. It is his way of coping with his loses.
I thought the writing was clever, but maybe too clever. Some readers found humor in it, and there were some witty parts. Tad's mission in life is to have more fun than anyone else in New York City, and this involves a lot of moving around, since there is always the likelihood that where you aren't is more fun than where you are. I wouldn't classify this book as "funny" however. I think the writer found an interesting way of describing how a young guy, living in a fast-paced world of the 80s, is dealing with loss and loneliness.
|
| Noreen Brown |
Full of Grace by Dorothea Benton Frank |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book is good. It has everything --- romance, comedy, sorrow, big Italian meals, religion, medical situations,travel, and an off-the-wall family.
|
| Julia |
Diary of a South Beach Party Girl by Gwen Cooper |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I first picked up this book expecting, from the title, some fun and fluffy chick lit. DIARY OF A SOUTH BEACH PARTY GIRL is definitely really fun, but it's also so much more than that. It's witty and moving and the writing is gorgeous. This is a great insider's look at South Beach nightlife and also a great coming-of-age story. There's also a great love story, maybe the best I've ever read. I couldn't put this book down and I recommend it highly.
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| Judy Goldsmith (judyjtg@sbcglobal.net) |
How to Be Alone by Jonathan Franzen |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Jonathan made me think!
|
| L. Hann |
Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Stephanie and Lula end up in gang territory while looking for a skip. Big mistake. Stephanie is scared for her life and hides out in the Bat Cave. She is hoping Ranger won't find out since he is out of town. But we all know that Ranger has that sixth sense. Evanovich brings Sally back into this one. Find out what crazy things he is up to and who is planning Valarie's wedding.
|
| L. Hann |
To The Nines by Janet Evanovich |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Stephanie Plum is at it again. This time, she's looking for an illegal immigrant and a dog named Boo. Stephanie, Lula and Connie take the show on the road to Vegas!!! Connie may have gotten married while they were there, she isn't sure. Lula is on an all-meat diet. She wants to be a supermodel. And, life is crazy in the Plum house as usual. This one will have you in stitches.
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| Julie |
Body Surfing by Anita Shreve |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Wonderfully written. This is a novel about a woman who answers an ad in the newspaper for a tutor for the summer in New Hampshire. She is newly widowed and is trying to start over. What she encounters there tears the fragile existence she has slowly built up for herself.
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| Jean A |
The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfeld |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This first work of fiction by the author is great. It's a mystery and has everything: romance, suspense, humor and one of the most hateful characters (but is he the killer?) in literature. Add to that a wonderful plot twist and you've got a real winner that is near impossible to put down.
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| Ron G |
Bolt by Dick Francis |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I've read about five Dick Francis mysteries and all are worth 5 stars. What makes this one so hard to put down is the villain of the plot. He is one of the baddest characters I've ever come across in modern fiction. He has no redeeming characteristics and will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
Warning: you may not want to read this book if you are susceptible to high blood pressure. The bad guy sure got my blood boiling.
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| Marianne |
The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz |
Rating: 4 Stars |
What a fun read. THE SPELLMAN FILES is about a family of P.I.'s in San Francisco and their rather odd quirks. It focuses on Isabel, her parents, her "perfect" brother, her little sister, Rae, and her old/new Uncle Ray. I couldn't put it down and it put a big smile on my face! Can't wait for the next installment.
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| Jeremiah Bulger (jbulger@cox.net) |
The Overlook by Michael Connelley |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Riveting and timely, but I wish the book was longer. It's that good!
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| Sandy |
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I listened this one on tape and it was wonderful! I think it would be best to listen to an audio book to best understand how things are really pronounced in South Africa. I have just started the next in this series.
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| Fran |
She Drives Me Crazy by Leslie Kelly |
Rating: 3 Stars |
This book was very cute and predictable. Fans of chick lit will enjoy it.
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| Fifi O'Toole (FifiOToole@aol.com) |
The Lucas Davenport Mysteries by John Sandford |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Over the years, I've thoroughly enjoyed every single one of Sandford's Lucas Davenport books, so when I saw his latest one on display at the bookseller, I decided to re-read the entire series this summer, in order of publish date.
Sandford is a master of suspense, and rewards his readers by making them feel as though they actually know his characters.
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| Lori Barnes (photoquest@bellsouth.net) |
Daddy by Danielle Steel |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I was honestly appalled at the mother in this story --- of the choices she made --- and felt deeply for the father. The love he had for his family was admirable. Some moments made me cry, and there was a lot of drama, so your attention never left the story. I know this was adapted to a movie, but the book is definitely much better!
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| Marion Miller (lamamil@aol.com) |
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a coming-of age-at Prep-School story. I find it amazing that the author can become a teenager with such logic and insight.
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| Myrna |
Sister of My Heart by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I'm enjoying this book so far. It's the story, which takes place in India, of two cousins who are as close as sisters growing up. Their lives will go in different directions as adults, and a family secret will be revealed.
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| Bridget |
Dark Angels by Karlene Koen |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I see this book being advertised every time I visit Bookreporter.com. I read it when it first came out last fall. It's probably one of the best historical fiction novels I've ever read. I really hope the author writes a sequel to it!
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| Jen Mulsow |
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I just reread this book after many years and forgot how much I loved it.
I will have to go back and read the whole series again. I just love that everything is very calm and there is a proper way to do things. Precious is a great character that you can't help but love.
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| Denise |
Prayer by Phillip Yancy |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I am enjoying PRAYER, as it is helping me put certain things into perspective, which should alleviate some of the frustration that praying can sometimes bring about.
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| Christy Hawkes (hawkes@citlink.net) |
Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts |
Rating: 5 Stars |
After reading Ms. Letts' previous two books, WHERE THE HEART IS and THE HONK AND HOLLER OPENING SOON I anticipated reading SHOOT THE MOON and I'm happy to say I was not disappointed. This book, like the other two, is set in Oklahoma and has a cast of characters just as quirky and intriguing. However, unlike the previous two books, this novel is a murder mystery and the cast is darker and more suspicious, with interesting ulterior motives. It is a fast-paced read with a plot that will pull you in and leave you stunned with some of the twists and turns. I highly recommend this exciting and thrilling book.
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| Christy Hawkes (hawkes@citlink.net) |
Triple Witch by Sarah Graves |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Ms. Graves has done it again with another great story. The characters are charming and likable (though some are not so likable) and live in a community that makes you want to relocate to. I'm looking forward to reading the next Jacobia Tiptree mystery.
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| Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com) |
Lucky Strike by Nancy Zafris |
Rating: 3 Stars |
A good summer read --- it's light, full of good laughs, thought-provoking issues and characters!
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| Reva Wamsley (prwamsley@roadrunner.com) |
Four to Score by Janet Evanovich |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I have recently discovered this series about Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter. They combine humor and mystery, two of my favorite things. I find them hard to put down.
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| C.Simar |
Corpus Christi by Bret Anthony Johnston |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Fascinating characters.
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| C. Simar |
Blood Meridian by Cormack McCarthy |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A great read.
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| C. Simar |
The Beet Queen by Louise Erdrich |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Extremely well written.
|
| Cindy Dietz |
TWILIGHT and NEW MOON by Stephanie Meyer |
Rating: 5 Stars |
These are probably the best YA novels I've ever read. I was unable to let go of the characters after I'd finished the books! Everyone I've recommended them to has had exactly the same reaction, girls and guys alike. I can't keep this book on the shelves in my high school library (I have 5 copies of each). My students have even started a reading club --- the first one ever at our school --- because of these books! If I could give them more than 5 stars, I would. We are impatiently waiting for the 3rd book in the series, EXLIPSE, to be released in July.
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| Vicki Kennedy |
The Lost Constitution by William Martin |
Rating: 4 Stars |
The story is intriguing, with lots of action as it goes back and forth from the past to the present. It�s well written and entertaining and I enjoyed it.
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| Shana D. |
A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon |
Rating: 5 Stars |
It's always enjoyable to read a Diana Gabaldon book. This is 6th in the series about 18th-century Highlander Jamie Fraser and his time-traveling doctor wife, Claire, now living at the beginning of the American Revolution. Details of everyday life and the start of the war are masterfully woven into historical events. Various storylines and mysteries wrap up by the end of the book, but unanswered questions in the family saga leave me eager to read the next installment.
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| Bridget |
Black and White by Dani Shapiro |
Rating: 2 Stars |
This book was all about a woman's estrangement from her family. I found the character in this novel to be flawed. She has good reasons for never wanting to see her mother again, but the climax and resolution of this book were just too hard to swallow.
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| Joan G. |
Gloss by Jennifer Oko |
Rating: 3 Stars |
GLOSS is the story of a young woman, Annabelle Kapner, who is a producer for a morning news show. She produces a story that she never thought would land her in jail. Her arrest is a cover for a dark operation involving the CIA and the vice president. From jail, she is out to prove her innocence and help the teenage girls who are used as cosmetic guinea pigs. This book had a slow start, but it improves somewhat as the plot develops.
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| Emorie |
Bittersweet Diary by Saundra Seward |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Highly recommended for women of all ages, especially teens! There is no excuse for anyone to settle in self pity after reading this book! This is truly movie material!!!!!!!
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| Sue L. |
Trace Evidence by Elizabeth Becka |
Rating: 3 Stars |
This book takes a bit of time to get into, but isn't half bad. It's not what I am used to reading, but when I could find nothing else, it fit the bill.
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| Peggy |
The Lost Constitution by William Martin |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Besides reading a great suspense novel about a hunt for an American Historical document, you get the characters from Mr. Martin's previous novels, BACK BAY and HARVARD YARD. Another plus is you get an American History lesson as well and one that is anything but boring. Great book to read at the beach this summer.
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| M. Blitz |
Stone of Tears by Terry Goodkind |
Rating: 5 Stars |
STONE OF TEARS is the second book in the Sword of Truth Series. What a book! Love, betrayal, wars, magic, and mystery are all in this book. Go for it and you won't be disappointed.
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| Roxie |
Whitegirl by Kate Manning |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Actually 3.5 *, would have been 4* but the ending left me frustrated. It's a book about a bi-racial couple and the stresses their races have on each other.
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| Roxie |
The Water and the Blood by Nancy E. Turner |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book is set during World War II and it shows the effects of women going into the workforce. It also involves the racial tension of the times. A very good read!
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| Roxie |
Sleep Toward Heaven by Amanda Eyre Ward |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A very good story told from 3 different viewpoints, a woman on death row, the wife of the man she killed, and the doctor who takes care of her in prison.
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| Dr Carol (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
Deadly American Beauty by John Glatt |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a great true crime book! It is about a smart, beautifu, and very manipulative woman who ends up getting a job in an ME's office and marries a bio-tech executive after meeting him for 1 night. Kristin also has extramarital affairs with her boss and eventually begins poisoning her husband so she can be with her lover. She is also very addicted to drugs, which she steals from the ME's lab. This was a great read that I couldn't put down.
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| Dr Carol (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini |
Rating: 5 Stars |
From the author of THE KITE RUNNER, this book will make you cry, get angry and it will also give you information about lifestyles of women in Afghanistan. This is the story of Laila and Miriam, two women who were born out of wedlock and disowned by their families. The book talks about the war, the treatment of women as second-class citizens and obeying the rule of males.
The Afghan refugee crisis is real and getting worse every day --- people were innocently killed, maimed and raped, all in the name of justice.
This was a great book! I couldn't put it down and was sorry when I finished reading it.
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| Brady (bradylee@myway.com) |
Child of the Jungle by Sabine Kuegler |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The author and her brother and sister lived with their parents on a remote island in West Papua New Guinea. Her entire childhood was played out in the jungle among a tribe of savages with most unusual social mores. This is her story of how wonderful her life was as a child and the fun she had "outside" of civilization. You will learn about the jungle and how life is lived by the natives.
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| Dawnymae |
Sisters by Danielle Steel |
Rating: 4 Stars |
An anniversary brings this quad of sisters together. A tragedy takes place and what happens after is truly heartbreaking.
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| Ricki (rickimc@aol.com) |
Volunteers by Helen Little |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A very informative (and short) book useful for anyone who works with volunteers.
|
| Michele from Arizona |
A Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Brockmeier is one of the most original voices to come along in some time. His 3rd novel is a fast read -- intriguing and thought-provoking. A fast-moving plague has spread across the planet. The dead continue exist in an afterlife called "the city." They continue on until the last person on Earth to remember them dies. As the disease spreads across the Earth, the number of "city" dwellers dwindles.
In a parallel storyline, wildlife researcher Laura is stranded at her crippled Antarctica research station. Cut off from the rest of the world and unaware of the plague, she sets out across the frozen wilderness to seek rescue. Her memories sustain a group of city inhabitants, and reminds the reader of the connections we make with others every day and their significance.
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| Susan Dawson |
The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An excellent novel. The narration by the main character, Alessandra Cecchi. beginning when she is only 15 years old, propelled me into Florence of the Renaissance --- a time of great cultural and religious change.
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| Marjorie Clark (marjclark@comcast.net) |
The Camel Club by David Baldacci |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Great book, even though I read THE COLLECTORS first, which led me to want to know more about the four guys who make up the Camel Club.
I recommend this to anyone who likes thrillers/mysteries that revolve around our government in the Capitol.
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| Anna Marie |
Love and Louis XIV by Antonia Fraser |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book transports you to the delights and excesses of the French Court at a time when Versailles was becoming the show place of the age, and explores all the women who shaped it and Louis's reign.
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| Christy Hawkes (hawkes@citlink.net) |
The Sweet Potato Queens' 1st Big-Ass Novel by Jill Conner Browne with Karin Gillespie |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This was the first book by Ms. Browne that I've read and I would have to say it was a delight. A genuine page turner that will hook you from the first page. It is filled with plenty of humor and charm to keep you smiling throughout. This is a great story of childhood misfits that band together and form a lifelong friendship as they comfort and support one another through good times and bad. I highly recommend this easy and fun read, and I look forward to reading more of the Sweet Potato Queen books, as well as trying some of the delicious (and deadly) - sounding recipes.
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| Linda M. Johnson |
Where Have All the Leaders Gone? by Lee Iacocca |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Of course, Iacocca shares my political views, so I was halfway in his camp before I opened the cover. I appreciate his straight talk. Now if some in Washington will just listen to the man!
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| Eileen Quinn Knight |
The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a great suspense novel. The three main characters in the book have to come to grips with an event that took place over seventeen years ago. The intrigue is great. The novel deals with innocence and love. It is a book you won't forget.
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| Helen |
The Birth House by Ami McKay |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I haven't finished it yet so couldn't give it a 5, but so far, it is a great read. It is a powerful book of birth, love, sex and pain. Ami has a delightful sense of humor that had me laughing out loud more than once.
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| Tracey Byram |
The Sweet Potato Queen's First Big Assed Novel by Jill Conner Browne |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Truly a funny book. I laughed out loud numerous times while reading it. I saw myself, I saw my friends, I saw my own daughters in the characters and situations in the book. I could totally relate, as a Southerner myself. But you don't have to be Southern to love this book.
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| Valerie Wiesner |
One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book is another wonderful story by this talented author. (She also wrote CASE HISTORIES) It is not only a mystery; it is an in-depth personality study of several different people, and the way Ms. Atkinson weaves elements of the plot seamlessly through the book makes for a very interesting and intriguing book.
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| Dawnymae |
Step On A Crack by James Patterson |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Very intense! A group, led by Jack, kills the President's wife. At her state funeral with lots of celebrities, they take them all hostage, and the nightmare truly begins. A real page-turner.
|
| Joyce |
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I could not put NINETEEN MINUTES down! It was one of the most gripping books I have read in a long time. The characters seemed very real and I also felt like I personally knew them. Read this book, you will be glad you did.
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| Bonnie Cooper |
Storm Runners by T. Jefferson Parker |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Both my husband and I love T. Jefferson Parker. We're so glad we discovered him via Bookreporter.com!
|
| MK |
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley |
Rating: 4 Stars |
In Mary Shelley's intricately designed novel FRANKENSTEIN, she thoroughly exemplifies man's brutal nature and the equally horrifying consequences of "playing God."
Frankenstein, commonly but mistakenly depicted as the monster, is the overly-devoted scientist intent on granting life to that which has no life; in the end, though, he realizes the devastating nature of creating a being that has no soul.
Mary Shelley brings to life an ongoing conflict with symbolism and themes masterfully entwined. Although the plot moves slowly at times, it is a good read that will have the reader thinking throughout.
|
| Dave |
The Age of Napoleon by Alistair Horne |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A brief, wonderfully written history of Napoleon's two-decade rule of France, and his contributions that continue today.
|
| Patricia C. |
In the Dark of the Night by John Saul |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I love John Saul, he always keeps me on the edge of my seat. This story is scary and dramatic. It makes you wonder about renting a summer home.
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| Dawnie83 |
The Doctor's Wife by Elizabeth Brundage |
Rating: 4 Stars |
It took several chapters for me to get into it, but once I did, once the depths of the story started to unfold, I couldn't put it down. And when I had to, I found myself thinking about it, mulling it over, and over, and over, until I could get back to it. An awesome read... a real "thinker."
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| Dave |
The Lost Constitution by William Martin |
Rating: 5 Stars |
If you like historical fiction and enjoy a good thriller with a New England flavor, this just might be an enjoyable book for you. I enjoy this author very much.
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| Christy Hawkes (hawkes@citlink.net) |
Gideon by Jacquelyn Frank |
Rating: 5 Stars |
With her second published book so far, Ms. Frank is at the top of my pre-order list. GIDEON, the next book in The Nightwalker series, was as wonderful as JACOB. I just love the characters she has created. Gideon and Legna's story is very emotional and I was thrilled to see Jacob and Isabella prominently still featured along with Noah, Elijah, etc. and a whole new cast of characters too. You will find yourself pulled into this alternate world and wanting more. I'm looking forward to reading Elijah and Siena's story, and am counting the days until this next book is released.
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| K Peters |
Running From Safety by Richard Bach |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A very good read with a solid plot. It's one I've read again and again.
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| Sharon |
Water Like a Stone by Deborah Crombie |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Mystery and suspense that never stops. Great characters and vivid descriptions of the locales.
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| Linda Bass (lindarb49@hotmail.com) |
Ghost of a Chance by J. Morgan |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I've never laughed so hard in my life as when Jessica took on the devil as a ghost.
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| Sandra F. |
The Cat Who Saw Stars by Lilian Jackson Braun |
Rating: 3 Stars |
This long-running series of books featuring KoKo and YumYum never fails to amuse. A pleasant read.
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| SRuth |
Desire in the Sun by Karen Robards |
Rating: 4 Stars |
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