| Readingrat |
Middlemarch by George Elliot |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A classic literary epic masterpiece.
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| Marsha M |
Special Topics In Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I first tried reading this book, but had a hard time with the style. When I found an audio copy at my local library I decided to try again. I am very happy I did.
The story is told by Blue Van Meer, high school student, only child of an eccentric political and social science professor, self-acclaimed genius with an almost perfect memory, and new member of the "in crowd" at her new private school. Narrated like any scholar, the prose is punctuated by asides and footnotes with references from classic movies, famous and obscure scholarly writings, fiction and whatever seems to pop up in her mind. In fact every chapter is named for a book.
Blue and her father are like rolling stones. It seems he changes universities and locals almost every year. He can do so because he has something of a "rock star" reputation with many ardent admirers all over the country. But at this last North Carolina school, things unravel. Blue and her friends are enamored with an unconventional teacher, spending time away from her father and her studies. Odd things begin to happen, leading up to murders, alienation, and her own family's terrible secret.
I highly recommend this audiobook version of the novel. it is well spoken and riveting.
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| Sandra F. |
Forty Words for Sorrow by Giles Blunt |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A great crime story set in northern Ontario. It's so nice to read a really good Canadian author.
|
| Natalie Powell |
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is the best book I have read all year. It was a tear jerker.
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| Ronni (rsmusf@aol.com) |
The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This engrossing novel, written by an award-winning novelist (LOST IN TRANSLATION) and food writer, introduces the reader to the world of authentic Chinese cooking and lore. Along with vivid descriptions of Chinese cooking, the author weaves in a story about an American writer traveling in China to connect with the possible daughter of her late husband.
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| Fran |
Veil of Roses by Laura Fitzgerald |
Rating: 4 Stars |
It was so much fun to experience America for the first time through the eyes of Tami, a young Persian immigrant. It is the type of book that highlights cultural norms and values within the context of a characterization. It makes you realize how much we take for granted in our culture!
In this book you route for the heroine, Tami as she goes on her desperate search for a Persian husband before her Visa expires. Along the way, she meets Ike, a forbidden American man who she happens to fall in love with. This book was a lot of fun to read.
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| Sandra F. |
Cure for a Charlatan by Caroline Roe |
Rating: 3 Stars |
An historical mystery featuring a blind Jewish doctor in medieval Spain. A good read with lots of historical detail.
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| Sandra F. |
Thou Shalt Not Grill by Tamar Myers |
Rating: 4 Stars |
An entertaining mystery set in Pennsylvania-Dutch country. It's best read for the characters rather than the plot, and it comes complete with recipes.
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| Sandra F. |
Charlotte by D. M. Thomas |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Give an alternate ending to JANE EYRE. Very entertaining.
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| Marsha |
At Risk by Patricia Cornwell |
Rating: 3 Stars |
This is a fast read. It's not a Scarpetta novel, but one featuring Winston Garano. I'm sure we will be reading more of him. He is a Massachusetts state investigator who is completing a course at the National Forensic Academy. Who does he trust? He is caught in a political entanglement.
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| Jean |
Killer Mousse by Melinda Wells |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I enjoy cozy mysteries so I decided to try this new author. I found the book to be a little flat. It was an okay read, but nothing to rave about.
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| Joan G. |
Tribute by Nora Roberts |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Cilla, a former child movie star, is now out of the business and doing home renovations. She has moved to Virginia into her grandmother's old farmhouse, and wants to renovate it and call it home. Her grandmother, a once-famous movie star, supposedly committed suicide there. Cilla finds old love letters and strange things begin happening to her. She sets out to prove her grandmother's death was no accident. This is not Robert's best but enjoyable.
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| Jean |
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Loved this book! My college-aged daughter recommended this to me and I must say, I loved it. Ms. Giffin tells the story just as your best friend would. It's a fast read, full of insight regarding friendships and relationships. I highly recommend it!
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| Linda M. Johnson (tcheer4life@yahoo.com) |
The Art of Drowning by Billy Collins |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a slim but potent book of poetry by a former Poet Laureate of the U.S. I heard Mr. Collins read some of his work last March. At that time, I thought of him as a poetic Bob Newhart. This particular book has one of my favorite poems, "Thesaurus".
|
| Judy O. |
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Reading this book is really like spending time in a whole new world. Edgar Sawtelle and his family live in Wisconsin on a farm and for several generations they have raised and trained dogs. These dogs are a breed unto themselves called, "Sawtelle's Dogs". Edgar has been mute since birth, although he does have hearing. Their ideal world is thrown into chaos when Edgar's uncle, Claude, comes to stay with them after a stint in jail. A death occurs and Edgar suspects that his uncle is responsible. After another tragic turn of events, Edgar runs into the Wisconsin forests with 3 of his dogs and manages to elude capture for many weeks. The plot is loosely based on Shakespeare's Hamlet. Even though it is a long book, I was sorry to see it end. This book is a first for this author, and I'll look forward to his next one.
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| Linda M. Johnson (tcheer4life@yahoo.com) |
Free Lunch by David Cay Johnston |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Everyone should read this book. I led a book discussion about this at our local library. I tried to find something negative about the author and his book --- to present an opposing view --- but found almost nothing. Mr. Johnston doesn't take party sides. He points out the inequities of government on so many sides.
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| Linda M. Johnson (tcheer4life@yahoo.com) |
Picnic, Lightning by Billy Collins |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Another slim book of poetry by a quiet man who supplies chuckles and his unique take on life. What seems a familiar topic he manipulates until we see through his eyes and comprehend an entirely new view.
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| Linda M. Johnson (tcheer4life@yahoo.com) |
Questions About Angels: Poems by Billy Collins |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Billy Collins is a poet who is very easy to read and understand. He writes about everyday things and turns them into something extraordinary.
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| Jean |
Something Blue by Emily Giffin |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This sequel to SOMETHING BORROWED was equally good. If features the same characters as the first book, but the story is told from someone else's point of view.
|
| Kathy V. |
He Who Fears The Wolf by Karin Fossum |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is another Inspector Sejer mystery. The more of these I read, the more I love them. This one is about a young man who escapes from an asylum and gets caught up in a killing during a bank robbery, and a boy who keeps leaving the boys home. The author really draws you in and keeps you going till the end. I could not put it down, and read it in two days.
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| Andrea |
Strange Piece of Paradise by Terri Jentz |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Riveting true crime memoir about an event from 1977 in which the author was almost murdered while on a cross-country bike trip. It's not a typical true crime story, with a lot of insight from the author, and no pat resolution. I couldn't wait until my lunch hour to keep on reading.
|
| Bonnie |
There's No Toilet Paper on the Road Less Trave by David Lansky (editor) |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Funny book of travel essays from people like Dave Barry, Bill Bryson, etc.
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| Lori Barnes (photoquest@bellsouth.net) |
A Rakes Guide to Seduction by Caroline Linden |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I loved both the main characters in this story. They had known each other when they were younger, and had since gotten reacquainted again. However, Anthony now has a very scandalous reputation. Celia only remembers him being very kind to her growing up. I thought this was a excellent read. There were no dry spots and the story flowed from beginning to end. There were surprises thrown out that kept the story interesting, and the love scenes were excellently written; there was quite the sexual tension between them. They both have very defined personalities and you really felt like you know them when the story is over. I will be looking for more from this author.
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| Wendy (wendycatalano@hotmail.com) |
The Hunt by Allison Brennan |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is the 2nd book in a trilogy and it is a quick-paced murder mystery adventure.
A great read that comes after THE PREY and before THE KILL.
|
| Annie |
The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston, Mario Spezi |
Rating: 4 Stars |
The true story of a serial killer in Florence, Italy. The murders began in 1968 and are particularly gruesome and violent. The story encompasses the incompetencies of the police in charge of the investigation and many false arrests and charges. I am in the midst of the story and not sure if they ever get the real murderer . I thought it had a slow start, but it is easy to follow although there have been 14 murders and multiple arrests and officials hired and fired.
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| Monica S. |
The Doctor's Wife by Elizabeth Brundage |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a story about a woman who's bored with her life as the spouse of a doctor in a small town. Annie meets another man and their "affair" leads to dire consequences.
This story had many twists and turns, and once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. A great summer read!
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| Crystal Johnston |
Prophecy Study Bible by John C. Hagee |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Okay. Move aside all study and just Bibles you use along side any and all other Bibles you use to refer and learn about the world in the past and where God will take us during the rapture. It's written in the New King James version, so it's an easy read and learn so much that you will be totally impressed. Can't afford one or find one? Then borrow one. You won't want to bring it back, so just buy your own copy from the beginning. Blessed reading!
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| CAN |
God's Word for Each Day by Unknown |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Excellent devotional book. If you want to get closer to God or just improve your daily walk with him and/or relationships with family and friends, you won't be able to move away from this 'bad boy.' Preserve in your daily life and pick up this Bible. It's worth your love.
|
| Bridget |
The Golden Age by Tahmima Anam |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A very good novel about a widow and her two children during the Pakistani War. I really knew very little about this time and place in history. Reading this novel was very interesting and informative. The characters were well developed and I really felt that I cared about them.
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| Christy H. |
Fractured by Karin Slaughter |
Rating: 5 Stars |
FRACTURED grabbed me from the very first page and the fast-paced, suspenseful plot kept me turning the pages until I had finished all 388 in one sitting. This thrilling mystery is filled with plenty of twists and turns. Characters Will and Amanda are back from Karin's previous book, TRIPTYCH along with new characters and monstrous villains --- the interaction between Will and Faith is intriguing and I'm hoping there will be more in this series.
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| Gale in Houston |
Nothing to Lose by Lee Child |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series is a real treat. This year’s installment, NOTHING TO LOSE, may not be on par with last year’s stellar BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE, but it is an excellent book. NOTHING TO LOSE finds retired military policeman Reacher arrested for vagrancy when he orders a cup of coffee in the small town of Despair, Colorado. Something seems off. As he begins to investigate, Reacher finds an unexpected military presence, a town controlled by a wealthy zealot, and evidence of suspicious disappearances. I highly recommend this series to mystery/thriller fans.
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| Gale in Houston |
The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason |
Rating: 4 Stars |
THE REST FALLS AWAY is the first of the Gardella Chronicles, a five-book series about vampires in 19th-century Europe and those who hunt them. Colleen Gleason has an unusually Christian foundation for her vampires --- the first vampire was Judas Iscariot, betrayer of Christ. The main vampire threat in this series is Lilith, daughter of Judas. Vampires are weak to silver in deference to Judas’s payment for his betrayal. This novel tells how the newest vampire killer, Lady Victoria Gardella, accepts her family legacy on the eve of her London society debut. At a time when she is expected to be gaining a spouse, she is enthusiastically learning martial arts, weaponry and a secret family history. Gleason’s story is beautifully detailed, with memorable characters, an interesting story and excellent action.
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| Lindsey |
Loving Frank by Nancy Horan |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Recommended by a friend. I am only about 1/4 into it, but I'm finding it hard to put down. A great love story.
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| A Louisiana Librarian |
RuneWarriors by James Jennewein |
Rating: 3 Stars |
RUNEWARRIORS is an upcoming book by James Jennewein and Tom S. Parker, screen writers, whose work includes Richie Rich and The Flintstones.
RUNEWARRIORS is a the tale of a 13-year-old viking boy named Dane who is catapulted into a dangerous quest after an evil tyrant kills his father and kidnaps his love, an ax-wielding viking girl named Astrid.
Middle schoolers who enjoy the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series will enjoy following the adventures of Dane and his viking friends. It's full of fighting, adventure, and lots of humor as the authors include very clever and quirky descriptive text and dialogue. The writers could have developed the characters a bit more. In addition, the age of the characters is distracting because the story oscillates between being a story about thirteen-year- old boys, who speak and act like thirteen-year-old boys, and a life-or-death situation where a young girl will be killed and a kingdom on the verge of death and destruction. It's hard to imagine a boy in a bloody sword fight to the death.
Regardless of the slight shortcomings, young readers should have no problems suspending belief and will enjoy reading about viking warriors, frost giants, deadly sea creatures, and changing ones fate.
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| Gail (cardlady4@optonline.net) |
Losing You by Nicci French |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This was very suspenseful story. I couldn't put it down; it was a quick read and I finished it in one day. I enjoyed it very much.
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| Aj Smith |
sTori Telling by Tori Spelling |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Wait! Don't roll your eyes just yet. I was skeptical about reading a Tori Spelling book myself, but --- to be honest --- it was very refreshing. She is not what she appears to be in the tabloids. I feel after reading the book, I can actually relate to her and find that she is someone I might be friends with. I do feel like she could have taken a little more responsibility for her actions in the book, but overall, I was engrossed and was left with a better understanding of a fellow woman, friend, mother and wife.
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| Erin Golsen |
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This heartbreaking, haunting book tells the story of Esme Lennox, an elderly woman who has spent the past sixty years in an asylum. The book's vivid characters and skillfully structured plot make for a suspenseful and moving read --- I couldn't put it down until I knew what had happened to Esme and why.
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| Little D |
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a beautifully written book as told through the eyes of the family pet dog, Enzo. It is a funny, sad, passionate and loving story. You will never look at your family pet in the same way again.
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| Angela Satalino |
Ahab's Wife by Sena Jeter Naslund |
Rating: 4 Stars |
What a wonderful picturesque, thought-provoking, interesting book. The characters draw you in from the first page. Great summer read.
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| Sue Balla (jsballa@optonline.net) |
Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Set in Germany during the last months of World War II, this is the story of a German family's struggle to head west, across Germany, to the British and American troops and away from the encroaching Russian army. The refugees see the atrocities committed by both sides, and the reader understands that there are innocents on both sides of war.
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| Sandra |
Prayers For Rain by Dennis Lehane |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I just finished listening to this one and it was great! A little bit of sex and bad language, but necessary to the story.
|
| Carol |
The Boy I Loved Before by Jenny Colgan |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Chick-lit, but such a fun read. It's a romance combined with fantasy and time travel. It was like eating chocolates --- it went down easy. The author has a nice sense of humor.
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| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
Judas Island by Kathryn R. Wall |
Rating: 3 Stars |
A Bay Tanner Mystery set in Hilton Head, SC --- this time there is trouble between the Judge and Lavinia, plus the sudden death of a friend of Erik's. Trouble seems to be Bay's middle name, with murder and mayhem following close behind.
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| Joan (jbtommysmom0@gmail.com) |
Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This novel, which is based on the story behind the creation of the Taj Mahal, is the best book I've read in 2008. It's just about perfect. I find it difficult to locate novels that are well written and page turners, but this book is definitely both. The writing is beautiful, the story compelling, and I was up until 3 a.m. last night finishing it!
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| Rick B. |
Wizard of Windsor Island by Richard A. Berry & John M. Kraus |
Rating: 3 Stars |
This positive adventure for teens involves a boy who discovers that he has magical powers. It's only 100 pages. It starts off little weak with some family background, but it's a good read from chapter 4-12. There may possibly be a sequel.
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| Susan Balla |
So Brave, Young and Handsome by Leif Enger |
Rating: 4 Stars |
The much anticipated second novel by the author of PEACE LIKE A RIVER. A beautifully written story about with very believable characters, set in the early 1900s. It's not quite a western, but it does bring to mind a classic cowboy story.
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| Ali |
The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen |
Rating: 3 Stars |
This is a good story, but very creepy to me.
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| Joanna Baker (JMB0923@gmail.com) |
Lost on Planet China by J. Maarten Troost |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I first discovered J. Marteen Troost a couple of years ago when his then-newly written book, GETTING STONED WITH SAVAGES was given to me as an Advance Reading Copy (ARC). It was a great book! He tells the story of his wife getting transferred to Vanuatu and their subsequent adventures while living there. The book was so interesting and fun to read --- I devoured it. I figured it was the closest I would ever get to seeing that part of the world, and I did feel like I had gone there after reading it. After that, I sought out SEX LIVES OF CANNIBALS, which was actually his first book about that part of the world. Again, I loved it.
So imagine my excitement one night a couple of weeks ago when I got to work at the bookstore only to find the ARC of Troost's newest offering in my mailbox! I started reading it immediately and have been talking about it to anyone who will listen ever since. My 22-year-old son read it in one day and also really liked it. I have passed this title along (the physical book as well as in suggestion) to many other readers I know. Troost is a really entertaining author writing about the biggest and most mysterious country in the world. I am ashamed to admit I know very little about it.
Timed to hit bookstores just in time for the summer Olympics in Beijing, it is available now. Give it try --- I guarantee you'll enjoy it and you'll learn a lot too.
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| Lori Barnes (photoquest@bellsouth.net) |
Why the Wind Blows by Matthys Levy |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I found this book to be full of information. It goes over all the different types of weather --- tornadoes, cyclones, monsoons, etc. It describes in detail about the changing of our climates and the future of the earth. It's a history of weather and global warming, discusses how different factors are causing the weather changes, and what the earth will be like in the future. There are also many illustrations and charts that are easily read. Anyone with concerns about the future of things needs to read this book.
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| Carole from Kelleys Island |
If the Battle Is Over, Why Am I Still in Uniform? by Brenda Elsagher |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Life was hectic but happy for Brenda, a stylist and owner of a busy hair salon, a wife, and a mother of two young children, when she was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. With that diagnosis, life as she knew it abruptly and forever changed.
Brenda gritted her teeth and summoned all the courage and humor she could muster. She had the loving support of a very large family and many caring friends. Still, it was her body that was carved up like a Thanksgiving turkey and put back together --- now with exterior plumbing.
She dubbed her surgeon "The Rear Admiral." Brenda learned to live with her colostomy and to laugh often. She became much more than a cancer survivor. She became a motivational speaker with an important message.
The book is heartwarming, encouraging, interesting, well written, and deeply personal.
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| Christy H. |
Nauti Dreams by Lora Leigh |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Being a big fan of Ms. Leigh and having previously read the first two books in this series, NAUTI NIGHTS and NAUTI BOY, I have anxiously been waiting for this latest addition with Natches's story. This book could be read as a stand alone, but I would seriously recommend reading the first two books just to get a feel for the characters and the evolving storyline.
As always, the book has great characters! Natches's personality is upper alpha male (I guarantee you will fall in love with him) and Chaya is just as strong and a perfect equal match. These two come with a lot of individual baggage and a history with each other that goes back five years. The story is filled with tons of emotion: fear, grief and anger. Their love story is just as emotional and the sex scenes are absolutely sizzling! The plot is suspenseful and thrilling, and filled with plenty of twists and turns.
Now that the MacKay cousins have all had their stories told, I'm looking forward to reading NAUTI INTENTIONS with Alex and Janey's story.
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| Debbie Le (deble_2000@yahoo.com) |
The Richest Season by Maryann Mcfadden |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A great first novel about two women on different paths --- one to find her own life and the other to find meaning in death. It's set in the low country of South Carolina.
|
| Dale |
Empire Falls by Richard Russo |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Right from the beginning, this book grabs you. You feel a real connection with all the characters and their lives. The author is very descriptive, but has a way of writing in that you really enjoy his detail. One of the best we have read this year as a book group.
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| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
The Last Queen by C. W. Gortner |
Rating: 3 Stars |
A fictional account of Juana of Castile, a child of Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand of Spain, whose sister, Catherine of Aragon, married Henry VII and then Henry VIII. This look at the life of royalty is not as fun and rich as one would expect --- her life is full of duty, expectations and disappointments. Added is the hint of madness that runs in the family.
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| Mary Ann |
Light of the Moon by Luanne Rice |
Rating: 3 Stars |
A great summer read with a good storyline about familial love and redemption. The backdrop is the Camargue horses in southern France.
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| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
Audition by Barbara Walters |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This was one of those books I got totally lost in. I would read it in the Y and before I knew it, I was on the bike for 7 miles and it felt like only 1.
Barbara Walters was like a fixture on our shelf in our living room as a kid. Always there, but I didn't pay much attention to her. Looking back, I remember that fixture and I am reliving my childhood, all the memories of my family, and the history of our time during the '60s and '70s.
Yes, Barbara does a little bragging about her success in TV, as she should. However, she is also a very honest and down-to-earth celebrity. Although she felt comfortable in front of the camera, she did not always feel comfortable in her own skin, especially in her personal life. She felt a lot of guilt when it came to her family --- especially with her father and sister, Jackie.
I admire her for her success as a woman. She paved the way for the opportunities that women have today. I also admire her for her candidness --- she does not hold back in this book. She tells you the celebrities she liked to interview and those she did not. She was also very honest about her professional relationships with her colleagues like Harry Reasoner, Frank McGee, Star Jones and Rosie O'Donnell. This book is a very thorough look at her life from beginning till now. It is her complete history, with humor sprinkled throughout each chapter.
I am so glad I read this book. It makes me want to learn more about her, watch "The View", listen to her new radio show that is replaying her "Specials" and google every name mentioned in her book.
I also feel like I have completed a history lesson --- a lesson through the eyes of one of the best female journalists of our time. To the woman who traveled everywhere, met almost every important person there was to meet and achieved more than ever imagined, thank you for setting an example for the woman of today. Bravo!
|
| Jackie Crucil |
Miss Julia Paints the Town by Ann B. Ross |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The Miss Julia series is great! Miss Julia is a southern, widowed woman who lives life sensibly and mannerly, and manages to get herself in odd predicaments. This book is clean fun set in the South.
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| Shyeyes (dawnymae5@msn.com) |
Tailspin by Catherine Coulter |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Still the best author for women's suspense! This one takes Sherlock, Dillon, and Agent Crowne to the Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky, where they meet Rachael, who has a story of her own and a reason to hide. TAILSPIN involves Washington's upper echelon and is very suspenseful. A must read.
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| ck |
The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is now in paperback and makes a great choice for book clubs. Maggie is a food writer visiting China on business. She meets Sam, a chef who is preparing for a culinary cook-off associated with the Olympic Games. Chapters begin with a commentary on food taken from a fictitous book ostensibly written by Sam's ancestor. The author wrote for Gourmet and had a business in China for 18 years.
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| Areta (areta6@yahoo.com) |
The Garden of Last Days by Andre Dubus III |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book by the same author of THE HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG has written another story that makes you want to jump out of the way of that train that is headed straight for you, but the fascination with the flawed characters keeps your feet firmly planted on the tracks. You find yourself understanding even the most flawed (and evil??) characters in this book. Dubus tells the story from the point of view of each of 5 different people. This is a compelling read.
|
| Connie |
The Rogue by Danielle Steel |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book was Danielle Steel's "older style of writing" --- meaning it was good. Very typical and you could guess the ending, but it's still a good summer read.
|
| T. Thomas |
City on Fire by Bill Minutaglio |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A compelling account of the Texas City Disaster and the people who lived and died there.
|
| Andrea |
The Lottery by Patricia Wood |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Perry is an edgier Forest Gump, and his gram is a feistier version of Forests' mom. It's hard to believe that that Groom's book (or the movie) was not an influence on Ms. Wood, but those picking up THE LOTTERY will find a funny, if predictable enjoyable summer beach read.
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| Josephine Anna Kaszuba Locke, Book Hugger and Ace |
The Opposite House by Helen Oyeyemi |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Through a complex and challenging narrative, Maja Carmen Carrera --- a black Cuban jazz singer, in her twenties --- orbits her relationship with two highly-academic parents, as well as younger brother, Tomás. The family fled Castro's Cuba for London when Maja was seven. Though adjusted to life in London, she begins a mind-journey about the country left behind. In contemplating the move, Maja decides: "There's an age beyond which it is impossible to lift a child from the pervading marinade of an original country, pat them down with a paper napkin and then deep-fry them in another country ... I arrived here just before that age."
Interwoven is the alternating story of Yemaya Saramagua ('Aya'), dramatis personae --- as a Santerian goddess/emissary, residing in the multi-story 'somewherehouse', home of other auspicious beings, including cloaked emissaries. In the mysterious house, there are two magic doors: one opens onto London, the other onto Lagos (rarely referred to in the story). Aya leaves the 'somewherehouse' in search of her parents, meets children who grow from seeds, while befriending a suicidal, many-faced young girl named Amy. The prevailing postulate of Aya's reality is ache, power, and fear.
Helen Oyeyemi was born in Nigeria in 1984, living in London since the age of four, and before graduating from Cambridge University (2006), she had already achieved her niche in the author realm with her first novel at nineteen years of age, namely THE ICARUS GIRL. Oyeyemi's works are lyrical and stylistic transfigurations between 'realism and experimentation', speaking to the author's talent depth, and lauded by sources as 'before her time'. THE OPPOSITE HOUSE hits as an obscure novel in which Oyeyemi implicates a running theme of the overlap of cultural and emotional. allegorical, intrusions. The reader's comprehension of a 'trapped and desperate' Maja and Yemaya is safeguarded by Oyeyemi's unquestionable gift for language, emotional intelligence, and penchant to strongly draw the reader into her characters 'souls', facing implications of aversions, as in: "The pain on her cheeks, her forehead, her hands, stands out blackly, as if her veins are delicately weeping poison and her skin is a cloth placed over it to soak up the damage."
THE OPPOSITE HOUSE is not a story of beginning, middle, nor ending… it is left with no closure, yet the reader can ponder the premise to Oyeyemi's book. Exasperated at times that I wasn't catching on, I finally let go of the 'catching on' efforts, reread passages for intelligibility and clarity, and found myself going with the flow, allowing the beauty of Oyeyemi's words to penetrate and absorb as they might. All things equal, I found THE OPPOSITE HOUSE, albeit difficult to read, yet hard-to-put aside, seeded with the reality of emotional moments that adhere to the mind, beckoning the reader to return again and again.
Consider the opulent language, among which are such passages as: "The day was hot but gentle; beneath its healing steam lay granite, decrepit wood, rocks gloved in blanched sand. The harbour water caught sunlight in layered hoops of petrol-colored dirt and tried to keep its clarity secret, but the divers told. Small, earth-brown boys kept bobbing up, their backbones hacking out of their skin, hair plastered to their heads, coin pouches around their waists rattling as they added new handfuls of slick bronze to their store." One can't help but contemplate: What precisely is the relationship between Maja and Yemaya? It is a puzzling maze, whether within the real world, or otherwise. Personally, I couldn't let go of the concept that the two women in reality are one and the same.
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| Nicole |
The Last Vampire by Patricia Rosemoor and Marc Paoletti |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Fun paranormal, and the addition of an anthropologist who studies magic is interesting.
|
| Genie |
The Shapeshifter by Tony Hillerman |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Retired Tribal Police Officer Joe Leaphorn receives a note from another retired police officer turned private investigator, Melvin Bork, along with a recent magazine photo of a priceless Navajo rug that had supposedly been destroyed in a fire years ago. Both Bork and Leaphorn had been troubled by this arson case, in which a man from the FBI's most wanted list was believed to have died. When Bork decides to investigate the reappearance of the rug, he goes missing. Leaphorn then decides to begin checking into what happened to his friend by delving into this cold case. He soon finds himself in the middle of a current murder investigation. Leaphorn unexpectedly receives assistance from retired FBI agent, Ted Rostic. As Leaphorn begins to solve Bork's murder, he discovers a path leading to a number of unsolved homicides and robberies and finds himself in danger of losing his own life.
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| Dena |
Tailspin by Catherine Coulter |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is the next FBI thriller Catherine has written in her series, and it was really good. I like the chemistry between Savich and Sherlock in every book, whether they are a big part of the story or not. This story had me interested from the first line and kept me up, not wanting to put it down.
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| Josephine Anna Kaszuba Locke, Book Hugger and Ace |
Your Own, Sylvia by Stephanie Hemphill |
Rating: 5 Stars |
"Everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. " --Sylvia Plath
In 'Your Own, Sylvia, a verse portrait of Sylvia Platt', Stephanie Hemphill has created a collage of the life and work of an American writer, Sylvia Plath (1932-1963). Arranged chronologically from Plath's birth to the month of her suicide, Hemphill's poem formats are written from the points of view of people involved in Sylvia's life. The voices of Plath's mother, and British poet and husband Ted Hughes are integrated with those of fleeting acquaintances. Hemphill has chosen each to underscore a unique aspect of the subject's fiery life and tumultuous literary career.
Hemphill's challenging approach is to capture Plath's poet life through poems of her own, in which the author's form is of eminent importance (as it was to Plath herself). Many of the selections were created in the style of specific Plath poems, while others are scattered with Plath's imagery and language. Although Hemphill's work is classified as fiction, its contents are drawn from nonfiction sources, including biographies and Plath's journals and letters. Each of Hemphill's poems is accompanied by footnotes linking Hemphill's imagined scenes within the facts. Rather than write in Plath's voice, Hemphill channels the voices of those who knew the poet in chronologically arranged poems, from the perspective of family members, friends, colleagues, and medical sources. The result is an intimate, comprehensive, imaginative view of a life that also probes the relationships between poetry and creativity, mental fragility, love, marriage, and betrayal. Hemphill's book is touted as a 'must read' not only for Plath lovers, but also for high school students and college English majors. Readers unfamiliar with Plath will relish the protagonist's unpredictable and engaging journey, bringing a gifted talent, Sylvia Plath, into the light of new generations.
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| Dena |
Stop Me by Brenda Novak |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is the second book in The Last Stand series but it stands on its own very well. Some books don't stand alone in series very well, but this one does. It is fine on its own, but if I were you I would read them all. Brenda writes stories that are so good you can't wait to see what the next page brings. STOP ME is what the killer wants and the story getting to that end is very good; I couldn't put it down.
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| Bridget |
Rome 1960: the Olympics that Changed the World by David Maraniss |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Very detail-oriented book. The author's premise is in the title. I found the "human interest' stories of the athletes to be the most interesting part of this book.
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| KG |
The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This story takes place in Salem, MA. It is a great read with an unbelievable ending! I can't wait for the author's next novel to be published. Recommended highly!
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| T. Thomas |
One for the Money by Janet Evanovich |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I have read the first four in the series and I've got the next two waiting for me. I really like this series, it is so funny. Wish I had found them earlier.
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| T. Thomas |
The Host by Stephenie Meyer |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Loved this book! It is better than any in the Twilight series. If you have not read it, I highly recommend it.
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| Thomas |
Cruel and Unusual by Patricia Cornwell |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Kay Scarpetta has a mystery on her hands. Shortly after a convicted murderer is executed, one of his fingerprints shows up at the scene of a murder. After some more killings, Kay is being considered a suspect by everyone from the media to the Governor of Virginia. She must enlist the aid of a few loyal friends and her computer-savvy niece to clear her name and find the real killer.
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| Josephine Anna Kaszuba Locke, Book Hugger and Ace |
Dough A Memoir by Mort Zachter |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Zachter writes his memoir candidly, warmly, with caring concern, humor, and puzzlement. His bachelor uncles had lived as paupers, wearing old suits, driving a twenty-year old Buick (which resembled 'a giant accordion', visited free clinics, while carrying forward the tradition of a bakery established by Mort's Russian immigrant, maternal grandparents (Wolk) in 1926, at the location of 350 E 9th Street in New York City. Uncle Harry and Uncle Joe carried forward the tradition of the 'commissioned bakery'; as Mort tells it: "In their entire lives, my uncles never baked a thing."
To you Mort Zachter, Dziekuje bardzo! Shalom! "Go placidly amid the noise & haste, & remember what peace there may be in silence. …Speak your truth quietly & clearly; and listen to others, even the dull & ignorant; they too have their story. …DESIDERATA (Words For Life) by Max Ehrmann, 1927.
I nominate Mort Zachter's DOUGH as one of the ten best reads of 2008, a true winner. The ending is a splendid 'mitzvah'!
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| Emily B |
Easy Prey by John Sandford |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is the first Sandford book I've read and I think I will be picking up the rest in this series. They're fast-paced, interesting detective novels. I find the main character is tough and hard to figure out at first, but you get to know him a little better as it goes on.
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| Fran |
The Untelling by Tayari Jones |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A young woman who suspects she is pregnant is in for a let down when she discovers that not only is she not pregnant, but is --- in fact --- infertile. This book examines the complexities of her family relationship stemming back from a car accident in childhood resulting in the loss of her father and sister. The writer weaves a complex story with likable characters and a realistic plot.
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| Jeanie |
Where the River Ends by Charles Martin |
Rating: 4 Stars |
When Abbie's battle with cancer is almost over, she tells her husband Doss of 10 things she wishes to do before she dies. One of which is to escape to the river that Doss grew up on.
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| Sandra (sfuhringer@sympatico.ca) |
The Attack by Yasmina Khadra |
Rating: 4 Stars |
After reading THE SWALLOWS OF KABUL (5 stars), I wanted more by this author. While reading THE ATTACK I discovered that the author's name is a female pseudonym for a male Algerian army officer, Mohammed Moulessehoul, who is the author of two other books now published in English: IN THE NAME OF GOD and WOLF DREAMS. He took the feminine penname to avoid submitting his manuscripts for approval by military censors while he was still in the army. He now lives and writes in France and I love his books.
THE ATTACK shows us what a doctor goes through when he is stunned to discover that the latest suicide bomber was his beloved wife. It is set in Israel and it is a great story. Highly recommended.
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| Danelle Drake (drake6jdttha@charter.net) |
Dumbfounded by Matt Rothschild |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This wondrous books will keep you up all night reading, and will keep you giggling and on the verge of tears at all times. It makes you almost glad you don't live like the other half lives.
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| Emry (edwinnora.holmquist@verizon.net) |
A Little Less Talk and A Lot More Action by LuAnn McLane |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Funny Southern romance, sequel to DARK ROOTS AND COWBOY BOOKS. Great characters and a compelling storyline written with humor and warmth.
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| Darlene |
The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I loved this book. It showed how women can bond with each other, share a love for something (knitting), and also become part of each others' lives.
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| Pattie Berryhill (pattiberr@aol.com) |
The Genius by Jesse Kellerman |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A look inside the world of Art...massive amounts of intricate drawings are found in an abandoned apartment in the Projects. Could the artist be involved with the murders of 5 innocent children he has drawn?
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| Shannon Moon Leonetti |
The Shanghai Tunnels by Sharan Newman |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A local mystery that could have taken place in any port city in the country. Kidnapping, drugs, sex and plain old job connections took place in underground tunnels at the beginning of the 20th century. Portland, Oregon was no different and local author Sharan Newman entertains and educates about that part of our history!
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| Shannon Leonetti |
The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A book for women of all ages. The Wednesday Sisters mature from moms in the park to a small writing group. Set in '60s and '70s, every woman of a "certain age" will relive her own youth.
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| Sharon |
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert |
Rating: 5 Stars |
What would you do if you have a year of your life to travel at will? Where would you go? The author, who has just gone through a bitter divorce and unhappy love affair, has that option and choses to travel to Italy to learn Italian (and eat), to visit an Ashram in India, and to go Bali. From each, she will learn about the world and how to make herself whole.
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| Sandy H. |
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I didn't quite know what to expect from this, but it was a very enjoyable read [actually, i listened to it on CD while commuting]. The story is told from a dog's perspective, but is very well written --- not silly at all. And if you have any love/knowledge of the auto-racing scene you will enjoy that end of it as well.
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| Marion Miller (lamamil@aol.com) |
Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book is interesting. It describes the mindset of Indians who have assimilated into the local culture. A mystery that has haunted an area guiltily is finally solved.
|
| Jo Ann |
Founding Mothers by Cokie Roberts |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A little long, but well worth the read. Who would have known how great, brave, and smart the women behind our founding fathers were? This should be on all high school reading lists!
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| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
Sanctuary Hill by Kathryn R Wall |
Rating: 3 Stars |
A Bay Tanner Mystery set in Hilton Head, SC. This time, Bay finds a dead baby floating in a cooler and investigates the murder of a realtor's wife. Things heat up between Bay and Ben, but something happens to end that romance, and Bay finally turns to her brother-in-law, Red. An interesting tale of the root followers.
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| Jill |
Rough Crossings by Simon Schama |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The little-known story of black American slaves who escaped to British lines in the Revolutionary War in return for a promise of freedom.
|
| Jill |
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Magical combination of pictures and words for young adults (of all ages) to tell the story of a young boy who lives secretly in the walls of a Paris train station. In trying to solve a mystery about his dead father, he meets some friends and finds a new purpose in life.
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| Harriet Stay (hstay@hughes.net) |
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Oh my, I feel like Willie Wonka. I discovered a whole new world of thrillers, police procedures, and beautiful writing coming from the frigid North: Sweden, Norway, and Iceland. So far, this tops my list. The bittersweet fact about this author is, after completing three books, Larsson died in 2004. It is only now that he is being published in English.
This story has two heroes. Mikael Blomqvist is a crusading investigative journalist from Stockholm who has been convicted of libel. The other is a twenty-four-year-old misfit, Lisbeth Salander, a different brand of private investigator and computer wiz.
Their alliance begins when Mikael is commissioned to investigate the disappearance of Harriet Vangar forty years earlier.
This book is perfect. Characters become people you care about; the setting enhances the story; the entire plot was totally believable. This is not a cozy or a beach read. Publishing house Alfred A. Knopf upholds its reputation by producing yet another outstanding book.
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| Tamara Randi (sewradical@gmail.com) |
The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Great murder mystery novel with Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and James Russell Lowell as the leading characters who are translating The Divine Comedy into English. The grisly murders are inspired by Dante's Inferno. Who is taking their work and committing the murders?
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| Pamela HD |
Holy Fools: A Novel by Joanne Harris |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Set in 17th-century France, this novel explores the many facets of love and revenge. Gypsies, nuns, dancers/acrobats, royalty --- all experience the emotions in their own way. The book would have rated 5 stars if the change in narrators had been smoother --- I couldn't always tell who was 'talking'.
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| Tamara Randi |
Dispatches from the Edge by Anderson Cooper |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Highly informative book on world events that Anderson has covered for Channel One and CNN. The book also delves into his family story and the sadness that he carries with him.
|
| DBeigh |
Swan Peak by James Lee Burke |
Rating: 2 Stars |
I eagerly awaited this book, but am entirely creeped out by the graphic and gratuitous violence of the Montana setting. Perhaps he is using it as a metaphor for the Old West, but I much prefer the New Orleans setting, even with the Katrina so realistic as to be a character in THE TIN ROOF BLOWDOWN. I confess that I haven't finished it, but I'm not sure I have the stomach to do so.
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| Carolyn (carolynwaring@comcast.net) |
Phantom Prey by John Sandford |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Another great novel from Sandford. Davenport's in great form, there's just enough about his relationship with Heather, and a great dialogue between him and Del. The exploration of the Goth world is intriguing, and the ending is a total surprise.
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| Carolyn (carolynwaring@comcast.net) |
The Innocent by Harlan Coben |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Great characters and plot that is almost believable. The characters weren't super-human, like many in other thrillers --- just normal folks with a big problem.
|
| Sandy H. |
The Race by Richard North Patterson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Fascinating story behind the story --- it's fiction of course, but with such connections to today's elections. It's all about what goes on behind the scenes of a fictional election, but the characters are based on those in today's real world of politics. I even got my husband to read, enjoy AND recommend it --- and he's usually not a fiction reader.
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| Marsha |
Killer Heat by Linda Fairstein |
Rating: 5 Stars |
New York City's D. A. Alex Cooper and her cohorts are on the trail of a serial killer of young uniform-wearing women who are killed in a gruesome manner. This is spine-tingling suspense.
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| Carolyn (carolynwaring@comcast.net) |
The Garden of Last Days by Andre Dubus III |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I was very disappointed in this novel. It has three sets of interwoven characters, one of whom I had no interest in and began skipping chapters about him. The others were done well, but nowhere near the quality of those in THE HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG.
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| Carol from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
From Vilayur to Baltimore by Gopal Dorai |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Author Gopal Dorai has provided readers with a very detailed picture of life in India, poverty, struggles and family strength, through his eyes. In his unique ability to graphically describe details, the author also provides words of wisdom and lessons he learned along the way.
Dorai’s book covers village life, cultural and religious traditions, family responsibilities, as well as his adventurous trip to America to continue his education. This reader found the author’s description of being an immigrant in the United States very informative. He spoke of the struggles of trying to adapt to a new culture and how prejudices followed him everywhere. I now have a new appreciation for the hardships immigrants have in our country.
Dorai has also included in his book words of wisdom, which all will be able to relate to and sometimes don’t realize until later in life.
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| Sandra |
The Night Ferry by Michael Robotham |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Ali Barba, a Sikh detective, receives a letter from an estranged friend, Cate, and before she can find out what Cate wants her to do her friend is killed. This book will grab you from the beginning and never stop!
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| Asha Smith |
Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book is better than all the positive-thinking manuals around. And it is contagious. Anyone reading with an open mind will want to create their own twenty wishes.
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| Shannon |
Infected by Scott Sigler |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Typically, I'm not a reader of science fiction or fantasy, but this book's cover made me pick it up.
In it, people are being infected with some type of disease that is turning them into freaked-out paranoids who cause harm to themselves, friends, family, strangers.
"Scary" Perry Dawsey is one of the infected people and he is a fighter.
I have about 15 pages to go, but this book will stay with me for a long time!
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| Olga Purgavie |
Heartsick by Chelsea Cain |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Archie Sheridan, a Portland detective, is captured and tortured inhumanely by a beautiful female serial killer when he is trying to solve the murder cases. He is on leave from his job, but is called back when young girls once again are being murdered. He goes to see the woman who tortured him every Sunday in prison so she will give him the locations of more bodies --- at least that's his excuse. He is always in pain and is addicted to his pain killers, and his story is like having to look at a wreck --- you can't tear yourself away. He loses his wife and child because he can't stay away from Gretchen, the eerily brilliant killer. This is a story like no other. There is a sequel coming out in September and I have already pre-ordered it.
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| BbSue |
Blood Is The Sky by Steve Hamilton |
Rating: 5 Stars |
BLOOD IS THE SKY is a thrilling mystery in Hamilton's Alex McKnight series. Just when you think Alex cannot get into anymore trouble and get his face bashed in once again, he jumps in with both feet to help his friend Vinnie. It is such a tremendous book with a fantastic twist near the end. Frankly, I recommend all seven books in this series.
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| Mildred Bromberg |
Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult |
Rating: 3 Stars |
As I am a big fan of Jodi Picoult, I was disappointed with CHANGE OF HEART. Although it had its usual kick at the end, I felt the book did not live up to my expectations.
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| Mary Dropkin (arrfa@aol.com) |
Moscow Rules by Daniel Silva |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Yet another wonderful escapade in the life of Gabriel Allon, complete with a good history lesson. We have Russians in the family and I am very interested to hear their take on the nouveau-riche Russian society as depicted in this book. I'm already looking forward to Silva's next novel.
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| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
Killer Heat by Linda Lael Miller |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Another mystery involving Assistant DA Alexandra Cooper and Detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace. As they work together to determine who is behind the murders of several young women, they discover that each woman was wearing some sort of uniform. As bodies are discovered, items related to the military are found. The mystery keeps you in suspense until the last few pages.
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| Carol from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
River of No Return by Jeffrey Buckner Ford |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Jeffrey Buckner Ford has written an amazing book on the inside of his family’s life from the beginning of his dad’s start to fame to the downfall of the family. While most of us think that the rich and famous have no problems, Buck Ford shows us that is not true.
Tennessee Ernie Ford started his career out as a radio announcer in Knoxville, Tennessee. As Buck recalls, his father always said he didn’t go looking for fam |
