| Judy O. |
Bold Spirit by Linda Lawrence Hunt |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is the true story of a Norwegian immigrant named Helga Estby and her daughter Clara who, in 1896, walk across the United States from Spokane to New York City. A mysterious sponsor offers to pay them $10,000 to do this. Helga's family is in danger of losing their farm to foreclosure, so she contracts to go on this long walk to earn the money. All of the diaries and personal accounts of this trip have been lost through the years, but the author uses the many newspaper articles written during that walk as the basis for her story. It was fascinating.
|
| Nikki (gramanik2001@comcast.net) |
The Shack by William P. Young |
Rating: 3 Stars |
The first half of this book kept me riveted and it read very fast. Mackenzie Phillips's daughter, Missy, disappears from a camping trip and is murdered by a serial killer. Then halfway through the book, Mackenzie returns to the shack where his daughter was murdered and shares a weekend with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. This is when the book started to slow down for me. I found the way these entities appeared to Mack to be very entertaining and appealing to my own feelings about the Supreme Being. But I got very bogged down by all the preaching and sermonizing done by these entities, and I skipped over large portions of dialogue. I'm glad that I read this, but I wouldn't classify it as a "don't miss" book.
|
| Carol from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
Delusion: Growing Up in an Amish-Jewish Cult by Patricia Hochstetler |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An absolute must read! As an avid reader, I have read most of Ms Hochstetler’s books, but this one really made me look at what we will endure to find faith.
Patricia Hochstetler’s parents were very faithful Amish people who, one day, were captured in body, mind and spirit by a man only known as the Elder. His ability to cite the Bible word for word led them from a sunny world to one of deception, total abandonment of family, friends and happy lifestyle. How could one not get medical care for a child who needed it? Or be told what to wear and how to act.
The underlying process is that of a cult --- a place where one gives up all identity to follow a religious leader. Ms Hochstetler takes us through her early years, trying to be faithful and follow the golden rule; however, the more she attempts to be good, the more is taken away from her. This is the story of her years between ages four and six --- she questions if God really would make her family suffer or excommunicate her mother because of false charges by the Elder.
DELUSION is a book you can’t put down. As a college professor, I have studied cults for 5 years and I am still amazed at what individuals are willing to sacrifice to live the good life.
|
| Ruth |
Our Daily Meds by Melody Petersen |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A well-written expose of today's pharmaceutical industry.
|
| Ruth |
Where the River Ends by Charles Martin |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Fans of Nicholas Sparks should love this book.
|
| Michelle (bookfanatic63@yahoo.com) |
Song of the Road by Dorothy Garlock |
Rating: 5 Stars |
It's 1935. Mary Lee is widowed, broke and pregnant,and she comes home to an alcoholic mother and a run-down motor court left to her from her father on Route 66.There is danger, heartbreak, love and romance and so much more. This book is over 400 pages, and I read it in 3 sittings. I couldn't put it down and it reads really fast. You'll love it.
|
| Tapi |
White Lies Dark Truth by Mony Singh |
Rating: 5 Stars |
WHITE LIES DARK TRUTH makes the reader aware of the social viruses that we carry as genetic codings.
This book is a must for growing teenagers as it teaches them to reprogram their minds towards a peaceful living.
The key is not to seek peace, but remove the blocks around us that hold us from attaining our natural state.
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| Carol from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
The Clone Age by Lori B. Andrews |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book not only was an eye opener, but it made me mad. I can't believe people (researchers) would be so selfish and money hungry that they would jeopardize the lives of women and unborn children. It reminds me of what Hitler wanted to do --- selective breeding.
I do think couples who can't have children be afforded the opportunity to have kids --- but do they really know what they are getting into with IVF and genetically engineered children?
This book is a must read so that you know what is going on in the name of science. Ms Andrews, a lawyer, discusses legal aspects, ethical issues and medical exploitation. A very easy read.
|
| Patricia Sweetland |
Echo Burning by Lee Child |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Lee Child's mystery begins when a loner and former military man hitchhikes and is picked up by a desperate housewife looking for help with a secret problem.
Set in Texas, this novel has more twists and turns than an old country road in New England. I defy anybody to figure out the ending even a couple of pages before you read it.
It's a good mystery, but it felt a little contrived to me. There were some great characters, but not one of them is somebody you would meet in real life.
|
| b.a.reader |
World Without End by Ken Follett |
Rating: 3 Stars |
An epic soap opera set mostly in 14th-century England. It had lots of interesting details about the period, and is a follow up to Follett's PILLARS OF THE EARTH. It was a chance to follow up on the next generations.
|
| Connie |
The Cabin by Carla Neggers |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This was a very good suspense novel from Carla. A mother packs up her twins and her grandmother to escape to a cabin in the Adirondacks. She is trying to escape her fears and secrets, but she is followed by a killer. A great suspense and quick read.
|
| Readingrat |
Blue Water by A. Manette Ansay |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This was a truly compelling and well-written book about loss, grief, and the ability to forgive. The only reason it fell short of 5 stars for me was that, given the subject matter (the loss of a child in a drunk driving accident), the story was oddly devoid of strong emotional moments.
|
| Carol from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
Deception Growing Up in an Amish-Jewish Cult by Patricia Hochstetler |
Rating: 5 Stars |
DECEPTION is book two of three, where Ms Hochstetler continues her story of living in a religious cult. During the ages of six to sixteen, she describes how her name was changed to one from the Bible and how all married couples were not allowed to co-habitate. It is a dramatic story of one man’s ability to deceive all in the name of the Lord.
Many are looking to receive salvation through God and are willing to sacrifice their own children to live a life of spirituality. Never hearing the words “I love you,” or listening to music, read books is a sacrifice these families made.
Ms Hochstetler warns us that this could happen to us --- in our search for the good life we too can fall prey to any man who presents himself as the spokesperson for God.
|
| H. Hopwoo (Hedihopwood@aol.com) |
The Soul Catcher by Michael White |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This a pre-Civil War novel, but it does deal with slavery. It is a well-written novel about how people in both the north and the south felt about the issue.
|
| Bonnie |
The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread by Don Robertson |
Rating: 3 Stars |
An entertaining enough novel set in the 1940s about a boy, but I didn't quite see the comparison to THE CATCHER IN THE RYE (as written in the cover blurb).
|
| Bonnie |
A World Lit Only By Fire by William Manchester |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Don't let the title scare you off. This is a highly readable partial history of the Middle Ages. If you've ever wondered about the Medicis, the Borgias, Martin Luther, etc., this is the book for you. The Catholic Church does not come out well in Manchester's telling.
|
| Lorna |
A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I would have given this book 3 stars except for the last dozen or so pages. The book is set in Nantucket, and is about a married women who has an affair and how it affects her and her relationship with her husband, children and her friends. It wasn't as good as this author's other novels, but it' s still worth the read.
|
| Connie |
Northern Lights by Nora Roberts |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book offered great romance and suspense. It had me guessing who the murderer was almost to the end. The characters were well developed and you could feel the tension between family members, which kept me reading well into the night.
|
| Mrs.Dr.Who |
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer |
Rating: 2 Stars |
Sadly, a very poor way to end this series. What WAS she thinking? Do yourself a favor and consider ECLIPSE the final chapter in Bella's story.
|
| Danelle Drake |
The Path To Love by Deepak Chopra |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Informative and easy to read. I would suggest this to anyone who wants an improved life style. With each turn of the page, you are drawn in more and more.
|
| Jean |
A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I loved this book! It's a fun, easy to read British cozy. I am now going to seek out other books by Rhys Bowen as she has a couple of series going on.
|
| Marsha M |
English Passengers by Matthew Kneale |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A piercing and satiric look at early 19th-century British and Tasmanian life told by a variety of characters from smugglers, natives, half casts, missionaries and naturalists.
A captain from the Isle of Mann, at this time not part of Britain, decides to better his fortune by smuggling goods past British customs in a ship built with a second hidden hull. Through circumstances beyond his control, his crew is forced to take on a group of English passengers traveling to Tasmania, convinced the original Garden of Eden is there.
Covering 30 years of English colonization in Australia, the fate of the native people of Tasmania is embodied in the character of a half British, half native man who is the product of rape. His encounter with these new British seekers embodies the difference between those living in harmony with their environment versus those who live in fantasy or cynical world, the "civilized" and the "primitive".
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| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
K is for Killer by Sue Grafton |
Rating: 3 Stars |
#11 of the Kinsey Millhone series --- a mother hires her to find the killer of her 25-year-old daughter, Lorna. Kinsey tries to do what the police couldn’t do. Lorna’s body was found so long after her death, it was impossible to determine the cause. Her mother, however, insisted it was murder. Kinsey is up all hours of the night for this one.
This book was different from the others. Kinsey seems to let this case get to her emotions. She figures out who the murderer is, but what she does about it is out of character. One of the most memorable quotes comes to mind in relation to this particular mystery: “Those who fight monsters should take care they never become one. For when you stand and look long into the abyss, the abyss also looks into you.” - Friedrich Nietsche
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| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
Hour Game by David Baldacci |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A mystery set in Virginia about a crazy Southern family and a twin who kills people. An interesting story with great characters.
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| Judy O. |
Time is a River by Mary Alice Monroe |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Mia Landan is escaping her old life in Charleston, SC. She has just survived a bout with breast cancer, and then she found out that her husband was having an affair. She ends up in the Asheville, NC mountains in a very old cabin, owned for many years by the Watkins family. She becomes interested in the life and scandal surrounding a woman, Kate Watkins, who lived and died at that cabin. In the process of finding the truth about Kate, she finds herself. This is a great book, filled with a sense of place and details about the art of fly fishing.
|
| V ZALEWSKI |
When Gods Die by C. S. Harris |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is the 2nd installment in Harris's Sebastian St. Cyre series, set in the 1800s, full of murder, mayhem, and royal muckety mucks, with a little love interest thrown in for good measure. I can't wait to read the next book, WHY MERMAIDS SING.
|
| Kathy V. |
Tie Dyed and Dead by Sharon Short |
Rating: 5 Stars |
In this next book in her series, Josie finds true love, plus murder! The book is great and fun to read.
|
| Maureen H. |
Death Angel by Linda Howard |
Rating: 3 Stars |
This book started off good, but got very unrealistic. I did not feel the love between the hero and heroine. I skimmed to finish this book.
|
| Mrs.Dr.Who |
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Oh my, what a page turner! Don't let the YA category prevent you from picking up this title. It is a thrilling start to Libba Bray's trilogy.
|
| Ruby (angelleslament@gmail.com) |
The Good Fairies of New York by Martin Millar |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Though quite funny and a roar of a good time, this book is definitely for those who do not mind getting a little 'dirty'.
|
| Judy |
The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly |
Rating: 5 Stars |
What a great read (especially on a plane). I enjoyed every chapter (it's a saga that covers years).
India Swelwyn Jones, born in nobility, becomes a doctor, which takes her to the seamy side of London where she meets Sid Malone, the city's most notorious crime lord. These polar opposites find themselves attracted to each other and the saga is off and running. There are lots of solid, character-driven subplots (many of the characters had developed in her previous novel, THE TEA ROSE) and a satisfying ending ties up all the loose ends.
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| Robin Fuller (fulrice@msn.com) |
Bulls Island by Dorothea Benton Frank |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Frank captures the southern flavor of life in a town in which everyone knows everyone else's business. I have read everything she has written and often give her books as gifts. I very much recommend her.
|
| Vicki |
Ellen Foster by Keye Gibbons |
Rating: 3 Stars |
This was a light, fast read. Ellen was a likable little girl, and I enjoyed the time I spend getting to know her in this book.
|
| Matthew Highlan |
Just Two Seconds by Gavin de Becker |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a wonderful book, full of great information that could save your life or someone else's. It's the type of book that you cannot put down.
|
| Dorothy |
It Only Takes a Moment by Mary Jane Clark |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is the story of a little girl's kidnapping. Her mother is the host of a top-rated morning news show. She receives aid from a psychic even though the authorities all laugh at the idea. Read on --- there is a real surprise ending.
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| Dorothy (dflood@cox.net) |
Somebody Else's Daughter by Elizabeth Brundage |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I haven't finished reading this yet but I can tell it is a winner. It is the first book I;ve read by this author and now I can't wait to read THE DOCTOR'S WIFE.
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| H. Hopwood (Hedihopwood@aol.com) |
The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry |
Rating: 5 Stars |
We go every year during the off season to enjoy Salem's colorful history without the crowds (Peabody Essex's museum etc.). The book tells a wonderful story with a great twist. I understand that they have now incorporated this book as part of new tour. Enjoy! There is so much more then the witch history, as in the great sailing vessels that made that harbor famous during the spice trade and the museum reflects that past.
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| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
Santa Fe Dead by Stuart Woods |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Ed Eagle, a trial lawyer in Santa Fe, continues to have problems with his ex-wife, Barbara. When a case involving a new client seems to involve her, Ed figures it is time to solve this problem.
|
| Marsha |
Best Friends by Martha Moody |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Two girls assigned as roommates at Oberlin in 1973 become, through the years, best friends although their backgrounds are totally different. Through problems with men, family, career, etc. they remain bonded in a powerful friendship. It will make you long for such a relationship.
|
| Susan |
The Man in the Sharkskin Suit by Lucette Lagnado |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I enjoyed reading the cosmopolitan life of this family in Cairo in the years between World War II and the changes after Nasser's takeover. This family's zest for life was torn apart and they chose to make a better life in the USA.
|
| H. Hopwood (Hedihopwood@aol.com) |
2012: The War for Souls by Whitley Striber |
Rating: 4 Stars |
For fans of sci-fi, this is an interesting take on old culture and the future of alien races taking over our world. I am a very diverse reader and I found that this took me to a different level of enjoyment. It's a bit long at the end, but still a good read.
|
| Laura Ann Adams (Laura.Adams@ky.gov) |
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Wonderful and inspiring! This is the true story about Randy Pausch, who has just recently passed away from pancreatic cancer. After he was diagnosed, he developed this last lecture to leave for his children.
|
| Beth Miller |
Dead Silence by Brenda Novak |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Gripping and suspenseful.
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| Laura Ann Adams (Laura.Adams@ky.gov) |
Loving Frank: A Novel by Nancy Horan |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Very interesting book. A mix of a love story, a fight for women's rights and story of how one decision can change the path of your entire life.
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| Laura Ann Adams (Laura.Adams@ky.gov) |
90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper with Cecil Murphey |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Inspiring book written by Don Piper (with Cecil Murphey) about the 90 minutes he was pronounced dead in which he spent that time in Heaven.
|
| Lynna Rushton (lynnnah_29824@yahoo.com) |
Time Is A River by Mary Alice Monroe |
Rating: 5 Stars |
It was just impossible to put this book down. It has been 2 weeks since I finished it and I want to find another just like it, but nothing has come close to Siddons's latest book. I learned a lot about fly fishing as well as how time alone does heal oneself. Also, it shows how a true love for one long lost from our sight can, if we allow it, make ourselves better.
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| Lynna Rushton (lynnnah_29824@yahoo.com) |
Off Season by Anne River Siddons |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a book dealing with family relationships, ups and downs, and all that comes in between. But, the ending knocked me off my chair. I never expected this dramatic, open way of explaining the entire story. It was great.
|
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
The Black Echo by Michael Connelly |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A Harry Bosch mystery set in California, with an interesting lead-in to Edward Hopper's painting entitled "Nighthawks". The story also centers on Vietnam and the horrors of war that did not end with the fall of Saigon.
|
| Sandra Hughes |
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A wonderful book about a mute boy and the dogs his family raises in the north woods. I couldn't put the book down and it was over 500 pages! It is definitely a 'must read' for this year!
|
| Readingrat |
The Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton |
Rating: 4 Stars |
In this novel, Crichton has moved away from his usual genre and has fictionalized The Great Gold Robbery of 1855. The author does an excellent job portraying the cunning mind of William (Edward) Pierce as he meticulously pieces together what he needs to achieve a seemingly impossible feat.
|
| shyeyes |
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A professor, at age 47, learns he has pancreatic cancer and gives his last lecture of all he wants his kids and you to know.
|
| Michelle (bookfanatic63@yahoo.com) |
Whispers Through Time by Sherry Lewis |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I have just recently discovered Time Passages by Jove and they are fun. In this story, Kurt Richards is a cop in 2000 in Colorado; he falls over a cliff and wakes up in 1890, where he meets Olivia Hamilton and falls in love. Sam Evans, a rancher, is introduced and you can catch his time travel story in AN ECHO IN TIME.
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| Michelle (bookfanatic63@yahoo.com) |
An Echo in Time by Sherry Lewis |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book is the sequel to WHISPERS THROUGH TIME. It is about Sam Evans, who makes a sudden decision to leave 1890 Colorado and ends up in present-day Montana, where he meets a strong willed lady sheriff.
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| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
The Choice by Nicholas Sparks |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The book centers around Gabby and Travis and the choice each has to make in their lives. Another great story by Nicholas Sparks.
|
| Heather Durow |
Lost in a Good Book: A Thursday Next Novel by Jasper Fforde |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The second in the Thursday Next series, these novels are inventive and humorous, with a bit of mystery thrown in!
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| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
Innocent as Sin by Elizabeth Lowell |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Kayla Shaw is a private banker handling the accounts of a very rich and powerful family. Rand McCree is a talented landscape painter. They meet at a private art function sponsored by Kayla’s clients. However, Rand is also working undercover for St. Kilda Consulting, whose target is the head of the powerful family. This person is also Kayla’s main client. Is Kayla being set up? A very good book.
|
| Ron Green |
The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Never start a Gerritsen book on a night where you must rise early the next morning. I found myself reading till 3 AM.
|
| Emily B |
Somebody Else's Daughter by Elizabeth Brundage |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book drew me in quickly. Written from the various perspectives of characters in a community surrounding an elite private school, the story explores the complications of love. It's not a romance by a long shot --- there is an undercurrent of evil. Deception and lack of self-control affect each character and bring the story to a terrifying climax. I would say it's not for everyone (it starts off with so much swearing I was rolling my eyes, but luckily it doesn't continue that way). I liked the story and found that I couldn't put it down until it was finished; even still, I am thinking about the characters and their decisions, wondering what I would have done in their place.
|
| Kathy (kboucher@cableone.net) |
Charleston by John Jakes |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I loved this book! It's full of so much history, from the Revolution through the Civil War, with trials and tribulations of the people involved. A powerful portrait of the wealthy Charlestonians, including their darkest secrets. This has a large cast of characters, including aristocrats, abolitionists, slaves, and heroes. A great story!!
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| Marjorie Clark (marjorie_clark2000@yahoo.com) |
The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Great book for tweens and some adults. It's Not as good, and isn't quite as action filled as his first novel for tweens and/or adults, WHEN THE WIND BLOWS.
|
| Joan O. |
The Deadliest Strain by Jan Coffey |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Slow start, but then I couldn't stop reading until the mystery was solved.
|
| Ron Green |
Duma Key by Stephen King |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I love it. I never miss a Stephen King book.
|
| Emry |
Just One of The Guys by Kristan Higgins |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a laugh-out-loud book. Very entertaining. The heroine and her family make for interesting characters and a heartwarming story.
|
| Suzanne L. |
The Painter from Shanghai by Jennifer Cody Epstein |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Very good historical novel based on the life of Pan Luliang, a female Chinese artist. Her life story is fascinating --- from being sold into prostitution to becoming a famous artist. The settings in prewar Shanghai, 1920's Paris and the time of civil war in China are very well portrayed. The story and writing were riveting and I found it hard to put the book down. An added bonus is the descriptions of paintings and approach to painting from the artist's perspective. Much of Pan's life is imagined, but it was mesmerizing. A good read!
|
| Lea Ann in Seattle (baxtergr@msn.com) |
A Place Called Canterbury by Dudley Clendinen |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Clendinen spent a total of 400 nights at the retirement home in FL where his mother lived --- a high end, not-for-profit facility. Over the years, he became close to other residents, some whom he had known since childhood, and others new to his acquaintance, and to staff members. His account of the interpersonal relationships of these people, with an average age of 86, is fascinating. One sees the coping skills of the aged and the infirm (as a 76-year-old woman, I might want to adopt some of these for myself). Their is humor, pathos, acceptance, despair and finally, for his mother, a peaceful death. A worthwhile read for those of us who are close to that median age, and for their families.
|
| Janet Stewart |
The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death by Laurie Notaro |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Hilarious! For anyone who has ever lived in or visited Phoenix, this is not to be missed!
|
| Kate |
Beach Music by Pat Conroy |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Rereading this book is like spending quality time with an old friend.
|
| Debi |
The Beach House by Jane Green |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I enjoyed the writing style of this author, but I thought the plot and characters were not developed enough. By the time she revealed the twist at the end, I had it figured out.
|
| Debi |
Key Lime Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I always enjoy Joanne Fluke's delectable mysteries as well as the recipes! It makes me hungry to read them!
|
| L. Hann |
The Storyteller by Arthur Reid |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Very interesting and fast-paced book.
|
| Louise |
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Unlike other fans of the Twilight series, I enjoyed Book 2 more than the original. The story of Bella, who falls in love with a vampire, continues. However, does the perfect Edward have competition?
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| Lea Ann in Seattle (baxtergr@msn.com) |
Durable Goods by Elizabeth Berg |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I like Elizabeth Berg's books. They are generally short, but filled with an understanding of human nature. This book was, however, not one of my favorites. Maybe it was too brief (a mere 192 pages) or maybe because it was told from the point of view of a 12-year-old girl. Still, it certainly had its moments and illustrated the "coming of age" of a girl who lost her mother to cancer and whose father was sometimes physically abusive. She and her older sister (18 years) supported each other as did a next door neighbor on the Texas army post where they lived. The ending is somewhat of a surprise. The 3 stars indicate I am somewhat ambivalent about the book. With its brevity and simple language, it is worth the couple of hours it takes to read.
|
| Jean Mess |
No One Left to Tell by Jordan Dane |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I could not put this book down. The hero and heroine are larger than life, and the sub-people are also interesting. There are lots of action and romance, and I will be going out to get her next book.
|
| Readingrat |
The Good Thief by Hanna Tinti |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Ren had no memory of his life before St. Anthony's. The only clues to his past are the initials REN sewn into the collar of his nightshirt and his missing left hand. One day a stranger, Benjamin Nab, comes to St. Anthony's looking for him, claiming to be his older brother, and reeling off a story of high adventure that explains both how Ren lost his hand and the reason he was left at St. Anthony's. However, Ren soon discovers that Benjamin Nab is not at all who he claims to be, but instead is a smooth talking con man that hopes to use Ren's disability in order to pull off more lucrative cons. When Ren decides, against his better judgment, to throw his lot in with Nab, he realizes that his life is never going to be the same again.
This contemporary book is a classic adventure story with the literary style and singular characters that will remind the reader of the works of Robert Louis Stevenson, Charles Dickens, and/or Mark Twain. It is a well-written, fast-plotted, thoroughly enjoyable read that holds up very well to these hefty comparisons.
|
| Esty from Pennsylvania |
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book is about Paul Farmer, a doctor who devoted his life to helping people, especially those in Haiti. The first half of the book was very good, but then it became so repetitive it was like reading a text book, and were it not for a first-time visit to a book club, I probably would not have finished it. He is a true hero, and is worth learning about.
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| Lea Ann in Seattle (baxtergr@msn.com) |
The Other by David Guterson |
Rating: 1 Stars |
This is an author who, in my opinion, has not met the expectations I've had of each of his books since his first, SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS. I've read, or tried to read, each one and have about given up even trying any more. I did read 92 pages of this book before finally giving up.
|
| Julie |
Francesca's Kitchen by Peter Pezzelli |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Wonderfully written story about an elderly Italian widow who finds meaning to her empty life by becoming a nanny to a single mother with two children.
|
| Louise |
Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The third in the Twilight Saga, where the vampire vs werewolf story goes on. I never expected to enjoy books like these, but they are pretty captivating. I don't, personally, know anyone who isn't reading them. I carry one of Stephenie's books with me almost everywhere I go, and it never fails to start a conversation. People are crazy about this series!
|
| Gretchen |
Sail by James Patterson & Howard Roughan |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I find that these Patterson books that are co-authored with someone else are fragmented and not up to the quality and style of the James Patterson's solo books. Also, before you have finished one, there is another published! The story line in SAIL is good. It just doesn't come together in the way that the "old" Patterson books did!
|
| Judy O. |
Where the River Ends by Charles Martin |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a love story above all else, between Doss Michaels and Abigail Grace Coleman. They meet and fall in love, despite her senator father's objections --- Doss was just not their "kind" of people. Abbie develops terminal cancer, and she asks Doss to take her in a canoe down the 130 miles of the St. Mary's River that runs between Florida and Georgia. This is the story of those travels. A very moving, compelling story by an author who has written several other books that I've enjoyed.
|
| Fran |
Skinny by Ibi Kaslik |
Rating: 2 Stars |
A story of a family, told from the perspective of two sisters when one of them has anorexia. I was disappointed by this book. None of the characters really did anything for me so it was hard to care what happened to them. It also jumped around in time too much.
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| Christine Z (czibas@mail.com) |
It's a Crime by Jacqueline Carey |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a surprising entry into the mystery genre and really almost defies categorization. It's about what happens in the aftermath of a corporate scandal, and how individuals (like family, shareholders, and employees) cope. With so much corporate abuse and Enron-like scandals in recent history, this novel takes that environment and makes it personal, all while being quirky and lovable at the same time.
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| Ilene |
The Likeness by Tana French |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I'm not very far into this book, but I like the writing. It's a sequel to IN THE WOODS, which was a great book too. A psychological thriller at its best.
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| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers |
Rating: 3 Stars |
A disturbing story of early Rome and the tragedy of the Jews and Christians and the bloody arena. Hadassah's utter devotion and faith is moving, in today's world they are called terrorists who kill in a god's name. How many people, if tested as Hadassah, would respond the same way.
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| Dena |
Duchess by Night by Eloisa James |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I really enjoyed this story. It's about a widowed Duchess who is treated differently because her husband commits suicide. She sees herself as a bored woman with even more bored years to come. So, an opportunity is set before her to go to Lord Strange's house party --- a never-ending party that no Lady of the time would attend. She goes in disguise as a man and the biggest adventure of Harriet/Harry's life begins.
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| Eileen Quinn Knight |
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I fell in love with all the characters in this book! It is so thoughtfully crafted that it is hard to return to reality! The members of the society are far from perfect, but are unique individuals that bring the richness of their lives to each other. The impact of the German invasion certainly impacts their lives and calls them to treat each other with even more deference. It is a book that you will savor like a fine wine!
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| Susan Bucher (s.bucher@insightbb.com) |
Transgressions vol. 4 by Ed McBain, editor |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a collection of original novellas written for this series. I enjoyed them all, with the exception of the one by Joyce Carol Oates. The last 2/3s of the book contained the best stories, especially those by Sharyn McCrumb, John Farris, Jeffery Deaver, and Stephen King.
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| Cheryl Scaccio (goycrazy@aol.com) |
The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell |
Rating: 3 Stars |
This is a literary police procedural set in Sweden and Latvia. The exotic locales are what drew me to it. Besides being entertaining and suspenseful, it gave rare insight into this part of the former Soviet Union and its struggle with occupation and independence.
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| BBSue |
Blue Heaven by C. J. Box |
Rating: 4 Stars |
BLUE HEAVEN is Box's stand alone after his series on Joe Pickett. It is exciting and thrilling around every turn. The characters --- the children, Jess, the bad guys, and the mother --- are great. A good read, indeed.
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| Adam Okhai |
What Happened by Scott McClellan |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Excellent topic. I would have given this book 4 stars if the author had left out the excessive personal details about his family and himself. The book appears to be a most honest account of some events, incidents, and disastrous mistakes made by Bush and his administration. McClellan gives a balanced and sober insight into the ruthless world inside the beltway.
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| Library Lady |
Damage Control by J. A. Jance |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Jance needs to learn that she shouldn't use derogatory words to describe overweight people. I would have like the book much more if she hadn't used the phrase "wide load" to describe a plus-sized murder victim.
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| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I liked this better than #13. For some reason, I thought it was funnier. There were new characters introduced here, like Mario, aka Zook, Marelli’s relative. He seemed like a typical teenager who is really into the internet games. Mooner (a character from previous books) appears in the middle of this one to hang with Zook and play video games. Brenda, a recording artist who Steph and Ranger provide security for, and and Gary, Brenda’s stalker are added to the mix in this one. Then you have the regular “characters” Lulu the voluptuous, Ranger the hunk, Morelli the other hunk, Grandma Mazur the hip senior citizen and Stephanie, the bounty hunter who can’t settle down. I adore the banter between all the characters, especially Lulu and Stephanie. Lulu has some great lines and phrases (some really good ones for male parts), and I find myself giggling through the whole thing. This is not my favorite of the series, but it was a pretty good one.
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| Cathy M. |
The Nightkeepers by Jessica Andersen |
Rating: 5 Stars |
"The end of time looms, and Mayan demons have surfaced from the underworld to trigger an apocalypse. But as the final day approaches, the descendants of ancient warrior-priests prepare to fight back..."
THE NIGHTKEEPERS is Book One in a new paranormal series, with a fantastic suspense storyline and wonderfully written romance.
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| Myrna Pennisi |
The Given Day by Dennis Lehane |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I am reading an advance reader copy of this novel, which is due out in publication in late September. It's fabulous --- a historical novel set in Boston, 1918-1919. Lehane depicts a vivid picture of the Boston Police Department, as well as racial and "class" issues in this page turner that gets better and better as it moves along. Like Lehane's MYSTIC RIVER, I see potential for a movie here.
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| Ruby (angelleslament@gmail.com) |
The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse by Robert Rankin |
Rating: 5 Stars |
So funny. A wonderful romp in a Toyland for grown ups.
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| ck |
Audition by Barbara Walters |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A description from another Word of Mouth reader commented the AUDITION is like reading history. Barbara Walters has been everywhere and met everyone. I found the story of her family and early career particularly interesting.
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| M Keller |
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee |
Rating: 5 Stars |
It's no wonder this book is required reading for high schools around the nation. As seen through the innocent eyes of a young child named Scout, a black man is tried for the rape of a white woman. This story takes place in the 1930s and is set in a small town in Alabama. One can easily guess the outcome of the trial, but how prejudice and hatred figure into this story makes TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD a powerful tool in opening a discussion about race and the ramifications of prejudice. Great and powerful story! Well worth reading.
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| Jayne |
The Dark Side by Jane Mayer |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This should be required reading for every American.
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| Kaye |
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A magical journey for two estranged sisters occurs when the younger sister returns to the family home, bringing her daughter Bay, Although not telling her sister, Claire, that she is escaping an abusive relationship, she begins to settle in to a normal family life --- as normal as it could be with a magical apple tree outside.
A delightful read, in which both sisters have much to learn from each other about themselves and family ties.
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| Fran |
The Icarus Girl by Helen Oyeyemi |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A unique little story of a lonely girl who encounters and befriends another child during a trip to Nigeria. Jess is excited to have made a friend, but suddenly Tilly Tilly isn't all she appears to be. Suspected to be an imaginary friend, an alter ego and a spirit, Tilly Tilly's visits begin to become disturbing as she "gets" anyone who crosses Jess. I was impressed that this story was written by a 19-year-old girl as it touched on Greek mythology, psychology and spirituality. At times, you could see the author's youth in her writing style and characterizations; however, her story was captivating and sustained my interest. I would recommend it to others.
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| Pattie Berryhill (pattiberr@aol.com) |
Bright Shiny Morning by James Frey |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This novel has many stories of people in Los Angeles. There is the homeless man living in a bathroom at Venice Beach, a young couple who encounter the seamy trouble with bikers, and a narcissistic, married, gay movie star. It also gives some history of Los Angeles.
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| Pat Grissom |
Step by Step by Bertie Bowman |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An inspiring non-fiction account of Bertie Bowman's life from age 13 --- as a young black boy in Summerton, SC --- to age 77 in Washington, DC. He felt the hardship of field labor and vowed he wanted a different life, leaving home at 13, traveling to D.C. and getting a job sweeping the steps of the Capitol Building. He eventually went to war, then returned to D.C. to work, advancing in prestige and career. At one point, he had young Bill Clinton working for him. These are very interesting behind-the-scenes stories from the depths of the Capitol.
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| Gladys Paradowski |
A Perfect Stranger by Terry McLaughlin |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Believe me, you will neglect everything to keep reading this one! You will also laugh out loud at its humor! Even the cover of this book will make your heart race! I am anxious to read more of Terry McLaughlin's books.
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| Gina Sichting (ssichting@ccrtc.com) |
Slip of the Knife by Denise Mina |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Very good, especially if you have read the previous books.
|
| Readingrat |
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This was a gripping, interesting, but rather benign dystopian novel. There is the initial apocalyptic event, presented in a very realistic manner, and the resultant threat of impending death, danger, and possible violence, but all the truly bad stuff is kept at arm's length. However, the whole package works extremely well for the middle-school audience it is aimed at.
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| KarenF |
The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is the story of a man who is burned in a car accident, and while in the hospital, meets (again?) a beautiful sculptress of gargoyles who claims they have met before. The book is filled with her stories and his pain in healing. Great read!
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| Elizabeth V |
Anil's Ghost by Michael Ondaatje |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I started this a few weeks ago but had to stop, so I just picked it up again. It's a letdown after the book I just read, THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE, which was wonderful. I'm only 1/4 into ANIL'S GHOST, so maybe it will get better, although I dislike books that don't get interesting within the first few pages.
Anil is a 30-something woman who's from Sri Lanka, but was educated in the West. She's now a forensic pathologist and is back in Sri Lanka after 15 years to look into a series of murders there. She's working with an anthropologist.
I'm not finding this very interesting yet.
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| Elizabeth V |
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I'd give this book 10 stars if I could, no --- 100 stars! It's wonderful, and I loved it! Did I already say this last week? It bears repeating.
I finished this a couple of days ago, and still feel terrible that it's over.
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| Mellena Dawn Driver (mellenad@yahoo.com) |
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins |
Rating: 5 Stars |
It's a great book for anyone, though it is written for teens. It will be out in October of this year.
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| Debbie K. (Ragsk2743@aol.com) |
Time Is A River by Mary Alice Monroe |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a very touching, heartwarming novel. A woman tries to find out not only about herself, but also about the former occupant of a remote cabin that she has run to in order "to heal", away from a philandering husband who does not find her attractive following treatment for breast cancer. I did not want it to end!
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| Mimi Klein |
I Kill by Giorgio Faletti |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book has been translated into 25 languages. It's about a serial killer, and I read until I was bleary eyed for 5 nights in a row, since it's almost 600 pages long. It's one of the best mysteries I've read in a very long time.
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| Carol |
The Snow Queen by Mercedes Lackey |
Rating: 2 Stars |
This is the 4th in her series, Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms. It is weak compared to the others. This series is a combination of fantasy and romance. Lackey is a fine storyteller in most of her books. This did not live up to her usual quality.
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| Dory Stewart (writedoctor@valkyrie.net) |
Tribute by Nora Roberts |
Rating: 5 Stars |
It may be a bit over the top with home improvement renovations for some readers, but this book contains some of the best-drawn characters to date. They're still with me.
Roberts is a master of voice.
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| Lisa |
Tethered by Amy Mckinnon |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I'm not sure what I'd rate this --- I read it as an ARC and finished it in two days. Having said that, it's a dark read and not everyone may be as intrigued as I was with the main character and storyline. It's decidedly different but worth a read!
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| Ann Fisher |
Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog by Ted Kerasote |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is the best non-fiction (or any) book I've read in years. It bests OLD YELLER.
A touching true story interlaced with fascinating research on cognitive capabilities of dogs, I highly recommend this book to anyone who "knows" their dog.
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| Pat Kline |
Heaven Lake by John Dalton |
Rating: 4 Stars |
We are reading HEAVEN LAKE now in our book club, as it takes place in China and adds to the background interest in the culture generated by the Olympics. It is a very interesting story of how a young American missionary copes with being alone and having challenges to survive. It has elements of survival, spiritual growth, travel interests, a love story and very good writing. I highly recommend the book.
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| MarilynD |
The Moonpool by P. T. Deutermann |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I discovered Deutermann's books when I first read TRAIN MAN, which I couldn't put down. This new book is not in the same category as TRAIN MAN, or some of his other books. Readable but not unforgettable!
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| Marsha M |
The Uncommon Reader: A Novella by Alan Bennett |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A delightfully funny novella that tells of what might happen if Queen Elizabeth ll suddenly became a bookworm. With a tongue-in-cheek style, the story goes on to suggest that not only would her perception of the world and individuals change, but that reading would wreck havoc on her precisely scheduled and ordered life to the dismay and distress of all around her. I found the ending especially delicious.
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| Coral |
The Other by David Guterson |
Rating: 2 Stars |
This is a very wordy book, and is quite morbid. It does have good description of the book's setting, in the Northwest. It has a different twist than any other story I have read.
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| Ruby (angelleslament@gmail.com) |
Kiss of Fury by Deborah Cooke |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Better than the first, and a wonderful love story.
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| Eileen Quinn Knight |
Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella |
Rating: 5 Stars |
What an awesome story! On one level, it is witty and amusing; on another level, Kinsella allows us to see the superficiality of a materialistic life and gives us ample examples of friendship, fidelity, loyalty and the pursuit of goodness. All this comes about when the heroine is in an accident and loses some of her memory (the last three years) when she became the bitch boss of the office. Her memory loss takes her back three years to when she was a kinder person who truly cared for her friends. It is a page turner and very thoughtfully written.
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| Dorothy Horan |
Fablehaven, Book 3 by Brandon Sanderson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I enjoy Brandon Sanderson's books. He is an excellent author and writes books that Harry Potter fans should enjoy, about American children caught up in a fantastic adventure. As a grandparent, I also enjoy the fact that the kids are assisting their grandparents.
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| Peggy Kincaid (cali8@verizon.net) |
The Bourne Sanction by Eric Lustbader |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This author has made Jason Bourne a household name again. Robert Ludlum would be amazed at how well Lustbader has carried on the Bourne saga. Once again, Bourne is drawn into the world of espionage. Both sides are still hunting him but this time, perhaps, he is accepting of who he is and what he is meant for in this world. Fascinating character and this one is a sure bid for another awesome movie.
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| Peggy Kincaid (cali_lb@msn.com) |
The Promise of the Wolves by Dorothy Hearst |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I haven't read anything this fascinating since WATERSHIP DOWN. If you love wolves and have always wanted to understand their ways, this is the book for you. It's a beautifully written tale of one female wolf who is an outsider to her own pack and must survive and become a Wolf if she is to help her own kind and humans.
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| Anna R. |
Bittersweet by Nevada Barr |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is my first Nevada Barr book. The story is about a woman in the 1800s who is gay. The challenges she faces and how she deals with them make this a page turner of a book. I couldn't put it down. I consider it a "must read."
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| Susan K |
Run by Ann Patchett |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A wonderfully written book. The reviews were great and I waited until it was out in paperback. Both men and women would enjoy this book.
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| Mary |
