| Audrey Starkey (audstar@comcast.net) |
| Calligraphy of the Witch by Alicia Gasper de Alba |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Rarely does a novel awaken all my senses, and stir every emotion possible in the human soul. This is definitely a story I will not soon forget, and definitely will be remembered as one of my favorite novels.
This is a historical novel that takes place in the late 1600s, during the famous Salem Witch trials. Concepcion is a bastard child born to a Mexican government official and an Indian mother. Abandoned by her mother in Mexico after she had been indentured to a nun convent, Concepcion runs away with a friend only to be seized by Pirates and taken to New England. She arrives in New England pregnant after being repeatedly raped by the ship's Captain.
The captain discovers her gift of calligraphy, renames her Thankful Seagraves, and sells her to a Boston merchant who plans to have her manage her father-in-law's farm while caring for the crippled man. Unable to speak English, deathly ill and terrified, Thankful gives birth to a daughter who her owner's wife covets.
For 8 years, Thankful and her daughter are pulled between two worlds. Although she proves herself in her ability to care for the crippled man, learns to speak and write English and brings profits to the farm, she is considered unacceptable as a bi-racial servant who speaks a foreign language and is Catholic. Rebecca, her owner's wife, slowly turns her daughter against her.
Throughout the novel, Concepcion keeps a journal that she hopes one day will be read by the daughter she loves so much. The journal gives you insight into what life was like in the 1600s.
When the hysteria of the Salem witchcraft trials begin, Concepcion's own daughter implicates her as a witch, sending her to the cold, filthy dungeons. The ending is bittersweet, creating a surge of emotions for readers.
|
| Helen |
| Death At La Fenice by Donna Leon |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
A good mystery set in a opera house in Venice, Italy.
|
| Cathi D. (CathiD01@msn.com) |
| Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A brilliant and intense story regarding a dwarf girl, Nazi Germany and the human condition.
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| Marsha M |
| Twisted by Andrea Kane |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
An absolutely thrilling thriller! A former FBI agent, still recovering from a serious hand wound, is hired to investigate the disappearance of a former girlhood friend who vanished over a year ago. In order to cover all bases, she must contact the agent currently in charge of the case, someone with whom she has a history. As her investigation progresses she comes across some strange coincidences-other woman who have disappeared under similar circumstances with either direct or tangential associations to her. And of course must work with the FBI agent who would rather track down a serial killer in NY carving up Asian prostitutes. How all the plot lines and relationships converge is a page turning, adrenaline charging experience.
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| Marsha M |
| Let Me Go: My Mother and the SS by Helga Schneider |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A short but emotionally charged memoir by a women trying to come to terms with her estranged mother, who volunteered to be an SS guard at the camps during World War II. Helga, her father and her brother, were abandoned by her mother when she went to "fulfill the call to arms in Germany". She would not see her again until the early '70s when Helga and her son travel from Italy to Berlin for a reunion. Their visit to her mother's home is brief as Helga is horrified by her mother's attitude and actions.
With her cousin along this time for emotional support, Helga visits her ailing mother once more almost thirty years later. She is now living in a nursing home and suffering from dementia. Their emotional encounter is almost surreal. It reveals much about the human heart, especially how the absence of empathy can lead to horrific crimes turning into human evil.
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| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| And Not A Penny More by Kathryn R. Wall |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
The 2nd of the Bay Tanner series set in Hilton Head, SC. This involves the Interpol, cruise liners, old widows, and unfinished Miami mob. Bay meets Darnay --- what a match, but will their romance flourish?
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| Clint Redd |
| Jason Of The Valley by J. K. Melby |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I discovered this book through Amazon.com and I was very impressed. It was funny and moving, and completely addictive. I could not put it down. The characters are so rich and full. I loved this book and everyone I've turned on to it has enjoyed it as well. This book was a refreshing change of pace compared to other titles of the gay fiction genre. I only hope there will be more from this author in the future.
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| Cynthia Baxter |
| The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is about a boy (Edgar), his family, and the dogs his family have been breeding and training for generations in rural Wisconsin. Edgar is born without the ability to speak but his hearing is unaffected. But Edgar seems to possess a bit of the sixth sense and I think that’s what’s so fun about this book -- it goes in a lot of different directions, yet it works somehow.
For example, the prologue opens in a mysterious back alley in Japan during the second World War. A sailor obtains some extremely effective poison from an apothecary in order to “rid his ship of a rat.” Hmmm, you don’t say?
And then BAM! The book starts and it’s this lovely story about a farmer who clears the land and builds a farm, then sells it to Mr. Sawtelle who then converts the farm to a kennel in order to raise a highly specialized breed of dog unique to the world. Fast forward to the modern day and we meet Edgar, his father Gar, his mother Trudy and his Uncle Claude. All are richly developed and the story comes together beautifully. This is a story with dogs but not about dogs – does that make sense? It’s not a Marley and Me type of book. But you do meet some of the dogs and of course, they have their own characteristics and some even get to tell their story. I dare you to not love Almondine!
For his debut novel, Wroblewski has proven that he is a master at weaving together a very complex story yet as a reader, you never feel lost. I think it has to do with how he filled in the backstory --- so that when you come to present day --- you understand the culture, the history, the reasons why and what for.
This is --- I think --- an Epic story. I rank it right up there with Yahn Martel’s LIFE OF PIE as one of those “life-changing” books that becomes a part of you --- it has soaked to your core.
|
| Kristie |
| The Longing by Beverly Lewis |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This third book in the series was enjoyable; however, the ending was quite predictable.
|
| Kristie |
| Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
The author builds schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan to educate children, especially girls. Amazing how one person can make such a difference.
|
| Cynthia Plaza-Harney |
| The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
It is a story that is half history, half myth and very magical. Most of this ancient tale has the lead character to be male, but not in this story --- it is a female. I enjoy the book because it makes you think out of the box. It is not a book I would read again.
|
| Kay Keller |
| The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This book was a compulsive read! I couldn't put it down, and the twists and turns kept me guessing until the end. I will read more books by this author.
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| Cynthia Plaza-Harney |
| Broken Colors by Michele Zackheim |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I love the story and it was well written. I can see this as a movie, and it be a chick flick all the way.
It is a complete story from birth to the end of a woman's life. The writers' personal experience as a painter is reflected in her writing. It has love, hurt, pain, and the art of forgiving and loving again.
|
| Eva |
| Address Unknown by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This book was published in 1938. Two friends, Martin, a German, and Max, a Jew, own an art gallery in California. Martin returns to Germany and they keep in touch through letters, which become more and more horrific as Martin slowly becomes a Nazi.
Very, very good!
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| Jodi Tanner |
| Beside a Burning Sea by John Shors |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I'd describe BESIDE A BURNING SEA as a classic love story, one set at the end of World War II in the South Pacific. The novel tells the unlikely (but believable) story of an American nurse who falls in love with her Japanese patient. John Shors really knows how to write (something not all bestselling authors seem to truly grasp). His novel is beautifully written, and had me hooked from the first page to the last. The lyrical way that he describes people, relationships, nature, is just second to none. I highly recommend this novel.
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| Jean |
| The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
I found the book, which is written in the epistolary style (in the form of letters), to be tedious. I was constantly checking to see who was writing the letter and to whom it was being sent. There were parts of the book that were very charming, but overall, I thought the book was just okay.
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| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| In For A Penny by Kathryn R. Wall |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
The first of the Bay Tanner series that sets the tone for the later books. The main characters are introduced and the setting of Hilton Head, SC is detailed. In this book, the tone is on trust and the violation of that trust due to a faulty investment scheme and blackmail --- the reason will be explained in a later novel.
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| Kris T |
| The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Borrows |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I loved this story, told in letters about a time period and event that I am always interested in --- the take over of the Channel Islands by the German Luftwaffe during World War II. You will love the funny characters that live on this island of Guernsey and find out about how the society came to be. It was delightful and also sad. A great read!
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| krisT |
| Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
If you want an in-your-face kind of read about what it takes to get skinny and get healthy, then this if for you. Some things to me were a bit crazy and over the top, but some just down right funny. I think there are things to learn and this is kind of a wake-up call to your health. Really, doing anything is better than doing nothing when it comes to feeling better and looking better.
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| krisT |
| The Green Mile by Stephen King |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a touching story about prisoners and prison guards on cell block - E. It takes place in the south in the 1930s, I believe, and I was very gripped by this story. I did not know how good King could be.
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| Kris T |
| The Sitting Swing by Irene Watson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I saw so much in this memoir about addiction and addictive personalities. I think anyone, whether you have one or not, can benefit from this author's life.
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| L. Hann |
| Coming Home by David Lewis |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Excellent. Great read. I have never read anything by David Lewis but I have now found a new author to read.
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| Maureen H |
| Club Dead by Charlaine Harris |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is just a fun read. I had to keep turning the pages. Loved it!!
|
| Karen Gervasi |
| Mama Does Time by Deborah Sharp |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Himmarshee, Florida, the setting for this new series, may be a small town but it is brimming with colorful characters who have lots of secrets. Mama, having enjoyed the delights at the local Dairy Queen, is wrongly accused of murder when an unidentified body is found in the trunk of her “big as a cruise ship “car. She frantically calls her middle daughter, Mace, to come to the police station to straighten out this little misunderstanding. Mace arrives with alacrity and confronts Detective Martinez, the handsome new officer in town. Mace’s two sisters, Maddie and Marty, arrive and add to the mayhem. The daughters are mystified as to how Martinez could possibly believe their Mama, former Sunday School teacher, southern belle when she wanted to be, could commit murder. Everyone loves Mama --- hasn’t she been married four times and has prospect number 5 in sight? Isn’t she always well dressed in perfectly coordinated clothing? Wasn’t she playing Bingo at the Seminole reservation with a witness? Nevertheless, she has to spend some time in jail!
Not being one to let the police pursue the investigation without interference, Mace begins to look into the murder and finds there is more than one person who had the opportunity and, more importantly, the motive to want the victim dead. When it turns out the murdered man was Jimmy Albert , facts turn up he was not who everyone thought he was. What they thought was he was just the short term fiance of Emma Jean, receptionist at the police station. Martinez reluctantly concedes he needs to look elsewhere and Mama is sprung from the slammer.
Although threats and warnings ensue, the sisters continue to look into who murdered Jimmy and why someone is trying to get them to stop putting their noses where they don‘t belong. What follows is a highly entertaining story of kidnapping, disappearance, and more hi jinks with all three sisters and Mama involved. There is even an incident involving Ollie, the one eyed alligator.
With lots of local color at the Hair Today, Dyed Tomorrow beauty shop, the Abundant Hope church ,the Speckled Perch and the Pork Pit, the reader is taken on a rollicking romp through small town Florida’s back roads ,swamps and wildlife parks. Lots of secrets and confessions are revealed along the way in this well crafted cozy. Add some undercurrents of budding and rekindled romances . Throw in a tight plot full of red herrings , clues ,a heart thumping denouement and round it out with a cast of well drawn , credible, likeable characters, a few four legged friends and you have the recipe for a non-stop fun read. Highly recommended!
|
| Mary K. |
| The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a novel that I literally could not put down and finished in two evenings. It begins as the protagonist --- a shallow, drugged-out, womanizing porno star --- crashes his car. The car explodes, and he suffers dreadful burns over most of his body. He endures months of torturous healing, surviving mentally only by making elaborate plans to kill himself when he gets out of the hospital. Then he finds Marianne --- or rather, she finds him --- and everything begins to change. The only reason this did not get a 5 star rating from me is because the ending was not quite as strong as it should have been, but the journey was worth every moment I spent reading instead of sleeping for those two nights.
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| Kathy V. |
| Killed By Clutter by Leslie Caine |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a Domestic Bliss mystery and the author really draws you into the story and characters. It's about an interior decorator who gets caught up in her customers' lives. In this one, her customer is a pack rat and she needs to clen out the house as well as keep the other older lady safe. The house keeps getting broken into and other people keep dying.
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| Angela Satalino |
| The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
What a delightful read. You're drawn into the characters immediately and can't wait to read what happens next.
|
| Susan Myers |
| Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This book was a compelling read, dealing with the issue of unwed motherhood in 19th-century England. We follow young Charlotte through her challenges, and as we do, we learn about how unwed mothers and foundling babies were treated in England during this period. This book will grab you from the beginning, and you will be drawn into Charlotte's life. The book has surprising plot twists, appealing characters, and is wonderfully written. I highly recommend it.
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| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
| Nadia Knows Best by Jill Mansell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A Mansell novel is one of my “reading pleasures”. I have enjoyed every book I’ve read by this author. This was pure Chick Lit, “fast furious and fabulous fun”. I loved it!
|
| thisisit |
| Master Of Disaster: A Behind the Scenes Mystery by Ira Teller |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Based on the author's real life experiences on the set of the movie, The Crow, where he was the last person to interview star Brandon Lee hours before his tragic and mysterious death, this is a fast, action- packed, at times funny and surreal, roller coaster of a ride revealing much about movie making and marketing, yet attacking the excesses that go with both.
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| Judy O. |
| The American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This is the story of Charlie and Alice Blackwell --- their relationship and subsequent marriage. Alice is a thinly disguised Laura Bush, and Charlie is obviously George Bush. It's a fascinating, fictional account of their lives to date. My only criticism is the length of this book is about 550 pages. There was so much description of everybody and everything. About 100 pages of this could be deleted, and the enjoyment of this read would still be there. Sometimes less really is more.
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| Masha |
| The Rock Orchard by Paula Wall |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Pure Southern Gothic fun. Take a small-town setting in the 1930s, throw in some wild women, crazy townspeople, love, romance, a little magic, and you get a great first book by a terrific new author; a book that will make you laugh, think, and leave you smiling.
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| Cindy |
| A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I'm midway and can't put it down.
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| L. Clark |
| Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
NIGHTS IN RODANTHE is a brief love story about two lost souls who fall in love while stranded at an Inn during a weekend-long hurricane. The love story falls flat as the couple fall in love after a few meals and conversations together. Sparks spends much of the story telling us about the love, rather than showing it, and so it is difficult for the reader to truly connect to the characters and feel that the love is real. The storyline is sweet and sentimental, but too brief and cursory to truly touch the reader. The redeeming aspect of this novel is that it is short, so it won't take up valuable time that could be spent reading more engaging literature.
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| Christy H. |
| Healing Promises by Amy Wallace |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This 2nd book in the Defenders of Hope series picks right up where RANSOMED DREAMS ended and reunites us with all of the characters from the previous book, but with Clint and Sara's story taking center stage. A gripping and thought invoking read dealing with two different yet interconnected storylines. With my Mother having just finished battling with chemo and radiation treatments, it was emotional for me to readhow Clint and Sara both struggle to cope with this disease. The kidnapping/serial killer plot is compelling and suspenseful and will keep you hooked to the very end. I"m looking forward to reading Michael and Hanna's story in the next installment.
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| Readingrat |
| Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This story is loosely based on the life experiences of the author's own grandmother and is a compelling coming-of-age story.
|
| Ana Marie |
| Looking For Peyton Place by Barbara Delinsky |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
Delinsky is one of my favorite authors but as I started to read this book, I felt like I was reading about Erin Brockovich. I will read the entire book but so far, it's not one of my favorites by this author.
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| Ana Marie |
| Hello, Darkness by Sandra Brown |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
If you like mysteries pick up this book. It will not disappoint you. It keeps you guessing until the end. Sandra Brown never fails.
|
| Julie |
| Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Hilarious journey of Jen trying to lose some weight at the insistence of her doctor. It's laugh-out-loud funny! Another great read by this author.
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| Lesa D |
| The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I'm reading this after watching season one of "The Tudors" on DVD. Very interesting to see how many historical liberties the show took with the story!
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| Lesa D |
| Twilight by Stephenie Myers |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I'm reading this with my daughter. I thought I would just read along to keep up with her, but I found myself pulled into the story.
|
| Bambi |
| The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
My favorite book this year! It's a definite page-turner with a great twist. I highly recommend this book to everyone. (The movie coming out this Dec. starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams.)
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| Marie B (marieburton2004@yahoo.com) |
| Plain Jane: A Novel of Jane Seymour by Laurien Gardner |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Jane Seymour was Henry VIII's 3rd wife, and said to have been his favorite. (They do rest in peace together.) There is little known about her personally, for early on, she died bearing Henry's only son who lived to rule. The author did a wonderful job of creating her character, bearing in mind this is fiction, and she held my interest till the end. I could have done without the constant reminders from Jane that she was plain and therefore useless. Other than that and the slight inconsistencies with reality, I really did enjoy the book, especially since Jane is a mostly unknown figure.
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| Readingrat |
| Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins by Rupert Everett |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
This memoir is basically a collection of loosely chronological anecdotes from Rupert Everett's life. He is a wry storyteller and most of his anecdotes are highly enjoyable, but the book really could have used an editor to give it some cohesion and flow (not to mention someone to correct those pesky little grammatical errors). I did enjoy reading it, but had no problems setting it aside either.
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| Julie |
| The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A real page turner. This is a sweeping saga about heroine Fiona Finnegan's struggle to overcome unbelievable hardships during the time of Jack the Ripper in London and become a very successful tea merchant. I can't wait to read the sequel, THE WINTER ROSE.
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| Kelly Currie |
| Good-bye and Amen by Beth Gutcheon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a continuation of the wonderful family of characters the author gave us in LEEWAY COTTAGE, but it can stand alone as a good read too. The entire book is presented as short journal-type entries from numerous characters, an interesting device that gets us inside the minds of all the people involved. It's fascinating to see how the same events can be interpreted by different people in such different ways. A great glimpse into an extended family.
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| Martha |
| Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
In eight short stories, Lahiri demonstrates her mastery of the craft of writing. The stories are about Americans who are Indian by ethnicity, but whose lives must be lived in American culture. Relationships are key components of these outstanding stories.
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| Kay |
| Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This book is a fictional account of the life of Marilyn Monroe. Written to show what her life could have been in real life (and probably was). I like Joyce Carol Oates's books because she doesn't try to tie everything up in a nice little bow at the end, making her books seem more like real life. Her characters are people coping the best the can with the what they've been given, scars and all.
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| Debbie |
| Careless in Red by Elizabeth George |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I've loved all the Inspector Lynley books, and this one is no exception. It takes place a few months after the death of Helen, Lynley's wife. He has spent six solitary weeks hiking the bleak and rugged coastline of Cornwall. He stumbles upon a dead man and though he does not want to participate in the investigation, he gets drawn in. The reader gets drawn in, too, not only into the investigation but into Lynley's mourning of Helen.
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| Debbie |
| The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
In the same vein as The Lord of the Rings, this novel is good on so many levels. Rothfuss has revived the fantasy genre with his hero and storyline. I haven't gotten to the second novel in the trilogy, but it is on my list.
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| Kelly Currie |
| No One You Know by Michelle Richmond |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Richmond has done it again! This is a character-driven story that contains a whodunit mystery. If you like novels with strong character development, you will love this book. Although the mystery keeps you turning the pages, it is ultimately the main character, Ellie Enderlin, that kept me glued to the story. Ellie lost her sister to a violent crime many years ago, and has accepted the story of what happened. Now, a chance encounter with the person she always assumed committed the murder has her rethinking her life and her own story, in addition to her sister's fate.
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| Sharon |
| Washington Square by Henry James |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
When I was young --- oh so many years ago --- I use to devour books, including the so-called classics. I failed to recognize the quality of the writing, the development of the characters and plot, etc. So now I am re-reading these novels really for the first time to understand why someone labeled them classics. WASHINGTON SQUARE is an example of quality writing. It is the story of a young but plain woman who is the daughter of a rich doctor. Finally, she has a beau who courts her as though she Is the most beautiful woman he has ever met. She naturally falls in love, but the doctor believes that the suitor is more interested in her inheritance than her beauty. Does love triumph in the end? Well, you have to read it to find out!
|
| Juanita |
| Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This was selected for our book club discussion --- I am surprised that I have enjoyed it as much as I have. It is very interesting and thought provoking. I am sure it will make for a good discussion.
|
| Shyeyes |
| Bridge Called Hope by Kim Meeder |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Excellent stories about a real ranch that saves broken kids and broken horses. The horses have been abused, as well as the children. Kim and her husband bring them together, and with God's grace the horses and children seem to heal each other. Heartbreaking and awe inspiring.
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| Carol B |
| The Shack by William P. Young |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A wonderful read that challenges the perception of who and what God is. It made for a lively discussion in our book group.
|
| Robin (rmayerhoefer@cox.net) |
| Light My Fire by Katie MacAlister |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is the third book in the Aisling Grey, Guardian series, and like the first two, it is a really fun read. The world Katie MacAlister has created is unique and different from other paranormal romances I've read, with dragons in human form and a wise-cracking lower-level demon in Newfoundland dog form.
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| Vicki |
| Bitten by Kelley Armstrong |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I was shocked by this book. I was prepared to not really like it, and read it as a recommendation from an acquaintance, but it turns out it was a fun, enjoyable read. I loved the main character, too!
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| Readingrat |
| Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Maeve Binchy always makes me want to hop on a plane and run away to someplace else for a month or two. First it was London; this time it's Greece.
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| Readingrat |
| Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A wonderful example of pacing, plot and the expert use of an unreliable narrator.
|
| Kaye |
| Belle Weather by Celia Rivenbark |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Celia Rivenbark does it again, y’all, with her latest offering, BELLE WEATHER: Mostly Sunny With a Chance of Scattered Hissy Fitselle Weather: Mostly Sunny with a Chance of Scattered Hissy Fits. The author, a true G.R.I.T.S. (girl raised in the South) knows how to tell it like it is with her own particular wit and style. Celia offers up her views and experiences of remodeling the family mansion, being a Mom to the “Princess”, her views on men and then the last section highly amuses the reader with observations of random things.
In the first section on remodeling, she tells us Granite is not just for tombstones anymore. This was an absolutely hysterical rendering of selecting and buying granite (and definitely not from the back of the pickup truck) for that kitchen makeover you have been dreaming about. Her experiences with the non-English speaking sub-contractors left me almost in tears from laughing so hard. I just don’t know why they didn’t want to hear about her uncle in their native language!
In the Just Kid-ding section, you will be regaled again with stories of motherhood, but with a truly unusual slant. From dealing with science projects to reading Nancy Drew, or not, and living with birthday party expectations, this section will leave you howling. How to avoid Mortuary Summer Camp is one of the particularly hilarious chapters. Also, in this section, Celia writes a letter to Brittany Spears that will have you rocking in your seat with out loud laughs.
The way she describes these situations is like none other I have read, so what is the difference, you might ask. Well, honey, it’s that Southern sass and pert prose that will amuse you to no end. So, get yourself a glass of iced tea, throw some strudel in the toaster, and be prepared for lots of fun, Southern style. How she comes up with these scenarios, I don’t know but am glad she did because I truly enjoyed reading this book.
Highly recommended!
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| Katy (kretzkidz@yahoo.com) |
| Wisdom Hunter by Randall Arthur |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I don't quite know where I got this book, and despite its age, WISDOM HUNTER is a tremendous read. In fact, I can't wait to read other titles by this author.
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| Julianne Perretta |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Great for dog lovers and/or race fans.
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| Phyllis |
| The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson, Michael Ledwidge |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
A clean superhero book for children.
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| Carol H. |
| A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
For readers who enjoyed BAREFOOT, this novel does not disappoint. A great read.
|
| Marcia |
| Loving Frank by Nancy Horan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Informative and entertaining. When I finished reading it, the ending seemed too impossible to be true. After googling it, I found the author really did stick to the facts. It was interesting to learn more about Frank Lloyd Wright. It was a touching and heartbreaking story about a love affair that never reached its potential.
|
| Marcia |
| The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Engaging thriller with some repeat characters from a previous novel, THE MEPHISTO CLUB. It's kind of fun having them re-appear and seeing relationships develop further. Also I learned more about archaeology and mummification. It was good to the end without being too predictable.
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| Jacqueline in Atlanta |
| The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
Interesting book. I expected a mystery, but it really was not. It was more like a collection of short stories or vignettes. What I enjoyed most was the picture of Africa it painted for me.
|
| Janice G. |
| Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Gave me a totally different perspective on life in Pakistan and life as a Muslim. It also confirms that one person can make a big difference in the world. Greg Mortenson built schools for uneducated poor Pakistanis, especially girls.
|
| kathleen |
| Deadly Night by Heather Graham |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
|
| Phyllis |
| It's A Kind of Magic by Carole Matthews |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I really enjoyed this book. It combines the problems of expecting too much from people and relationships, with a little touch of fantasy. Emma and Leo learn a lot about themselves and each other. The story is told with lots of humor.
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| Phyllis |
| Swine Not? by Jimmy Buffett |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Definitely not Buffett's usual type of book, but a nice children's book.
|
| Phyllis |
| The English American by Alison Larkin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Pippa Dunn was raised in England and decides to find her American biological parents. A very good story of Pippa's emotions and coming to terms with being "English-American".
|
| Bonnie |
| Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
If you're looking for fun, light reading with more than a chuckle or two, this is the book for you. Here, Lancaster tells of her efforts to lose weight via various diets and exercise. Funny stuff.
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| kaye |
| Women of Silk by Gail Tsukiyama |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
What a wonderful story of rural China in the early 1920s. An impoverished family has to sell their daughter, Pei, to the silk factory. Pei learns the silk work while she lives in the girls' house and becomes part of the sisterhood. Over the years, she adjusts to her life but misses her family, particularly her mother and sister. When the silk factory is closed, Pei must make here way to another life in Hong Kong. This story, written in beautiful prose with a simplistic clarity, takes the reader back in time to another way of life. It is hard to fathom today of a family selling a 8-year-old child to work 12-hour days in a factory and not see that child for years to come. It was an accepted way of survival back then. The characters were well drawn and very credible. A truly enjoyable and highly recommended read.
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| L. |
| Off Season by Anne Rivers Siddons |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A great read! I wanted to immerse myself in this story and forget about the rest of the world for awhile.
|
| Beverly |
| The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A wonderful story! Ms. Cooper explores her childhood and how this shaped the woman she has become.
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| Sherrie Gil |
| Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
It is required reading for our high school students. It will make you think, but there is also a mystery too.
|
| L. |
| Fractured by Karen Slaughter |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Slaughter's books are an addiction for me. I love her writing and the fact that each book is truly different from the previous. No boiler plate novelist here.
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| Sharon Bedell (Leadfrugger@aol.com) |
| The Barrymores: The Royal Family In Hollywood by James Kotsilibas-Davis |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This book predates Drew Barrymore's contributions to Hollywood, but focuses more on the legendary siblings Lionel, Ethel, and John Sr. (Drew's grandfather). This book also focuses more on the Barrymores' film careers and not their theatrical beginnings. Complete with whimsical quotes and plenty of photographs, it provides interesting insight into a legendary movie-making family.
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| Anne Knaack (annabelle973@cox.net) |
| The Garden of Last Days by Andre Dubus III |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
A real disappointment. But I didn't really enjoy HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG either. Sorry; I realize he is a good writer.
|
| Rose Hately |
| The Outlander by Gil Adamson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
An excellent read -- drama, mystery and romance! THE OUTLANDER is a superb first novel by an accomplished writer.
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| Susan De Feo |
| The Gravediger's Daughter by Carol Joyce Oates |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
The first half of the book depicts a cruel and belittling husband and father who later kills his wife and himself. The second half relates the daughter's life afterwards and how she survives an abusive husband.
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| Barbara Stahr |
| Peachtree Road by Anne Rivers Siddons |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This book is written in the first person and tells a very interesting tale of the main character's relationship to his cousin. It has much detail, around the Buckhead area of Atlanta and the adjustment of the families to the changing times. The paperback book has 797 pages that keep you reading to the end.
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| Julia Desmond |
| The Expected One by Kathleen McGowan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
An intriguing mystery with a religion as the backdrop. A long book but easily readable. It matches, if not exceeds, THE DA VINCI CODE. Great reading!
|
| MJB |
| One of Those Malibu Nights by Elizabeth Adler |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Private Investigator Mac Reilly and girlfriend Sunny Alvarez work together to try and solve a case that becomes more and more complex as people involved in a murder want to hire him for their protection. People go missing and bodies are found as Mac tries to figure out his case. Adler once again weaves a good story along with amazing descriptions of distant places such as California, Mexico and France, and with mouth watering cuisine. After reading this book you will feel like you have been on vacation.
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| Rita |
| Touching Tomorrow by Debra Faulkner |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
The wonderful true story of Emily Griffith, who began the Opportunity School in Denver, a pioneering vocational and equal school. Her murder remains a cold case.
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| Jan Kanowitz (pooohcat@aol.com) |
| Lottery by Patricia Wood |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This book tells the story of a man that has an IQ of 76 and wins the lottery. His Gram teaches him about people and how to get along in this world. This is a heartwarming story that teaches us what is important in life.
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| MaryinHB (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
| Once Bitten, Twice Shy: Jaz Parks, Book 1 by Jennifer Rardin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
It's a little slow at first, but then the action started. I couldn't put this down as it had the perfect balance with dialogue, action and description for me. If you like Gena Showalter, you will love this series.
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| Sharon Bedell (Leadfrugger@aol.com) |
| Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry by Maya Angelou |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I have been enjoying the autobiographical series of books by the incredible Maya Angelou and was surprised by this third installment, as I had not known how much Ms. Angelou had performed on stage in her past! Not to mention the legendary people that she met in the early stages if their careers. Easy reading, great writing...enjoyable!
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| D. Lohrding (darbyscloset@yahoo.com) |
| Run by Ann Patchett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I finished this book last night. It's excellent! It's suspenseful, heartwarming, humorous and even an eye-watering...all of the components that make a book a great read! Ann's writing reminds me quite a bit of Jodi Picoult's work, which I also enjoy.
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| Jan (janbay37@yahoo.com) |
| The Prey series by John Sandford |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I like to read series books in order and have started the Prey series, which begins with RULES OF PREY. The main character is somewhat crazy, so I am beginning to tire of him but will continue on a little bit longer. They are violent and have quite a bit of sex.
|
| Susan Reimers |
| The Taste of Conquest by Michael Krondl |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
An amazing and thoroughly readable book by a food critic about the international trade and politics of the three great cities of spice --- Venice, Lisbon and Amsterdam --- and, of course, the local foods at the time of these cities' reign. This book has deepened my appreciation for spices, changing me forever.
|
| Barbara S. |
| The German Bride by Joanna Hershon |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
An engrossing story set in the mid-eighteen hundreds. It tells the tale of a young German-Jewish girl from a well-to-do family who struggles to survive as a new bride in the rough-and-tumble world of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
|
| Merle |
| The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
The story and characters draw you in. An incredible epic of the Middle Ages, which is hard to put down.
|
| Jaye |
| Foreign Body by Robin Cook |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
FOREIGN BODY is a real page turner --- a medical thriller set in Delhi and the US. I couldn't put it down!
|
| Rita |
| Somewhere in Heaven by Christopher Anderson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
The wonderful love story of Christopher and Dana Reeve. This is truly an inspiring book, and one that made me say all my troubles have been little ones.
|
| Lori S. |
| The Haunting by Shirley Jackson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I think this was the first "haunted house" novel I ever read, way back in elementary school. Since then, I have read it once or twice and recently took it along on vacation, where we stayed in an old Victorian house that had been turned into a beautiful Bed & Breakfast. But, sitting up alone at night reading this book in an old house with creaky hard wood floors and rain tapping against the windows... I really got the full effect. It was a great read ---- again.
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| Lori S. |
| High-Spirited Women of the West by Anne Seagraves |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is because it was too short. This is a very entertaining book that profiles 10 bold, rebellious and dedicated women who helped shape history. From famous outlaw Belle Starr to Abigail Scott Duniway, a wife and mother who fought fervently for women's rights and the right to vote, they are an amazing and often inspiring group of women.
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| Lori S. |
| The Beach House by Jane Green |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I have read all of Jane Green's books, starting with JEMIMA way back, but this is my favorite. It's the story of free spirit 60+ yr old, Nan Powell, who --- in need of an income --- opens her ancestral seaside home to a diverse group of younger people, each going through their own personal trials. How they help and learn from each other makes for a non-sappy feel good story.
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| Danelle Drake (drake6jdttha@charter.net) |
| A Mercy by Toni Morrison |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
What a moving book. I have read it twice and it has touched my soul. Read it slowly, when all is quiet, and it will move you!
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| Danelle Drake (drake6jdttha@charter.net) |
| The Geography of Love by Glenda Burgess |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Wow! What a powerful book. This should be required reading for everyone!
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| Anne Knaack (annabelle973@cox.net) |
| The Other by David Guterson |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
I made it halfway through this book, but it was boring, and the characters were forever doing drugs and so on. He's just not the writer for me.
|
| Reva Wamsley (prwamsley@roadrunner.com) |
| The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
I know this is an old book, but I just got around to reading it. There are some slow spots in the book but for the most part, it's interesting. It's a true account of Ted Bundy, a serial killer, by a woman who knew him personally & never suspected.
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| Anne Knaack (annabelle973@cox.net) |
| America America by Ethan Canin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I have read most of his novels and short stories, and this is his best writing yet. Don't miss it!
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| MaryinHB (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
| Just One Bite: Dead End Dating, Book 4 by Kimberly Raye |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a very fun, light-hearted read. Can't wait for the next one in the series. Although it is another paranormal romance series, it does set itself apart from the pack.
|
| Pamela HD (visalia126@yahoo.com) |
| Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I found myself smiling as I read the last page. The fourth book in the Blossom Street series, TWENTY WISHES, brings back some familiar characters and introduces several new ones, all of which are familiar --- so like my neighbors, friends or me. I've started my list of wishes!
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| MaryinHB (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
| The English American: A Novel by Alison Larkin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Excellent story about adoption and the realities of finding your birth parents who don't live up to the romanticized ideals.
|
| MaryinHB (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
| Midnight Brunch: Casa Dracula, Book 2 by Marta Acosta |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This series keeps getting better, with very good, snarky humor. It's not a typical paranormal romance, but the girl does get the guy.
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| MaryinHB (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
| She's a Witch Girl by Kelly McClymer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I just loved this series. It's mini paranormal chick lit at its best. I really hope there is another to this series.
|
| Judy O. |
| Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanvich |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
I did not like this book, even though I have read all of the others. This one just did not seem funny to me, and even though I was 50 pages from the end, I did not finish it. The formerly funny characters just seemed rather stale to me, and I just did not care how it ended.
|
| Bev (Bevrichards@mts.net) |
| People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Wonderful book --- I really enjoyed the fabulous writing, and all the travels and history. I believe this is a true story?
|
| Pam |
| 1491 by Charles C. Mann |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a mind-altering book. Mann explores history in the western hemisphere before "1492 when Columbus sailed the ocean blue." Many of us were taught that not much transpired in the Americas --- not much that we needed to know --- before the Europeans arrived and brought civility. This book opened the window to the period of time centuries before Columbus from Alaska to Peru and all points in between.
|
| krisT J |
| The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Fun, sci-fi story that will appeal to many young adults, like his Maximum Ride books.
|
| krisT J |
| The Kings of Innocence by Micheal Burns |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Can you go home again? The main character goes home to house sit, check on his younger brother, and relive his youth only to find that it is not all he thought it was. This is a good coming-of-age story, even though he is already in his 20s.
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| krisT J |
| Swimming to Antarctica by Lynne Cox |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This woman showed unbelievable courage and daring to learn to swim in some of the coldest waters in the world, and endure. This story was very uplifting to me, and showed that you never know where your talents can help the world.
|
| krisT J |
| Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
Third in the Twilight series, I felt it was starting to explain a few more things but still had a slow-moving story line. I am still looking forward to the newest release.
|
| krisT J |
| Meridon by Philippa Gregory |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
The third in the Wideacre Trilogy by Philippa Gregory and a fitting ending to the saga. I love her storytelling ability.
|
| krisT J |
| Swine Not? by Jimmy Buffet |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A cute and funny pig tale! It was fun reading something so different.
|
| Kathy Marsh |
| Fractured by Karin Slaughter |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A great story full of ups and downs, with interesting characters. The audio version of this book is excellent. The narrator is very good.
|
| krisT J |
| The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This book draws you in and won't let you go. It had a great story that I did not want to end!
|
| Marie B. |
| Anne Boleyn: A New Life of England's Tragic Qu by Joanna Denny |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
This is one of many books about the life of the second of six of Henry VIII's Queens. Her reign was short-lived but she is the mother of the later Queen Elizabeth. The author portrays Anne in a different light than as traditionally portrayed as a spoiled woman and there is actually quite a bit of research done to complete the book. Although I enjoyed the different point of view and the focus on the religious aspects some of the conclusions the author makes are not sufficiently supported. This is a good book for a 'beginner' history buff, but will not be a good book for those who have already read David Starkey and Alison Weir. In fact, Weir and Denny seem to have different points of view entirely. I give it three stars for the research and the focus on the reformation, but minus the other stars for failure to keep my attention and for the unsubstantiated claims she made a few times.
|
| Pam |
| I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
As the cover notes: "a saga". It's a tad too long, but very very readable. The story follows 3 generations of an Italian-American immigrant family and the challenges of having a paranoid schizophrenic identical twin. So many social topics are addressed: HIV, incest, suicide, homosexuality, mental illness, spousal abuse, etc. that it leaves the reader wondering, "what's next?" But they are addressed in a gripping, can't-put-down manner. I highly recommend the audio book version of this --- superb!
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| Janice Hoaglin (jhoaglin@sbcglobal.net) |
| The Camel Bookmobile by Masha Hamilton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I am really enjoying this book. The conversations about the power books can have, the conflicts around "learning new ways" versus survival of the tribes' nomadic culture in the midst of drought and famine, are all woven into the story in a very skillful way.
|
| Kathie |
| The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love by < |
