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The
Week of November 17th
This week's winner was MARILYN190@aol.com,
who received a set of six books by Ray
Bradbury!
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RRosenb538@aol.com
THE EMPTY CHAIR
by Jeffery Deaver, 3 stars
It's entertaining.
ON WRITING by Stephen King, 4 stars
It's pretty darn good.
toriphile20@yahoo.com
ON WRITING by Stephen King, 5 stars
I liked it from page one, and it's just very interesting
to see things from his perspective and spot a few of the
inspirations for his stories.
BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY by Helen Fielding,
5 stars
I've read this before and am reading it again before I
get to the sequel. I love this book and it still makes
me laugh.
Whimsey03@aol.com
GLAMOROUS
POWERS by Susan Howatch, 4 stars
I read this book because of my interest in Christian mysticism.
Howatch's story of Anglo-Catholic priest Jon Darrow and
the fulfillment of his vision was an enjoyable read. Warning:
This book contains extremely proper English.
Reeklink@aol.com
AT HOME IN MITFORD by Jan Karon, 5 stars
This is the first novel of a series of 5. Truly delightful,
easy read, much humor, bit of mystery...the characters
grow on the reader and the end comes too soon.
northsideco@lakemac.net
GATES OF FIRE by Steven Pressfield,
5 stars
This guy has got it right! The next "undiscovered" Cormac
McCarthy? He also managed to craft the magical realism
of The Legend of Bagger Vance (the book, not the movie).
If six stars were possible, I'd go a six; since they are
not, a five will have to do.
ATOMIZED by Michel Houellebecq, 6 stars
French Authors second book; soon to be US published as
The Elementary Principles. I found a reference to this
title by Barnes and Nobel in there first release, new
Author, tickler and sought out the UK first edition. Chronicles
the demise of the society we know and love so well: ours.
A book crammed with controversial and thought provoking
threads. Compared to Camus in his homeland, Houellebecq
will be a hit in America. Perhaps. Strong stuff for the
inquiring mind. A book of substance. Another six.
kim9598@hotmail.com
THE WEIGHT OF WATER by Anita Shreve,
5 stars
THE TOOTH FAIRY Graham Joyce, 5 stars
THE TOWN Bentley Little, 2 stars
DROWNING RUTH Christina Schwarz, 4 stars
larraine@erols.com
CHARMING BILLY by Alice McDermott, no
rating given
The voice of the book skipped around a alot and you have
to pay attention but it really is an amazing book.
CAUCASIA by Danzy Senna, no rating given
This remarkable book is about two sisters of mixed race
- one of whom passes for white - are seperated when their
parents take the children and flee what they think is
the FBI closing in on their revolutionary actvities. The
girls are very close and the story is through the eyes
of the girl who passes for white and is on the run with
her Caucasian mother. The heartbreak of this child is
superbly written - you can feel it yourself.
SUNSET LIMITED by James Lee Burke, no
rating given
This author writes poignant and literary "mysteires" that
trasncend the genre. His antihero, Dave Robicheaux, is
a picture of self-annihilation as he allows his inner
devils to overcome his better self time and again. Still
he does finally get it right. Burke manages to make you
yearn for rural Louisiana even if you've never been there.
Also, don't read his books while you're hungry - the Cajun
influence is strong!
Cipsi2@aol.com
WITHOUT A DOUBT by Marcia Clark, 4 stars
A very interesting book -- told a lot of details in the
O.J. Simpson matter I missed somehow.
MY CAT SPIT MCGEE by Willie Morris,
3 stars
Written by a reformed cat hater, it has its moments. His
style of writing is to use some rather high-falutin' words,
making us either stop to look them up or pass them by
and maybe miss something. For me, it made the book not
as warm and fuzzy as it could have been. But the man DID
love old Spit.
HIGH FIVE by Janet Evanovich, 4 stars
I laughed all the way through this one.
MASTERSON by Richard Wheeler
Not far enough in to evaluate. His book "Aftershock" was
so good that I felt this one would have to be good also!
It is the story of Bat Masterson as an old man living
in New York City taking a trip back west with his wife.
THE HOTEL ALLELUIA by Lucinda Roy, 4
stars
A book of reconciliation, set in Africa and peopled by
a coterie of interesting characters. Story is of two sisters,
one black and one white, who were separated young and
raised in two different countries. The story is not of
the finding but of the conflicts and resolutions of people,
nations, ideas, approaches..... a fine book, written with
a gentle touch.
THE BODYGUARD'S STORY by Trevor Rees-Jones,
4 stars
Well written, this book provides interesting and moving
details of Diana's last months and the people who cared
for her. It is sad, not just the accident but what has
been wrought in the lives of all who were around her.
OuiNikita@aol.com
Some big big books for those long long winter nights and
weekends
MISTS OF AVALON by Marion Zimmer Bradley,
5 stars plus
This is one of the most magical books I ever read - it
truly transports one to the land of magic and little folk.
My own copy has been to Hawaii twice - with different
people (not me though)
WINTER'S TALE by Mark Helprin, 5 stars
plus
This book vies with the preceding one for favorite honors.
This time the magic takes place on this continent but
it is just as compelling.
CRY TO HEAVEN by Anne Rice, 5 stars
I have only read one of her other books - THE MUMMY -
which was a fun romp. This book, however, was like reading
an opera. The cast of characters and twists and plots
was reminiscent of a Greek tragedy. I came to really care
about the main character. It was truly one of those books
I sat down with - with great reservation - and I could
barely get up again until I finished it, which was in
record time considering its length. This was great entertainment.
lyn1256@execpc.com
THE SILK ROAD by Jane Summer, 3 stars
PAY IT FORWARD by Catherine Ryan Hyde,
4 1/2 stars
I became involved enough with the characters that I wanted
to push one and hit another "upside the head" as we used
to say in the South.
TRANS-SISTER RADIO by Chris Bohjalian,
4 1/2 stars
Wonderful book, very well done, very well researched.
LenaEllis2000
WAR AND PEACE by Leo Tolstoy, no rating
given
ANIMAL FARM by George Orwell, no rating
given
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen,
no rating given
LITTLE WOMEN by Louisa May Alcott, no
rating given
OF MICE AND MEN by John Steinbeck, no
rating given
Barsha@aol.com
PRODIGAL SUMMER by Barbara Kingsolver,
5 Stars
Three skillfully interwined stories that take place during
one summer in southern Appalachia. In lush prose, Kingsolver
presents an impassioned plea for ecological sanity, while
peopling her novel with memorable, dimensional characters.
MARILYN190@aol.com
OPEN HOUSE by Elizabeth Berg, 5 stars
Another great book by this author. Touchingly funny and
sad at the same time. Enjoyable read.
THE RESCUE by Nicholas Sparks, 4 stars
Quick read, good story
I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS by Maya
Angelou, 3 stars
Still reading it, well written, good story
GDurisin@aol.com
THE LAST PRECINCT by Patricia Cornwell,
3 stars
Started off strong but lost momentum along the way.
WISH YOU WELL by David Baldacci, 4 stars
Much different from his previous novels, and probably
better as a result. Takes place mostly in 1930's Appalachia,
after two children from NY are sent to live with their
only relative, an elderly great-grandmother, after their
parents are in an automobile accident.
GOOD HAIR by Benilde Little, 3 stars
THE TESSERACT by Alex Garland, 1 star
Too dense for me.
THE FIRST TIME by Joy Fielding, 3 stars
THE BLIND ASSASSIN by Margaret Atwood,
5 stars
The award was well-deserved!! LOVED this one.
THE SKY IS FALLING Sidney Sheldon, 2
stars
THE ICE LIMIT by Douglas Preson and
Lincoln Child, 4 stars
DROWNING RUTH by Christina Schwarz,
4 1/2 stars
THE BLACKWATER LIGHTSHIP Colm Toibin,
3 stars
Booksagain@aol.com
TRUMAN By David McCullough, 5 stars
Probably one of the best bios of a president ever written.
Jajimeg@aol.com
THE BLACKWATER LIGHTSHIP by Colm Toibin,
4 stars
The story of a young Irish man dying of AIDS and how his
illness brings his family and friends together. The relationship
between his mother and sister is especially well-rendered.
LYING AWAKE by Mark Salzman, 3 stars
A Carmelite nun experiences "visions" due to a neurologic
illness and is faced with the decision of seeking a cure
that could save her life or do nothing to continue the
visions. I was not as impressed as many of the reviewers
with the quality of the writing.
BIG FISH by Daniel Wallace, 5 very big
stars!
An absolutely beautiful book - a son remembers his father
and his mythic persona as his father lays dying. This
book literally brought tears to my eyes. The latest issue
of BOOK magazine says that Steven Spielberg is considering
making a film based upon this book - treat it with care
Mr. Spielberg!
jbaker@hwy16.com
HOOKING UP by Tom Wolfe, 5 Stars
Thought provoking book!
UKHRH@aol.com
LADY OF HAY by Barbara Erskine, 4 stars
Time travel from present day England to the time of King
Henry. Beautifully detailed and a real page turner.
THE LAST LOG OF THE TITANIC by David
Brown, 3 stars
The author's interpretation of the events following the
ship's clash with the iceberg. Well written, though it
doesn't really add any new insight into the disaster.
DECzzzzzzz@aol.com
COMMON LAW by Oliver Wendell Holmes,
3 1/2 stars
Excellent commentary on the origins of our laws from the
English common law.
CRY DANCE by Kirk Mitchell, 4 stars
As good as any Tony Hillerman novel I've read.
JIngenito@aol.com
ANGELA'S ASHES by Frank McCourt, 5 stars
If you think you have problems, this book about the author's
extremely poor childhood in depression-riddled Ireland
will put your complaints in the not-even-worth-mentioning
list.
Gshank1717@aol.com
PAGAN BABIES by Elmore Leonard, 5 Stars
PERISH TWICE by Robert B. Parker, 5
Stars
CHARMING BILLY by Alice McDermott, 3
Stars
HORSE HEAVEN by Jane Smiley, 4 Stars
S.Evers@macmillan.co.uk
THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER AND CLAY
by Michael Chabon, 4 stars
Worthy of all the hype you can throw at it, utterly beguiling
and beautifully written.
CALL IF YOU NEED ME by Raymond Carver,
3 stars
Would have been more but too much padding and stuff that
is already available.
NORWEGIAN WOOD by Haruki Murakami, 5
stars
Sex, death and the 60's. Heartbreaking and unbelievably
brilliant in every way
DEV122@aol.com
THE RESCUE by Nicholas Sparks, 2 stars
LOOK HOMEWARD, ANGEL by Thomas Wolfe,
6 stars
O LOST by Thomas Wolfe, 8 stars
SUNSHYNE864@aol.com
SWARM by Camille Roy, 4 stars
Short, crisp novel
THE ODYSSEY by Homer (translated by
W.H.D. Rouse), 5 stars
No...this is not a college reading requirement, I wanted
to reread this novel as an adult and what a joy I've found.
This original was touted as " the first expression of
the Western mind in literary form."
THE INVITATION by Oriah Mountain Dreamer,
5 stars
You have all probably read this already, I'm a little
behind. Beautiful, spiritual book.
BEVBOOKS@aol.com
THE FOURTH PROCEDURE by Stanley Pottinger,
5 stars
This is Pottinger's first book, and certainly not the
last one I'll read. It starts out like a medical suspense,
and maybe a serial killer book, but then it evolves into
something else entirely. Groundbreaking medical technology
and an explosive courtroom scene that will keep you guessing.
Can this really happen????
PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD by Faye Kellerman,
4 stars
This is another of her Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus story.
Starts out with the murder of a noted and well loved heart
surgeon, and has more twists and turns than you can keep
up with. Told me a little more than I wanted to know about
being Jewish.
HOMEBOY by Seth Morgan, 5 stars
I just started this one, but looks like a 5 star book.
This author pushes the English language way past it's
previous limits. His prose is so colorful, it makes me
wish I could think and talk that way. A gritty, ribald
odyssey through the Strip in San Francisco and its world
of whores, pimps, dealers and junkies. What a fun read!
What great characterization. |
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CONTEST
RULES
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
ELIGIBILITY: This contest is open only to
legal U.S. residents residing in the 50 United States.
The following persons and their dependents are not
eligible to enter or win: employees
of Bookreporter.com or The Book Report, Inc. and
their affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and
promotion agencies, and the immediate families (spouse,
parents, siblings, and children) of each of the
above.
HOW TO WIN: One winner will be randomly selected
from all entries by the staff of Bookreporter.com.
Entries must be received by 5 PM ET on Friday, December
22nd, 2000. Bookreporter.com is not responsible
for entries lost or delayed or not received for
any other reason, or for errors in the entry forms
or the rules. Bookreporter.com reserves the right
to announce the winner on Bookreporter.com and publish
any materials submitted as part of the entry. Bookreporter.com
will own the copyright to any such material published
on the website. Winner also agrees that Bookreporter.com
can promote and publicize the winner's entry in
appropriate promotion and press materials.
PRIZES: Bookreporter.com will notify the
randomly selected winner. The winners will have
30 days after notification to respond for collection
of the prize. The winner will receive a free copy
of a book chosen by the staff of Bookreporter.com.
NOTE: If you are a teen under 16, you must
have your parent's permission before providing Bookreporter.com
with your home address information for prize delivery.
HOW TO ENTER: At any time while the contest
is posted on Bookreporter.com, go to the "Word of
Mouth" page at http://www.bookreporter.com/wom/wom.asp
. This page will instruct you to submit your e-mail
address and a list of the books you are reading,
with your comments and ratings of 1 to 5 stars.
When we receive your e-mail, you are automatically
entered into the random drawing to win. |
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