|
The
Week of March 2nd
This
week's winner was
ZakasNana@aol.com, who
received Right
as Rain by George Pelecanos.
|
|
 |
|
|
Audup@aol.com
BROKEN MACHINES
by Michael I. Leahey, 5 stars
I wanted to thank you for putting me onto this new author.
His book was excellent reading, as they say " a real page-turner".
CHUBBYGIRLS2000@aol.com
THE SPANISH HUSBAND
by Michelle Reid, 5 stars
This book is about a girl that her father is a gambling
addict and is forded o marry her ex boyfriend who decieved
her 7 years ago. If she marries this guy her father's
debts and his house will be all paid up. It really is
a good book to read.
FaithAnn D@aol.com
THE ROAD TAKEN
by Rona Jaffe, 5 stars+
A saga that spans the 20th century.
OUTLANDER
by Diana Gabaldon, 4 stars+
A fun time travel story with excellent historical detail.
CAROLINA MOON
by Nora Roberts, 5 stars+
Roberts at her best.
IN A DRY SEASON
by Peter Robinson, 5 stars+
Excellent english crime novel written in two time frames,
WW2 and the present.
Phox48@aol.com
ON WRITING
by Stephen King, 5 stars
This is not only a book that gives you the mechanics of
writing, but also chronicles his formative years as a
writer. Eighteen pages in a section called On Living,
in the back of the book is devoted to details of the horrific
accident that nearly claimed King's life. I found the
book to be a great text, as well as riveting. It's full
of King's inimitable style and manner, and extremely difficult
to put own.
GDurisin@aol.com
ACTS OF GOD
by Mary Morris, 3 stars
Not the author I expected (thought it was Mary McGarry
Morris), but I enjoyed the story all the same. A middle-aged
divorcee comes to terms with her hometown; with old betrayals
by her father, her high school boyfriend, and closest
girl friend; and ultimately with herself, after her children
persuade her to return home for her thirtieth high school
reunion.
FAR FROM THE TREE
by Virginia DeBerry, 5 stars
Will Frazier's death and his daughters' inheriting their
mother's old home in the South (which she had signed over
to Will) leads to a return home for both daughters and
mother, exposure of painful secrets from the past, and
an opportunity for each of the family members to get to
know the others in a new way.
A PAINTED HOUSE
by John Grisham, 4 stars
Very different from Grisham's previous books, evokes a
peaceful, almost slow-motion feeling as his seven-year
old narrator tells the story of his last harvest season
in Arkansas before leaving his grandparents' farm with
his parents to seek a more prosperous and promising life
in the North.
A DAY LATE AND A DOLLAR SHORT
by Terry McMillan, 5 stars
Viola and Cecil Price and their four grown children each
narrate chapters as they come to terms with their own
hopes and dreams, successes and failures. Characters
so real they walk right off the pages! Very well done.
WHERE THE HEART IS
by Billie Letts, 4.5 stars
Just read this one for the second time, for our mother-daughter
book club, and enjoyed it even more this time around.
OFF THE KECK ROAD
by Mona Simpson, 2 stars
Simpson has the skeleton of a good story here, but it's
underdeveloped, and she's inserted too many characters
who are never really tied in to the main plot line. Purports
to explore the friendship of two women from very different
circumstances in life, but never gets beneath the surface.
katyrw@hotmail.com
THIS IS THE
PLACE
by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, 5 stars
This is a "big book". Not in size but in scope. It looks
at the state of Utah, its customs, its beliefs, its heritage,
and filters them through the eyes of young Skyler Eccles.
Sky is a "mixed breed", the daughter of a Mormon and a
non-Mormon. A product of the 50s, Sky is contemplating
repeating the behavior of her grandmothers, marrying a
Mormon. She chronicles the tragedies and triumphs of her
Grandmother Harriet, and her Great-grandmother Crystal
as she searches for answers to her own choices. Harriet
had converted and embraced "The Church" with all the zeal
of the new convert. Crystal, a product of her time, had
embraced a polygamous relationship. The saga of Sky's
family history coalesce with the current events enfolding
within her own life and that of her family and friends.
Prejudices of the past still exist and she is forced to
make her own hard decision. This is an epic tale of four
generations of strong women and the choices they made.
More, it is an intricate tapestry of life in Utah as it
was and as it is. This is a story of choices. If you chose
to read it, be warned you will not want to put it down.
I recommend it highly. The characters are real and the
attention to detail is superb. It is an entertaining and
informative book.
DThomas201@aol.com
CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD
by Neale Donald Walsch, no rating.
Part One. Very enlightening as well as being self-revealing
Cairo1953@aol.com
A FAREWELL TO ARMS
by Ernest Hemingway, 5 stars
A beautiful classic written by Hemingway - So often we
eagerly search the book shelves for the new releases,
when there are so many brilliant books that remain in
the "ghostly archives" in our public libraries & bookstores.
I am currently reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte -
This classic will take you on a magnificent journey back
in time. Bronte's talent enables the reader to truly
understand in depth the personalities of each character
within her story. I simply adore the character of Jane
Eyre!
Kitsune@aol.com
LEAVING A TRACE
by Alexandra Johnson, 4 stars
A new way of journaling for personal growth as well as
to leave something behind for future generations. The
author suggests writing a "snapshot" as ways of getting
started on your journal writing. Other innovative exercises
are also given to the journaler.
nana@toast.net
YESTERDAY
by Fern Michaels, 5 Stars
Excellent.
Shadrrock@aol.com
A CHILD CALLED IT
by Dave Pelzer, no rating
THE LOST BOY
by Dave Pelzer, no rating
A MAN NAMED DAVE
by Dave Pelzer, no rating
Excellent books. Everyone should read. Many of us have
had times of mental and physical abuse. He lets us know
that we are not alone, and that we can survive.
tsutton1@shawneelink.com
JUST HERE TRYING TO SAVE A FEW LIVES: Tales of Life
and Death From the ER
by Pamela Grim, M.D., 5 stars
This book is a real insight into the pain and stress that
real ER doctors go through. Also some of the impossible
sad things that happen to people who come into the ER.
This Doctor is also active in Doctors without Borders
and gives a chilling account of her experience in Bosnia.
PAWING THROUGH THE PAST
by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown, 5 stars
I love these books I have read all of them and can't wait
till a new one comes out in paperback. This book is just
entertaining a good who done it with characters I have
grown to love.
SISTER WENDY'S AMERICAN COLLECTION
by Sister Wendy Beckett, 5 stars
This book takes me away and helps me understand about
paintings, sculptures, and art that I would never appreciate
without her history and opinions.
CShank1246@aol.com
THE ALEXANDRIA QUARTET
by Lawrence Durrell, no rating
It is to be taken as one work, four rather short books,
which make a whole piece.
THE AVIGNON
QUINTET
by Lawrence Durrell, no rating
Also to be taken as one work, five short books, one piece.
CORELLI'S MANDOLIN
by Louis de Bernieres, no rating
FOUCAULT'S PENDULUM
by Umberto Eco, no rating
though a bit ! pedandtic, it is full of interesting ideas
to explore on one's own.
THE ENGLISH PATIENT
by Michael Ondaatje, no rating
I loved this book so much I wanted to lick it.
ValSewell@aol.com
HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG
by Andre Dubus III, 0 stars
I would have abandoned this book about one-third of the
way through, but I felt compelled to slosh through it
to the end since it was our reading group's selection.
It is a dismal tale about centerless people. I was unable
to sympathize with any of the characters or their behaviors.
I would NOT recommend this book. The more I read, the
dumber and more unrealistic the characters and their actions
became. No stars for this one.
Melomelodyldy@aol.com
A DAY LATE AND A DOLLAR SHORT
by Terry McMillan, no rating.
Best Book she ever wrote, if your a mom or dad, or in
a family where the sisters and brother and every body
has issues, read this book, It will make you cry but most
of all you will learn to appreciate the people in your
life who you think you can do without. And if you have
one of those mammas that always in your business you'll
learn to love her, so much more.
msspin@qwest.net
JIMMY'S GIRL
by Stephanie Gertler, 5 stars
Wonderfully told story from two perspectives and two time
periods...I loved the characters and anyone I've recommended
this book to has loved it.
JjeaneJ@aol.com
MYSTIC RIVER
by Dennis Lehane, 5 stars
I have read all of Lehane's books and although this one
doesn't have the usual chatacters, it is an excellent
read. Absorbing plot and very interesting characters,
it made the Flats come alive. I'm so glad he left room
for a sequel along with the great ending!
KHoll43@aol.com
OLD SOLDIERS NEVER DIE: The Life of Douglas MacArthur
by Geoffrey
Perret, 5 stars
A truly balanced, intense and fast moving picture of the
life of one of America's most interesting and controversial
figures of the 20th century. When you are finished with
it, you can't believe you have read 650 pages.
NEPR@aol.com
BLACK, WHITE AND JEWISH
by Rebecca Walker, 5 stars
The daughter of author Alice Walker and Jewish civil rights
lawyer, Mel Leventhal, Rebecca writes of her struggle
to fit in. It is beautifully written and honest, but
it did occur to me that her experimentation with drugs,
sex and unhealthy relationship may have been due as much
to the absence of either parent in her life as to the
lack of racial identity.
HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG
by Andre Dubus III, 5 stars
A disturbing book about people who make a series of wrong
choices that spin their lives out of control. Reading
it is like watching a disaster happen and feeling helpless
to stop it.
JUPITER'S BONES
by Faye Kellerman, 4 stars
A Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus mystery with a good story
line about a cult and a subplot involving the couple's
children. Peter is a former Baptist who converted to
Orthodox Judaism when he married Rina, and the fascinating
bits of information about the Jewish faith are a bonus.
gailschwartz@yahoo.com
THE WINNER
by David Baldacci, 5 stars+
A suspenseful hair-raiser that you would not want to put
down even after the final page is read! THis is a story
about a lottery winner , its deceit and passion for the
big bucks. A must read!
Jigsymom@aol.com
WISH YOU WELL
by David Baldacci, 5 stars
This has to be one of the best books I have read in a
long time. The story is wonderful. And David Balcacci
makes you feel like you are right there with his great
ability to write. After an accident that kills her father
a young girl is forced to move to the mountains of Virginia
along with her younger brother and comatose mother. Her
great grandmother is a wise and wonderful woman that teaches
them many things including how to love and take care of
the land. This book is one I will keep and recommend to
everyone I know. For me it was equal to "To Kill a Mockingbird.
Another favorite of mine.
tcdrumm@neo.rr.com
THE RED TENT
by Anita Diamant, 4 stars
An inventive and engaging historical novel about the four
wives Jacob (Old Testament). The novel is very readable,
though perhaps not a literary classic.
AFTER LONG SILENCE
by Helen Fremont, 5 stars
This is a work of non-fiction by Helen Fremont who was
raised as a Catholic but discovers that her parents are
Holocaust survivors who tried to reinvent their past to
protect their daughters. The two stories, one of the gradual
drawing out of her parents' past and the healing that
accompanies this, and the other an engaing account of
her parents' lives in Europe, are gracefully melded together
for wonderful reading.
Qoesls@aol.com
HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
by J. K.
Rowling, 5 stars
Such fun.
MONEY, LOVE
by Brad Barkley, 4 stars
Funny, touching characters.
HSuss89012@aol.com
FAST FOOD NATION
by Eric Schlosser, 5 Stars
This is a must read book with information that will shock,
startle and surprise you. As someone who enjoys various
types of fast food, I learned a great deal about this
industry. Having been through a cattle slaughterhouse;
his portrayal of it is so accurate that I was able to
relive my visit. This book should reside beside Upton
Sinclair's "The Jungle" on a reader's bookshelf.
WISH YOU WELL
by David Baldacci, 5 stars
As with John Grisham's latest offering, this book is a
departure from his normal genre. He, as did Grisham,
succeeds admirably in entering new waters. If the reader
is patient, the story will unfold gradually and then just
take off. At the end, I had tears in my eyes.
Lalbode@aol.com
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE
by J.K. Rowling,
5 stars
Graham2124@aol.com
THE BATTLE FOR GOD
by Karen Armstrong, 5 stars
Ms. Armstrong explores the rise of fundamentism in Christianity,
Judism and Islam in our current period. This book is
an excellent companion to her "A History of God". Fast
paced, informative and lively, a very good read worthy
of five stars!
ZakasNana@aol.com
C IS FOR CORPSE
by Sue Grafton, 5 stars
D IS FOR DEADBEAT
by Sue Grafton, 5 stars
These are the third and fourth books in the series featuring
PI Kinsey Millhone. I enjoyed these as much as the first
two in this series and recommend these to anyone who likes
fast paced thrillers with lots of twists.
Gandma RI@aol.com
A REPORTER'S LIFE
by Walter Cronkite, 5 stars
A quite insightful book of one of my favorite journalists.
Not only does he tell of his life and experiences he tells
of history in the making with his firm facts and gentle
humor.
AnnajMaher@aol.com
THE RESCUE
by Nicholas Sparks, 4 stars
Not quite as tear-jerking as was THE NOTEBOOK but it's
a great read that can easily be completed in a weekend
or less. A MUST for all "fru-fru" readers.
Judaline@aol.com
EVENSONG
by Gail Godwin, 3 stars
Unusual, and winning. A good story about interestingly
average people.
LOST QUEEN
OF EGYPT
by Lucille Morrison, 5 stars
A fun book. very colorful and paints a complete picture
of life in Akenaten's Egypt.
A HEARTBREAKING WORK OF STAGGERING GENIUS
by Dave Eggers,
no rating
Colorful characters and sharp observations but basically
another attentive whiner who wrote a book in lieu of therapy.
Corkytp@aol.com
DEEP SOUTH
by Nevada Barr, 4.5 stars
Anna Pigeon is a National Park ranger assigned to the
Natchez Trace this time. (Barr has written other Pigeon
books using various National Parks as the settings.) This
book gives a fairly accurate picture of Southern thoughts
and ideas, enough to keep Anna scared as she solves a
murder. I took away .5 because Anna has a tendency to
feel sorry for herself occasionally and it is tiring.
Skittles11223344@aol.com
TANGLED DESTINIES
by Sara Wood, 5
stars
This awsome story is about a woman named Tanya Evans.
Tanya arrives in Hungary for her younger brother's wedding.
Her older brother, Istvan returns after four years and
he hurt her. Tanya finds out that Istvan has seduced her
best friend. He also says that he isn't her brother and
well... you can find out the rest of the story when you
read it! It's all thumbs up!
Toxicpoison1236@aol.com
HANNIBAL
by Thomas Harris
IN THE FORESTS
OF THE NIGHT
Author not given
ANGEL CHRONICLES VOLUME 3
by Nancy Holder
(1=Best 10=Worst) Hannibal=1++++, In The Forests Of The
Night-2+, Angel Chronicles Vol.3=1+++
Hon2724@aol.com
THE MESSENGER
by Robin Valaitis Heflin, 4 3/4 stars
What a first novel! Rush out and get this 236 page book
and you will be unable to stop til you finish. I tried.
It is an unusual story line about very ordinary people
constructed in a most facinating way. It reminds me of
my favorite John Grisham books in the manner of construction
of chapters. I loved the book and it is a part of my permanent
library. I found it through "Word of Mouth" which is my
favorite place to look for a really good read. This is
one.
KristieLeigh777@aol.com
THIS IS THE
PLACE
by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, 5 stars
The Mysterious Land of the Closed Society of the Mormons
As told by an insider. Carolyn Howard-Johnson gives the
reader a rare inside glimpse of the mysterious Mormon
society as few outsiders ever have the chance to view
it. The setting for this novel is the Utah of the early
fifties. Carolyn tells it like it 'was' in her novel,
THIS IS THE PLACE. "Brock and Marion wore the garments
that a wedding in the L.D.S. Temple entitled them to wear
under their clothes, whether work clothes or best, in
summer and winter, awake or asleep. Garments were one
piece with both sleeves and legs that insisted on a modest
cut of outer clothing to cover them. They had little embroidered
openings to mark the navel and nipples and were sometimes
edged with a tiny faux crochet trim. They would be a symbolic
and perpetual reminder that binds two together and those
two to their spiritual heritage. He was the figurative
God of the household who would someday hold that place
in the highest degree of heaven. She was the strength
of the family to be by his side in this life and the next.
The clay that brought their union together and made
it right for them was passion so their garments were sometimes
folded and arranged in a soft, white pile while they stroked
each other into ecstasy. This was difficult for them for
they felt it was a violation of their commitment to each
other and to their vows, the times they chose to let their
garments stay on.Their desire was too intense to take
the time to remove the unwieldy underwear worn next to
the skin like long johns so they worked around the constriction
of a full body suit as best they could." Carolyn Howard-Johnson
has written that great American novel that she always
dreamed of writing. Another great American novel, GONE
WITH THE WIND, depicted the people and the times of the
mysterious land of the antebellum South. Carolyn Howard-Johnson's
great American novel, THIS IS THE PLACE, depicts the people
and the times of the mysterious land of Utah in the fifties.
ELTONBALDRY@aol.com
JOHNNY NINE: CAPANO JUROR
by Johnathan M. Carter, 3 stars
It is never boring, but it was obviously not written by
a professional writer.
QTpi4567@aol.com
The MAKING OUT Series
by Katherine Applegate, 5 stars
These books are great for any teen girl and they are like
a soap opera. There is always something happening. The
first book in the series is called ZOEY FOOLS AROUND.
1984
by George Orwell, 2 stars
Even though it's a classic I thought it to be quite boring
and it seemed to never end; it just dragged on and on.
HEAVEN
by V.C. Andrews, 4 stars
It has drama, romance, tragedy and many other characteristics
that make it a great read.
Rockababy409@aol.com
LEFT BEHIND
by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
A good Christian novel with truth.
|
|
|
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 2 PM ET on Friday, March
9, 2001. 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. |
|
|
|
|
