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shannon_scott@hotmail.com
HORSE
HEAVEN by Jane Smiley, 4 stars
Austensibly a satire about the Thoroughbred history this thoroughly engaging novel is an
intricately woven tale about the characters (human, equine and otherwise) who are
embroiled in the thoroughbred industry. For someone who has been horse crazy since reading
my first Walter Farley book over 25 years ago, this is one of the most satisfying books I
have read in a long time.
Stu sky@aol.com
THE RED
TENT by Anita Diamant, 3 stars
I am in love with each of Jacob's wives for their various charms and gifts. These are
women for the ages.
THEY
WHISPER by Robert Olen Butler, 4.5 stars
Summer is a time when, ideally, things slow down and there is time to listen and pay
attention to the sensual side of life. I re-read this beautiful poem celebrating women and
their bodies, even their skeletons as seen through radiographs are made sensual.
THE
SHIPPING NEWS by Annie Proulx, 3 stars
The central relationship is revealing. I remain interested in Wavey.
WICKED: The
Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, 5 stars
The Wizard of Oz told from the witch's perspective. Everything about the Land of Oz, and
the journey to the Emerald City, makes sense after this book.
lyn1256@execpc.com
BLOOD LURE
by Nevada Barr, 5 stars
MYSTIC
RIVER by Dennis Lehane, 5 stars
THE LAST
BLUE PLATE SPECIAL by Abigail Padgett, 5 stars
YOU ONLY
DIE TWICE by Edna Buchanan, 3 stars
Cipsi2@aol.com
THE WORST
DAY OF MY LIFE SO FAR by M.A. Harper, 5 stars
Such a funny book for such a distressing topic. This is a wonderful novel, full of truths
- some about being a caretaker, some about being a good wife, mother, and sibling, and
some just full of truth about the foibles of being a human being. I have a couple of her
paragraphs scotched tape to my refrigerator door - a good novelist will make you do that!
PARIS TO
THE MOON by Adam Gopnik, 5 stars.
This book is a collection of essays and reflections on his experiences of living in Paris
for five years with his wife and small child. Gopnik is a very intelligent writer, and
while I must have to admit that there were things that sometimes were just too oblique for
me, it didn't dampen my thirst to read every word, to marvel at the things he saw, how he
interpreted them, and especially how he made me feel about them. A former expat myself,
the funny things I experienced living abroad made this book such a delight to read.
WALKING THE
BIBLE: A Journey through the Five Books of Moses by Bruce Feiler, 5 stars
After seeing an interview with the author on TV, I knew that I would be in for a treat if
I read his book. Feiler's goal is to trace the footsteps of the main characters in the
Bible, a trail that takes him from Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian
territories. It is both an archeological and spiritual journey, full of tremendously
interesting explanations, speculations and revelations. The author's own Jewish faith is
made more alive by this venture, and the reader is left with a greater understanding of
the history of the Jewish people.
marysarko@yahoo.com
ISLAND
by Alstair MacLeod, 4 stars
WHITE TEETH
by Zadie Smith, 3 stars
THE MAKING
OF THE ATOMIC BOMB by Richard Rhodes, 5 stars
DON QUIJOTE
by Miguel De Cervantes, 5 stars
NOHOW ON
by Samuel Beckett, 5 stars
Meenmomx3@aol.com
BACK WHEN
WE WERE GROWNUPS by Anne Tyler
THE
RECTOR'S WIFE by Joanna Trollope
Two books that I rate an absolute 10. I am currently reading LAKE NEWS by Barbara
Delinsky.
books4mel@yahoo.com
DEVIL'S
TRUMPET by Mary Freeman, 4 stars
First in Freeman's Gardening Mysteries series. Twenty-something Rachel has recently opened
her landscaping business in western Oregon and is working a big job at a local hotel when
the hotel owner is found dead. Rachel becomes part of the investigation and discovers the
murderer. A light, fun read.
DEADLY
NIGHTSHADE by Mary Freeman, 4 stars
Second in Freeman's Gardening Mystery series. Rachel has received a contract to landscape
the city and becomes involved in another murder case, where her testy uncle may be the
prime suspect. Another quicky read.
INTO THE
WILDERNESS by Sara Donati, 5 stars
Fans of Diana Gabaldon's OUTLANDER series will adore this epic sized novel of late 18th
Century New York. Elizabeth Bennett has traveled over from England to live with her father
and become the area schoolteacher. Perfectly happy to act as the town spinster, she finds
love and attraction in Nathaniel, an adopted grandson of the Mohawk Tribe. In an effort to
escape the town's initial negative reactions to their marriage, they run off into the
wilderness and adventure ensues. Excellent read.
PICTURE
PERFECT by Jodi Picoult, 4 stars
Another winner by Jodi Picoult. A story of spousal abuse and the trail of despair it
leaves behind.
BIG CHERRY
HOLLER by Adriana Trigiani, 4 stars
Sequel to BIG STONE GAP. Ave Maria has now been married to Jack Mac for eight years, and
they have a beautiful daughter. Life up on the mountain has gotten difficult, since their
son passed away a few years prior. Ave and Jack are putting the pieces to their marriage
back together in this story, and it's a wonderful, emotional read that fans of the first
novel will definitely enjoy.
dbelk105@adelphia.net
THE TRIUMPH
OF KATIE BYRNE by Barbara Taylor Bradford, 4 stars
A different kind of book for this author, but a good read.
IN THE
COMPANY OF ANGELS by N.M. Kelby, 2 stars
Lyrically written, but hard to follow. Someone dies, in the next chapter they're alive.
This keeps happening. Also the Holocaust seems to only serve as a prop for the author. The
setting could have been anytime in history. Too much fantasy for me.
Jimegan2@aol.com
GIRL
by Blake Nelson, 5 stars
An outstanding 5-star read, especially if you have ever been called a member of the
"x-generation"!
NEPR@aol.com
THE
BRETHREN by John Grisham, 3 stars
Entertaining, but not as good as some of Grisham's books.
A PAINTED
HOUSE by John Grisham, 4 stars
I grew up on a cotton farm in the Delta, and Grisham definitely knows the territory.
OUT OF THE
NIGHT THAT COVERS ME by Pat Cunningham Devoto, 5 stars
Some reviewers compare the author to Harper Lee and Mark Twain. I would put this book in
the class with MOTHER OF PEARL by Devoto's contemporary, Melinda Haynes. Both writers know
their characters --- blacks and whites in a southern 1950s setting.
harrises@bayou.com
COLORS OF
THE MOUNTAIN by Da Chen, 4 stars
Great book about Da Chen's life during the cutural revolution in China during the 60's and
70's.
FAY
by Larry Brown, 5 stars
I love Southern lit and did not want this one to end.
THESE
GRANITE ISLANDS by Sarah Stonich, 2 stars
Will be a good beach read when it comes out in paper.
THE FIG
EATER by Jody Shields, 1 star
A hard read.
GATHERING
BLUE by Lois Lowrey, 4 stars
Great young adult book. Will make young minds think.
Me4765@aol.com
A TREE
GROWS IN BROOKLYN by Betty Smith, 4.5 stars
A wonderful coming-of-age story about a young girl growing up in poverty in Brooklyn, New
York in the early 1900s.
BEVBOOKS@aol.com
ACTS OF
MALICE by Perri O'Shaughnessy, 4 stars
Pam and Mary O'Shaughnessy just get better and better. Nina Reilly is a memorable
character, single mother of a teen-ager, and crack defense attorney. This time she takes
on the defense of one of the owners of a huge ski resort that is accused of murdering his
own brother. With the great characters and multiple story lines that keep you guessing
until the last page, it's a "can't put down" nail-chewer.
Lucky4750@aol.com
OMERTA
by Mario Puzo, 5 stars
Great !!!
DOWNTOWN
by Anne Rivers Siddons, 4 stars
BACK WHEN
WE WERE GROWNUPS by Anne Tyler, 5 stars
An enjoyable read.
JolieLoise@aol.com
BASTARD OUT
OF CAROLINA by Dorothy Allison, 5 stars
I was impressed by the rich language and the unique and well-developed characters. BASTARD
OUT OF CAROLINA is a tragic story of a young girl who suffers abuse from her step-father
(and, in a sense, from her mother as well). She is a member of a large and interdependent
family of uncles, aunts, and cousins. Her uncles who are known for their brawls with other
men in the community could not be more tender when it comes to her (the main character,
the "bastard"). Her aunts are full of wisdom -- true wisdom . . . words I want
to remember in my own life. The film version of this book (directed by Angelica Huston) is
excellent, as well. This book has joined the ranks of my all-time favorites -- a list that
includes: 1984 by George Orwell, LOLITA by Vladimir Nabokov, FAHRENHEIT 451 by Ray
Bradbury, A FINE AND PRIVATE PLACE by Peter S. Beagle, THE READER by Bernhard Schlink, THE
STAND by Stephen King, THE CITY OF JOY by Dominique LaPierre, THE WATER IS WIDE by
Elizabeth Gibson, WHITE OLEANDER by Janet Fitch, NOTHING TO DECLARE by Mary Morris, and
THE SWEET HEREAFTER by Russell Banks (to name a few).
THE BELL
JAR by Sylvia Plath, 5 stars
I guess that I have chosen some very good books to read, lately. I have been unemployed
for awhile and have been reading some of the books on my shelves that I have accumulated
and never read, since I can't afford to buy any new books right now. As I was reading this
book, I was surprised by how fine a writer Sylvia was. I am so amazed that people with
such talent could choose to kill themselves (for those who don't know -- Sylvia Plath
committed suicide) -- and, yet, I understand that many who suffer from depression DO
happen to be creative types with much talent. Ironically, this book is about a young woman
who falls into depression, confusion, and a desire to kill herself. The latter is
something that she spends much time pondering, planning, and even gathering opinions
regarding technique from companions who have no idea why she's asking and cheerfully
provide options. I was told by friends over the years that this is a very depressing book
and that many are deeply affected by it. I held off reading it all of this time (I think
I've owned it for well over 10 years) because of the warnings. I guess, with time (and
age) the contents of this story are somewhat less affecting as they would have been had I
read them in my twenties. Of course, since Sylvia's book, there have been far worse (and
far more graphic) books surrounding the issue of suicide and other causes of death. I
think that our current culture which has produced movies like "Girl,
Interrupted" (which is based on a novel by the same name) is more ready to read a
book like THE BELL JAR. Actually, Girl, Interrupted would have been a perfect title for
this book, as well. One of the thoughts that came to me often while reading this book was
a sadness that Sylvia didn't live to write more novels. I wish there was more than one. I
wouldn't recommend either of these books for young readers -- these are for adults.
petrole@netway.com
LOVE ALWAYS
by Ann Beattie, 3 stars
Normally, I love Beattie; her short fiction is awesome. She is the queen of creating
quirky characters who are also likable and sympathetic. But I have to say with this novel
I was slightly disappointed. It centers around a group of struggling yuppie/hippies in the
mid eighties, but it seemed a little bit too quirky for my taste, maybe because it was a
longer piece of prose. But it was entertaining nonetheless!
INVISIBLE
WRITER: A Biography of Joyce Carol Oates by Greg Johnson, 5 stars
A great biography. Details this remarkable writer's personal life and academic body of
work, in addition to her fiction. Highly recommended, especially for aspiring writers.
graceuc@csolve.net
LIGHT A
PENNY CANDLE by Maeve Binchy
I really think there should be sequel to this book - every time I read it I always say the
same thing.I have read it at least 3 times, plus all her other books.
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