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pfrison@pellaks.com
One Door Away From Heaven, Dean Koontz
Diary of Ellen Rimmbauer, Stephen King
polarbear90@mediaone.net
In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson. 4 stars.
Bill takes on Australia. Like all Bill Bryson's books (hybrid of travelogue and humor) this was by turns very informative and laugh out loud funny. Very enjoyable.
beparoo@prodigy.net
I just started The Death Of Vishnu, by Manil Suri. It's a little soon to tell, as I have only read 40 pages, but I think I'm going to really like it. It is set in an apartment building in Bombay. From what I have read, I'd anticipate 4 stars.
I'm also reading Traveling Light, by Max Lucado. It breaks down the 23rd Psalm, verse by verse, and the author writes of how we can let go of alot of the baggage we carry around. I'd give it 4 stars.
Finally, I am listening to Back When We Were Grownups, by Anne Tyler. It is read by Blair Brown. I always enjoy this author and give it 4 stars. She creates such quirky, fun characters and has never disappointed me.
Avery85282@aol.com
Goldsmith. BAD BOY. 2 stars
A Cosmo Girl romance. I enjoyed seeing "The First
Wives Club," but reading this one just gave me a bad taste.
Cookson. THE SILENT LADY. 3 stars
A combination of Dickens and Angela Thirkell.
Fairly dull but a perfect antidote to "Bad Boy."
Pellegrino. RETURN TO SODOM AND GOMORRAH.4 stars
Loved this. Title a bit misleading, because subject matter is more an archaeological and geological history of the entire Mediterranean region 4000 years ago. Also touches on the concordance of Biblical history and contemporaneous myths of other Mid-eastern peoples.
Buchanan. MAIDEN. 3 stars
Picked up the paperback because The New Yorker said it was an hilarious first novel. I found it sad, and the characters were unattractive. Much like the human condition, I suppose.
RSteele124@aol.com
The Corrections
Add my name to the list of those sucked in by the hype. I am about 100 pages from the end and VERY annoyed. What a colossal waste of time. The characters are unlovable and unsympathetic. And to think he rejected the Oprah show.
1 star is too generous.
Ery222@aol.com
Where you always an Italian? by Maria Laurino. A "must read" for Italian-Americans. 4 Stars
jlharver@yahoo.com
This is what I've been reading in the past 2 months: 1)"In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner" by Elizabeth George and 2) "Deception on His Mind" also by Eliz. George. Both mysteries set in Britain they feature the same detectives. Plots are interesting. This is the third mystery I have read by Ms. George. I also read 3) "Daughter of Fortune" by Isabel Allende and 4) "Portrait in Sepia" also by Isabel Allende. The first novel tells the story of a young woman's journey from Chile to San Francisco during the Gold Rush days and the second follows the life of her granddaughter, who goes from living in San Francisco to traveling back to Chile with her other grandmother. Both novels keep the reader mesmerized throughout. 5) "Paula" by Isabel Allende - this is a memoir of the author's daughter who fell into a sudden coma at age 25. Ms. Allende was by her bedside at a hospital in Chile and later took her daughter to San Francisco, where she died over a year later. Very sad but I couldn't put the book down.
Georgepaw@aol.com
The Pact by Jodi Picoult----3 stars
Having heard raves about this book, I was somewhat disappointed. Though it is a very involving narrative, and it's characters well developed, I often had trouble accepting the characters' motivations. The teen suicide around which the entire novel develops was particularly far-fetched in it's motivation.
AUGER77777@aol.com
I just finished a superb suspense novel titled THE VISIONARY by Don Passman. It deals with a serial killer who leaves virtually no clues in some grisly murders. The city is terrified, the mayor is screaming for action, and the head of the investigation is at his wit's end trying to solve the case (with the help of a forensic psychiatrist and a psychic). The ending makes this book an especially good candidate for a movie.
I give it 5 stars.
Mystrytx@aol.com
Fear Less by Gavin De Becker - Five Stars
Jeaneebnee@aol.com
Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. This is definitely not a typical John Grisham book. Not a disappointment but just different! I give it 3 1/2 stars.
Cairo1953@aol.com
A Bend In The Road - by Nicholas Sparks 3 Stars
This story was far too predictable. Although Sparks is a terrific writer and I enjoy reading his books, he tends to stick to the same type of characters & storyline, it's time for new material.
ChuckMilland@aol.com
The Last Precinct by Patricia Cornwell. 2 stars.
While Cornwell writes about forensic medicine with the command of a Tom Clancy writing about military technical capabilities, this continuation of the Dr. Kay Scarpetta series just stretches my willing suspension of disbelief to the tearing point. It's just too, I don't know, convenient that Kay's lesbian FBI-agent/ATF-agent niece is suddenly revealed as a millionaire, especially coupled with the revelation that Captain Pete Marino's long-lost and hated son is an evil, Mafia-connected shyster lawyer. I admire Patricia Cornwell, and recommend her Scarpetta series, but I wish she had been more...subtle in setting up future scenarios.
The Fabric of Reality, The Science of Parallel Universes--and Its Implications by David Deutsch. 2 stars.
This nonfiction work takes on subjects like quantum mechanics, Newtonian physics, and the Theory of Everything. Deutsch postulates universes parallel to our own by demonstrating strange properties of light (photons) when passed through certain equipment. Very interesting, but a tough read.
Final Days by Barbara Olsen. 4 stars.
What a shame this brilliant woman was killed by the terrorists on September 11th! She chronicles the outrageous conduct and extremely questionable actions of Bill & Hillary Clinton in the last days of "their" presidency, and reveals how fortunate we all are to finally have this scum out of the White House.
Bjglu@aol.com
Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser 4 stars Just finished this book and I recommend it for anyone who eats food! My only caveat is that it's philosophy is liberal = good, conservative = bad. Not the most unbiased book I've ever read, but full of valuable information and tremendously readable.
Sewnew2805@aol.com
Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. If you want to laugh while you read, this is a must have. The humor was great! Thank you John Grisham! This was a five star book to me.
Halobear1@aol.com
Cavedweller by Dorothy Allison 4 stars.
Although I have much more of the story to go, I am finding it a captivating story about a young woman who tries to make up for her earlier mistakes by going back to her hometown. Expecting a warm welcome from her family, she is devastated when her grandfather tells her he wants nothing to do with her. She has to rely on an old friend and her determination to make things work. Dorothy Allison's book Cavedweller which was a NYT Bestseller is certainly worth a look-see.
BJWeisz@aol.com
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger 5stars
What beautiful language ! A believable story about what family means.
GDurisin@aol.com
Sijie, Dai. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress 3 stars
2. Meltzer, Brad. The Millionaires 4 stars
3. Ball, Edward. The Sweet Hell Inside 5 stars
Rumpole8@aol.com
Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child's "Thunderhead" is a NY Times best selling, rousing (535 page pocketbook) archeological MYSTERY-THRILLER taking place north of Glenn Canyon Lake in southern Utah.
The story centers on the infamous "city of gold" Coronado's conquistadors heard about from Indian tribes when they arrived from Mexico in the 1600's. A woman leads a university sponsored expedition into the desolute, nearly impenetrable narrow slot canyons using clues from her long lost father who found the city, but never returned. They are shadowed by the mysterious "skinwalkers", a super strong, mythical cult protecting the lost pueblo city of Quivira.
When they actually find the ruins and the wonderfully preserved Mexican, not Indian, artifacts that will rewrite archeological history, it turns out to be a city of death and greed for the participants. Compounding their plight, the canyon they are in is flushed by sudden torrential flash floods from a series of upland Thunderhead storms. Only 2 of 8 survive the floods, a deadly, dusty fungal poison near two treasure-laden giant kivas, each other and the murderous "skinwalkers". It is excellently written and riveting reading, by two authors who wrote "Riptide" and "Ice Limit", both of which dealt with lost treasures.4 and one half out of 5 stars.
NCT49@aol.com
SKIPPING CHRISTMAS by John Grisham
This is definitely not your typical Grisham novel but I found it to be a very enjoyable read. Just right for post holidays when you are wondering what just happened to your life (and your pocketbook), and who were all those Christmas cards from anyway. It may just help us all curb the materialism of the holidays before we face them again in eleven months.
BREATHING LESSONS by Anne Tyler
Enjoyed this strange but entertaining tale of a long suffering wife and her even longer suffering husband and their efforts to be in the lives of their grand-daughter against the wishes of her mother and the absence of their son.
TheLiteraryDog@aol.com
Clabbered Dirt, Sweet Grass Gary Paulsen 5 stars
CoMountainHiker@aol.com
The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer - My Life at Rose Red by Joyce Reardon, Ph.D., 5 Stars
I was looking for something different and this was it. I could not put this one down. The view into Ellen's life during the 1900s made you feel as though you were there. She has it all, but for what price.
smazzei@sprintmail.com
ALMA MATER by Rita Mae Brown
3 stars...This was the first book I read by Rita Mae Brown and probably the last. I thought the story was a little-far fetched and predictable.
LETTERS FOR EMILY by Camron Wright
4 stars...Didn't need to be as lengthy as it was. Good story line, though.
Lgluhani@aol.com
Morte D'Urban by J. F. Powers Sometimes it's good to go back to the old classics. Award-winning when it was published and just as entertaining today. Witty novel about a priest and his travails.
Lucky4750@aol.com
Brazen Virtue by Nora Roberts--4 stars
The usual love story from Roberts. This one from 1988. About a superstar mystery writer who takes time off from a tour to visit her sister. She finds out her sister is moonlighting as a phone sex operator when she isn't teaching at the Catholic school in town. Grace McCabe, the writer gets involved with the next door neighbor who happens to be a detective. When Grace comes home one night and finds her sister dead ,her own life suddenly becommes like the mysteries she writes about. It was an okay book.
Sentimental Journey by Jill Barnett--3 stars
Set during WW11, it's a novel of the love and courageand honor at this time period in life. I haven't finished it yet but it's a slow read so far for me.
DGORM8802@aol.com
Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand
Reads like a novel. Can't stop reading
Rolling Nowhere by Ted Conver
Great!!
The Millionaires by Brad Meltzer
Try it, you'll love it!
Basket Case by Carl Hiaasen
You'll laugh out loud!
AlisonAD@aol.com
The First Counsel by Brad Meltzer 2 stars
I have read and been rather unimpressed by Meltzer's previous books, but had read good things about this one so thought I'd give it a try. It was just as unimpressive. It has all the right ingredients to make a good read but somehow just doesn't do it well. I'm done with Meltzer now...no more!
A Widow for One Year by John Irving 3.5 stars
This book is great for about the first 300 pages (total pages 592) then it gets to the point where you just want it to end. All in all, I enjoyed it. But his editor should have been more ruthless with the red pen.
Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher 5 stars
I don't know why, but I was enthralled by this book. I loved the sweet story about Elfrida Phipps, a 62 year old woman who lives a simple life in England until she finds herself moving to an old manor house in Scotland with a man who has recently lost his wife. The story is so touching, and the characters so rich, that I felt like crying when it was over. I wanted to keep reading about those people.
Isabel's Bed by Elinor Lipman 4 stars
Quirky book, but fun to read. An unpublished writer answers an ad for a roommate to share a home in Cape Cod. Also part of the deal is that she will ghostwrite a story about the homeowner's scandalous past. It's funny and entertaining.
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry 5 stars
One of Oprah's selections, which I chose with caution as some (most) of her books are depressing or traumatic. This book was so interesting that I really got hooked. The book takes you to India and involves you in the lives of four people while they suffer the caste violence and struggles of mid-1970s India.
shifel02@aol.com
Fearless Jones - Walter Mosely A very good book, higly recommend it.
MarionK105@aol.com
Right now I'm reading The Millionaires by Brad Metzler. I'd give it four stars.
It's a very interesting story with two likable brothers who get in far deeper than they thought they would. I like stories when the characters seem very real....the boy next store type.
I just finished Spilling Clarence by Anne Ursu. I'd give it five stars.
This is a very compelling story with an unusual premise. I learned a life lesson from it the answer of which had alluded me until I read the book. It is very thought provoking with great characters. I'm looking forward to more books from this author.
LKMitchell@aol.com
The Lions of Lucerne by Brad Thor is, "hands down", one of the best books of the international thriller genre....it grabs from the first page...and doesn't let go till the last line. For anyone who has ever been to Switzerland....it's a MUST! Have passed the book on to others and one (a male - no less) of them didn't even watch the Super Bowl because they were so engrossed in the novel.
BREEZYWRITER@aol.com
"Black Notice" by Patricia Cornwell 4 stars
Another fascinating, easy read.
k_aylward30@yahoo.com
Fall on Your Knees, by Ann-Marie MacDonald. 5 Shining Stars!
Her debut novel is a roller-coaster ride of a story! This book is about the Piper family, mainly the daughters, and the family secrets that haunt their lives. The author has an incredible talent for revealing just enough to draw you in, but keep you guessing. The vague details in one chapter are then fully unveiled to you in the next. The reader will find satisfaction at the end of the last chapter, when everything falls together like a giant jigsaw puzzle, the last page being the last piece. Amazing read!
ATENC3@AOL.COM
THE CHARM SCHOOL by Nelson DeMille 5 stars
Great read.
CSmith4649@aol.com
All Books by Nicholas Sparks
A Walk To Remember I would rate his books 5 Stars
don.demore@worldnet.att.net
THE DESCENT - JEFF LONG - Three-and-a-half stars.
An intriguing novel that utilizes modern and ancient events to provide the structure for an underground exploration of an ancient series of tunnels which traverse deep beneath the Earth's surface, and for the proto-humans who live there. The various groups that are involved in these explorations all have their own reasons for their involvement, ranging from those who wish for military and commercial conquest to those who search for the historical figure of Satan. Very well written with well developed characters. An interesting, enjoyable and thought provoking read.
FROM THE CORNER OF HIS EYE - DEAN KOONTZ - Four stars.
Probably the best of Koontz's recent work. A young boy who loses his eyes, but learns to "see" again is the main character in this tale. Koontz fans will love this one!
GUNMAN'S RHAPSODY - ROBERT PARKER - Four stars.
The author of the "Spencer" novels has written a tale set in the late 19th Century American West. The main character is the real Wyatt Earp, his extended family, and the nefarious "outlaws" he arrests, shoots, or otherwise disposes of. Well written and enjoyable to those who don't usually read westerns.
LIONS OF LUCERNE - BRAD THOR - Three-and-a-half stars.
Reads like an action movie script for Arnold S. or Bruce Willis. The kidnapping of the US President and the assassination of thirty of his Secret Service agents is the catalyst for the rest of this book. Good triumphs in the end.
A PLACE OF EXECUTION - VAL MCDERMID - Four-and-a-half stars.
An English Lord of the Manor is executed for the murder of his step-daughter, even though her body is never found. The policeman who arrested him and who was instrumental in convicting him does not want a reporter to review the case years later. Why? All is not as it seems. An excellent read with a surprising, but very believable twist at the end.
THE TIN COLLECTOR - STEPHEN CANNELL - Two-and-a-half stars.
Another police procedural from Cannell, who spent several years in the field. The weakness here is that it is just too full of events and relationships that are so implausible in real life that it reads more like a fantasy than a novel based on real possibilities.
CODE TO ZERO - KEN FOLLETT - Three stars.
A good, solid example of Follett's work. An amnesiac must determine who he is and why people are following him. His only clue at the beginning is that he seems to have certain skills that might be useful to a spy or an assassin.
CONJURE WIFE - FRITZ LEIBER - Four stars.
This horror novel first published in the early 1940's is a classic of the genre. Those who love classic horror should read this one!
Xsibilia@aol.com
The Pied Piper by Ridley Pearson; One of those books I picked up thinking, I'll give it a try, see if Mr Pearson can hold my interest. Well, if you like serial murders? How about a serial kidnapper. A great read, lots of action, suspense and interesting characters. I will read more of his books. 5 stars.
Dchi612@aol.com
The Lions of Lucerne by Brad Thor- 5 stars - This book is very exciting with
each turning page. I have read over a 100 pages and can't wait to finish it. My husband just finished it and thought it too was very good. If you like Nelson Demille's books you will definitely like this one. Look forward to reading more of this new author's books
toythomas@attbi.com
Secrets of the Tsil Cafe by Thomas Fox Averill
A very good story, with interesting recipes and food lore.
Ginger.Louden@sendit.nodak.edu
I just finished reading "Tenderness" by Robert Cormier. It is geared towards a high school level, but it is so captivating! I read the whole book in one night. I am librarian at a high school and I like to read some of the books on hand rather that just my level of reading. I give this book 4 stars.
suesmithe1@aol.com
While I Was Gone by Sue Miller
litfan@clarityconnect.com
Arcadia Falls by Rand Johnson - a haunting tale of one man's struggle with a world where nature is in retreat - five stars
"The French Lieutenant's Woman" by John Fowles - passion in Victorian England and possibly the best book I've ever read: - five stars
Stebie2003@aol.com
I have read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Dark Tower" series (beginning with The Gunslinger, The Drawing of the Three, The Waste Lands, Wizard and Glass and the prologue to the fifth book in the series titled Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King, and from Dean Koontz, From the Corner of His Eye. All of these mention books are definitely an excellent read if you are looking for a fantasy thriller with alot of twists and surprise endings. Out of one to five and five being excellent, I would rate all the above a five.
I am presently reading The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub. I have just started reading the first chapter so I really can not rate the book on content yet. However, if it is like previous works of Stephen King, I am sure I will be thrilled.
Afterwards, I hope to get The Summons by John Grisham. I have already read several of his other books, The Firm, The Client, Pelican Brief to name of few which I found to be quite enjoyable. I would also rate these books as fives.
OxfordJ@aol.com
Under Siege W.E.B. Griffin 4stars
Who Moved My Cheese Spencer Johnson 4 stars
Bitterroot James Lee Burke
Mystic River Dennis LeHane
P Is for Peril Sue Grafton
Adamant37@aol.com
"Those Who Trespass"
By Bill O'Reilly
5 Stars
For those who know Mr. O'Reilly principally as the take-no-prisoners host of Fox News Channel's No-Spin Zone aka "The O'Reilly Factor"...this page-turner might come as something of a surprise. He may not tolerate real life political spin-meistering any too well--but when it comes to spinning a thriller of a novel, he is on a par with the best of them! Set in, and peopled by, some of the most memorable and wickedly defined denizens of the cuttthroat world of broadcasting, it's a book that I didn't want to put down!
mary.bogen@verizon.net
Marching Through Culpeper by Virginia Beard Morton
I'm a lifelong scholar of Civil War fiction, and frequently address Civil War Round Tables and book clubs on the genre. On my handout of top ten books, Virginia Beard Morton's Marching Through Culpeper is ranked number one. This talented author not only captures the military, economic, political, and social history of the times, but more importantly, she takes the reader deep into the hearts and souls of the people who experienced the conflict. Ms. Morton's extensive research, talent and skills have given us a haunting masterpiece that depicts the true South better than Gone with the Wind and provides rich material for a dynamite movie.
Stebie2003@aol.com
I recently finished reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling. I give these four books five stars as an easy read except the last novel. The last novel will take you a several days to finish. If you like a feel good book that encourages good over evil plots where anything is possible, then I highly reccommend these books. Also, the fifth book in the series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, will be out sometime this year according to the last interview with the author if anyone is trying to find out when the next book is due.
KMARSH@co.loudoun.va.us
Baldacci - Last man standing (excellent)
Braun - Cat who went up a creek (entertaining, as always)
lkocmt@llcoop.org
I just finished Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand. I enjoyed it thoroughly. A nice piece of history. 5 stars easily
ToriDWms@aol.com
Sugar by Bernice L. McFadden is excellently written. The writing is so detailed that the characters come to life easily in your mind's eye. The story is uniquely engaging.
Caylx157@aol.com
Tom Gleasons "Closer to the Truth" from Glass house books. Available at Barnes and Noble only. 5 stars.
GERBAM@aol.com
MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN by Jonathan Lethem A+++
An interesting off-beat private eye caper headed by a young man with Tourette's Syndrome.
WATERMELON NIGHTS by Greg Farris A+++
A contemporary novel that tells the picaresque story of an Native American male who has to deal with living in two cultures.
BLOOD RED RIVERS by Jean-Christophe Grange (Trans. from French) A+++
An unusual thriller...well worth the fingerbiting :)
THE HIDE by Barry Unsworth A+++
A strange contemporary gothic about a young man who comes to work for a brother adn sister in their haunting mansion. Bizarre happenings await the curious reader.
SLOUCHING TOWARD BETHLEHEM by Joan Didion A+++
This collection of essays written by Didion in the early 70s is as timely and chilling today as it was then.
MIDDLE-AGE: A ROMANCE by Joyce Carol Oates A+++
She's done it again. Oates's newest is a poignant and moving story about the changes life for holds for those who are over 40.
gojessgo@looped.com
Over Tumbled Graves by Jess Walter 4 stars. Fictional story of serial killer in Spokane and the woman detective Caroline and her efforts to unravel the mystery. I liked this book overall. It kinda dragged at the beginning, but the ending was a total surprise. I like surprises!
The Life of Elizabeth 1 by Alison Weir 4 stars.
An excellent biography of the "virgin queen". It was a very big book, but not to dragging with details and boring stuff. I liked it very much.
Gerow47@aol.com
THE CHEESE MONKEYS by Chip Kidd. This book is the funniest and wittiest I have read in year. It is about an art student in college in the 50s. Can't wait for Mr. Kidd to write another.
Caliauds@aol.com
Greeley, Andrew: A Christmas Wedding
This is second in greeley's series of the crazy O'Malley family, an irish catholic family from Chicago. It's a romance type novel with a little comedy thrown in. I enjoyed it very much having read the first book. i give it 3 stars
Marciakv@aol.com
HIGH FIVE by Janet Evanovich. 4 stars.
After first reading HOT SIX, I decided to read her entire series of Stephanie Plum Novels. Evanovich writes with the most amazing wit and surprising twists. She keeps you laughing and wondering what will happen next! Great fun!
AUGER77777@aol.com
Having just finished THE LION'S GAME by Nelson DeMille, I am wondering what could top a novel of this caliber. I confess, this was the first book I have read by DeMille, but it won't be the last. It takes a writer of incredible talent to create a story that can both keep you on the edge of your seat with tension and, in the next paragraph, cause you to fall off your seat in laughter (due to the irreverent and rapier wit of Detective John Corey). LION'S GAME is frighteningly prophetic, given the events of September 11th. The bad guy, Asad Khalil, is something of a mirror image of Osama bin Laden, the difference being that Khalil is fearless and stalks his human prey within the U.S., traveling from coast to coast on his mission of slaughter. At over 900 pages, I was anticipating a read of about two weeks. It took about four days to finish this book, which kept me up quite late at night. I am looking forward to reading UP
Yodasmommy@aol.com
One Door From Heaven by Dean Koontz. 5 stars.
I only have a couple chapters to go and I don't want it to end!
EZREADER1265@aol.com
The Sigma Protocol Robert Ludlum 4Stars
The Bonsetters Daughter Amy Tan 4Stars
Paint it Black P.J.Parrish 4 Stars
DIANWILLY@aol.com
Under Fire by WEB Griffin. 5 being highest.
christiehaack@home.com
I am currently reading The Fig Eater by Jodie Shields. This is a book for our book club... very interesting and complex. A 3 star choice.
Theolynd@aol.com
Since ABC started their latest showing of the James Bond movies, I've been re-reading the original novels by Ian Fleming and in keeping with my first thoughts, the movies are not a patch on the books. No actor can truly come close to the tricky Bond or his fiendish villains, and the complexities of the novels are completely lost on screen. If you've been avoiding the books because you weren't impressed with the films, think again and give the books a try.
No1MetsFan@aol.com
The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien - 5 Stars
The second book in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy was even stronger than the first book. You really care what happens to these characters, especially Frodo and Sam. Everyone needs to read this trilogy at least once in their lives!
MichelleM819@aol.com
The Sackett Brand by Louis L'Amour - 5 stars
A great book! Actually I've just read all of the Sackett books that are in the local library and am hunting for more. I don't know why I've never read these before - they're wonderful. Great characters and storylines with a flavorful combination of old-fashioned grit, family values and pure love of adventure. If you haven't before - read these books!
Fbower444@aol.com
I just finished "The Greatest Generation" by Tom Brokaw.
Remarkable individual accomplishments. I learned that Bob Dole and Daniel Inouye (both long-time US Senators) met each other and became friends while recovering from wounds during World War II. I also learned that Julia Childs was in our OSS. Fascinating stories.
Lankford0714@aol.com
I am currently reading "Red Hook" by Gabriel Cohen. It is the authors first book and is very good, I am not finished, but so far I give it 4 stars.
Just finished "The Chimney Sweepers Boy" (for the second time) by Barbara Vine. This book is a definite 5 star.
KLeonowicz@aol.com
Skipping Christmas, John Grisham. A great twist on Christmas.
The Painted House, John Grisham. Better than the reviews said.
He Sees You When You're Sleeping, Mary Higgins Clark; Carol Higgins Clark - Another aspect of the season's spirit.
Comrades, Stephen E. Ambrose.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Robert T. Kiyosaki. Non-traditional insights into financial thought.
Lucky You, Carl Hiaasen. Not new on the list, but really refreshing. This author is a real hoot; has his finger right on the pulse of it all.
Stormy Weather, Carl Hiaasen. Same as above. Just found Carl. Have to get Basket Case.
Strip Tease, Carl Hiaasen. More than what was in the movie.
Native Tongue, Carl Hiaasen.
Skin Tight, Carl Hiaasen.
Double Whammy, Carl Hiaasen.
Tourist Season, Carl Hiaasen.
Fec139@aol.com
Passing for Normal by Amy Willensky
This true story, subtiteld "A Memoir of Compulsion" is an excellent invitation to enter a world always misunderstood and often ridiculed -- the world of the dual diagnosis of Tourette's syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder, as told by one of it's sufferers. The author presents her life from young girl to post-diagnosis in a way that makes the reader obsessively-compulsively want to keep reading nonstop.
JIngenito@aol.com
The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan
beautiful story,heart-warming and heart-wrenching about an american-born chinese woman caught between her country of birth and the culture of her ancestors 4 stars .
Tiggi47@aol.com
The Smoke Jumper by Nicholas Evans
It's a story about a smoke jumper named Connor based in Missoula, Montana. He fights forest fires with his friend Ed. He falls in love with Ed's girlfriend Julia, who works with troubled children. Connors hobby is photography and he captures pictures that no one else could. It's a great book. Nicholas Evans is a very descriptive writer. I give this book 5 stars.
TahtaniCat@aol.com
The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan 5 stars
This book was slow at first - I really did not understand the characters and their relationship to one another -- however, as the book unfolds, one's consciousness is awakened in new ways, leading also to new understanding and appreciation for the Chinese culture. By the last chapter, I did not want the book to end.
Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson 5 stars
What a masterpiece! Midway through the book, the lead character, Ishmael, goes through a moral crisis which really gets things rolling. Set during the early to middle part of the 20th century on coastal Washington, it recounts the lives of those affected by the internment of Japanese US citizens during WWII. Not only does this wonderful novel give a birds eye view of a unique period in history, it also provides a window into Japanese culture and the larger picture of racism. The writing is the icing on the cake -- strong, rolling prose, without mawkish sentiment and nevertheless poignant, a joy to savor.
A Day Late and a Dollar Short by Terry Macmillan 4 stars
I loved this book. I enjoyed the style, after I got used to it, with each chapter being written in the first person from the perspective of one of 5 characters -- all family members. After a while, it was fun to figure out who the character was who was speaking, as one gets to know their psyche well enough. And, of course, this book was about a black family, very wonderfully written to reflect the culture and also the trials and joys of every family. Not a masterpiece of literature, and yet solidly written with lots of literary gems in some of the passages.
Gap Creek: The Story of a Marriage by Robert Morgan 2 stars
Stark realism portraying frontier life from the perspective of a female character. My feeling was that Morgan was over his head in trying to see things from a female perspective -- he just could not seem to get a grasp of her feelings, which did not help convey the messages Morgan appears to be reaching for. The hardship she and her husband encountered frankly grew depressing, and one began to wonder what was the point. Instead of leaving the reader with a sense of the incredible odds against which these people often endured, the book left one with a sense of disjointed suffering. This book missed the boat, in my opinion. It reminded me of The Shipping News by Annie Proulx (5 stars) without the heart. I gave it two stars because I admired his attempt to portray a difficult theme, the often sympathetic portrayal of a strong female character, strong descriptive writing skills and evidence of historical research. These, in fact, kept me reading and hoping for greater depth.
beparoo@prodigy.net
I am almost finished with First Lady, by Michael Malone. It is a great read. I love the way he develops his characters and the plot (and the setting). I can hardly put it down. I almost never give a book 5 stars, but this one comes awfully close --- maybe 4 and 3/4?? Can't wait to read more by this author.
On the opposite end of the spectrum. earlier this week I started the audiobook of Violets Are Blue, by James Patterson. Yuck! I only listened to one tape. It was too trashy for me. I'm not into vampires, I guess. One star, if that.
Bberrycrk@aol.com
I am reading A Year Of Wonders, by Geraldine Brooks. 4 stars.
It is set in the sixteen hundreds when the plague devastates a village in central England. The writing is wonderful and draws you along.
matate10@swbell.net
Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn 4 stars- Highly entertaining about an island nation that worhips the author of "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog". As the lettered tiles fall from the monument in the town square the people are banned from using them. It is an adventure just to see how the people mangae to communicate asr the usable alphabet dwindles.
The Deadhouse by Linda Feinstein 4 stars good suspense. She has written 3 more about these characters before this one. I havn't read them and found it a little tedious to get into this one. Will go back and read the first ones.
BREEZYWRITER@aol.com
The Last Precinct by Patricia Cornwall -- 4 stars
Another thriller in this popular series - - one of the best.
JANGKEITH@aol.com
The Cobra Event, Richard Preston 5 stars++
Sigma Protocol, Robert Ludlum, 4 stars
Sahara, Clive Cussler, 4 star The Devil's Workshop, Stephen Cannell, 4 stars
Painted House, John Grisham 4 stars
OxfordJ@aol.com
Under Fire by W.E.B. Griffin
McCoy, Pickering & Co. from the WWII Corps series return to do battle in Korea. Griffin captures the characters, era and events like no other.
Purple Cane Road by James Lee Burke
Rascal Dave Robicheaux returns together with the sights, sounds and smells of the bayou country which come alive with Burke's unique use of language and style. Made me run out to the store to purchase the ingredients for a Po-Boy sandwich Robicheaux style!
Gray Ghost - The Life of John Singleton Mosby by James A. Ramage
Grant's nemesis during the war became a valued friend and our first ambassador to Hong Kong after the war to, in part, protect him from the State of Virginia's wrath for his support of Grant as he sought his second term as President. Fascinating story.
Seven Up by Janet Evanovich
My favorite bounty hunter returns with her continuing romantic foibles with Ranger and Morelli. Stephanie's life is never dull and Evanovich has created some of my favorite characters. The best of the bunch.
BettyB6768@aol.com
Consider This, Senora, by Harriet Doerr--5 Stars. A whimsical, yes whimsical, story about a young divorcee who goes to Mexico, gets involved in a land development and the circle of friends she learns to live with. One older woman comes to this small old/new town to die. It's the style that pulls the reader forward with its laid-back tone and refreshing attitude of laissez-faire. The author is known for her Stones for Ibarra.
Title: The Bean Trees, by Barbara Kingsolver--4 stars. Yes, this is one of B. Kingsolver's first novels. Once we get past her somewhat cutesy style, told from the viewpoint of a young naive female, the characters grab us and their relationships ring true to life. The adoption of a child is a winner.
Title: Italian Fever, by Valerie Martin--4 1/2 stars. A real page-turner.
Somewhat of a mysterious story of an assistant to a writer who dies in Italy. The assistant has a love affair, sees some gorgeous sculpture up-close and learns much about Italians and herself.
Britadon@aol.com
Back When We Were Grownups by Anne Tyler. 5 stars.
Maybe I enjoyed this so much because I have so much in common with the heroine but the writer really knows the feelings of a widow this age. Would love to know if it appeals to younger readers as much.
Stolen Moments by Malika Oufkir. 5 stars.
A true story of a Moroccan family imprisoned for 20 years for political reasons. What an incredible story and so well written that I could not put it down. Certain to make your problems melt away in comparison.
In the Heart of the Sea, the Tragedy of the Whaling Ship, Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick. 5 stars.
Another true story and a wonderful education about whaling and survival.
Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy. 1 star
An insipid, mauldling, contrived story about two couples and a catering business that does not do this author justice. Just being Irish is not enough.
rwimple@aol.com
The Cheese Monkeys, A Novel in Two Semesters, by Chip Kidd; 5 stars...this is a must read for anyone that has ever been through art school. This book put me right back into a critique. A ha ha laugh out loud feel good wholesome book.
aurablue@worldnet.att.net
BEACH MUSIC by Pat Conroy, 5 Stars (easily)
This is one of THE best books I have ever read. I just read it for the second time and loved it all the more. Pat Conroy is a master storyteller and creator of characters. Absolutely delicious from beginning to end!
NoelWillis@aol.com
I am reading John Adams by David McCullough as well as The Southwest by David Lavender at the same time. It is interesting, because the former is about John Adams, his political career, and the interplay between the politicians of the day, with emphasis on relations with France and England.
The other deals with the development of the Southwest by the Spanish from much earlier, and then at the same time as the push westward from the east coast. The conflicting styles of management, as well as the political philosophies are so different.
The Spanish did not recognize France's right to sell the Louisiana Purchase, and actually sent an expedition to intercept Lewis and Clark as interlopers in Spain's territory. I would rate both books a 4.
buterfl2@optonline.net
Bee Season by Myla Goldberg - 2 1/2 stars This book is one of those books that you really don't want to finish but feel you must too in order to see if you really understand it. It is the story of a very plain little girl who is not favored by her family - until she wins a spelling bee - underlying this is an exceptionally dysfunctional family - once the sister wins the spelling bee all the family problems surface and one by one each family member falls apart and we witness this in its entirety.
Bjglu@aol.com
My Life on a Plate by India Knight 4 stars A "Bridgit Jones" for grown-ups/marrieds. Funny, but ultimately, touching novel about an English woman's married life and inner life.
JCVItaly@aol.com
I am currently reading, The Hours of the Virgin, by Loren D. Estleman. I am enjoying this classic-style private investigator novel immensely. I'd definitely rate this one 5 stars! I plan on reading more by this author.
Adikeman@aol.com
I am currently reading "Shipping News". It is a beautifully written book. While the main character is rather a downer, I still can't put the book down. Its a four star read.
mot123@bellsouth.net
Sunday I read three books...The Cat Who went up the Creek, Gap Creek, A Serigamy of Stories. Needless to say..I didn't go out...I didn't get dressed. I lay in bed all day and read!
Linpeace1@aol.com
The Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell..Four exotic exquisitly written novels
Five Stars
Bodily Harm Margaret Atwood Three Stars light reading
kaye1230@mindspring.com
The Healing Wound by Gitta Sereny - 4 1/2 stars
An interesting, intelligent look at Nazi Germany and it's results from a long time observer and historian of Germany.
Holy Terror by D.W. Brackett - 4 stars
An account of the 1995 Sarin attack on the Toyko subway system by the Aum cult. Reminder that terrorism and fanatism has no nationality.
First Light by Philip Craig & William Tapply - 3 stars
Fun mystery written by 2 old pros.
Bloodroot by Susan Wittig Albert - 4 stars
Another addition to an engrossing mystery series.
When Men Were the Only Models We Had by Carol Heilbrein - 4 stars
One of the pioneers of the women's movement and a look at her college history.
snoopyshen@earthlink.net
I am reading an excellent mystery about a husband who seems to commit suicide, but is later found with a gunshot wound to his head. There seems to be a conspiracy against the wife as more and more evidence builds up against her. One of the wife's close friends, an Indian lawyer, her the wife contact a lawyer which her husband trusted in Eugene, Oregon. That lawyer and his daughter, also a lawyer, begin to find defense for the wife. The book is called No Defense by Kate Wilhelm. Wilhelm has written many other books, such as The Good Children, Little Defense. Each of Wilhelm's books are different. I hope you will enjoy Kate Wilhelm's books too!
ZinShady74@cs.com
Amber Spirit: Poems & Stories by Robert Eldridge, 5 stars
A unique poetry/story combination devoid of boring speech poetry. It's best to describe it as a look in & out of ourselves. The poetry is brilliant, concise & packed with emotion leaving you wanting to read them again. The two stories are both uplifting and tragic, maybe somber as well. It's a beautifully crafted book, not really long, but potent. Oh, it has an official website and the author is new, I believe. Highly Recommended.
The Green Mile Complete Serial Novel by Stephen King, 5 stars
This book ranks as one of the best complete novels I can remember. The movie was good, but the level of detail King has put into the collection gives a broader picture of Paul Edgecomb and his "Mile." It's a very sad book in a lot of ways, but King brings realism into the story and that's a plus. "We all owe a death, there are no exceptions." Words defy this novel and King's triumph. Highly Recommended.
Independence Day: War In The Desert by Stephen Molstad, 4 stars
I picked this up on a whim, as it sat beside "I Am Spock" by Leonard Nimoy, and I hadn't seen the movie in years. The book takes place in the Saudi Arabian desert and tells the story of what we did not see in the movie. It's well written and full of action/suspense. Not a lot more to add, it's a movie companion really, but it builds on a great story like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Star Trek books have been doing for decades. And it cost a buck at the dollar store. Recommended.
A Boy's Will & North of Boston Compilation by Robert Frost (with an introduction by William H. Pritchard), 2.5 stars
A Boy's Will is exciting and like Amber Spirit, steers clear of speech poems. There are no stories in this compilation, but Frost's first poetry book is as open and raw as they come. The second book, North of Boston, has a few good moments and dulls so bad with speech poems that it looks like an experiment in literature, than of actual poetry. A purist would get them, but A Boy's Will is more powerful. A Boy's Will (in a single version) is: Recommended. North of Boston is Recommended for scholars.
Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales by Wilhelm K. Grimm & Jacob Ludwig Grimm (Brothers Grimm), 5 stars
I have to say that, depending on which version you read, the Disney adaptations of these fairy tales are blood & water. (Blood being dark and sinister & water being pure and happy) The Disney adaptations, however, do not come into play in this book that has been translated from German with footnotes for a better understanding of how they wrote. The original tales are downright demonic, obsessive, and hard-core horror in some cases. (Not recommended for children without the parents abridging some details.) Most are tales of the extraordinary, revenge, fantasy, and a mixture of sometimes gross depiction's. Think you know Snow White, The Juniper Tree, or Hansel & Gretal? Think again. This is the adult version of fairy tales. It is a highly recommended read. Don't let this review scare you, it's nothing Stephen King, Anne Rice, or John Carpenter hasn't gotten away with. Let's just say, it's intense, and not for the people looking for Disney reading.
KLEINMELVIN@aol.com
BIAS BERNARD GOLDBERG
A FASCINATING LOOK AT THE TALKING HEADS MASSAGING THE "HARD NEWS" WHILE CAREFULLY INTRODUCING THE LIBERAL LINE.
Bjglu@aol.com
Waiting by Debra Ginsberg 3 1/2 stars This is subtitled The True
DThomson@ric.edu
I like to read a whole series from the beginning to the end, and that's what I'm doing now with Christopher Lane's Inupiat Eskimo series featuring Inupiat police officer Ray Attla. My reading list is below:
Elements of a Kill - 4 stars
The first book in the series, introduces Ray Attla, who, like Tony Hillerman's Officer Jim Chee, is caught between the modern world of police work and the spirit world of his culture. Unlike Chee, Attla discounts the traditions and beliefs of his culture, and tries to live his life outside of them. The clash of cultures set against the backdrop of the Alaskan wilderness give added interest to this murder mystery.
Season of Death - 5 stars
Trapped in the Alaskan wilderness with only his survival skills and his two partners, Attla stumbles upon a murder, and narrowly avoids becoming a victim himself. Once again, the spirit culture in the person of a young native girl leads Ray to solve the mystery despite his lack of beliefs.
A Shroud of Midnight Sun - 5 stars
While on vacation with his family, Ray Attla once again happens upon a murder. His assistance is needed in investigating the crime, as the only law available is the local minister who has persistence but little crime-solving skill. When Ray's young daughter has visions of the murder, Ray discounts them as the confused nightmares of a child. We begin to wonder when Ray is going to realize that the spirit world and visions are real elements in his culture, and how long he is going to continue to discount them.
Silent as the hunter - 4 stars
An elder of the village is savagely murdered, and Ray Attla quickly finds a suspect with all the necessary evidence conveniently at hand. His grandfather, however, tells him that he has not arrested the murderer. Grandfather keeps handing Ray clue after clue, but Ray discounts them as the ramblings of an old man. If Ray Attla ever tunes in to the reality of the spirit world, he'll have a much easier time solving these mysteries.
A Deadly Quiet - I haven't read this one yet, it's next on my list.
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