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dangerous_worth_it@yahoo.com
I would like to HIGHLY recommend The Hour Before Dark by Douglas Clegg. WONDERFUL book!

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Woods3327@aol.com
Plain Truth: A Novel by Jodi Picoult. 4 stars.
This mystery novel's setting and characters were fascinating. It is set in a rural community among plain people, the Amish. The plot had plenty of twists and believable characters. I didn't figure out "whodunit" until the very end.

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yavor@mindspring.com
Just a note to say that I do not normally buy horror books in hardback…I wait until they are in paperback. However, I always buy Doug Clegg's books as soon as they are out, and The Hour Before Dark was wonderful. I was sorry to see it end. It would make a super movie. I think it was one of, if not, his best yet.

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OLTLFREAK@aol.com
I have read Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold two times. It is such a good and intriguing read, and cleverly written. It has moved to number one in my book! Five stars.

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SOPHIENED@aol.com
Screening Party by Dennis Hensley. 5 stars.
In the tradition of David Sedaris and Sandra Bernhard, Mr. Hensley follows up his debut, Misadventures in the 213, with an incredibly funny and ultimately touching book. No star is safe. Julia, Barbara, and Maria are all brought down to earth. A blast!

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linkslady@usa.net
The Memory of Old Jack by Wendell Berry.
Simple, beautiful writing - what more can I say? I can't wait to read more from this author.

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dndyulfo@mindspring.com
Grave Secrets by Kathy Reichs. Very good.
Unfit to Practice by Perri O' Shaugnessy. I'm in the middle, but Nina Reilly mysteries are great.

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Makelley4@aol.com
I have a list of over 50 authors whose books I read as soon as I can get them. It's always such a great treat to find a new author. Most recently, that author is Jeanne Ray. I loved Step-Ball-Change, and then read her first novel, Julie and Romeo, which I found most delightful.

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PSAETHER@lgamerica.com
Recent reads that were outstanding:
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett.
The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L. Carter
Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (Children's Book)
I'm looking forward to reading Blessings by Anna Quindlen

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afalbo49@yahoo.com
The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy. 4 stars.
This is the perfect way to enhance your enjoyment of the current TV series!

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Temar_98@yahoo.com
I am reading What You Owe Me by Bebe Moore Campbell.

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CandyM49@aol.com
The Bachelor by Carly Phillips was a waste of my time! I would give it maybe three stars to anyone wishing to read something just to escape boredom - a good book to fall asleep with.

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KuniP@aol.com
I am reading The Remnant by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. I give it 4 stars. I have read all in the series. I have just completed I Know Who Holds Tomorrow by Francis Ray (4 stars) and Joy by Victoria Christopher Murray (5 stars).

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snoopyshen@earthlink.net
Hi! I am reading and loving Nicholas Sparks' latest, Nights in Rodanthe. Happy reading!

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Angelic808@aol.com
Juror Number Eleven by Terry Devane.
Terry Devane (pseudonym for Jeremiah Healy esq.) has again written a superb novel, featuring attorneys Mairead O'Clare and Shel Gold, along with former homicide detective, now PI, "Pope". As I read the novel and proceeded to solve the crime, I was completely surprised by the "guilty parties" involved. Juror Number Eleven was another "sit on the edge of your seat" Terry Devane novel that I had to complete in one day!

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shiy1pt@hotmail.com
Right now the books I am loving are the Dragon Lance Saga by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. They are colorfully written and you get caught up in them like a good thriller.

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MUUNSTRUCK@aol.com
I just finished Faye Kellerman's new book and The Lovely Bones. I also
recently read Daughter of Fortune and the sequel Portrait in Sepia.

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caroline@swtexas.com
Chicken Soup for the Soul by Jack Canfield & Mark Victor Hansen. 3 stars.
This isn't one of the newer books, but I have always wanted to read one of these. I'm glad I did! There are so many wonderfully touching stories in this book. I'm looking forward to the second helping.

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billiegirl20@hotmail.com
Our reading group has chosen October as Ray Bradbury month! We're all reading Bradbury's newest book From the Dust Returned, as well as a past Bradbury book (I've chosen Fahrenheit 451). I truly enjoyed From the Dust Returned - it was the perfect read for the fall season that is suddenly upon us. Bradbury talks about fall leaves, the wind, and an old haunted house - all things that are perfect this season. The imagery in the book is beautiful! I would truly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys Bradbury...or those looking for a "fall" read.

As for Fahrenheit 451, I've not yet finished (but will probably finish this evening) and I must say, "Oh what a dark book." The evening I began reading it, I got about three pages into it. I won't say I had nightmares, but my dreams WERE NOT pleasant. Perhaps it could be because of all the not-so-pleasant things going on in our world! Bradbury has some great one-liners about readers and books that I'll definitely quote. This is one I'm glad I'm finally catching up on!

I'm sorry to ramble, but these are what I'm reading...and I'll always ramble about books!

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DEmill9490@aol.com
I'm currently reading the following:
(1) Stone Kiss by Faye Kellerman - Excellent so far - I'm about halfway through. Also, I am listening to an audio book (while I drive)
(2) Kiss Cut by Karin Slaughter - excellent edge of your seat audio. I just finished listening to audio(s)
(3) Jolie Blon's Bounce by James Lee Burke - by far the best Dave Robicheaux I've enjoyed!
(4) Thoroughly enjoyed Sleep No More by Greg Iles - nice change of pace for me and one I couldn't put down.
(5) Beyond Suspicion by James Grippando - one of my favorite authors - I was entertained and enjoyed the suspense.
Obviously I am an avid reader - I have read every one of Jonathan Kellerman's books and always look forward to the next one.

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brady538_91208@yahoo.com
A Conversation with the Mann by John Ridley. 5 stars.
This novel is dandy. It is the story of a black man who is trying to decide how he can get out of his life of drudgery, and he comes up with the idea of becoming a stand-up comic. This is the story of his failures and successes, the story of his yearnings for a meaningful love affair and the results of all his planning. There are a number of surprises in this story and one well worth reading!

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susanrjensen@yahoo.com
One True Thing by Anna Quindlen. 5 stars.
Ellen Gulden, a hardened New York journalist, returns to her hometown to take care of her mother, who is dying of cancer. As Ellen cares for her mother, she tries to sort out who she is and who her parents really are. When her mother's death appears to be a little too convenient, Ellen finds herself the primary suspect in a murder investigation. This is an intelligent, intriguing book.

Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen. 4 stars.
Frannie Crenshaw and her son flee New York to escape from Frannie's abusive husband. Although Frannie focuses on her future in a new place, neither she nor her son can forget the past. Although it is well written and compelling, this is a depressing and very haunting story about the horrors of abusive relationships.

Coast Road by Barbara Delinksy. 3 1/2 stars.
When Jack McGill receives a call informing him that his ex-wife is lying in a coma after a car accident, he finds himself abandoning his lucrative career to play doting husband and father - jobs that had always come in second to his work. This is a sweet and thoughtful romance about second chances.

Object Lessons by Anna Quindlen. 3 stars
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I have enjoyed her other ones. This one is a rather depressing tale about a young girl who is coping with the many changes that are coming into her world.

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tfranzen2124@attbi.com
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. 4 stars
Now in paperback, so there is no excuse for missing this one.

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. 3 stars so far.
Wow. Hang in through the heartache to get to the redemption. This made even a seasoned veteran (me) feel!

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Dadel@aol.com
Just finished The Pact by Jodi Picoult for my book club. Everyone loved this book. I would recommend this book if you want to find a novel that takes you in and makes you question each character. It is a five star.

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Sesame705@aol.com
Poltergeists & the Paranormal by Dr. Philip Stander & Dr. Paul Schmolling. 3 1/2 stars.
This is an intriguing subject with some very interesting theories that I had not read about before. I especially enjoyed the anecdotes about historic and more recent cases of haunting and supposed poltergeist activity, though it is difficult to know whether or not the anecdotes were recorded with accuracy (as the authors point out, some of the cases occurred hundreds of years ago and with limited use of scientific method). However, if you enjoy ghost stories or have a penchant for things psychic, you will enjoy the authors' attempt to explain the unexplainable!

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juliecbarnard@yahoo.com
Currently I am reading Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry. I've only read 50 pages or so, but it looks to be as good as one of my favorite books of all time, A Fine Balance. So far, 5 stars.

Just finished Summerland by Michael Chabon -- great read for anyone from 11 to 111. Definitely 5 stars.

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LorynK@aol.com The Rich Part of Life by Jim Kokoris. 4 stars. I just finished this book. It is a really touching story about a boy whose father wins $190 million in the lottery and what happens to the family.

Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee. 2 stars. I wasn't too thrilled with the book, even though it is the selection for a book club I am in this month.

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Bjglu@aol.com Our Lady of the Lost and Found by Diane Schoemperlen. 3 stars. A sweet book about the Virgin Mary's one-week R & R stay at the home of a suburban woman.

Rule No. 5: No Sex on the Bus by Brian Thacker. 3 stars. Light, amusing reminiscences of a European tour director. Not for the prudish.

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Delta589@aol.com I just finished Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg, and I give it 5 stars. Ms. Flagg proves she can write a novel with no crime, no violence, and no embarrassingly explicit sex and still have the book be a huge success. Our radio antenna was in our cow pasture instead of in the backyard as was Neighbor Dorothy's, but it was close enough to bring a rush of nostalgia for that simpler time.

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MANYHEHES@aol.com
I have just finished Strangers by Dean Koontz. It was an excellent read, and it kept my attention until I was done. I did not want to put it down.

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McConnE@ummhc.org
I highly recommend Douglas Clegg's latest book The Hour Before Dark. It was the best and most suspenseful book I have read in quite a while - one of those, "even though I'm done, I don't want it to end". I didn't want to put it back on the shelf. I loved it and am still thinking about it (I read it weeks ago). I may have to go back and read it again very soon.

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TMartin@directv.com
What You Owe Me by Bebe Moore Campbell
The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L. Carter

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Ljaco02@finaid.emory.edu
I am currently reading Losing Gemma and I give it 3 out of 5 stars, since the tone of the novel is not clear.

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camurray@webtv.net
I am reading The Demon in the Freezer by Richard Preston. I give it 5 stars. It's a nonfiction book, but it reads like a thriller.

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TracelDog@aol.com
The Language of Sisters by Amy Yurk is a sad and somewhat disturbing novel of two sisters (one mentally handicapped) and their relationship with their mother and each other. I would give it 3 1/2 stars, as it is a little hard to get through (due to the subject matter) but wonderfully written.

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Mystrytx@aol.com
Full House by Janet Evanovich. 1 star.
Horrible and I love the woman. If this is her improved version of the previously released book, I would have fallen dead asleep during the original. Very trite and typical. Not the Stephanie Plum Evanovich!

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smleonetti@msn.com
I very seldom read a book twice BUT Breaking Clean by Judy Blunt lured me twice through.

I just finished The Piano Tuner by David Mason - a definite 10!

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GreeneJane@aol.com
I'm reading Her Father's House by Belva Plain and enjoying it very much. I would give it four stars.

I just finished Killjoy by Julie Garwood and would give this one five stars.

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HEG12823@aol.com
Anna Quindlen's Blessings
Alice Sebald's Lovely Bones
Tami Hoag's Dark Horse
Jeff Shaara'a Rise to Rebellion
Deborah Crombie's And Justice There is None

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MrParlay@aol.com
I'm reading December 6 (Martin Cruz Smith) as well as Hoot (Carl Hiaasen) to my children. I just finished Buick 8 (Stephen King) and Man of Illusions (Paul Auster). All are excellent.

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raloy@sc.rr.com
The book I'm reading and loving right now is Infidelity For First Time Fathers by Mark Barrowcliffe. I'm reading it because I really enjoyed his first novel Girlfriend 44. The guy writes like P.G. Wodehouse with absolutely no scruples. Hilarious.

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donarae@chesapeake.net
Wickenbridge Park by Kathy Thomas Holian. 5 stars.
I have recently finished reading this book. It seems as real as if I was living it myself. I am sure others, especially young women in their thirties, will enjoy this, too.

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ATENC3@aol.com
White Oleander by Janet Fitch. 5 stars.
Anywhere But Here by Mona Simpson. I can't rate this one right now. I'm not far enough into it to be judgmental. So far, it appears these two books are strangely similar in that they deal with a daughter-mother relationship.

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mohendies@earthlink.net
Midnight Voices by John Saul. 5 stars.
Reminiscent of Rosemary's Baby with the creepy old apartment house in New York.
From a Buick 8 by Stephen King. 4 stars.
Not his best.
The Hour Before Dark by Douglas Clegg. 5 stars.
I love anything by this author.

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paulachambers@webtv.net
Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross. 5 stars.
The Pilgrimage by Ann B. Ross. 5 stars.

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Britadon@aol.com
The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan. 5 stars.
Wonderful reading, and I enjoyed every page of it. I liked this better than either Joy Luck Club or Kitchen God's Wife, and all of my book club agreed. It sparked many interesting discussions.

Instances of the Number 3 by Sally Vickers. 4 stars.
Not for everyone, but this is a very interesting writing of relationships concerning a dead man's wife and mistress and, well, I won't spoil it for you. Intriguing.

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TootsiePie@aol.com
Book blurbs presented The Nanny Diaries as a comic portrait of the lifestyles and child rearing practices of the rich and famous on the upper-East Side of Manhattan. I found the book disturbing if well written. The angst of the children and their revolving caregivers was palpable. 3 stars.

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HastingsAU@aol.com
I'm currently reading 2 books: Kisscut by Karin Slaughter (3.5 stars) and Behold this Dreamer by Charlotte Miller (4.5 stars). I'm a retail bookseller and have to pick and choose what I have time to read. Both of these books are by southern female authors, very different in content and style, but equally as difficult to put down. I strongly recommend them both. Also, check out Verbena by Nanci Kincaid (4.5 stars). This is my "should have been a bestseller" for the summer!

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Yodasmommy@aol.com
Just finished reading Grand Avenue by Joy Fielding. At first I thought I was reading a soap opera, but soon I wanted to read more and find out what happened next, which is the true sign of a good book. What a surprise ending!!

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Rah4ECU@aol.com
Everything's Eventual by Stephen King. The few short stories that I have read are great. I agree with King that short stories are a lost art form and rate his book 5 stars.

I'm also reading Red Rabbit by Tom Clancy. As usual, it is slow going for the first hundred pages but then begins to pick up. I'm not finished yet, so I'll hold off on rating it, but I have never read one of his that I wouldn't have rated at 5 stars.

I'm getting ready to sit down to From a Buick 8 by Stephen King. He is by far my favorite author and gets 5 stars from me from the get go.

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ImNpieces@aol.com
John Grisham's A Painted House was definitely a 5 star book. I just finished it, although it has been out for quite a while. I also enjoyed Iris Johansen's Reap the Wind, but only give it 3 stars. Her plot is good enough without adding the extensive sexual encounters in detail. I only recently read an old one from Stephen King, The Dead Zone. Got to give that one 5 stars.

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JWells7908@aol.com
Here are my current reads:

1.Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon (taking a night course on it at a local college). I needed the guidance of a professor/discussion group.

2. The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. Loved it. I met him at the Frankfurt Germany Bookfair last week. He was wonderful. The interview was in German, and he answered in English, but read his novel in German to the Prussian fans!

3. Enduring Love by Ian McEwan for my AOL After Hours Reading Group.

4. The Ground Beneath Her Feet by Salman Rushdie. I plan to start this weekend.

5. The Nanny Diaries. Because my best friend bought it for me.

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