sharoncerasoli@hotmail.com
I loved The Wilder Sisters by Jo-Ann Mapson. Great book, would rate it 4 out of 5.
The sisters Rose and Lily were strong characters, with an initially misplaced sense of family (which they rediscover) and tumultuous relationships. So good I did not want it to end, and felt like the characters were family at the end of the book. I would also recommend Hank and Chloe and Loving Chloe by this author, 4 out of 5 stars. I just finished The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke. This is a wonderful children's novel that can be enjoyed by children AND adults. It is set in modern day Venice, with two orphans on the run from their heartless guardians. Prosper and Boniface, known as "Bo," meet other runaways and the mysterious Thief Lord. It is an enjoyable and riveting read. Ms. Funke is a German writer; this is her first book translated into English and is truly a worthwhile read!

Sisselmans@aol.com
Our book review is reading First Mothers by Bonnie Angelo.  A lot of history and a little soap opera makes it a great read.

paul1@emirates.net.ae
A Mighty Collision of Two Worlds by Safi Abdi. 5 stars.
The riveting story of a love affair gone awry...a unique saga that is hard to put down.

temar_98@yahoo.com
The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L. Carter. 5 stars.

lauraleeinvt@hotmail.com
I've just read a fine first novel by a Vermont writer. The book is Reap and the author is Eric Rickstad. What strikes me most is Rickstad's ability to write deeply moving, complex, desirous, and sympathetic characters with a realist's eye that is rarely seen in young writers today. There is no gimmick here. No trendy clever book cover with upside down credits or playground forewords or cute jacket quotes from writers who are friends or mentors of the writer. By that I mean, as great as some young writers are --- and I like many of them --- there is none of the pretension or language acrobatics found in Eggers or Floer or so many of the young writers. Rickstad writes such clean, true, honest prose, its beauty in its cumulative effect.

The story is a heartbreaking but ultimately redemptive one about a sixteen year-old boy in Northeast Vermont, who lives alone with his mother. He lives in a small logging town with few economic and educational opportunities. And soon he becomes entangled with a somewhat reclusive, embittered marijuana grower who himself lost his father years before. This character, Reg Cumber, can be hard and cold and reactive and spontaneous in dangerous ways, but he can also demonstrate compassion and a dry witty humor and passion for a better life, knowing it is likely out of reach. The novel is brimming with memorable characters, town history, family history, love, lust, murder, greed and humor. The New York Times compared Rickstad to Denis Johnson and Russell Banks, and Booklist compared him to Robert Stone. As much as I love them, I believe comparisons often do a writer disservice, or at least this time. I think this first novel stands on its own. It is mature and concerned with issues of class and culture, family and self, gender, poverty, dreams and violence, and not at ALL concerned with pop culture or traveling to Prague or Turkey or Thailand and writing about it in language that will soon read as stale and aggrandizing. This was the best first novel I've read in a long, long time.

kryzewski@comcast.net
Right now I am reading John Adams, more of a social history, which I enjoy. Our book club just celebrated our member/author's (Virginia Marangell's) third book, Feast of Angels, set in the Italian section of New Haven during the 1930's.

Fbower444@aol.com
I just finished John Grisham's book Runaway Jury.  Educational, some social commentary, and thoroughly entertaining.

MareSly@aol.com
Chopping Spree by Diane Mott Davidson. Cannot wait to read this --- always enjoyable.
Courting Trouble by Liza Scottoline. Just finished. What a great story and characters again.

Myrnapen@aol.com
I'm currently reading Pat Conroy's My Losing Season. 3 stars, 4 if you love basketball.  It is a poignant glimpse at Conroy's abusive childhood and the impact his four years as a member of the basketball team at the Citadel had on his life.  It's well written, but I long for another of his lyrical novels.

John1rosie@aol.com
A Small Town Marriage by The Marchesa Colombi was first published in Italian in 1885 and is brought back to us by Northwestern University Press. It may rightly be said to be the story of a girl/young woman shaped by the mores of provincial nineteenth century Italian (one can undoubtedly read Mediterranean or European) Society. It is that and more. I believe it to be a tour-de-force of writing style. The Marchesa demonstrates all of the strength and drive and self-control of the very best of our own Carson McCullers. Danza may be seen as hopelessly naive -- the cruel may think of her as dumb -- but one cannot be thrilled to find that he has landed on the side of the angels. Four stars.

Spizzyone@aol.com
Beach Music by Pat Conroy, author of The Prince of Tides and many other books.  I am about 2/3 through reading this book and am caught between loving it so much that I want to read it slowly and savor every sentence and loving it so much that I want to stay up all night until it is done.  I am enjoying the reading of this book so much that I am rating it 5 stars, without even knowing the ending.  This book is absolutely delicious.

bookworm@shol.com
The Manhattan Hunt Club by John Saul. 5 stars.
When I picked up this book to read, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, but I was hooked from page 1.  A different style of "going after the bad guy".  I was literally on the edge of my seat throughout this book.  Very highly recommended.

The Villa by Nora Roberts. 5 stars.
Although I'm only half way through this book, I am finding it hard to put down.  Loads of characters, but each one is developed nicely. This one has it all so far: mystery, romance, and a story in which the reader learns something about vineyards --- in other words, it has some meat to it.

Spizzyone@aol.com
Full House by Janet Evanovich. 3 stars.
This book was originally published years ago under a different name, and has been re-worked by Janet Evanovich and another author, whose name I can't recall.  Janet Evanovich started out writing romance.  I really love her Stephanie Plum character and thought I would love this book too.  I didn't hate it, but it was weak.  I didn't find myself caring much about her heroine, which is not true of the characters in her more recent books.  But, if I were famous like Janet Evanovich is, I'd be tempted to re-release anything I had written, just to see if it would sell.  I guess I can't blame her.  I am looking forward to her book Visions of Sugar Plums, because it is my understanding that it is a Stephanie Plum book and I know I love her writing when she writes those books.

Conkeyjl@aol.com
Four to Score by Janet Evanovich. 5 stars.
I just finished it and it was as good as the first three!  (Even better since Stephanie and Morelli finally hooked up!)

OLTLFREAK@aol.com
Right now I am half way through Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper by Patricia Cornwell. I have read all of her books, and her Kay Scarpetta series are my favorite. I tell everyone to read her. But this is one book I wouldn't do that with. I know she spent a lot of time researching and writing the book, but its just bad. It's hard to read and doesn't flow. I know it's a true crime book and her others are fiction, but it just doesn't work. I will stick with Patricia and wait for the next one. 1 star.

bookmark@sc.rr.com
My favorite book that I have read is The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve. That is the first book I ever read of her and probably my favorite book of all time --- first because it is historical and second because it is a mystery and suspense and it is meaty. I give it 5 stars. I read this book four years ago. Last month I found out it is going to be a movie, but it won't be playing here.

AUGER77777@aol.com
I am currently reading A Perfect Evil by Alex Kava. This is a superb debut for a new author.  FBI criminal profiler Maggie O'Dell reminds me of Clarice Starling in Silence of the Lambs.  The suspense is as great as the work of Jeffrey Deaver or James Patterson.  I look forward to reading her subsequent novels.  5 stars.

Geejay33@aol.com
I have just finished James Patterson's 1st to Die and give it 5 stars. Very exciting with an ending that keeps you guessing. I am now reading Homecoming by Belva Plain. Excellent book on family relations and how one family deals with healing their family rifts. 4 1/2 stars.

Stichery@aol.com
The Crush by Sandra Brown. 5 stars.
Interesting book on how a young woman overcame an episode in her background.
I enjoy Sandra Brown books. This book held my attention and I finished it in
two days.

ERDSX2@aol.com
Jonathan Kellerman's The Murder Book is sitting by my bed (I'll be there in two minutes) and I just finished The Carnivorous Carnival.  Wildly different and equally enveloping. Write faster, please!!!

PReyno@aol.com
I just finished The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I was rather disappointed in this book, as the author jumps around with the characters, and tends to be a bit confusing. Also, the ending stunk --- there really isn't one. A great disappointment and a waste of my time.

Mystrytx@aol.com
The Search by Iris Johansen. Enjoyable reading. Not "the great novel" but good entertainment.

linkslady@usa.net
The Memory Of Old Jack by Wendell Berry.
Fidelity by Wendell Berry.
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner.
Witness by Karen Hesse.
Picnic, Lightning by Billy Collins.

All are rated 5 stars.

DAVENAYMEG@aol.com
I just finished Let's Roll by Lisa Beamer. I have to admire her strength. I'd give it 4 stars.

EStone2618@aol.com
I just finished reading Wish You Well by David Baldacci.  A good story about a family living in the mountains of Virginia.  I am a Virginian and could picture the locale these people were living in. The family has many struggles, many good times and many bad times. I liked the book because it pulled the heartstrings and was enjoyable. I give it four stars. I hope The Christmas Train is as good.

Dright2828@aol.com
I am currently reading Sarah Willis' first novel Some Things That Stay It is a warm, funny, sad story told in first person by a teenager whose family moves yearly. I convinced my book club that we needed to discuss this delightful book, and we are going to do so this week.

Cknapp262@aol.com
I have just read The Lovely Bones. It was a different book for me to read but I found I could not put it down.  Everyone who saw me reading this book wanted to know about it.  The concept of reading from the point of view of a dead teenage girl was good because I think we all wonder if the people we love who pass on can still see us or grow with us after their death.  I feel this book gives some of us the hope that our past relatives and friends need closure as well as we do. The plot was very good and at times I wanted her to do something so her murderer would get caught, but she could not and had to let things happen.  I found at times she felt very helpless but she did have some resources in heaven to help her understand what was happening and why she could not help the people she left behind. I rate this book a 5.

The book I read next was Daddy's Girl by Danielle Steele.  After finishing read that book I found I should have not read this one after The Lovely Bones.  At times I was confusing the two books, although they were different.  This book was from the point of view of a younger sister who was left behind after her older sister was murdered.  The family had several problems and it showed how the death of a daughter and sibling can destroy a family.  When her sister grew up to be an investigative journalist, I liked this character because it showed how resourceful a sibling could be to keep her sister's murderer in jail and to continue to fight for her sister's memory no matter what happens to her.  The relationship with her parents changed and was mended after sometime. I like that. I rate this book a 5.

I am currently reading The Short Forever by Stuart Woods, which I am finding very good and hard to put down.

Pennie0801@aol.com
I'm reading Daring to Dream by Nora Roberts.  Next, I'm going to read Reflections and Dreams and then Irish Hearts also by Nora Roberts.  I'm trying to catch up on her books that I have missed reading.  I give all her books a five-star rating!

GandmaRI@aol.com
I'm currently ready to read Firestorm by Nevada Barr.  I hope to get started today, so I'm unable to give a rating. But I will admit that Nevada Barr is one of my favorite authors and I've read all of her books...usually in a day, sitting in my recliner with the ugly quilt, the cat and a bowl of popcorn. The popcorn diminishes faster the more exciting the book gets.

Dirkfist@aol.com
I just finished Joe Baby by Los Angeles writer Drew Fine and it was great!  One of the best Los Angeles based mystery novels I've ever read.  I could not put it down!!

trishm62@comcast.net
The book I am currently reading is The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett. It is absolutely amazing!! We are currently reading it in our book club and it is a great follow up to The Lovely Bones. The Magician's Assistant is full of twists and turns, emotion and great character development.  I love it when "unknown" books turn out to be real winners.  I highly recommend this one!!

tfranzen2124@attbi.com
Re-reading Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood  by Rebecca Wells after renting the movie.  As always the book is so much richer and moving. 4 stars again. As I recall her second book, Little Altars Everywhere, was even better, so that's next.

s.bucher@insightbb.com
I have just discovered Laura Lippman's mystery series about private detective Tess Monaghan, set in Baltimore. Very enjoyable, especially In a Strange City, which concerns the mysterious Visitor, who comes to Poe's grave every year to leave roses and cognac. 4 stars.

DEsham16@comcast.net
I am an avid reader and just finished Blood Orchid by Stuart Woods --- a real page- turner. I have read all of the Stone Barrington novels by Woods, and the recently added Holly Barker series has been a terrific addition.  Prior to that I finished Stone Kiss by Faye Kellerman, a Peter and Rina Decker novel. I felt the plot moved far too slow with uninteresting characters --- certainly not one of her best.  I am also reading as part of our Baptist Church program The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren, which delves into spiritual maturity with God and your use of your God-given talents.

GLiebsack@msn.com
The Assassins by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. 4 stars.
Pop Goes the Weasel by James Patterson. 4 stars.
Her Father's House by Belva Plain. 4 stars.

afalbo49@yahoo.com
Jolie Blon's Bounce by James Lee Burke. 4 stars.
Burke is never easy to read, perhaps because he's not afraid to take his readers on roads less traveled.

LenaEllis2000@aol.com
I'm reading Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Tiny Tim and Bob Cratchet are so cool, the spirits are so scary, the ghosts of the past, present and future are so eerie, and Scrooge was so selfish. A Christmas Carol is a good holiday book. I give it 5 stars.

CLAIRE120@aol.com
I just finished The Eleventh Hour by Catherine Coulter.  It's a little stretch but not bad. A neutral 3. Last week I read Beach House by James Patterson. A fast read but keeps moving and is good. I'd give it a 4. I read The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. It's interesting and certainly not run of the mill. Wonder if you can really track things on earth from heaven.  Now I'm starting Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg. No opinion yet.

MGKelley@aol.com
Life of Pi by Yann Martel. 4 stars.
This was a hit with our reading group, prompting a great discussion.

The Bondwoman's Narrative by Hannah Crafts. 4 stars.
This is possibly the first novel written by a female African-American; the details of authenticating the work are quite interesting.

MASTERSCOTT69@aol.com
Mount Vernon Love Story by Mary Higgins Clark. 4 stars.
I don't usually read this author, but my wife liked this so much I decided to see for myself.  It's really not bad.  Clark writes a fictionalized account of George and Martha Washington's relationship, beginning with their first meeting and ending with the return to Mount Vernon after his presidency.  I particularly enjoyed the historical events that she used as reference points. Well done.

Deb1teach@aol.com
I am reading Smoke Jumper.  It's a fun and quick read about love and responsibility.  I'd rate it a 5 if you're looking for a nice quick getaway.

Britadon@aol.com
The Forest by Edward Rutherfurd. 3 stars.
Interesting but very long…Michener style. Bookclub choice and I completed it more from obligation than from real interest.

Irish Eyes by Kathy Trocheck. 3 stars.
An okay mystery.  Somewhat predictable.
Gap Creek by Robert Morgan. 3 stars.

DancingGram7@aol.com
I just finished Blood Work and found it to be very good.  I pictured the main character as Clint Eastwood, who played the leading role in the movie.  I didn't see the movie, but I probably will when it comes out in VHS.  The book held my interest, as I do get bored with books very easily!  I did not really like The Lovely Bones as many others have, as I found it not too interesting and sometimes upsetting.  Perhaps this book is geared toward a younger reader. Just started to read The Burglar Who Thought He Was Bogart by Lawrence Block and it seems like it will be a funny read.

DoctorAnn@aol.com
I am not a horse lover or race enthusiast but loved Seabiscuit, which prompted me to read another quasi-nonfiction book,The Greatest Game Ever Played --- even though I am not much of a golfer.  I am thoroughly enjoying this book also. On my desk is The Piano Tuner, which my sources at our local bookstore, The Book Bin, have recommended as a good read.

mtsantoro@netcarrier.com
I'm currently reading the third book in a trilogy about Guenevere called The Child of the Holy Grail by Rosalind Miles. So far this is a faster paced book than the first two, Guenevere: Queen of the Summer Country and The Knight of the Sacred Lake, both of which I gave four stars. So far I'd give The Child of the Holy Grail four stars. Very good and should be widely read. This series got me hooked on historical fiction.

BREEZYWRITER@aol.com
Legal Tender by Lisa Scottoline. 4 stars.
I wasn't familiar with this author and found her to be very enjoyable in the pattern of Sue Grafton.

MACN4MONEY@worldnet.att.net
Bubbles Unbound by Sarah Strohmeyer. 4 stars.
I read this for a local library mystery book club. Humorous mystery. Fun entertainment and quirky characters.  Bubbles is a single parent hairdresser who takes a stab at being a newspaper reporter. I liked her --- she dresses like Erin Brokovich and has an attitude that reminds me of her.

The Switch by Sandra Brown. 1 star.
I would never have read this if it wasn't a book we read for a book group at work. It is interesting to discover what other women in the group enjoy, but I won't read anymore of this author.  It was just too sappy and predictable for me. The plot about twins switching identities, a murder, a cult --- phooey (as Nero Wolfe would say). Plus I hated the sex scenes. Ugh!

Middle Age by Joyce Carol Oates. 4 stars.
I love this author and have appreciated every novel of hers that I have read. I am not done yet with this one, but I believe it is not going to be my favorite of hers. I would recommend any of her novels to everyone.  She is a phenomenal writer and so prolific. I read an interview with her and she is very disciplined and uses every minute of every day in a productive manner. This fact increases my admiration of this author.

tmzemke@comcast.net
I'm just beginning to read I May Be Wrong but I Doubt It by Charles Barkley. It is not a book that I would generally read, but I heard an interview that Terry Gross did with him on NPR. He was very funny, intelligent and quick-witted enough to spar with Terry. Too early to tell if I'll like it, but it will be a quick read.

Gshank1717@aol.com
I've just read The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon, who wrote Wonder Boys.  This Pulitzer Prize winner is a novel about two boys (one who escapes Nazi Germany in a casket) who become comic book writers in New York during the comic book craze in the early '40's. Kavalier is the illustrator and Clay is the writer. Kavalier is also an illusionist and escapist, who idolizes Houdini.  Their adventures, loves and skills in writing make for an interesting read, especially with the historical period of pre- and early war New York.  I rate this one 5 stars.

NCT49@aol.com
I have just started Fortune's Rocks by Anita Shreve and am enjoying it very much.  My book group recently read Plainsong by Kent Haruf and had one of our best discussions ever. We would give it a definite 5 stars and are hoping it will be made into a movie.

HLTassin@aol.com
Dark Horse by Tami Hoag. 2 1/2 stars.
Not as good as her previous books, although I loved the heroine, flaws and all!

The Crush by Sandra Brown. 4 stars.
Wick was a sexy hero and the villain was deliciously evil.

susanrjensen@yahoo.com
The Empty Chair by Jeffery Deaver. 5 stars.
A great page-turner featuring Lincoln Rhyme, a quadriplegic forensic scientist.  Fans of CSI will love this one.  A quick, engaging read with a big plot twist.

D9o7l5p@aol.com
I have just completed reading Hangman's Root, a China Bayles Mystery by Susan Wittig Albert.  Her previous books, Witches' Bane and Thyme of Death, were just as enjoyable as this one.  China Bayles is a retired attorney who has opened an herb shop near Austin, Texas and spends her time solving mysteries. I rate Susan Albert's books three stars each. I also enjoy Martha Grimes' mysteries and am about to begin Darkness Peering by Alice Blanchard.

SheilaD@aol.com
The Laughing Sutra by Mark Salzman. 4 stars.
Bloodwork by Michael Connelly. 3 stars.
Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley. 3 1/2 stars.
Blessings by Anna Quindlen. 4 stars.
Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg. 3 1/2 stars.

Linda.Berner@CHSD218.ORG
Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult.  This book has the distinct ability to literally place me inside the setting.  I feel like the proverbial "fly on the wall," and almost find myself talking out loud to the characters.  I can't wait to read her other books.

rhsu@concentric.net
2nd Chance by James Patterson. 3 stars.
As a fan of JP books, I thought I could guess the ending but I was wrong. Pretty suspenseful story.

micheleserrani@carolina.rr.com
I have just finished The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I give it four stars.

jchanmbers@yahoo.com
Silicon Secrets by Catherine Burr. 4 stars.
I just finished reading a debut novel by Catherine Burr. It had twists and turns throughout and I couldn't put it down until I finished it. The story was filled with romance, intrigue and suspense. Great story and worth reading--twice even.

jmeb@incoming.com
Thunderland by Brandon Massey. 5 stars.
This book is more than riveting! A very captivating read if ever there was one. I found myself lost in the pages and just couldn't get enough. Exciting, Spell-bounding, Enthralling --- just a few words in an attempt to describe this must read publication. Anxiously anticipating the new release in December. I can't imagine it being written any better! Brandon Massey's writings will keep me as his #1 fan forever!

GeoBarb636@aol.com
Just finished Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton. 5 stars.
I love reading about Kinsey and this was a good one. Now, I am readingAn Accidental Woman by Barbara Delinsky. Also a 5 star book. Hard to put down. In fact I must go finish it right now.

huntbabe3@yahoo.com
Recently, I read Fairy Tale Wedding by Natasha Usher. It is a contemporary romance and normally I'm not a fan of romance novels of any kind, but as this was a gift from a friend, I forced myself to read it.  I was rewarded by a fantastic read.  The characters are interesting and witty, especially the manipulative grandmother and seven year-old Raven.  If you need a happy ending at the end of your day, I strongly suggest Fairy Tale Wedding.

gregc2@bellsouth.net
Queen Bee of Mimosa Branch by Haywood Smith. 4 stars.
This book has a lot more plot and twists than most "fun" reads. It's about a woman whose marriage of 30 years is suddenly over because her husband ran off with a stripper. He not only emptied the bank accounts but he ran up unheard of bills for "lap" dances. She is forced to move back home to small town Georgia with aging parents and relatives. The book leads the reader through pity parties, small town politics and a lot of growth for the main character.  It's a fun read that will keep you interested and entertained.

Ereganwrites@aol.com
A Highland Christmas by M. C. Beaton.
M.C. Beaton first released this amazing cozy book in 1999.  Hamish MacBeth, the  village constable, is in a gloomy mood --- his family is in Florida enjoying a contest trip, his dog has died and the once love of his life is working in New York City.  Between the cruel weather and the icy Calvinist stance against holidays, he is fairly confident that he will never suffer another Highland Christmas. As things work out, a little girl finds love and an elderly woman finds peace and Hamish receives a true gift of the holiday spirit. I love anything Hamish but this is the best!

Scwyse@aol.com
While following the trail of an elusive map thief, Miles Harvey, author of The Island of Lost Maps, discovers the villainy, romance and obsession that surround map making and collecting. This book gave me the urge to begin my own collection of maps.

marychambers@yahoo.com
Bad Boy Brawly Brown by Walter Mosley. 1 star.
Too slow. Nothing happened.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. 4 stars.
Unique and interesting and thought provoking.

Empire Falls by Richard Russo. 1 star.
Not what I expected.  Unlikable characters.

Heart of the Beast by Joyce Weatherford. 1 star.
Nobody in my book club liked this book. The characters never got a clue about life.

Body of Evidence by Patricia Cornwell. 3 stars.
Second of the Kay Scarpetta series, not one of her better books. Try some others.

gravel123@hotmail.com
An American Cycling Odyssey, 1887 by Kevin J. Hayes. 5 stars.
This work is a hilarious retelling of George Nellis's record-breaking cross-country bicycle ride in 1887. Anyone who enjoys the work of Bill Bryson or Tim Moore will appreciate An American Cycling Odyssey, 1887. Nellis mastered the art of the humorous travel narrative a century before Bryson or Nellis and Hayes recovers Nellis's words and works in delightful fashion.

ATENC3@aol.com
Homecoming by Belva Plain.  5 stars.
I recently finished Perfect Justice, Extreme Justice and Cruel Justice by William Bernhardt, which I would each rate 5 stars.  I'm looking forward to his other "justice" books, plus all the others he's written.  I need to read them all.

cfurgason@ADESA.com
Master Spy: The Life of Robert P. Hanssen by Lawrence Schiller. 5 stars.
Chasing the Dime by Michael Connelly. I can't rate it yet because I just started it.

DrRZT@aol.com
I, Richard by Elizabeth George. Not yet read. Anticipate 4 stars.
Last Train to Paradise by Les Standiford. In-process. Minimum 3 stars.
My Losing Season by Pat Conroy. 4 stars.
On Writing by Eudora Welty. 2 stars.
From A Buick 8 by Stephen King. 2 stars.
Dune: The Butlerian Jihad by Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson. 2 stars.
Red Dragon by Thomas Harris. 4 stars.

ALEMESH@aol.com
I have just finished Blessings by Anna Quindlen.  As a mother myself, I shouldn't have been surprised at the changes that occur in lives when a child is born.  What an appropriate time of year to read this book.

JOcchio@aol.com
The Red Tent by Anita Diamont. 5 stars.
Based on biblical accounts of the wives and only daughter of Jacob, The Red Tent is enthralling and hard to put down. This novel has all the makings of a wonderful story: passion, love, loss, emotion, mythology, family ties, tradition, the power of friendship and the resiliency of human spirit. It is a great read!

Tlalonde4771@aol.com
1)  The Smoke Jumper by Nicholas Evans. 5 stars. Couldn't put it down
2)  The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. 5 stars.
3)  The Saving Graces by Patricia Gaffney. 4 stars.
4)  Between Friends by Debbie Macomber. 4 stars. Great story about the power of friendship.
5)  The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. 5 stars. The best book I have ever read --- so descriptive you can picture the characters and all the action in your mind. Excellent!

paulachambers@webtv.net
The Heaven of Mercury by Brad Watson. 5 stars.
A most marvelous example of southern storytelling, as told by one of today's young Southerners!

Avery85282@aol.com
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. 5 stars.
Absolutely one of the funniest collections of essays you'll ever read.

Giants in the Earth by O.E. Rolvaag. 4 stars.
A classic saga of Norwegian immigrants first published in 1924.

The Fall of a Sparrow by Robert Hellenga. 4 stars.
Richly layered, sprightly, witty academic comedy about a classics professor who can cook, play jazz and speak Greek, Latin and Farsi.  This Renaissance man is interesting, multi-faceted and pretty irresponsible during a life-changing crisis that actually occurs during his change of life.  There is enough in this grab bag of fascinating topics, people and incidents to please almost everyone.

jimraywhit@msn.com
The Moment She Was Gone by Evan Hunter. Good.

melanie65@earthlink.net
The Last Girls by Lee Smith. 5 stars.
This long awaited novel will delight any lover of contemporary southern fiction.  Smith weaves the characters together in such a way that you think about them days after the last page has been finished.  The humor ties together this story of three middle age women reuniting for the first time since college. A novel that leaves you thinking about where you are in life.

A Place Called Wiregrass by Michael Morris. 4 stars.
I was drawn to this novel by the cover quote from one of my favorite writers, Anne Rivers Siddons.  She states that it is hard to believe this is a first novel and I agree.  The writing is strong but the women in this novel are even stronger. The main character is a good ole' girl who leaves an abusive marriage and sets out for a new life for herself and the granddaughter she is raising. But it is the elderly socialite who befriends her that ends up stealing the story. An uplifting novel that inspires.

Raney by Clyde Edgerton. 4 stars.
This has to be one of the funniest novels I have ever read.  It's a quick read and one that you'll want to go back to time and time again.  A small town Baptist ends up marrying a high brow Episcopalian.  The novel chronicles their first year of marriage in the girl's hometown. A great southern novel.

RedRodeoDo@aol.com
Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich. 4 stars.
I just finished this new Stephanie Plum adventure.  While it was excellent, it's shorter length and tamer story line left me wishing for To The Nines, the next book in the Plum series.

gswcgi@earthlink.net
Red Rabbit by Tom Clancy. 5 stars.
The Fiery Cross by Diane Galbaldon. 4 stars.
The Painted House by Tom Clancy. 4 stars.
The Shelters of Stone by Jean M. Auel. 4 stars

sharrycohen100@hotmail.com
Two great books!
Madam, the Grass is High by Dennis H. Christen. 5 stars.
The Wedding Dress by Virginia Ellis. 5 stars.

Both of these books are unforgettable novels about love and hope, written with the natural simplicity and beauty of born storytellers. Both are very different from each other in time and genre, but still leave you feeling really good after you've finished reading them. Can't wait to read more from both writers.

Nokegchris@aol.com
I have just read the The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. It is a must read for anyone who is looking for something a little different and something very inventive. I laughed, cheered and sat reading in amazement at this wonderful book. I have the book for a while. I bought it in hardback when it first came out and I believe it is in trade paper now. I picked it up when I was looking for something to catch my interest that wasn't a run-of-the-mill book. Well, this is it. Every page and every chapter hold a new experience. I can't wait for his second book that I believe is coming out in April of 2003. I highly recommend this book.

Mystrytx@aol.com
Cat Laughing Last by Shirley Rousseau Murphy. 4 stars.
A surprisingly great read considering the protagonists are talking cats of Celtic lore. This is book seven and I have enjoyed them all!

Satshak@aol.com
I have just finished The Last Girls by Lee Smith. I am now reading Quentins by Maeve Binchy. Both are excellent books. I have also read Jan Karon'sOn the Mountain recently.

rsaxe@utoledo.edu
The First Law by John Lescroart.
Usually this author is a great read. All of the usual elements are here, but the plot is absurd.

louwon@bellsouth.net
I am trying to read The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.  I must be among the non-existent people who do not like it.  I love mystery and romance but this is beyond reality. I am also reading Criminal Intent by William Bernhardt, which is very good so far.  I am an avid reader and I can usually find some parts of a book that I enjoy, but not so with The Lovely Bones.

GDurisin@aol.com
Warning Signs by Stephen Walsh White. 4 1/2 stars.
White's newest novel maintains the suspense right to the end, as Alan Gregory becomes more and more deeply involved in the investigation of a bomber who is believed to be seeking retribution from those he holds responsible for freeing the convicted murderer who, once paroled, killed the bomber's mother and possibly Alan's wife Lauren.

Blue Shoe by Anne Lamott.  5 stars.
One of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long while.  Lamott uses wonderfully apt descriptions and witty dialogue to develop memorable characters and an engaging plot centering on a reluctantly divorced mother of two young children struggling to rebuild her life while coping with her grief over her father's death, her mother's difficult mental and physical decline, the needs of her children and her own loneliness.

Reversible Errors by Scott Turow.  3 stars.
Most of the characters were unlikable, so it was hard to care which side won in this novel about a convicted man's final appeal before his death sentence is carried out.  Several times I came close to just putting it aside -- there are so many better books waiting to be read -- and when I did finish it, I wasn't at all sure it was worth the effort.

Lucky by Alice Sebold.  5 stars.
Riveting true account of Sebold's rape in her freshman year of college.  Difficult to read from an emotional standpoint, but well worth it.

Her Father's House by Belva Plain.  2 stars.
Slow starting while the focus is on Donald Wolfe and his shallow status-hungry wife, but plot and pace both improve once Plain has set the stage for her real story, which centers on Donald's relationship with his daughter once he takes her away from NY to protect her from her mother's neglect.

The Program by Stephen Walsh White.4 stars.
Two clients of the federal Witness Protection Program meet and form an alliance while being treated by psychologist Alan Gregory.  One of them, a former prosecutor, finds herself in the bizarre position of relying on a professional hit-man to protect her from the very program that's supposed to be safeguarding her life and that of her daughter.

From A Buick 8 by Stephen King.  5 stars.
How good is King's tale of a mysterious old car kept in the garage behind the police station in a small Pennsylvania town?  I hate exercising, but I force myself to ride my stationary bike at least 30 minutes each morning before I go to work.  I read while I ride to make the time pass, but I'm still sneaking a peak at the clock every ten minutes or so.  Nearing the end of From a Buick 8 this morning, I rode 55 minutes straight without ever thinking about the time!  THAT'S good writing!!  Definitely a five star novel.

Mrsfitz196@aol.com
1. Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons. 5 stars.
Absolutely loved this book! What a great heroine. The only bad thing was that it was too short --- I would have liked it to be longer than 126 pages!

2. Julie and Romeo by Jeanne Ray. 5 stars.
A wonderful, modern day love story about people that you could easily believe existed. Nice to see an author knows that love can happen at any age!

3. At Weddings and Wakes by Alice McDermott. 5 stars.
This woman knows how to write a wonderful story! If you like Anne Tyler and Anna Quindlen, try reading anything by Alice McDermott --- she has a magic touch with the written word.

BeckyC3694@aol.com
Dress Codes by Noelle Howey. Very interesting
The Little Friend  by Donna Tartt. This book kept me guessing to the end.
Shade of the Maple by Kirk Martin. When you need a good cry.
The Last Promise  by Richard Paul Evans. Very good. Inspirational.
Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. This book touches every emotion.

Makelley4@aol.com
I recently read Absolute Rage by Robert Tanenbaum (first time I've read this author) and I enjoyed it so much I am now reading the first book he wrote which includes the recurring characters Butch Karp, et al.  I think there are twelve more to go before I am caught up to the most recent.  What a delight to look forward to!  Also, I am reading Scott Turow's Reversible Errors. It is excellent.

christiehaack@cox.net
I'm currently reading my usual three books at a time.  Always one book for my book club, one book I call the car book, (easy to put down and pick back up later) and my book before bed.  Our book club is rereading a classic Ralph Ellison book, Invisible Man.  Still as relevant today as when it was published.  My car book is Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg. Good small town escapism! And my before bed book is The Good German by Joseph Kanon. This is a really good WWII thriller.  The author pulled me right in and had me believing I'm in Berlin!  I may have to make this book my daily book, not my before bed dose of reading, because I may not get any sleep!

MAP5402@aol.com
I'm currently reading The Devil's Cradle by Sylvia Nobel.  My daughter picked up this signed copy months ago and I finally got around to reading it.  It's a local author and this is the second in the series.  It's a fun read that keeps you turning pages.  I'm going to get the first one this week.

Mittens0831@aol.com
I give 2nd Chance by James Patterson four stars.

NGroves@aol.com
I've just started reading Rohinton Mistry's Family Matters. I read another of his books several years ago and was bowled over by it, so I was eager to try another.

Love2readbooks@aol.com
Four Blind Mice by James Patterson.

georgeland652@hotmail.com
1. The Round Barn by Suzi Wizowaty. 4 ½ stars.
An impressive debut novel.  The action centers on a museum in rural Vermont that acquires and relocates a round barn.  However, it's a very character-driven novel, and the author successfully interweaves several different story lines (featuring characters both young and old, gay and straight) to create a satisfying whole.

2. The Dream of Scipio by Iain Pears. 4 stars.
An engaging novel of ideas, though not as successful as the author's amazing An Instance of the Fingerpost (5 stars +).  Three interrelated stories (set in three different time periods) explore the ways in which good people may come to support evil or misguided policies in troubled times.

3. A Mist of Prophecies by Steven Saylor. 3 stars.
The latest installment in Saylor's wonderful Roma Sub Rosa mystery series featuring Gordianus the Finder and set in Republican Rome.  This volume is rather less firmly rooted in historical events, as Gordianus investigates the death of an alleged prophetess called Cassandra.  The Roman civil war, meanwhile, rages off-stage.  A great series, though this is not the strongest volume.

lfann@socket.net
Just Shy of Harmony by Philip Gulley. 4 1/2 stars.
Very entertaining, down-home humor. I hope to visit the town of Harmony again someday.

Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks. 4 stars.
Not his best, in my opinion, but still I shed a few tears in the end.

vitale@grantsburgtelcom.net
I'm really enjoying The World Below by Sue Miller. I've really liked all of her books.

rsedwards@sympatico.ca
I picked up a dual Judy Blume book: Wifey and Smart Women. The two combined make for a great reading. Although these books have been published a while ago they still remain true to the present. I rate these a 4.

Starrwy@aol.com
Just finished Hornet's Nest by Patricia Cornwell. This book kept my interest…very good character development. But I was disappointed with the ending. I will read Isle of the Dog next.

meagloro@msn.com
I just finished reading Cemetery of Angels by Noel Hynd. It's a ghost story and is pretty creepy and suspenseful.  I recommend it for anyone who loves mystery/thriller type fiction. I rate it 4 stars.

piercy@mindspring.com
The Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd.  5 stars.
Thought provoking book on her journey back to the feminine.

The Blank Slate by Steven Pinker. 4 stars.
An in-depth study of human nature --- fascinating!

Quentins by Maeve Binchy. 3 stars.
Thank God Maeve didn't really retire! I don't read much fiction but I love her set-in-Ireland characters.

My Losing Season by Pat Conroy. 4 stars.
Interesting to read a non-fiction account of Conroy's life.

Into the Tangle of Friendship by Beth Kephart. 3 stars.
I wanted to, but couldn't, get into this acclaimed book on friendship.

brady538_91208@yahoo.com
Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah. 4 stars.
This story points out that there are a few human beings that have a "built in" sense of accomplishment that is the most overpowering feeling of their being and nothing will get in the way.  Here is a young girl and most of her family hates her (she has two allies that are eventually expunged) and, above all, her stepmother is directly from hell.  How she was able to overcome her family's hatefulness is beyond my understanding. However, when she was at school, her classmates and teachers did love her...even after a couple of events where Cinderella's family berated her classmates.  This is a most interesting read and I shall, for sure, next read Falling Leaves.

Bossu49@aol.com
North of Nowhere by Steve Hamilton. 5 stars.
The Search by Iris Johansen. 5 stars.

BettyB6768@aol.com
The Passion of Artemesia by Susan Vreeland. 5 stars.
It is rare to find a book that takes one into the world of the 1600s so vividly and also gets us into the character. Susan Vreeland does that in this book. We learn what Rome, Florence, Genoa and Naples look like and how an artist of the period might mix paints (with difficulty) and think about their commissions. A great read.

lissb136@optonline.net
I think I'm one of the few people that didn't like The Lovely Bones. It was a stretch for my imagination. I couldn't see a mother leaving her other children for any period of time, let alone years and the father welcoming her back. I'm reading The Future Homemakers of America by Laurie Graham. It's about four military wives and their friendship. A book that I think should have gotten more frazzled dazzle was Letters in the Attic by Bonnie Shimko. A powerful story about a girl coming into her own. This book was sad and funny, what more could you ask for in a book. My next book to read is The Hours by Michael Cunningham. The movie is coming out soon but I want to read it before I see the movie.

EZREADER1265@aol.com
Four Blind Mice by James Patterson. 4 stars.
Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul. 4 stars.

Nice way to unwind during this busy time of the year.

RGNNNR@aol.com
A Widow for One Year by John Irving. 5 stars.
I really enjoy this man's writing. The only criticism of this work might be that he spends a little too much time on the sexual aspects (some might not find that a criticism at all). However, Irving has the talent to make the reader really care about all of the characters and that's what makes his books so good for me. I can really get lost in his novels. I liked this one as much as The Cider House Rules and The Hotel New Hampshire.

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. 2 stars.
This would make good reading for 12 year-olds, but it was just too hokey for me. A man who can walk on thin air because he is so good and holy. An 8 year-old who talks and writes like a Harvard graduate. Two children who are so good that they probably never even go potty. I gave up on this one halfway through.

yodasmommy@woh.rr.com
I just finished reading The Christmas Train by David Baldacci and it was wonderful. I hope I win a copy to give to my mother!  I give it 5 stars.  Very easy to read with lots of twists and turns in the plot.

tfranzen2124@attbi.com
After reading Beach Music (4 stars) and then My Losing Season (4 stars), I thought something brief to cleanse the readers pallet would be nice.  So I picked up Best American Short Stories (1988), edited by Mark Halprin. Short stories restore the interest and feed the need to read. This collection is earning 3 stars so far.

Gliebsack@msn.com
I am reading Cane River by Lalita Tademy and I would give it 5 stars. It is a fascinating read … part history, part fiction. I also just finished Evening Class by Maeve Binchy. I would also give this 5 stars.  I never liked Maeve's first book, Circle of Friends, so I never read any more. Recently, I started reading some more of her books and I love them.

marychambers@yahoo.com
Soul Harvest by Tim Lahaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. 4 stars.
Fourth in the Left Behind series and my favorite so far.

Believer's Authority by Kenneth E Hagin. 5 stars.
Great advice for your prayer life for your family and friends.  A must read for every Christian believer.

A Name of Her Own by Jane Kirkpatrick. 5 stars.
Another wonderful series by one of my favortite authors. The series is called Tender Ties. Jane writes historical fiction and does a lot of deep research.

Krissyrn@aol.com
Not too long ago, I finished reading Red Rabbit by Tom Clancy. 3 1/2 stars for this one and it saddens me to do so because I am an avid Tom Clancy admirer. I wait with baited breath for each new novel to hit the bookstores. Red Rabbit was exciting and I read it very quickly, but the dialogue was off base. I wonder if it took Mr. Clancy a long time to write this novel or if he had too many interruptions with other business at the same time. The main character, Jack Ryan, repeated the same lines of dialogue over and over with only a mild change or twist in the verbiage throughout the book; especially when he was talking to or about his wife. And the plot was predictable. I'm sorry. I was disappointed this time, but I will still be first in line for his next offering. None of us is perfect all the time.

sueclippard91@hotmail.com
Hi, I've been lurking around your website for some time now and I really enjoy it! It's fun to see what others are reading and all of the author stuff! I'd like to tell you about a book that I'm reading and so deeply drawn into! I'll be honest and tell you I've finished it and I immediately started it again. It's that good! I heard the author talking about it on the radio and I found it online at Amazon.com. The author said that everything in the book, except for the characters and the love story, was true! Amazing research flowed throughout this book and, after reading it, I left a review! 5 star rating! This author didn't come up when I did a search on your website but she should be!

Darkside of Debonair: The Bushmeat Trade by Barbara Davis. 5 stars.
This book took me on an African adventure and I never left my house! The details, suspense, romance/sex and violence were graphic and strong, but tastefully done. Very real! Once I got past the reality and horror shown in the first chapter, I was mesmerized, completely caught up in the story. The plot twisted and turned --- every chapter made me want to know what was going to happen next. I found myself really caring what was happening to the characters. I cried and laughed out loud. This is not a book for kids. The story is just as exciting the second time around as it was during the first reading! I didn't know about the bushmeat crisis or that people are hunting and eating chimpanzees and other endangered animals. This is not only the most entertaining escape I've ever read, but it has a powerful message too. This book is a must read!

swilliams@newbostonmarketing.com
I just read Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. I was enthralled from the first page of this book of fiction.  The strong Greek family history combined with the unique and fascinating account of an intersexed person.

MysteryNut19@aol.com
Fatal by Michael Palmer. 4 stars.
I really liked this medical thriller set in West Virginia mountain territory.  Crusading doctor versus big business coal mine storyline.  The style reminded me of Robin Cook or Michael Crichton back when their stories were fresh.

Stharalson@aol.com
American Gods by Neil Gaiman. 5 stars easily.
Almost every page will amaze you.

The Talking Trees by Sean O'Faolain. 4 1/2 stars.
Collected short stories that about life, love and being human.

The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint by Brady Udall. 5 stars.
New author, great book.

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