TonyBrandin@peoplepc.com
Mr. Ives' Christmas by Oscar Hijuelos. 3 stars.
Written in 1995, Mr. Ives' Christmas follows the life of Edward Ives, an "ad man through six decades in New York City. Less a novel than a reminiscence (though written mostly in the third person), Ives the character is really a stand-in for New York City itself: through Ives,Hijuelos traces the evolution of upper Manhattan from mixed working class neighborhoods to tougher, all-minority "mean streets." Along the way, in a tragic chance encounter, Ives loses his beloved teenaged son Robert, planning to enter the priesthood, to a troubled fourteen-year-old Puerto Rican street punk. This devastating loss colors the remainder of Ives' life. Given the title of the novel, Ives' eventual reconciliation (of sorts) with his son's murderer is inevitable; Hijuelos details the years before Ives gets there with precision, skill and empathy. Hijuelos focuses heavily of matters spiritual and describes sympathetically the ecstatic visions that several of his characters experience. His weakness, though, lies in his inability to bring the principal characters --- Ives, his wife Annie, and especially the angelic, saintly Robert --- to vibrant life. Ives is fundamentally too passive to carry the novel. Robert is wholly and only a mere symbol of goodness lost. After her marriage, Annie is mostly reaction to Ives and not action herself. Though really a portrait of New York Cityhistory, Mr. Ives' Christmas ultimately reveals a less vibrant city than the one actually built during the twentieth century.

The Beach by Alex Garland. 3 stars.
Alex Garland updates William Golding's Lord of the Flies with dissolute First World backpackers searching the Third World for the perfect, idyllic camp. Richard from England andEtienne and Francoise from France, all twenty-something trekkers who meet on the Ko Sanh Road in Bangkok, find "The Beach"using a hand-drawn map given to Richard by a strung-out fellow resident of a rundown hostel. Previous trekkers to "The Beach" have created a utopian society on a hidden lagoon in a protected marine park. Richard and his friends fall in and fall away from "the world" out of which they ventured. But the paramount goal of preserving the secrecy of "The Beach" eventually fractures the camp. Anyone who has read Lord of the Flies will recognize Garland's climax, right down to the spears. The Beach is a cautionary, but ultimately derivate, yarn: utopia in paradise will inevitably fall apart.

connie34533@hotmail.com
This is about a new book called Madam, The Grass is High. I would like to rate a new book that I recently read. I've never done this kind of thing before, but my daughter says I should get more involved with what I do. What I do is read a lot. I was given a novel by Dennis H. Christen. It started interestingly from the title Madam, The Grass is High and I rate it 5 stars. It touched me, not because I too lost my husband of many years, but because it took life, for people like me, beyond that tragedy. I have been too closed up and afraid since I lost my husband. Because of this story, I think I'll venture out and see what I find. It was not only a beautifully told story, I really loved how the people came across. It kept moral values in tacked, yet it let me dream of romance and happiness without feeling dirty. I am now in search of more stories like this one.

rachelkb@earthlink.net
I just finished reading Teen Angst? Naaah by Ned Vizzini. It's a funny and witty look at high school life in New York City. Vizzini recounts various stories from his high school years, such as winning an "honorable mention" for a writing award and showing up dressed utterly inappropriately, to various mishaps with college interviews, the game Magic: The Gathering, getting caught by his parents doing various taboo things, and girls. Hilarious asides are featured on many pages of the book. This is yet another example of a book supposedly for kids that adults can also very much enjoy. 5 stars.

mi3son@bellsouth.net
Blind Eye by James B. Stewart. 4 stars.
It is about a doctor who got away with murder for years and how the medical establishment let him get away with it. It is an interesting read. This man got away with a lot in medical school and no one reported him. This is unbelievable. This book grabs you by the first page.

FayeReader@aol.com
Child of My Heart by Alice McDermott. 4 stars.
As wonderful as That Night.

johno99@comcast.net
The Little Friend by Donna Tartt.
This wonderful book, like The Secret History before it, does what good fiction is supposed to do --- it sets down the reader in a different world and tells a riveting story. Tartt's writing is lush and detailed, creating a microcosm where serious readers want to live for a while. It's a scary roman a clef as a too-clever-by-half
12-year-old sets out to solve her brother's death by hanging in a tiny Mississippi town. Think Deliverance with a dash of Dickens and Faulkner, only better.

An Army at Dawn by Rick Atkinson.
First of a promised trilogy on World War II, Atkinson delivers the goods in a superior book that will open Americans' eyes about how badly our troops were prepared when they entered North Africa to shed their first blood in 1942. A must read for history buffs. This series will do for WWII what Shelby Foote did for the Civil War.

Jessieface@aol.com
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. 5 stars.
This was easily the best or one of the few best books I have ever read. I could not put it down.

Tick Tock by Dean Koontz. 3 stars.
This is a fun, thrilling and quick read.

In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner. 5 stars.
Jennifer Weiner creates characters that most, if not all, women can identify with in one way or another. This was as good as her last book.

The Perfect Husband by Lisa Gardner. 3 stars.
This was the first book I have ever read by this author. It was a fast read and it had a little bit of everything: romance, sex, violence and humor.

Kick Me: Adventures in Adolescence by Paul Feig. 4 stars.
I liked this book a lot. I think all the people who were ever geeks in high school and grade school will see a lot of their own experiences in this book. I laughed so hard sometimes I almost peed my pants. If you read and liked any of David Sedaris's books, you will probably like this book as well.

DStegmanCrawford@aol.com
Shrink Rap by Robert Parker. 2 stars.
OK, but short. Not much to chew on.

The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen. 4 stars.
I love the blood and guts, but hey -- can these women ever be real? How many of us can get ready to go somewhere (including a shower) in 5-10 minutes? And not scare people. This was about a duo of killers who attack couples in their homes.

Lucky by Alice Sebold. 5 stars.
This is a 5 star book about the author's own rape as a young college freshman. A wonderfully awful story and true too. You can see where she got her "material" for The Lovely Bones.

Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross. 5 stars.
This masterpiece is a fictional work based on the legend of a woman pope in the 9th century.

Bee Season by Myla Goldberg. 4 stars.
This is about a female child being prepared by her father for a spelling bee --- he is now ignoring the previously favored son. Mom is quietly going nuts.

thecranes@hypersurf.com
Adopted Jane by Helen F. Daringer. 4 stars.
It is about a little girl, Jane, who lives in an orphanage at the turn of the 19th century. She has always lived at the orphanage, but this summer will be different --- she has been invited to two places to stay! This is a book for young children, but I think adults would enjoy it as well.

smazzei@myactv.net
Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult. 5 stars.
As usual, Jodi Picoult's book was one I didn't want to put down. It contained a little bit of suspense, humor and sex!

bencanada1@yahoo.com
A Week in Winter by Marcia Willett. 5 stars.
Excellent.

rojosho@hotmail.com
The Ghost of Hannah Mendes by Naomi Ragen.

AUGER77777@aol.com
Let's Roll: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage by Lisa Beamer. 5 stars.
It is the story of her husband, Todd Beamer, who was among the passengers on United Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. They successfully thwarted the terrorists' plan to crash the plane into a national landmark such as the White House, Capitol Building, or other site. What exactly went on in the minutes during the passengers' counterattack may never be known, but it is clear they were successful in overwhelming the terrorists. The plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania, killing all aboard, but with no loss of life on the ground. Much of the book centers on the spiritual side of Todd and Lisa Beamer's lives. They held on to strong Christian beliefs that Todd carried with him to his death and sustained Lisa in the days, weeks and months after she first learned of his death, then of his bravery in leading the charge against the terrorists. This is a highly readable book that I finished in two days.

realbencann@yahoo.com
The Lexus and the Olive Tree by Thomas Friedman. 5 stars.
Excellent.

LKarlak@aol.com
Widow's Walk by Robert Parker. 4 stars.
Spencer is back and witty as ever in this fast-moving read.

susanrjensen@yahoo.com
Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man by Fannie Flagg. 5 stars.
This is a laugh-out-loud funny coming-of-age novel set in one of those quirky Southern towns that Flagg is famous for inventing. Daisy Fay keeps her readers entertained with numerous exploits and adventures with a very colorful cast of secondary characters.A surprising, wonderful and funny novel. Read it!

Songs of the Humpback Whale by Jodi Picoult. 4 stars.
This is the first novel Picoult published.The story is about Jane Jones and her daughter, who are "running away from home." On a cross-country road trip, the two women find adventure, romance and each other. The novel is told from the perspectives of five different people, which makes it confusing at times, but it is a good read.

Quentins by Maeve Binchy. 5 stars.
I love everything that Binchy has written and this book is no exception. It's set in Ireland with a cast of colorful characters and with a little bit of everything thrown in: romance, humor, mystery, etc. A great read.

BettyB6768@aol.com
French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles. 3 stars.
Yes, that old book. I saw the video again and wondered how well it had been translated into film. I had never read the book. The author, Fowles, plays tricks on us by inserting his comments all along the way and that seemed old-fashioned, though it does comment on Victorian ideas. The modern part of the film is not in the novel at all, though Fowles twists the ending somewhat. I came to the conclusion that Harold Pinter, the screenwriter who put the book into a film, is a genius. He got the feeling that Fowles wanted by adding the modern part in an ingenious way with flashbacks, etc.

Hrselover326@aol.com
Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg. 3 1/2 stars.
Very difficult to follow time frames --- people seemed like they lived forever or died too young. Not a horrible read but not one of Fannie's best.

I Don't Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson. 4 stars.
Light but with a life meaning for working moms.I really enjoyed this book.

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. 3 stars.
A thought provoking writing style that draws you into the lives of the characters but it felt like I was left hanging at the end without closure.

tfranzen2124@attbi.com
Q Is for Quarry by Sue Grafton.3 stars.
I was really looking forward to jumping back in. This one was not the best, but an interesting, slower, gentler paced piece.

DThomas201@aol.com
Currently I'm reading:
Pet Semetary by Stephen King
Portrait of a Killer by Patricia Cornwell
Lemony Snicket series # 3 and #4

Catslady5@aol.com
Valley of Horses by Jean Auel. 5 stars.
I would give it more if I could. This is the second in the Earth's Children series and is definitely my favorite.

Vjnmele@aol.com
The Last Noel by Michael Malone. 5 stars.
Beautifully written, heartbreaking love story. Good reading at any time of the year.

GDurisin@aol.com
Prey by Michael Crichton. 5 stars.
Crichton's at the top of his game, weaving frighteningly believable up-to-the-minute genetics and computer science into a terrific suspense story showing what can go wrong when man arrogantly believes he can understand and control nature.

All is Vanity by Christina Schwarz. 4 1/2 stars.
A private school English teacher, reacting to her gradual disenchantment with her lack of "importance" and achievement, quits her job to write the great novel that she's sure she has within her. Quickly succumbing to writer's block, she begins to borrow ideas from a looming crisis in her best friend's life, subtly fostering that crisis instead of helping to prevent it, as she milks the real-life story for the plot of her novel. Fun to read, with very realistic characterization and dialogue.

The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor. 4 1/2 stars.
A nine-year-old Irish girl runs away from home in a misguided effort to prevent her parents from moving the family to England during "The Troubles." Her action sets off a chain of reactions that deeply impacts her, her parents and her local community for years. Very well written evocation of a difficult period in Irish history.

Child of My Heart by Alice McDermott. 3 stars.
A fifteen year-old girl who never really seems to have been a child takes on adult responsibilities and attracts an older man during a summer on Long Island. Pleasantly lyrical writing, but insufficient plot for my tastes.

The Christmas Train by David Baldacci. 2 stars.
I thought this one might make a good Christmas gift (as John Grisham's Skipping Christmas was last year) but was disappointed with the flat characters, annoyingly sardonic tone, especially in the early chapters, and poorly developed plot.I can't give Baldacci's story of a reporter setting off to "find himself" on a transcontinental train ride more than two stars and I won't be buying it for friends.

In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner. 4 stars.
Very enjoyable novel about two sisters who have nothing in common but parentage and shoe size. Weiner even has her alter ego from Good in Bed make a cameo appearance.

Four Blind Mice by James Patterson. 3 stars.
Just when I thought this series had to be finished, Patterson finds a way to resurrect it believably. Alex Cross and John Sampson team up to try to save the life of a convicted murderer they believe has been framed and stumble onto a series of crimes by some of the most cold-blooded killers yet.

Chasing the Dime by Michael Connelly. 3 stars.
When Henry Pierce gets repeated calls for a female "escort" named Lilly at his new phone number, he begins searching for her and stumbles into a murderous plot in which he appears to be a major target. It seemed more interesting in the ads and excerpts online than in the actual reading, but it was still enjoyable.

Vikkivand@aol.com
I Don't Know How She Does It: The Life of Kate Reddy by Allison Pearson.3 stars. As a working mom myself, parts of it were things that I could relate to and it was sometimes funny. It was okay, but I guess I'm just tired of stories that are in the Bridget Jones format.

Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks.4 stars.
An enjoyable holiday read.

The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller. 4 1/2 stars.
I'm sorry I never got around to reading this when it first came out. Excellent story and writing.

JonBenet: Inside the Ramsey Murder Investigation by Steve Thomas.5 stars.
Every once in awhile I like to venture into the true crime genre. I never felt that I had enough background information to give an opinion on this particular case. Now I do.My husband is reading the book also. Good information.

The Sopranos Family Cookbook by Allen Rucker and Michele Scicolone. 5 stars.
I don't know if we can review recipe books here, but this one is excellent. I have made the Sunday Gravy, Shrimp Scampi, Pineapple Ricotta Pie and the Minestra (Escarole with meatball soup). All were excellent! There are some funny things throughout the book also. Definitely pick this one up.

Donnaleggate@aol.com
I'm currently reading one of Stephen King's older books entitled Pet Semetary. It started out a little slow but it has certainly picked up speed and now has my undivided attention. Louis Creed, a doctor, moved to Maine from Chicago with his family and will be working at the university. Winston Churchill, his daughter Eileen's cat, was found dead on Jud's lawn, his neighbor. They are on their way up to the pet gravesite, but Jud is taking him past the Pet Semetary into the evil and forbidden beyond. I give it 4 stars.

lgettle@iserv.net
Manhunting by Jennifer Crusie. 4 stars.
An amusinglittle romance.

GailTitle@aol.com
Rembrandt's Whore by Sylvie Matton. 4 stars.
This fiction is told from the point of view of Rembrandt's lover of 20 years, who raised his son, bore his daughter and supported him through his latter years while he was going through a dreadful bankruptcy. Henrietta was not really a whore but was considered that by the villagers who disapproved of this lifestyle. The book is poignant and tender, and I loved every word of it. It was written in French and translated into English.

Into the Mirror by Lawrence Schiller. 3 stars.
Schiller's take on the life of Robert Hanssen, FBI agent-turned-spy. What one gets out of this book is more about his family and his upbringing than about his spying. It tells what the newspapers didn't.

In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner. 4 stars.
This was a darling book, a clever plot, with a very happy resolution to cap it off. I couldn't put it down. I'll have to go back now and read Weiner's first, Good in Bed.

bradylee@myway.com
I: The Creation of a Serial Killer by Jack Olsen. 5 stars.
The subject matter is grisly and upsetting. However, if you wonder about the thought processes and probable background of most serial killers, this book will reveal the answers. The author speaks in the first person as if he was the serial killer and does so most effectively. You learn about the perpetrator's life from childhood to the present day. Two common areas that serial killers have, apparently, are animal mutilation and strange sexual needs. Mr. Olsen is noted for his true crime books, but this is the first story of his I have read, but it won't be the last.

GraceP@aol.com
Our book club is reading A Place Where the Sea Remembers. Portraying life in a small Mexican village, this novel shows how the birth of a child and the tragedy that follows changes the lives of the characters forever.I rate it a 4.

I just finished Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult.This book portrays the Amish way of life and is also a riveting story about the death of an infant and a murder trial.
I rate it a 5 +++++++.

I also recommend The Fallen Man by Tony Hillerman. I rate it a 4.

mowens@immpower.com
Skinwalkers by Tony Hillerman. 5 stars.
Tony Hillerman is a master at capturing Navajo traditions with his Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee mystery series. If you're new to the series, I highly recommend beginning with Skinwalkers, which was recently made into a PBS Mystery movie that aired in November.While the movie was good, the book is better. If you're like me and have read mostly later books in this series, this book also does a good job of filling in some early background history on main characters.

Sisselmans@aol.com
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. 5 stars.
Read Genesis in the Bible to make a comparison.

First Mothers by Bonnie Angelo. 5 stars.
Amazing similarities between presidents with strong mothers.

In My Hands by Irene Gut Opdyke. 5 stars.
Interesting point of view from a woman with a lot of courage.

The Pact by Jodi Picoult. 5 stars.
Good reading and can also catch the movie on Lifetime.

whpeters@citlink.net
I am currently reading Anna Quindlen's Blessings and re-reading everything else she has written. What a wonderful way to spend my holiday!!! She is first rate!!! 5 stars!!!

Britadon@aol.com
Miss Julia Takes Over by Ann B. Ross. 5 stars.
Second in the series and full of as many chuckles as the first. This is a good series and you should read it --- it is a "just for fun" read.

Wicked Widow by Amanda Quick. 1 star.
Sorry, Amanda, but was this worth your time in writing it? True, it is just a romance but it did not even have much interest in that genre.

False Witness by Lelia Kelly. 4 stars.
This has some very interesting twists and turns, almost too much. What I really objected to was the reference to her first book.Although I do now want to read

Presumption of Guilt, I feel like she referred to it so much in this book that she has given away the story.Perhaps I am wrong, however.I will only know after reading the first book.I do like the style of writing.

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. 5 stars.
Most of you probably read this last year but I just got to it. What a delightful book...not heavy. Only a few hours of reading but I could really appreciate the attempt to get out of the "Christmas trap." I think what really makes this an example of good writing is that the ending is warm without being gooey.

Anandnats@aol.com
I had the good fortune of coming across a wonderful book which is a must read for all. The Carousel by Richard Paul Evans is a touching love story that will remain in your heart forever. I give it 5 stars. Another great author is Nicholas Evans and his book The Smoke Jumper is an excellent read. Definitely another 5 stars.

AvecSara@aol.com
Keeping Faith: A Father-Son Story About Love and the United States Marine Corps by John Schaeffer and Frank Schaeffer. 5 stars.
My son joined the Marines right after 9/11. We were shocked and in shock during the weeks he was away in boot camp. Knowing little about what was happening to him, I started looking for any information about the Marine Corps and found other parents searching for the same information. Through word of mouth, I recently found this book. Written by the father and son in alternating POV, it is a candid look into the minds of each of them before, during and after the recruit goes through boot camp. It mirrors the experiences of other parents and recruits, providing insights into the reasons for our thoughts and actions. Frank Schaeffer wrote a piece called "My Heart on the Line " in the Washington Post on Nov. 26, 2002, Page A29 that explains the book far better than I can. I can only say it is a must read for all parents who have a son (or daughter) in the USMC. It is the best one I have found. Even if you don't have someone in the Corps, it is a wonderful read by two great writers. Everyone who cares about this country should read it. For those who don't care -- maybe you are the ones who should read it.


John1rosie@aol.com
Reflections of a Nobel Laureate by Najib Mahfuz. 4 stars.
In spite of the fact that his book may be the easiest book you will ever find to read, it is tremendously challenging in provoking thought and discussion of a variety of "big issues." It should be read by every book club and book discussion group. It should be read by every college student and given as a gift to anyone with a bent for "big issues" thought and discussion. Four stars are not enough.

hmcobe@ix.netcom.com
I have yet to see mention on your pages of a book my husband and I would give five stars to:The Buffalo Soldierby Chris Bohjalian. It is the story of a black foster child in a white home.We thought it was honest and most heart-warming, and it was beautifully written.

Monell90@msn.com
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. 5 stars.
A wonderful depiction of heaven from a teen's viewpoint. A very timely story, though the author wrote the book well before recent events concerning child abductions/murders this past summer.

The Weight of Water (4 stars) and The Last Time They Met (5 stars, sequel/prequel to The Weight of Water) both by Anita Shreve. Read these books in tandem --- they will keep you thinking about how love affects you all through your life.

Midlife Can be Murder by Jane Isenberg. 4 stars.
A murder mystery solved by a menopausal protagonist.

An Accidental Woman by Barbara Delinsky. 5 stars.
Love stories that include a physically disabled woman and a woman on the run.

dawn@mld.org
I am reading Prey by Michael Crichton and I am finding it really fascinating. It begins with a lot of technical information, but this all proves important later on in the book. I am anxious to see how it all fits together. Off for the pages!

georges0169@yahoo.com
Understanding Muslim-West Alienation: Building a Better Future by Arshad Khan.
Once started, I could not leave the book. Very fascinating with a great deal of useful information.

demery6014@cox.net
A Long Way From Home by Tom Brokaw. 5 stars.
Just finished it. Excellent!

A Death in the Venetian Quarterby Alan Gordon. 3 stars.
Different from most mysteries.

The Glorious Causeby Jeff Shaara. 5 stars.
His writing is superb but slow going in battle descriptions.

Lucky by Alice Sebold. 4 stars.
A page turner memoir.

Bjglu@aol.com
The Victoria's Secret Catalog Never Stops Coming: And Other Lessons I Learned From Breast Cancer by Jennie Nash. 4 stars.
A tough, honest and heartwarming story by a true survivor.Not just a woman's book.

My Antonia by Willa Cather. 5 stars.
I just reread this one.Truly one of the greats and hard to find a better written title character.It resonates.

haggispesto@hotmail.com
Away by Jane Urquhart is a must read! Lyrical, spell-binding, vivid and mesmerizing are just some of the words that come to mind. This book is part historical fiction, part mythological musing. The Irish migrating to the New World during the potato famine are challenged by their memories and the land that greets them.

Dochenry10@aol.com
I just finished reading Michael Crichton's new book Prey. It was a little slow in the very beginning. I enjoyed it and it has some weird ideas, but I don't think it is as good as the Jurassic Park books. I would rate it a 3.

LTOES144@aol.com
The Rover by Mel Odom. 5 stars.
Of all the books these days being compared to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series, this one wins hands down. It follows Edgewick Lamplighter through pirates, slavery, thieves, gangs, goblins, evil wizards and dragons --- just to name a few. This unlikely hero will have you once again cheering on a character through thick and thin where even the humble wee folk can still save the day.

WmsWtrkt@aol.com
I just read Four Blind Mice by James Patterson on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Although I'm a fairly firm Patterson fan, this was the second of his books to disappoint me. There was a gaping plot hole toward the beginning and the end was a little thin.The plot was well paced and I did enjoy reading it, but it definitely does not stack up to his better efforts.

Spizzyone@aol.com
Killjoy by Julie Garwood. 4 Stars. I have read many books by this author, but this is the first mystery/suspense novel I have read by her. I totally enjoy her romance novels. In the romance genre, Garwood can be a sweet writer, which is not a bad thing! I found the depth of this book to be surprisingly multidimensional and I enjoyed this book as much as any written by Patterson or Grafton. If I sound surprised, it is because I am! I read this book just because it was a Garwood book and didn't even know it was a mystery until I was reading it! What a nice surprise it was. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a mystery!

bradylee@myway.com
Shattered Bonds: A True Story of Suspicious Death, Family Betrayal and a Daughter's Courage by Cindy Band and Julie Malear.
My wife read this book first and told me that this and Angela's Ashes are the best books she has ever read in her life. WOW. I just finished Shattered Bonds and give it 5 stars. It is not the best I have ever read, but it is very good. It is true crime and you know who "did it" from the beginning, but the entire story is engrossing. My wife said, "Every page was interesting…from beginning to end." To hear that from her is amazing. Even she doesn't know what she likes to read and I have to find her books to read. She is an avid reader and I know that non-fiction is her forte.

fro993@aol.com
Courting Trouble by Lisa Scottoline. 4 stars.
This author has an easy-to-read writing style and this book has a great plot with a few twists and turns along the way.

Stinger by Robert McCammon. 5 stars.
One of my favorite authors. A very inventive and exciting story. Although it's a long book, it holds your attention all the way through to the end.

toythomas@attbi.com
Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold. 4 stars.
Gold has done a great job of researching the people and events from the early 20th century and turning them into an interesting novel. We meet Carter the magician, as well as President Harding, the Marx Brothers and Harry Houdini. We are also in on the world of vaudeville and the invention of the television. A good read.

Lgluhani@aol.com
Step-Ball-Change by Jeanne Ray. 3 stars.
Fun, light reading --- some very moving sections, but some highly unlikely situations as well.

The Music Lesson by Katharine Weber. 4 1/2 stars.
This novel starts slowly but weaves you into its web until you can't stop reading.

PALMER40@aol.com
Just finished reading House of Lords by Philip Rosenberg. A good story and worth a 5 rating. I think it would make a great movie.

John1rosie@aol.com
The House of the Prophet by Louis Auchincloss. 4 stars.
"Nothing is more shocking about old age than the speed with which even the most famous persons are isolated and forgotten. Felix Leitner had been a friend of presidents...his name had been...the very symbol of the intellectual commentator, the detached political philosopher; and yet in his eighty-third year...he was largely dependent on me..." So begins the 1980 novel The House of the Prophet by Louis Auchincloss, a story that will return us to our socio-political New Deal roots, enlighten us via aperspective on how different we are from certain "movers and shakers," and leave us with a sad sense that although Felix Leitner has faded away we would indeed like to read more to experience what it might be like to be his kind of man. The Auchincloss vocabulary is special; a delight for those who enjoy a new word every so often. His syntax is one that tells more than is necessary without ever compromising the pace or focus needed to comfortably maintain the reader as welcomed guest in the world described. The House of the Profit is a welcomed vacation from the content and style of today's fiction. In a rating system of four stars I regard this as a novel worthy of all four.

yodasmommy@woh.rr.com
I just fnished reading The Nights of Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks. It only took one afternoon to read and I enjoyed it very much. I'd give it 4 stars. Good easy reading.

Bossu49@aol.com
Ash Wednesday by Ethan Hawke. 5 stars.
Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg. 5 stars.

Ery222@aol.com
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. 3 stars.
Delightful.

LadyDelia77@aol.com
Left Behind by Tim Lahaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. 5 maybe even 6 stars.
To quote the book itself "In one cataclysmic moment, millions around the world disappear. In the midst of global chaos, airline captain Rayford Steele must search for his family, for answers, for truth. As devastating as the disappearances have been, the darkest days lie ahead." No matter what your faith is, this series of ten books so far (Left Behind, Tribulation Force, Nicolae, Soul Harvest, Apollyon, Assassins, The Indwelling, The Mark and Remnants) will leave you asking "Would I have been naive enough to trust the anti-Christ?" I'd bet on it that you would! The full impact is immeasurable.

Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben. 5 stars
This 7 book series features a sports agent by the name of Myron Bolitar. He is twisted, funny, SARCASTIC, funny, intense and did I mention funny. It kind of reminds me of Tom Cruise in Jerry McGuire. This sports agent/private investigator finds himself in unpredictable and dangerous situations. With believable characters and the page turning effects this series had on me, its a must read!

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