Ddynamite69er@aol.com
Comanche Creek by Kevin B. Isenberg. 2 stars.
Nice little storyline with the obvious cowboys and Indians gunfights, romance and lots of horses. However I found the characters were only two-dimensional, with little emotion and no depth to their characters.

Gayland as the name for a rough, tough, Texan ranger just didn't do it for me and the humor seemed forced and out of place. As he lay on the brink of death, or at best possibly a cripple for life, all of his "family" were out buying clothes and arranging dinner parties!!

The tough guys weren't tough enough and the baddies just weren't bad enough.

chmesler@earthlink.net
Recent Reads:

Hell at the Breech by Tom Franklin. 5 stars.
Franklin, in just his second book, joins company with the best modern Southern writers: Cormac McCarthy, Larry Brown, etc. A stunning story --- cinematic and lively, beautifully told.

Diary by Chuck Palahniuk.3 stars.
Not his best book --- that's still Fight Club, as far as I'm concerned --- but weird and wonderful, as only he can be.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. 4 stars.
What a debut. Funny, elegantly structured, and a perfect, just left-of-center premise.

Bleachers by John Grisham. 3 stars.
What can anyone say? He's a born storyteller. If I were more interested in high school football, this would rate more stars, but Grisham plots a book so ingeniously that he makes it look easy while, in reality, he is a rare conjuror.

The King is Dead by Jim Lewis. 3 stars.
After Why the Ax Loves the Tree, this is a bit of a letdown, but Lewis is still a young writer to watch. His sentences are constructions of unending delight.

WRKGRK@aol.com
I am reading The King of Torts by John Grisham. It is an easy read and I am flying though the pages. My only problem with the content is that it seems too easy to sue and settle class action suits. All the ones I've heard of takes years and years. I'm glad the author got back to his original themes, the law. My rating for this book is 4 stars.

jbrazell@ups.edu
I am currently reading three different books:

Life of Pi by Yann Martel. This book is a definite 5 stars. To say that the story is of a young man on a life raft with a Bengal tiger seems incidental. While the statement in the prologue claiming that this story will make you believe in God may not be completely true, this story will give you hours of introspection about your spiritual beliefs and what you have done with trauma in your life.

Pilgrim by Timothy Findley. 4 1/2 stars.
How many lives can one person live? What are you doing with the life you are currently experiencing? What do you believe in? These are all questions addressed in Mr. Findley's novel. A great read --- contemplative.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling. 5 stars.
A continuation of the hero's journey. Rowling has done it again. These books could become the standard by which the hero as depicted in juvenile fiction will be judged.

Emilyvergara@aol.com
Currently I'm reading One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I must have missed it in college. I saw it at the bookstore and have always been fond of Garcia and other Spanish writers, like Pablo Neruda, so I picked it up

Rickimc@aol.com
Summon the Keeper by Tanya Huff. 4 stars.
Surprisingly funny, although more of a horror novel than a fantasy novel.

The Time of the Dragon by Dorothy Eden. 3 stars.
An enchanting setting, but the end was wanting.

Di Gi Charat 1 by Various Authors. 2 stars.
A very odd collection of manga stories based on the anime of the same name.

Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis. 5 stars.
If you liked The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, you'll want to read this installment.

If There Be Thorns by V. C. Andrews. 5 stars.
This is one of my favorites! And one of the only V.C. Andrews novels with a male narrator (actually two male narrators).

bencanada1@yahoo.com
Kiss River by Diane Chamberlain. 4 stars.
Excellent, wonderful and sensitive portrayal of family, friends and their quest for a lighthouse lens and the ensuing relationships that occur during this very involved novel.

Cloish049@aol.com
I am currently reading East of Eden by John Steinbeck. While I originally decided to read the book when it became an Oprah pick, I was pleased to find out just how much I am enjoying it. I would give it 5 stars.

RJonesIrv@aol.com
I am currently reading Into Africa by Martin Dugard about the meeting and journeys of Stanley and Livingstone. Martin brings history alive and makes you feel a part of the adventure. 5 stars.

lanistrom@hotmail.com
Braving Home by Jake Halpern. 1.5 stars.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. 2.5 stars.
The Hemingway Book of Kosovo by Paula Huntley. 3.5 stars.
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach. 4.4 stars.
The Pursuit of Alice Thrift by Elinor Lipman. 5.5 stars.

CindyS2449@aol.com
I just finished reading The Princess Bride by William Goldman. Having been a fan of the movie for many years, I just couldn't resist trying the book. It very much follows the plot of the movie with lots of humorous asides from the author. By the end, I don't know whether or not to believe anything he says. But I once again enjoyed a few days in the company of Westley, Princess Buttercup, Fezzik, Inigo and the many other 'fairy tale' characters. A great light-hearted read. 4 stars.

mcgillrmcgill@charter.net
Violets Are Blue by James Patterson. 4 stars.
I'm a Patterson fan, so I always enjoy his books. The ongoing story of Alex Cross and his family are as interesting as the mystery story and balance each other well.

GBURK96@aol.com
The Dive from Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer. 5 stars.
The Usual Rules by Joyce Maynard. 5 stars.
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. 3 stars.
Sea Glass by Anita Shreve. 4 stars.
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. 5 stars.

gdthoms@charter.net
I am reading The Lake House by James Patterson. This book is the sequel to When the Wind Blows. I love these characters! I will be up all night tonight finishing it as I can't put it down! I rate this book 5 stars!

LJTotaro11@aol.com
I am enjoying the stories of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson yet again in the book The Lost Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, written by Ken Greenwald. I rate it 4 stars. I especially enjoy the new insights into our two main characters.

susanrjensen@yahoo.com
Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand. 5 stars.
I really liked the movie, but the book is better because of all the details. A truly fascinating look at horse racing, and a wonderful story about two underdogs who overcome great odds to win the race.

Second Time Around by Mary Higgins Clark. 3 1/2 stars.
Although her recent books haven't been as suspenseful as her earlier work, Mary Higgins Clark still writes a decent mystery. This one, her newest, focuses on Carley De Carlo, a journalist bent on discovering the truth behind the apparent death of her stepsister's rich CEO husband and the disappearance of millions of dollars from his company.

vitale@grantsburgtelcom.net
I just finished reading Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand, and I loved it! The details about horse racing, the weights the horses carry, etc. were a little tough to understand, but once you get beyond that, the story is fascinating and I found myself rooting for the horse and its jockeys over and over again. I can't wait to see the movie.

Right now I'm reading The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason. It's a fascinating story about a piano tuner sent from England in 1886 to repair and tune a grand piano in the middle of a far-off Burmese jungle. The setting descriptions are luscious. You almost feel that the place should be Fantasy Island. Never having traveled there, this is almost as a good as a trip. I have a very good picture of it in my mind thanks to his descriptive writing. I'm really liking this book, too.

GandmaRI@aol.com
This week I'm reading (or should I say devouring) Eleventh Hour by Catherine Coulter. Having only read half the book to date, I'd rate it 5 stars. It is the story of a serial killer who kills the priest hearing his confessions and of the murdered priest's brother, an FBI agent, who vows to find his brother's killer. There is a great story line that seems to flow from one chapter into the next. It's really a hard book to put down.

maestraw@msn.com
I just read Liars and Saints by Maile Malloy. It is about a Catholic family and the lies they tell to keep the family intact. There are many lies interwoven throughout the book, and when it finally ends, you are relieved that there has finally been honesty and open communication. I would give it 4 stars.

I am now reading To the Last Breath by Carlton Stowers. This is a true crime novel about a father accused of murdering his little girl and how the mother and grandmother work hard to keep the case open until it can be solved. I give it 4 stars.

ImNpieces@aol.com
The Sinister Pig by Tony Hillerman. 4 stars.
I just finished reading this last one of the Hillerman series. While I found it a very good read, with all the usual suspense of a Hillerman murder mystery, I was a little disappointed at the lack of insights into the Indian culture that is usually so prevalent in the Hillerman books. Maybe next time!

lindaharriet@msn.com
The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst was the most powerful book I read this summer. Lexy, a wildly unstable and enigmatic woman has jumped or has fallen from the apple tree and died. The only witness to her death was Lorelei, her Rhodesian Ridgeback. Paul, her husband, sets out to try to have Lorelei tell him what happened. Lexy, on the last day of her life, has left clues all over the house and Paul must decipher them. Sometimes I read ahead to see what would happen next. 5 stars.

craftymlc@yahoo.com
The Villa by Nora Roberts. 4 stars.
This is an interesting book about the vineyards and the making of wine. There are a couple of murders to be solved along the way and a couple of romances developing. This book kept my interest throughout the reading. I was certainly surprised by the final revealing murderer. I usually take pride in being able to figure out the "who done it", but this time I was completely blindsided. The read is quick and fast-paced.

Dianna@mail2her.com
I have read Cyanide Wells by Marcia Muller (to which I would give 4 stars). A man's wife disappears and the law and his family and friends believe he murdered her. He loses his job, his life is destroyed and he is shamed out of town. Many years later he receives an anonymous phone call --- his wife is alive and she knows what her disappearance has caused him.

It was a quick read and interesting, though the adventure failed to keep up the pace in places. Because I found the primary characters to be well developed and I could empathize with them, I am now beginning Point Deception, also by Marcia Muller. Something about her writing just calls me back for more.

BEVBOOKS@aol.com
Spare Parts by Rick Hanson. 4 stars.
This is an older book, but a goodie! Hanson is very witty and his mystery/suspense is funny and smart. Adam McCleet is a compelling character. I just ordered everything else that he has written. What a great discovery!

Bare Bones by Kathy Reichs. 5 stars.
This is number six in the Temperance Brennan series. As with all her other books, it was a great read...lots of forensic pathology details, high suspense, and a bit of romance in this one. This story even has slaughter of endangered species for profit. Great stuff!!

The Moment She Was Gone by Evan Hunter. 2 stars.
The writing was very good and the plot was OK, but I expected more. The suspense and character involvement just wasn't there. I really didn't care about the characters, and that to me is a fatal flaw. I had to struggle to finish.

Hrselover326@aol.com
I have recently finished these books:

Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah. 4 stars.
This was an enjoyable story about the reuniting of sisters who were long ago best friends and felt they could never find common ground again.

Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews. 4 stars.
This book carried its suspense right to the end without losing any steam. A little humor, a little romance and a little antiquing thrown as well to make a great read.

Full House by Janet Evanovich. 4 stars.
It was hard to set aside Stephanie Plum for Billie Pearce, but despite my stubbornness I enjoyed this book.

j_gargus@hotmail.com
I am currently reading Blessed Are the Cheesemakers by Sarah-Kate Lynch. It is fun and different. I'm also reading No Woman So Fair by Gilbert Morris. I really enjoy Gilbert Morris's books, as I am into historical Christian fiction.

Vikkivand@aol.com
Invisible Eden: A Story of Love and Murder on Cape Cod by Maria Flook. 4 stars.
The true story of a former fashion journalist who is murdered at her home in a remote Cape Cod town.

tiddyti@yahoo.com
An Accidental Woman by Barbara Delinsky. 5 stars.
You feel as if you know the characters as you read this book. Poppy, one of the main characters, shows us what true friendship is as we are drawn into a mystery and a love story. The reader becomes a part of the story and the town.

harrises@bayou.com
I don't know what made me put off The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. I can't sleep for wanting to read. This has been my children's first week of school, which makes me very busy, and now I realize that this should have been read months ago! Watch out Weekend...I can't wait to finish this one. 5 stars.

KLOZIER40@aol.com
Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich. 4 1/2 stars.
Stephanie Plum tries to find the well-liked neighborhood ice cream store owner, Uncle Mo, and discovers he is mixed up with vigilantes. This author is one who can make you laugh out loud.

Girl With A Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier. 5 stars.
A wonderfully fleshed out story about a maid in the artist Vermeer's house and the famous painting that ensues. This author can detail characters and settings to make you visualize them completely.

Haddow@aol.com
Look, Listen, Read by Claude Levi-Strauss. 4 stars
The canny old philosopher with a new way to look at time, space and familiar images. The fresh perspective opens unexpected doors of perception.

GerryD8784@aol.com
Mystic River by Dennis Lehane. 5 stars.
This is the second of Lehane's novels I've read, and it was even better than the first, Shutter Island. Three boys --- Sean, Jimmy and Dave --- grow up together in blue-collar Boston, but their lives diverge after one of them is lured into a car by kidnappers posing as policemen. Dave escapes and returns home several days later, but is perceived by himself as well as his neighbors as "damaged goods." Years later, it's too easy to believe he could be guilty of murder when Jimmy's daughter is brutally slain and Sean is the investigating detective. Excellent character development and a very believable plot make this one a winner!

Say When by Elizabeth Berg. 4 stars.
Taken completely by surprise when his wife tells him she wants a divorce, Frank Griffin declines to make it easier for her by moving out of their home. As he tries to adjust to the prospect of life without her, he also embarks on a campaign to try to win her back. Berg has a wonderful way of capturing emotions, even the confused emotions of those who don't really know what they want and may not really foresee all the implications of the decisions they are making.

The Crisis of Islam by Bernard Lewis. 2 stars.
Though in spots I wished Lewis could have been clearer and more direct in making his points, this was a good overview of the Islamic mindset that has so vilified America and Americans, as well as of the history and politics of the Middle East.

Sleep Toward Heaven by Amanda Eyre Ward. 5 stars.
Excellent characterization and writing in a setting I would not likely have chosen to read if it had not been sent to me as a Chapter-A-Day selection. Three women's lives converge on Death Row in a Texas prison --- a young doctor who pays homage to her uncle/guardian's memory by carrying on his work at the prison, a prostitute convicted of multiple murders, and the wife of one of her victims --- and all become, in Ward's hands, compelling and evocative characters. The ending was simply perfect!

Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah. 5 stars.
I read the last 50 pages or so through tears --- I found the story that moving! Long-estranged sisters are reunited and then one falls seriously ill, testing their new and tenuous connection.

Seizure by Robin Cook. 3 1/2 stars.
A fledgling biotech research company in danger of going bankrupt receives a possible reprieve from an unexpected source when a conservative congressman, known to be leading a legislative push against cloning research, approaches researchers clandestinely. Having been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, he's having a partial change of heart about the value and ethics of their work --- as long as they will use it to benefit him personally. A good story, marred only by the insertion of an unnecessary complication involving DNA from the Shroud of Turin, a topic that seems to be cropping up frequently in recent fiction for some reason.

Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life by Queen Noor of Jordan. 4 stars.
I found it fascinating to read about the life of Arab-American Lisa Halaby, who married King Hussein and became Queen Noor of Jordan. In addition to a glimpse of her life with Hussein, she presents a very different perspective on the Middle East conflict than is usually portrayed in the American media.

The Lake House by James Patterson. 1 star (or less).
This sequel to When the Wind Blows has few of its predecessor's good qualities and an overabundance of the bad ones. The plot moves forward in millimeters, ultimately resolving the custody dispute between Frannie and the kids' biological mothers and a new stage in the biotechnological "plot" for human evolution is revealed. But most of the book is filled with juvenile expletives, inane dialogue and fight scenes. Overall, a disappointing waste of time.

DaveRudy@aol.com
It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life by Lance Armstrong with Sally Jenkins. 5 stars.
Very emotionally uplifting and yet realistic background about Lance's life before cancer, fighting cancer, and getting back to life after being a cancer survivor. I admired him as an athlete before the book; now I admire him as a role model for living. Recommended for those who know someone who has cancer.

OSUBELLE@aol.com
I am reading Eisenhower: A Soldier's Life by Carlo d'Este. Eisenhower is my favorite president, so I am always looking for excellent books about his life and leadership. Eisenhower is a wonderful book. No skimming --- each line is packed with information in a very readable and enjoyable way.

I work full-time as a school librarian in an inner-city high school. Next Monday, I start back to school while taking two doctoral courses (6 hours) at Kent State. My professors are requiring 16 books for the fall semester, so Ike will be resting on my living room table until Christmas break.

I collect autographed books.

Linsleo@aol.com
I made it a point when I vacationed once more in Sanybel to visit a few bookstores on the island. I was fortunate to get some great reads. Even though I am miles away from Sanybel, there is a sense of still being on the island when I read these books.

Sanybel Light: An Historical Autobiography by Charles LeBuff. 3 stars.
(A Comprehensive History of Sanybel Island, Its Lighthouse, and the National Wildlife Refuge). You're able to envision Sanybel "B.C." - (before the Causeway) and have some feel for the struggles and friendships of those who endured the elements to remain on this beautiful island. Although many have contributed to Sanybel's preservation and beauty, the name of J.N. "Ding" Darling will stand out in your mind as being instrumental in ensuring that a large area of Sanybel's natural ecosystem has been preserved.

Gasparilla: Pirate Genius by James Kaserman. 5 stars.
Gene N. Landrum, Ph.D., author and lecturer, said that Kaserman's book is "an informative mixture of history and mythology that delves into Florida's romantic past." The beauty of the Florida coast is once more brought to mind as you place yourself on the deck of the Intrepido, next to Gaspar, as he witnesses the beauty of Florida's gulf coastline for the first time.

SBoyle6827@aol.com
I am reading Virginia Rich and Celestine Sibley. They write a great read and I have read all I could find. I'm also trying to get the latest book by Margaret Truman.

Roe.Jul@verizon.net
Wild Orchids by Jude Deveraux is a great summer beach reading novel. The story line is just involved enough to keep the characters straight and the reader guessing the outcome. It's light, entertaining, and your imagination makes the characters so real --- like one's own family.

jeephpy2@msn.com
I am almost finished with Dreaming the Eagle by Manda Scott. This is a historical fiction novel of the life of Boudica, queen of the Eceni, who became a thorn in the side of the Romans. Scott brings a powerful woman to life in a world dominated by Rome and her emperors. I would rate this novel 4 stars.

sharoncerasoli@hotmail.com
I am really, really enjoying The Secret Life of Bees --- great book! I am also reading Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight and I finished Girls' Poker Night recently --- a fun, light read!

dvolkenannt@charter.net
I just finished reading Angels & Demons and am now reading Deception Point, both written by Dan Brown. Both paperbacks are published by the Pocket Books division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. They both receive 4 1/2 stars.

tmzemke@comcast.net
I'm currently reading Ambulance Girl: How I Saved Myself by Becoming an EMT by Jane Stern. Jane, along with her husband Michael is a popular author, writing about food and where the best restaurants in America are. She is also a frequent contributor to NPR, talking about food, recipes and traveling. Her past is what makes this book so interesting.

You would never guess that Jane Stern was phobic about many things, including bus travel, close contact to people, flying --- pretty much everything. Oh, and did I mention that she was afraid of doctors and ambulances? In the middle of all this panic and depression, she notices a "volunteers needed" at the local fire station. What follows is her humorous and encouraging battle to face what she fears most. It's so surprising because I've heard her for years and would never have guessed that she fought inner demons. A courageous look at one's inner struggles. 3 1/2 stars.

Rohde99@aol.com
I just loved Laura Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit. It brought so much information about racing and the belief of one's convictions and triumph over adversity. 5 stars.

Ditto for The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. I keep referencing information in the book and am amazed at its accuracy. I never thought he could match, let alone surpass, Angels & Demons. 5 stars.

Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose. 3 stars.
Informative but got dry at times.

Curranelna@aol.com
This summer I read some really good books. Beyond Belief by Elaine Pagels, followed by The Da Vinci Code, which was particularly interesting (not to compare them as Beyond Belief is truly outstanding). I also found Reading Lolita in Tehran a very compelling book. Another excellent book is Desert Queen. There have been many others I would recommend, but these are the best.

DixieTurtle67@aol.com
I have just finished reading Die in Plain Sight by Elizabeth Lowell. It is a fast-paced mystery/romance that I enjoyed very much. Ms. Lowell's characters are always interesting and very well written. I enjoy all of her books and I would rate this one 5 stars.

srydell@charter.net
I am currently reading Sons of Fortune by Jeffrey Archer.

AUGER77777@aol.com
I just finished reading Naked Prey by John Sandford. Like all Prey books, I enjoy the cynical tough guy Lucas Davenport. In this book, Lucas has been promoted to a higher profile job and is assigned a difficult case, which I feel is also difficult for the reader to follow, at least for about the first third of the book. When the threads finally come together, this becomes a real "can't-put-down" book. 4 stars.

JMATES@aol.com
We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver is difficult to read, yet difficult to put down. Shriver insults her readers by throwing a lot of five syllable words in the text and then italicizing them as if to be certain that we make note of her vocabulary. The book tackles the subject school-aged mass murderers, and it is stabbing. The characters are believable but unlikeable. Shriver tosses every stereotype society has come up with in the book almost as if she's afraid someone will be offended if this particular brand of nastiness leaves someone out. Reading this book was an assault of the senses. I was offended, wounded, angry and disturbed by every turn of the page.

Sometimes you wish a book would never end, some books never keep the reader through the first page, and some books make us wish we had never started them. We Need to Talk About Kevin is one I wish I had never started and yet I forced myself to finish it. The writing is 4 stars, but I have a hard time recommending the book simply because of the hatred that leaps off every single page.

shallman@okpride.net
I had a hip replacement this summer so I had a lot of time to read. Of course I had to read the new Harry Potter book, but I was disappointed because he was mad through the whole book. Rowling really didn't have to make it that long. We could have done without a lot of her side stories and descriptions. I mean, just how much can you write about these characters?

I did read East of Eden by John Steinbeck and enjoyed it immensely. I got so rapped up in it that I spent hours on the Internet looking up pictures of all the flowers that are mentioned and the trees and so on. Just beautiful. I wanted to see what he had seen and was so in love with, his insights into human nature and the power of good and evil and the fact that God gave us the ability to make choices of right or wrong. This novel will always be in the forefront as it will always apply to the way humans act, today and always. I have a notebook of all kinds of articles written about Steinbeck. I still remain amazed.

My present book is Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. I did the same with this book, researching the hostage taking of the Japanese Embassy in Peru in 1996. Of course, with this I had to find out exactly what "Bel Canto" means and its history. Then info on the then Emperor of Japan in 1996 to see how closely his traits were to one of the main characters of the book. I have info on all the operas noted in the book and background information on Rene Fleming and Karol Bennett. I went to the mall and bought a CD of Rene Fleming and another one that had parts of most of the operas mentioned. What fun! I am not an opera buff, but have learned a lot about it in the last few days. I have also learned probably more than I ever wanted to know about the terrorist organization Tupac Amaru in Peru, but it was interesting and made me more alert to what is going on in a world I didn't know anything about. I can certainly see how the beautiful music from the opera singer held hostage would hold everyone together.

Next I am going to read The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason. I will have a lot of fun researching this one. I am a retired R.N. with a daughter in her 2nd year of medical school and I was interested because this was written by a medical student.

Another good one that stands on the sideline is The Midwife's Tale by Gretchen Moran Laskas. Always an interesting topic.

SalbyC@aol.com
I have just finished Sea Glass by Anita Shreve, which I give 3 1/2 stars. It is interesting, but doesn't have the emotional impact of The Weight of Water, which I could not put down.

Newcrain@aol.com
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. 5 stars.
I finally broke down and spent the $25 for the hardcover after hearing so much "buzz" about this novel, and it was more than worth it. I'm recommending this to everyone for the sheer uniqueness of the plot and the revelations that keep coming throughout it. Loved the symbology. I checked out a book of Leonardo Da Vinci paintings from the library to reference while reading the novel, and I'm so glad I did. It makes the details of reading the novel come more alive.

gg2tara@alltel.net
I am reading Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen. I loved the movie and decided to see how she herself tells the story. It is the most beautiful book I have read in years.

Txbooklover63@aol.com
I just finished The Brethren by Bob Woodward and Scott Armstrong. It's the inside story of the Burger Court during the 1970s and the struggles, clashes, clicks and quirks of Supreme Court Justices. This book was intriguing considering the cases that appear likely to come to the Court in the upcoming years. It helps us better understand the workings of the "secret inner sanctum" of the Justices and whether they truly focus on the law when making decisions and writing opinion. It's a great read.

BREEZYWRITER@aol.com
All He Ever Wanted by Anita Shreve. 2 stars.
Shreve is one of my favorite authors, but this book was disappointing. Slow moving and ponderous are the words that comes to mind. Hope her next one is better.

Graham2124@aol.com
Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand. 5 (6?) stars.
An American classic that will be read for generations.

Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson. 5 Stars.

hokajo@cox.net
I'm deep into Kate Remembered by A. Scott Berg. The fact that the author developed a close personal relationship with the subject adds that much more to the story. Although very enjoyable, it does jump around chronologically and can get confusing. I give this one 3 1/2 stars so far.

I just finished Faye Kellerman's Street Dreams, which didn't compare to her previous Decker/Lazarus mysteries. On a scale of 1 to 5, it gets a 2, only because she writes well. However, it's more a character exposition than a mystery.

queene1@earthlink.net
I just finished Psychopath by Keith Ablow in one sitting, an extraordinary plot featuring the continuing character Frank Clevenger, who pits his incredible psychiatric knowledge against a serial killer, ANOTHER psychiatrist. A nonstop forensic thriller.

NGroves@aol.com
A Book Dragon by Donn Kushner. 4 stars.
Technically a children's or juvenile book, it's a lovely short novel about Nonesuch the dragon, born in the Dark Ages, who learns to shrink himself to the size of an insect and becomes trapped in an illuminated manuscript. The book becomes his "treasure" and he guards it through the centuries, until he and his book end up in a 20th century bookstore in a neighborhood threatened by an unscrupulous developer. Even in modern times, it seems that dragons have a part to play and I'm particularly taken by the idea of a book as "treasure" more worthwhile than the gold and jewels of a traditional dragon's hoard.

Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin. 4 stars.
A hefty novel with a strong dose of magic realism set in a New York City that's like and unlike the metropolis we know. The plot involves a master mechanic on the run from a band of gangsters over more than a century, a flying white horse, the staffs of competing newspapers, a mysterious group of engineers and architects intent on building a bridge out of light, a Brigadoon-like community in upper New York State that doesn't show up on any map, and a series of love stories. It's quite a mix, if you can keep it all straight.

Swan by Frances Mayes. 3 stars.
When a woman's body is dug up from her grave and her father-in-law's gravestone is defaced, the family and community are forced to reevaluate some incidents they had tried to forget. With new technology, law enforcement officers in Swan, Georgia discover that Caroline's death 17 years earlier was murder, not suicide. Her now-grown children uncover secrets about their mother as they try to determine who killed her and why. The tragedy of the gruesome exhumation ultimately leads to healing and reconciliation.

The Pursuit of Alice Thrift by Elinor Lipman. 4 stars.
Another witty book from Elinor Lipman, this one focusing on a bright but socially inept intern hoping for a career as a plastic surgeon, devoting her life to healing the defects of Third World children. Her loneliness and the humiliation of a mistake made during surgery drive her into a brief and disastrous marriage with a fudge salesman. We know immediately that the marriage was a flop, so the fun is in seeing how and why Alice got into this mess and whether there's hope for her after she dumps the conniving Ralph.

A Breath of Fresh Air by Amulya Malladi. 3 stars.
This novel is set in India and deals with the aftermath of the poisonous gas leaks from a factory in Bhopal in 1984. Anjali is badly injured by the fumes when her philandering husband forgets to pick her up at the train station on the night of the accident. Although divorce is almost unheard of and could stigmatize Anjali and her parents for life, she leaves her husband, gets a job, and eventually remarries a less glamorous but faithful and loving man. She is forced to confront her feelings about him, the wisdom of the divorce, the plight of the divorced woman, and her future when her ex, a military man, is posted to the town where she now lives. Seeing Anjali's child, born with severe health problems because of his mother's chemical exposure, the former husband also at last begins to realize the consequences of his actions.

Bberrycrk@aol.com
Velma Still Cooks in Leeway by Vinita Hampton Wright. 4+ stars.
I enjoyed this story set in a small town. It also has a recipe following each chapter.

Still Life with Crows by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. 4+ stars.
Very exciting and well written. Parts of it might not be for the squeamish.

JoyZoo@aol.com
Bitter Truth by William Lashner. 5 stars.
I give high ratings to all the books I read, but with so many good reads available, it would take real motivation for me to stick with anything less than a three. William Lashner is a writer introduced to me by Bookreporter, and his books have depth in addition to being page-turners. His hero, Victor Carl, is almost an anti-hero, readily admitting to all sorts of base motives --- lust, greed, jealousy, pettiness, cowardice --- but you feel (well, I feel, anyway) that he is a much better man than he realizes, and there are many lines over which he will not cross despite the temptations that tug at him. Victor desperately yearns to be rich and admired. In the first book about him, he learned that fame masked evil. In this book, he is finding decadence behind wealth. He still wants it at this point in the book and would not be Victor without that desire, but he sees that money has not resulted in happiness, freedom, self-respect, or even good food!

JDDistef@aol.com
I just finished The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. I was prepared for another book that doesn't live up to the hype ... but this one really did. A thriller that makes you think. 5 stars.

The Face by Dean Koontz. 4 stars.
Interesting suspense/thriller.

lgettle@iserv.net
The Sigma Protocol by Robert Ludlum. 5 stars.
Ben Hartman arrives in Zurich for a ski holiday and suddenly finds himself on the run.

NBpershing@aol.com
I have just finished Hamlet's Dresser by Bob Smith, a beautifully written memoir of how he came to live his life teaching and directing Shakespeare. Mr. Smith had an unbelievably stressful childhood and youth, constantly helping to care for his severely retarded sister and being the prop for his mother, who found it difficult to cope with her life. At the age of 10, he made a random discovery of Shakespeare, which led to a lifelong passion. As a teenager, he literally became Hamlet's dresser at the American Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, CT, leading further to a long and distinguished career. This truly is a work of art. 5 stars is really inadequate.

Another book I enjoyed recently is the delightful Dear Donald, Dear Bennett, the wartime correspondence of Bennett Cerf and Donald Klopfer, the founders of Random House. During World War II, Klopfer enlisted in the Air Force and Cerf kept the company going through all the vicissitudes of running a publishing house in wartime. The letters are warm and witty, reflecting a longtime friendship, and are fascinating in their depiction of what publishing once was and sadly no longer is. They loved books, they knew books, they took chances, they worried about the bottom line --- but it was not their reason for being publishers. 4 stars.

One more: Kate Remembered by A. Scott Berg. I loved it! If you are a lifelong Hepburn fan, as I am, this is a feast for you. 4 stars.

billiegirl20@hotmail.com
I'm currently reading The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. So far, it's pretty good and I'm about 3/4 of the way through it. To be honest, though, I don't see what all the fuss is about. It's an intelligent thriller, yes, but there seem to be a lot of them out there. I'm definitely learning a lot and who can ask for more from a book? Interesting AND educational!

JMGS57@aol.com
At the moment I am halfway through reading John Adams by David McCullough. This book is 5 stars. You really get the feel of how people must have lived during this time period. There were many times while I was reading this book where I felt I was there. It's great.

SKS50B06@Allstate.com
To the Nines by Janet Evanovich is an easy read. If you want something to help you just get away from it all, this is the book.

bradylee@myway.com
A Round-Heeled Woman: My Late-Life Adventures in Sex and Romance by Jane Juska. 5 stars.
This book is a hoot and holler reading experience and one you should not soon forget. It is the true story of a lady who did not do well in the dating/romance area much of her life ... up to age 63. She decided she had to change things and ... she did. Jane is a well-educated woman who seems to have her head on straight and her story should bring nostalgia to many. I am in her age group and much of what she talks about brings back many memories. A well-written, interesting story of a life trying to get "on track" as most of us are ... at any age.

Rabbit-Proof Fence: The True Story of One of the Greatest Escapes of All Time by Doris Pilkington. 3 1/2 stars.
The author's mother is one of the 3 girls (half-breeds) who escaped from a state institution to "protect" them from other natives who wouldn't tolerate them. The girls hated the place they were taken to (away from their families) and they accomplished a successful escape when no other child did so successfully. This is their story of how they survived in the wild, by themselves, over a month's period, walking hundreds of miles to get back home. A friend saw the movie and he liked it a lot. This story is most enjoyable.

MelJPrincess@aol.com
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown. 5 stars.
The best way to describe this book is a race against time. An ancient "brotherhood" steals a deadly substance in order to destroy the smallest city in the world. Combining fact and fiction, Angels & Demons is exciting, entertaining and educational. I give Dan Brown's book 5 stars!!

BDORM@aol.com
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon.
The narator is an autistic child trying to solve the mystery of who killed the neighbor's dog. I borrowed the book from my friend's 13-year-old and found it an interesting read.

Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively (Booker Prize)
A woman on her deathbed remembers a WWII love affair in Egypt. The author made me long to be back in Cairo again, but other than that the novel did not hold my attention.

PandoraO5@aol.com
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. 5 stars.
An absolutely amazing book. Dan Brown definitely did his research on this one. He has an interesting plot and in-depth characters, but what really made the book for me was all the neat facts he threw in, like why Friday the 13th is considered unfortunate, or why the Olympics are every 4 years and have 5 intersecting rings as the official symbol. He makes it all come together great. This is the best book I have read all summer; I couldn't put it down.

bfjohnston@mpamacs.org
Here are some 5-star books that I haven't seen mentioned in Word of Mouth. I love to read, and these were great:

The Jazz Bird by Craig Holden.
Captures the 1920s, the people and events.

Verbena by Nanci Kincaid.
You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll love Verbena.

The Curve of the World by Marcus Stevens.
Love, adventure, suspense.

A Palestine Affair by Jonathan Wilson.
Twists and turns; a different time and place and a surprise ending.

yodasmommy@woh.rr.com
I just finished Eddie's Bastard by William Kowalski. A delightful book about a baby left on a grandfather's doorstep and their life together. Definitely 5 stars for this one.

GeoBarb636@aol.com
Winterkill by C.J. Box. 4 stars.
Very interesting reading, I'm glad I read this book in the summer. It would have made me really cold if I had waited until winter.

DancingGram7@aol.com
I just read Motherhood and Hollywood by Patricia Heaton. 4 stars.
Patricia does write an interesting little book about her ups and downs before she became "Debra" on Everybody Loves Raymond. It is funny and she gives quite a bit of background of her early years and setbacks before coming to Hollywood. I was fortunate as I bought the brand new book for 50 cents at the Town Library book sale. Best place in town to buy practically new books. I recommend it for anyone who wants a quick, easy read.

VABryden@aol.com
I am almost finished reading Bad Company by Jack Higgins...will give it 4 stars. I like him as an author and how he carries his main characters forward into new stories --- historical fiction that ties WWII and the Cold War into today.

lindaharriet@msn.com
The Outside of August by Joanna Hershon. 4 stars.
This is a thoroughly absorbing story about the ongoing search for the secrets behind Alice and Gus's evasive mother. She comes and goes in their lives, sometimes with no warning. Alice is continuously trying to find out why. She uncovers the secret behind her mother's life when she journeys to an isolated town to see her brother, Gus. The book is very psychological, yet filled with compassion.

bradylee@myway.com
The Road From Coorain: Recollections of a Harsh and Beautiful Journey into Adulthood by Jill Ker Conway. 5 stars.
This is a memoir by a highly educated lady, yet the language and tenor is down to earth, particularly the first two-thirds of the story. She talks of her life as a young girl --- her aspirations, her indecision about life, her fears and delights --- as if a very young girl were speaking. Three major tragedies occurred in her young life (I won't tell you what they were) that changed her permanently, yet in the end she triumphs brilliantly. Many things happen in the telling, and one of the sad things is what happens to Jill Conway's mother. During her formative years, her mother is the Rock of Gibralter; later in life, her psyche begins to unravel and how Jill handles this is interesting to read. This is a book you will enjoy if you like to learn the simplicities and complexities of life.

tmzemke@comcast.net
I'm just beginning to read Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer. This nonfiction work is about Mormon fundamentalism and two brothers who murdered a woman and her baby...because God told them to. (The woman is married to one of the men) Krakauer does extensive research and interviews the two men in prison, who by the way, say that they would commit the same crime, because after all, it was divinely inspired. Krakauer also goes into the history of the Mormon church, from its beginnings here in America, to how it became one of America's fastest growing religions. It might sound boring and humdrum to some, but well written nonfiction books are often scarier and more thought provoking than fiction. A definite 4-star book!

I'm also rereading Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult for a book discussion that I will be leading at work (librarian). It's even better the second time around! It's a must read book, especially in light of recent events regarding the Catholic Church. 4+ stars.

Hon2724@aol.com
Running Blind by Lee Child is a very good book. If you like his works, it is a 5-star rating. But I tend to give 5 stars to any book that I really like and that is not entirely a good thing. This is a very cleverly written whodunit and I did not ever suspect who the culprit was (I tempted to read the ending but didn't). It is one of his Jack Reacher tales and of course, Jack is a great character. The book has been around a while but is worth a read ... for sure.

KINDLEELF@aol.com
Absolute Power by David Baldacci. 5 stars.
Plausible plot.

Mortality by Steven Ford. 4 stars.
Quick, easy read.

Waiting for Snow in Havana by Carlos Eire. 5 stars.
Paints a vivid picture of Castro's Cuba.

The Covenant by James Michener. 5 stars.
Informative on the Boor Wars.

The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy. 5 stars.
Classic reading with great characters.

K-Pax III by Gene Brewer. 4 stars.
Third in the trilogy...Shrouded in what if?

Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood. 4 stars.
The love/hate relationship between young friends.

The Sigma Protocol by Robert Ludlum. 5 stars.
Always great reading.

In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner by Elizabeth George. 4 stars.
What a twisted web!

Set This House in Order by Matt Ruff. 5 stars.
Multiple personalities run amuck.

Mortals by Norman Rush. 5 stars.
Commanding work.

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. 5 stars.
Interesting premise.

PFLucas@aol.com
Bread Alone by Judith Ryan Hendricks. 5 stars.
A mouthwatering first work, Hendricks tells the story of a woman who finds a new course in life after seven years of marriage. Already experiencing failure in teaching high school and selling real estate, she leaves behind her life as "trophy wife" to her executive husband and relocates to Seattle to accept a job in a bakery. The interesting part of the story is that before her marriage she had apprenticed in a boulangerie in France. Breadmaking has always been a passion that she is finally able to enjoy. Both humorous and heartwarming, it is a wonderful debut novel and hopefully Hendricks will "treat us" with more.

The Monk Downstairs by Tim Farrington. 5 stars.
A single mother with an apartment to rent discovers that the new tenant spent twenty years in a monastery. As her unlikely friendship with the ex-monk develops, she is encouraged by her young daughter and also by her own best friend. An engaging book and very well written.

bradylee@myway.com
The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy. 5 stars.
All aspiring teachers should read this book as it shows the influence a teacher has plus the dirty politics that can exist in school boards and what power they have. This is a heartwarming story of a neophyte teacher accepting a job on a small island in the South primarily inhabited by blacks where most can't read or write. What the students consider as fun is amazing and the things they don't know are more amazing. This book will open your eyes as to what goes on in our hinterlands and gives you a very good hint of how good Pat Conroy will become as a writer by using such phrases as "...this coach had a brain the size and density of a Ping Pong ball" o or "...had her heater turned up high enough to simulate high noon on the Sahara desert..."

Bjglu@aol.com
The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen. 3 stars.
Good, generic murder mystery.

Hell at the Breech by Tom Franklin. 4 stars.
Fiction based on historical fact.

This Just In by Bob Schieffer. 4 stars.
What the newsman couldn't tell us on the air.

Lgluhani@aol.com
The Quality of Life Report by Meghan Daum. 3 stars.
Loose Lips by Claire Berlinski. 3 1/2 stars.

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