bookfan23@yahoo.com
I just finished reading The Hour Before Dark by Douglas Clegg. Definitely a Five Star read! It is a wonderful supernatural tale. I can't categorize it accurately because it is scary but also very poignant. The action is fast-paced, but not over-the-top in violence and gore. This is a must read for fans of any genre.

Valerie.Russo@RIAG.com
I just finished The Center of Everything by Laura Moriarty. I couldn't put this one down. If you are in your twenties and remember what it's like to be poor and scared or experienced nuclear war then you have to read this book. 5 stars.

bradylee@myway.com
Last Dance, Last Chance and Other True Cases by Ann Rule [Ann Rule's Crime Files: Vol. 8] 5 stars.
If there were more books like this one, it would be a better world. This is true only if you are a true crime fan, of course. This book has five separate stories, but the first one is the best and most detailed. The first story points out what happens when you lie and then when you step out on your spouse. It also relates the consequences when you ignore all the signs of a mate going bad, which is to the extreme degree. Ann Rule is about the best at relating details of true crime stories, and this is one of her good ones.

rbr2@cox.net
The Hour Before Dark by Douglas Clegg. 5 stars.
One of the finest horror stories I've seen in quite a while!

Red Angel by Andrew Harper. 5 stars.
Wonderful thriller! Impossible to put down!

Quetzi@aol.com
Just to mention a few of the books I've read, well here goes:

A Noble Radiance by Donna Leon. 5 stars.
I've been on a kick reading books with settings in foreign countries, and this is a great mystery book set in Venice. I love Commisario Guido Brunetti! He leaves no rock unturned to catch the bad guy. It's a fast-paced book with all the flavors of the old country, Venice. It's nice to see the way the Italians really view things about life. I hope they print more of these books!

Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews. 5 stars
I also find this a fun read. It's set in the South with all the frills. I've always wondered what sets the South apart from the rest of the country, and I feel this mystery lets you see that. If you didn't think a Chef could be sexy, well, you're in for a surprise. This is a fast-paced mystery with antiques galore, and a few laughs too boot! Very enjoyable, and I look forward to reading Little Bitty Lies, her next book.

Tripwire by Lee Child. 5 stars.
I have absolutely fallen in love with Jack Reacher! He's an ex-military policeman, who seems to find trouble wherever he goes without looking for it. While in Key West, his day job is digging holes for swim pools. Perks? Well, let's just say his bronzed glistening muscles are getting sexier by the day!! His night job is working as a bouncer at a strip club!! Imagine that?!! So girls, I dare you not to fall in love with this sexy hunk, who also happens to have a heart!!

Unconditional Life: Discovering the Power to Fulfill Your Dreams by Deepak Chopra, M.D. 4 stars.
This is a self-help book that I'm finding extremely interesting. It's a hard read though, but if you take it slowly so you can digest what you are learning, you will discover things about yourself that perhaps you didn't know before. Albeit it's not a book that everyone will enjoy, but for those of you who like books that make you ponder about where you are and what you are doing in your life, you will find that this book can help.

Well, that's just a few books that I've mentioned. I have an incredible list of books to read, with all my settings in foreign countries. I really enjoy living and traveling there from my favorite armchair with a latte in hand!

Booksinhand@aol.com
River Season by Jim Black. 5 huge stars.
I had not heard of this book but was attracted to its eye-catching, nostalgic cover and endorsement by Larry McMurtry. Oh my gosh. I laughed out loud and bawled my eyes out. My husband made fun of me until he read it and I was able to kid him right back. The perfect book for these times we live in, but just remember to hold onto your heart as you read it.

Tuffy2Fo@aol.com
I am currently reading The Shelters of Stone by Jean M. Auel. This is the fifth book in the Earth's Children series. Ayla and Jondalar are a prehistoric couple who return to Jondalar's home after an amazing year-long journey. This is a fascinating account of ancient culture, rituals, traditions and discovery, along with a beautiful love story. I give it 4 stars.

MannMlb@aol.com
The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks. Absolutely wonderful

Jan764@aol.com
I just finished reading Open House by Elizabeth Berg --- an Oprah's Book Club selection. My rating for this novel is 4 stars. It deals with a woman going through a divorce and how she reacts to her new found situation. Sam is in her forties raising a son and she is shocked when she finds herself alone. She comes up with a plan to stay in her home and in the process finds a new life and some strength she didn't know she had. It's a great life-affirming book!

vlm6888@comcast.net
Four Blind Mice by James Patterson. 5 stars.
It was very action-packed and kept me glued to the book.

BREEZYWRITER@aol.com
Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton. 4 stars.
I didn't think this was as good as many of the other Grafton books, but it's always fun to read her new ones --- like visiting an old friend.

JFWisherd@aol.com
I just finished reading Number, Please by Sheree Petree. A phone company mystery that was a good whodunit. I rate it 4 stars for those who like to read a mystery that isn't too wordy or complicated.

gg2tara@alltel.net
I have finally begun a new book, Undertow by John Deane. I didn't want to start another after finishing Out of Africa. I couldn't imagine any other book would be readable. Well, I was wrong. Undertow beguiled me and I am hooked.

OLTLFREAK@aol.com
I am currently reading Killer Stuff by Sharon Fiffer. It the first book in a series; the next book comes out in a few weeks. It's good for a first book. I'm looking forward to the next one. 4 stars.

Britadon@aol.com
Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand. 3 stars.
Everyone seems to be raving about this book, but I found the beginning and the ending to be rather boring and overly long. I also thought that the movie did a much better job of portraying the determination and pluckiness of the people in the Depression and how Seabiscuit exemplified being down on one's luck and hanging in there to pull oneself back up.

The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen. 4 stars.
A very compelling and chilling story with interesting psychological angles. My only criticism would be that there is almost too much detail in the methods of crime solving. The autopsy information was very interesting but not for the weak stomach.

The Mango Season by Amulya Malladi. 5 stars.
I seem to be reading many books set in India this year and this is a really good one. It concerns a young Indian woman who falls in love with a man in the United States and how she struggles with giving this news to her family in India who have very strong feelings about marrying outside their specific religious sect. My mouth dropped open at the end as I was forced to wonder about my own possibly prejudicial assumptions.

The Dive From Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer. 5 stars
I put off reading this for some time as the reviews appealed to me but did not excite me. However, it is an excellent story about balancing one's feelings and who becomes the victim when a tragedy occurs. When her boyfriend/fiance receives serious life-changing injuries after diving into shallow water, his girlfriend must come to grips with her feelings about him and her future.

KLOZIER40@aol.com
Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle. 4 1/2 stars.
An apropos story of the sad plight of the illegal aliens from Mexico and the clash between them and the U.S. citizens.

Journey: A Personal Odyssey by Marsha Mason. 2 stars.
A disappointing conglomeration of "voices" that stayed with her throughout her life, her marriages, divorces, and move to New Mexico.

lindaharriet@msn.com
A Breath of Fresh Air by Amulya Malladi is the story of Anjali, an arranged bride who divorces her unfaithful husband after he forgets to meet her at the train station and she's exposed to a deadly gas leak. She marries for love and has a child, Amar, but she wasn't told what the effects of the gas leak would do to him. The book is character-driven and depicts Indian culture. 4 stars.

GMHasselbach@aol.com
I have just finished reading East of Eden, Opera's suggestion. Currently I am reading The Da Vinci Code. Both books are written with different types of history. East of Eden gave a history of California at the turn of the century re: three generations. The Da Vinci Code is subtle with the golden rule of nature, which is how I was taught as an art major. It is more complex but the hidden messages in art works is true. I sometimes leave one in some of my paintings as a signature.

tiffani_ba@hotmail.com
I am currently reading Little Sister's Last Dose by Alex Minter. It is described as a New York mystery, and it certainly is. The style is very different from what I am used to, but the plot moves along and I am eager to find out what happens in the end. There are two plot lines, an old mystery and a new one, that must be unraveled. The descriptions of the NY subculture of drugs are interesting, too. 3 stars.

Marric77@aol.com
I am reading The Woman Next Door by Barbara Delinsky. I have loved all of her books and this one will join the others as a favorite of mine. I am listening to the audio of The Cowboy by Joan Johnston and enjoying this one very much.

dmilburn@alltel.net
A Week in Winter by Marcia Willett. Definitely 5 stars.
If you like Rosamunde Pilcher or Maeve Binchy, this book is for you. I loved all the characters ... and hated for the story to end. Enjoy!!

smleonetti@msn.com
East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

Carosp@aol.com
Isabel's Bed by Elinor Lipman. 3 stars.
Kind of a fun book, but I didn't like it as much as The Pursuit of Alice Thrift, the first book I read by this author. A would-be author tells the story as she moves into the house of an infamous woman (Isabel) to write Isabel's story, concentrating on the incident that made her infamous. Isabel helps her with her life in the meantime, and vice versa.

Morality for Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith. 4 stars.
Another great book by the author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, with more mysteries solved and great storytelling and insights into the process. The author clearly loves Botswana as well, and describes its customs and terrain beautifully.

To the Nines by Janet Evanovich. 3 1/2 stars.
Another amusing book by Evanovich about the adventures of Stephanie Plum. But it's so lightweight, even though I thoroughly enjoyed it, that it's hard to give it more than 3 1/2 stars.

KTBug931@aol.com
I was one of only a handful of students who did not read Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury in high school. The last weekend before school started back up, I decided to read this classic. It was everything I imagined! I feel like giving this book 5 out of 5 stars is not enough. It was amazing how relevant this book, which was first published 50 years ago, is today. All I can say is that I hope I never live in a world where books are outlawed. I would rather not live at all, if that were the case!

ReoneK@aol.com
I read a wonderful, 5-star novel, Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. Though this is quite a different style for me, I loved it! Her characters are fully drawn and the hostage situation becomes reality for the reader. A MUST READ!!

The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen is exciting and challenging. Her characters are fully drawn and the book moves very, very well --- almost impossible to put down. A 4-star read.

Robin Cook's newest book, Seizure, is one of the worst books that I have ever read. In fact, it is so poorly written and edited that I doubt I shall ever read him again. This is 1 star (really, I would prefer to give it 0 stars).

The DaVinci Code is FABULOUS!!! It certainly earns 5 stars from me --- exciting, based on some facts, fast moving and beautifully written. What a joy to read. It has evoked a great deal of discussion in my book group, too.

Faye Kellerman has achieved 4 stars once more with her newest, Street Dreams. I have been a fan of hers for years and enjoy the interplay among the characters. She takes the time to fully flesh out her protagonists and it is most enjoyable to return to the 'adventures of the Decker family.'

Now, I have 6 more books to read --- the problem is that there is always at least one more that I MUST devour!

LOL8@aol.com
The Witches by Roald Dahl. 5 stars.
Murdering McKinley by Eric Rauchway. 4 stars.

Newcrain@aol.com
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. 5 stars.
Our local art gallery advertised a casual book club discussion of this book expecting 20 people; 120 showed up with a waiting list of 80. Terrific discussion book.

Cloish049@aol.com
I am reading The Three Junes by Julia Glass, about a Scottish family. The action takes place in several locations and tells the story of various family members. I would give it 5 stars.

AUGER77777@aol.com
I just finished One Door Away From Heaven by Dean Koontz. 5 stars.
This was an excellent read from an author who just keeps getting better. For about the first 300 pages I felt as if I was reading three separate stories, with three sets of different, mostly unrelated characters. Yet Koontz managed to keep each group sufficiently interesting with no danger of the reader losing interest in seeing how they would eventually come together.

julie5@bellsouth.net
Beautiful Child by Torey Hayden. 5 stars.
Excellent, sensitive, and very touching struggle with this special educational instructor and one of her most challenging and troubled students, Venus. The way Torey persevered and never gave up on this student, as well as her other students, really gives inspiration to me as a teacher to keep on --- that even though positive and/or negative outcomes can happen, there are definite influences, including growing trust between student/teacher, and inspiration and hope offered to other teachers to know they are very special teachers and are not alone out there.

jacobson312@earthlink.net
Fabulous Small Jews by Joseph Epstein. 4 or 5 stars.
The author is my age, went to the same grammar school and high school that I did, and all the short stories ring true. I will study the stories as an example of how to write (he captures a character in just a phrase). I have shared the stories with others and the conversation circle just keeps getting bigger. Middle age, aging, and contemporary life --- subjects reflected in different ways.

hushpup@optonline.net
I just finished The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. I give it more than 5 stars if I could! This was by far one of the best books I have read in a very long time. It's the story of a young girl who leaves home to arrive at the same place that her mother left to and befriends the same people, and they love and care for her. The ending left me with a tear down my cheek.

I also finished Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews. I give this one 5 stars also.

I am currently reading The #1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith, which I would give 5 stars to and I am also reading Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith. My rating for this one would also be 5 stars.

MommyofFour1971@hotmail.com
Destructive Emotions by Daniel Goleman and Dalai Lama. 2 stars.
This was more a scientific book than a book to bring you peace of mind and calm.

Still Life With Crows by Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston. 4 stars.
Edge-of-your-seat and scary book. Surprise ending. Long, but I couldn't put it down.

Knowing God Intimately by Joyce Meyer. 3 stars.
I like her style. If you're struggling with God she is a good source to use in your search.

jbrooks@mybizz.net
Angels Flight by Michael Connelly. 5 stars.
I have recently discovered Michael Connelly and his Harry Bosch series --- they are definitely good reading.

msrbshil@comcast.net
My latest 5-star read is The Forever Year by Ronald Anthony, an author I had heard compared to Nicholas Sparks, which is why I picked it to read. Awesome book!

Mkri100@aol.com
Currently I am reading Maeve Binchy's Quentins. As with her other stories, she weaves a wonderful tale of interdependent lives in quirky Ireland. Very, very good read.

s.bucher@insightbb.com
I'm currently reading Tom Clancy's The Teeh of the Tiger and am finding it very timely and unsettling regarding Middle Eastern terrorists; the story is very riveting, I can't wait to finish it. 5 stars.

Tigergirl1118@aol.com
This week I am reading a book by John Lescroart titled The First Law. It is an excellent story, I believe the fourteenth book by this author. I am addicted to police/murder books, and he is one of my many favorites, and I will be sorry to finish it. The characters are like neighbors, friends actually, people who you look forward to reading about again. The plot is very good, quite realistic.

I try to read a book every few days and am excited to have this outlet to discuss all the great books I read. I'll be back in a week or so with my new book. Due to school starting up again, I will be busy with the kids more than usual. Subsequently, I won't be reading as often as I do in the summer, when the kids are busy with camp and sleepouts, bike riding and swimming, which gives me a great opportunity to read.

Thanks for the opportunity to discuss the books I read, as it seems that reading is not in fashion. There just aren't many readers out there interested in hearing about good books. People will discuss mundane TV plots, and yet when I try to entice someone to pick up a book instead, they will lose interest pretty quickly. It is really sad how such a wonderful pastime has become so unfashionable. I find it hard to understand a mindset that looks at reading as something that they were forced to do for school, instead of the wonderful, relaxing and mind expanding thing it really is.

sharoncerasoli@hotmail.com
I'm reading Family Trust by Amanda Brown --- light and enjoyable --- and also the new Alice Hoffman, The Probable Future.

Rickimc@aol.com
Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier. 5 stars.
The second book in The Sevenwaters Trilogy. A very engrossing read. Both a fantasy and a love story.

Never Burn a Witch by M.R. Sellars. 5 stars.
A stranger mystery than the last, but even better.

ShutterBox Book 1: Orientation, Damian, Adrian, and the Running of the Hyperpans by Rikki Simmons and Tavisha. 5 stars.
A very amazing and different American manga. Very cute characters. Very interesting story. Awesome!

The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. 4 stars.
Very funny! Would be 5 stars, but I find the present tense writing hard to read.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. 4 stars.
The exposition is way too long! Very episodic.

CLeaf77@aol.com
If you love dogs as I do you may not want to read The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst 3 stars. However I just finished Cape Refuse and Southern Storm by Terri Blackstock that was on an up note. 5 stars for both of then

Fee4366@aol.com
Lake News by Barbara Delinsky. 3 stars.
A story of a woman falsely accused of an affair with a priest and all she does to cope with the resulting publicity. She eventually returns to her hometown where an ex-boyfriend's brother helps her to clear her name. A quick read and an enjoyable story.

The Plains of Passage by Jean M. Auel. 5 stars.
Book 4 of the Clan of the Cave Bear series. This is a very detailed book with a lot of descriptions of early life in the Ice Age. A must-read for anyone who has even read just one book in the series! I actually just started reading this series last summer and have devoured the books as fast as I can. I did find myself rereading some parts of this one because you really have to read every word to understand all the author is trying to tell you.

sunflowerred84@yahoo.com
The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks. 5 stars.
This story was kind of different from Sparks's other novels. He made this story so common and real with all the mysterious situations. I'm glad that I read it because this book in particular blends suspense, thriller and mystery into a heartwarming love story. This book is a definite page-turner. Nicholas Sparks always amazes me with his writing.

Hrselover326@aol.com
Must Love Dogs by Claire Cook. 4 stars.
This was a light, funny and enjoyable novel that wasn't too sappy to put me off. A short novel, which means a quick read.

Full Tilt by Janet Evanovich. 4 stars.
I am a Stephanie Plum fan from way back and enjoy Evanovich's writing. This was also a quick read, though not as much fun as the Plum books

The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst. 3 1/2 stars.
Not quite what I was expecting when I picked up the book, and I felt bogged down by some of the depressing issues and abuse.

GandmaRI@aol.com
This Just In: What I Couldn't Tell You On TV by Bob Schieffer. 4 stars.
Bob's memoir of his career from print media to TV news anchor. A fascinating read about a fascinating person told with intelligence, facts, common sense and humor.

maestraw@msn.com
I just finished The Song Reader by Lisa Tucker. It was one of the best books I have read in a long time. Mary Beth's clients come to her with songs "stuck" in their heads, and she helps them determine how the lyrics relate to their lives. When Mary Beth makes a reading that causes a major rift in a prominent family, and nearly destroys her and her own family, younger sister Leeann steps in and mothers them. I found it to be a fascinating book with strong characters. I did not want it to end. 5 stars!

DancingGram7@aol.com
I am reading a gem of a book, The Chili Queen by Sandra Dallas. This book is set in the 1800s in New Mexico. It is a surprise because the story keeps getting more interesting with every chapter. It starts out with Emma on a train to meet her intended husband whom she has never met. She meets Addie who is a Madam in a bordello called "The Chili Queen." Emma's intended husband doesn't want an old maid for a wife; she can't go home to Kansas, so she has to find somewhere else to go. The story goes on from there, but it's not what you would think! I'm almost done and the book has more twists and turns and it is a different from the books I usually read. It is a good. 5 stars.

SFreundlic@aol.com
I have enjoyed all of the books written by Nicholas Sparks. The last book I read was Nights in Rodanthe. No author can make me feel the emotions that Nicholas Sparks can. I cry unashamedly and cannot put his books down. I eagerly await the next sensitive book written by this author.

dedicatedfan04@hotmail.com
I am currently reading East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

Catslady5@aol.com
Everything's Eventual by Stephen King. 5 stars.
14 short stories by the master. I never can put his books down, and this way you can read one story at a time.

THill510@aol.com
To The Nines by Janet Evanovich. 5 stars.

JGriggs@DavisMalm.com
I started with Alexander McCall Smith's The Number One Ladies' Detective Agency and loved it so much that I read Tears of the Giraffe and Morality for Beautiful Girls. I am about to start his next one, The Kalahari Typing School for Men. While I am not usually the biggest mystery fan, these books are a great mix of mystery and fun. I love the main character, Precious Ramotswe. It is amazing that these very female-oriented books are written by a man. He captures her character so well that I totally forget the writer is a man. The books follow Mma Ramotswe's travails as the first and only female private detective in Botswana. I recommend the books wholeheartedly!

aandrews@whitbylibrary.on.ca
West of January by Dave Duncan. 5 stars.
Absolutely fantastic fantasy by an award-winning author. The story of a young man and his adventures in a primitive world, and the very different cultures that populate it.

billiegirl20@hotmail.com
I'm currently reading As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised as a Girl by John Colapinto. The true story of a baby boy whose botched circumcision accident caused a doctor at Johns Hopkins to suggest raising the boy as a girl. The story is sad and the book delves deep into what happened and why, but there is a bit too much medical history and scientific discussion for my tastes.

NGroves@aol.com
The Hook by Donald Westlake. 4 stars.
This would have made a great Hitchcock movie. A bestselling author with severe writer's block makes a deal with an old writing buddy who has a manuscript that he can't sell: the big-name author will tweak it, submit it under his own name, and the two will split the million dollar advance. The catch (or "the hook")? The second author has to kill his friend's wife, from whom he is undergoing a nasty, prolonged divorce; otherwise she'll be entitled to half the money. Once the deed is done, the two men are locked in a bizarre, mutual dependency that becomes increasingly suspenseful up until the final dark plot twist.

A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley. 4 stars.
The author recasts King Lear on an Iowa farm, where patriarch Larry decides to retire and split his farm among his three daughters. Two accept, while one hesitates and is cut out of the deal, sowing the seeds for the breakup of the family, the revelation of dark secrets, and ultimately a way to pick up the pieces of shattered lives.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. 5 stars.
This is the original novel (published in 1818) from which so many movies, plays, cartoons, and parodies have sprung. Most have mangled Shelley's plot, characters, and themes almost beyond recognition and ignored her message about the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition and "playing God." It's a classic, and its themes still resonate nearly 200 years later.

Lost Girls by Andrew Pyper. 4 stars.
A young criminal lawyer who will do anything to win, including persuading witnesses to lie or withholding damaging evidence, is assigned to defend a schoolteacher accused of murdering two teenage girls who are missing and presumed dead. Thinking that the government has a weak case, he sets out for the northern Ontario town, fueled by cocaine and ambition, to free his man but instead is derailed by nightmares, hallucinations, incessantly ringing phones, spooky local legends, and his own past. The book is a combination legal thriller, mystery, and work of psychological terror.

Delta Wedding by Eudora Welty. 4 stars.
This novel captures the action and emotions in the week leading up to and right after the wedding of the 17-year-old daughter of a well-off Mississippi plantation family in the early 1900s. It's a vivid slice of life of this extended family in a particular time and place.

bradylee@myway.com
Bitter Winds: A Memoir of My Years in China's Gulag by Harry Wu and Carolyn Wakeman. 5 stars.
I have read many of these types of experiences and they are all different, yet the same with regard to the wrecked lives and inhuman treatment. The authors who live to tell their story are survivors to the extreme. This tale is gripping and again points out the joy and appreciation of being a citizen of the U.S.A.!

Gonzcancun@aol.com
I am currently rereading Veronica Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho, an international bestselling author. It is a fiction book and part of the story is based on the author's life. The book is really interesting, and it engages the reader to continue reading it without stopping for a moment to reflect on it. The book is, in brief, the story of a young 24-year-old girl who is trying to find meaning to her life, and she takes the easy way out by trying to commit suicide taking numerous pills. Her suicide plan fails, leading her to be placed in a mental institute. There she is informed by professionals that she has a short time to live, and she is overjoyed by this news.

During her stay in the mental hospital she meets other interesting individuals whose words of advice lead her to the question, What does it mean to be CRAZY? The young girl develops her own operational definition of CRAZY and she accepts her peers's personal beliefs, views of life and attitudes. This book was excellent and that is why I am rereading the book again.

kimberly.barnes@mindspring.com
The ratings of our books are based on the following:

This is a list of 5 qualities a good discussion book should have:
1. Well-written prose that makes you want to read on
2. Thought-provoking story line/keeps your interest
3. Richly drawn, believable characters
4. Debatable issues
5. The author tries send a message to the reader

Addicted by Zane. 5 stars.
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. 5 stars.
Tryin' to Sleep in the Bed You Made by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant. 3 stars.
God Don't Like Ugly by Mary Monroe. 5 stars.
The Here and Now by Anthony Carr. 1 star.
Friendship Cake by Lynne Hinton. 5 stars.
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. 4 stars.
Married Men by Carl Weber. 5 stars.
The Prodigal Husband by Jacquelin Thomas. 5 stars.
True Lies by Margaret Johnson-Hodge. 5 stars.
Second Sunday by Michele Andrea Bowen. 5 stars.

krp5h@hotmail.com
I just finished The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews. It's a must read! 5 stars. I'm also reading Krakatoa by Simon Winchester. 4 stars so far.

suzyj555@yahoo.com
I just finished reading for the second time The Hour Before Dark by Douglas Clegg, an absolutely fabulous quick read. You will stay up late to finish this one and it will stay with you for a long time! 5 stars.

I also finished reading The Gunslinger by Stephen King (rewritten and released in anticipation of the newest release in the series in November) I do recommend getting the newest release as there are subtle changes. 5 stars.

Dark of the Eye by Douglas Clegg is excellent. It is a shame that there has been no follow-up of this book. 5 stars.

Then off of horror and on to The Money Mentor by Tad Crawford. It isn't horror but still a very interesting read if you're interested in getting out of debt or helping others obtain financial freedom. 4 stars.

yodasmommy@woh.rr.com
I just finished Judgment Calls by Alafair Burke. This is her first novel and I can't wait for the next one! It's not due until spring of 2004. 5 stars for her.

Shevilkenevil1@aol.com
Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner. 4 stars.
This book had me laughing along with and even feeling angry toward the character. This story is quite different from anything I've read, and I enjoyed it a lot! Jennifer Weiner has proven to be an amazing writer.

Family Trust by Amanda Brown. 3 1/2 stars.
From the author of the book Legally Blonde. Amanda Brown's novel is a great read, it keeps you interested from front cover to back cover. Everyone should check this out!

shannon.grant@pennwest.com
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. 3 1/2 stars.
Good read, but starts off slow.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel. 5 stars.
Amazing! I flew through it.

Full House by Janet Evanovich. It's not a Plum but it was a good read.

As Always, Jack by Emma Sweeney. 2 1/2 stars.
I didn't enjoy this at all --- good thing it was short

East of Eden by John Steinbeck. 4 ˝ stars.
I'm glad I read it --- still researching all the symbols, etc.

AlisonAD@aol.com
Sometimes you just have to read a book because you can't stand it when everybody is talking about it and you have to know what the big deal is. So that is what led me to The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. Wow! It gets 5 stars. It's an amazing book. But you know that already.

Same with East of Eden by John Steinbeck. If Oprah says it's good, it usually is. She was right, and I'm embarrassed I never read this classic before. Another 5-star book.

Now I'm reading In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner. I loved her first book, Good in Bed, and was looking forward to her next one. This one doesn't disappoint. I'm halfway through and give it 4 stars.

bradylee@myway.com
The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley by Alanna Nash. 5 stars.
This bio is a winner that keeps the reader involved from beginning to end because the main subject is a fascinating character who could properly be termed as eccentric...and mentally brilliant. He truly did "make" Elvis Presley. He took advantage of almost everyone and, at the same time, helped many in their careers. Elvis could be blamed for not paying any attention to the business part of his life, but there was so much money involved that it seemed he was happy, too. Chapter titles give a hint of the contents like: "The Little Dutch Boy," "Dancing Chickens, Toothless Lions, and Rodeo Cowboys" and "Mistakes Some-One May Have Made." Oh yes, discover why The Colonel and Elvis were almost destitute when they died and their estates were miniscule compared to their earnings.

alacombe@belfastlibrary.org
Naked Empire by Terry Goodkind. 5 stars.
Although I have not finished this book yet, I am already enjoying it as much as the previous seven in the Sword of Truth series.

Paperback Writer by Stephen Bly. 4 stars.
I am reading this book, and it is a lot of fun trying to figure it all out. The overall story is good and told in a way that keeps you wondering. It isn't like anything of his that I've read before.

The Truth About Celia by Kevin Brockmeier. 3 1/2 Stars.
I was hoping to like this one a bit more than I did. It didn't resolve enough at the end for my liking. It does drive home the point, however, that sometimes in life's toughest situations, there really aren't any resolutions.

Steal Away by Linda Hall. 5 stars.
This is a great book for people who enjoy mysteries and don't mind a bit of Christianity thrown in. The setting in Maine is wonderful, especially if you've been there and can relate to the telling.

ecurry@sain.com
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. 5 stars.
Excellent book by a new author. Very original. Left me thinking about it for days.

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. 5 stars.
Everyone goes on and on about this book for good reason.

In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner. 4 stars.
Not as good as Good In Bed, but still a fine book.

Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter. 3 stars.
Pretty good mystery.

A Grave Denied by Dana Stabenow. 4 stars.
The latest in the Kate Shugak series. A wonderful mystery set in Alaska.

BREEZYWRITER@aol.com
Atonement by Ian McEwan. 4 stars.
Most people I've talked to didn't like this book at all, but I thought it was very well-written and thoughtful. I was, however, disappointed by the ambiguous ending.

joswood@adiis.net
Isle of Palms by Dorothea Benton Frank. 4 stars.
This was a lighthearted romp around the Isle of Palms in South Carolina. The characters were interesting and fun. I did think it was too long, though. The main character gave many parties and they were described in great detail. One too many, and I felt she was padding at the end. A good read, though.

Exit Wounds by J.A. Jance. 5 stars.
I love this series about Sheriff Joanna Brady. She is so real and the situations are always fascinating and well-written. I recommend all the books in this series.

shallman@okpride.net
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett and The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason, his first book.
Both books contain the philosophy of music as healing the soul. They both gave a lot of history about different countries, politics, love, hate, and intrigue. They both really have it all. I was so intrigued that I researched opera, the Erard Piano, the terrorist groups, and many other things. What a great learning tool these two books were.

I was also intrigued with the fact that Mr. Mason wrote his book while he was in medical school. My daughter is in her second year of medical school and I can't imagine her writing a book at the same time. I bought opera CD's by Rene Fleming and copied Internet info and a picture of Mrs. Fleming and of Karol Bennett, who one of Ms. Patchett's main characters is patterned after. I also made some Internet connections re: info on the past Emperor of Japan, the terrorist organization of Peru, and read many articles from newspapers re: the hostage takeover of the Japan Embassy in Peru in 1996. I would not know any of this if I had not read these wonderful books. Quite an education. Hats off to the authors.

Fbower444@aol.com
I just started Tom Clancy's The Teeth of the Tiger. As expected Clancy has shifted from the Cold War to the World of Terrorism. Jack Ryan was President but now his son is entering the world of Intelligence. There are also other new characters --- an exciting start to the story.

msimon@nj.rr.com
Mrs. Kimble by Jennifer Haigh. 5 stars.
Flirting with Pete by Barbara Delinsky. 5 stars.
Say When by Elizabeth Berg. 4 stars.
All He Ever Wanted by Anita Shreve. 5 stars.
The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst. 4 stars.

NEPR@aol.com
Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson. 4 stars.
It's hard to believe that this is the same author who writes mysteries. I liked the diary technique, but I found the ending a little unbelievable --- even for New York City. But it is a good read.

Creatures of Habit by Jill McCorkle. 5 stars if you like short stories.
Bittersweet, with lots of humor. She not only knows how to tell a story, but has real insight into her characters, especially the elderly ones.

Psalms of Lament by Ann Weems. 5 stars.
A theologian and poet looks at the Psalms as she struggles with her own grief when her 21-year-old son dies. As she deals with her own grief, she also speaks universally to others who weep and struggle with the whys of life. She makes it clear that there are no simple answers, but she also points out that God is enough to handle our lamentations.

I was glad to see that someone is reading Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen. I read it years ago and it remains one of my all-time favorites, along with Alan Paton's Cry, the Beloved Country.

j.wolf@sympatico.ca
Here are my recommendations from what I've been reading lately,
The Hour Before Dark by Douglas Clegg. 5 stars.
Dialogues of the Dead by Reginald Hill. 5 stars.
Fountain of Dreams by Josie Litton. 5 stars.
Fountain of Secrets by Josie Litton. 5 stars.

lindaharriet@msn.com
Three Junes by Julia Glass, the 2002 National Book Award winner, was the best book I've read all year. It's the story of the McLeod family, told in three pivotal Junes by Fenno, the eldest son. The second section is told in first person, and the other two are in third. The book weaves back and forth in time seamlessly. There are themes of betrayal, inability to show emotions and, finally, redemption. 5 stars.

GandmaRI@aol.com
This week I'm getting ready to read Hornet Flight by Ken Follett and A Look Over My Shoulder by Richard Helms. Hornet Flight is a fictional book by one of my favorite authors and A Look Over My Shoulder is a nonfiction book that piqued my curiosity.

jprechtl@satx.rr.com
The Face by Dean Koontz. 3 stars.
I'm a devout Stephen King fan, and Dean Koontz is a close second. This book has short, easy-to-read chapters, each of which ends on a "can't quit now" note, but it is not quite as captivating as some of his previous works.

Evil: An Investigation by Lance Morrow. 2 stars.
Good psychological fodder, but a bit too dry for me. Almost at the halfway point and the most memorable part (so far) was the first 2-3 pages.

GerryD8784@aol.com
Eating Fire and Drinking Water by Arlene J. Chai. 4 stars.
A young woman reporter chafes at being assigned routine and uninspiring stories until she stumbles onto a story that shakes not only her small island nation, but also her own personal life.

The Geography Club by Brent Hartinger. 3 1/2 stars.
Gay teens form their own secret support group, masquerading as The Geography Club, "the most boring club anyone could imagine," so other students won't learn their secret. Hartinger has done a credible job of portraying the angst of being different --- in any way --- in high school.

The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck. 4 1/2 stars.
A short novella, and the first of Steinbeck's writing that I've read, I believe. A wonderfully written meditation on the futility of war, the inevitable resentment of the conquered, and the growing fear and discontent among the members of the conquering army as they find themselves rejected by the very people they came to "save." One particularly great description: "He's being a soldier the way a lot of men would be politicians. He'll be on the General Staff before long. He'll look down on war from above and so he'll always love it."

Street Dreams by Faye Kellerman. 4 stars.
Decker's daughter Cindy, now a police officer striving for promotion to Detective, is featured in this novel, and is involved in a number of interconnected cases -- the rescue of a discarded newborn from a trash dumpster, the hit-and-run killing of a mentally retarded young woman, and a six-month old rape and assault case involving another mentally retarded woman from the same center --- and is also involved in a new romance. Marred only by too frequent, too vague references to the characters' past histories (without enough information to dredge the details from my own memory, though I've read all of Kellerman's previous books), it proved a most enjoyable read.

The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen. 5 stars.
Gerritsen's newest is also her best yet! Medical examiner Maura Isles and Detective Jane Rizzoli team up to figure out what connects the murders of two nuns in a cloistered convent, an illegal immigrant in a Boston alley, and a corporate executive who was tortured, then killed and left in the trunk of his own car. Worst of all, one connection seems to involve Maura's ex-husband, who's suddenly on the scene again after a three-year absence.

The Pursuit of Alice Thrift by Elinor Lipman. 3 stars.
Alice Thrift, M.D., a surgical resident at a Boston hospital, is so literal-minded and deficient in social skills that her own mother wonders if she has Asperger Syndrome. A traveling fudge salesman encounters her in a plastic surgery consult and begins his pursuit, eventually winning her hand in marriage. Along the way, Alice's previous roommate, her new neighbor, and a kindly older physician all take her under their wings to help her learn the interpersonal skills she needs in her work and in her life. Wonderful characters make for a fun read!

Beyond Belief by Elaine Pagels. 3 stars.
A scholarly work but not completely inaccessible to laypeople, about the early history of the Christian church and the political/dogmatic separation that codified the orthodox or traditional creed and branded other viewpoints, including that of the Gospel of Thomas, heretical.

bradylee@myway.com
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi. 3 stars.
I read about this book in other sources about how wonderful it is. I don't think so; the word "wonderful" is a little strong. This is an autobiography where the author has created her story in comic book form and she did the drawings also. She was brought up in Iran and this is her story of her youth. It talks of all the restrictions that came into her life at around age 10, but you will learn nothing new if you read the papers.

LewSch@aol.com
I am in a book club. This month we are reading The Sunday Wife by Cassandra King. I have 100 more pages to go, but I am really enjoying it. It makes you think about things I never really thought about before. Nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors. Last month (August) we read The Citadel by A.J. Cronin. That was also a good book.

magone@rtkonline.com
I just finished The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. I cannot say enough about this great book. If you like puzzles, code words and games, or just a great page-turner, please read this book now. It is a great page-turner.

Vikkivand@aol.com
Candy and Me (A Love Story) by Hilary Liftin. 5 stars.
A true story of a woman's lifelong obsession with candy. Reading this brought back a lot of memories…a really cute story.

Diary by Chuck Palahniuk. 4 stars.
A bizarre story about wealthy residents of Waytansea Island and an ex-art student whose comotose husband is in the hospital after an attempted suicide.

Dry by Augusten Burroughs. 5 stars.
This is the latest novel by the writer of Running with Scissors. An honest memoir of Augusten's recovery from alcoholism.

KLOZIER40@aol.com
Blue Diary by Alice Hoffman. 4 stars.
A happily married man is accused of an old murder. How will his wife react to the news?

diamondlightfoot@yahoo.com
What I've read this month! (so far, that is)

Wizard and Glass by Stephen King.
I'm getting ready for that big one coming out in November!

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.
Good group reading!

The Footprints of God by Greg Iles.
This one was so much fun!

The Hour Before Dark by Douglas Clegg.
One of his best yet!

East of Eden by John Steinbeck.
Oprah picked a winner!

Lucy.Lunt@elpaso.com
Blue Shoe by Anne Lamott.
The honest, funny, sad, real story of a quirky hip Christian everywoman in northern California.

The Ice Age by Margaret Drabble.
A novel of British real estate hubris and what people thought of "middle-age" (38 yrs old??) in the mid-70's.

Texasville by Larry McMurtry.
Duane is starting to get depressed at age 48 (American middle-age in the mid-80's)

Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol.
Humor and sadness in Russia where everyone is middle-aged in the late 19th century

The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire
I'm reading this because I was inspired by another McMurtry heroine. Lists and thoughts about the Roman empire. Sort of a geography lesson for me.

KAM1119@aol.com
I just finished The Shelters of Stone by Jean M. Auel. My favorite in the series so far because of all the character interactions. I thought there were no slow parts. It took a long time to read but it was worth it. 5 stars.

Ultraprevention by Mark Hyman and Mark Liponis. 4 stars so far, but not done yet --- could go to 5. I picked this up just because it caught my eye on the bookstore shelf. I am liking the wealth of information and the easy-to-read writing style.

jefffunk@mail.fwi.com
The Hour Before Dark by Douglas Clegg.
Red Angel by Andrew Harper.
Swan Song by Robert McCammon.
Coven by Edward Lee.

Mysticwvs@aol.com
My recommendation for a wonderful book to read is Dear Stranger, Dearest Friend written by Laney Katz Becker. It was such a wonderful novel to read. I can honestly say it was one of the most enjoyed books I have read in a very long time. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars.

WSchu1@aol.com
I just discovered the joys of recording my reads in a wonderful reading journal. I have tried journaling before but have never found one as accessible or as beautiful as Reading Reflections: A Book Lover's Journal by Sara Mohn. This journal has added to my joy of reading, reflecting and remembering. Someday my children will be able to see what Dad was reading and what his thoughts were. The journal would be worth a feature on your web site.

KleaNevers@aol.com
I Wish I Had a Red Dress by Pearl Cleage. 5 stars.
Pen Pals by Olivia Goldsmith. 4 stars.

debtalmadge@cox.net
I highly recommend The Hour Before Dark by Douglas Clegg. It is the kind of book that makes you stay up late because you don't want to put it down. A GREAT STORY. 5 stars!

Pudgypb@aol.com
I'm reading Lost by Joy Fielding and definitely give it 5 stars. I haven't read a book of hers yet that I didn't like.

Newcrain@aol.com
The Pursuit of Alice Thrift by Elinor Lipman. 4 stars.
It's about a socially and culturally unconscious workaholic doctor-in-training (Alice Thrift) and her first real romantic involvement with a dorky but likable guy. A fun, quick read.

amusingjoy@sbcglobal.net
A Yellow Raft in Blue Water by Michael Dorris. 3 stars.
This book is about three different generations of females on Indian reservations.

The Second Time Around by Mary Higgins Clark. 4 stars.

dmilburn@alltel.net
No Second Chance by Harlan Coben. 4 stars.
I gave this book 4 stars because sometimes I felt he wandered from the subject. Also I had to go back many times to connect what was happening. It jumps from one character to the next and from one chapter to the next…but all in all a very exciting and totally unpredictable story. Not as good as some of his other books but still worth the read. I'm afraid that some of the parts relating to adoption may be all too true...that is the most frightening part of this story.

hushpup@optonline.net
I read The Box Children by Sharon Wyse. I rate this book 5 stars. It was a great easy read. I also just finished Black Cross by Greg Iles. This book is definitely rated 5 stars

CDCJS@aol.com
I am just beginning Breaking Her Fall by Stephen Goodwin. I read great things about it and I am looking forward to it very much.

Yodasmommy@woh.rr.com
I just finished reading Trial by Ice and Fire by Clinton McKinzie. It was absolutely the best of his books I have ever read and I give it 5 stars!! Antonio Burns is sent to Wyoming to protect a prosecutor named Cali Morrow from an insane stalker and of course his fugitive brother Roberto shows up to complicate things. The ending is very thrilling.

hibar14@earthlink.net
I'm reading Grace Under Fire by Beverly Barton. It's the first one I've read by this author. I give it 4 stars.

vitale@grantsburgtelcom.net
I just finished reading The Human Stain by Philip Roth. I thoroughly enjoyed this fascinating read. It's about a black man who decides to leave his mother and siblings behind and live his life as a white person. (He and his family members are very light-skinned.) He hides his background from his wife and children for more than 40 years and is struck down in the prime of his academic career by two students who accuse him of making a racist remark. The truth couldn't be farther from the mark. But no one knows the truth, and he can't tell it because his family would never forgive him for keeping the secret from them.

It's a very sad book on many levels --- for him, because he left behind his birth family and had to live a lie for the rest of his life; for his children, because they will never know who they really are and they never had the chance to know their grandmother. Roth hits the gossipy nature of small-town life right on the nose --- and proves that gossips really don't know what they're talking about. I'd definitely recommend this book. The movie is coming out in December.

Norbles@aol.com
Empire Falls by Richard Russo. 5 stars.
Great characters, well written

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling. 4 stars.

YZAP@aol.com
Currently, I am reading East of Eden. I am well into Part 2 and it has a very interesting plot line. I have read other Steinbeck books, but I don't remember his writing to be this fast-paced. I am thoroughly enjoying this book.

yoteach24@comcast.net
Enemy Women by Paulette Jiles. 4 1/2 stars.
An excellent story that takes place in Missouri during the Civil War when the Union Militia began arresting women who they felt were collaborating with confederate outlaws and put them in prison. This story weaves truth with fiction by using actual quotes taken out of books and journals written by people who actually lived, fought, suffered and died during the Civil War. The story leaves you wondering about what could happen with a war on our homefront. Where do people's morals and values go during a war? I highly recommend this book.

Dawn.Bodart@Metavante.com
I am currently reading Bleachers by John Grisham and give it 4 stars. I really enjoy all of John Grisham's books. I would probably rate this one higher if I was more of a football enthusiast.

I just finished The Perfect Summer by Luanne Rice. I discovered Luanne Rice when Follow the Stars Home was on the bestseller list. I love all her books! 5 stars.

Other books I've read this summer and would highly recommend are:
Sushi for Beginners by Marian Keyes. 5 stars.
For anyone who enjoyed Bridget Jones!

Flirting with Pete by Barbara Delinsky. 5 stars.
Excellent summer read --- contains a story within a story

Johnny Angel by Danielle Steel. 4 stars.
A little unbelievable yet very enjoyable --- but then Danielle Steel's books always are.

She Went All the Way by Meggin Cabot. 4 stars.
Author of The Princess Diaries, I also enjoyed her book The Boy Next Door (consists of nothing but e-mails).

The Jester by James Patterson. 5 stars.
Nothing like anything he's written before but very enjoyable --- couldn't put it down!

PFLucas@aol.com
The Face by Dean Koontz. 4 stars.
The latest book by a master of suspense. If you are a fan of his works, you will enjoy this book.

Kamay1970@aol.com
The Perfect Summer by Luanne Rice. 5 stars.
I could not put this book down. The Perfect Summer begins with the mysterious disappearance of Bay McCabe's husband. Bay is then faced with keeping her family together while keeping herself strong for what comes next. A definite must read!

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