charris@pcnuthut.com
That Old Ace in the Hole by Annie Proulx. 4 stars.
Another good book by Proulx. I advise anyone to read it.
Prairie Nocturne by Ivan Doig. 4 stars.
I am a fan of his, but my favorite was Bucking the Sun.
Dirty Work by Stuart Woods. 4 stars.
Another good mystery. He is a very good writer.
Vital Signs by Barbara Wood. 5 stars.
Not a new book, but a good Dr. book with a mystery.
Shepherd's Abiding by Jan Karon. 3 stars.
I always like reading about Mitford. This was not as easy to read, but I hope she continues with this series.
Born Naked by Farley Mowat. 4 stars.
This was our book for our Book Club this month. It made for a very good discussion. It was about his early life, mostly in the 20s and 30s.
GandmaRI@aol.com
This week I'm reading (still) The Teeth of the Tiger by Tom Clancy. I'd rate it 4 stars. In true Clancy fashion he develops the characters and the storyline. I just wish lunch hour was longer, as this has seemed to be my only time to read lately. I'm also perusing Curves. It is a nonfiction book by the founder of Curves exercise spas --- a bit dry with interesting information. I do buy into the exercise part as I've seen results. The nutrition part I'm still looking at and the opinions are not in yet. Who's crazy enough to try to start a new nutrition and 4 letter word diet in the middle of the Christmas season?
rsaxe@utoledo.edu
I'm reading A Death in Vienna by Daniel Silva. I give it 4 stars. It is the third in a series about the Holocaust and its effect. It is research based and action-packed.
hibar14@earthlink.net
I am reading The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks. It's so romantic. I'm loving it. 5 stars.
smilamas@adelphia.net
I am reading Playing Botticelli by Liza Nelson. It is OK. I just read So Many Books, So Little Time by Sara Nelson and really loved it. She is the sister of Liza Nelson. Also, Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik was excellent! The Mercury 13 by Martha Ackmann tells of the women who were tested for the space program and passed all the tests but were not allowed into the space program because they were women. This was VERY interesting and excellent. Use What You've Got by Barbara Corcoran was also excellent.
kfettresources@msn.com
I'm currently reading Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas by Elaine Pagels. I heard her speak on NPR this fall, and found her research so fascinating that I had to buy the book. I just started the book but already have a hard time putting it down. I'm underlining within the material for review later. Very well researched information with a wonderful personal story of her own.
MAP5402@aol.com
Hello, Darkness by Sandra Brown. 5 stars.
I really enjoyed this one. Brown in one of my favorite authors.
Split Second by David Baldacci. 3 stars.
This one was only so-so. I'm not a huge Baldacci fan.
Cold Ridge by Carla Neggers. 4 stars.
This is a paperback that I enjoyed very much. I think Neggars always tells a good story.
temar_98@yahoo.com
Love by Toni Morrison. 4 stars.
Typically challenging, thought-provoking Morrison. It explores the many facets of love and how it revolves around resort owner Bill Cosey and the women in his life, young and old. Discussing it with friends unveiled several dimensions that escaped me in my reading. Unanswered questions remain, but as readers we realize we can't answer every question.
joyceaurba@mac.com
I just discovered Bookreporter online a few months ago and decided to bite the bullet and enter some of the books that I am currently reading. Since I read so much, I thought it would be good to share a few titles:
Testament by Nino Ricci. 5 stars.
What a timely book for me to have read this holiday season. Not only is Testament a stark and somewhat radical approach to looking at the New Testament, it conveys so well the history of the period. I feel as though I thoroughly understand the problems and disputes going on at the time. Without even knowing it I picked up church history. Nino Ricci writes so well. He conveys strong feelings through subtleties and his descriptions of the land are superb. I felt myself to be in the desert squatting under trees and shrubs under the moonlight spellbound as I listened to the quiet words of the teacher. High recommendation.
The Family of Pascual Duarte by Camilo Jose Cela. 5 stars.
This book also rates 5 stars, even though it is a stark and brutal account of life in Spain at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. It is a compulsive read and I fully agree with Alastair Reid who says, "Pascual Duarte is as vast a tragic hero in his context as Oedipus in his." After reading it you feel as though you had just read something powerful that speaks to all humanity. It makes you sit and think deeply for a long time. Camilo Jose Cela won the Nobel Prize for Literature, and this book leaves no doubt as to why.
The Book and the Brotherhood by Iris Murdoch.
Wanting to pay tribute to Iris Murdoch who died in February of 1999, I began The Book and the Brotherhood. Although I am still involved in readying it, this book is gripping from the opening pages and enmeshes you immediately into her lovely Oxford community.
What three magnificent and varied works these have been. They speak to the magnificence out there waiting to be found, read and cherished.
KLOZIER40@aol.com
Beach Music by Pat Conroy. 4 1/2 stars.
I'm thoroughly enjoying this book about a southern family and in particular a man who experiences his wife's suicide and runs away to Italy with his daughter to escape the family and their eccentricities.
jennie@millburn.lib.nj.us
Christmas, Present by Jacquelyn Mitchard. 4 1/2 stars.
The book takes place around Christmas. Elliot and his wife Laura are out celebrating their 14th anniversary when their car breaks down on their way home. Laura complains that she's not feeling good and asks to go to the hospital. It is discovered that she has an aneurysm in her brain and that it burst; she has approximately 24 hours to live (give or take a few hours). There is no cure. While Laura lies in bed, she begins organizing the rest of her family's life and calling family and writing cards and letters to friends.
This book had me sobbing as I read it. I went through a box of tissues while reading it. You hope for a miracle for Laura, but you know from the beginning that death is inevitable. I cared about the characters and wondered about the future of the family. A brief glimpse of life after Laura is given. Definitely a worthwhile read, but not something to read if you've recently lost someone, have someone who is very ill, or just can't deal with sad stories.
Tales from the Odyssey is a new children's series by Mary Pope Osborne based on the Odyssey. The titles are as follows:
1. The One-Eyed Giant
2. The Land of the Dead
3. Sirens and Sea Monsters
4. The Gray-Eyed Ghost
There will be two more titles coming out sometime in the future. I found this to be a 5-star series, for children and adults alike. It's a great refresher of the Odyssey tales or an easy introduction to the Odyssey. I'm enjoying reading the series, and although you can read them out of order without becoming confused, I suggest (as a Librarian) that they are read in order to get the correct chronology of events. My favorite was Book 2: The Land of the Dead, as I found this to be the one I read the quickest to discover the outcome of Odysseus's adventures. I'm not usually a fan of retellings, but this one is definitely worth it!!
Hope you enjoy the recommendations!
Pudgypb@aol.com
I just finished reading The Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson. As usual, this book was outstanding as all his books are. I would definitely give this book 5 stars. I'm never disappointed in a book written by James Patterson.
Newcrain@aol.com
The Shell Collector by Anthony Doerr is turning me into a lover of short stories. There's a thread of nature and fishing and hunting throughout the stories. Great characterization. Great life lessons. 5 stars.
ery2227@hotmail.com
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown. 4 stars.
swl44th@hotmail.com
During 2003 I was fortunate to read some wonderful books but the one I found most impressive especially because it was from a new author was A Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.
Rickimc@aol.com
Broken Wings by V. C. Andrews. 3 stars.
Different --- and yet the same.
The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger. 4 stars.
This is definitely the book for anyone who thought that working for their boss was stressful! A very fun read.
BDB530@aol.com
Three Junes by Julia Glass. 4 stars.
The triptych formation of this novel gives a picture of some complex characters. Each part tells us something about the other parts, and they all dovetail by the end into a story of the lives of an interesting family.
harrises@bayou.com
A Very Southern Christmas edited by Charline McCord and Judy Tucker, and paintings by Wyatt Waters. 5 stars.
A perfect holiday read...ten short stories that stand on their own. Perfect in front of the fireplace.
bencanada1@yahoo.com
Isabel's Daughter by Judith Ryan Hendricks. 5 stars.
A heartfelt, sensitively portrayed novel of a daughter's search for her mother. This is a wonderful story set in New Mexico with vivid descriptions of the area as well as the art world in Santa Fe and the interesting characters who have an importance in this young woman's life. Fabulous characterizations and impossible to put down.
bab@tennis.com
No Angel by Penny Vincenzi. 5 stars.
A compelling family saga set in England in the early 1920s. The interrelationships that are explored in this novel are unique and dramatic. Setting and socioeconomic descriptions are vivid and accurate. Wonderful business background that is integral to the story. This is amazing and worth every word.
rojosho@hotmail.com
Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende. 5 stars.
A family saga set in the late 1800s in Chile and San Francisco. Dramatic and extremely interesting descriptions of the setting, the people and their lives. The main characters are accurately and vividly portrayed with wonderful reality. The major character, Rose, whose life is lived with various interrelationships, is fascinating and lively. Loved every word of this great novel.
bnpa@adelphia.net
I am reading The Last to Die by Beverly Barton. I would give it 5 stars. It is suspenseful and hard to put down until you are finished.
realbencann@yahoo.com
The Third Chimpanzee by Jared Diamond. 5 stars.
An exploration into the fascination we have with the human and how we have evolved. An interesting and very comprehensive book on the human species --- our characteristics, abilities, behavior, qualities and abilities --- how our genes and DNA differs from that of an animal, and how we have progressed in this world.
BBWbeautie@aol.com
I just read The Five People You Meet in Heaven and I want to shout from the rooftops that this was the best book I think I have ever read! It is by Mitch Albom who wrote Tuesdays With Morrie. A friend mentioned this book and I picked it up. It is a smallish book...a short read but I wept, I smiled, I ordered 5 more copies to give away. Do yourself a favor and read it!
TonyBrandin@peoplepc.com
The Art of Prayer: A Simple Guide by Timothy Jones. 3 stars.
Neither no more nor no less than its title, Jones's book focuses on the different kinds of prayers we say, and how we can improve our praying. I used The Art of Prayer as a Bible study/devotional guide throughout the year. Each chapter closes with two or three prayers that reflect the chapter's themes. These examples of good prayers aided me considerably. I am a better pray-er than I used to be!
bradylee@myway.com
Learning Joy from Dogs Without Collars: A Memoir by Lauralee Summer. 5 stars.
What a wonderful story this is from a person who as a child skipped school much of the time and eventually ended up graduating from Harvard. She and her mother were street people during all of the author's formative years, and there were 3 people in Lauralee's life who helped change her life around --- a miracle I would say. The chapter titles are very telling and most accurate in telling her story. This is an important book in my eyes, but 3 special chapters are Mr. Mac - Love is Bodies, Blood and Sweat - and Meeting Him. This book tells how each human being is so different and so special and how growing up is unique in the imprint of our realization of life. This is a story that will make you feel privileged indeed.
gojessicago@juno.com
The upside of being sick as a dog for days and having to miss work is getting to READ READ READ! So when my fever wasn't spiking and I wasn't hallucinating purple frogs on my ceiling, I managed to read these:
Mystic River by Dennis Lehane. 5 stars.
I always meant to read it and I am very glad I did. It is everything people said it was, and more.
The Conspiracy Club by Jonathan Kellerman. 5 stars.
Interesting departure from Alex Delaware and not at all a bad thing. I liked it very much.
Gone Too Far by Suzanne Brockmann. 3 stars.
It was okay. Nothing too fab, but nothing to make me hate it either. Main pet peeve: Main character had WAY too many nicknames and first names. Couldn't figure out who the heck they were talking to half the time!
Constable's Run by Laurie Moore. 1 star.
Didn't even finish it. Trite, dumb and the people seemed too sweaty. Ick.
The Amber Room by Steve Berry. 5 stars.
This book took some serious dedication to stay with, but I am happy I did. It was very good and I felt smarter after reading it!
Blow Fly by Patricia Cornwell. 4 stars.
I feel traitorous giving Ms. Cornwell anything less than a perfect score, I have always been such a huge fan and a dedicated reader. This book didn't do it for me and I have to say that the change from 1st person to 3rd person didn't do it for me either. I would also like to say (to those of you who read Kay Scarpetta books) that the dead should STAY dead (you know who and what I mean!).
Blindside by Catherine Coulter. 4 stars.
No real surprises here. Everyone always ends up nice and happy and quickly married to a virtual stranger met through extreme and murderous circumstances. Despite all the clichés, I like the FBI series!
melajessi@aol.com
The House on Beartown Road: A Memoir of Learning and Forgetting by Elizabeth Cohen. 5 stars.
Elizabeth, a member of the "sandwich generation" --- people caught in the middle, simultaneously caring for their children and for their aging parents --- is the mother of Ava and the daughter of Daddy, and responsible for both. Hers is the story of a woman's struggle to keep her family whole, to raise her child in a house of laughter and love, and to keep her father from hiding the house keys in his slippers.
bradylee@myway.com
She's Not There: A Life In Two Genders by Jennifer Finney Boylan. 5 stars.
Can you imagine, being in real life, having a body of a male, but within your thoughts and spirit of life you print female? What are your life issues? This sensationally written book reveals it all. Some say that nature makes no mistakes, but it does happen in abundance and here is a true life example. The story of Boylan's life is really about searching for a life partner, finding her, then finding a wonderful "best friend," and then confronting the problems evident due to nature's mistake with the loving back-up of family. The reader becomes enveloped in this story with great emotional investment and a grand finale with a chapter composed by his best friend that ties events up as well as possible. I knew nothing about this kind of problem that exists with thousands of people. This book is an experience that should not be missed! And the author is blessed with talent.
TonyBrandin@peoplepc.com
The Beggar's Throne by David Falconieri. 4 stars.
Falconieri writes vividly about commoners and kings in The Beggar's Throne, set in medieval England during the War of the Roses. Samuel Miller is the second son of a commoner who is indentured as an archer to the Earl of Northumberland. Oliver is the page to the Earl of Rutland, who dies in the Battle of Towton between the Lancastrians and the Yorkists. The Beggar's Throne follows Samuel and Oliver through the rest of the blood-soaked 1460s. More than just a litany of battles (though there are plenty), The Beggar's Throne depicts real, flawed but sympathetic characters, historical and imagined, who navigate the treacherous politics and conflicts of this English civil war. I found myself thinking about King Edward IV and his Queen Elizabeth more than I ever thought I would. I do not generally like historical fiction, but The Beggar's Throne kept me engrossed throughout.
maestraw@msn.com
Now that the holidays are here, I have a lot more time to read. This week I have read In the Bleak Midwinter and A Fountain Filled with Blood, both by Julia Spencer-Fleming. These Reverend Clare Fergusson mysteries have a good story line and some explanations of the Episcopal Church. I would give each 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.
I also just finished Linda Howard's Cry No More. This mystery is about a baby smuggling ring that turns its sights on illegal organ donations. It is very easy reading. Although it is easy to figure out who the "bad guys" are, their motivation and the aftermath all make for a good story. I would give it 4 out of 5 stars, because much of the story takes place in Mexico, and Howard uses a lot of Spanish in the story. (I am a Spanish teacher.) Feliz Navidad and happy reading!
ATENC3@aol.com
The Christmas Box Collection by Richard Paul Evans. 5 stars
This book combines three of Richard Paul Evans's marvelous books: The Christmas Box, Timepiece and The Letter. I am now reading the third (The Letter) and love it as much as the others. These have all been very inspirational for me.
GerryD8784@aol.com
Flirting with Pete by Barbara Delinsky. 3 1/2 stars.
A young woman, whose famous father never acknowledged her in life, suddenly finds herself the beneficiary of his largesse, when he leaves his valuable Boston townhouse to her at his death. Along with the house, she finds clues to a family mystery, seemingly left intentionally for her to find and follow. Better than her last couple of efforts.
The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger. 3 stars.
Light and cuttingly funny view of the fashion industry by a young woman who impressed me immensely when she spoke --- without notes, for forty minutes straight, without a single "um" or "like" -- at a recent book festival in my area. To be so witty and articulate at only 25!! Not for the literary minded, but a fun novel.
Pompeii by Robert Harris. 5 stars.
A novel of the last four days of Pompeii and the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, told from the point of view of a young man recently promoted to "aquarius," the engineer in charge of the Augusta Aqueduct that supplied water to the towns around the bay of Naples. Very well researched and written in a compelling, fast-paced style.
Delusion by G. H. Ephron. 3 stars.
A psychologist is called to assist when a young woman is found murdered and her apparently delusional and paranoid husband becomes a prime suspect.
A Place of Execution by Val McDermid. 5 stars.
A distraught mother reports her thirteen year old daughter missing, but the investigation into her disappearance is hampered by the secrecy and apparent mistrust of the police shown by inhabitants of the tiny hamlet in which the girl lived with her mother and stepfather, the squire of the village. An exceptionally dogged lead investigator ultimately cracks the case and brings the killer to justice, but years later circumstances arise that make him question his conclusions. Very well-written and plotted. This is a new author to me --- one I found in a "Word of Mouth" posting --- and I will certainly read more of her books.
The Conspiracy Club by Jonathan Kellerman. 3 1/2 stars.
An interesting new protagonist made this an enjoyable read, though there's still plenty of room for character development. Jeremy Carrier is a young clinical psychologist working at a hospital in an unnamed city. Some months before the book's opening, Jeremy's girlfriend was murdered and the killer remains unidentified while Jeremy remains a possible suspect in the eyes of investigators. When a similar kidnapping and murder occurs in the city, suspicion around Jeremy intensifies and he begins investigating on his own in an effort both to prove his innocence and also to resolve the mystery of his girlfriend's death. He is assisted (or perhaps led) in his investigation by a fellow physician --- an older, somewhat odd pathologist who invites Jeremy to dinner with a group of equally unusual companions whose main link appears to be a preoccupation with the concept of justice.
Mumto3girls1boy2@aol.com
I have just finished reading my second book by a new author. Her name is Diana Dempsey. Her first book, Falling Star, was an absolute pleasure to read. The second book, Catch the Moon, which I just finished reading for the third time, is even better. Her third book, Too Close to the Sun, is due out in August 2004. I already have it marked on my calendar. She has a great writing style and her books are really easy to get into. I gave a copy of each to my mother for Christmas and she is starting on the second book already.
bradylee@myway.com
Roone: A Memoir by Roone Arledge. 5 stars.
If you are interested in the making and markings of television, then you should read this book. Roone, a major force and creator of what you see on TV today, gives the lowdown of creating many shows involving sports and news on the ABC network, as well as securing many of the personalities that are so important to a program's makeup. You will discover the politics and the creative birth of much of what you see on TV and realize how "hand held" many of the TV stars are in their peculiarities. An aspiring individual wanting to work in television should read this book for sure!
maestraw@msn.com
I just finished The Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson. This was another in his Alex Cross series. The book moved quickly, but I do not feel there was enough story. The Christine and Jamilla segments seemed to have been thrown in for a little romantic flair, but neither story line added much to the book. I would give this one 4 out of 5 stars simply because I love Patterson and Alex Cross. I do hope Patterson spends more time on the plot in his next Cross adventure. It would be worth the wait. However, this book is definitely worth reading.
martyph@charter.net
I am just about to finish John Sandford's Naked Prey, most recent in his Prey series. Unlike far too many other popular thriller authors, Sandford's writing is just as good in this as in all the others. A page-turner where main character Lucas Davenport doesn't just sit around and talk about what's going on, the action moves and moves, keeps you reading. Maybe it's because it's usually so cold up there that you can't wait to get warm! I do wonder, however, why he has so many mean, really MEAN, old lady characters in his books. 5 stars.
Roscoe@drizzle.com
Stars: Original Stories Based on the Songs of Janis Ian, edited by Janis Ian and Mike Resnick. 4 to 4 1/2 stars.
This book has taken me quite by surprise. I've been a science fiction fan and reader for over 20 years, although I don't read much in the field currently. And you might wonder if such an arcane-sounding collection of stories would work, stories based on a songwriter's lyrics. In fact, it's a compelling, creative collection by some of the major names in science fiction and fantasy (from Orson Scott Card and Tanith Lee to Joe Haldeman and Diane Duane, Howard Waldrop and Mercedes Lackey, I mean come on!) and most of the stories are captivating, original and worth reading.
Whether they conform to a specific line in a song or take off wildly (I loved Nancy Kress's song using "Jesse," which was very unexpected), this anthology works for me as many theme anthologies do not. Janis Ian's talents as a great songwriter are shown off here very well, and there's likely to be something in this anthology of over 30 stories that works for you.
SpazzticGirl@comcast.net
Having begun work at Barnes and Noble, I have had the opportunity to read several new books. Life of Pi by Yann Martel was an excellent read! It was one of those books you cannot put down; I needed to find out what was going to happen next to the main character, Pi. It's a wonderful story about a boy's will to survive in an unthinkable circumstance. When the boat Pi is riding on with his family sinks, he manages to make it to a lifeboat and discovers his fellow passengers are a tiger, an orangutan, a zebra and a hyena. There is a surprising twist and after I finished this book, the end stuck with me. Mr. Martel implies this is based on a true story and not having done any research into it I don't know, but whether it is or not, it's an amazing story. I highly recommend it. 4 1/2 stars.
I also recommend The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffeneger. Writing about time travel with conviction is a hard thing to pull off, but the author manages to do it with style and clarity. When I began the book, it was hard for me to figure out all of what was going on, but I caught on in a few chapters. This book is not only full of action and adventure, but is also a touching love story. Guys, don't let this fool you into believing this is sappy and just for women --- the incredible plot will keep you interested. Once I finished reading this, I was sad it was over. I truly became attached to the characters. I give this one 4 stars.
brady538_91208@yahoo.com
The Secret Life of a Schoolgirl: A Memoir by Rosemary Kingsland. 4 stars.
This autobiography is a good one that indeed divulges a secret that is interesting and somewhat lasting --- for 3 or 4 years at least. The author was brought up and lives in England, primarily in the London area. The crummy weather plays a part, but her affair takes up three-fourths of her story and the relationship of family members encompasses the whole book as rightfully it should. The parents have a love/hate binding that leaves you breathless after reading the whole story. In fact, after finishing the book, I marvel at how well Ms. Kingsland laid out her story with the emphasis on her parents. I will never understand how a person accepts a relationship that her parents had. If you want to know how not to live a marriage, you must read this book. An eye-opener.
bilbo___x@yahoo.com
Shadow Patriot by Mark Dubbin. 5 stars.
A friend recommended this book to me and I finished it within a week. It's a thriller about how the September 11th attacks affected organized crime in New York. It's the first book by Mark Dubbin and kept me between the pages the whole time. If you like action/thriller type books I would highly recommend Shadow Patriot!
MrtSher@aol.com
As a way of coping with terror and other intrusions I've just read Evil: An Investigation by Lance Morrow. There are more questions than answers, but there's definitely a line between "wrong" and the evil of Hitler and Saddam. Following that, I read Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. It's a funny and even thought-provoking fantasy, beginning with Elphaba's birth as a green baby and her aversion to water and ending with her end via Dorothy. 4 1/2 stars for both.
OLTLFREAK@aol.com
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown. 5 stars.
I was so excited when I saw this at the book store…didn't realize there was a prequel to The Da Vinci Code. This book was excellent, maybe even better than The Da Vinci Code. I was in Italy this past March and could just picture everything as I read along. Excellent twists as you read. I want more Robert Langdon novels!
dashofbasenji@charter.net
So Many Books, So Little Time: A Year of Passionate Reading by Sara Nelson. 5 stars.
A Christmas present from my husband that I had been looking forward to reading ever since first hearing about this book. I was not disappointed. Someone in one of my online book groups said that this is the type of book any reader can write, and although I disagree that just anyone would be able to write so well, I do agree that Ms. Nelson touches on points that many book lovers can relate to. In this book, the author sets out to read a book a week and journal her experiences as she goes. It is not a book of reviews but a book about how her life is impacted by the books she reads, and vice versa. Ms. Nelson is witty and knows her subject matter very well. I think this is definitely a good book to start the year off with (although technically I began it at the dentist's office on December 31st as I waited my turn).
FATDADMKT@aol.com
I just finished Blow Fly by Patricia Cornwell. I give it 3 stars. I didn't think I would ever finish the book. My sister loved this book and says it's me, not the book.
elizhope@mybizz.net
Dissonance by Lisa Lenard-Cook (University of New Mexico Press, 2003) is the book that I am sending to my closest friends. It is a perfect jewel of a novel, so spare and clean in its style that one wants to pause to read sentences or entire sections aloud just for the pure cadence of the language. Dissonance is a story that interweaves the stories of two women, of two generations, in two times and places --- modern-day Los Alamos and World War II Germany --- brought together through the theme of an unpublished symphony. It is a beautiful read.
bradylee@myway.com
Kaffir Boy in America by Mark Mathabane. 4 stars.
As I reported recently Kaffir Boy was sensational; this book is just excellent. This continues the author's life after he arrives in the good 'ole U.S.A. and all of his problems getting acclimated to our country and finding a college that he can tolerate that still offers a scholarship. His growth and the hurdles he must jump keeps the reader involved at all times. He gets a little preachy on the political side, but with his background it is no wonder and does not detract from his experience. It takes a long, long time for him to reach financial comfort, but after he appears on the Oprah Winfrey show, the sun continues to shine much brighter.
lckegel@msn.com
I just finished reading We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver, an incredibly well-written book about the life of a school shooter. The book is written in the form of letters from the mother to the father. She takes us through their life and that of their son Kevin while posing many theories and questions about where the blame may lie. Is it in the raising of your children, is it something inbred, is it something you could forsee?...so much to think about and discuss. This book is at the top of my favorites. I highly recommend it! 5 stars.
DFSn180@aol.com
In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming. 5 stars plus!
Set in a small upper state New York town, a baby is left on a church step and found by the new "lady" priest. Then dead bodies related to the baby begin to turn up. This book is filled with suspense and a plot that takes unexpected turns and keeps you reading.
Suet926@aol.com
Heart Full of Lies by Ann Rule. 3 1/2 stars.
This is the latest of Ann Rule's true crime books. It is more of a character study than true crime material. As such, it was interesting but definitely not a page-turner.
harrises@bayou.com
The Rice Mother by Rani Manicka. 4 stars.
I love a family saga and this one is fabulous. A great read for the dreary winter in front of the fire.
The Doll People by Ann Martin and Laura Godwin. 5 stars.
This juvenile book is so creative, and I guess I still want to believe that my Mrs. Beasley doll came alive at night while I was sleeping. I can't wait to read the next one, The Meanest Doll in the World.
lreagan79@hotmail.com
Silent Joe by T. Jefferson Parker.
It is a little confusing at first, but is very enthralling once you figure out who everyone is!
stephejl@mail.stclair.k12.il.us
The Cater Street Hangman by Anne Perry. 3 1/2 stars.
A classic romance mystery that came highly recommended by a colleague and her book club. My first experience with Anne Perry's work. A fun, frolicky look at a family of three sisters and the gender inequalities, class distinctions and morals of Victorian England. Light, predictable, fast read. "Chick Lit"
Last Call by Laura Pedersen. 2 stars.
A Scottish-American patriarch is terminally ill and determined to anesthetize his grandson, Joey, to the emotional pain of death. Grandpa thinks he can accomplish this through trips to funeral homes, hospitals and cemeteries, all while using black humor to refer to his demise and drinking whiskey with his cronies. Written in the third person, I never felt a connection or cared about the characters.
The Last Goodbye by Reed Arvin. 4 stars.
I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy and thoroughly enjoyed this romp through the mean streets, high society, pharmaceutical trials, legal maneuvering and technological wizardry of Jack Hammond's (the protagonist) Atlanta. Critically compared to John Grisham, the author's style was more reminiscent of a compilation of Richard North Patterson, Robin Cook and Michael Crichton. Sound interesting? It was!!
John1rosie@aol.com
Selected Stories of Philip K. Dick by The Estate of Philip K. Dick. 4 stars.
In the beginning credits of the movie Paycheck there is a credit saying that the movie is based on the short story by Philip K. Dick. My bookseller satisfied my curiosity by directing me to this volume, which also includes the story "The Minority Report," the inspiration for the Tom Cruise movie. Late to this science fiction party, I am nonetheless happy to be here.
The movie Paycheck is quite an extensive elaboration of the short story and makes clear how even creative people can and do stand upon each other's shoulders. The short story itself needs no crutch or apology. Read today, it is clearly a work of superior imagination and imaginative talent. And the book is its own time capsule or time-travel trip in that it shows us what a gifted science fiction writer thought the issues of his future, which is our present, would be. This volume contains twenty-one stories. You will like some more than others. On the whole, you will find this volume worth your reading time.
NGroves@aol.com
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. 5 stars.
Technically geared at older kids or teens, Inkheart ought to appeal to anyone who loves books. It describes what happens when a man inadvertently reads some characters out of a book, transporting them from a medieval village to contemporary times. Every time this happens, something in our world gets swept into the book in exchange. It's a very imaginative story about the power of words --- and the people who write them --- as well as times when relationships with our fellow human beings must supersede our love for books.
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. 5 stars.
An amazing story about a man named Henry who time travels into his own past and future, which may sound great but is more of a nightmare than a gift, since he can't control where he goes, into what time period, or how long he'll be gone and always arrives at the new time and place without cash or clothes. One of the things that makes his life bearable is his love for his wife, so this is also a love story about a most unusual couple in exceptionally trying circumstances.
The Babes in the Wood by Ruth Rendell. 4 stars.
This is the author's latest mystery, featuring police inspector Wexford. He's called to investigate the disappearance of two teenagers and their babysitter, who are missing when their parents arrive home from a weekend in Paris. Were they kidnapped and murdered? Did they simply go outside during heavy rain and drown in a flooded area? As usual in a Rendell mystery, the characters are vividly drawn and the clues are parceled out bit by bit until all is resolved.
Plainsong by Kent Haruf. 3 stars.
This is an "intersecting lives" book in which we are introduced to a high school teacher whose marriage is dissolving and who is wrestling with a difficult student and his even more difficult parents, the man's two young sons, a pregnant teenager whose mother kicks her out of the house, a pair of elderly bachelor farmers, and a female teacher from the same school. Although the author writes very descriptively about all of these characters and their experiences in a small Colorado town, I felt that it didn't all hang together very well and was not as pleased with the book as I thought I would be from all of the rave reviews.
bradylee@myway.com
When Justice Prevails by C. Steven Yerrid. 4 stars.
Mr. Yerrid, a trial attorney, has written this book about eight of his major cases. This should be read by anyone aspiring to become a trial attorney, as it includes many an example of how to win cases. Mr. Yerrid's way with words is just fantastic and any jury should pay attention to his presentation (as they do as related in the book). You will get emotional at times as each story is personal and not commercial. A good read.
KINDLEELF@aol.com
The Footprints of God by Greg Iles. 4 1/2 stars.
Dr. David Tennet must convince everyone that he is not delusional and save the day.
Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati. 5 stars.
Elizabeth Middleton leaves her Aunt Merriweather's estate in England to join her father in Paradise, NY, which at the time of the novel is on the edges of the wilderness. Excellent.
The Secret of the Villa Mimosa by Elizabeth Adler. 3 stars.
Dr. Phyl, a famous author and psychiatrist, takes on a client with amnesia after a brutal fall into a ravine. The plot moves from San Francisco to France and then to Hawaii. Some parts of the plot are too coincidental, although a good read.
The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks. 5 stars.
I love this author.
Push Not the River by James Conroyd Martin. 5 stars.
Set in Poland in the late 1700s, a time of turmoil as these peaceful people are torn apart by neighboring countries.
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nifisi. 5 stars.
As a true story always has more of an impact on the reader, this gives one insight into the everyday life in Iran after the Islamic revolution.
kathrynmarie57@yahoo.com
Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier. 4 stars.
It completely swept me into its story and era of 1600s Holland, much to my surprise. I not only enjoyed the book, but enjoyed very much getting to "know" the artist Vermeer and his works.
Sickened by Julie Gregory. 5 stars.
This book introduced me to Munchausen By Proxy, which I was eager to learn about since I am a therapist and also pastoral counselor. This book was an excellent read, and a true story to boot!
michaellapp@hotmail.com
I am currently reading John Adams by David McCullough. Mr. McCullough first caught my attention with Truman, which is the most wonderful biography I have ever read. Although that book will be difficult to surpass, his Adams comes very close. Although a great fan of early American history I had not given John Adams the credit due him. After reading McCullough's account, it is clearly apparent that the wrong man was given the title "Father of our country." No slight intended to General Washington, but without the passion and sacrifice of John Adams there probably would have been no revolution, at least it would have been much delayed.
McCullough's thoughtful writing and in-depth research have allowed me the pleasure of spending many weeks in the company of as fine a group of Americans as have ever been assembled at any one time in our history. I'm very much looking forward to his next epic which I have heard takes place during the same era, a study of the Revolutionary War. 4 and 1/2 stars.
Dana_Cherrier@commerce.state.il.us
Certifiably Insane by Arthur W. Bahr. 5 stars.
This book was nominated for the Edgar award a few years back. The main character is a former hippie, forensic psychologist with a ponytail. Van Morrison and Hall and Oates fans like myself can't not like a main character that has a golden retriever named Tupelo Honey (and he is the son of Sara Smile). I've read it before and it's been long enough now that I can fully enjoy it again, so I am re-reading. I highly recommend it.
bradylee@myway.com
Meant to Be by Walter Anderson. 5 stars.
This autobiography and quality of writing is as good as it gets. A wicked father and a wonderful father, a wonderful mother and a fantastic best friend and his mother, and a young man searching for where he should be in this life. How he finds the answers to his many problems and reaches pinnacles of success that few of us reach is a story to behold. How great it is that Walter Anderson chose to write his story; I am a better person because of it!
Norbles@aol.com
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown. 4 stars.
Train by Pete Dexter. 3 stars.
Surprising to me because I have really liked everything else that Pete Dexter has written. I had a hard time caring about the characters in this one.
The Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson. 4 stars.
Typical Patterson, but I felt unsatisfied at the end. I wanted more closure.
Dry by Augusten Burroughs. 3 1/2 stars.
ssfarmer@hotmail.com
I finished Blow Fly by Patricia Cornwell and hated it. I am not sure she really wrote this book and it is first person, which is a deviation. The tone is different and I think it is a little far-fetched. 1 star is the best I can do. I also read her book about Jack the Ripper and was not totally sold on her having solved the over hundred year mystery. I am probably off Cornwell for a while and think it might be time to scrap Scarpetta.
I read The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons. The Da Vinci Code was far better and since I had read Holy Blood, Holy Grail, I was familiar with the concept. I would give The Da Vinci Code 4 stars and Angels & Demons 3 stars.
I loved Seabiscut by Laura Hillenbrand. I read it after the movie and learned so much more from the book. This is a 4-star read.
I'm in the process of reading Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Slow starter, but I think it will be worth the trouble. In fact I am convinced that this is a 5-star book.
JDDistef@aol.com
I just finished The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would. It was an incredibly well-crafted book. It is about a man who is chronologically impaired, that is to say he time travels without being able to control the when (from and to) or where he goes. I am NOT a sci-fi fan, but this book with its unsuspecting time traveler really enthralled me.
PFLucas@aol.com
Wild Orchids by Jude Deveraux. 4 stars.
The Bounty: The True Story of the Mutiny on the Bounty by Caroline Alexander. 4 stars
Caroline Alexander also wrote the book Endurance. If you like books about the sea you will enjoy this story of heroism and duty. There is also a section of maps and drawings.
sbg38104@bellsouth.net
I read a lot but three books cause me to comment. David Baldacci wrote an insipid "phone it in" book, published as Split Second. I thought Last Man Standing was wonderful, but this was trite garbage.
Janet Evanovich writes about Stephanie Plum whether she calls her Plum or not. Particularly in Full Speed, I thought she had Stephanie chasing around with the Max Darling character created by Carolyn Hart. I love the Plums, but the Fulls are a waste of time.
The one book I found totally fascinating and surprising was IBM and the Holocaust by Edwin Black. I was shocked at each new revelation, and at the callousness of the real people who attempted to perfect their jobs as efficient killers. It has also been interesting to read about IBM's attempts to keep this book "under the radar." It is a MUST READ right away.
apenney@westendelectronics.com
The Murder Room by P.D. James. 4 stars.
P.D. James is one of those authors who describes the entire room before she describes what is happening or has happened in the room. You feel as though you are there with her.
Yodasmommy@woh.rr.com
I just finished Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz. Very enjoyable read. Parts were amusing and the ending was a big shocker!!! I would give this one 4 stars.
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