Ginnylazar@aol.com
I finally finished All is Vanity by Christina Schwarz, and had it not been a reading group, this would not have happened. It never did get going. Though there is some humor, on the whole, I do not recommend this book, despite the rave reviews. Of the 10 people in my reading group, only two said they liked it. The book is based on the long distance interaction of two women. Your time can be better spent.
mohendies@earthlink.net
The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters by Elisabeth Robinson. 3 stars.
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. 5 stars.
3rd Degree by James Patterson. 3 stars.
The Last Juror by John Grisham. 3 stars.
dbinpgh@aol.com
I would like to recommend Kiss River by Diane Chamberlain (5 stars, an excellent read), Hello, Darkness by Sandra Brown (5 stars) and Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner. These were all very enjoyable.
Cloish049@aol.com
I've just finished Grace by Jane Roberts Wood. 4 stars.
Catslady5@aol.com
French Twist by Roxanne St. Claire. 3 1/2 to 4 stars.
I just started this, but I am intrigued so far and think it is going to get better as I go along.
zangler01@sbcglobal.net
The Intelligencer by Leslie Silbert is a smart suspense tale jumping back and forth from modern day New York and London to 16th century London and featuring playwright Christopher Marlow in his duties as spy for the queen. Intelligent and intriguing with a nice little literary twist at the end.
BSmith@Townsendtree.com
Flashpoint by Suzanne Brockmann. 5 stars.
A fabulous book. She never disappoints.
3rd Degree by James Patterson. Another definite 5 stars.
I love this series.
BucknScout@aol.com
Anything by Nicholas Sparks gets a 5. I would highly recommend The Notebook and A Walk to Remember.
I also love Anita Shreve. I would definitely recommend Fortune's Rocks. That book deserves a 5.
Another favorite would have to be The Smoke Jumper by Nicholas Evans. This story is so powerful and moving. I'd give it a 5.
thenson@mit.midco.net
Finding Bess by Victoria Gordon. 5 stars.
This romance hooked me from the word go. Not only is it a romance story, it has lots of action and adventurous characters, traveling from CO to Tasmania and back again!
Wayward Widow by Nicola Cornick. 4 stars.
This regency romance takes you a way not normally traveled in romance, the roles are basically reversed! She's the rake and he's conservative. Highly entertaining to read.
A Dangerous Obsession by J.M. Jeffries. 5 stars.
This suspense novel kept me sitting on the edge of my seat until the end. The return of a murderous stalker made a titillating story!
Love Match by Megan Hart. 5 stars.
If you want a story that will keep you laughing until the end, this is the one for you. Hal works for an escort agency and is hired to pretend to be Lili's fiance for a week, on the condition that he publicly break up with her. Hal is a klutz and does everything wrong and at the wrong time!
OLTLFREAK@aol.com
Nighttime is My Time by Mary Higgins Clark. 5 stars.
Once again, Mary shows why she is one of the best and longer lasting authors around. I'm waiting for her next one impatiently :)
lawrncet@nccray.com
Books and Islands in Ojibwe Country by Louise Erdrich. 5 stars.
A National Geographic book that tells of her own experience traveling into Ontario with her 18-month-old baby (born when she was 47 years old) and the child's father to search for native tracings. But I found it to be a search for herself and the understanding of relationship with reading and writing. The book is illustrated with drawings, and as always there is that special something that draws the reader into her feelings. This is a quick read (only 141 short pages) and one that will stay with you.
Sheldune@aol.com
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. 5 stars.
Interesting topic and her stories' twists and turns always amaze me. I could not put it down.
A Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult. 4 stars.
Always a twist with Jodi, things never are what they seem. This is about a DA whose son is sexually molested and her knee jerk reactions to things. Again things are not as they seem.
The World Below by Sue Miller. 4 1/2 stars.
A woman discovers her grandmother's diaries and learns all is not what it seemed growing up.
Nesey61@aol.com
I am currently reading Danielle Steel's Ransom. I have read a lot of her books. I especially enjoy Mary Higgins Clark and cannot wait to read her newest book. I have read all of her books and I even got to meet her about 9 years ago. That was a big thrill for me.
DStegmanCrawford@aol.com
I just finished a great book --- The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. 4 1/2 stars. It is funny, witty, clever ... name it. You'll want to reread Jane Eyre, but don't do it until AFTER you've read this fabulous book. You'll never look at English Lit the same again.
JerJanKel@aol.com
The Rich Part of Life and Sister North, both by Jim Kokoris. 5 stars each.
This writer has the best dialogue of any new writer I've read in a long time. He's sort of a cross between Carl Hiaasen and David Sedaris with a little Tom Wolfe thrown in. You HAVE to read these books to understand. Marvelous! I want more!
hibar14@earthlink.net
I'm reading Where or When by Anita Shreve, an affecting love story. I give it 5 stars.
Newcrain@aol.com
Twelve Mile Limit by Randy Wayne White. 4 stars.
Good thriller. Set in Florida. What happens when your boat sinks 56 miles offshore?
Random Family by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc. 3 stars.
Great discussion at book clubs, but a bit tedious and hard to read because of the writing style. Actually a nonfiction book about kids in the Bronx who fall in love, fall out of love, go to prison, deal and do drugs, get in trouble, try to be mothers before they're adults, get evicted, live at the poverty level, and more. Dirty and gritty at times about quite the subculture.
RAYSMUSIC@webtv.net
Wisdom in the Waiting by Phyllis Tickle. 5 stars.
Small book with unforgettable stories. Well worth reading. Spring has beauty bursting forth during the current holy days. An excellent read.
charris@pctelecom.us
The Secret Hour by Luanne Rice. 3 stars.
An easy read for when you don't want something really deep.
The Cat Who Talked Turkey by Lilian Jackson Braun. 5 stars.
A good serial about 2 cats and their owner who do not live "Down Under."
Crsntmoon3@aol.com
I recently listened to James Patterson's 3rd Degree, which I would give 2 stars, although the reader was HORRIFIC. I enjoyed that the story was set in SF and involved concepts of the economic gulf threatening to throw our country into class warfare in the not-so-distant future. The writing style has definitely degraded since the first book in the series (probably being mostly penned by the co-writer added in book 2); too trite and filled with fortuitous coincidences for a bestselling author to put his name on.
Summerland by Michael Chabon (4 stars) was an interesting Spring Break read. It's what you would get if you put The Lord of the Rings and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in a blender with a dash of Roald Dahl and legendary characters of children's lit, and then served it to the gods of baseball lore at a doubleheader in The Field of Dreams.
tiffani_ba@hotmail.com
I just read City of the Beasts by Isabel Allende. It was a great read, full of suspense and adventure and right on the border between fantasy and reality. It is set in the Amazon rainforest, where two young people try to find out the truth about the mysterious Beasts and to protect the People of the Mist. 4 stars. Definitely check this one out.
mbmartin@prodigy.net
The Anodyne Necklace by Martha Grimes. 4 stars.
The second book I've read by this author of British mysteries. It's not as good as The Man With a Load of Mischief by Grimes (5 stars). I just couldn't put that one down --- I loved her writing and the plot was great.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. 5 stars.
One of her must-reads. Even though we have seen the original movie filmed in the 1940s under the title Ten Little Indians, I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns.
Josephine Anna Kaszuba Locke
'Tis Herself: A Memoir by Maureen O'Hara. 4 stars.
Informational, gossipy, revealing, surprising
Born into a fairly affluent family of six children in Dublin, Ireland, Maureen FitzSimmons's stage-acting career was launched at an early age. Her film last name, O'Hara was given to her by Charles Laughton because her nee would not fit the movie billboard. Ms. O'Hara gained fame in an Alfred Hitchcock directed film, Jamaica Inn, co-starring the great Charles Laughton. It is the aforesaid movie that Ms. O'Hara is accorded with: "…entered the premiere as an actress and left as a 'star'," and dubbed as "the girl with the black-cherry eyes."
Charles Laughton (remembered for his role in Mutiny On the Bounty, an extraordinary classic). The reader cannot help but chuckle about an "event" that occurred on the set of The Hunchback of Notre Dame - heavily accented director Dieterle had asked for 200 priests/monks to be available for the set; what he got was 200 monkeys!
Among many film credits are Ms. O'Hara's performances in How Green Was My Valley, Miracle on 34th Street with child actress Natalie Wood, and The Quiet Man, filmed in Ireland and co-starring John Wayne (the "Duke"). O'Hara candidly speaks of her long-time friendship with John Wayne, and her tormenting, tragic loss of her husband, record-breaking famed-pilot Charlie Blair.
Just as there was no safety from the power of studio politicos "trading" the star to another studio --- to her credit, and perhaps to the surprise of some readers, Ms. O'Hara performed her OWN STUNTS without the aid of harnesses and other safety devices. The latter performance strength of Ms. O'Hara shines in the swashbuckling fencing movie scenes where she skillfully showed her fencing training and knowledge (again including her own stuntwork). Also of note is Ms. O'Hara's stamina to stand up to the politics in the industry, including her successful lawsuit against a tabloid, putting them out of business.
What baffles this reader is learning of Ms. O'Hara's "weakness" in some not-thought-through life decisions and relationships, specifically the continuation of her marriage to Will Price, a rough alcoholic, an abusive, philandering spouse. And by her own admission, making the quick choice to wed (more than once) to men she was not in love with. More baffling is why she stayed in the situation(s) for so long, considering husband Price was spending her earned money by living lavishly, purchasing mansions without her knowledge until the "deed was done", via simply using her name.
From Ms. O'Hara's book, 'Tis Herself, the reader picks up hints of bias here and there, her "chip-on-the-shoulder" brazenness, bragging, pomposity and naivete, albeit at times with added wittiness. Readers might forgive and indulge Ms. O'Hara's aforesaid eccentricities, allowing that the book includes earlier film years and the effect World War II had on all film studios and staff. Ms. O'Hara's memoirs are rich with stage and film, including recorded singing and dancing talents on TV specials (such as The Dinah Shore Show and The Perry Como Show), along with movie studio and film history, and many personages who are part of film history --- be it singers and dancers, actors, producers, writers and directors. And worthy are the descriptive words used to carry the reader through incidents, actions and events that transpired during filming, and the history of stage, film and TV.
Overall 'Tis Herself is a good read of historical information, but the reader can't feel bad for some of Ms. O'Hara's predicaments that she got herself into, and being ever so slow in getting out of them. Why? The reader may wonder…
Other Recommended Reading: Girl Singer by Rosemary Clooney
Rrrcaron@aol.com
Second Glance by Jodi Picoult has been my favorite Picoult read so far. It takes place in a small town in Vermont. Eight years ago, Ross lost the love of his life Aimee in a car accident. His search for her leads him to Vermont. He finds much more when he meets Lia, a woman who was supposedly murdered 70 years ago. It also leads to records of Eugenics, a study that really did take place in Vermont in the 1920s and 30s. Not only was this a superb book on the paranormal, it was also a history lesson that I had never taken before. Readers out there, read this book!
FtLicky@aol.com
I'm currently reading the book Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix, which is a unique re-telling of the classic fairytale Cinderella. 5 stars.
I just finished reading Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards, which was a moving and descriptive story about a young orphan, filled with family and love. 5 stars.
Marric77@aol.com
Remember by Karen Kingsbury, the second book in the Redemption series. If you have never read an inspirational book before, these are great ones to start with. You will laugh and cry with the characters in this ongoing series. 4 stars.
The Three of Us by Cynthia Victor. 3 stars.
This is not one of my favorites by this author.
DM155@aol.com
I'm reading Mystic River by Dennis Lehane. 3 stars. I'm enjoying it. And I just finished 3rd Degree by James Patterson. I couldn't put it down --- another good one by Patterson. A definite 4 stars.
Sargefg@aol.com
Deception Point by Dan Brown. 3 stars.
I found this book not quite as good as The Da Vinci Code. A litle too technical.
Dright2828@aol.com
I just finished The Annunciation of Francesca Dunn, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Written by Janis Hallowell, it is a unique story told by four of the main characters. I am now reading Leap of Faith by Queen Noor, an enlightening look at what is essentially a love story set in the Middle East.
Fbower444@aol.com
I'm presently reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, the first book by J.K. Rowling in the Harry Potter series. I can see why kids like it. As a grandparent I am captivated by it. Good wholesome reading for a kid of any age.
I am also reading Deep Black by Stephen Coonts and Jim DeFelice. This one is international intrigue with a lot of technology thrown in.
Karen from Lakeside
The Cruelest Miles: The Heroic Story of Dogs and Men in a Race Against an Epidemic by Gay Salisbury and Laney Salisbury (cousins). 5 stars.
Diphtheria in Nome, Alaska in 1924 starts a journey of the vaccine by dog sled from Anchorage to Nome in record time and the trials and tribulations of 70 degrees below 0 weather. An inspiring true story, well written and researched. One of the two best books I've read all year.
RKCKSYST@aol.com
I'm reading the Tales of the City series by Armistead Maupin. I've just reviewed Tales of the City and More Tales of the City. It had been awhile since I read them. I'm currently reading Further Tales of the City. The books are terrific --- I'd give each of them so far an A --- and would highly recommend them all.
TrayMona@aol.com
The Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.
This is a story of a serial killer hunted by an F.B.I. agent and a museum worker. The plot is kind of contrived and the ending can be figured out way before the end of the book, but the writing is tight and the pace moves right along. All in all, it was a good read.
rknrobyn10@sbcglobal.net
I am reading The Coil by Gayle Lynds. I give it 4 stars. It is an espionage thriller, lots of suspense and action. It is a great read.
onorman@arlibrary.org
I just finished Glorious Appearing by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. I'd rate it 5 stars. It's a keep-turning-the-page book to end the Left Behind series.
momkelly2003@yahoo.com
I have just finished My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. It is a story about how a family copes with one child's illness. I especially liked how each chapter told the story from each character's point of view. It is also a legal story about how the sister of the girl with the illness wants to be medically emancipated from her parents and how this affects the family. The ending blew me away, I never saw it coming. A must read!! I give it 5 stars and think that it was the best that Jodi Picoult has written to date.
Marion
My favorite book of this year is Sicilian Sisters: Women in La Famiglia, written by Marianna. I rate it 5 stars. Beautifully written and explained about the Mafia dating back to the 15th century to the 20th century. The Sicilian women from the start have been the brains behind the crime business. Wonderful reading!
DeadlyDee@aol.com
I am reading The Hot Flash Club by Nancy Thayer. This book is an enjoyable romp that brings together four woman in the throes of menopause. They form a club and help each other. And through their meetings, they grow, learn, love and support each other. I would give it a 5. It's about time someone addresses the over-50 woman, and Nancy Thayer does it splendidly.
TooCute22Rose@aol.com
The Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. 5 stars.
Great reading even if you're not a Christian. The authors manage to make the period of the rapture an adventurous, fast-paced read with excellent character development. You'll feel in suspense as the characters take great personal risk to stand up for what they believe.
Hangman's Curse by Frank Perfetti. 5 stars. (A great video movie too).
Suspense and values are mixed together to make a suspenseful teen or adult read. This is listed as a Young Adult novel, but anyone who still has some issues from high school should find this book great. It's a horror novel and video where the teens in the novel discover how horrible it is to pick on other kids. If you haven't read his bestselling horror novel This Present Darkness (5 stars) for adults, check it out. It's unusual, but an exciting read
The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks. 5 stars.
I loved this novel. I learned a lot reading it, from what firefighters and smoke jumpers face to some of the current conditions in Africa and other countries. This is a romance between two interesting characters (a smoke jumper turned photojournalist), but what I enjoyed most was what I learned. Beautifully written, the last part made me feel for more than just the hero and heroine. I felt for the children the photojournalist came in contact with in war-torn countries.
A Child Called "It" (5 stars) and The Lost Boy (4 stars) by Dave Pelzer were great nonfiction. The conditions that Dave grew up in and described in his first book seemed almost too horrible to believe (and yet I've heard worse). This book shows you what it takes to survive such horror and made me feel for the child. The second book makes the foster care system seem much better than growing up in an abusive home. Dave finds people he can look up to.
Shell688@aol.com
Niagara Falls All Over Again by Elizabeth McCracken. 3 stars.
This book was chosen as the All Iowa Reads for 2004 and my book club is reading this (sorta feel like we should). Not a book I would have picked up to read, about a vaudeville comedy duo in the '30s and beyond, but an okay story.
Rickimc@aol.com
The Wizard Hunters by Martha Wells. 1 star.
This is a very run-of-the-mill fantasy story. The writing is uneven, and every so often there is a random and pointless cuss word inserted.
The Victorian Fairy Tale Book, edited by Michael Patrick Hearn. 5 stars.
A wonderful treasury of some famous but most obscure fairy tales from the turn of the century. Adults will probably get more out of it than kids, but it is enjoyable for all ages.
AUGER77777@aol.com
I just finished a fascinating book titled Ghosts of Everest: The Search for Mallory and Irvine by Jochen Hemmleb, Larry A. Johnson and Eric R. Simonson. This book could be viewed as a "coffee table" book because of its size and beautiful photos. But unlike most books of this type, it contains a fascinating story of the search for George Mallory and Andrew Irvine's remains on Mt. Everest. There are many people who believe they summitted Mt. Everest in 1924, 29 years before Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.
Mallory's body WAS found and the book contains several photographs of his body and various artifacts he was carrying. Whether Mallory and Irvine reached the summit of Everest is still unclear --- there is ample evidence that they could have, and probably did make it, only to lose their way and perish on the descent. The reader is left to his/her own opinion. The beautiful photographs and graphic descriptions of the terrain make it clear that Everest is a forbidding and deadly mountain, in no hurry to reveal her secrets. 5 stars.
GandmaRI@aol.com
I've actually found some time to read in the past couple of weeks. I read the 2 books that I won from Word of Mouth and found them to be quite good. (Not a surprise) Vertical Coffin by Stephen J. Cannell is about turf wars of two competing SWAT teams and the investigation that follows. Paranoia by Joseph Finder was the second. It is a novel of corporate betrayal and manipulation. I'd rate both of these books a 4+. I also donated them to my local library to share the wealth with others. They were quite pleased as they did not have these in their collection yet. I'm also reading A Year by the Sea by Joan Anderson, the story of a middle-aged woman in desperate need of revitalization and the rediscovery of her potential. For those of you in reading groups, this even comes with a reader's companion. Good meat for discussion.
Britadon@aol.com
To the Nines by Janet Evanovich. 5 stars.
I definitely enjoyed reading another of Ms. Evanovich's books. She again had me laughing at Lulu and Stephanie as they chased another bail jumper and end up in a sinister but funny computer world mystery.
Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver. 3 stars.
This is one of Ms. Kingsolver's older books that could not be called my favorite. The story seemed to lack punch in many places.
Summer Light by Luanne Rice. 1 star.
Sorry, but this one was so uninteresting and trite that I could not even finish half of it.
Time to move on to some better books as I am intrigued by many recommended on the last WOM review.
nannygrrl@yahoo.com
I just finished Angry Housewives Eating Bon-Bons by Lorna Landvik. This book is a wonderful testament to friendships and book clubs! I laughed a lot, and cried a lot, but I feel close to these women. I love seeing how they help each other, are there for each other, and even fight with each other. The love and trust in this book are beautiful. 5 stars.
Pat76273@aol.com
Currently, I am reading an older book, A Summons to Memphis by Peter Taylor (1986). He won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for this book in 1986. I find this book interesting as it is the fictitious story of a family living in societal Nashville early in the 20th century. They feel forced to leave Nashville and move to Memphis to start over due to the financial losses of the Depression. It compares the societal differences between Nashville, which is deemed to be the upper South, and Memphis, which is a part of the Deep South, and how the parents and children cope individually and as a family unit throughout their entire lives. Living south of Nashville and in Tennessee most of my life, I still see these people in Nashville and hear their "old" ways of talking --- pronouncing girl as "gull" and bird as "bud." Taylor had a gap of 36 years between his previous publication and this one. Now, there is an award in Tennessee named for him for new writers annually. Of course, I give it 5 stars.
Another excellent older book, which surprised me, was The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan by Robert Kanigel (1991). This was a NY Times Notable Book of the Year and tells the story of Ramanujan, a math genius, who lived in southern India at the turn of the 20th century. He overcame the odds of his situation to be known as one of the most significant mathematicians or analysts of most of the 20th century. He grew up poor and in college in India neglecting his other studies to spend all of his time on math --- causing the college to flunk him out. He persevered and was eventually invited to spend years at Cambridge in England astounding all who came in contact. This book also gets 5 stars.
Lea from Virginia
I just finished My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult and give it 5 stars.
I also read The Edge of the Sky by Drusilla Campbell and give it 4 stars.
I read earlier this month Sleeping Beauty by Phillip Margolin and give it 5 stars.
So many books, so little time!
bab@tennis.com
Nighttime is My Time by Mary Higgins Clark. 5 stars.
All of Mary Higgins Clark's books are the ultimate in suspense, brilliant characterization and complete and total enthrallment. This one is even better. Just to try to understand the minds and the logic of every individual mentioned is hard enough, but then to try to figure out who is involved in the murders and mayhem is impossible. This book is total thrills and twists. Great!
rojosho@hotmail.com
In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson. 5 stars.
This author has the best sense of humor, and can relate his stories so easily and well that we are caught up with the area and the people. An entertaining and amusing book about the areas and the people of Australia. This book is the best of Bill Bryson. I love all of his books since his outlook and perspective are so irreverent and realistic. Wonderful!
realbencann@yahoo.com
Isabel's Daughter by Judith Hendricks. 5 stars.
This is a wonderful novel with vivid descriptions of the Southwest, particularly Albuquerque and Santa Fe. We are introduced to the art colony in Santa Fe and the engaging characters provide us with a great deal of discussion. Isabel's daughter is on a mission and searching for her birth mother. Instead of locating her mother who has died, she discovers all the artists with whom she was acquainted and learns about her life and how she was viewed from their perspective. A sensitive and honest book that deals with a difficult issue. Loved it.
KINDLEELF@aol.com
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier. 5 stars.
Split Second by David Baldacci. 4 stars.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. 5 stars.
A remarkable insight into the perils facing parents and their autistic children.
At the Stroke of Madness by Alex Kava. 3 stars.
The Way the Crow Flies by Ann-Marie MacDonald. 5+++ stars.
Excellent, exceptional, don't miss this one.
The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen. 4 stars. A good mystery.
Tsbrown62@aol.com
The Romantic by Barbara Gowdy. 2 stars.
I read this book only because it was an assigned reading group choice.
The Midwife's Tale by Gretchen Moran Laskas. 5 stars.
I bought this book, and loved it.
Lgluhani@aol.com
You Look Nice Today by Stanley Bing. 3 stars.
Fun satire about political correctness in the business world.
The Known World by Edward P. Jones. 5 stars.
One of the best I've read this year.
DonnaL
I just finished The Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson. 4 stars. It was very exciting. The wolf never gets caught. He's Russian with many connections and he is ruthless. Alex Cross loses his son to his ex-wife and loves a new woman. It was really a good read. I would recommend it.
mishmish1010@iwon.com
I'm currently reading Cyanide Wells by Marcia Muller. I can't wait to find out who the murderer is!
KET2528@aol.com
Out of the Deep I Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming. 5 stars.
This is the third entry in her award-winning series featuring Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne.
Trial by Fire and Ice by Clinton McKinzie. 5 stars.
Excellent series thus far featuring Antonio Burns.
Murder on Ice by Alina Adams. 4 stars.
This is the first in the Ice Skating mystery series featuring Bex Levy. Slow getting started but good with some humor.
Mission Flats by William Landay. 5 stars.
An excellent debut psychological and police thriller. A page turner.
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. 5 stars.
An excellent novel that deals realistically with the dangers of time traveling, and I loved the incorporation of science and medicine. An excellent love story and a tear-jerker.
Ginnylazar@aol.com
I've just finished Sleeping Beauty by Phillip Margolin. Normally, I really enjoy his books, but this one seems strained to me. The ending is a complete surprise, as it always is with him, but this one I'm not sure I can buy. It is a stimulating read, though.
chmesler@earthlink.net
The best book I've read recently is Louis Begley's Schmidt Delivered. A sequel to his beautiful and acute About Schmidt, which bears no resemblance to the tepid Jack Nicholson movie, this book is graceful and cutting and as smart as six Popes.
amusingjoy@sbcglobal.net
I am currently reading Joe Jones by Anne Lamott. I'm a bit disappointed. I can usually count on few vulgarities from Lamott, but not with this novel. I'm about 2/3 of the way through and am still not sure I want to continue reading. 2 stars.
I just finished reading High Crimes by Joe Finder. It was an interesting book. The story kept me guessing until the end. As with his latest, Paranoia (4 stars!), I didn't see the twist at the end --- a true surprise ending! I love it!
I've also read So Many Books, So Little Time by Sara Nelson. This author understands the reading quandary many of us face. Though published a few months ago, it was helpful in pointing me to new titles. 3 stars.
suptpl@comcast.net
Our group is reading The Bee Season by Myla Goldberg. I have not finished it yet but I find it fascinating. I would not have read this book on my own, so I am happy that the club chose this book. I highly recommend it.
cjkelley@bellsouth.net
I am reading My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. It's pretty good so far. I like most of the characters. It is a difficult topic to present. I can see where Anna is coming from, but as a parent I can also see where her parents are coming from. I wish her Mom would open her eyes and see her other two children. I know it has to be hard to have a child who is terminally ill, but she doesn't see anything else except Katie. The only thing I don't like about the book that I have read is the back story with Campbell, Anna's lawyer and Anna's Guardian Ad Liduim. It is pointless to the story. 4 stars maybe?
I've finished Fast Woman by Jennifer Crusie. It's a cute romance. I liked the mystery aspect of the book and the fact that the romance was with two middle-aged people instead of a 20-something or even 30-something couple. I intend to read more of her books. 4 stars!
bradylee@myway.com
Carl Melcher Goes to Vietnam by Paul Clayton. 4 stars.
This novel starts out very well indeed: "I looked out my window. We were cruising above a plateau of shaving cream clouds." I use shaving cream every day and I know exactly how those clouds looked. This is a fine story of a lad just out of school who joins the army and is sent to a military school, but flunks out and is then sent to Vietnam. The writing is like talking to a friend about your experiences and discussing the good times and the bad. This book tells you what it is like during war, as there is a lot of waiting around wondering if you will meet the dawn in the morning. It develops the most important factor of all, and that is the camaraderie of your squad members where life and death is dealt with daily. The language used is free of frequent swearing and the ending is the realization that your life and your feelings are different from your past friends and acquaintances because of your life experience. A true-to-life story in a military/war setting. By the way, the book I read was a pre-publication issue and it is to be available sometime in July.
bfjohnston@mpamacs.org
Here are some 5-star books I recently read:
The Tears of the Giraffe and Morality for Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith.
Such a great series --- fun, informative and endearing.
Garbo Laughs by Elizabeth Hay.
I love finding a new author, and she is good!!
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.
What talent to make nonfiction read like the best fiction with mystery and adventure, too.
Anonymous
The book I am most interested in reading next is Loud and Clear by Anna Quindlen. I have read her previous books, which I enjoyed, as well as her columns in Newsweek.
I would recommend the following two books:
Crow Lake by Mary Lawson.
This is a Canadian novel. It is a wonderful and sensitive story of family tensions and bonds that weaken when guilt and disappointment cloud the present. Readers of Barbara Kingsolver and Anne-Marie MacDonald would enjoy this book. 5 stars.
Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris.
The main character of this book is Framboise from the ages 9 to 64. It tells the story of one family, a small French village and the WWII events that led to reprisals by the Germans. Food, the loving meals prepared by Framboise's stern mother, the oranges used as bribes by the soldier Tomas to gain the childrens' trust, and the "Old Mother," a legendary fish, give the novel a Latin American magic realism feel. 5 stars.
dawnymae5@msn.com
I am currently finishing a series by Jennifer Holm with my daughter's reading group: Boston Jane: An Adventure, Wilderness Days, and The Claim. It is set in the Pacific Northwest in the 1800s about a pioneer woman who travels from Pittsburgh to Shoalwater Bay to be married. Alas, that doesn't work out and she is forced to learn many new skills that were not taught at the finishing school. I am enjoying it, and it is refreshing to share books with your teens.
rfentress@bluegrasscellular.com
The Book of Joe by Jonathan Tropper. 5 stars.
This was a fun read. The author really let you get to know his characters. This was one occasion when pre-published hype about an upcoming book exceeded my expectations.
Drop City by T.C. Boyle. 5 stars.
I'm still thinking about these characters. Boyle brought together two radically different groups of people to the Alaskan wilderness for a fun read.
The Last Goodbye by Reed Arvin. 4 stars.
I met this author at a book fair last weekend and I've really enjoyed his book. This is plot-driven and you care for the main characters.
bradylee@myway.com
Survive the Savage Sea by Dougal Robertson. 4 stars.
A British family --- parents and three children --- and a new acquaintance decide they want to sail around the world in 1972. They refurbish an older boat and take off, all exuberant. Most survival stories I have read at sea were shipwrecked due to a storm, but this family lost their boat (in the middle of nowhere, of course) due to three whales. This is the father's telling of how they survived 38 days at sea and no one died. This fine story tells the ingenuity of one man who pulled everyone together for a common goal --- survival. There was animosity at times, but the hard feelings were gone quickly. There were great disappointments and then there were some exhilarating highs also. If you like to read about adventure, then this book will fulfill your wishes.
ayancey@charter.net
A Family of Her Own by Brenda Novak. 5 stars.
This is a touching story of a woman who turns down a marriage proposal and leaves town with a man she thinks will be better for her. But he turns out to be a drug addict and partygoer. So she leaves him and returns to her small hometown pregnant and broke. But she breaks down just outside of town, and the first person to come along is the man whose marriage proposal she turned down two years ago. He gives her a ride to her parents' home, but they turn her away and want nothing to do with her. So Booker takes Katie home to stay with him as a roommate for a while. During this time he realizes that he still loves Katie. Later, when he delivers her baby in the cab of his truck, Katie realizes she loves Booker and always has. This is a very good read and has some very interesting characters in the book. I highly recommend it.
Spizzyone@aol.com
When the Wind Blows by James Patterson. 5 stars.
Absolute Friends by John le Carre. 4 stars.
Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman by Elizabeth Buchan. 4 stars.
Shell688@aol.com
The Yada Yada Prayer Group by Neta Jackson. 4 stars.
linda_bass@sbcglobal.net
This is my first time giving my opinion. I recently read Diane Chamberlain's Lighthouse series of three books. They were okay and I give them 3 stars.
I am now reading The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey. So far I give it 4 stars. She has a really creative mind. As I read I thought that it was going to be another Cinderella story but it wasn't. I'll say no more --- read it for yourself!
metalfiend11@yahoo.com
'B' is for Burglar by Sue Grafton. 4 stars.
I liked this one better than the first one in this alphabet murder series. Kinsey is back on the detective trail in search of a woman who seems to have vanished without a trace and how her disappearance ties in to a fire across the street from her apartment building that killed the tenant --- or was it really the tenant who died in that fire???
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. 4 stars.
I really didn't want to read this because I'm not much for romance books, but I was in the mood to read something different and found this in my "To Read" box. Wow!!!! This book was nothing like I expected and it did make me shed a few tears. I definitely will consider reading his other books.
The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern by Lilian Jackson Braun. 4 stars.
Qwilleran and Ko Ko are back in the second installment of the reporter and his cat series. I read the first book a few years ago and liked it but just hadn't gotten around to reading any of the others. These are older books written in the 60s but very good just the same.
Zman00089@aol.com
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. 5 stars.
The Gospel According to Larry by Janet Tashjian. 5 stars.
kmmjarko@highstream.net
A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly (YA book). 3 1/2 stars.
The Bone People by Keri Hulme. 4 stars.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. 3 1/2 stars.
Straight Man by Richard Russo. 3 1/2 stars.
Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. 4 1/2 stars.
Griffin & Sabine: An Extraordinary Correspondence/Sabine's Notebook: In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence Continues/The Golden Mean: In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Concludes (a trilogy) by Nick Bantock. 5 stars.
Wonderful art, suspense and so much more!!!!
Geisha: A Life by Mineko Iwasaki. Almost finished but I will give it 4 stars.
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. Just started. So far 3 stars.
I love books!!
tunaross@nc.rr.com
Happiness is Free by Hale Dwoskin and Lester Levenson. 5 stars.
As with the other Sedona series, this is a great self-help book.
Take Me, Take Me With You by Lauren Kelly 3 1/2 stars.
I did not like this book but somehow felt compelled to read it in two days!
Deep Pockets by Linda Barnes. 4 1/2 stars.
I really enjoy all of Barnes' books and this is no exception. It's a real page-turner.
Diane Stewart, Los Angeles, CA
Terminal Island by John Shannon. 5 stars.
I've just finished this wonderful new book by John Shannon. As usual he weaves in social issues and food for thought with his wonderful literary writing. This one is set in San Pedro, CA where the author grew up and perhaps he has special feelings for the place, which he manages to ably convey. It's a good story, with wonderful characters and is very hard to put down once you start it! This series and his main character, Jack Liffey, are very addicting.
Grandhar@aol.com
Suspicion of Madness by Barbara Parker. 5 stars.
I can't put this book down. I am almost at the end and still not sure of the outcome.
Sargefg@aol.com
I am reading 3rd Degree by James Patterson. 5 stars. He has done it again.
kwmallet@sympatico.ca
My most recent reads are:
The Touch by Colleen McCullough. 4 stars. A nice big juicy read.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. 5 stars. A beautiful book and a definite must read.
ggverner@yahoo.com
Books I am reading: Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins (4 stars) and Atonement by Ian McEwan (5 stars).
Tiggi47@aol.com
Nighttime is My Time by Mary Higgins Clark is yet another suspenseful mystery by my favorite writer. The popular girls in high school would make fun of the nerds. One of the nerds returns to the high school honor event honoring those who became successful. His intention is to kill the last two who remain living. He had already killed the others. He calls himself the Owl. Which well-known person is the killer?
Cloish049@aol.com
The first book I read was The Memoir Club by Laura Kalpakian. 4 stars.
The next book I read was The Book of Joe by Jonathan Tropper. This book deserves 5 stars.
lindahariet@hotmail.com
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger is the oddest, most compelling book that I have ever read. When Henry meets Clare, he is 28 and Clare is 20. Although there are only eight years difference between them, Clare has known Henry since she was six, but Henry doesn't meet Clare until he's 28. That's because he's diagnosed with chronodisplacement, and he can flip from past to present and back again and to other periods in his life. It's a supremely romantic novel. I haven't finished it yet, but I can't help but worry that something bad is going to happen; it's implied from Henry's visits to the future.
rflynn@booksource.com
The Confessions of Max Tivoli concern a man born with a strange disease where he is born physically aged, but as time passes progressively becomes younger. Yeah, I know ... sounds gimmicky but the author handles the terrain well without launching into long soulful meditations on love, belonging, family and friendship. He does expound on those topics but never to the point of boredom. Mitch Ablom (Tuesdays With Morrie) recently picked this book as his selection for the Today Show Book Club. In a nutshell: a fine fun-to-read look at love with a few comedic passages. 3 stars.
AUGER77777@aol.com
I just finished The Last Juror by John Grisham. I enjoyed this book but thought it dragged on a bit too much. The book's synopsis as written on the jacket led me to believe that there would be a lot of action throughout the book as Danny Padgitt took out his revenge on the jurors who would put him away. But there was really very little action or suspense and not until near the end of the book. 4 stars.
atomic@isle.net
Laurie Notaro's Autobiography of a Fat Bride: True Tales of a Pretend Adulthood is a laugh-out loud funny read. I have to watch myself when I'm reading when the family's asleep --- my fits of laughter are uncontrollable. Notaro describes with dead-on accuracy situations in which we've all been at one time or another. Even better than The Idiot Girl's Action Adventure Club. Enjoy!
rwenz1@optonline.net
I am currently reading The Four Seasons by Mary Alice Monroe.
I just finished If She Only Knew by Lisa Jackson. I give this book 5 stars. Marla Cahill wakes up after being in a coma for two months and doesn't recognize the faces that are around her. Why? This is her family --- she looks in the mirror and doesn't know the person who is looking back.
The book is about how Marla Cahill struggles to find out who she really is and why this "family" has taken her home and is making her believe that she is really "part of the family." In fact someone is trying to kill her, because they missed the first time!
msimon@nj.rr.com
The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst is a unique, offbeat and wonderful read. A man loses his wife suddenly and attempts to teach her dog how to speak in order to understand how this tragedy occurred. Wouldn't we all want to communicate with our pets and understand what they are thinking? 4 stars.
Deception Point by Dan Brown is a thriller involving the startling discovery of scientific evidence. Life and death situations involve the Presidency, NASA and intelligence agencies. The technology discussed in the book is amazing and, according to the author, is in existence today. Once you start the book, you can't put it down. 5 stars
Dodojohn2@aol.com
I just finished Angels & Demons by Dan Brown. I did not like it as well as I did The Da Vinci Code, but it did hold my attention. I live in Euclid, Ohio. We have a wonderful library here and they are putting on a speaker here about the meaning of The Da Vinci Code. In our area there have been gatherings of more than ten-thousand people attending such sessions. So it goes to show that people are still reading. I have so many books to read and not enough time to read them all. Books are wonderful, so much to learn.
clschomer@dmci.net
I just finished The Boy on the Bus by Deborah Schupack. The novel is about a search for identity, but the question remains: Who is searching? The mother or the boy?
manada@core.com
Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz. 5 stars.
This is one of his best! I've always liked Koontz because of his realism with his novels. His novels are "could happens." This one is the best "could happen" of his. The supernatural part isn't unbelievable and the horrifying event at the end has already happened to us. Wonderful book!
Mystic River by Dennis Lehane. So far 4 out of 5 stars.
I'm halfway through this book. I saw that the movie won quite a few awards so I thought I would try the book (books are always better than the movies!). So far, I'm really impressed! This is an excellent, suspenseful book!
Pudgypb@aol.com
I just finished Ransom by Danielle Steel and thoroughly enjoyed her latest novel. I would definitely give it 5 stars. One of her best!
Lea from Virginia
I just finished My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult and I loved it! It is thought-provoking and tear producing. I would definitely give it 5 stars.
Lafcom@aol.com
I have been reading Mount Vernon Love Story by Mary Higgins Clark, which is a departure from her usual, although this is the first book she wrote, I believe. It is more interesting than I anticipated. 3 stars.
Darcy from Madison
An Open Heart by The Dalai Lama and Awakening at Midlife by Kathleen A. Brehony. I rate both books 5 stars. They are chock full of growth, optimism and true goodness --- not just on a spiritual level either but a new way to look at your life and to improve.
informationwiz@yahoo.com
My Date with Satan by Stacey Richter. 3 stars.
Fun, quirky and bizarre short stories by an author who really sees people and has a very active imagination.
Blue Blood by Edward Conlon. 4 stars.
True life memoirs of a tough New York kid who went to Harvard and then became a cop. Unbelievable stories! It makes you really appreciate our men and women in uniform.
bradylee@myway.com
The Devil's Highway: A True Story by Luis Alberto Urrea. 4 stars.
This book is about, specifically, Mexicans coming into the U.S. illegally and what happens to too many of them. The area of entry is in Arizona between Yuma and Nogales and primarily in and around the area of Wellton, Organ Pipe Cactus Nat'l. Mon. and the Granite and Growler Mountains. This is a most desolate area and very dangerous as there are no human facilities nor water, yet is a main avenue for entering the U.S. This book gives details of how the "customers" are created. Many die due to heat prostration and there are 6 stages of death due to heat. They are: 1) Heat Stress, 2) Heat Fatigue, 3) Heat Syncope, 4) Heat Cramps, 5) Heat Exhaustion, and 6) Heat Stroke. Many statistics are given at the end of the book as to the positive contribution this traffic gives to this country and carries interesting details about the whole process, from preparing to go over the border and the end result. It is a grim story yet compelling!
juliecbarnard@yahoo.com
Since I spent the last week sick in bed, I had lots of time to read --- 9 books, in fact.
I just finished Robertson Davies's The Deptford Trilogy (Fifth Business, The Manticore and World of Wonders). I love Robertson Davies and give this trilogy 5 stars.
I read four "children's" books by Lois Lowry:
The Giver -- fantastic, received the Newbery Medal and deserves every bit of praise it gets. 5 stars.
Number the Stars -- her second Newbery winner, but not quite as good as The Giver. 4 stars.
Messenger -- her newest, more or less a sequel to The Giver and absolutely wonderful: this should be her third Newbery. 5 stars.
Silent Boy -- very good. 4 stars.
Then I read two others:
The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo -- the Newbery winner from 2003; I loved it and recommend it highly. 5 stars.
Deception Point by Dan Brown -- not as good as The Da Vinci Code or Angels & Demons but still a lot of fun and definitely entertaining. 4 stars.
I am currently reading The Final Confession of Mabel Stark by Robert Hough. Interesting but not great. 3 stars (unless it gets a lot better in the second half).
kbinmich@yahoo.com
Sons of Solaris 1: Aries by Jodi-Lynn Copeland. 5 stars.
A delightful Romantica book with a Paranormal theme that will leave the reader enthralled and excited at the same time. This is a definite must-read! Ms. Copeland's characters are so vivid and intense, you'd swear they are going to jump off the page at any minute and pull you into their story. If you like a little heat with your magic, this book magically sets you ablaze!
smleonetti@yahoo.com
Two excellent books: one new publication and one old.
New: Our Kind by Kate Walbert
Old: Desert Queen by Janet Wallach
Comella2729@aol.com
My read of this week is Shanghai Station by Bartle Bull. This historical adventure novel takes place in post-World War I Shanghai. Alexander Karlov and his ex-soldier father are part of the emigre community that fled revolutionary Russia to establish new lives in Shanghai. The novel is filled with tales of revenge, love, murder, mayhem, horse racing, sex, and much more. This is a fast-paced tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat. And it is well-written. 4 stars.
lpetrini_2000@yahoo.com
I am reading Sophie Kinsella's Can You Keep a Secret? I rate this quick, fun and easy read 5 stars. It is slightly predictable as most of her books are, but it is fun to root for Emma and I want to find out why Jack has been so secretive about his phone calls, etc.
NGroves@aol.com
The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant. 5 stars.
Set in Renaissance Florence, the novel is the story of young Alessandra Cecchi who is caught in the winds of change as power shifts from the Medicine family and an atmosphere marked by art, creativity and living well, to a more fundamentalist regime headed by the monk Savonarola. Denied even in happier times from pursuing her love of art and learning to the degree that she would like, Alessandra accepts marriage to a much older man, partly for her own protection. While her husband is kind, and even that wasn't guaranteed in her day and age, the marriage is far from meeting even Alessandra's lowest expectations, and she continues to be fascinated by art and a particular artist. It's a story of love, art, religion and power set in a fascinating era.
Chopping Spree by Diane Davidson. 4 stars.
The latest mystery involving the Denver-area caterer/amateur sleuth Goldie Schulz. She's hired to cater a fancy party at an upscale shopping mall managed by an old college buddy, who happens to end up dead by the end of the evening, stabbed by one of Goldie's own kitchen knives. Her assistant, Julian, is charged with the murder, and it's up to Goldie to figure out who actually bumped him off and why.
Love in the Driest Season by Neely Tucker. 4 stars.
A memoir by a former foreign correspondent that describes the struggle he and his wife, an interracial American couple, went through to adopt a baby girl from an orphanage in Zimbabwe. Despite the fact that the AIDS epidemic was leaving thousands of children orphaned and the government provided next to no resources to care for them, the couple's efforts were repeatedly thwarted. His emotions worn nearly away by years of covering the worst that mankind has to offer, including wars, massacres, famine, epidemics, etc., Tucker finds love and hope restored in the form of the foster child that he and his wife fight to keep, despite seemingly insurmountable bureaucratic hurdles against foreign adoption.
Bitter Medicine by Sara Paretsky. 5 stars.
One of the series featuring Chicago private detective V.I. Warshawski. When the teenage daughter of a friend dies during childbirth, with the baby lost as well, it seems at first like a tragedy, but not a crime. But when a specialist who helped with the case is found brutally murdered, V.I. begins the long process of connecting the dots to reveal the seamier side of today's for-profit healthcare system.
Southern Living by Ad Hudler. 3 stars.
In a fictionalized small Georgia city, culture clash is afoot as the native Southerners deal with an influx of "Yankees" as well as international business executives. The story is told through the lives of three women --- Margaret, a New Yorker who inherits a house in the area and joins the staff of the local paper; Suzanne, a local girl who married well but is living an empty life, trying to cope with copious amounts of Chardonnay and endless home redecorating; and Donna, who seems doomed to a dead-end job and life with her strict father after an accident costs her a good job and her boyfriend. Naturally their lives intersect, and things work out well for all. Rather a lightweight novel.
sharoncerasoli@hotmail.com
OK, two books that I am reading are:
Time Stops for No Mouse by Michael Hoeye, a children's fantasy. I am really enjoying this!! For grades 4-7
I am also finally reading The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd and loving it, like everyone else out there!!
Kathy from Plattsburgh
I just finished reading Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. It was a wonderful book and I didn't want to put it down! I can't even imagine what it would be like to be held hostage, but the survival of the human spirit in difficult times fascinates me. The relationships forged in this book were very life affirming!
Myrnapen@aol.com
I just finished reading Lauren Weisberger's The Devil Wears Prada. I only stuck with this book because it's my book club's selection this month. It's rather mindless, or at times, frustrating. Andrea Sachs, right out of college, gets a job as the assistant to the editor of Runway magazine, and in so doing becomes her personal slave. Some of the things she's expected to do infuriated me! 2 stars.
Now I'm reading The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett, who has become one of my favorite writers. I'm working my way backwards with her novels. I loved Bel Canto, which led me to The Magician's Assistant, and now I'm on her first novel. Rose, 23, married and pregnant, leaves her home and husband to retreat to a home for unwed mothers. Her intention is to have the baby and leave it, but things turn out differently. She basically lives the rest of her life as a lie. Anyone who loved Ann Patchett's writing style in Bel Canto will love this book, too.
renepainter@hotmail.com
I just finished reading Are You There Alone? The Unspeakable Crime of Andrea Yates by Suzanne O'Malley. I give it 5 stars. It is very enlightening in how something like this could happen. She is a victim of a disorganized, sometimes uncaring, health care community that let someone with her form of mental illness fall through the cracks. Because of that, five children are not here today who otherwise probably would be.
Tmert9@cs.com
I am currently reading Always the Bridesmaid by Whitney Lyles. This is a cute story if you enjoy Chick Lit. 4 stars.
jkirkpatrick@core.com
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. 5 stars.
I couldn't put this book down! I bought the book at one of Jodi's readings/book signings. It was great to hear her talk about all the research she does for each book. I've read Plain Truth and Salem Falls, both by Jodi, and really enjoyed them. My Sister's Keeper is written so that the narrative alternates among several of the characters' viewpoints. The story starts with Anna, the younger sister of Kate, who has leukemia. Anna was specifically conceived to be a perfect match to Kate and to serve as a cord blood donor. Hearing from all the characters, you learn the struggles that each of them has because of this situation. Don't plan on getting anything done once you've started reading this book.
The Importance of Being Lazy: In Praise of Play, Leisure & Vacation by Al Gini. 3 stars.
I have to admit that I skimmed some of the parts that didn't seem as interesting to me. The section on retirement didn't seem that thrilling, perhaps because I'm 30 years away from it. I found the statistics on how many hours Americans work compared to other countries' citizens and how that has been increasing over the past decades interesting. But I found those statistics being repeated in different chapters/sections of the book. Perhaps these were long essays that were compiled into a book. It became redundant and that's when I started skimming in earnest. He quotes from a multitude of other books and the bibliography is extensive, so if you're interested in the real research that he quotes from, get this book from the library, write some of the references down and read those instead.
Kate Remembered by A. Scott Berg. 4 stars.
I've just started reading biographies and autobiographies, so I don't have much to compare, but this was a good read. I was a bit put off in the first three chapters or so, as I felt I was learning more about the author than I was about Hepburn. He mentioned a couple of times that he meditates for 20 minutes, twice a day ... do I really need to know that to understand Kate Hepburn better? Maybe I'm just jealous because I'm not so diligent with my meditation practice. But I suppose some of the writing that seemed more about the author than the subject was to make the reader understand how he grew to know her so well, yadda, yadda, yadda. But after you get past those chapters the book draws you into Kate's life. I found myself writing down movie titles so that I could see some of the chemistry and/or tension that is mentioned in the book. Of course there is the chemistry between Hepburn and Tracy, and that is detailed in the book and not sensationalized.
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. 4 stars.
This is the first book I've read by this author, and I believe the first in the Outlander series. A friend of mine suggested this book to me after I mentioned that I really liked The Time Traveler's Wife and was interested in reading more on time travel. Well, this is a time travel book, but it really is basically a historical romance novel. Now I'm not knocking historical romance, this was a great book. It had just the right amount of everything. It starts in postwar Scotland. The heroine (Claire) was a nurse in WWII and her husband served in the British military. They are using the trip to Scotland to become reacquainted after the war and for Claire's husband to do some research on his family tree. She is a bit of a botanist and going back to a circle of stones to pick a particular plant sends her hurtling into 1743. I liked it so much that I ordered the second book in the series, Dragonfly in Amber, from the library. These are big, hefty, books. This isn't one I'd suggest as a throw-in-your-suitcase-and-read-on-vacation book. And those of you with carpal tunnel syndrome may want to read this with the book lying on a table. But it's worth the trouble.
bradylee@myway.com
Red Sky in Mourning: A True Story of Love, Loss, and Survival at Sea by Tami Oldham Ashcraft, with Susea McGearhart. 5 stars.
I first read this book over two years ago and now again for my book club. I possibly even liked it better the second time around. This story is lovely in its romanticism and brutal in its reality due to a storm. Tami and Richard, lovers, agree to take a boat from the South Pacific to San Diego for a couple that were unable to sail it themselves; it's a luxurious yacht in every way with all the latest high tech equipment. A few days into the trip a horrendous storm developed and Richard was washed overboard. This is the story of how Tami managed to navigate by herself in a 3/4's wrecked boat to safety about 34 days later. It is a story of endurance and encompasses a grand love story. If you like adventure and what a woman thinks and does to get herself to safety, then this is the book for you.
hibar14@earthlink.net
I'm reading Strange Fits of Passion by Anita Shreve. The suspense will keep you turning the pages. I give it 5 stars.
lgettle@iserv.net
The Codex by Douglas Preston. 5 stars.
Three sons must search for their father's buried treasure in order to claim their inheritance. But they aren't the only ones looking. Excellent.
Firestorm by Iris Johansen. 5 stars.
An arsonist is out of control. Loaded with suspense.
Last of the Breed by Louis L'Amour. 5 stars.
One of his best.
Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella. 5 stars.
A woman who believes she is about to die in a plane crash tells all her secrets to a stranger --- and lives to regret it. Very amusing.
Flash Point by James W. Huston. 4 stars.
A lieutenant is enraged when his best friend is murdered and takes his own revenge. Pretty good.
RAYSMUSIC@webtv.net
A Season of Grace by Bette Nordberg. Strong 5 stars.
This Christian novel is one of the best books I've read in quite sometime and I highly recommend it. Bette has crafted a heartwarming story that pulls the reader into a set of twins' lives and the reader feels all the love and trials they share. A strong family with so much love is given the ultimate test when their homosexual relative comes back into their lives during his demise with AIDS. Bette handles these sensitive issues with such care and she has a winner in this book. One not to miss.
Coming Home by David Lewis.
I'm just starting this one and so far it is very good!
wendybrooks1@hotmail.com
This week I'm reading Intuitive Astrology by Elizabeth Rose Campbell (5 stars) and Hannah's Gift by Marie Housden (also 5 stars).
OLTLFREAK@aol.com
Dating Dead Men by Harley Jane Kozak. 5 stars.
This is the first book by Ms. Kozak, who used to be on my all-time favorite soap opera, The Guiding Light. I was excited to see she wrote a book, and she didn't let me down. It was great! Great characters, both good and bad ones. The twists and turns kept you reading to the end. I didn't care for the main character's name Wollie, but besides that, I loved it. I hope her next book comes out soon. For all you Janet Evanovich and Sarah Strohmeyer fans out there, you will love it!
kzs1969@hotmail.com
Best Enemies by Jane Heller. 4 stars.
I finished this last night. It was hilarious.
Reckless Abandon by Stuart Woods. 3 stars.
Stone Barrington at his best.
PFLucas@aol.com
Paranoia by Joseph Finder. 5 stars.
This is the first book that I have read by this author. After reading just a few pages, you get drawn into the story. Finder does a great job of introducing the main character and giving him an interesting personality. Since the main character works for a high tech company, there is a lot of detail given to product design and security. It is a very interesting and entertaining book, with many twists and turns. I would definitely read another book by Joseph Finder.
North of Naples, South of Rome by Paolo Tullio. 5 stars.
This is the book that inspired the six-part PBS series. It is a delightful memoir with many descriptions of the people of the author's hometown of Gallinaro and the surrounding valley. Tullio takes the reader on a tour of daily life, a wine competition, and local politics. An added bonus are the pen and ink drawings done by his wife, Susan Morley. If you are anticipating a trip to Italy, you must read this book.
billiegirl20@hotmail.com
I'm currently reading East of Eden by John Steinbeck along with my reading group. It's going well so far and I'm so anxious to read comments from Oprah's website on the book that brought her book club back.
Bjglu@aol.com
Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande. 4 stars.
This is a highly readable, nonfiction account of medicine today. It's mind-opening and makes evident how imperfect a science medicine is and how much it's an alliance between doctor and patient. Fascinating reading --- I finished it in 3 sittings.
© Copyright 1996-2009, Bookreporter.com. All rights reserved.
Back to top.
|
