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voodoo_1973@hotmail.com
I highly recommend reading All Families Are Psychotic by Douglas Coupland. It was witty, ridiculous, and strangely surreal. I would rate this novel 4 stars.
realbencann@yahoo.com
Meant to Be by Walter Anderson. 5 stars.
A true story of the author's life and the revelation that changes his entire understanding of his past. Written with pathos and empathy. Interesting and wonderful.
rojosho@hotmail.com
In a Dark House by Deborah Crombie. 5 stars.
Suspense and mystery set in London. Excellent character portrayal and unique story and plot.
bencanada1@yahoo.com
Retribution by Jilliane Hoffman. 5 stars.
Great mystery with suspense, twists and unforgettable characters who are portrayed with realistic values and traits. Action is relentless and the plot is original and clever.
abromber@optonline.net
In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner. 5 stars.
A great read. I have recommended this book to several people in my bridge club. They all have loved it.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. 5 stars.
This is the author's first book, and what a book! I knew nothing about the culture of Afghanistan. Besides having some educational value, it is a very moving and powerful story.
Dasras50@aol.com
The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber was a very pleasant read. 4 stars.
Bleachers by John Grisham didn't impress me. 2 stars.
bradylee@myway.com
Albatross by Deborah Scaling Kiley and Meg Noonan. Published 1994.
This is one death defying adventure due to an inept skipper of a larger sailing boat, a mean individual who hates the world (and probably himself), and two reasonably rational human beings (the author being one) and a girlfriend of the skipper who had no business being on the boat in the first place. A horrible storm developed off the eastern coast of America while the five of them were on their way to Florida from Maine. The storm did the boat "in" and the five were in the middle of nowhere, in the water, wondering what to do next. They were expecting to see the Coast Guard momentarily (which didn't happen) due to a ship to shore communication earlier. This is the author's story giving you all the details of what happened before, during, and after the rescue and I stayed up too late last night as I just HAD to finish the book. You will have the same problem if you even attempt to read this.
jjbooker_460@hotmail.com
Skinny Dip by Carl Hiaasen. 4+ stars.
Typical Hiaasen with oddball characters and an unbelievably screwball plot that doesn't disappoint. It was laugh-out-loud funny, compelling reading and a wonderful escape, although the subject of the environment was serious.
The Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. 3 stars, plus or minus.
Three separate stories of intertwined lives in a rural setting in the eastern U.S. A pair of elderly neighbors feud over nature vs. chemicals, a loner forest ranger meets and mates with an unlikely hunter, and a young widow with her doctorate degree becomes accepted by her late husband's large family when she solves the farm's financial problems through innovation and hard work. Hmmm...it deserves 4 stars after all for creativity and complex characterization. Definitely a "thinking" work of fiction.
Julie.Palyswiat@verizon.net
I just finished Strange But True by John Searles. This was a very good book. The story line takes a nice shift and I can assure you that if you think you know what's going to happen from the beginning, you are wrong. 4 stars.
I also recently read most of The Island at the Center of the World. I found this to be a very disappointing book. I love New York history and have read a couple of unknown local books on the same topic that I thought were much more worthy of the praise Russell Shorto received. 2 stars.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. This was a great read. Written from the perspective of a 15-year-old autistic boy, yet the story continuously flowed. It was a quick, easy and enjoyable read. 4 stars.
Today I started The Mammoth Cheese by Sheri Holman. The first couple dozen pages were a little tough but now it seems to be rolling. I am expecting to enjoy this more than I would have thought.
Marric77@aol.com
I just finished Night of the Blackbird by Heather Graham. This book just dragged on and on for me. 2 stars.
rjdaringer@gulftel.com
Killing Mister Watson by Peter Matthiessen. 4 stars.
I've had this book on my shelf for some time and finally decided to read it. The story opens in the Everglades area of old Florida just after the Great Hurricane of 1910. Men are waiting at the water edge as Mister Watson arrives in his boat, and Mister Watson is killed. He had been a man admired and feared by his neighbors. He had a family and built up a plantation, but rumors also surrounded him. The story is told by other characters who knew Mister Watson. It is a very good look at how life was in that time and place, weaving in some historical fact with the story.
Stichigh@aol.com
A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks gets about 3 stars so far because it is a story and I like books set in North Carolina.
Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison gets 4 stars. This is a fun detective action book set in an America with characters we only see in our nightmares but who have very human jobs and lives. A whole new perspective! A perfect Halloween read.
Newcrain@aol.com
The Hard Luck Klub: Stories by Doug Allyn. 5 stars.
These short stories are memorable, full of colorful characters and interesting mysteries solved by the main character. It's like reading a script for your favorite mystery TV show. Each story is fast-paced and clever.
tfranzen2124@comcast.net
I'm going through a mystery stage prompted by Lawrence Block's Burglars Can't Be Choosers (4 stars). You can never go wrong with Margaret Truman. I'm working on Murder at the Library of Congress, and so far it's a solid 4 stars. Gotta get back to the book.
dmcowling@shaw.ca
While on holidays I read the following book and LOVED it. It is called Into the Nevernight by Ann De Graaf and it is an engrossing novel about a husband and wife and son who are kidnapped by terrorists in Africa. It is also about the Lost Boys of Sudan, young boys orphaned or kidnapped and sold into the military as young soldiers. Despite it's tragedies, it is a good story with a superb plot and characterizations. I loved it so much I gave the book away to someone on holidays and am going to order more to keep and to give away. READ IT!!
Catsownme4@aol.com
Jon Katz's A Dog's Life is a treat! Any animal lover will find this "quick read" a delight. Katz is a great writer who writes with heart about his dogs.
bmailward@yahoo.com
Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett. 4 1/2 stars.
Great book. It tells a story of corruption in a town in the deep south. A guy from San Francisco comes to the town to clean it up. It is run by the mob. A woman is killed and a whodunit ensues.
bleeward@operamail.com
Absent Friends by S.J. Rozan. 4 stars.
It was an intriguing mystery with the sad setting of New York after 9/11. I would definitely recommend it to somebody to read.
Rickimc@aol.com
The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. LeGuin. 3 stars.
Better than A Wizard of Earthsea, but it still started off slow. It was a fast read once it picked up.
The Puzzle Bark Tree by Stephanie Gertler. 4 stars.
I was not expecting to like this book that much, but once I started reading, I could not put it down. However, I wish the suspense lasted the whole book --- that would have made it 5 stars.
Carosp@aol.com
Double Whammy and Tourist Season by Carl Hiaasen. 3 stars.
This author was highly recommended to me by a cousin, who said I should read his earlier books first, so I've followed her advice as much as possible. I found both books to be very entertaining, with eccentric characters and a story that keeps you reading. They always involve some type of detective work, but are told in an amusing, not suspenseful, way. I'm in the middle of another one now, Basket Case, which is also good.
susanrjensen@yahoo.com
Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult. 4 stars.
Picoult is one of my favorite authors. I've enjoyed all of her books, and this one was no exception. The story focuses on a young girl named Faith who begins seeing "God" after her parents' divorce and her mother will do anything to protect her. A great read with complicated, interesting characters.
KSATAN25@aol.com
I've just finished reading Chango's Fire by Ernesto Quinonez. It is an excellent book! I would rate it 5 stars. I'm almost upset wondering what will happen to Julio next.
AUGER77777@aol.com
I am currently reading Mount Dragon by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. This is an exciting, can't-put-down medical thriller set in the desert of New Mexico. Scientist Guy Carson finds himself dealing with a promising cure for influenza, but not without dangerous and unexpected risks. It would only take a small slip-up, and the entire world would be at risk of extermination. 5 stars.
charris@pctelecom.us
Grace Notes by Charlotte Vale Allen. 4 stars.
This is a story about battered wives. It does tell what women should in this situation although it is fiction. Lots of references to write to and email.
Popped by Carol Higgins Clark. 3 stars.
Not as good as her usual books.
Empire Falls by Richard Russo. 4 stars.
A story about a small town. We did it in our Book Club and it is very discussible. It is another dysfunctional family.
High Country Fall by Margaret Maron. 5 stars.
Another good story about Judge Debrah Knott. It has a mystery and romance.
Tent Maker by Michelle Blake. 4 stars.
It is about an Episcopalian woman priest who was the interim minister and solved the problems of the church. Good story
ginawjax@comcast.net
Strange But True by John Searles. 4 stars.
The story kept my attention from page one. It is part mystery and part psychological study. The author gives the reader credit for being able to put the pieces of the plot jigsaw puzzle together.
DStegmanCrawford@aol.com
I read Ripper by Michael Slade and give it 3 stars. This is a series about the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Special X unit and it is not for the squeamish. Lots of grisly murders where an insane duo of co-dependent psychopaths is murdering authors on a "solve the mystery" weekend at a deserted island fortress. Involves a lot of backstory and tons of information about Tarot.
Sulebol@aol.com
Guess I am currently on a China kick. I am reading The Ginger Tree by Oswald Wynd and The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. Both are excellent historicals and would rate both 5 stars. I read Pearl S. Buck's book back in the '70s and had seen the PBS production of The Ginger Tree probably around the same time. Both are definitely worth revisiting.
Ginnylazar@aol.com
I finished Sandra Brown's White Hot, and it was a typical Brown novel, suspense mixed in with some pretty obvious romance, but ok. Then I picked up Harlan Coben's No Second Chance and the rest of the day is history! It's wonderful. A glutton for punishment, last night I started the latest Preston/Child book, Brimstone, and the first few pages are gripping, as usual!
jscady@efieldguide.com
I always gobble up Lee Child's latest, and The Enemy rates 5 stars from me. It provides a lot about hero Jack Reacher, his background and motivations. Excellent story even though the "20-20 hindsight" connecting current events was rather blatant.
I'm also reading The Narrows by Michael Connelly, another 5 stars. He continues the chase for "The Poet" and provides more information on Harry Bosch. I always enjoy his view on Vegas and LA and in this book, the FBI.
Invasion of Privacy by Perri O'Shaughnessy, the second in the Nina Reilly series was excellent. 5 stars. This series keeps getting better with more complex characters and plot. It's set in Tahoe with Nina as a single mother and lawyer (behind the 8-ball) who wants to avoid criminal law but just can't seem to.
andshecookstoo@iwon.com
I recently read From a Buick 8 by Stephen King. Typical King, not as gory as some, but just as wordy and just as worthy of a read. The strange title makes sense as you read the book.
Vikkivand@aol.com
A Rip in Heaven by Jeanine Cummins. 5 stars.
The author's true story of her family's ordeal when her cousins were raped and murdered by being thrown off the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in Missouri in 1991.
Bushworld by Maureen Dowd. 5 stars.
This book illustrates the facts that have been kept from the American people by the Bush Administration in regards to the reasons why we invaded Iraq and other issues. It really made me realize how ill-informed we really are as we approach the elections in November. A must-read book for all Americans who do value truth, justice and the American way.
Losing America: Confronting a Reckless and Arrogant Presidency by Sen. Robert C. Byrd. 5 stars.
Another must-read for all Americans before we go to the elections.
PFIE@aol.com
I am reading The 9/11 Commission Report. I give it 5 stars and I believe that everyone should read this report. Put aside all the political rhetoric by the candidates and all the pundits on TV and read exactly what happened. This book is easy reading and is fascinating. It is almost like reading someone's diary. It is full of information that I never heard before and I consider myself to be somewhat of a political junkie. One can only hope that the people in government who have the power to make changes will read this book and take heed.
I am also reading The Curlew's Cry by Mildred Walker. This book was first published in 1955 and it was reprinted in 1996. I give it 4 stars. It is about a young woman coming of age in Montana in the first part of the twentieth century. It covers a period from 1905-1941. It is the story of one young women's desire to be independent and self-sufficient, yet she is constantly being drawn back to her family and friends into a lonely existence. She abhors weakness in everyone and is quick to find it in the men in her life, her father and other men that she meets. It makes it impossible to find love where she finds weakness. It is also the story of betrayal by her best friend and finally in middle-age acceptance of her life and her friendships.
Reone from Stowe, Vermont
I am almost finished with Patricia Cornwell's Trace, and am so glad to say that Ms. Cornwell is BACK! The writing is tight, the story is believable and the book is very difficult to put down. The characters --- Scarpetta, Lucy, Marino and Benton --- are all there and involved in different and interesting ways. Great book.
I also read Bill Clinton's book, which I found to be interesting and well written. Almost as hard to put down as a novel. It is wonderful that he mentions who said what and when it was said. Though I am a fiction reader, I would recommend this book as interesting and well-written.
slippert123@adelphia.net
Janet Evanovich has done it again with Ten Big Ones. I listened to this on CD audiobook, and found it even more enjoyable than reading. I want to go back and buy the first nine so that I can listen whenever I want. Stephanie Plum is up to her usual mischief and adventure with her sidekick Lula and boyfriends. 5 stars.
I am just finishing Kathy Reichs's Monday Mourning. I enjoy the detail about the scientific aspects of forensic science, but find this story doesn't move as quickly as her previous books. 3 stars.
The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom is an interesting little allegory, but I liked the true life Tuesdays With Morrie much better. 3 stars.
MelJPrincess@aol.com
The Halo Effect by M.J. Rose. 5 stars!
This is definitely a page-turner. I could not put it down! If you see a therapist you must read this well written, chilling novel.
Cemetary of Angels by Noel Hynd. 5 stars!
If you've read Ghosts by this author it probably scared you to death. Cemetary of Angels is another ghost story that will keep you "spooked" from the first page to the last. Sex with a ghost. Hmmm....
Sheila Langley/Jacksonville, Florida
I recently started participating in a book club at The Book Mark in Atlantic Beach, FL, and have discovered the joy of reading books that I might not have picked up otherwise. The group read The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini during my first month of participation. I will never watch news stories about war-ravaged countries without thinking about Amir, Hassan and Sohrab, the little boys in the book. The author has written a sad, powerful story about children who must cope with such horrible circumstances. 4 stars.
The Mammoth Cheese by Sheri Holman made me first react with thoughts of how BIG it was. Had the book club not been reading it, I would have passed it over for that reason alone. But once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. It's a story of small town America trying to cope with the world pressing in, a story of mother and daughter finding their way with each other and a story of independence in the face of divorce. In other words, it is many, many things intertwined around --- you got it --- a 1,200 pound block of cheese. 5 stars.
Melonyfawn@aol.com
I have recently finished re-reading Peyton Place by Grace Metalious. I read this book when it was first published some 40-odd years ago and liked it then, but this time I was astounded at the high quality of writing in the book. I was absolutely blown away and highly recommend it.
Before that, I read Dakota Dreams by Janet Howe Townsley, a book for young people that details a young girl's life when her family moved from Wisconsin to homestead in South Dakota during the summer of 1881. The details were taken from information contained in the young Fannie Sabra Howe's diary. Fannie was the great-aunt of the author. A very charming and informative story. Again, I recommend it -- for adults as well as young people.
Right now I am reading Dumping Billy by the late Olivia Goldsmith and I'm enjoying it immensely. She will be missed.
lowthera@swbell.net
I'm currently reading The Passion of Artemisia by Susan Vreeland. So far I give it 4 stars. Good story of a real female post-Renaissance painter.
I'm also reading Triumph: The Power and the Glory of the Catholic Church by H. W. Crocker for a theology class I'm auditing --- fascinating, well written history of the church. 5 stars.
I just finished Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krauker. Good history of the Mormon church. Disturbing if all true. I did it for my book club. 3 stars.
GerryD8784@aol.com
Eventide by Kent Haruf. 4 stars.
Haruf continues the story begun in Plainsong, following the McPheron brothers, Victoria and her daughter, and the many residents of Holt, Colorado, as their lives unfold and they encounter small joys and large sorrows. His characters are plain and often limited individuals, struggling with their own circumstances, but still able to reach out and help one another and create a caring community. His writing is beautiful!
The Sleeping Father by Matthew Sharpe. 1 star.
A divorced father of two teenagers suffers a stroke and lapses into a coma after accidentally taking the wrong medication, and the rest of this odd novel follows his children's effort to cope with his subsequent brain damage. A few glimmers of good writing were not enough to salvage the meandering plot and remarkably unpleasant characters.
Haunted Ground by Erin Hart. 4 stars.
Hart is a new author I tried after reading a posting on Word of Mouth, and I'm delighted with this find! In her debut novel, an archaeologist and a pathologist team up to examine well-preserved remains found in an Irish peat bog, and subsequently are drawn in to a more recent mystery surrounding the disappearance of the young wife and son of a local landowner. Great historical/cultural detail, and a well-plotted mystery.
boyce66@msn.com
I've just finished Lisa Scottoline's Killer Smile. This is the first of her books that I've read, although she has an impressive list of publications in the legal thriller genre. I must say that I really enjoyed the characters, although the subject matter of the legal case that centered the plot was a little dry (and I'm a lawyer myself!). It has definitely encouraged me to read some of her other works --- there aren't enough in this genre that focus on female attorneys let alone an all-women law firm. I give it 3 1/2 stars.
I am also right now reading The Exact Same Moon by Jeanne Marie Laskas, a sequel to her memoir Fifty Acres and a Poodle. Those familiar with Laskas's column "Significant Others" in the Washington Post will already appreciate her light humorous insights and easy-to-read style. I really enjoyed the first installment, which told the story of the author's marriage later in life and her move from the city of Pittsburgh, PA to a rural farming community where she and her new husband tried their best to learn farm life from the locals while keeping a sense of humor in the face of their lack of knowledge of anything farm-related. I understand the sequel focuses on their start of a family by adopting two children and more of their adjustment to rural living. So far, I'm enjoying it immensely and have laughed out loud more than once. I give both 4 stars.
Clogwoman@aol.com
First Degree by David Rosenfelt.
Captivating from the beginning but I haven't finished reading it yet.
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks.
WONDERFUL!!! I stayed up all night reading it in its entirety.
Skinny Dip by Carl Hiaasen.
Not his best but great anyway.
For Matrimonial Purposes by Kavita Daswani.
Very light, humorous and interesting...a very good read.
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett.
Slow start but very exciting and wonderfully developed characters.
nll9017@earthlink.net
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. 5 stars.
The Kite Runner is one of the best books I have read all year. Khaled Hosseini is lyrical in his words when writing of the bonds of human friendships, love, and society's expectations with Afghanistan's history and society as the backdrop. Characters are depicted by their loyalty, strengths and beliefs. Anyone who reads this novel cannot help but find affection and empathy for Amir and Hassan, "The Sultans of Kabul."
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. 5 stars.
Jodi Picoult weaves a thought-provoking and heartbreaking story of what happens when a family member is dying of leukemia. Anyone who reads this book will react with emotion and be challenged by the issues and the attitudes it presents. It is a story that on the last page, the last sentence, you turn to the next page looking for more.
White Hot by Sandra Brown. 4 stars.
White Hot is an emotional roller coaster ride. You will immediately understand and see what each character is about --- good, bad or mysterious. Sayre Lynch comes home to Destiny, Louisiana after a ten-year absence. This is no tender, loving family reunion. There are questions to be answered about her brother's supposed suicide, and pure loathing to overcome.
Trace by Patricia Cornwell. 4 stars.
Dr. Scarpetta is called back to Richmond, Virginia from Florida to bring her expertise to the case of a 14-year old girl who died seemingly of the flu. Scarpetta and Marino will discover that her parents both have considerable psychological problems of their own. Notable government officials are involved and want the case to be top priority. This sense of urgency alerts Dr. Scarpetta that there is more to this case than meets the eye. A page-turner that will remind you of Patricia Cornwell's earlier works.
The Society by Michael Palmer. 4 stars.
Dr. Will Grant is a seemingly all-around good guy who works hard at trying to be a devoted and loving divorced Dad to his twins. Will continues to volunteer at a shelter, Open Hearth, that he helped create years ago. Dr. Grant is also an active member of the Hippocrates Society, a group determined to fight how big business has taken over the field of medicine. Dr. Grant finds himself involved in a web of intrigue, murder and conspiracy with only a suspicious, albeit attractive, rookie detective, Patricia Moriarity, to help him.
Lgluhani@aol.com
The Big Year by Mark Obmascik. 4 stars.
Fascinating nonfiction story of bird-watching and the characters who populate the hobby.
Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss. 4 stars.
Bestseller for grammar sticklers. Bonus is that it's a hoot!
Trishajr@aol.com
I am enjoying Pompeii by Robert Harris. Now I want to read any other books he's written. This book takes place a couple of days before Vesuvius erupted and the wonderful aqueduct system for the area has started to fail. The hero is the "aquarius," the one in charge of the whole Augusta aqueducts system. It is a coincidence that your question of the week asks about quotes, for there are quotes at each chapter's beginning and they are from books on volcanoes. Reading the quotes you can see for yourself the signs that were there showing Vesuvius would erupt. The story itself is mesmerizing and so richly detailed that I come away from it feeling I got a good look at Roman everyday life. Besides the great detail there, Harris also gives wonderful details and insights into his characters. I give this book 4 stars.
juliecbarnard@yahoo.com
I have recently finished:
The 37th Hour by Jodi Compton. 5 stars.
Great first novel about a police woman who tries to find her missing husband.
Queen of the South by Arturo Perez-Reverte. 5 stars.
His best yet, and for an author of a lot of great books, that's really something.
Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear. 4 stars.
Although this is hardly a detective story (which is how I have been hearing it billed), it's a great story of World War I.
I'm currently reading:
The Grim Grotto by Lemony Snicket. So far, 5 stars.
Just as good as all the others.
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. So far, 5 stars.
I never read this series before, and it is an absolute treat!
Donnaleggate@aol.com
Fleeced by Carol Higgins Clark. 5 stars.
This is the second book I have read by Carol Higgins Clark. They are very witty and very good mysteries. The Settlers Club is in need of money to stay open. Nat & Ben co-own four diamonds worth $4 million. They decide to sell them and donate the money to keep the club open. Nat was afraid of theft and hid the diamonds in a very clever way. Regan Reilly is on the case. I really enjoyed this one as well as another book of hers I read called Snagged.
BDM1215@aol.com
I just finished By the Light of the Moon by Dean Koontz. I would rate it 4 stars. This was a slow read at first but it really hooked me in the end.
zippety4@yahoo.com
The book I read was The Bourne Legacy by Eric Van Lustbader. It is a follow-up in the Robert Ludlum Jason Bourne series. Great read, and very hard to put down. I give it 5 stars.
deb@shillingsales.com
I am currently reading Mary of Bellingham by Anneke Campbell. I'm having a hard time putting it down and looking forward to more from this author. I rate it 5 stars.
bradylee@myway.com
Funny Cide by The Funny Cide Team, with Sally Jenkins. 5 stars. Published in 2004. This true story is about a horse named Funny Cide. If you're "into" horses, I guess you would know this. I learned a lot about them and found this to be an exceptionally good book to read, including the failures and eventual successes of all involved including Funny Cide. I compare this book to be just a tiny bit under Seabiscuit as to interest, but a wonderful read just the same. The writing is top notch and a bottom dog becomes a top dog in the end.
Dani from Leesburg
I just finished Bling by Erica Kennedy and LOVED it! It was unpredictable and compulsively readable. Totally current and trendy. 5 stars.
I just skimmed through A Girl Becomes a Comma Like That by Lisa Glatt and really wanted to like this book. I just didn't. In fact, I gave up on it after a few pages. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood to read such a somber piece (after finishing Bling!). 1 star.
I also finished Shem Creek by Dorothea Benton Frank and it was just as good as all of her books. Comforting and very easy to read. 4 stars.
I just started Smoke Screen by Kyle Mills. So far so good. Have to say it seems like a 4-star book to me!
Dianna@mail2her.com
I just finished reading Blinded by Stephen White. Though some of the characters were written with enough care to engender interest, most did not. Unlike other novels by authors with continuing characters, Blinded does not include enough information. More care was given describing the scenery than the people. I think it rated a solid 3 stars.
Strange But True by John Searles had it all: families in crisis dealing with and crumbling from a shared tragic loss, murder, suspense, young love, and jerks galore. I laughed, I cried, I held my breath. A solid 5 stars, I wish I could give more.
The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason did not quite meet all my expectations following the publicity hype. It read like a Da Vinci Code wannabe. I give it 3 stars.
EMIZZI@aol.com
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. 5 stars.
I finally picked up a copy of this fascinating story from the viewpoint of a young woman murdered by a neighbor. From her heaven she views the struggles, pains and problems associated with her death. Each member of her family is introduced in their relationship to her life and death. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!
confessionsofareader@gmail.com
Tell No One by Harlan Coben. 4 1/2 stars.
A nicely written book about a guy whose wife was murdered eight years ago, but now she may be alive. It's a little unbelievable at times, but it's still a great book.
The Summons by John Grisham. 3 1/2 stars.
Not his best but still pretty good.
kamiller@epix.net
Right now I'm reading Hawkes Harbor by S. E. Hinton. It's a very quick read but not a light one. Ms. Hinton combines reality with a little supernatural (but it does not detract from the book at all). 4 stars.
I just finished Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner. Wonderful book with likeable people. 4 stars.
RaeSunshin@aol.com
I'm currently reading novels. I'm listening to candidates on the television and reading literature guaranteed to escape them.
The best of recent reads is Plantation by Dorothea Benton Frank, which ranked 5 stars from my fifty-something self and 5 stars from my twenty-something reading buddy. The characters are rich and any Southerner will instantly recognize and love the archetypes. A close second is Ms. Frank's new book, Shem Creek, ranking 4 stars.
Then there is Tom Robbins's Villa Incognito. I can't give it any stars. If I could finish it, I might be able to assign stars. However, I keep getting so lost I can't do it. This is one lousy, pointless read.
In the essay department, I've recently finished Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. It started slow, so 4 stars. However, when I finished, I ordered his other books. He's a funny, funny man.
Jo from Greensburg, PA
I listened to Carl Hiaasen's Skinny Dip on CD. This is the first of his novels I've read and I found it hysterically amusing. I will definitely try to read more of his work. 5 stars.
I am also reading Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris. I am finding it to be darkly humorous, not sure of him. He is appearing locally for a lecture series. I hope he's better in person. I'm only giving him 3 stars.
John1rosie@aol.com
Dune: The Battle of Corrin by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. 2 stars.
One for the door of each author. On the one hand this is a comic book without the pictures. Skimming may be a mandatory, sanity-saving reading technique for those attempting this one. It is a mindless read awaiting those who need a mindless read. We all sometimes do. It is a page turner. It is too long. On the other hand, it is entertaining. It is enjoyable. It has some interesting passages, paragraphs and even chapters. It is too short. The last two or three or four chapters could have been expanded. Most assuredly there will be many subsequent Dune series books. The story of Dune is far from complete. We who enjoy the mindless read as a matter of "literary therapy" or relief from "serious fiction" look forward to them. It is a sanity saving device. Thank you Mr. Herbert and Mr. Anderson.
Sesame705@aol.com
Three Fates by Nora Roberts. 4 1/2 stars.
I'm not usually one for romance novels, but this author knows how to balance just the right measures of romance, action, mystery and suspense.
Catslady5@aol.com
Danger is Sweet by Cornelia Amiri. 3 1/2 stars.
A romance with a twist. Contains shapeshifters. Something different and fascinating.
browncz@comcast.net
For October we picked The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I would give it a 5-star rating. The story takes place in Afghanistan and it is a coming of age book for a boy. He grows up privileged without understanding the other side of life; how to love fully; and how to stand up for one's family and beliefs. He returns to Afghanistan after fleeing when the Russians invade and the picture that is drawn of the landscape and lives of these people is breathtaking. You cannot put the book down. You can't decide whether you like or dislike the narrator, Amir. The book moves along quickly painting a picture of life that we Americans can't possibly grasp. I am sure that it will create a lot of discussion this month. It is a book I will keep and lend to many friends.
amigo1@comcast.net
The Queen of the South by Arturo Perez-Reverte. 4 stars.
Another great book by a great author.
The Last Camel Died at Noon by Elizabeth Peters. 5 stars.
This is one of the best Amelia Peabody stories
Empire of Sand by David Ball. 4 stars.
bradylee@myway.com
No Backup: My Life as a Female FBI Special Agent by Rosemary Dew and Pat Pape. Published in 2004. 3 stars.
The first 22 chapters in Part I were quite interesting as it is an autobiography of the author's life before and during her employment with the FBI. The sexist environment in that governmental body is almost unbelievable and there are many examples given. She did lead an exciting life and at the same time raised two children by herself. After about 14 years with the FBI she resigned, and the last 100 pages of her story went downhill for me. This is a fast read and commendable, but just not great.
llehmberg@virtuoso.com
The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory. 2 stars.
marefitzy@yahoo.com
I just finished Trace by Patricia Cornwell. It was a good read, definitely worth the time. The same characters are back, Lucy, Kay, etc. but this time you get more of a human side to them. Cornwell lets us in on their thoughts and feelings more than in any of the previous novels. The mystery in this novel is good too. A 15-year-old girl is killed, and while inspecting the murder, more and more layers are peeled back. What is always good about Cornwell's novels is that they can stand alone, so someone new to the series could start with Trace.
Ery222@aol.com
The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King. 5 stars.
Britadon@aol.com
By a Spider's Thread by Laura Lippman. 5 stars.
What a good and unique mystery book! This book has a delightful heroine, Tess Monaghan, and a compelling cast of characters. It is more than just a mystery as it explores the development of the characters, Orthodox Judaism, Baltimore locales and, yes, a suspenseful ending. I was just fortunate to talk with the author and she is a warm, generous and forthright soul who makes you want to read all her books right now. I will be reading more and want to see these books as a TV serial someday.
Cold Case Squad by Edna Buchanan. 5 stars.
I read this right after By a Spider's Thread and was amazed at the serendipity! This also refers to Orthodox Judaism but in a very different way. The foreshadowing leaves you dismayed at the thought that you cannot stop the inevitable. Do read it.
Kill the Messenger by Tami Hoag. 5 stars.
Another very good mystery with wonderful characters. The bike messenger is the principal character but he has a charming if precocious little brother, a wonderful black woman friend, and an excellent detective. But my real love was Madame Chen, a Chinese woman/mother/grandmother in Chinatown, Los Angeles, who was the epitome of dignity and determination. These are three excellent, page-turner books that will have you reading late into the night.
kzstephens@hotmail.com
Are You Afraid of the Dark? by Sidney Sheldon. 3 stars.
Same easy writing style. But I did not understand the technical lingo concerning the weather machine.
bradylee@myway.com
The Lost Pet Chronicles: Adventures of a K-9 Cop Turned Pet Detective by Kat Albrecht with Jana Murphy. Published in 2004.
This is an autobiography that is a good example of all the twists and turns that happen in a life and by the end of the book, the author's life is still in flux, but a purpose and the needed building blocks are evident for greater accomplishment. Like most people, there are failures galore leading to a well-defined pathway that results from trial and error. If you are interested in animals, particularly dogs and cats, and how to find them if they run away or get lost, this is definitely the book for you. You will learn a lot as to how dogs and cats think and where they go when they are unfettered. This book is a good, fast read.
dashofbasenji@charter.net
Blow Fly by Patricia Cornwell. 2 1/2 stars.
Overall, I actually enjoyed Blow Fly despite many negative reviews I had read about it. It was different from previous books in the Kay Scarpetta series, less intense in many ways. The ending was disappointing, however, as it felt rushed and left me unsatisfied.
Cerulean Sins by Laurell K. Hamilton. 4 stars.
The Anita Blake series is my guilty pleasure reading. I have yet to be disappointed by Ms. Hamilton and Cerulean Sins was no different.
Child of Silence by Abigail Padgett. 3 1/2 stars.
A good start to a mystery series about a social worker in San Diego. I liked the main character immensely and thought Ms. Padgett did an excellent job of interweaving the character's manic episodes in with the story (the main character has Bipolar Disorder).
Color Blind by Jonathan Santlofer. 3 1/2 stars.
In this second book in the series, Kate McKinnon, ex-cop turned art historian, consults on a possible serial murder investigation where the killer leaves behind his own painting at each crime scene. I enjoyed reading this book immensely, great character development.
Judyal7@aol.com
I just finished reading My Losing Season by Pat Conroy. This is an amazing book that touched me so deeply, I can't get it out of my mind. Mr. Conroy's use of the English language is beautiful and his nonfictional account of his senior year as a basketball player at The Citadel, coupled with the tragic backdrop of his beyond dysfunctional family, will take your breath away.
BDORM@aol.com
The Tyrant's Novel by Thomas Kenneally. 3 stars.
Very predictable and obvious, even though he used English surnames. But he had some thought provoking ideas
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi. 5 stars.
The latest choice of our book club. I found the book so choc a bloc with ideas I kept underlining passages. Also, it has led me back to reading several classics.
Walt's Mom, St. Peters, MO
Blacklist by Sara Paretsky. 5 stars.
When V.I. Warshawski discovers a dead journalist in a pond on the grounds of an abandoned mansion, it leads her on a trail of secrets and betrayal. An intelligent, suspenseful and thought-provoking tale that examines the sometimes murky and misguided nature of patriotism.
realbencann@yahoo.com
The Children's Hour by Marcia Willett. 5 stars.
Wonderful family saga set in England with a realistic cast of characters and a beautifully written story. Sensitive and empathetic with flashbacks and present day scenes drawn upon. Could have read it forever.
rojosho@hotmail.com
Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy. 5 stars.
Entertaining and interesting novel set in a remote part of Greece with a cute cast of characters who are portrayed in a unique way. I have read all of Maeve Binchy's novels and enjoy them thoroughly.
jberger@salud.unm.edu
In a Dark House by Deborah Crombie. 5 stars.
Suspense, mystery and excellent writing make this a fabulous book. Crombie's adept style and her vivid descriptions and accurate and realistic character portrayals make her books interesting, fascinating and well worth reading.
sunflowercat@bellsouth.net
I've just started The Inner Circle by T.C. Boyle, and it follows in the grand tradition of every book I've read by Boyle since I happened across him at 17; I can't put it down. 4 stars.
Also, A Year and a Day by Leslie Pietrzyk, the story of a teenage girl coping with the year that follows her charismatic mother's suicide and the voice of her mother speaking to her inside her mind. 4 stars.
And Indelible by Karin Slaughter, fourth in the Grant County, GA mystery series. Note: Slaughter's mysteries and characters are fascinating but sometimes graphic, and not recommended for the squeamish. 3 stars.
DANNALAMB@aol.com
I am currently reading A Faint Cold Fear by Karin Slaughter. It is the third book in the series depicting Jeffrey Tolliver, Chief of Police, his deputies, and Sara Linton, coroner and pediatrician, as well as Tolliver's ex-wife. The characters are interesting and as diverse as the crimes they investigate. A great mystery series, and an author to follow. 5 stars.
Anonymous
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. 4 stars. Fascinating tale narrated by an autistic young man who, in the process of trying to solve a neighborhood mystery, uncovers a mystery in his own life.
Trace by Patricia Cornwell. 3 1/2 stars.
Cornwell does an admirable job of weaving 2 or 3 story lines together, but still doesn't engage the reader as surely as she did with her earliest Kay Scarpetta tales.
DStegmanCrawford@aol.com
I just finished Trace by Patricia Cornwell. I give it 2 stars, and that is being generous. The story never did get off and going. I thought it was boring and pedantic. There was a psycho killer but the motivation and causative factors were never explained. I'm sick of Kay and her dwindling relationship (or lack thereof) with Benton and also sick of Lucy and her cavorting. This 400 plus page book never told a real story. Save your money.
mlife629@yahoo.com
The Christ Clone Trilogy by James BeauSeigneur. 4 stars.
This trilogy (In His Image, Birth of an Age, Acts of God) is a modern retelling of Armageddon and the events leading up to it. Set in the present day and near future, the book offers some very eye-opening twists and fantastic action.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. 5 stars.
This is by far my best read this year! The moving tale of 2 boys, their life-long frienship set amidst the political mayhem that is Afghanistan. Despite the setting, this is a very personal story that's deeply touching.
RKCKSYST@aol.com
I'm just finishing up Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley mysteries. I've recently read, and loved, numbers 9, 10, and 11 and am reading number 12 now. These last four are Deception on His Mind, In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner, A Traitor to Memory, and A Place of Hiding. And I'd give them all 5 stars!!!
tiffani_ba@hotmail.com
I just finished reading Blonde Ambition, the 3rd A-List novel. It's a great book for teen readers, the written equivalent of "The O.C." In this book, Anna scores an internship on a TV set, gets into dating trouble, and again attracts the jealousy and wrath of her rival. 4 stars.
gsheehan@wideopenwest.com
I'm currently reading Bushworld by Maureen Dowd. A very entertaining approach where the author has drawn on her past columns to paint a chronological journal of the Bushes and the Presidency. Regardless of the reader's own political convictions, this is a worthwhile viewpoint.
GSASUFFEL@aol.com
I am now reading Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich. I usually do not read nonfiction, but this book is quite an eye-opener. The facts about "On (Not) getting by in America," as Barbara puts it, are a miserable commentary on America's inability to take care of Her own. The only reason I can continue reading this book is due to her humor in the face of such tragedy.
travelingpeggy@yahoo.com
Skinwalkers by Tony Hillerman. 4 stars.
The Boy Next Door by Meggin Cabot. 2 stars.
Midnight Come Again by Dana Stabenow. 3 stars.
bradylee@myway.com
Inside the Kingdom: My Life in Saudi Arabia by Carmen Bin Ladin. Published in 2004. 5 stars.
This book should be important to almost everyone as it details the mindset and the social order of the country Saudi Arabia by the author who lived in that country for many years. She is from Switzerland and married a brother of Osama Bin Ladin's. There is no possibility that the politics can change in Saudi Arabia as it is ruled by a king and hundreds of children. As time progresses, religion becomes more restrictive and "progress" is an impossibility at this point in time. You will learn much interesting information about the makeup of Saudi Arabia and the influence of Iran when Khomeni led that country from his exile in France. If Iraq is as encumbered with tradition as Saudi Arabia is, then the chances of peace without a dictator is indeed chancy. As of today...right now...very few females are educated as that is most unimportant there; many are unable to read or write.
SINGLE MOM
Little Children by Tom Perrotta. 5 stars.
Starts out like a chick book, but takes a turn into darker territory. Very wonderful writing, and the author has the guts to end the book the way he did. Hats off. Let's read the next Tom Perrotta book!
Barsha@aol.com
I am currently reading The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri and am enjoying this story of an American-born young man of Indian heritage, caught between two cultures. I am also reading Back Roads by Tawni O'Dell. I found O'Dell's current novel Coal Run so compelling that I sought out her previous work Back Roads, which was her first novel.
LINDALSHOT@aol.com
I'm reading The Unknown Twin by Kathryn Shay. 4 stars. It's not the best book I've ever read but it's entertaining enough on a chilly evening. The characters are well-drawn though the story is a trifle flimsy. I'm only half-way through so maybe it'll still be worth 5 stars.
Pfzlady@aol.com
My last book read was Devil in the White City by Erik Larsen. It was engrossing and I rate it 4 1/2 stars. Currently I am most of the way through Jonathan Franzen's The Corrections. I give it 4 stars for its uniqueness and its compelling nature. Next on my list is Haven Kimmel's A Girl Named Zippy.
MAP5402@aol.com
Blind Alley by Iris Johansen. 4 stars.
Excellent book, I always enjoy her work.
White Hot by Sandra Brown. 3 stars.
Not quite up to her usual standard.
Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts. 5 stars.
Wonderful characters
Pat76273@aol.com
I just finished The Ghost Writer by John Harwood, his debut novel, and it was set in England (Harwood is British) and follows young Gerard as he tries to find out about his mother's family. It seems she would never tell him anything about them, leaving him to wonder what had divided her from her family. I would give it 4 stars.
I also read Elizabeth Berg's True to Form from 2002 (5 stars) and loved Katie, a 13-year-old and the main character, so much that I am now reading the first two books Berg wrote that included Katie. The first one is Durable Goods (1993) and I give it 5 stars. I haven't started the second one, Joy School (1997) yet. Katie represents all of us at her tender age going through ordeals with family and friends. Berg has a way of writing that doesn't hammer home a point but subtly and tenderly takes you there.
catfish@millardmanor.com
A Window Across the River by Brian Morton. 3 stars.
Not much of a plot, but great character studies
All I Did Was Ask by Terry Gross. 4 stars.
NPR interviews with some of the most fascinating people of our time.
tfranzen2124@comcast.net
A book to love for all book lovers: Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie. A 5-star story, with 5-star writing. This very slim and readable book personalizes the cultural revolution, and reminds us all that literature is a powerful force in any culture. Please read this.
Flightoffancy329@aol.com
Naked in Da Nang by Tara Dixon-Engel and Mike Jackson is one of the most inspiring, entertaining and informative books I have ever read. 5 stars, hands down! I read it pretty much in one sitting, and hated to see it end. Although I prefer fiction and almost never read war stories, I purchased this one based on the reviews online. I was very pleasantly surprised to find a story that I could relate to in spite of being a woman and never serving in the military. I don't know if Ms. Dixon-Engel's co-writing is what makes the difference but I really was drawn in to the story and found myself laughing and crying in equal amounts.
Believe me, I have no interest in Vietnam or in listening to some guy brag about his tour of duty. This book is not like that. The stories are hilarious, and I have to wonder if there are more to be told. I certainly hope there are. I would make an exception again to read another "war book" like this one. I felt like I really experienced the mental part of being in a war. It makes me feel a stronger kinship with our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I also liked Mr. Jackson's reference to Pat Tillman at the end of the book. And the Authors Note made me cry (again.) But I don't want people to think this is some kind of tearful story. It is not. I believe it will not disappoint those who love a war story. It is just written in a way that seems to offer something for each reader. Thanks to the authors for enlightening us all!
Pudgypb@aol.com
Bait by Karen Robards. 5 stars.
It's about a woman who is targeted by an elusive killer. She's been mistaken for a woman of the same name.
Retribution by Jilliane Hoffman. 5 stars.
I couldn't put this book down. It just kept getting better and better. It's about a woman who gets raped and then her story goes from there.
The Other Woman by Joy Fielding. 3 stars.
I love books by Joy Fielding but this was kind of slow in reading.
Sam's Letters to Jennifer and Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas both by James Patterson. 5 stars to both.
The only bad thing I can say about both of these books is that they weren't long enough. I love both of them.
tnakens@charter.net
I am finally reading The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. This story about a strange, dysfunctional family is a bit long and maybe not quite as good as the hype about it. I have not given up on it yet! 3 stars.
Also, I am reading The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. It is a fascinating mystery with something new at every turn. I highly recommend it. 4 stars.
Myrnapen@aol.com
I just finished Jodi Picoult's Plain Truth and loved it. It's a well-crafted book about an Amish teenager who gives birth to an illegitimate child and is then accused of having murdered the newborn. Fascinating! 5 stars.
tunaross@nc.rr.com
Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews. 4 stars.
Enjoyable fluffy read by local (Raleigh, NC) author. Rather predictable but very witty and charming. However, it does portray Southern culture in an unflattering light.
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown. 4 1/2 stars.
This book came highly recommended. It appears much more fast-paced and engaging than The Da Vinci Code that I read earlier this year.
Catsownme4@aol.com
Replay by Ken Grimwood is a time-travel story that makes one think. I really enjoyed it.
vitale@grantsburgtelcom.net
Right now, I'm reading Colossus: The Price of America's Empire by Niall Ferguson. I'm enjoying the history of how we got to where we are today tremendously. And for those of you who don't think the United States has an empire, you'd better think again. This book is for you.
I'm also rereading Catch-22 by Joseph Heller for my book club. I'm really struggling with it because it is reminding me too much of what a horrible situation this country is in today.
maestraw@msn.com
I just finished All That Matters by Jan Goldstein. I cannot put into words just how wonderful this book is! Today I told a local librarian that it has been so long since I read a book that was just unforgettable. Well, this one fits the bill. I would give it a 10 out of 5 stars. The plot is simple. Nana Gabby flies to LA to bring her 21-year-old granddaughter Jennifer to NYC after Jen's suicide attempt. You must read the rest. It is my hope that the others who recommend this book do not give away too much of the plot. It is to be savored.
OLTLFREAK@aol.com
Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner. 5 stars.
Her third book does not let you down. It's a story of four girls, each chapter is from a different character's point of view. It reads quickly, and you really get into the story. I loved her first two books, and this one was just as great! Make sure to read this.
Blue Twilight by Jessica Speart.
This is her eighth book in the Rachel Porter series, and I just loooooove these books. I own them all! You feel like you are right there with Rachel, fighting the injustices of the world. I always hate to near the end, since I know I have another year to wait. Plus the author is a great lady! This is a great series to own!
Kathy from Severna Park
Trace by Patricia Cornwell. 3 1/2 stars.
As a fan of Kay Scarpetta, I eagerly awaited this book. However, while definitely better than her last Scarpetta novel, Blow Fly, this one lacks the fast moving thrill and good development of her earlier Scarpetta novels.
The story starts out and develops very slowly. There are two simultaneous plots going on: one in Virginia with Kay and Marino, and the other in Colorado and Florida with Benton Wesley and her niece Lucy. To have Kay returning to Virginia, where she was fired from her position as the Chief Medical Examiner five years ago, to solve the mysterious death of a young girl, seems possible but not really probable. Likewise, her niece Lucy, with all the smarts she is supposed to have, hiring a former actress turned cop with little experience and who, it turns out, is being stalked, seems unlikely, and makes the plot only more confusing and unreal. From the start, Cornwell plunges the reader into these two plots, but fails to give the reader enough background and information to fully understand or follow what is going on. Well into the book, the plots do begin to come together, but only after much time has passed --- time spent dwelling on a myriad of irrelevant and unnecessary diversions. It almost seems as if Cornwell really didn't have the plot well planned from the beginning, but put it together as she wrote. In addition, though I am quite used to Lucy's modus operandi, some of the ways she operates in her twist of the plot also seem rather unbelievable.
Cornwell is not up to her earlier levels in this one. Several months ago, I read that she had agreed to write more Scarpetta novels because of popular demand. I wonder if she really wanted to do this, or if she was just agreeing to write them because of pressure.
Ellen from Berlin
I just finished The Clinic by Jonathan Kellerman. Medically contrived. 3 stars. I am now reading The Heartbreaker by Carly Phillips. 3 stars also.
BahamaValF@aol.com
I am reading Blind Side as I love Catherine Coulter books, especially the ones with Savich and Sherlock. The newest installment in Coulter's FBI series delivers, with a fast moving investigation and a mind bending mystery. The mystery at the heart is intriguing and the pacing is brisk. I rate it 5 stars, her books just keep me coming back for more.
dawnymae5@msn.com
I read several books at the same time, one of them right now is Are You Afraid of the Dark? by Sidney Sheldon. I am truly enjoying it as I have never been able to figure out how the book will end.
I am also reading Skywriting by Jane Pauley. I find her life truly fascinating, all the places she has gone, the stories that she has covered and the people she has interviewed. Yet with all the fame, she has a down-to-earth persona and still is the girl from Indiana.
cfiest@ovis.net
I am reading A Parchment of Leaves by Silas House. I would give it 5 stars. Highly recommend it. It's about a Cherokee-born, Vine, who marries a white boy and settles into his family and culture. She is viewed as an outsider by the town people and her own mother predicts that things will not go smoothly.
I just finished reading Last Mountain Dancer by Chuck Kinder. 5 stars. Excellent book. I love it because it took place in my home state, beautiful West Virginia. The characters were so real and the story line great. I've met Chuck, and the book is exactly as I would imagine him.
kbest10@msn.com
The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason. 4 stars.
This book is quite good and incredibly well written. I am enjoying it. I feel it stands well alone without being compared to The Da Vinci Code as some have done.
Patricia from Omaha NE
I am currently reading The Soldier's Return by Melvyn Bragg. It reveals the world of post-WWII England through the eyes of a young couple who try to adjust to the changes the war has brought to their town, their relationship as husband and wife, and with their child. More than any other book I have read about this time period, it is a chronicle of how separation affects relationships. In these days, where more and more families are being separated from their loved ones due to war, it is especially poignant. I would give it 5 stars.
SalbyC@aol.com
I recently finished Lolly Winston's Good Grief. Although an interesting debut novel, especially her character's reaction to her husband's death, the plot thereafter seemed a little too implausible at times. I would rate this book about 3 1/2 stars.
Lori from Manahawkin
I am reading Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English by Patricia T. O'Conner. Now, don't get the idea that this is a dry book about dull grammar. This is an entertaining and funny book that takes a humorous look at grammar, while educating us and sharpening our skills. Just read a few titles of the contents. There's even a chapter on e-mails!
Woe Is I: Therapy for Pronoun Anxiety
Yours Truly: The Possessives and the Possessed
Verbal Abuse: Words on the Endangered List
Comma Sutra: The Joy of Punctuation
E-mail Intuition: Does Anything Go?
I think her titles are even a riot! I've been reading this book, because my husband is back in school getting his degree in teaching. This is a book that he picked up. This really is a fun book, and I give it 5 stars! I think every home should have a copy of it --- you won't be disappointed.
hokajo@cox.net
I'm currently reading Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews. Good characterizations, nice humor, pleasant story so far. 4 stars.
And I just started Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy. Too early to rate it with any stars, but I don't expect to be disappointed, even though the tale is not set in Ireland.
Gail from Philadelphia
I just finished Denial by Keith Ablow and it blew me away. The main character of Frank Clevenger was riveting (I kept wondering if he was the author's alter ego). It was a great mystery and very erotic also. It was a 5-star winner.
Also I'm reading Darkness Bound by Larry Brooks. Another winner. It's a very erotic thriller, kind of in the Hitchcock mode. I give it 4 stars.
Ginger.Louden@sendit.nodak.edu
I just finished reading Meanwhile Back at the Ranch by Kinky Friedman. I must say this is an interesting book. I have not read any book by Kinky Friedman before, but I know I will from now on. He uses a play on words and just writes with a lot of interesting dialogue. This book is about finding an abducted three-legged cat and also an autistic boy whose only word is "schnay." I give this book 4 stars.
Dani420@aol.com
I am almost finished reading Smoke Screen by Kyle Mills, after the urging of my husband that it's a funny, compulsively readable novel. Well, it has its funny moments, but it was just so similar to other books I've read that I kept thinking, "I've already READ this book!" The writing was good, however, and I must take into consideration my husband's rave review, so I'll stick to a solid 3 stars.
Anonymous from Middletown, CT
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik. 5 stars.
A funny, easy, entertaining read. Didn't want the book to end.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker. 1 star.
I don't know how this got all the awards but I did not like this book. I found it very difficult to read and follow.
The Good Earth by Pearl Buck. 4 stars so far.
I am about halfway through this book and love it.
zumaya@io.com
On the 5-star list is the third book in Jasper Fforde's series of Thursday Next tales, The Well of Lost Plots. This one is a good deal darker than the first two without once losing the humor that drives these books. There are very few books I will buy in hardcover, but I will do so rather than miss any installment of Thursday's adventures.
Another is The Race by Dave Shields. This is an intense and thrilling story of one rider in the Tour de France, a young man who struggled to reach the heights of cycling only to be knocked to the bottom by the machinations of a rival. It's impossible to stop turning pages as he fights to regain not only his rightful place but his own belief in himself, and his story is told in a way that even people who have never even been on a bike like me can understand and share his experiences.
AGKoepcke@aol.com
I recently finished Pete Fromm's As Cool As I Am. It was a great book and I gave it 4 stars.
How do you face the realization that your parents really didn't want to raise you, and at any moment may stop trying altogether? Lucy Diamond sparkles with sarcastic humor and raw wit through the heartbreakingly honest truth that unfolds before her eyes as she blossoms into womanhood. Pete Fromm is the author of As Cool As I Am, the gritty yet charming story of Lucy Diamond shining on while her heart takes a stomping from her nearly absent mother Lanie and father Chuck.
We meet Lucy as an almost boyish adolescent, with her freshly shaved head, chasing her father's pickup truck down the street as he leaves again to "send home the bacon." As a logger, Chuck follows the work, while Lucy and Lanie are left alone for long periods of time to fend for themselves. Lucy transforms in a matter of months from slat to saucy, like her mother, and the teenage boys start going crazy for her. The only adult guidance in Lucy's life is her lonely and disenchanted mother, who stays out late with what Lucy refers to as "uncles." This aggravates the mother-daughter relationship, especially when Lucy has to cover for Lanie on Christmas when Chuck calls and Lanie is out on a date, because both fear Chuck's reaction. One of the most fiery moments in the book is after Chuck has been gone for over a year, and returns catching Lucy having sex with her boyfriend. The boyfriend easily fends off Chuck, but Lucy is not so lucky, sporting a black-eye. The sting of the smack to the face couldn't hurt half as much as what Chuck tells Lucy, a twist in the story that will make your jaw drop.
I admired Lucy for her strength and intelligence throughout the story, and could understand Lucy's feelings about sex. To Lucy, it seemed she felt it was a tool or way to control the men around her, and escape from loneliness. Naturally, this is what Lucy saw her mother Lanie doing, and it seemed inevitable for Lucy to subconsciously pick up the characteristic. All in all, this was a deep and profound story of Lucy growing up and growing into herself. The book is full of salty phrases, real characters you will never forget, and will leave you with an endless connection to the one and only Lucy Diamond, the coolest chick since bread came sliced.
bradylee@myway.com
A Stranger in the Family: A True Story of Murder, Madness, and Unconditional Love by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith. Published in 1995. 3 stars.
The first fourth of this book grabbed my attention, but later it got to be too much of the same and there was almost no tension the further it got to the end. There was too much rambling of what the perpetrator (Richard Daniel Starrett) thought and said. His mother, Gerry, was the unbelievable one in this story. It made no difference what anyone said or verified. It was a fact that her son just couldn't do all the things he was accused of and she couldn't understand why the world was against her. In the end she, of course, was forced to admit her son's guilt only to save him from the death penalty.
psquared@etcrier.net
Mexifornia: A State of Becoming by Victor Davis Hanson, a 4-star read, is a look at the problems of Mexican immigration and the effects of such large numbers of very poor and uneducated people as they come into conflict with a culture they cannot understand. While California and the states of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas are bearing the brunt of these immigrants, it is not something that will stay in a confined area. Hanson is an educator and a farmer. How the ever increasing numbers of illegals affect him and his livelihood should give anyone pause. Adding to the quantities of problems is the fact that in southern California, particularly the LA County area, 18 emergency rooms and ten trauma centers are now closed. They could not treat the numbers of uninsured who came through their doors. Mexifornia should be a must read.
berliz2@hotmail.com
I just finished reading The Queen's Fool, historical fiction by Philippa Gregory. A young girl is chosen to be a fool for first King Edward, and then Queen Mary. There is a lot of intrigue in the court of royalty during this time and very accurate information is given in a very readable fashion. 4 stars.
I am currently reading The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. This is science fiction about a mission to an alien planet, but it seems so reasonable, and the characters are so believable that this is a fascinating story even for someone like me who usually doesn't read science fiction. 4 1/2 stars.
lecraigie@hotmail.com
I enjoy many genres of books, but here are some of the most recent books that I've read:
The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices by Xinran.
My reading this book was a result of teaching 7th grade Social Studies. I wanted to know more about China. This told me a lot more than I really wanted to know, on an emotional level, that left me at the point where I could only read a few chapters at a time. It was centered on women in China, and their experiences from the pre-cultural revolution until the book was written and published in 2002. Xinran was given permission, as a state employee of the state radio system, to host a radio call-in show where women could speak about their personal life experiences. Xinran recorded these womens' experiences, and sometimes even met them personally,but actually wrote and published the book in London. To do so in China would have meant her imprisonment. Also, by having it published in London, she didn't risk the Chinese government taking her son away from her.
There are 15 individual true stories that women related to Xinran, showing how little a woman's life is valued in China. The stories are heartbreaking because they are true, recent, and things that we would never think of as ever happening to another individual in this country. One example was "The Girl Who Kept A Fly As A Pet." The young main character is being constantly abused by her father, but her mother will do nothing to stop it, although she knows it is taking place. She has to be hospitalized at one point due to illness, and likes the fact that she is safe from her father's attentions. She figures out ways to stay in the hospital, and actually finds a fly, and makes friends with it, keeping it by her bedside as a companion to talk to. The fly ultimately passes on an infection into the girl's bloodstream, but she does not care, because that is much better than going home. Besides, her fly has died, and now she can join it.
I highly recommend this book and give it 5 stars.
The Summer I Dared by Barbara Delinsky is her newest book, and is well-written. I've been reading her books for a long time, and each one is better and more sophisticated than the one before. The book is based on the question, "What comes after the moment that forever changes your life?" It involves a middle-aged woman with a college-aged daughter married to a man who is married to his work, having a few affairs on the side. She has been an "ornamental" figure around the house for quite some time.
She is in a boating accident. She is one of three survivors. She was on her way to a 2-week vacation to see her "shunned by the family" aunt. Now, nothing is the same. She doesn't care that she lost her clothes, jewelry, wallet, credit cards...she just feels rather numb. But then...she begins her own metamorphosis. It's an easy read that gives you many things to think about. 4 stars.
Ain't She Sweet? by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. 5 stars.
I stayed up all night to finish this book! I've read other books by this author, and this is the best yet. I was drawn to it not only by the author, but by setting...the south. The main characters live in Mississippi, and exhibit some of that slow, mannerly style that you often hear and read about. Sugar Beth Carey and Colin Byrne are the main characters; Sugar Beth is returning home after three marriages. She finds that the family home, "Frenchman's Bride," one of the three homes on Mockingbird Lane, is occupied by her former English teacher, Colin Byrne. No one in the community, not even her best friends from high school "The Sea Willows," wants anything to do with her. She has done something "evil" to each and every one of them. Then, there is the painting that she needs to find so she can get some money to support herself and her stepdaughter who is 51 years old. It is flashbacks into Sugar Beth's past, and the things she did to others, that help Sugar Beth begin to figure out why she did the things she did.
Magnolia Creek by Jill Marie Landis.
This is the third book that I have read by this author, but the first one that has been historical fiction. This takes place at the end of the Civil War in Magnolia Creek, Kentucky. Sara Collier Talbot has just found her way back home, home being where she lived with her husband Dru, a doctor, and her sister-in-law, Lou. She's also brought along someone new named "Lizzybeth." Her sister-in-law accepts her most graciously, but realizes that Lizzybeth is not Dru's daughter, but the daughter of a Union soldier who had promised great things to Sara. Sara had been told after several years that Dru, a Confederate soldier, was dead, when in fact he was alive and in a prison camp. He'd lived through Shiloh, Vicksburg, and was in the Point Lookout Prisoner of War Camp in Maryland. He walked all the way home when the war was over to see Sara, never knowing what had taken place while he was gone, assuming that Sara and Lou had held on to their home. Sara and Dru have many things to work out, as do Dru and his sister. The community has rejected Sara as well. Yellow Fever attacks the town, and Dru is the only doctor in town, but Sara is at his side. This rates 4 stars.
I am presently finishing up Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate. I think that anyone who has an elderly relative who lives alone and might need assisted living but won't admit to it will relate to this book. How do you tell someone that you think they should move out of the home that they love? This is the home that Grandma has lived in for over 40 years and raised their children in. It is also the home where she left the iron on all night and it started a fire. She also left the faucet on while she went outside to see the flowers, and there was water up to everyone's ankles in the kitchen. Now it's up to Katie, her granddaughter, to tell her that she's moving out of her home four days after Christmas.
Katie is on childcare leave from her job, and is staying on the farm with her husband, Ben, and their four-month-old son, Joshua. She realizes so many things about her grandma, and why she acts the way she does, just by spending time with her. No one else has. Grandma keeps leaving out a notebook with things that tell about her childhood; it gives Katie a chance to understand. She hopes to be able to convince her father and her aunt that Grandma should stay where she is; that her home and her roses are her "heart," and without them, she will wither and die. Grandma is also learning things about herself too...and befriends a neighbor girl who is very much like she was as a girl.
There is also an ongoing conflict between Katie and Ben with expenses and bills. It constantly wears on their relationship. Joshua had a heart defect when he was born and required a lot of specialized surgery, and the bills keep coming. Katie is on leave, and Ben is trying to make his mark in the computer consulting world. He leaves Katie alone a lot and isn't around to do much fathering. Katie also begins to think that maybe they could sell some of the "Things" they have and make do with less...the boat, the country club membership, and the expensive cars, and spend more time together. Grandma has already offered a free stay at the house, and they could rent out their own home. Ben's not sure; he needs to think about it. The family isn't sure that Katie just hasn't been sucked in. It's another book that is very realistic. It happened in my family with my grandma. It gives you a chance to examine what's important to you...where do material things fit in in the scheme of things? This book gets 4 stars.
shana@stbernardsports.com
Some of the most thought-provoking works I have read in a while:
Truth & Beauty by Ann Patchett. 4 stars.
A memoir of 20 odd years of friendship between novelist Patchett and the poet, Lucy Grealy, that lasted until Grealy's death from a drug overdose in her late 30s. Grealy was diagnosed with cancer as a child and suffered severe facial disfigurement as a result, which greatly influenced the way she perceived the world around her and the way she felt she was perceived by others. A thought-provoking, beautiful tribute to friendship.
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer. 4 stars.
An examination of the history of the Mormon church viewed especially through the lens of Mormon fundamentalism. So much I didn't know!
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. 5 stars.
The story of a missionary, his wife and four daughters and their experiences in the Congo. One of my all time favorites. In fact, I have never talked to anyone who has read this book that didn't feel the same way!
sflaschka@bellsouth.net
I've just finished reading Everville by Clive Barker. It's the second in a trilogy, but I read it without reading the first novel.
Much like he did in Weaveworld, Barker has created a magical parallel world that exists alongside our own. Unfortunately, that world is threatening to impinge on our own, in the form of a scourge that can destroy both realities. At the same time, we follow a few heroes who are working to fight this evil as well as solve their own problems with --- literally --- personal demons.
For readers who like their fantasy with a smart edge and less frilliness and pretension normally associated with the genre, Barker's novels are must-reads.
NGroves@aol.com
The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor. 3 stars.
A quiet book by an acclaimed Irish writer. It begins in the 1920s, when an Anglo-Irish family decides to leave their Irish country home during a time of political trouble. Their young daughter, Lucy, runs away just before their departure and is presumed dead. Her heartbroken parents leave, but instead of settling in England as planned, they roam aimlessly through Europe and cut off contact with their past. Thus, they cannot be notified when Lucy is found alive, and the child grows up feeling abandoned, guilty, and unworthy of love. It's equally heartbreaking that her parents drift through several decades only half-alive, when even one letter or telegram home could have restored their happiness. There is eventually a reunion, but after nearly 30 years, it's no "happily ever after" for parent or child. An interesting meditation on love, chance, and reconciliation.
Falling Angels by Tracy Chevalier. 3 stars.
The story of two families, dissimilar but joined by chance meetings at their adjacent family burial plots in a London cemetery. Their daughters become good friends but drift apart as the differences between their mothers grow more pronounced and their lives appear to be headed on divergent paths. One woman has an affair, longs for a life outside the home, and becomes heavily involved in the suffragette movement, while the other is content with the traditional roles of wife and mother. Various characters tell the story, including both wives, their husbands, the girls, and the household servants, giving readers a look at the events from a variety of perspectives.
Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson. 4 stars.
The story is framed around a murder trial, but much of the book is spent in going back to tell the stories of the various characters and events that lead up to the trial. On a small island off the Washington coast, a Japanese-American fisherman is accused of murdering a white colleague, ostensibly because of a long-simmering land dispute between their families. It's the early '50s, and anti-Japanese sentiment lingers from World War II, as do the memories the Japanese families have of their stay in government internment camps. Is a fair trial possible in this time and place? Will old memories, such as the secret high school romance between a white newspaperman and the Japanese-American wife of the defendant, interfere with justice? A very evocative novel.
The Grim Grotto by Lemony Snicket. 4 stars.
My son is a big fan of this series, so I always read the books too to keep up with what's going on. This is the 11th installment, in which the unfortunate Baudelaire orphans continue trying to evade the clutches of evil Count Olaf. This time, they are rescued --- for the moment anyway --- by a leaky submarine captained by someone who seems to be on their side and may have some of the answers they're seeking. Very funny, as usual. Must we wait another year to see what happens next?
ellist@netscape.net
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi. 5 stars.
An amazing true story
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. 4 stars.
A very unusual love story
The Known World by Edward P. Jones. 4 stars.
About free blacks who own slaves.
SEEDCAKEANDJOE@aol.com
Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg. 3 1/2 stars.
Some of the same characters she has used before --- rather offbeat --- but she makes you care about what happens to them.
JDDistef@aol.com
Mallory's Oracle by Carol O'Connell. 5 stars.
I am rereading the Mallory books in anticipation of the October release of the next "chapter" in Mallory's life. These suspense/mystery/thrillers are wonderful. Kathy Mallory is an intriguing, strong female protagonist who is surrounded by a great cast of characters. This is unlike any mystery you have read.
SCARLETaka@aol.com
My stack of books to be read is quite high. Recently finished is:
Incubus Dreams by Laurell K. Hamilton. 2 stars.
Very graphic, no character growth, no real plot, more sex than story.
Bait by Karen Robards. 5 stars.
Great mystery, steamy romance and some humor thrown in for a perfect combination.
Polishpen@aol.com
As an avid reader of Alice Hoffman creations, I couldn't wait to get my hands on Blackbird House, her latest achievement. In this tome, Hoffman departs from her usual format by issuing readers a series of short stories in one volume. Although each tale involves different characters, there is an underlying theme that ties all the stories together. Hoffman's inimitable style seeps through each story and, in some cases, brings unusual twists at the end. I am thoroughly enjoying this book and believe the mistress of magical realism has produced another winner.
joswood@adiis.net
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris. 5 stars.
My husband and I listened to the tape of this book, as read by the author, on the way home from a vacation in The Black Hills. We both loved it. Since there were four tapes, it thoroughly entertained us most of the way back to Iowa. The book contains a series of essays by Sedaris about his life and his family. At times we were laughing, and at other times we were a little stunned by his words. Especially in the essay titled "The Girl Next Door." I also discovered that the author has read these essays in Carnegie Hall and on TV numerous times. Listening to his humorous reading was part of the treat of this book. I am now reading another book by Sedaris called Me Talk Pretty One Day. It is equally entertaining.
High Country Fall by Margaret Maron. 4 stars.
Judge Deborah Knott heads for the high country of North Carolina from her home on the coast to be a district judge for a week --- subbing for a judge who is gone. During the week there, she stumbles onto a mystery, and it almost causes her to lose her life. I loved Maron's descriptions of the surrounding scenery, and it made me feel as though I were there. I have visited this area only once in my life, but I loved it. This is a continuing series, so now I want to go back and read other books about Deborah Knott
eswaim@ec.rr.com
The Girl Next Door by Patricia MacDonald. 4 stars.
Shop Til You Drop by Elaine Viets. 5 stars.
Murder Under the Covers by Elaine Viets. 5 stars.
A Secret Rage by Charlaine Harris. 5 stars. An extremely hard book to find.
A Nerd in Shining Armor by Vicki Lewis Thompson. 5 stars.
32AA by Michelle Cunnah. 5 stars.
Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris. 5 stars.
Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong. 5 stars.
Hot Stuff by Carly Phillips. 5 stars.
Kahoho@aol.com
The Sands of Pride by William Trotter. 5 stars.
The first of two lengthy volumes about the Civil War. This book's setting was primarily the state of North Carolina with a good deal of the book centered on the naval battles of the war. A very readable book with a good mix of real and fictional characters and situations, and I look forward to reading the second volume.
Cuba Strait by Carsten Stroud. 4 stars.
This is a good choice for a long plane ride or a great beach book. It is an easy read with the characters involved in exciting, though sometimes slightly improbable, situations. I will take a look at other books by this author.
I just finished The Amateur Marriage by Anne Tyler. A book to ponder, savor, and read again. I hated to finish it. 5 stars.
AnneK7@aol.com
The Other Side of the Story by Marian Keyes. 3 stars.
My first book to read by Marian Keyes. It was a good read, but sometimes it seemed to drag on in parts.
White Hot by Sandra Brown. 3 stars.
A story of love, death, mystery and suspense. It was a fast and easy read, but not one of her best books.
Murder List by Julie Garwood. 4 stars.
I am a big fan of Julie Garwood mystery/romance books. I enjoyed this book. It was a fast and easy read.
kathy@treeco.com
You Remind Me of Me by Dan Chaon. 4 stars.
I Dream of Microwaves by Imad Rahman. 3 stars.
The Love Wife by Gish Jen. 4 stars.
Queen of Dreams by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. 3 stars.
bab@tennis.com
One For Sorrow, Two For Joy by Patricia Scanlan. 5 stars.
Wonderful and entertaining novel about young women and their trials and tribulations when they are young adults and how they handle problems, relationships and their future.
DKRnj@aol.com
I have read the following recently:
Whisker of Evil by Rita Mae Brown. 4 stars.
Her usual nice friendly story, with many animals.
Open and Shut by David Rosenfelt. 4 stars.
Story takes place in NJ, is written by a NJ author, and I live in NJ. Therefore, I did enjoy it very much.
McNally's Dare by Vincent Largo. 4 stars.
I like the way Vincent Largo has taken over the characters in this series after Lawrence Sanders died.
Amber, Wisconsin
The Difference Now by Cherie Burbach. 5 stars!!!
This is a great debut poetry book that has really inspired me. It's a combination of faithfulness, forgiveness, strength, and female empowerment. It's great for yourself or as a gift.
Riding the Bus With My Sister by Rachel Simon. 4 stars.
My mother in law suggested I read this book and it is wonderful. Very moving and well written.
In Fidelity by M.J. Rose. 4 stars.
Great thriller.
Bjglu@aol.com
The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini. 5+ stars.
Stunningly beautiful novel about the friendship of two boys in Afghanistan. This is a must-read --- about friendship, lies, history, current events, family, etc. Something for everyone and beautifully written as well.
Popped by Carol Higgins Clark. 1 star.
One of the worst books I've read in a long time. Methinks if Mary weren't her mother, this would have been laughed right out of the editors' and publishers' offices. Corny plot (what there is of one), poorly written, dopey, unformed characters, cliche-ridden, etc.
gregc2@bellsouth.net
The Romanov Prophecy by Steve Berry. 3 1/2 stars.
A thriller written about reinstating the Tsarist government in Russia, finding a member of the true blood line, and revisiting the tragic deaths of Tsar Nicholas and his family to determine if all were killed or not.
The Halo Effect by M.J. Rose. 3 stars.
Morgan Snow is sex therapist to a high-class prostitute who disappears during a time when other prostitutes are being killed, ritualistically, and dressed in nun's habits. This story has a lot of twists and turns but is very predictable.
LoveSTNG@aol.com
I recently read Jasper Fforde's The Eyre Affair, which I give 4 stars (or more, if possible). It takes place in 1985, in an alternate England that has been taken over by British literature. The heroine is Thursday Next, who works for Special Ops in the manuscript division. She enters the manuscript of Jane Eyre to kill a monstrous villain named Acheron Hades ... well, it's best to just let it wash over you. I have never laughed so hard or so often while reading a novel. (You don't need to have read Jane Eyre.)
Today I finished Robert Barnard's A Cry from the Dark, his most recent (the man is indefatigable). I give it 3 1/2 stars; it is well written, as always, witty and moving, although not his best. The flashbacks to the Australian Outback are especially well done (remind me never to move there).
I reread Donald E. Westlake's The Road to Ruin, the latest in the Dortmunder series. 3 stars. Although Westlake writes a book roughly every two months whether he needs to or not, nearly all of them are well worth one's time --- which is usually three or four hours. In this one, Dortmunder and the gang actually take jobs to get into a guarded estate. Again, not one of his best, but enjoyable; as far as I am concerned, Westlake can move his Dortmunder characters and situations, and the O. J. Bar and Grille, around until he drops (he's only 71, so I hope the dropping will be a long time from now).
slaurent@new.rr.com
Our book club selection this month is The Sweater Letter by Dave Distel. The plot is based on the true story of a "hunting accident" in the U.P. (we know people who are from the area of Ontongon, Michigan and thought it would be fun to read.) It turns out to be very interesting and a page turner. Can't wait for the discussion.
CarolStier@aol.com
Less than 6 weeks ago, I was introduced to Karen Kingsbury's novels. As of this date I have read 7 of them. I was especially thrilled with the Redemption series. There are 5 books in this series. They are a story of a family and all the things that happen to them and their children. The story plots intertwine the feelings of the characters, showing what made them think and act as they have. They each touch on very relevant events that affect all of our families. Everyone that has read these books cannot put them down.
Dorajonry@aol.com
I am reading Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner. So far, it is very enjoyable. I am relating to the pregnancy and infancy stories of all the characters.
elway251@yahoo.com
I just finished the 7th and final book in Stephen King's Dark Tower Series, The Dark Tower. It was a great pleasure to finally understand what the dark tower is and realize how very creative Stephen King can be at his best.
I undertook to read all of Robert B. Parker's Spenser books this summer. At present, I am on the second to the last on my list, Looking for Rachel Wallace. They are all well written and thank goodness he is still writing them, because they are good, quick reads and you want to know what Spenser and Hawk are going to be up to next.
Please don't miss Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. It's just out in paperback, and you will want to flag pages, highlight sections, and read items of interest to your friends. It's very educational and humorous.
joanne@goes.com
I am currently reading Custer's Luck by Robert Skimin. It is a rollicking good read in the alternative history genre. In it, Custer wins at the Little Bighorn...aside from a few minor glitches, the author appears to know both Custer and his times quite well, and it is a most enjoyable read.
I also have completed for the second time, all five of the Harry Potter books. I had avoided them, thinking that the Potters were children's stories. NOT!!! J.K. Rowling has created an alternative universe of Wizardry that lives and breathes and marches to its own drummer and does it with a skill that has to be breathed in instead of just being read.
Tracy from San Francisco
I recently read My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. 4 stars.
smazzei@myactv.net
I just finished reading Queen of the Big Time by Adriana Trigiani. I give it 4 stars. Her style of reading is so enjoyable and easy to just fall into!
The Things We Do For Love by Kristin Hannah. 3 stars.
Not one of Kristin's best because the story line was a little unbelievable but it was still good.
jjfarris@bellsouth.net
With the recent onslaught of hurricanes we have experienced, I decided to read Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson. The combination of this book and our summer of multiple storms has given me a greater appreciation of good weather and accurate weather reports. Anyone who likes a good storm would enjoy this book. Anyone who hates storms would not be able to put it down either. The most dismal part of the storms (and most interesting) in this book was that waged by the politicians. Some of the meteorological information was interesting to me, but I admit I skipped some of these pages. I give it 3 stars.
AUGER77777@aol.com
I just finished reading Mount Dragon by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. This was an excellent novel about an attempt to find a cure for influenza that ends up backfiring when a whole new virus is created, one that could destroy the entire human race. 5 stars.
g_handle@bellsouth.net
The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith. 5 stars.
The most recent addition to the Precious Ramotswe series is just as delightful as the previous four books. Her calm, matter-of-fact method of investigating, usually punctuated by a cup or two of bush tea, seems as natural to her setting as Sherlock Holmes was to London.
Just One Look by Harlan Coben. 5 stars.
I've been hooked on Mr. Coben's books since reading Tell No One (which I shared with 6 different people!). I didn't enjoy No Second Chance or Gone For Good as much, but Just One Look grabbed my attention from the very beginning. I especially liked that the ending seemed reasonable, something lacking to me in No Second Chance and Gone For Good.
Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn. 3 stars.
I loved the concept of the story (eliminating letters of the alphabet from one's speech and writing as the letters fell off of a statue honoring Nollop the inventor of "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog"). However, as the letters literally disappear the writing becomes tedious to read. Thank goodness for my background as a teacher --- it helps me to read anything!
bradylee@myway.com
The Kid Stays in the Picture: Success, Scandal, Sex, Tragedy, Infamy...and That's Just the First Chapter by Robert Evans. 5 stars. Published 1994, and then large print edition in 2003.
Robert Evans was the only actor who eventually ran a studio...Paramount. He was a special, talented person from childhood on. As a young boy, BT (before television), he became a major radio actor, then got to act on Broadway in NYC and then made it to Hollywood as a salesman for his brother, selling womens' clothing. While in the Beverly Hills Hotel in the swimming pool area, he was "discovered" by Norma Shearer. This autobiography is probably the most interesting I have read regarding making movies, reading about many errors made, and the pressure cooker of that industry. This is a big story in a big book that will keep you interested throughout! The time period is from the 1960s to the early 1990s.
charris@pctelecom.us
A Taint in the Blood by Dana Stabenow. 5 stars.
A continuation of a series of books about Kate Shugaw in Alaska. She is an investigator in Alaska and always a good story telling about the country and the people of Alaska. Each book stands alone, so a good read for everyone even if they have not read the other books.
Matilda's Last Waltz by Tamara McKinny. 4 stars.
A story about families in the Outback in Australia. Said to be an novel in the tradition of The Thorn Birds, although it is very different. Very well written.
Girl in the Mirror by Mary Alice Monroe. 3 stars.
It is a story about an ugly girl who had plastic surgery and was beautiful. She ended up being a famous movie star. Not the usual style of Monroe's other books, but good.
The Grand Idea by Jack Achenbach. 5 stars.
This is a story about George Washington. If you are a Washington buff as I am, you will really enjoy it. This is about his love of the Potomac area and the lands West of there. You find out what an intelligent man he was and about his land holdings.
myraberry@earthlink.net
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg. 5 stars.
Re-reading it after all these years is a bit nostalgic; it still holds up as an award-winner.
Corpus Christmas by Margaret Maron is a 4-star mystery as is her latest one High Country Fall. The former is one of the Sigrid Harald series, while the latter is her Judge Deborah Knott series --- both wonderful series.
gwenstevens@msn.com
I'd like to suggest Strapless by Deborah Davis. This is the story of the artist John Singer Sargent and the subject of his painting Madame X. Not only for art lovers, but those interested in the lives of artists and intellectuals in the late 1800s. 4 stars.
C17itzme1@aol.com
I have just finished Shem Creek and have already lent it to my best friend and my Mom will be next. I am now enjoying Sullivan's Island by the same author, Dorothea Benton Frank. I want to say that I absolutely adore this southern author, as she always seems to grab hold of my heart and soul. Ms. Frank made me laugh and cry. As I carried the book along with me, it drew comments from readers who had already read it or had plans to.
sears@lsol.net
I'm reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. It's a GREAT book: excellent, mysterious plot, well-developed characters. 5 stars.
I recently finished A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller, a science fiction classic about nuclear war. It's a good read, excellent and clever plot. It has interesting things to say about religion, history, and war. 5 stars.
I'm also reading The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin, another science fiction classic. I'm not to the end yet, but so far, 5 stars.
Kissinoak@aol.com
I just finished reading Blue Moon by Lori Handeland. A very different story and one that I enjoyed. 4 stars.
Jessica Whalen
Nicholas Sparks's The Notebook was the most beautiful and real love story I have ever read! For those of you who enjoy love stories, this is the book for you. For those of you who don't, this book is still a must read. It is a story of the power of love through time. I give it 5 stars.
Helenme23@wmconnect.com
Coast to Coast Ghosts by Leslie Rule. 4 stars.
I love ghost stories, especially "true" ones, so I was pleasantly surprised to find this book by the daughter of true crime writer Ann Rule. Leslie does a wonderful job of storytelling, relating tales of ghosts that haunt the U.S. Recommended Halloween reading.
sflaschka@bellsouth.net
I've just finished reading Everville by Clive Barker. It's the second in a trilogy, but I read it without reading the first novel.
Much like he did in Weaveworld, Barker has created a mag |
