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lasanam@sympatico.ca
I've just finished reading Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire and it was a phenomenal read! A definite 5-star book to make you feel, think and reevaluate the way you look at the world. A must read!
I've also recently finished reading Aloft by Chang-Rae Lee. Another 5-star book that must be read!!! It is a subtle, beauty of a book that stirs your thoughts and opens your heart. Truly beautiful.
bab@tennis.com
A Road Through the Mountains by Elizabeth McGregor. 5 stars.
A sensitively written novel with wonderful character portrayal. A heartfelt and warm story about a relationship and the enduring power it has over the individuals.
realbencann@yahoo.com
The Children's Hour by Marcia Willett. 5 stars.
A fabulous novel set in England now and flashbacks to the Second World War period when it took place. A lovely family saga with friction throughout the family relationships and vivid descriptions of the life and the surroundings.
RothAd@ci.akron.oh.us
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. 5 stars.
A family drama about a 13-year-old girl's coming of age and search for her identity separate from the one she was created for.
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. 5 stars.
A young adult/children's mystery and pretty mysterious. This is fun to read with someone younger and try to figure out the clues.
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. 5 stars.
This is a great love story. Henry has a genetic problem; he can't stay in his own time. With hardly a moment's notice he can be whisked forwards or backwards to another time, and Clare is left to wonder where he is and when he might be back.
The Solitaire Mystery by Jostein Gaardner. 5 stars.
A father and son go on a road trip from the Netherlands to Greece searching for their runaway wife and mother, who went to find herself. There is a story inside the story and lots of twists and turns like the trip itself.
chdixon@hevanet.com
I read Uncommon Grounds by Sandra Balzo, a delightful mystery. Espresso shop owner Maggy Thorsen is stunned when one of her partners is found electrocuted by the espresso machine on opening morning. When she starts to investigate the death, she also uncovers all kinds of secrets in her suburb of Brookhills. Maggy is good company, full of funny one-liners. The cast of characters is fun, the location interesting, and the murderer a surprise. 5 stars.
Bjglu@aol.com
The Centaur by John Updike. 4 stars.
I read this for a book discussion and it was a big success. Beautifully written, though somewhat obtuse. This is not an easy read, but well worth the time and great for discussion.
blacksnake@mchsi.com
Right now I am reading The Postman by David Brin. I would give it a 4-star rating. It is action-packed yet intellectual. Wonderful science fiction concept...post-nuclear survival, told in an interesting and realistic manner.
GerryD8784@aol.com
Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner. 3 stars.
Four women bond as they survive the joys and trials of first motherhood. In this third novel, some of Weiner's characters are beginning to seem more like "types" and less like people. Still, some well-written moments and nice insights make the book worth reading and enjoyable.
The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin. 5 stars.
In this classic sci-fi novel, George Orr realizes that his dreams come true in a bizarre way: he actually changes reality retroactively. His efforts to stop this "effective" dreaming lead him to an unethical therapist who, instead of curing Orr, seeks to control the world by manipulating Orr's dreams and ultimately learning to dream effectively himself.
siamese2wise@cs.com
This Magic Moment by Patricia Rice. 5 stars.
Her newest book in the Magic series has all the romance, laughs and suspense that is unique to Patricia Rice. This book deals with Christina Malcolm Wilde and Duke Harry. This series, which involves three previous books and I'm sure more to come, is about the Malcolm family, which has magical talents and the men they marry. It's definitely a battle of the sexes in which the women win. Thank you Patricia for this sexy, funny book. I look forward to many more about these wonderful Malcolm women.
Rickimc@aol.com
A Healthy Place to Die by Peter King. 3 stars.
I usually greatly enjoy Peter King's Gourmet Detective mysteries, but the ending of this one seemed rather contrived.
Dragons in the Waters by Madeline L'Engle. 1 star.
Much too much exposition before the mystery for a kids' book. No clues pointed to the culprit either.
Touch Not the Cat by Mary Stewart. 4 stars.
The best book by Mary Stewart that I have read so far. The twist at the end was good, but there were hints all along.
David Kramer
I'm now reading The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. Intriguing, interesting history. The scariest part of the book is that it is all true. 4 stars.
tmac2_2@swbell.net
I would recommend Hawke by Ted Bell if you like a fast-paced action-packed, James Bond-type character in your reading. Fun read. 4 stars.
I have finished reading The Golden One by Elizabeth Peters. This book was a very slow read. 2 stars.
catfish@millardmanor.com
I'm about 60 pages into Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton. It is beautifully written with an elegant sense of economy not many other authors exhibit. It's reading like a 4-star book to me (and the millions of others before me who have made it a classic.)
wimer52@infonline.net
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.
I just finished Prodigal Summer by the same author and loved it, so thought I'd try this. I'm only on chapter 4 and it hasn't caught me so far, but it's well-written and somewhat interesting.
vicklea@earthlink.net
Sydney Sheldon's latest book, Are You Afraid of the Dark? was a good read, but it would make a better movie. It reads like a screenplay instead of a novel, with action all over the world and two major characters. The ending is also unbelievable, just like most Hollywood stuff, but it is worth reading while you wait for a favorite author to come out with a new book. 2 stars.
Wilma Frana
I am reading 44 Cranberry Point by Debbie Macomber, and I give it 5 stars.
mountainmaggio@earthlink.net
Kiss Me While I Sleep by Linda Howard. 4 stars.
This kept me up reading until the final page. As they say in the trade, a real page-turner with a surprise ending. Having never read Linda Howard before, I'm now going back to read her previous titles.
KeizerFire@aol.com
I was very frustrated reading Blow Fly by Patricia Cornwell. While I have enjoyed many of her books in the past, this one seemed very disjointed. The point of view switched repeatedly, and all of the characters seemed depressed and unhappy with life. Perhaps art imitates life, I don't know, but it was hard to even finish this book, only to find a very disappointing ending. I would rate it 2 stars.
SAK24@aol.com
I just finished Defending Baltimore Against Enemy Attack by Charles Osgood. I rated this as a 4. It brought back many memories of growing up in that era.
Now I'm reading Skinny Dip by Carl Hiaasen. This is a solid 3. As with all of his books, it is somewhat amusing, but it's not the kind of book that will keep me up at night.
J.P. Feingold of Gainesville, FL
The Lasko Tangent by Richard North Patterson. 2 stars.
While this book is well-written, the premise for the story's mystery is a legal technicality. It's not something I could relate to. The author wasted his talents on this topic.
newcrain@aol.com
Bad Business by Robert B. Parker.
If you like Parker's Spenser series, this one is 4-5 stars. Lots of typical verbal repartee. Hawk and Susan Silverman appear. Spenser is getting a little long in the tooth for physical heroics, so Parker knew better than to have him be too tough of a tough guy.
Britadon@aol.com
The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler. 3 stars.
Fans of Jane Austen's might enjoy this more as they would be more in tune with the quotes from her books; however, it is not necessary to know these to understand the book. The book really concerns relationships among the bookclub members and I did not find the relationships to be very compelling.
Sleeping Beauty by Phillip Margolin. 4 stars.
For the most part, this was a real page-turner. However, I found the beginning difficult to read due to the graphic nature of some of the descriptions, and I also figured out the villain way too soon. There was also a feeling of some clumsiness in a few places.
Vikkivand@aol.com
Outside Valentine by Liza Ward. 5 stars.
The story revolves around the murder spree of Charles Starkweather and his young girlfriend in 1957 and the aftereffects of that event on people who were left behind. Very well-written.
willlatham1943@hotmail.com
I'm recommending three great books that I've recently come across:
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. 4 stars.
Really very good with information on magic that makes you think. Clarke shows us how magic, like everything else in life, is not all you think it's going to be. Great fun with some interesting history thrown in.
The Bark of the Dogwood by Jackson McCrae. 5 stars.
This one blew my mind. My jaw hit the floor more times than I can count. When I wasn't laughing I was cringing at the family dysfunction. It was like a cross between David Sedaris's funniest book and some high southern Gothic by Flannery O'Connor. Great references to popular culture and a really interesting look at the old south vs. the new. Very highly recommended. Extremely controversial and quite shocking.
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. 4 stars.
Very good but a bit simple. The idea is similar to A Christmas Carol or possibly It's a Wonderful Life, but I have to admit that the author puts it in his own voice and gives it his own stamp. Inspirational and easy to read. It would probably make a great Christmas gift as would the other two books.
Myrnapen@aol.com
I'm reading and loving Absent Friends by S.J. Rozan. 4+ stars. I admire a writer who's able to develop her characters in multiple time frames rather than using a strictly sequential plot line. Rozan masterfully alternates between the present, which is post 9/11 New York City, where one of a group of characters who were friends as children deal with the death of their firefighter friend, and the past, where we see the circle of friends as kids growing up on Staten Island. While I haven't finished the book yet, I expect what will happen is that the two time frames will be brought closer to each other until the mystery of just what it is that happened in the past that's threatening to taint the reputation of the beloved hero, Jimmy McCaffery, is disclosed. Time to go read!
charris@pctelecom.us
The Third Wife by Jasmine Cresswell. 5 stars.
This is a story of the third wife of a polygamous so-called Christian man. It is a story of how she escaped and was Federal Probation Officer in Denver. It is a gripping story that finally ends well.
Capital Crimes by Stuart Woods. 5 stars.
A good suspense story about murders in and around Washington, D.C. It is up to his usual good standard.
Murder at Foggy Bottom by Margaret Truman. 4 stars.
Tells of terrorists and how the FBI and CIA catch them. A blend of mystery and espionage.
Kellyw31@aol.com
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi. 4 stars.
This book is unusual in that the author was a professor of literature in Tehran during the eighties and mid-nineties and her memoir is sectioned into different books that she taught during that time that relate to the struggles in Iran after the revolution in 1979. Awesome book.
jdeval@yahoo.com
Snobs by Julian Fellowes. 5 stars.
Very engaging novel about the divide between the upper middle class and upper class in England --- a finely tuned ear to the nuances of language and manners.
Autumn in Newtown, PA
What I'm reading this month:
Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them by Al Franken.
Very funny! Best way to read about the audacity of the Right!
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. Not too far into this yet, but the writing is great --- anxious to dig in further.
snwt@sbcglobal.net
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. 5 stars.
Anna's story is compelling and riveting and the ending was a heartbreaking surprise. A great read about some very real issues with today's society. I would highly recommend this book, especially to anyone with children. It's a great perspective on the consequences of your choices on those around you.
Isabel's Daughter by Judith Ryan Hendricks. 4 stars.
When Avery James begins to meet people who actually knew her missing mother, she's not at all certain at first how she feels about it. Curiosity wins out and along the way she discovers a lot more than she initially went looking for, especially about herself and her own inner strength.
American Desert by Percival Everett. 4 stars.
Ted Street has issues, as do most of Everett's characters. There are a lot of things going on in poor Ted's "life" after he dies that are humorous on the surface but if looked at deeper reveal some thought-provoking issues. Another good entry in Everett's body of work.
Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison. 4 stars.
Rachel Morgan has spunk --- you have to give her that. This humorous book reminds me in some ways of the Sukie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. If it can go wrong it will, but there will be plenty of laughs and unexpected rescues along the way.
The Big Questions: How Philosophy Can Change Your Life by Lou Marinoff, Ph.D. 5 stars.
An intriguing look at why we think the way we do and how to change our perspectives. Thought-provoking, insightful and delightful to read, dealing with issues that come up in our everyday lives. Highly recommend.
BDB530@aol.com
The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan. 4 stars.
The first part of the book annoyed me due to the character of the daughter, who is not the bonesetter's daughter. The second part was more interesting, giving the background of the title daughter. And the third part brought it together, uniting the feelings of both daughter and daughter.
Pfzlady@aol.com
I am devouring Oblivion by David Foster Wallace. So far 4 1/2 stars. His writing is so unusual, it is hard for me to believe that he would have a very wide audience of fans. And but so, I am one of them!!
Debby236@aol.com
I am currently reading Master of the Night by Angela Knight. I give it 5 stars. It is a wonderful paranormal romance with new views and freshness.
Bberrycrk@aol.com
I just finished The Exact Same Moon by Jeanne Marie Laskas, the sequel to Fifty Acres and a Poodle. It is the nonfiction story of her mother's illness, adopting a baby, and the animals of their farm. I loved it. 5 stars.
cfiest@ovis.net
I just read The Last Mountain Dancer by Chuck Kinder. I give it 5 stars. It is a wonderful book about mountain life in WV.
Rhonda Dessler
Because I'm Worth It: A Gossip Girl Novel by Cecily Von Ziegesar. 5 stars.
This series is so good, you can't put the book down and wait for the next novel to come out.
AUGER77777@aol.com
I am currently reading Into the Inferno by Earl Emerson. This is an entertaining novel by an author I had not heard of before. Firefighters and EMS persons are dropping like flies from a strange malady that renders them brain dead in seven days. Is it chemical, viral, or what? The main character only knows that his days appear to be numbered, and there doesn't seem to be much he can do about it. 5 stars
zippety4@yahoo.com
The book I've just finished is Brimstone by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. A great read, can't-put-down kind of book. It starts with the sealed room death of a famous art critic that looks suspiciously like the Devil did it, and continues from there. The great duo of F.B.I. agent Pendergast and policeman Vincent D'Agosta that we all know from Relic is back, and they are wonderful. I give this book 5 stars.
Dani420@aol.com
I'm reading Magical Thinking by Augusten Burroughs. I've thoroughly enjoyed Running With Scissors and Dry, and so far the newest release is right on par. Gotta love his humor...
Over the weekend I finished Monkey Business by Sarah Mlynowski. While it was a bit fluffy, it was very readable. The switching point of view over four different characters made it a fast read. It's a great read if you're in the mood for something fun.
Donna from New Berlin
Sleep No More by Greg Iles. 5 stars.
I could not put this book down. It was a very thrilling read and very different from anything I've read before. What happens when someone loves you so much and they are completely obsessed with you? What happens when they are killed and you think they are gone only to find out they found a way to still be with you? This book really makes you think about the possibility of what happens. The twists and turns are fantastic.
Ellen Whitney
Bait and Switch by Larry Brooks. 5 stars.
A witty, complex tale that leaves you guessing until the end!!
antiesusy@msn.com
I just finished reading The Secret on Ararat by Tim LaHaye. I enjoyed the mystery and suspense of the book, but felt somewhat let down by a pithy ending. 4 stars.
I will continue to read Christian fiction and like to see how Biblical themes are handled in modern times. Tim LaHaye does a fine job.
WmsWtrkt@aol.com
I just finished reading The Secret History by Donna Tartt after a friend recommended it and lent it to me. It was engrossing --- an intellectually stimulating and at times suspenseful read. Although a murder is involved, it is less a murder mystery than a character study. Ms. Tartt's own knowledge base must be broad and deep in order for her to write with such clarity and conviction about difficult subjects, such as the study of ancient Greek. 4 stars.
bradylee@myway.com
Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris. 3 stars. Published 2001.
This novel had one of the best endings I have read in a long time. Everything was tied up in a neat package and nothing came unraveled. The title is most appropriate as an orange is an important part of the story. How could this be? You will have to read the book to find out.
The time period is during WWII in France, but the village in the story did not suffer as much as many other places except for locals being pillaged of their food and belongings at the Germans' whim. The story is primarily about one family whose father is killed during the war early on. The narrator is a crafty 9-year-old who makes things happen in her family as well as with her friends.
Josephine Anna Kaszuba Locke, Book Hugger and Book Reviewer
Author Luanne Rice is known for her writings of life and relationships. In Dance With Me, main character Jane Porter returns to her hometown of Twin Rivers, Rhode Island to be with her sister and ill mother. Jane has been away from RI for years, escaping her past, living in New York City's Greenwich Village and founding a successful bakery business. Her motives to return aren't just for her mother and sister, but also to search out a teenager named Chloe, whom she gave up to adoption at the time of the baby's birth. Not a day has gone by that she hasn't thought of her daughter. She meets Chloe under secret circumstances, hiding the fact that she is her birth mother. Jane unexpectedly finds love with Chloe's uncle, but when she reveals that she is Chloe's birth mother, the news is not welcomed but vehemently rejected.
After assisting her sister in settling mother in a much needed constant-care nursing home, Jane reluctantly returns to New York to reopen her bakery to escape the pain of Chloe's and the uncle's rejection. Does forgiveness come out of love lost, to be regained? Rice's book has a realistic premise, but is soft on character development and depth of the plot lost in the repetitiveness of "Will she love me?" "Will she accept me?" "Will he understand?" If you are a reader who enjoys a no-nonsense, light romantic read, then Dance With Me is for you.
Linda
Adultery by Richard B. Wright
The Master by Colm Toibin
The Hatbox Letters by Beth Powning
dianne@publishersdrive.com
The Beach Club by Richard Paloma. 5 stars.
There is a sexual predator loose in Eden Valley, California and the swing shift, known as "The Beach Club" is heading the investigation. It held my attention and I was surprised at who the culprit was. The ending was excellent, heart thumping and moving at the same time.
Incident at Pittston Crossing by C. Burton Nelson. 5 stars.
Ordered to buy the Union forces time, one way or another, by Union General Logan, Ellison is somehow expected to hold off thousands of Reb troops with a hundred men, using a stone farmhouse as his base of operations. Especially convincing was "Skeeter Moss," an old river rat pressed into service for the Confederate Army.
The Coven Initiates by Wesley Lowe. 5 stars.
Mr. Lowe does a great job of developing his characters and fitting them into the plot of the story. Sharon, the human initiate, had been mysteriously pulled into this world from her home in New Jersey and is making the best of her situation. But Darklin Reed, the sado-masochistic demon, is the best!
catslady5@aol.com
Heart of the Hunter by Tina St. John. 4 stars.
A mystery romance of olden times with shape shifters --- my first of this kind and quite intriguing.
Caduncan04@aol.com
These are the books I have read and would highly recommend any of them. These are all my 4-star books:
Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman
Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant
The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason
The 6th Lamentation by William Broderick
At Home at the End of the World by Michael Cunningham
Fallen Idols by J.F. Freedman
Sally B., San Antonio TX, USA
The Sight by David Clement-Davies. 3 1/2 stars.
This is a young adult, fantasy novel about the lives of wolves. The narration is told by the wolves (like Watership Down) and tells of the good vs. evil scenario.
Blood Orchid by Stuart Woods. 2 1/2 stars.
I'm listening to this abridged audiobook. A female chief of police gets involved with the FBI and multiple murders. It might have been better unabridged, but not by much.
The Island of Dr. Moreau by H. G. Wells. 4 stars.
I was pleasantly surprised by this audiobook. The original novel was published in 1897. It tells of an ousted doctor/scientist on a deserted island who experiments on animals by injecting human genes. The "beasts" voices could be comical at times but all in all a pretty good audiobook.
dtwill@hotmail.com
My Life by Bill Clinton. 4 stars.
I liked this book and I adore the past President, but I thought this was just a bit too wordy. There was some marvelous insight into Clinton's character and some eye-opening moments. Overall, very good.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. 4 stars.
A stunning achievement filled with graphic scenes of what it's like to live in a Middle Eastern country. The first Afghan novel to be printed in English.
The Bark of the Dogwood by Jackson McCrae. 5 stars.
I couldn't put this one down. Some of the most gorgeous writing I've come across. The author takes the flow and brilliance of past writing styles and weaves them into a contemporary novel that is at once powerful and yet touching. What a ride!
MNoelleT@aol.com
The Yada Yada Book Club reading list for the next two months is as follows:
The Yada Yada Prayer Group by Neta Jackson
The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down by Neta Jackson
The new Yada Yada that is coming out in April by Neta Jackson
MHaury@da2nd.state.nm.us
How to Remodel a Man by Bruce Cameron. 5 stars!
This book is hilarious! It is a cynical and self deprecating look at the male species. I started reading it through the St. Martin's Press "Read-It-First" program (which I highly recommend) and was lucky enough to win a copy. I guarantee that you will laugh out loud.
Priceless by Marne Davis Kellogg. 4 stars.
This was a total guilty pleasure but a pleasure it was. The heroine is a woman of a certain age and poundage, apparently. We get to watch as she cavorts through Provence, Paris and Portofino while she wears precious gems, designer clothes and eats gourmet food. I must say that I couldn't put it down.
Dealing in Murder by Elaine Flinn. 4 1/2 stars.
This was a wonderful debut mystery about antiques set in Carmel, California. I liked it so much that I ordered her next book before it was published. The antiques information was interesting and the heroine's budding friendship with the chief of police was actually a unique touch.
realbencann@yahoo.com
Windfallen by JoJo Moyes. 5 stars.
An enthralling story about a family and their trials and tribulations through the fifties until the present time. We are introduced to various endearing individuals who are the main focus of this wonderful novel. Heartbreaking and warming as well.
bencanada1@yahoo.com
Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner. 5 stars.
I just loved this unbelievable new novel. It has depth, humor, human interest and realistic characters and life. We are introduced to individuals with problems and struggles who have to come to grips and face it head on. Touching, sensitive and fabulous.
bradylee@myway.com
Digital Fortress by Dan Brown. Published in 1998. This is the author's first book and I give it 4 stars. I have now read all of his creations and his others are a little more textured than this, but a real thriller no less with short chapters (128 of them) and a cliffhanger on most.
The star of the story is a huge computer, but the heart belongs to a few characters that keep you rooting or booing as events develop. Very close to the end you find out what 372 pages lead up to and that is the answer to keep the computer free from hackers. No one is going to figure out the answer ahead of time and you appreciate the skills of Dan Brown and await his future writings. This reader will pay attention to his next book, whatever that may be, as it will probably be as good or better than The Da Vinci Code.
pattea25@aol.com
Blindness by Jose Saramago was an interesting read that left a haunting impression. Imagine an epidemic of blindness. The reader becomes involved in the fiasco, and although the images can be difficult to read at times, the thought-provoking messages are worth the read. 4 stars.
monysmom@comcast.net
I just finished reading Good Grief by Lolly Winston. I thought it would be a chick lit book (which is OK with me) but was pleasantly surprised to find out that it was so much more --- a very realistic and touching account of the effect of grief and how to survive it. I give it 5 stars and encourage everyone to try it out.
Caduncan04@aol.com
I have just read Carol O'Connell's Dead Famous and fallen in love with hard-nosed, cynical Mallory. O'Connell is now one of my favorite authors. Dead Famous is dead on for 4 stars. I'm also currently reading Lisa Gardner's The Killing Hour and I'm really enjoying it too.
bmailward@yahoo.com
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown. 4 1/2 stars.
I unexpectedly found this book to be better than The Da Vinci Code, but both were very good books.
Debby236@aol.com
I just finished up Blue Moon by Lori Handeland. It is a paranormal story about werewolves. Excellent. I give it a 5 stars.
Ebookjunky@aol.com
I am currently reading The Dark Tower, book 7 in the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. I have to give this book 5 stars. For a confirmed King fan this book is a real treat. He seems to have given more of himself personally in this one. And the references to past books are great. One example is "the paper boat that floated away"...
For non-King fans this series should still be a joy to read. I want to call it a great work of fantasy but it is so much more.
Kellyw31@aol.com
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi. 4 stars.
This is one of the few nonfiction books that has almost driven me to tears. Women in Iran after the 1979 revolution were stripped of basic human rights and were required to wear a veil at all times out in public. Certain books were banned. Azar Nafisi, a professor of English literature at the University of Tehran, explains how she held a secret Thursday morning class for young women in which they read some of the banned books, including Lolita. The book recounts the story of the lives of these young women and Nafisi's life as they discuss literature and the plight of women in Iran. This was an awesome book.
Nancy
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood. 4 stars.
Wonderful but disturbing story about a young lady in the 1850s in Canada who gets caught up in a murder and sent to prison. It started out slowly and was confusing, but once I began reading I couldn't put it down.
wendy.salomon@verizon.net
I've been enjoying Deception by Denise Mina. It is a "psychological thriller" with a highly unreliable narrator, so one can never know exactly what/who to believe.
ritahunt1@verizon.net
I highly recommend Act of God by Susan R. Sloan. Suspenseful, holds your interest, topical subject matter. 5 stars.
mvshell1977@msn.com
Right now, I am reading in order all of Edgar Rice Burroughs's Tarzan series; I am currently up to volume 5, which is Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar. This really is a well-written series, even though some of the plots may be a little "out in the jungle!!" It has renewed my interest in the "classic" authors, as I am also reading the entire Oz series, Sherlock Holmes adventures, The Hardy Boys and Erle Stanley Gardner's excellent Perry Mason tomes!! I LOVE LITERATURE; I LOVE BOOKS!!
JBerg81834@aol.com
I have just finished reading Double Homicide by Jonathan and Faye Kellerman. I am a fan of and have read several books by both of these authors, but I am totally disappointed in this joint venture. I can't put my finger on why I think they are a disappointment, but I came away with the feeling that they both were just filling the pages with words. I also felt there were some race issues to be addressed. I always finish a book once I start reading it, but I was very happy to have finished Double Homicide.
fourpawspetportraits@msn.com
I highly recommend Monkeewrench by P. J. Tracy. It is the best mystery I've read this year and also the best first mystery. The characters are fresh and funny and the author makes you care about them immediately. Her second novel (it's actually a mother/daughter writing team), Live Bait, was also wonderful. Get in on a great series at the very beginning. 5 stars!
Rn2327@aol.com
I just finished reading these two books:
How to Survive Your First Year of Marriage by Traveling: San Tropez, France to Helena, Arkansas by Dominick A. Miserandino. 5 stars.
A funny book about the travels of a newlywed couple who have a successful website called TheCelebrityCafe.com. It's funny and filled with some great places to go, eat, and filled with other surprises.
How to Survive Your Marriage by Traveling: Mother-In-Laws, Shopping, and Baby Talk, Oh My! by Dominick A. Miserandino.
Another book by the same author and this one was better than the first. It takes us further into Mr. Miserandino's marriage and is really entertaining.
tunaross@nc.rr.com
R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton. 4 1/2 stars.
Each time a new book in the series is released, I marvel again at what a wonderful mystery writer Sue Grafton is. From the start, you are enmeshed in Kinsey's life and experiences. There are wonderful human insights as well. I eagerly await each book to see how the characters develop and mature. This one was not a disappointment.
The Egyptologist by Arthur Phillips. 4 stars.
I started reading this book today and find the diverse locales, time frames and characters engrossing. Great subject matter but I'm waiting for the humor.
Beyond Fear by Don Miguel Ruiz. 5 stars.
Exploring the teachings of the Toltec tradition is both intriguing and comforting to me. In this third book of the series, Miguel Ruiz presents a guide to freedom and joy. I am always amazed by his understanding of the human state.
AUGER77777@aol.com
I am reading the old classic To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. What can be said about this novel that hasn't been said? It is one of America's most beloved stories. I have seen the movie many times, but have not reread the book for several years. This is a book that makes one long for a time when life was simpler and ache with the pain of knowing that for some, such as Tom Robinson, life was not simple at all. 5 stars (I'd give it 10 if I could).
vicklea@earthlink.net
I am now reading and thoroughly enjoying Anita Shreve's new book Light on Snow. It is a wonderful book about grief and the relationship between a surviving father and his daughter. With the empathy typical of Shreve, the reader cannot help but become a part of the story. Definitely a 4-star book!
Marika Zemke
I'm reading The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World by A. J. Jacobs. 4 stars.
This is one of the funniest books that I've read in a while! The author is the senior editor of Esquire magazine and an NPR contributor. His quest to read the entire Encyclopaedia Britannica is laugh out loud funny. This book has gotten a lot of buzz from the publishing community and gotten rave reviews, and it's worth it.
I just finished reading Amagansett by Mark Mills. It's a murder mystery that takes place in the Long Island community of Amagansett, right after World War II. This story takes awhile to develop, but it's worth the wait. 3 stars.
A disturbing book that I read last week was Slave by Mende Nazer. It's the shocking tale of a young Sudanese girl who in 1993 was taken captive by Arab raiders, along with the other young children of her tribe. Most of the children are sold to a wealthy Arab family who lives in Khartoum. The author writes with dignity and courage and risked her life in writing this bio. It's a must-read book for those who are interested in women's rights in the world. 4 stars.
I tried to read Farewell, My Only One by A. Audouard. It's a fictional account of the love story of Peter Abelard, the renowned French philosopher, and Heloise, his student. It was a bestseller in France, but I couldn't finish it. 2 stars.
Judy
I've just finished Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson and give it 4 1/2 stars. The story is a historical mystery wrapped in an adventure with a slice of life thrown in for spice. The divers are an eccentric bunch, the diving story is fascinating, and the mystery over just what they've discovered so many years after WWII is captivating.
zandercage2003@yahoo.com
I'm currently reading Incubus Dreams by Laurell K. Hamilton. This is the latest book in the Anita Blake series, and it's rockin' so far! You can't ask for more than what Ms. Hamilton fills the pages of her books with. Vamps, werewolves, hot love affairs and fantastic characters!
Anonymous
I am reading the recently released new Russell Banks book, The Darling. Powerful historical fiction set in Liberia. Can't put it down. 5 stars.
Newcrain@aol.com
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. 5 stars.
Wonderful book. Made me sob at the end. She's truly a gifted writer, and I'll be looking for more books by Picoult.
tfranzen2124@comcast.net
Two books I have long waited for:
R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton. I was number 423 on the wait list at my library for this one. Once you meet Kinsey Millhone you just don't want to give up on her. I can't even compare which books are favorites, I just like to see how Kinsey is doing. I give her a good 3 stars, just for being around.
The other long awaited book: The Bookman's Promise by John Dunning (4 stars) is a fantastic series for book fans, but you must, must, must start with the first one. This series will hook you from page one.
mparke@shaw.ca
The Cat Who Saw Red by Lilian Jackson Braun. 4 stars.
I love this series. Cats and mysteries...I can't get enough of them.
K-ci from Florida
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury. 4 stars.
Two boys, Jim and Will, find out a carnival is coming to town and they decide to visit. But the carnival is coming in October, one week before Halloween, so something is wrong. The boys end up discovering a merry-go-round that has the power to reverse or speed up aging and they see people who work for the carnival experience this wonderful magic. The boys end up getting into trouble with the Carnies and they are being hunted by the strange "freaks" who work for the carnival. Will they survive, or will they be hunted and killed?
Warning: This book is very scary. I understand that it is only words but you would be surprised. Some of the "freaks" and carnies that are described can make children and some teens or impressionable adults for that matter very uneasy.
Britadon@aol.com
Lolita by Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov. 1 star.
This book was recently read by my book club and I know that it was very popular when published in the 1950s. Although the book club discussion was very interesting and many really enjoyed it, I just could not get past the first 60 pages. The subject, pedophilia, is difficult itself but I found the writing style irritating and repetitive. Perhaps it is too erudite for me.
When We Were Gods: A Novel of Cleopatra by Colin Falconer. 5 stars.
This is an excellent and very readable fictional story of Cleopatra and her reign in Egypt and, of course, her love affairs with Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony. I especially enjoyed it as I realized that I really had only a cursory idea of Cleopatra and her times. I only wish the map on the early pages had been more detailed as I like to follow events when they move around and not all the places were identified on the map. Also, many place names have changed since the time of Cleopatra. After reading it, I certainly do not envy her for her life.
bski92@zoominternet.net
I am reading Three Weeks with My Brother by Nicholas Sparks and Micah Sparks. It's a really interesting memoir and great insight into the authors' childhoods.
Kathy from Severna Park
Double Homicide by Jonathan and Faye Kellerman. 3 1/2 stars.
This book was good but lacked the excitement and thrill of earlier books by the authors. It may be that I am just a fan of their other characters and was looking for something similar in this book. Another reason may be that both books within Double Homicide were rather short, and the compression did not lend to good development. It seemed like the authors, in both books, set out to accomplish more than was possible in such short novels. I found that the plot and character development of "In the Land of Giants" was less well-developed and exciting than those of "Still Life."
In the former, the two detectives investigating the death of a college basketball star seem rushed to get a solution. Both characters would have benefited from more pages for further development. One of the detectives had a personal relationship with the victim and his family, which only detracted from the story. In addition, she had issues with her own teenage sons, which also were never well resolved and likewise only detracted from the development of the plot.
In the second, the two detectives are far better developed and are, in fact, quite amusing. One, Two Moons, has a fascinating background, the most interesting parts of which have occurred right in the area of the story, but the authors do not have enough time or space to fully develop that aspect of the story. They are too busy figuring out the suspicious death of one of Santa Fe's art gallery owners. Again, there are issues/aspects of their lives that are brought out but never fully developed or resolved, and only detract from the story.
Both pairs of detectives in the two stories are interesting characters, and I hope that the Kellermans will continue their characters. In the future, I hope the authors, should they want to continue this format for writing, will not be so rushed and limited by page length, so they can develop the novel I know they both are capable of writing.
CorinnaBonk@westat.com
Blind Run by Patricia Lewin. 4 stars.
I recently read this debut book! I liked it a lot. It is a mystery/suspense thriller that is set apart from all others. I thought it was very unique and written very well. It also has all you want in a book. A little bit of love, honesty, suspense, science, and great characters. I would give it a whopping 4 stars!
Patricia@PatriciaLewin.com
I just finished reading The Winner by David Baldacci. What a great book. Sympathetic characters, lots of action, and a great premise. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 5 stars!
malabeas@hotmail.com
Skinny Dip by Carl Hiaasen.
Excellent and very fun, just what is needed when the temperature dips here in Michigan, a wicked good romp in South Florida.
Just One Look by Harlan Coben.
My all-time favorite author! I'm halfway through and I can't turn the pages quick enough!
Deception Point by Dan Brown.
I am listening to this as an audio book after having read it last year. There was quite a bit I had forgotten (probably because I gulped it down too fast) and I am completely enjoying revisiting this excellent thriller. The narration is wonderful, which always makes a difference.
PFLucas@aol.com
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. 5 stars.
This book was given to me as a birthday gift from a friend who was reluctant to read it but then found that she could not put it down. I felt the same! The story gives hope to those of us who want countries from different continents to come together and become compatriots. It is a wonderful story of friendship.
Green River, Running Red by Ann Rule. 4 stars.
A disturbing account of the serial killer who escaped capture for over 20 years. It is one of Rule's best.
joswood@adiis.net
California Girl by T. Jefferson Parker. 4 stars.
A murder mystery that takes place in southern California in the 1960s. It is largely a police procedural and a character study of the three Becker brothers. I enjoyed it greatly.
Green River, Running Red by Ann Rule. 3 stars.
I always enjoy Ann Rule's true crime books. This one, however, was a little too long and detailed for my taste. It is the story of The Green River Killer and how it took over 15 years to bring him to justice. A great deal of the book is biographical information about the over 48 victims of this killer. That's where the book started to bog down, and I ended up skimming a lot of this information. I did enjoy the description of the police work that brought the killer under arrest. I do recommend it, though, as others might enjoy all the nitty gritty details.
Before You Know Kindness by Chris Bohjalian. 5 stars.
A terrible gun accident occurs. A 12-year-old girl accidentally shoots her father with a rifle that she finds in the trunk of a car. The father lives, but he is gravely and permanently injured. The lives of the characters after this accident are explored in depth. Really a compelling read.
dashofbasenji@charter.net
Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss is a witting and educational book describing the history, evolution and proper use of punctuation. 3 1/2 stars.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is one of my favorite books of all time. It was a powerful and touching story about family, friendship and forgiveness. 5 stars.
Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay was a refreshing twist on the suspense genre, with the story being narrated by a serial killer who is on the trail of another killer. 3 1/2 stars.
A Breath of Fresh Air by Amulya Malladi is a novel set in India. This is a beautifully crafted novel that touched my heart. 4 stars.
R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton is yet another great mystery by one of my favorite mystery writers. Taking a slightly different approach, Ms. Grafton has P.I. Kinsey Millhone taking a passenger seat throughout most of the book as the events unfold around her. 4 stars.
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire is a twist on an old favorite. Maguire introduces readers to the Wicked Witch of the West and paints a believable story of how she ended up on the receiving end of that bucket of water thrown on her. 4 stars.
catslady5@aol.com
Heart of the Hunter by Tina St. John. 4 1/2 stars.
A romantic, medieval paranormal, part of a series, quite intriguing.
bradylee@myway.com
The Smoking Gun by Gerry Spence. 5 stars. Published in 2003.
If you like to read a book full of surprises (as only Gerry Spence can tell them) about a series of events ending up in a courtroom scene, then this is the one for you. This is unraveling what really happened to a family that could only have been saved by the author. You learn many of the complications of the law and that justice is not really the goal as far as the prosecutor is concerned as the total thrust is to win the case and major cheating is used as in the facts of this story. I think the author is a master writer, yet I read an amateur's review on Amazon saying that Spence is a terrible author. The majority, however, gave this book high marks. I read his The Making of a Country Lawyer a few years ago and it was also excellent. There are others that I plan to read as he writes from the heart and makes his stories personal.
John1rosie@aol.com
Having read the Precious Ramotswe series and Heavenly Date I was a big Alexander McCall Smith fan. Now I side with those who take a wait and see approach.
The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs: A Professor Dr. von Igelfeld Entertainment by Alexander McCall Smith. 3 stars.
A friend lent me this book, which is one of three in the presently existing von Igelfeld series. It was published in Great Britain in 2003 but is not yet available here. von Igelfeld appears to be McCall Smith's interpretation of the Inspector Clouseau character reincarnated as a German academic. Being a McCall Smith fan I was delighted to be able to read this volume. Having finished the book I am less a fan but I intend to read the two other volumes.
This one is made up of three connected stories. The first is of fifty pages. A big belly laugh born of reading is rare these days. I found more than one great laugh in this story. I spent as much time laughing as I did reading. I think that you will too. By the story's end I was awarding it at least 5 stars. Then I continued reading. The second story is also fifty pages. The trivialization of The Pope and anti-Roman Catholic Church sentiment is the setting and crux of the story. How generally funny is that? The third story completes the remaining twenty-five or so pages. Here the author puts his main character in a standard premise or two. The ending makes the tale.
Ultimately one finds that Mr. McCall Smith's strength continues to be, as is the case in the Ramotswe series, that not only does he like and respect his main characters, but he also gets us to like and respect them too. What I found new and different is that it is now more difficult to get involved in the story. It is now too easy to see Mr. McCall Smith in front of and manipulating his stories. Whether he is as likable and as worthy of respect as is his character Precious Ramotswe becomes a glaring question.
Having said that, along came McCall Smith's The Sunday Philosophy Club: An Isabel Dalhousie Mystery. Chapter nine begins, "The following week was uneventful." I found this funny in that I wonder if anyone has told the author that the previous one hundred pages of this book were very much uneventful. Personally, I think not. The man's great past successes must allow for the reader to be the judge. And who and what are we reading about? First the who; Isabel is forty-three, unable able to get over being dumped twenty years ago by a husband who found her, I believe, both socially and sexually boring. In my reading neither assessment needs to be changed. She is independently wealthy through inheritance. She does something alone, from home, before, during and after coffee that causes a small circulation philosophy magazine to be published. Her immediate love object appears to be her niece's latest rejected boyfriend. The closest approximation to a girlfriend she has is her paid housekeeper. How much more interesting can she possibly get? It is not that she is a detective or that she is simply a nosy lady; it is that she has no business of her own worth minding. Isabel witnessed a death. Accident or murder? Unless the poor victim is of interest to someone, anyone, what is the interest?
Unfortunately for this reader he is not and there is, thus far in my reading, no compelling interest in his life, death or this "mystery." Either McCall Smith really did not write this book or he did not write the Precious Ramotswe series or something new has happened to him that is not good for him as a writer. I am at the point with this particular yawner that I need a really great ending to justify my reading time. Thus we come to what the book is about. All Isabel's moral questioning and study endow her with the right to assume the role of judge and jury and pronounce "innocence of crime and death by accident." McCall Smith is shockingly capable of being boring. I am sorry to say that I can give The Sunday Philosophy Club no stars.
BEVBOOKS@aol.com
Deadly Distractions by William Manchee. 5 stars.
This one is a Stan Turner mystery that takes place in the great state of Texas. Stan and his new partner, Paula, tell the story in alternating viewpoints. Their client is caught standing over a dead IRS agent with a shotgun in his hand that has been recently fired. The agent died of a shotgun blast...so guess who is charged with murder??? Then Stan is kidnapped in Ecuador. Nothing is as it seems, and the action is nonstop.
The Zero Factor by John Hoffert. 5 stars.
Hoffert's debut novel is a humdinger! The youthful governor, John Stratton, announces his candidacy for President of the United States...then his world falls apart. He realizes that he is still in love with his high school sweetheart after a chance meeting with her. A young police officer is killed by an up-and-coming gang, complete with the signature three bullets to the head, and then John's estranged brother is shot down in the streets. In an ambush that looks like a professional retaliation, several gang members and a lot of innocent kids are killed. John puts his campaign on the back burner. This is a very fast moving suspense story. I understand that it is the first in a series about John Stratton....I can't wait for number two.
NEPR@aol.com
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie.
Light romantic comedy at its best. Sheer entertainment.
Love, Undercover by Hailey North.
A small town librarian meets the right man. She doesn't "need" a man; she just wants one. Of course, the world's Most Eligible Bachelor falls for her, and that brings complications.
All She Ever Wanted by Barbara Freethy.
It's about four college suitemates, one of whom dies when she falls from the roof of the sorority house during a college party. Ten year later, a fictitious novel is published that tells the story and suggests that someone pushed her. My first Freethy novel. It's good.
Lancelot by Walker Percy.
I found this on my shelf with a group of books a friend left me when he died. The story is told by Lance while he is a patient at an Institute for Aberrant Behavior (he calls it "nuthouse"). Wonderful book. Don't start it until you have a big block of reading time. You won't want to put it down.
mountaingrace@hotmail.com
Miranda and Starlight, by children's author Janet Muirhead Hill, is the first book of her Starlight Series. The storyline kept my daughter and I glued to the pages, always guessing what kind of dilemma the heroine would get herself into next! As the story is set in the world of horse lore, my daughter was able to relate well, as we live in rural Montana. However, the plot involves much more than horses, while teaching lessons of courage and finding one's place in life. We rate it 4 to 5 stars, for being both entertaining and educational, and for being aesthetically appealing with illustrations in each chapter that helped us to visualize the characters. We are beginning to read the rest of the series together and will send you our thoughts as we progress.
HDMTENNIS@aol.com
The Face of Deception by Iris Johansen. 5 stars.
This book was impossible to put down. The characters were finely drawn and the plot twists had me in suspense throughout the entire book. If you are not already a fan of Iris Johansen, this book will make you a believer.
Strange Fits of Passion by Anita Shreve. 5 stars.
Spousal abuse is sometimes hard to discuss. This novel showed how an intelligent woman can become caught up in making excuses for this behavior. When she finally has the strength to flee, the reader is taken on the terrifying journey of a woman and child in hiding as they try to make new lives for themselves. The ending of this novel is very dramatic and will stay with me for a long time.
The Pigman by Paul Zindel. 5 stars.
This book is like an old friend. I reread this powerful novel every year and find new insights. It is a wonderful glimpse into the lives of teenagers. It is about family, friendships, death, and accepting responsibility for one's behavior. The novel makes you laugh and cry, as well as giving the reader many questions to ponder. This book is suitable for teens as well as adults.
sflaschka@bellsouth.net
I just finished Syrup by Maxx Barry. I'd give it 5 stars.
Like his prior work, Jennifer Government, Barry delivers a scathingly funny send-up of marketing and consumerism. The story follows Scat, a marketing genius who has a regretful lack of business acumen. His first million-dollar idea is pulled out from under him, and the story follows his subsequent attempts at avenging his good name and getting the upper hand against his nemesis and former roommate, Sneaky Pete.
Barry is excellent at writing strong woman characters, and Scat's partner/romantic foil, 6 (yes, that's her name), is one of the best female characters I've read. She's beautiful, incredibly smart, and thoroughly unique and unpredictable.
I love Barry's writing style itself. He mixes irony, suspense and humor, and I find myself reading late into the night. I can't wait until he writes another book!
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