|
ballma@oplin.org
I am currently reading The Virgin's Knot by Holly Payne. Very interesting story! Also Our Lady of the Forest by David Guterson. I really don't care for this book, the characters or the plot.
alemesh@aol.com
I have just finished a wonderful first novel by Jason Headley. If you appreciate finely drawn characters that you can really connect to, you will love this one. The story is about Eric, small-town former football hero and first-time single father, who is trying to make sense of his life and the way it all went askew. There are no pat answers here but the sense of life's struggles that make us better people in the end. The novel is Small Town Odds and I give it 5 stars.
baxtergr@msn.com
I like to read a mix of fiction and nonfiction. Here are some, not all, that I've read lately:
Cloudsplitter by Russell Banks. 5 stars.
This was my second time in a few years to read this novel. This time I did some research via online and other books that made the book even more pertinent to me. This is the story of John Brown, he of Harper's Ferry fame or infamy. Worth the time spent to read carefully.
The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin. 5 stars.
This is a true account of a horrifying blizzard in the midwest, primarily in the Dakotas, January 12 and 13, 1888. The blizzard overtook the area with no warning when the children were in school where many of them perished, hence the title.
The Writer in the Garden edited by Jane Garmey. 4 stars.
A collection of poems and essays about gardens and gardening. A peaceful book.
The Language Police by Diane Ravitch. 4 stars.
A scholarly approach to censorship of textbooks within the United States.
The Mango Season by Amulya Malladi. 5 stars.
A delightful but brief story about a 27-year-old woman from India, living and going to school in the U.S., who returns home for her first visit in seven years. There she finds that her family still treats her as a "daughter of India" and wish to arrange a marriage for her. She now needs to be honest with them and to tell them that she is engaged to an American. Much family angst.
The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble. 3 1/2 stars.
Not a lot of discussion about the books the reading group selects, although what there is is sometimes too much as endings are sometimes revealed about books I may want to read. Primarily we learn of the members, their trials and tribulations and their support of each other.
outrunnin@centurytel.net
Indelible by Karin Slaughter. 5 stars.
This is the fourth installment of the Grant County series and I loved it. It showed us more of the past of Jeffrey and Sara, along with some of Jeffrey's friends who are mentioned in previous books. There was her usual jaw-dropping moments of discovery that I can never guess ahead of time. I love her books because they are just brutal and bloody enough without going into extremes. I am now eagerly awaiting her fifth book.
b.nolan@insightbb.com
I just finished reading Fleeced by Carol Higgins Clark. It's a Regan Reilly who-done-it. A fun read. I give it 4 stars.
BDM1215@aol.com
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. 5 stars.
I enjoyed this book so much. I went through every emotion. Just couldn't put it down. Such a compelling story. Easy to read.
SEEDCAKEANDJOE@aol.com
Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia by Jean Sasson. 3 stars.
Not very well written, but an interesting peek into the lives of women in the Middle East.
BHpurple@aol.com
I just finished reading My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult, about a child conceived to be a donor to a sister with a terminal illness. What was to be a one-time medical aid turns into a lifetime role. Picoult is a contemporary author whose books always include ethical quandaries and focus on how characters can have divergent opinions and feelings about the same events. Not a dry eye in my book group when we read it and it was the catalyst for a spirited discussion. 5 stars.
Also reading the novel Spending by Mary Gordon. Interesting premise -- what happens when a woman artist finds a true male muse, a role reversal of the traditional male artist/female helper? Fun. The jacket blurb promises some twists and surprises. I am enjoying so far. 4 stars.
Another lovely book I am reading (and rereading) is A Walk on the Beach by Joan Anderson. The author has written books about her mid-life separation from her husband and their later reconnection but this one is my favorite. It is about her special friendship with Joan Erickson, (the wife of Erik Erickson, the psychologist who wrote theories about adult development/the life cycle), whom she met on the beach while she was living alone on Cape Cod. Joan is near the end of her life and revises some of the theories that she and her late husband developed (now living "old age," not just writing about it). Anderson's writing is more accessible than Joan's earlier work, which was too academic and did not flow. A definite 5-plus.
Dotteez@aol.com
The Cat Who Went Up the Creek by Lillian Jackson Braun.
This was a good light read, very quick, with familiar characters. A cozy mystery that entertains.
Atonement by Ian McEwan
A little slow to start but it built in intensity and I enjoyed the characters more as they changed with the circumstances. Beautiful language and very intense.
Tania Hutchison, Ottawa, Canada
Remembering Sarah by Chris Mooney. 5 stars.
Fantastic novel about a man dealing with life after his young daughter goes missing. An interesting story full of complex characters and raw human emotion. Billed as a thriller, but is so much more.
Like the Red Panda by Andrea Seigel. 4 1/2 stars.
First novel by a young author with a strong voice. She's written a very unique and realistic story. It reads like a well-written diary of a smart, super insightful and observant teenage girl. It's a bit dark, a bit funny, and very thought-provoking.
Dating Dead Men by Harley Jane Kozak. 2 1/2 stars.
I had high hopes, but they didn't last long. I thought the main character made unbelievably dumb choices that I had trouble believing. I'm all for suspending some belief when reading, but this story required too much of that. There seemed to be too much crammed into this book, which contributed to a choppy flow. There are some amusing bits, but sadly not enough of them to make this a great book.
Seeds of Doubt by Stephanie Kane. 4 1/2 stars.
This story sucked me right in from the beginning. The narrative is peppered with diary entries, police reports, and new articles, which gives a wonderful extra perspective. The author has created three strong but very different (and wonderful) female characters. This is the third book in the series, and I enjoyed this one enough to make me order the first two books.
gladysmp@wt.net
I have just finished two very interesting books. The first was by Celya Bowers called Campaign for Love. The hero was put through all sorts of tribulations by both his ex-wife and his true love's family, so much so that it took patience and determination to overcome such. The second book was by a New Zealand author, Laurey Bright, and here the couple's gratitude to and admiration of someone mutually known provided an almost insurmountable wall of distrust between them. I was even fascinated by the flora and fauna of New Zealand mentioned in the book. I would give both books 5 stars.
PK
I'm currently reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. It was reviewed on this site so I went out and got it. 4 stars from this reader/writer.
Christophercherd@aol.com
Lamb by Christopher Moore. This book is roll-on-the-floor funny.
Heringbess@aol.com
I'm currently reading Father Joe and trying to get into it. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson was interesting and well-written. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult was worth all the praise --- a rare thing!
susanrjensen@yahoo.com
The Sunday Wife by Cassandra King. 3 stars.
Dean Lynch, wife of the revered Reverend Ben Lynch, is finding life as a preacher's wife more and more difficult. When she moves to a new Florida community, she finds herself feeling more lonely and displaced than ever. That is, until she meets the beautiful Augusta Holderfield, who brings Dean out of her shell, and encourages the reverend's wife to leave her unfulfilling life and realize her true potential. When a tragedy occurs, dark secrets are revealed, and Dean must face truths about her own life as well as that of her best friend, Augusta. This book was engaging enough, although not terribly well-written. I expected more based on all the hype the book has received.
The Saints and Sinners of Okay County by Dayna Dunbar. 5 stars.
I loved this offbeat tale about Aletta Honor, a struggling mother in small town Oklahoma. When she finally gets the courage to kick her adulterous husband out of the house, Aletta has to find a way to support herself. She decides to use her psychic "gifts" to earn the money she needs for herself and her children. Along the way, she finds the determination to survive, as well as face events of the past that have divided her and her mother since childhood. A wonderful, colorful story --- I loved it!
Pat from Omaha
With No One As Witness by Elizabeth George. 4 stars.
I have read this whole series, but this latest one left me agape. Is it the last one in the series? I am hoping not. If you like modern British detective fiction, I highly recommend the series.
The Confessor by Daniel Silva. 4 stars
If you liked The Da Vinci Code, this one should be a favorite too. Wonder how much of it is based on truth? It kept me guessing and wanting to research the historical accuracy of the events.
clee@dppl.org
I just finished The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg. It was spectacular, definitely a 5-star read. She wrote very well about the hope and love that is also a part of intense grief; the characters were extremely likeable --- lovable, in fact!
I also recently read Ridley Pearson's Cut and Run. This was a very fast-paced thriller that kept me up late turning pages! Did not want to put it down until I knew what the resolution was to each of the characters' dilemmas.
Georgepaw@aol.com
The Pat Conroy Cookbook by Pat Conroy with Suzanne Pollak. 4 1/2 stars.
Delicious!!
The Broker by John Grisham. 3 1/2 stars.
Not one of his best, but contains some interesting background on Italian cities in which the action of this "chase" thriller takes place.
The Sign of the Book by John Dunning. 3 1/2 stars.
Another mystery revolving around a former Denver cop turned rare book collector/seller.
JQuick5342@aol.com
Midnight Hour by Mary Saums.
In her first book, Ms. Saums has created, with Willi Taft, a southern edition of V.I. Warshawski, Lydia Chin and Carlotta Carlyle --- believable but slightly quirky, and fun to be around. Although not as experienced as the others mentioned above Willi proves she has a head for the detecting business. It will be interesting to see how she evolves in subsequent outings.
Long Time Gone by J. A. Jance.
J. P. Beaumont returns to wintry Seattle from his daughter's Hawaii wedding to be confronted with two challenges. One is a fifty-year-old "cold case" re-opened because of the "recovered memory" of a nun. The other is the current murder of the ex-wife of his former partner, the now paraplegic Ron Peters. J. P. tries to stay focused on the cold case as directed by his superiors, but elements of the Peters case keep dragging him back into that one, against the direct orders of his superiors.
Good News, Bad News by David Wolstencroft.
By accident two spies are assigned together undercover without initially being informed of each other's background. Just after they each decide to retire they realize they work for the same agency. Then they get orders. The good news is that it is their last assignment; the bad news is that they are each ordered to eliminate the other. Will good sense override training?
Albert Sears
Kazuo Ishiguro's new novel, Never Let Me Go. Excellent and engrossing.
Yann Martel's Life of Pi. Even though some might find it a little slow in the beginning, it's a great story!
smleonetti@yahoo.com
I have finally read War Trash by Ha Jin! WOW...what a stunner.
hagarrpt@earthlink.net
The Small Boat of Great Sorrows by Dan Fesperman. 4 stars.
Fast-paced and well-written, this thriller is set in the present but returns to World War II as a man, recruited to help find a war criminal in Bosnia, also discovers long-hidden secrets of his own father.
The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill. 4 stars.
Set in Laos in 1975, this mystery is notable for both its vivid descriptions of Laos and its culture and for its wonderfully rich and complex character development.
Beneath a Panamanian Moon by David Terrenoire. 3 stars.
Told in first person, this book is a spy novel of a different nature, and main character John Harper isn't the typical spy of le Carre or Ludlum. The story, told with much humor, is fast-paced and action-packed. At times, however, there is some confusion as to what is happening, and a few scenes have little to do with furthering the plot.
Death of a Nationalist by Rebecca Pawel. 4 stars.
Set in Madrid in 1939, shortly after the end of the Spanish Civil War, this mystery is graphic in its descriptions of a city ravaged by war. Poverty and misery abound, and brutality is a way of life. Pawel does an outstanding job of depicting both the Nationalist and Revolutionary viewpoints through characters all too human, and only the ending keeps this book from being classified noir.
Mimiklein43@aol.com
I'm in the middle of reading A Killing Night by Jonathon King. So far it's remarkable. I haven't read any of his other titles, but since this one is so good, I plan on getting his backlist.
cheesygiraffe@gmail.com
I just finished reading Second Glance by Jodi Picoult. What a great paranormal love story. I give it 4 1/2 stars! I'm currently reading Bring Me the Head of Prince Charming by Roger Zelazny. I'd give it 3 1/2 stars.
marcher08@hotmail.com
Little Bitty Lies by Mary Kay Andrews. 3 1/2 stars.
Fluffy southern Chick Lit but good for a laugh. Great for a lazy day at the beach.
The Keeper's Son by Homer Hickam. 4 stars.
I saw the review of The Ambassador's Son on Bookreporter.com and decided to start at the beginning of the series. Set at the beginning of World War II, Hickam really makes the people of Kellakeet Island come alive.
Crsntmoon3@aol.com
Therapy by Jonathan Kellerman. 4 stars.
Gina Metz
The White Road by John Connolly. 5 stars.
The Black Angel by John Connolly. 5 stars.
I just finished both of these, which are the 4th and 5th in the Charlie "Bird" Parker series. I loved them both. John Connolly just has a way of creating a spellbinding tale linking things quite easily that one would have never thought of. Both books were very interesting, full of details, and I love the characters also. Note for some --- this book may be too violent or they may not care for the supernatural aspects of the book, but I still say they are both well worth reading. Didn't want either book to end.
The Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. 5 stars.
This was another great find. Lots of details, and wonderful characters. A mystery from the past and the present linking a charnel house discovered during excavation for a new building that backdates over 100 years to current murders in New York. I have had this on my To Be Read Mountain forever and now have no clue why I waited so long. Will be acquiring more books by these authors and would highly recommend this as a very interesting read.
Glij9@aol.com
Currently I am reading The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith and Terry Pratchett's Going Postal. Also Margot Livesey's Banishing Verona.
kgraetzrsp@cox.net
Night Fall by Nelson DeMille. 5 stars.
This is one of my favorite authors. He develops his characters well and it is a very easy read. Often I find myself laughing out loud. The subject of the mystery behind the TWA flight that crashed off Long Island and the connection to 9/11 was sobering, but plausible. I read Lion's Game after 9/11 and was amazed at his storyline in that novel.
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. 5 stars.
This was my first Picoult novel. The subject matter was quite heavy, but I thoroughly enjoyed her style of relating each character's views of events in separate chapters. This was a very quick read.
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult. 4 stars.
I picked this up before I finished My Sister's Keeper because I so enjoyed Picoult's style of writing. I was not disappointed. There were a few digressions that seemed off the topic, but I also very much enjoyed this book. I will definitely read more by this author.
Little Children by Tom Perrotta.
I have just started this novel and am enjoying it, but not ready to rate it.
Nancy from Racine, WI
I'm reading The Art of Mending by Elizabeth Berg. I started it last night and I'm halfway through already. I can really relate to this book. Love it. 5 stars.
Ellyn from NYC
Seeking Rapture: Scenes from a Woman's Life by Kathryn Harrison. 4 stars.
Well-written essays from a talented novelist and memoirist.
The Situation and the Story: The Art of Personal Narrative by Vivian
Gornick. 4 stars.
Written as a guide for aspiring writers, this book contains a generous selection of excerpts from other authors' memoirs.
mbunting@sbcglobal.net
Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott. 4 1/2 stars.
A great follow-up to Lamott's Traveling Mercies. Everyone, particularly parents and those seeking spirituality, should find something to love in this book. I could have done without the references to George Bush, though.
Uncommon Grounds by Sandra Balto. 3 3/4 stars.
This is Balto's debut mystery, about the part owner of an upscale independent coffee shop. It's a fun, quick read, but a little more character development would be helpful. Balto's a promising writer.
Satan's Pony by Robin Hathaway. 3 1/2 stars.
The second mystery in this particular series by Hathaway. I found it rather ordinary, compared to some of her other books.
Marlie Warren St. George, Utah
I'm currently reading THREE very delightful books:
Walkin' the Floor by Betty J. Vickers. 5 GREAT BIG stars!!!
The author is a personal friend and a member of my local writing group here in southern Utah. This DOES NOT sway my thoughts on this book. This book is a heartfelt and well-written story about the survival of a family who is suffering from poverty and abuse as seen through the eyes of the children and their mother, a mother who is determined to keep her family alive and thriving. This book is one of the most EXCELLENT examples of creative nonfiction that I've ever read! The reading world needs to know about this book, read it and thoroughly enjoy it!
A Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren. 4 stars.
Three of my girlfriends and I are reading this book together. We read a chapter a day and then report on our thoughts daily by email. Personally, I've learned a lot through what we call our "spiritual journey." This book is an eye-opener indeed! No matter your religion, it really makes you THINK!
Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock. 3 very SLOW stars.
I am having a most difficult time plodding through this book --- it's very slow. The very few parts that seem to pick up and go a little are what keep me trudging along in hopes that I'll get through the book and enjoy it eventually. I enjoy reading the story as told from a young child's point of view and can sometimes relate to her thoughts and feelings. Because I feel the author deserves a chance, and IS talented, and because I hate to give up --- I'll keep trying...
CarolyngriffinNH@aol.com
No Place to Hide by Elizabeth George. 5 stars.
Inspector Lynley and Barbara Havers are back. This time they and their colleagues are on the trail of a serial killer of adolescent boys in London. There is also the aspect of each of their personal lives that keeps you turning the pages. Her previous book was not the best, but she is definitely back to form with this mystery.
Aileen in Methuen, MA
Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding. 3 1/2 stars.
This book was funny! It had me laughing out loud in some parts. Just the kind of "fluff" you want when you want an easy, laid back read.
Rickimc@aol.com
Hanging Hannah by Evan Marshall. 4 stars.
A fun cozy. The way that Jane utilized Winky to find the killer was resourceful.
BDORM@aol.com
Siddharta by Herman Hesse. 3 stars.
A classic I finally got around to reading; very thought-provoking.
Queen of Dreams by Chitra Banarjee Divakaruni. 5 stars.
Another great book about the problems of growing up first born of foreign parents; also an insightful mother-daughter story.
tomjac0850@charter.net
I have just finished Hell to Pay by George Pelecanos. This was an interesting book about two D.C. private investigators, one black and one white, who work together in a city steeped in crime. Drug use, prostitution, and murder are commonplace, and one of their most dangerous adversaries is the leader of a prostitution ring named Worldwide Wilson. 4 stars.
jeninesjoblom@hotmail.com
I am currently reading The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. I have only begun the book, but I am already enjoying it. It is an enthralling book, with interesting facts that I did not know, and it is easy to read --- not too "descriptive" or "technical." I know I will enjoy it more as I read through it, and I already plan to read Dan Brown's earlier books once I am finished. I can see why it is a bestseller! I give it a 5 out of 5.
lvickrey@mac.com
I am reading Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods, the funniest book I've ever read. I find myself laughing way out loud in parts --- it's definitely not the book to read to relax before going to sleep, but that's where I do most of my reading. I love this book about his hike on the Appalachian Trail. 5 stars.
I am also trying to get through my book club's current selection, Reading Lolita in Tehran, which ordinarily I probably would like, but I'm just not in the mood for that kind of narrative. 3 stars.
In the car, I am listening to an unabridged recording of Seabiscuit. Very interesting with a lot more info than the movie, of course. 4 stars.
dani@newvisiontechnologies.net
Speak Softly, She Can Hear by Pam Lewis.
Love it! It's reminiscent of Wally Lamb's She's Come Undone, which I also loved. It's an easy and fast read and I've become totally wrapped up in the character's life. 5 stars.
Jim Hasse, Walnut Creek (SF East Bay), California
What I am reading:
The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood. Fiction. Published
2004 with 277 pages. 5 stars! By the author of The Man Who Ate the 747.
What a beautifully written book. It is full of suspense and intrigue, twists and turns. A love story and a life story...a story of endings and beginnings. Endorsed by Sue Monk Kidd, Nicholas Sparks, Adriana Trigiani, Joanne Harris, James Paterson, and Fannie Flag. I couldn't agree more...an engaging and quick read.
mbennett32003@earthlink.net
No Angel by Penny Vincenzi. 4 1/2 stars.
Family saga about a wealthy publishing company family. I really enjoy the strong female characters.
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie. 4 stars.
Cute romance about a commitment phobic man who makes a bet on taking out an unlikely woman.
tunaross@nc.rr.com
In a Dark House by Deborah Crombie. 4 1/2 stars.
The latest in the Gemma James/Duncan Kincaid series is not a disappointment. As the two Scotland Yard detectives conduct investigations on separate (but intertwining) crimes, the plot thickens. As expected, there are several interesting subplots. I really enjoy delving into Gemma and Duncan's complex relationship as it has evolved through the nine books in the series.
Beachgram@oregoncoast.com
I'm currently reading Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts. This is book one of the "In The Garden" trilogy. I love this author but so far it is ho-hum and just very predictable. 3 stars so far.
BettyB6768@aol.com
de Kooning by Mark Stevens and Annalyn Swan. 5 stars.
For those who are interested in artists and the art world this book is engrossing. It takes us into the poverty and hard work that American artists lived through in NY in the '40s, '50s, etc. Even if one does like abstract art this description of the life is fascinating.
The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith. 4 stars.
Another amusing set of tales by the author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. He continues to amuse and make us think about how the little things in life add up.
OFFOPT@aol.com
Emergency Sex and Other Desperate Measures: A True Story From Hell on Earth by Postlewait, Cain and Thomson. 4 stars.
I couldn't put this book down once I started except to wipe the tears from my eyes so I could see again. It was a very moving account of three truly incredible people who risked their lives working for the UN in Cambodia and Rwanda during the time of some of the most horrific killings this world has known.
The above book has also led me to read A Blessing Over Ashes by Adam Fifield. 4 stars. Adam gives his true account of a young boy from the Killing Fields of Cambodia who came to live with his family in Vermont, and later his journey with his brother back to Cambodia to search for the family he left behind.
Both books are riveting.
Jean from Bridgeville
I'm currently reading Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani. A short book, only 269 pages, but the first sentence caught my interest and I knew I would enjoy it. So far it's one I can't put down.
I just finished The Quality of Life Report by Meghan Daum for the book club that I belong to. I gave it 2 stars but some of the members loved it.
dc.price@comcast.net
Most recent:
Babylon Sisters by Pearl Cleage. 5 stars.
BRAVO and bravo! This favorite author exceeds all expectations. You're wisped away into West End, Atlanta, Georgia and immersed in the sights and smells that come to mind for this wonderful part of this city. Our author brings it all to life. The storyline sneaks up on you and without knowing what has happened; you are captivated by the story's many threads. She has definitely outdone herself with this masterpiece.
Playing My Mother's Blues by Valerie Wilson Wesley. 3 stars.
Somber and strange, this novel is about a woman recounting how she left her children, her life for a man who could give her nothing but a good time, and ended up in prison. She finds her children, now adults; when her ex-husband dies she learns that their lives have been forever changed and affected by her one decision. Can she reclaim her family?
What Goes Around Comes Around by Darrien Lee. 4 stars.
This book cooks. I found myself saying "She's stupid" because for someone to enter into a scheme to help out a friend that could land them in big trouble is very stupid. The saying "Don't burn bridges you may need to cross again" applies here very closely. We enjoyed the flow of the book although it got off to a slow start.
ABamaBecky@aol.com
I just finished Blown by Francine Mathews. It was an advanced reading copy that I won here on Bookreporter. If you like suspense/thriller this is a definite 5 stars!!
I've just started The Door to December by Dean Koontz. This is an older book (published in 1985) but I've never read it before. I'm only six chapters into it, but so far it's moving fast with a good storyline. 4 stars.
Coral Harrison
The Cat Who Went Bananas by Lilian Jackson Braun. 3 stars.
This didn't rate as high as the rest of her books as I did not like the ending. The rest is her usual interesting, funny style.
The Serpent's Trail by Sue Henry. 5 stars.
An interesting story about Maxie and her dog Stretch as they travel in her motor home from Alaska to Colorado. There is a mystery there but all turns out well and they leave for winter in New Mexico.
The Conspiracy by Jasmine Cresswell. 5 stars.
A very good book about terrorists and a good love story. Also, easy reading as well.
Dying to Please by Linda Howard. 3 stars.
An improbable mystery but very fascinating book. It has romance, suspense and is hard to lay down.
KINDLEELF@aol.com
Current reads:
Night Fall by Nelson DeMille. 4+ stars.
The anti-terrorist task force tries to solve a plane crash.
The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens. 4 stars.
A little known unfinished manuscript, the appendix comes up with some probable endings. Interesting!
Empire Rising by Thomas Kelly. 4 stars.
Set in the 1930s, Michael Brody must choose between a new life in America or keep his pledge to the IRA
Master of the Crossroads by Madison Smart Bell. 5 stars.
The first book in this trilogy was All Souls Rising. If you haven't read that one, the first few chapters of Master of the Crossroads is slow reading, but certainly improves if you can stick with it. The last book in the series is The Stone That the Builder Refused.
Lust for Life by Irving Stone. 5 stars.
Published in 1937, I had read this book years ago. As I expected, just as good years later.
melody_62801@hotmail.com
I am reading No Just Desserts by Elisabeth Bastion. This is a mystery about a woman who lives in New York and works for a PR agency. They send her to London to work up a campaign for a product called Sweet Whippo. And she has to add American Ideas to theirs. Soon after arriving, she gets food poisoning and hate notes sent to her hotel room. And of course there is a murder! This book is pretty good. It is a first read for me, with this author. I like her style quite a lot. I am hoping to read another one of her books soon. I give this book 4 stars. It is worth the read.
KATHLAU@aol.com
London Bridges by James Patterson. 3 stars.
The terrorist premise is a good one and the beginning really moves, but it tends to get bogged down is spots. A few good surprises and of course the parts with Alex's mixed-up love life make for fun reading. If you're already a Patterson fan, read it anyway.
Murder Walks the Plank by Carolyn Hart. 4 stars.
Annie and the usual suspects are involved in an attempted murder on a murder mystery cruise that leads to two more murders and, of course, lots of suspects. A fun light read for the lighter days ahead.
Dasras50@aol.com
A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber. 4 stars.
A very pleasant story.
Live Well on Less Than You Think by Fred Brock. 4 stars.
Lots of practical advice.
The Lazy Husband by Oshua Coleman. 3 stars.
Nothing really new.
Don't Throw Away Tomorrow by Robert H. Schuller. 4 stars.
Positive inspiration.
Tuned Out by David Minich. 3 stars.
Too many statistics.
Reading Oprah by Cecilia Farr. 3 stars.
Interesting observations.
Coming to Term by Jon Cohen. 4 stars.
Sobering information about miscarriage.
maestraw@msn.com
In March, and on Spring Break, I read:
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult. 3 stars.
Windfalls by Jean Hegland. 3 stars.
The Hot Flash Club Strikes Again by Nancy Thayer. 3 stars.
Clean Cut by Theresa Monsour. 3 1/2 stars.
One always knows who did it, and then why.
Cold Blood by Theresa Monsour. 3 1/2 stars.
Sympathy Between Humans by Jodi Compton. 4 stars.
Better than her first one!
Cast of Shadows by Kevin Guilfoile. 4 stars.
It was so unusual, and kept my interest.
Alone by Lisa Gardner. 3 stars.
Honeymoon by James Patterson and Howard Roughan. 4 stars.
Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn by Kris Radish. 3 stars
Not as good as her first!
The News from Paraguay by Lily Tuck. 3 stars.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares. All three in the series rated 4 stars.
Loved them!! Passed them on to my mom, and my teenage son's girlfriend.
The Red Hat Club Rides Again by Haywood Smith. 1 star.
It was choppy.
The Night She Died by Jennifer Patrick. 4 1/2 stars.
This is a very interesting murder-mystery.
More Than You Know by Beth Gutcheon. 2 stars.
Who really did it and why??
Lost Lake by Phillip Margolin. 4 stars.
I really like his mysteries.
Phantom Nights by John Farris. 4 1/2 stars.
Very interesting plot movement and original concept.
vicklea@earthlink.net
Jodi Picoult's latest novel, Vanishing Acts, was one of her best! The saga of a young woman whose life is turned upside down when her father is arrested for kidnapping her when she was a small child. This is a tale of self-discovery and selflessness; it is the story of what a parent does for his child and what the child learns from the action. It is also a tale of loss --- of innocence and of a relationship with a mother. Jodi Picoult weaves an intricate tale with factual details of court scenes and search and rescue missions. A must-read for all fiction lovers! 5 big stars!
pdalporto@sbcglobal.net
I am currently reading The Da Vinci Code, of which I am only just starting Chapter 12. Having just finished reading Angels & Demons, which I thoroughly enjoyed and would give a rating of a 5 stars, I already have misgivings about The Da Vinci Code. I have always been of the belief that if a love story doesn't really contribute to the story, don't put it in. That is the only thing I didn't like about Angels & Demons, and I can already see the little love story developing in The Da Vinci Code. At this point I think I would give it 3 stars, but then again I will have to wait and see how I feel after I finish the book.
Meljprincess@aol.com
The Flaming Luau of Death by Jerrilyn Farmer. 5 stars!
Say Aloha! as party planner Madeline Bean and crew head to the Big Island of Hawaii in Jerrilyn Farmer's latest Madeline Bean mystery. Madeline throws a destination bachelorette party for her assistant Holly and before they even leave for Hawaii there's trouble. Mai Tai's, hot guys, and murder? It's all here in this delicious culinary mystery filled with kooky characters and lots of laughs.
Florida Roadkill by Tim Dorsey. 5 stars!
This book is like a fast ride at an amusement park that at times makes you ill but you just love riding it over and over. A large cast of unusual characters and a thrill ride through Florida for stolen drug money make this book a must read for those who love books along the lines of Carl Hiaasen and Elmore Leonard. Death by Levi's 501s? This book was so deliciously disgusting I couldn't put it down!
ppfqp@aol.com
I'm currently reading:
Mary, Called Magdalene by Margaret George. 4 stars.
Biblical fiction based on the life of Mary Magdalene. It's a great story in the vein of The Red Tent.
A Little Help From Above by Saralee Rosenberg. 3 stars.
Fun, mindless Chick Lit about a disfunctional family, and a mother who returns from the great beyond to try and help them sort out their problems and direct her daughter to find true love.
Just finished:
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult. 4 stars.
Picoult's books usually rate 5 stars from me, but this was not one of my favorites. Many of the expected elements were present, including an intriguing plot line with surprising twins and turns, courtroom drama, romance, and vivid characters. But the detailed account of prison life and the dreary Arizona setting just didn't appeal to me as much as some of her past works.
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. 5 stars.
Although I'd read this novel when it was first released, I couldn't wait to revisit Clare and Henry after my book club met to discuss the book. I just love the complexities of this love story, about a couple's struggle to make a life together despite the challenges of Henry's genetic disorder that causes him to disappear and reappear in other periods of his lifetime.
bradylee@myway.com
Hollywood Animal: A Memoir by Joe Eszterhas. Nonfiction. Published 2004 with 736 pages. 5 stars.
Poverty, wealth, accomplishment, frustration, intrigue and a terminal illness is just a few of the topics contained in this grand autobiography written by a number-one writer (at the time) of screenplays. A family secret is divulged about three-fourths of the way through that may make your hair turn color. The writing and life experience is so masterful that even 736 pages are not enough. Believe me, you will stay engrossed if you start reading this book; a true winner!
BREEZYWRITER@aol.com
Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy. 4 1/2 stars.
I love Binchy's books. They're just so comfortable to read. Not great literature, but appealing characters in unusual situations and simply a delight to get to know.
Cloish049@aol.com
Lost in the Forest by Sue Miller. 4 stars.
The challenges a family faces after the death of a family member is painfully explored.
DStegmanCrawford@aol.com
I am currently reading Black Wind by Clive Cussler and his son Dirk. I give it 3 stars for plot development and for piquing my interest. I am glad to read more of these great adventures. This one is focused on a poison gas, buried with a downed Imperial Japanese submarine circa 1945. Various other subplots regarding Korea and an evil guy who wants North Korea and South Korea reunited...
My most recent read was The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory. I give it 2 stars as I didn't like it. Historical fiction is just that, fiction, but this fool, Hannah, was giving allegiance to two very different monarchs --- Mary and Elizabeth --- and I found the whole story very contrived...the sort of one I wanted to throw across the room out of anger at the character's stupidity and the one-dimensional picture it painted of Mary and all the other royals.
On the other hand --- read Keith Ablow's series about Frank Clevenger, a forensic psychiatrist!! They are all 5 stars. Be sure to read in order:
Denial
Projection
Compusion
Psychopath
Murder Suicide
These are GREAT!! Talk about an unusual protagonist. Thrillers at their best.
catslady5@aol.com
Hidden Secrets by Cait London. 4 stars.
I am only part way through it but it is a very enjoyable romantic suspense. A definite page-turner.
MarshaNee@adelphia.net
R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton. 3 stars.
Her books are always interesting but this one falls a bit short of her previous books. Start with her first, A is for Alibi, to read her at her best.
Sucker Bet by James Swain. 4 stars.
Swain's books, starting with Grift Sense, are packed with surprises and insider knowledge of casinos and gambling. His books are a must-read for anyone interested in the gaming industry.
5 big stars for Little Scarlet by Walter Mosley. This is surely one of his very best efforts. It's a compelling story of a painful era (the Watts riots in LA) filled with memorable characters.
Noreen Brown
I'm reading The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride. So far it's 4 stars. It's really like reading two books, as one chapter is James's story and the next is his mother's. I usually don't care for nonfiction but this is interesting, funny and sad.
Anonymous
I just finished reading Eyes of a Child by Richard North Patterson and give it 5 stars. Before that, I read Richard North Patterson's Balance of Power, which I give 4 1/2 stars. I loved both books and recommend them to everyone as must-reads.
Bberrycrk@aol.com
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. 4 stars. Delightful.
Second Glance by Jodi Picoult. 4 stars. A ghost story.
Kay Frey
I loved The Secret Life of Bees and have been waiting for Sue Monk Kidd's next book ever since. I am currently reading American Writers at Home by J. D. McClatchy. This book is not only informative, but beautiful to look at. I also am reading Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare by Stephen Greenblatt. This is a very interesting book based on research the author did of what was happening during Shakespeare's time.
Barbara M., Jackson, NJ
I am currently reading Savage Beauty by Nancy Milford. It is a biography of Edna St. Vincent Millay who was a great poetess and a rather wild woman for her time. The information is presented by using many MANY constant excerpts from Ms. Millay's private diary. While initially this appears to be a rather unique way of presenting Ms. Millay's biography, it becomes extremely tedious in style (or lack thereof) and boring. Every paragraph jumps between diary and narrative, diary and narrative throughout the entire 500+ pages. I think that I would have rather just read her diary, as the narrative of the author did not really add much to this book. While a diary gives insight into what a person thinks and feels, I honesty believe that the author needed more sources/research to give true "depth" to Ms. Millay as an individual, a woman and a person. I truly believe that Ms. Millay's life certainly could have been presented in a more comprehensive manner. I am not quite finished with the book, but will complete it. I rate it 2 1/2 stars.
mhaury2@aol.com
Snobs by Julian Fellows. 4 1/2 stars.
Oh those witty, witty Brits! This book is loads of fun in terms of a snide commentary on British society. One of the funniest moments, though, was an oblique reference to the U.S. TV show "Dallas." I highly recommend.
The Illuminator by Brenda Rickman Vantrease. 4 1/2 stars.
More about England, just this time it's set in the late 14th century. This was a beautiful book about medieval England full of the dramas of love, war, history, religion and class. I thought I might not be able to get into it, but found I couldn't put it down.
Slay It With Flowers by Kate Collins. 3 stars.
This is the second in a series of cozy mysteries starring Abby Knight, the owner of Bloomers flower shop. It's a cute premise and a pretty good story, but readers of many of these books will find that many elements present in this book are annoyingly similar to other books about female sleuths.
jmathis1@san.rr.com
Riding the Bus With My Sister by Rachel Simon. 5 stars.
The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama. 4 stars.
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. 5 stars.
Amy from Fond du Lac
Here are some books I've read recently that I would recommend (and have):
The Burglar on the Prowl by Lawrence Block. 5 stars.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Hard to put down. Fast-paced. Witty.
Hot Southern Nights by Patt Bucheister. 4 stars.
A little bit of history in this romance. I enjoyed the "bickering" of the two main characters. If you like romance books you'll enjoy this one.
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. 5 stars.
Very good read. This could really happen. And what a twist at the end!
schot@cox.net
Detour by James Siegel. 5 stars times five.
It was that good. You have all heard the expression "Don't give up your day job." Well I would like to tell this author, James Siegel, to QUIT his day job immediately. His talent is too great to waste on anything but writing books. I read his last book Derailed and couldn't wait for this new book to be released. Two years between books is too long. The verbs and adjectives seemed to flow off the tip of his pen and he had me mesmerized with a real adrenaline rush. Kudos also to his editor because this book never dragged but kept me turning the pages, suspense personified. Run, don't walk, to buy this one.
DHotetz@artelinc.com
Latest recommendations:
Body Double by Tess Gerritsen. 4 stars.
A good storyline with twist and turns. A good book that you want to finish before setting the book down or away.
Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason. 4 stars.
A great storyline that was very interesting. You really wanted to know more and more about what would happen. Unfortunately, for my taste, the ending happened way too quick and left a few things hanging. Overall, good but not great.
Impeachable Offense by Neesa Hart. 4 stars
This book is a companion to the Left Behind series. The participants are the same, but with a little more mystery to it all. Worth the read, although the original series is a little better.
MarxC@jocolibrary.org
Chango's Fire by Ernesto Quinonez.
This is the second novel by this author. I enjoyed this story because it is fast-paced and has a colorful cast and setting in Spanish Harlem. The main character, Julio, is an arsonist who has a career change of heart and decides he wants out of the burning business. The catch comes when he makes a mistake at his last job and his boss won't let him out of the business easily. Julio tries to right his wrongs with the teachings of Santeria and falls in love with a young white woman new to SpaHa. Packed with emotion and honest discussion about race and poverty, this book is one I highly recommend.
naidls@yahoo.com
For those of you who loved The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty (I give it 4 1/2 stars), you'll love The Bark of the Dogwood by Jackson Tippett McCrae (5+ stars!). Both feature quirky main characters (Smitty from The Memory of Running and Strekfus in The Bark of the Dogwood). Other books I've recently read and enjoyed are The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri (4 1/2 stars), The Ninth Life of Louis Drax by Liz Jensen (4 stars), and The Amateur Marriage by Anne Tyler (4 stars).
TUTTISRA@aol.com
Snow in August by Pete Hamill. 4 1/2 stars.
The Covenent by Naomi Ragen. 3 stars.
loverofharmony2@earthlink.net
I'm reading Greg Iles's Blood Memory (4 stars) and Robert B. Parker's Cold Service (5 stars).
smazzei@myactv.net
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. 4 stars.
This book not only kept me captivated but gave me some insight into life in Afghanistan. A good read.
sullivan5549@charter.net
The Vienna Prelude by Brodie Thoene
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
deb@shillingsales.com
I am currently reading Leaving the Saints: How I Lost the Mormons and Found My Faith by Martha Beck. This must have been very difficult for the author to write and I learned many interesting facts about the Latter Day Saints. It's a quick and easy read. I give it 4 stars.
Diana from Austin
The Monk Downstairs by Tim Farrington, which I found on a fluke at the library and I am loving it. Definitely 4 stars.
Wassons5@aol.com
I am reading two different books:
The Innocent by Bertrice Small. 5 stars. I love this story. Very good reading.
Sea Raven by Patricia McAllister. It is a little slow-going, but otherwise good.
bradylee@myway.com
A Hanging Offense: The Strange Affair of the Warship Somers by Buckner F. Melton, Jr. Nonfiction. Published 2003 with 432 pages (large print) and 3 stars.
1834 is the year this story begins, though the author gives a very short history of navigating and traveling by ship before that. This is the forerunner of the U.S. Navy where navel operations were not very extensive, but this particular voyage was planned by federal authorities as a "test run" of all new sailors excepting for a handful of experienced officers. The majority of the deckhands were under 21 years of age on a ship using the wind as the source of energy going on a training cruise to Africa. The primary problem was that three of the crew had designs to take over the ship eventually, kill all those opposed, and then become a pirate ship. They were found out about at the last minute and this book details the before, during, and after events. I feel the book could be shortened about 50 pages as details became tedious when the author started relating the court proceedings. You do get a good feeling of what life was like at sea in the early 1800s.
cindywoo44@hotmail.com
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is great story including Afghan history that most Americans know nothing about. 4 stars.
I just finished The Forest Lover by Susan Vreeland, who wrote Girl in Hyacinth Blue. If you like historical fiction about nature, art and strong independent women, this is a great read. 4 stars.
I went straight to the library after reading your review of Cast of Shadows by Kevin Guilfoile. It's not the kind of fiction I normally read but I finished it in just a few days and the author has a lot of potential. 3 1/2 stars.
AnneK7@aol.com
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult. 5 stars.
I like Jodi's books. This is another thought-provoking novel. It was hard to put down. A must read. I look forward to the next book.
Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh. 4 stars.
It was a wonderful read. I enjoy reading books by this author. I would recommend this one.
Dating is Murder by Harley Jane Kozak. 4 stars.
This was a good mystery. I was surprised with the ending. It was a quick read!
MoxeyH@mjsc.com
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. 4 1/2 stars.
I've never read anything like this story, which is written from the perspective of a 15-year-old autistic boy, Christopher, whose idol is Sherlock Holmes. Christopher sets out to solve the mystery of who killed his neighbor's poodle, but he ends up discovering an even bigger mystery. The book is captivating, funny, and heartbreaking. It's also interesting to learn how autistic children think and the difficulties their parents have.
kelley899@yahoo.com
I'm reading Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach. I'll give it 5 stars. I've been reading it everywhere, at the kitchen table while eating, waiting in the doctor's office, on the couch in between commercials and before bed. It's incredibly engrossing.
Peggy from Norfolk
The Way the Crow Flies by Ann-Marie MacDonald tells the story of an average Canadian Air Force family through the eyes of Madeleine, the intelligent and humor-loving daughter. This family of four has an idyllic "Leave it to Beaver" life until Madeleine reaches the fourth grade. Her teacher leads a secret life, keeping vulnerable little girls after school for his "exercise club." A classmate is murdered and Madeleine's father is asked by an old buddy to help babysit a Soviet defector. The family and others on the Air Force Base are caught up in events beyond control and beyond understanding. This is a rich, complex plot woven in beautiful prose. Our book club read it and most admired it, but some were not happy with the ending.
Also recommended: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich, audiobook narrated by C.J. Crit (humor as an antidote for the serious reading above).
tnakens@charter.net
I struggled to get through Silas House's book, Clay's Quilt (1 star). I gave up about one-third of the way through. His book A Parchment of Leaves was fabulous. But Clay's Quilt was tedious and I just had to give up on it.
I am nearly finished with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Rick Bragg's Ava's Man (4 stars). This is a charming book about Mr. Bragg's grandfather. It is a wonderful portrait of the family, and those living in the South will particularly enjoy it.
mbennett32003@earthlink.net
Eddie's Bastard by William Kowalski. 4 stars.
It was an enjoyable coming-of-age story about a boy searching for himself.
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie. 4 1/2 stars.
A fun, light, entertaining book about a guy who bets his friend that he can't get his ex-girlfriend to sleep with him within the month.
Crsntmoon3@aol.com
My fifth grade class is currently enjoying the perennial classic The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. What child can resist breathtaking adventures, courageous feats, and the idea of being made King or Queen of a magical wonderland? 5 stars.
Denwal1@aol.com
Twisted by Jonathan Kellerman is a detective story with a genius intern. The intern discovers a murder pattern too unbelievable, a random drive-by, grifters, and more. It's a great read. I give it 4 stars.
pboylecharley@hotmail.com
Orphanage by Robert Buettner from Aspect (Warner Books)
Robert Buettner has written a book that appeals to the seasoned fan of science fiction as well as to those just getting their feet wet in that genre. Orphanage combines far-fetched action with past history and everyday actions.
This is a coming-of-age story about a young man, troubled by the death of his mother, who is given the option of enlisting in the army or going to jail. Jason Wander, a Specialist Fourth Class Infantryman in the Third Platoon of the American Army, is forced to join the services because of altercations resulting from the anger generated by the death of his mother. We follow him from boot camp, through the trials of a foot soldier, to the rank of Commanding Division General.
This is the tale of a war between two worlds. America is at war with an alien entity. Pseudocephalopod slugs, residents of Jupiter's moon, Ganymede, are bombarding earth with projectiles as large as buildings. Even though this is not a nuclear war, the kinetic energy generated by such a large projectile is wiping out entire cities --- one such city was Indianapolis where Jason's mother was killed. America must find a way to stop these projectiles, traveling at 30,000 miles an hour, from reaching earth. The Slugs want earth because of its water and atmosphere and intend to blanket earth with a stratospheric dust cloud so that no light reaches the surface and all plant matter dies. Over time, the human population not killed by the projectile impact will die of starvation.
The author provides a well-rounded description of the key characters. Jason Wander is a very likeable soldier; Druwan Parker, Jason's first roommate at boot camp, is an intelligent man who knows the army routine; Walter Lorenzen is a geek and a klutz, and gives his life to save Jason; Senior Drill Sergeant Ord is a typical Army sergeant --- tough but soft hearted; Ari, the soldier with the mechanical flying dog, Jeeb; Howard Hibble is a professor of Extraterrestrial Intelligence Studies serving as military intelligence captain --- his unkempt attire, penchant for exclaiming "Holy Moly" instead of the F word, and his utter lack of army discipline makes him a very likeable and human presence.
And then there are the girls: Munchkin, the Egyptian gunner and Pooh Hart, the pilot. Women assume an assertive role in this story. Of course there is a bit of male army macho attitude thrown in also. While handling an M-16 rifle, Jason says "It's not that males want to kill living things with guns. It's that hosing down targets with a '16 full auto is the ultimate extension of writing your name in the snow with urine."
The story is well-grounded in fact by using references to past wars --- WWII, Vietnam, Afghanistan --- and the very accurate description of boot camp at Indiantown Gap, Philadelphia. Just to remind us that this is really a science thriller, the author regularly introduces words not found in any dictionary.
There are also instances of humor. It is hard not to laugh when Sergeant Ord punishes Jason by ordering him to clean the toilets every night with a toothbrush and calls the toothbrush a "Third Platoon Memorial Nocturnal Hygiene Implement."
The title of the book is derived from the fact that only orphans can serve in the Ganymede Expeditionary Force so the war is a gathering of orphans --- an orphanage.
I loved the book and look forward to the sequel.
SCARTER163@aol.com
I just finished The 37th Hour by Jodi Compton. A great debut, really keeps you guessing. Can't wait for the next Detective Sarah Pribek. 5 stars.
bradylee@myway.com
Sailors to the End by Gregory A. Freeman. Nonfiction. Published 2002 with 278 pages + notes. 4 stars.
This is a story about the U.S. Navy, aircraft carriers and the importance of getting rid of outdated stuff.
The USS Forrestal was the largest and most advanced aircraft carrier of its day and was sent to Vietnam shortly after its inaugaration. It carried a complement of 5,000 sailors and the only "private" space in the whole ship was the locker for each person. One had to stand in line for everything from eating meals to getting your laundry.
You really learn what it is like on an aircraft carrier and the frantic activity that goes on getting the planes into the air and again, to land. This book is about a terrible fire that occurred after operating in Vietnam waters four days after arriving. It is a tragic affair, but the author keeps everything in perspective and well describes events as they occur. I would call this a man's book as it deals with the military and brutal conditions.
DStegmanCrawford@aol.com
Sympathy Between Humans by Jodi Compton. 5 stars.
This is a follow-up to The 37th Hour, a great debut novel. In the sequel, our heroine's husband has gone off to prison, her best friend is hiding away in Europe, and she is involved in an investigation into a doctor practicing medicine without a license and a family whose oldest son has turned up missing. Very good. Complex character development. Ending tied up a little too quickly and completely, but there will be another in this series.
Jennifermaede@aol.com
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown. 5 stars.
Absolutely fascinating, particularly considering the upcoming papal conclave!
Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott. 5 stars.
Uplifting, hilarious, and comforting all at the same time.
emstein@aol.com
No Place Like Home by Mary Higgins Clark. 4 stars.
I have read all of Clark's books and have liked many of them. This book is somewhat slow and follows the usual predictable pattern. She does have a surprise for the reader at the end. In this book, her heroine is trying to solve the mystery herself, not sitting back and languishing, waiting for the hero to help her. On the whole, if you've read her books before, you'll be quite comfortable reading this book.
TheophilaA@aol.com
I just finished A Season for the Dead by David Hewson, which I would give 5 stars. Prior to that I finished Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult, which I would give 4 stars. Good, but not her best.
lasanam@sympatico.ca
I have recently finished reading The Footprints of God by Greg Isles, which turned out to be a better than average technological thriller with a religious bent. Very absorbing and thought-provoking, and must be read with an open mind! I give it 4 stars.
I also finished Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult. It was interesting enough, but not near the caliber of My Sister's Keeper which really made me THINK. I give it 3 stars.
Caduncan04@aol.com
I am currently reading The Amber Room by Steve Berry. I have also read Clara Callan by Richard Wright and The Rosary Girls by Richard Montanari. I HIGHLY recommend both to anyone.
The books that are currently on my reading list are Speak Softly, She Can Hear by Pam Lewis, Willam Lashner's Falls the Shadow, Beth Gutcheon's Leeway Cottage, and Joanne Harris's Holy Fools.
MSShealy@aol.com
Firestorm by Nevada Barr. 5 stars.
I just can't stop reading the Anna Pigeon mysteries! Nevada Barr is a gifted writer and always keeps you guessing "whodunit!" through the entire book. I especially liked the ending in this one, as you don't know the real story until the last few paragraphs! I have already started Endangered Species by the same author.
tcarrico@aol.com
I just finished T.C. Boyle's The Inner Circle, which I enjoyed despite the graphic nature of the material. I enjoy this author's writing style and use of language so much that I am now embarking on reading previous books of his that I have not read. Currently I am reading The Tortilla Curtain, which is a vivid and depressing view of the situation of illegal Mexican immigrants in Southern California. The author cleverly juxtaposes the encroachment on nature and the natural habitat of predators such as coyotes by the rich as they, in turn, try to escape the invasion of desperate illegal immigrants.
sonia.chopra@worldnet.att.net
I am reading and loving Meg Cabot's The Boy Next Door. It's light, frivolous and very sweet. The entire book is in email format. The plot progresses and reaches a climax by email communication entirely. It's a very clever way of writing. The protagonist is very real and down to earth and I feel like she may have been someone I went to school with, she seems so real. It's not the kind of book I would usually read but I got it as a gift. I was very very pleasantly surprised...
SheilaD@aol.com
Are You Somebody? by Nuala O'Faolain. 2 stars.
Memoir by the Irish Times columnist/novelist; compelling writing but a little disjointed.
A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway. 3 stars.
Papa in Paris 1921-26. The best bits are the descriptions of his approach to writing, his marriage and his trip to Lyon with F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Selected Stories by Alice Munro. 4 stars.
This woman's talent is stunning, and makes me green with envy.
Travels with Alice by Calvin Trillin. 3 stars.
Not his best, but I always enjoy him; loved the bits about Italy and Provence.
Ragtime in Simla by Barbara Cleverly. 3 stars.
A detective romp in an Indian Hill Station in the Roaring Twenties.
bbrockgreenwood@earthlink.net
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. 5 stars.
This is probably the best book I've read in the past two years. The author, an internist currently living in the US, sets his debut novel in his native Afghanistan beginning in the early '60s. Characterization is so superb that the reader tends to think it's autobiographical. At a time when US citizens are interested in all things Afghan, this work of fiction gives us much insight into the culture there before and since the Taliban.
Dxrosemary@aol.com
I just finished reading The Best Awful by Carrie Fisher. 4 stars. This is the best firsthand account I've read of the mania and psychosis associated with bipolar syndrome. Carrie's alter ego, Suzanne Vale, brings all the wit, vitality and quirkiness of Carrie's earlier writings to their zenith by laying the manic wordplay associations at the door of the chemically imbalanced but brilliant brain that spawned them. The happy ever after ending where she gets back together with her gay husband who left her for another man is more than a little difficult to buy into, but overall it is an entertaining and sometimes tragic, laugh-out-loud ride on the mad rollercoaster of being bipolar. Fortunately, Vale's character is in the privileged class with easy access to quality health care for mental illness, or this tale would have been much more tragic than entertaining. A definite must-read for anyone who wants to understand how a person in the manic stage of this illness thinks.
Flirting with Pete by Barbara Delinsky. 3 stars. This was an excellent psychological mystery/novel. It only didnt get more than 3 stars because it starts so slowly that I had to really push myself to read far enough in to get to the more interesting storyline, which is actually a second storyline that becomes interwoven with the first story. Definitely worth reading, but requires some patience to push past the first few chapters.
MarshaNee@adelphia.net
The Virgin's Lover is the third in a trilogy by Philippa Gregory. I rate it only 3 stars. The first two, The Other Boleyn Girl (4 stars) and The Queen's Fool (4 stars), are superior in that the plot moves more quickly. The Virgin's Lover wraps up the ascent of Elizabeth to the throne and details the influence that Robert Dudley held over her in her quest for power.
Helen from Buffalo
Two great book reads:
Wicked by Gregory Maguire. 5 stars.
A fantasy novel that is a combination of the Wizard of Oz and the Hobbit. The story of the "Wicked Witch of the West" is a must-read for all of us who grew up dreaming of the land of Oz and Dorothy.
The Inn on Lake Devine by Elinor Lipman. 4 stars.
Another fun read of one of Elinor Lipman's earlier novels. It is a funny and romantic story of a young Jewish girl who longs to visit a Summer Vacation Inn that is for "Gentiles Only"...
MomOMol@aol.com
Hedwig and Berti by Frieda Arkin. 3 stars.
Empire Falls by Richard Russo. Only on page 83. Hope the pace picks up a bit!
Cloish049@aol.com
I've just finished Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld. It is a "fish out of water" novel about a young girl from the Midwest who is accepted at an exclusive boarding school outside of Boston. Funny and sad. 3 stars.
jberger@salud.unm.edu
A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell. 5 stars.
Excellent and vivid writing about the Nazi invasion of Italy, with an author who has understanding and sensitivity about this subject and knowledge of the era. A masterpiece of a novel.
MysteryNut19@aol.com
Acorna's Rebels by Anne McCaffrey. 3 stars.
Sci-fi about a unicorn-type alien and her galactic adventures.
Marlie Warren, St. George, Utah
Okay. Well, I must really eat crow at this point. I have to apologize for my email last time about what I had been reading. At that point I had just started Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock and I wasn't really impressed with the beginning of the book. I felt like it was dragging terribly and I said so.
However, this week I must totally and completely change my tune! I LOVE this book and have a most difficult time putting it down. It's the first thing I want to do when I wake up and the last thing I want to do as I hit the sheets. I think I gave the book barely 3 stars last week, whereas this week I must proclaim that I would give this book a HUGE, SCREAMING 5 STARS! I would recommend it to anyone! It's sad and it's very poignant. I find myself cheering on the narrator, little 8-year-old Caroline, and I just want to give her THE BIGGEST hug and heal her if only I could!
bab@tennis.com
In a Dark House by Deborah Crombie. 5 stars.
A master storyteller whose excellent in creating suspense and thrillers with memorable and vivid characters. Multilayered plot with accurate and realistic individuals whose lives are well portrayed.
bencanada1@yahoo.com
A Road Through the Mountains by Elizabeth McGregor. 5 stars.
A novel about love lost and found. Written with depth and compassion we are moved by this unique and heartfelt novel. Wonderful characters whose lives are transformed by tragedy but an exceptional and empathetic story.
susanrjensen@yahoo.com
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult. 5 stars.
Picoult's newest novel centers on Delia Hopkins, a search-and-rescue expert living in a small New Hampshire town, who begins having flashbacks of a life she can't remember. When the police come knocking on her door with an arrest warrant for her father, Delia realizes that she is remembering her life as a toddler, before her father kidnapped her. When she travels to Arizona for her father's trial, Delia has to confront her past to find out who she really is. The book is a riveting exploration of what it means to love.
A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer. 5 stars.
This is the first in a trilogy of books describing the extreme abuse Pelzer suffered at the hands of his mother. It is a heartwrenchingly detailed account, which makes you ache for the little boy who survived the unthinkable.
bmailward@gmail.com
The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy. 4 1/2 stars.
An epic novel about the life of a southern family. Tom meets with his sister's psychiatrist and then begins to tell the crazy story of his childhood. This book really shows what abuse can do to one's life.
Helen from Buffalo
The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman. 5 stars.
A great mystery…fast-paced…wonderful character development.
Karen Bernier
I am currently reading London Bridges by James Patterson and am not enjoying it as much as I have some of his other books. I am over half done and at this point would give it a 4 on a scale of 1-10.
Debby236@aol.com
I just finished up Julie Garwood's Murder List. I would give this one a 5. She writes with so much suspense that you don't want to put the book down. Keeps you guessing on how it will turn out till the end.
lisaavila2000@yahoo.com
I just finished reading Suspect by Michael Robotham. 5 stars. It's a psychological thriller about a brilliant psychologist who may have met his downfall in a patient with an unknown agenda. I read this book in one setting and couldn't put it down.
stephejl@stclair.k12.il.us
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. 5 stars.
The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. 4 stars for the writing and 2 stars for the plot.
If you're looking for another Secret Life of Bees, look elsewhere. The best attribute of Kidd's recent novel is her evocative descriptions of the island setting off the coast of S. Carolina. The plot contains ANOTHER female midlife crisis...does Jessie stay with the priest she fell in love with at first sight (spare me, please) or go back to her husband of 20-odd years. There's also very thin intrigue about the mysterious death of her father. I didn't care for this at all, but it's already #2 on the Times bestseller list, probably due to people such as myself who loved her previous novel. What a disappointment!!
Dani420@aol.com
The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble. 3 stars.
Good stories but the book should have been much shorter. My attention waned often and would have been better if Noble got to the point sooner instead of dragging on and on....
Elisabeth20@comcast.net
Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon. 4 1/2 stars.
This is a short story (short for any of Ms. Gabaldon's work) and a sidebar to her Outlander series. We learn more about the infamous Lord John, outside his relationship with the highlander Jamie Fraser. In this short story, we discover more of his quick wit and lively banter, as well as more about what makes him the proper gentleman that he is. For Lord John is not just an officer in the British Army during the late 17th century, he is a man with wants, needs, family, and friendships.
tomjac0850@charter.net
I just finished a somewhat strange book titled Lost by Gary Devon. It opens with seven-year-old Mamie Abbott watching her 12-year-old brother, Sherman, shoot himself in the head. Sherman doesn't die, but goes into a coma. When he emerges, he is changed into a more sinister and suspicious boy.
The reader learns that even before shooting himself, Sherman and Mamie were a couple of kleptomaniacs, stealing anything that wasn't nailed down. What readers don't learn is why they became this way (their parents seem to be good people), why Sherman shot himself, and why he decides to burn his house down, killing his parents and younger brother. He saves Mamie from the fire and manages to watch over her in the hospital without ever being caught.
Enter Leona, a woman we are not told much about but who feels such an attachment to Mamie that she smuggles her out of the hospital and flees to Kentucky. They are followed all the way by Sherman and The Chinaman, an enormous and vicious dog that Sherman can somehow control. Sherman steals and kills his way to Leona's house over a long journey of many weeks, in order to get Mamie back.
This is a story that is quite suspenseful and entertaining, if one can suspend his disbelief in some rather improbable scenarios. 3 1/2 stars.
Mipalew@aol.com
I have recently finished Sacred Stone by Clive Cussler. Exciting in the usual Clive Cussler style, but there are so many plot elements happening at once, it's somewhat difficult to follow. 3 stars.
SalbyC@aol.com
While driving in the car, I just finished the audiobook Sleeping Beauty by Phillip Margolin. The premise of a fictional book that parallels actual events in a string of serial murders and the search for the writer/murderer did hold my interest. However, it was fairly predictable, and there were no surprises at the end. 2 stars.
The News From Paraguay by Lily Tuck was a National Book Award winner. I think that I will find out what other books were shortlisted for this award, as I do not feel that this book should have won. The author does use primary source material in her research into this place and time (Paraguay, 1850s and 1860s) and relates this story of historical fiction in short groups of paragraphs that relate to a particular person or event. Ms. Tuck writes well, but the story skips around a great deal, and there are really no main characters who I truly cared about. I'm not unhappy that I took the time to read it, but I would not recommend it highly. 3 stars.
Pat76273@aol.com
I'm now reading Nabakov's Butterly by Rick Gekoski. Gekoski is a buyer and seller of rare books and he tells the reader 20 different and fascinating stories on his encounters with rare editions and their authors --- how he came to know the author, bought signed books, and sold them. Some interesting "behind the scenes" information for the bibliophile.
4mitch@sbcglobal.net
Blood Brother: 33 Reasons Why My Brother Scott Peterson is Guilty by Anne Bird. 4 stars.
If you like True Crime and celebrity murders, this a good read.
A Death in Vienna by Daniel Silva. 5 stars.
Great read!! Full of history with a great mystery surrounding it.
Twisted by Jonathan Kellerman. 5 stars.
A great thriller!!
Kahoho@aol.com
I'm currently reading R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton. Even though I purchased and read all of Grafton's alphabet mysteries I wasn't that crazy about P is for Peril and Q is for Quarry, but in Ricochet I've found the Kinsey Millhone I loved in the earlier books in the series. So far, 3 stars.
I just finished The Ambassador's Son by Homer Hickam. This book continues the story of Josh Thurlow and his crew of coast watchers who have been called up to active Navy and deployed to the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. Hickam cleverly weaves real life characters JFK (Shafty), Richard Nixon (Nick, and already "tricky") and James Michener into this quirky tale that also includes headhunters, cannibals, and beautiful but feisty native girls. An excellent adventure and fans can look forward to the further adventures of Josh and his cohorts, which Hickam, at the end of The Ambassador's Son, assures us is coming. 4 stars.
mfrasier31@comcast.net
It's not a new one but I'm currently re-reading To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee and I'm blown away by the story, the language, the humor and the deep moral lessons that seem all too relevant in these troubled times.
Bjglu@aol.com
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. 5 stars.
I love Bryson's travel books but hesitated to start this one. But what a terrific book! Only Bryson could make quarks, geology, the big bang theory and quantum mechanics interesting and funny. His wry wit shows through. I hate science, but if I'd have had a book this interesting in my school classes, it might have been a different story.
Off Ramp by Hank Stuever. 4 stars.
Entertaining essays about the quirky people who exist on the "off ramp" of life, those who don't make headlines but are fascinating nonetheless.
Gail from Philly
In the Little World: A True Story of Dwarfs, Love, and Trouble by John H. Richardson. 5 stars to a book I normally would not have picked up.
After watching a special on cable about little people I decided to learn more. I did a search on Amazon and found this book. It started out as a magazine article in Esquire and became a book. The journalist's close friendships with a number of dwarfs help provide insight to the stress and health problems they live with.
Swing: A Mystery by Rupert Holmes
Years ago I saw The Mystery of Edwin Drood and enjoyed it immensely. It was a pleasant surprise to find out that Swing was written by the same person. The story is set against the 1940s World Fair on Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay. Ray Sherwood, a big-band arranger and a man with his own personal tragedy, is playing a gig at the Claremont Hotel. He becomes enmeshed in intrigue and murder. The characters are well developed. I especially enjoyed the witty dialogue. The book appeared to me to be well suited for a theatrical production or movie. I'll be looking out for one or the other. The included CD, with original music, is said to contain clues to the mystery. Although my advance copy did not contain the CD, I didn't feel as though I was missing anything when I read it. The story stands alone as a mystery, a comedy and a drama, and satisfies on all levels.
Megan from Buffalo, NY
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult. 4 stars.
I just finished Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult. Picoult is undoubtedly one of my favorite authors and I couldn't wait to read her newest novel. While not as outstanding as My Sister's Keeper, Picoult's writing keeps you intrigued right to the end. I loved the characters, and even though the story was a bit implausible at times, it was a satisfying read.
blosskl@comcast.net
I love Ethan Black's Conrad Voort series. I am currently reading Dead for Life. It is so much more than a murder/thriller. Political corruption is intertwined in the murders. Also, you once again see Voort as SO human! His vulnerability and flaws are brought out and it makes you admire him so much more. I give all of Ethan Black's Voort books 5 stars mostly because Voort is such a unique character.
Lgluhani@aol.com
Holy Cow by Sarah MacDonald. 3 stars.
I read this for my book group. Interesting, humorous nonfiction tale of the author's experiences in India.
Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh. 5 stars.
Excellent novel that takes place in the coal region of Pennsylvania.
The Big Rumpus by Ayun Halliday. 3 stars.
Qoesls@aol.com
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. 4 stars.
Has one of my favorite closing sentences.
The Art of Mending by Elizabeth Berg. 4 stars.
Ms. Berg has a wonderful way with language, and this is one of her most riveting works.
sshoward@charter.net
My current books are:
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell.
Very interesting. Makes a person think! Tipping Point was great, too.
Coming to Our Senses by Jon Kabat-Zinn.
Great book. Good lessons for being in the present and enjoying each moment while still keeping our busy schedules.
The Courage to Teach by Parker Palmer.
Palmer challenges a person to move into new paradigms when interacting with others. He fosters the soft side of teaching; teaching that touches students.
Patty Jane's House of Curl by Lorna Landvik.
I am lucky! I will hear Lorna Landvik speak at B&N in Edina, MN. Will probably buy her newest book.
The Accidental Buddist by Dinty Moore.
A humorous look at the first steps in learning how to meditate and keep your legs from falling asleep (among other challenges!)
Helen from Buffalo
Wicked by Gregory Maguire. 4 stars.
A fantasy book with a new "twist" on the legend of the Wicked Witch of the West from the famous fable of The Wizard of Oz.
BREEZYWRITER@aol.com
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer. 3 1/2 stars.
Fascinating nonfiction book about the Mormon faith and its history.
NGroves@aol.com
Blacklist by Sara Paretsky. 5 stars.
This is the first novel in this detective series written after 9/11, and the aftermath of that event is integral to the plot. An investigation into a prowler at a client's empty family estate uncovers a body in the fish pond, and the search for his identity and reason for being there lead back to some McCarthy-era Congressional hearings about Communist party activity. Along the way, investigator V.I. Warshawski also meets a runaway Arab youth who's suspected of being a terrorist, in the hypersensitive aftermath of 9/11, but who in all likelihood is just a kid trying to get a job to help his family. The author is clearly making statements about the restrictions on civil rights that were rapidly enacted after 9/11, but that doesn't get in the way of a good mystery.
The Dive from Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer. 4 stars.
At 23, Carrie is feeling stifled after living in the same Wisconsin town and knowing the same people all her life. She's also painfully aware that she's falling "out of love" with her fiance, whom she's dated since she was 14. When her fiance is paralyzed in a diving accident, it's even harder for her to decide whether to stay (and perhaps be a martyr to other people's expectations) or leave, for her own salvation. Eventually she heads to New York City, falls in love with someone new, and enrolls at a design school where she can learn skills that could set her on a brilliant career path. Will she stay with her new life, or will "loyalty" draw her home again? Perhaps, we learn, there's a middle ground.
Lord of Snow and Shadows and The Prisoner of the Iron Tower by Sarah Ash. 3 stars.
These are the first two volumes of a fantasy trilogy set in what seems to be the Russian Empire and Europe at an indeterminate time, not the ancient past but not that distant either. Within the big picture of different countries trying to conquer each other and create an empire is the personal story of one prince who discovers that power in his family line comes from "possession" by a dragon-demon and who struggles to either separate himself from the demon yet retain some leadership ability or resign himself to the horrible consequences of possession (the demon needs fresh blood to survive). I've read better fantasies, but obviously I liked it well enough to continue to the second volume and will read the third when it's published this fall.
The Rottweiler by Ruth Rendell. 3 stars.
I'm a big fan of Rendell's mysteries, but I didn't feel this was one of her best. We are introduced to the middle-aged owner of a London antiques shop, her gorgeous young assistant, and an assortment of customers, hangers-on, and tenants of a few apartments above the store. There's a serial killer at large, dubbed "the rottweiler" for a bite mark found on one of the victims. Obviously, someone associated with the antiques shop is the murderer or will be a victim, perhaps both. We learn the identity of the killer about halfway through but neither he nor the reader realizes why he kills until much later, and the reason to me seemed implausible. There's a significant subplot about one of the tenants, a mentally handicapped young man who can live marginally on his own, with a lot of supervision, but who desperately wants to move in with his only relative, a single, career-minded aunt who cherishes her independence while acknowledging her affection and responsibility for the youth. I didn't feel that aspects of their relationship were handled very realistically either. On the whole, not up to Rendell's usual high standards.
lket@johnroberts.com
I have been reading:
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. 5 stars.
A fascinating book about the choices we make in life and how we must live with them.
The Bookseller of Kabul by Aasne Seierstad. 4 stars.
A look inside of an actual Afghani family. It details their daily lives and all that goes along with that.
FalseMillennium@aol.com
Nice Big American Baby by Judy Budnitz (Knopf, 2005). 2 stars.
Short stories populated by people in nonspecific, nameless places with shadows of cultures we barely know. The thematic core of the book is the relations between parents and their children; particularly mothers and their daughters. On the whole, the collection of short stories comes off as a weak form of magic realism, but the problem is that there is no innate spirituality in her writing. You are left with the feeling that the author solely deconstructs, and that the people populated in her stories are hopeless. Lately I've been reading so many young writers who reek of "Iowa's Writers Workshop," tossing all the balls in the air, too clever for their own good: overworked, flowery. You want to write A+ on their books and tell them to go play in traffic.
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld (Random House, 2005). 3 stars.
I read this book over the course of last weekend, turning page after page thinking it had to get better or that the main character would evolve into a human being that a reader could connect with in some manner. Lee is a self-obsessed oddball (but not in an appealing Holden Caulfield way) who doesn't appear to care about anything. When asked to write an essay about something that matters to her, she scrawls at the bottom of the assignment that she really doesn't care about the subject she's covered but believes she's fulfilled the assignment. Then she's upset when the teacher challenges her on it. We are taken through the abusive, humiliating "relationship" Lee has with her prep school crush, and by the end of the book we're left scratching our heads. Has she learned anything? Has she evolved, or changed? It appears she'll continue on forever being uninterestingly odd and never connecting with other human beings in any real way. Tons of hype about this book, and I'm mystified by it.
The Perfect Hou: The Romance of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ginevra King, His First Love by James L.W. West III (Random House, 2005). 3 stars.
Perhaps because Fitzgerald himself epitomizes the romantic hero whose end was tragic, the writer's first romance (when he was a Princeton sophomore, with 16-year-old Ginevra King) engenders an interest beyond its brief existence. West contends that this relationship with its class and economic disparities influenced Fitzgerald throughout his life. Using excerpts from Ginevra's diary (discovered in 2003), West adds depth to what is known about their relationship while demonstrating how characters inspired by Ginevra turn up again and again in Fitzgerald's fiction, most famously as Daisy in The Great Gatsby. It's generally accepted that meeting Ginevra was Fitzgerald's introduction to the world of privilege, inspiring his oft-used theme of the poor boy rejected by a wealthy young woman. When you think back on your own relationships as a teenager, it's hard to believe, yet seems to be so, that this one brief relationship had such a huge impact on the creative life of one of this country's most revered writers.
MarshaNee@adelphia.net
The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan takes us to the Mogul Empire and the culture of the region. It explores the connection between parent and child, familial loyalty and societal responsibility in Indian society in seventeenth century India. Based on fact but written as a novel, the book opens our eyes to the role women played in this bygone era. 4 stars.
The follow-up book, The Feast of Roses, by the same author continues the story as Mehrunnisa becomes the most powerful woman in the Mughal Empire. The scheming and plotting to secure her status and power is fascinating. 3 1/2 stars.
lasushl2@webtv.net
Our book club just read The Turtle Warrior by Mary Relindes Ellis. Everyone loved this debut novel and one member was moved to tears. The book tells the story of two neighboring families in Northern Wisconsin in the mid-sixties. Each chapter is the viewpoint told by a different character and each character's truth unfurls like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon. My heart broke for little Bill. I want a neighbor like Ernie. I could be friends with Rosemary. I live in Wisconsin and know the locale. Read this book and remember this author's name! 4 stars.
tfranzen2124@comcast.net
I am currently in the middle of Mary, Called Magdalene by Margaret George. It's an extremely engaging fictional account of the provocative Mary, friend of Jesus. George is a wonderful writer and this story is pulling me right along. 4 stars so far.
pdshertz@jps.net
Unlucky in Law by Perri O'Shaugnnessy. 4 stars.
Good read. Not as catching as her previous novels but still a good mystery.
Fast Women by Jennifer Cruise. 4 stars.
Light and fun. Good lines and good character descriptions.
The Good Earth by Pearl Buck. 5 stars.
Just as good now as when read the first time. Her books capture and keep you.
Helen From Buffalo
The Inn at Lake Devine by Elinor Lipman. 4 stars.
Another comic novel full of surprises, from this century's Jane Austen.
Cheryl from Allison Park, PA
Firefly by P.T. Deutermann. 4 stars.
Good story about how dysfunctional government agencies were and probably still are in regards to a terrorist threat. Sometimes it's confusing deciding who is on whose side.
Hope Dies Last by Studs Terkel. 1 star.
I read part of it and had to put it down. Not my cup of tea!
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. 5 stars.
A great read about growing up in the South prior to the Civil Rights Movement.
Nytrane@aol.com
The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. 5 stars.
This author understands the process of women right down to their souls. She understands their conflicts, frailties, triumphs, and how they all merge together to bring us to the point of near bursting --- yet being stymied. If you are a fan of The Secret Life of Bees, you must read this. If you are female and over the age of 40, this is an absolute must --- she is under your skin and connecting with the synapses in your brain. Enchantment personified!
Ya-Yas in Bloom by Rebecca Wells. 2 1/2 stars.
The Ya-Yas in this title is somewhat misguided since it is really a tale of southern friendship, but not of the Ya-Ya variety necessarily. We do know and recognize the characters, but their antics have now become the problems of addictive behaviors and some of the sadness of that. So I was disappointed in that aspect of this book, but happy to hear from some of the Petite Ya-Yas and Tres Petites. Sidda, where are you dahlin?
popopossum@aol.com
Blood Father by Peter Craig. 4 stars.
John Link and Lydia aren't your typical father and daughter --- their relationship has been rocky from the beginning. Link, an ex-Hells Angel, spends a number of years in jail and Lydia, who's had a troubled childhood, runs away from home and lives with a circle of friends. The two have been estranged for years from their separation, and while Link is desperately trying to find Lydia, she herself is getting deeper into trouble and finally reaches out by calling Link while on the run from her boyfriend and his thugs. Link and Lydia are on the run, and Link is desperate and willing to do what it takes to keep Lydia safe. Together they both find out what it is to be family and bound by blood. I really thought this was an awesome read and there is more Craig in my future.
Embers by Sandor Marai. 4 stars.
The Old General Heinrik and his childhood friend Konrad find themselves together one final time after being separated 41 years ago. During this long evening we learn about faithful friendship, the pains and jealousies it can cause, the reason for Konrad's sudden departure, and the woman who came between them. The writing style and flow of the words are absolutely beautiful, and while you would expect hatred to be dripping from the pages, there is a gentleness that envelops these two men as they come to terms over that fateful day.
Animal Factory by Edward Bunker. 3 stars.
Who better to take you behind the walls of San Quentin than somebody who has had to do the time? The book itself is fine, sometimes a little fractured, but it is the reality of what goes on inside that may get you hooked. This book is also the premise for the 2000 movie Animal Factory with Willem Dafoe and many more interesting and known actors.
suzieq67@comcast.net
I am reading our book club's current pick, Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver. I cannot give it any stars just yet, but I am enjoying it.
Lavenderdew12472@aol.com
The Tale of Hilltop Farm: The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter by Susan Wittig Albert. I love it!! It is excellent!!
PFLucas@aol.com
The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. 5 stars.
A beautifully crafted and ornately carved chair resides within the church of a Benedictine monastery off the South Carolina coast. According to local legend, the chair was dedicated to a saint who was a mermaid before her conversion. The main character, Jessie, returns to her home in order to help her eccentric mother, but finds herself drawn to Brother Thomas, a monk who lives in the nearby monastery. The Mermaid Chair is a vividly written novel of island community life, mermaids and saints, within the beauty of the marshlands and tidal creeks of Egret Island, South Carolina. It is an amazing book.
nll9017@earthlink.net
Suspect by Michael Robotham. 5 stars.
Joe O'Loughlin, a respected psychologist and family man, is given a life-changing medical diagnosis. Rather than going to his wife with the news, Joe turns to a former patient, ex-prostitute Elisa Velasco, for comfort. Joe is well-known in the community, particularly for recent heroic actions. He is asked by the police to help in a murder case. Joe never expected to have any connection to the victim, who everyone believes is a prostitute. However, he does, and his ugly history between him and Catherine McBride is uncovered by the police. Joe quickly becomes their number one suspect.
Breakdown Lane by Jacquelyn Mitchard. 5 stars.
Julieanne Gillis is married, has three kids, has her own newspaper advice column, and loves to take ballet lessons. Her life is turned upside down when her husband Leo decides he needs to take a sabbatical from their married life. It does not get any better when her doctor gives her the diagnosis that she has multiple sclerosis. Julieanne depends a lot on her son Gabe to help her with his two younger sisters. Gabe is an incredibly smart young man but a terrible student. Gabe and Cathy, her best friend, write her advice column when Julieanne is unable to write. As the narrative unfolds, Gabe and Julieanne take turns in each chapter telling their story. These chapters are interspersed with excerpts from her column, "Excess Baggage".
Wolves in Chic Clothing by Carrie Karasyov and Jill Kargman. 5 stars.
Julia Pearce works as a salesclerk at Pelham's, an exclusive jewelry store. She has the talent but not the means. However, her luck changes when she is called upon by store executives to deliver a necklace to Lell Pelham's bridal salon. Julia is quickly taken in by Lell and her super-wealthy friends as someone to mentor, a "winter project." Lell hires Julia as her Deputy Publicity Director at Pelham's. Julia's life is turned upside down by her boss's demands and her new schedule of charity events. She loves her new life of glitz and glamour but slowly begins to see the true motives behind many people in her new social circle. As the months go by, away for the weekend with her new group of friends, Julia discovers that her boss is cheating on her new husband. At the same time, Julia tries hard to avoid the obvious chemistry but cannot help falling in love with Will Banks, Lell's estranged husband.
Piglit412@aol.com
At the moment I am reading My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. I just started reading, but I can tell it will be at least 4 stars. You sometimes just know these things right from the first sentence.
I am also reading The Princes of Ireland by Edward Rutherfurd. I give this one 2 1/2 stars. I have not completed the book yet, but I am now skipping my way through it. It is not what I had hoped it would be.
© Copyright 1996-2009, Bookreporter.com. All rights reserved.
Back to top.
|
