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hagarrpt@earthlink.net
Thirteen Steps Down by Ruth Rendell. 5 stars.
Mix Chellini is the star of this latest novel by Ruth Rendell. An exercise equipment repairman whose IQ rivals his shoe size, Mix has two great passions in his life --- an obsession with past serial killer Reggie Christie and an overwhelming fascination with beautiful model Nerissa Nash.
Mix rents rooms on the top floor of an ancient home owned by Gwendolyn Chawser. To characterize Miss Chawser as eccentric is a gross understatement, and she and Mix are like oil and water. Each lives in a bizarre world of his/her own creation.
As is often the case with Ms. Rendell's non-Inspector Wexford books, Thirteen Steps Down is not a mystery. Instead, it is a psychological thriller of the highest order, and the intricately woven plot and wonderful, in-depth character studies make this one of Rendell's finest efforts.
The Master of Knots by Massimo Carlotto. 4 stars.
Set in Italy, Master of Knots has as its main character, Marco, aka Alligator, a private investigator and bar owner. Working with him are two close friends: Beniamino Rossini, a past gangster, and Max the Memory. All three men have spent time in prison, Marco for something he didn't do, and a fair amount of the book describes the horrors of life in an Italian prison in detail.
A friend has sent a client, Mariano Giraldi, to Marco for help. Giraldi's wife, Helena, has been kidnapped, and in the room from which she was abducted, a rose, made from intricate knots in a silken rope, has been left. Further investigation uncovers the fact that the Giraldis were into sadomasochism, and soon other women, also involved in S&M, begin to disappear. A sadistic psychopath nicknamed Master of Knots is at work, and Marco and friends must try to discover his identity and stop him before he can kidnap again.
The Master of Knots is dark, with graphic scenes and gutter language. My one complaint about the book is that everything was tied up in great haste at the end.
Hywelda9@aol.com
My favorite bedtime reading material is any book in the Lilian Jackson Braun The Cat Who... mystery series. They are well-written page-turners, and if you love cats, especially priceless! There is a whole series of them, some of which are The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern, The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal, The Cat Who Saw Red, The Cat Who Smelled a Rat, and many more. I would give her books 4-5 stars for great reading.
kelley899@yahoo.com
The Givenchy Code by Julie Kenner. 5 stars.
Excellent blend of Chick Lit and romantic suspense.
MarshaNee@adelphia.net
With No One As Witness by Elizabeth George. 3 1/2 stars.
Not her best effort for those who follow her characters, Inspector Lynley and Barbara Havers. The book seems to plod along with too many red herrings and ends with an unpopular event. The author herself warned attendees at a luncheon fundraiser that we may not like the ending. She was correct.
Leonardo's Chair by John DiSimone. 3 stars.
I also met with this author at an intimate book group and signing; his premise about the power of the supernatural and family dynamics relationships are thought-provoking. Art lovers will be fascinated as the action moves from Laguna Beach, California to Milan to Turin, Italy.
Shirley Baldwin
4th of July by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. 5 stars.
This is the fourth book in the Women's Murder Club series. Lt. Lindsay Boxer is a hands-on, caring homicide detective. She has got herself in a real jam and goes to her sister's house to recover.
The book grabs you from the first page and events unfurl fast. Looks like a serial killer has been doing his or her deed for many years and people keep dying. Can Lt. Boxer uncover the truth?
I love the fast pace of this book. Very difficult to put down.
myrtleme@sbcglobal.net
The Innocent by Harlan Coben. 4 stars.
Really interesting, a little rough to get into --- but stick in there --- great read.
Bjglu@aol.com
Honeymoon with My Brother by Franz Wisner. 4 stars.
Wisner is left at the altar by his bride, so he goes on his paid-for honeymoon with his brother. Then, they decide to travel for two years around the world to outlying spots, bonding with each other and citizens of the world. Funny, fascinating travel book.
Shopgirl by Steve Martin. 3 stars.
Sweet, thoughtful novelette about a "shopgirl" in L.A. coming to terms with her life and herself.
MelJPrincess@aol.com
Seeing Red by Jill Shalvis. 5 stars!
For lovers of romance comes another excellent firefighter story that follows White Heat and Blue Flame. I would read and recommend ANYTHING by Ms. Shalvis. Her stories are wonderful!
Evil Whispers by Owl Goingback. 5 stars!
Suspenseful and chilling! This book will scare the pants off you!!
eyesod02@gmail.com
House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III. 4 stars.
A tragic story about a family and a woman fighting for ownership of a home that they believe holds happiness. The movie adaptation was very well done. It was very sad to watch after having read the book.
etsucop@yahoo.com
I recently completed 4th of July by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro --- this is the 4th installment (obviously) of his Women's Murder Club series and is just as fast-paced and plot-driven as the others in this series. Excellent novel and as always, if it says Patterson on the cover, you needn't worry about getting a bum read...
Haddow@aol.com
Saturday by Ian McEwan. 4 1/2 stars.
A couple of pages into this book, I found myself relaxing, knowing I was in good hands. Like a cozy afternoon by the fire in a comfy over-stuffed chair, McEwan confidently takes you into the mind of neurosurgeon Henry Perowne, and it is a fine place to spend the time it takes to read this novel. Rare it is to read such a satisfying book about a happy man. Recommended.
Lgluhani@aol.com
Killing Orders by Sara Paretsky. 4 stars.
Another of her terrific mysteries.
Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock. 5 stars.
Wow! A thought-provoking, can't-put-down novel that will have you second-guessing yourself long after you've finished reading.
BREEZYWRITER@aol.com
The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory. 4 stars.
The third in the trilogy, this one about the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth.
julie.palyswiat@verizon.net
Currently I am reading Stamboul Train by Graham Greene. I am about halfway through it and although it was a very tough start --- especially in keeping the characters straight --- it is now becoming quite interesting. 3 1/2 stars.
I also just finished reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I have been trying to get caught up on the Harry Potter titles before the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I thought it was the best of the three so far. 4 stars.
I was also recently an advance reader for Peter Pouncy's first novel, Rules for Old Men Waiting. I thought this story was both charming and intriguing until I got about 2/3 of the way through it and lost interest. I think I will try it again at a later date. 2 1/2 to 3 stars.
Prior to that is was Old School by Tobias Wolff. I thought this was a great story. The tale of a young man in school and what he needs to learn about himself before he can become a great writer. 4 stars.
Blown by Francine Mathews was also a reader's review that I read for Bookreporter.com. This had a very interesting plot, which I think could have been more successful if there weren't so many characters being introduced all the time. I could not finish this book either. 2 stars.
And the last one I'd like to mention that I've recently read is Tobacco Road by Erskine Caldwell, one of Modern Library's top 100 reads. The story of a southern sharecropper and his love for the land is both comical and sad. It is a story that can toy with all your emotions. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 4 stars.
zandercage2003@yahoo.com
Her Bodyguard by Geralyn Dawson. 5 stars.
This is an excellently written historical romance with a fun and intriguing plot.
geobarb@sccoast.net
True Believer by Nicholas Sparks. 3 stars.
Although I've given 5 stars to all of his other books, I don't feel this one measures up to his earlier writing. I noticed it was number one on the bestseller list so maybe it is just me.
Karen Perrin/Roseville, CA
My current reading recommendation is Let's Meet on Platform 8 by Carole Mattews, published in 1997. 4 stars. If you like British humor, this is a dry, sassy funny book! It's about a young pretty girl and a married man who accidentally "crash into each other" and form a forbidden yet platonic relationship. I'm halfway through it. So far it's a witty account about love, lust, as well as self-control, with some job boredom thrown in.
Mailcatz@aol.com
I recently read Whispers & Lies by Joy Fielding. It was a good story that I thought I had all figured out, but there was quite a twist at the end that was very surprising to me. I would give it 3 stars.
A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George was a good read. I plan to read the rest of the series. I'd give it 5 stars.
I'm in the midst of reading The Madman's Tale by John Katzenbach. It is quite intriguing and I can't wait to see how it ends. I'd give it 4 stars so far.
KennethRMartin@aol.com
Body Rides by Richard Laymon. 5 stars.
This is a typical Richard Laymon thriller published for the first time by Leisure Books. It is typical Laymon that puts you into the scene and thinks the way you think.
sewpat10@wideopenwest.com
This year our book club read:
Back When We Were Grown Ups by Anne Tyler. 4 stars.
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. 5 stars.
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi. 3 stars.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. 5 stars.
Life of Pi by Yann Martel. 2 stars.
Love in the Driest Season by Neeley Tucker. 5 stars.
American Girls About Town: A Group of Short Stories by American Women. 5 stars.
The Bride Stripped Bare by Anonymous. 2 stars.
wurdplay@earthlink.net
I recently completed Killer Takes All by Erica Spindler. The setting is in New Orleans where we find the protagonist, Stacy Killian, caught up in another whodunit replete with mystery and intrigue southern style. The novel catches up with Killian a year after she has left the Dallas PD for half of a shotgun-style house in the Big Easy. Killian's next-door neighbor turns up dead and that sets the pace for the rest of the novel. As Killian frustrates and antagonizes the NOPD ISD (Investigative Support Division), she ends up partnering with Spencer Malone to bring her friend's killer to justice.
But wait --- that's not all...Spindler juxtaposes Alice in Wonderland with a violent and deadly role playing game called The White Rabbit to fill out her plot, keeping the reader in the dark as to who did it and why.
Killer Takes All is an excellent thriller and brings something into the genre that has not really been utilized to such an extent before --- Role Playing Games (RPGs). Blended with online gaming, fancy coffees, and good ol' Southern characters, Spindler's yarn gets curiouser and curiouser as the chapters flow by with good pacing and length.
Come and meet Stacy Killian, Spencer Malone (NOPD), Leo Noble (RPG creator), Alice Noble (Leo's daughter), Walter Pogolapoulos, Bobby Gautreaux, and Billie Bellini (owner of Cafe Noir coffeehouse) --- plus a whole slew of others living in Erica Spindler's Crescent City --- through the pages of Killer Takes All.
KTBug931@aol.com
I am currently reading Trace by Patricia Cornwell. I just graduated, so I'm trying to catch up on all those books I've been meaning to read for months. I'm only about a third of the way through, but so far it's pretty good. Cornwell is good at keeping the action going all through the book. So far, I would give it 4 out of 5 stars.
I also just picked up The Plot Against America by Philip Roth at my local used bookstore. This is another one that I have been waiting to read since it came out. As soon as I finish Trace I'll be starting it.
rischoni@comcast.net
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. 5 stars.
An excellent book with interesting class study in Afghanistan. I would like to read another book from this author.
The Broker by John Grisham. 4 stars.
Good but slow moving.
Blown by Francine Mathews. 5 stars.
I really like her books and details of intelligence work.
Ya-Yas In Bloom by Rebecca Wells. 4 stars.
I liked how she brought all the families together, but I still like her first two books better.
louise-johnson@comcast.net
The Da Vinci Code (Illustrated) by Dan Brown. 5 stars.
The illustrations and pictures in this edition add a lot to a great book.
Idiot by Johnny Damon. 3 stars.
Another "my life" book, but interesting for a Red Sox fan.
Long After Midnight by Iris Johansen. 4 stars.
An excellent read by a great author.
Rickimc@aol.com
Great Short Works of Mark Twain by Mark Twain. 4 stars.
I had never heard of many of these stories, but the majority were really good. They totally raised my opinion of Mark Twain's writing.
lewis2@budget.net
Blood Memory by Greg Iles gets 5 stars from me. Being a Westerner (Oregon), I learned a lot of historical information about Louisiana, Mississippi, and the Mississippi River area in general. The story is a wonderful mixture of several subjects, including child abuse, southern slavery, and, of course, serial killing. You can't miss with this one.
No Man's Land by G.M. Ford, a Frank Corso thriller, also gets 5 stars. This is a gritty, dark tale that lands Frank Corso in the place he least expected in his wildest dreams. It is thrilling right up to the end. A great read.
FRANCES732@aol.com
Darkness Descending by Penny Mickelbury. 5 stars. (Kings Crossing Publishing)
Mimi and Gianna solve another hate crime, the murder of a young woman in the lesbian community. As always, Mimi uses the pen and her column to expose the atrocities that have occurred, while Lieutenant Gianna Maglione and her team solve the murder. This is the fourth book in the series.
This was an all-night read. You never stop thinking why. You never stop asking and questioning the reasons behind what makes human beings inflict pain, mentally, physically and emotionally, towards each other.
Death By the Riverside by J.M. Redmann. 5 stars. (Bywater Books)
The first book of the Micky Knight series; set in New Orleans, Micky (Michele) is a private eye looking for a missing person. Instead, she runs into the usual suspects that take her through the seedy parts of New Orleans and eventually lands her at the doorstep of a rich man who is part of Micky's past.
I couldn't put the book down, not on the first nor the second read. Her style is similar to Raymond Chandler "straight down the line" with a lot of witty by-play.
Deaths of Jocasta by J.M. Redmann. 5 stars. (Bywater Books)
The second book in the Micky Knight series. What should have been a routine security job for a swanky weekend party turns into an investigation of a young woman left dead in the woods.
Micky is a wonderful soul, with all her flaws. Micky's flaws are what make her a compassionate, uncompromising and dedicated detective. This book is wonderful, and bittersweet the first and the second read.
kingfreddy29@beer.com
I just finished The First Mistake by Merline Lovelace. I would rate it 3 stars. It was a book my girlfriend was reading in the bathtub. It was a lot better than I'd expect from an author named "Merline Lovelace." I would have enjoyed it a lot better if there had not been as much emphasis on sex...maybe that is why my girlfriend was reading it in the bathtub.
cat02886@cox.net
Right now I am reading Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult. I give it 4 stars. It is a great book and I feel like I am Paige. I went through the same things she is going through after having a baby. Except when she runs away.
Marilynshx@aol.com
The Frog Prince by Jane Porter.
Readers are taken to a new realm in discovering who you are and this book takes "relationships" to a new level. If you were raised to believe in fairy tales and along would come Prince Charming, then you will definitely relate to this book. It's an exploration into marriage, mother/daughter, sibling, friendship, and dating relationships. Holly, the central character, has been raised to be the "good girl" --- don't kiss on the first date, have a good reputation and basically keep your innermost feelings to yourself. She felt she really didn't know her mother, her siblings, and for the most part in her family, that she was on the outside looking in.
She marries Jean-Marc and thinks this is an answer to her happiness. However, the marriage fails and she is empty and doesn't know how to ask for help from her family and friends. Relocation is Holly's only answer, and she now faces a new city, new job and new friends. Here she learns there are no second chances and that one can only move forward. Holly explores her past and what her future might hold.
This book is an exploration for the reader as to why we need love, and what makes a person special. Do we suffer from family guilt, can we move forward and put past relationships behind us? And most importantly, is there happy ever after? For Holly, this is about learning who she was and moving forward. It's the story of a young woman falling in love with herself. She discovers that she is wonderful, that she's always been wonderful, and all she has to do is trust herself.
For me, this book hit right to the center of my heart! It was an exploration into my past, present and future as well. I sincerely recommend this book especially if you're a "Baby Boomer."
Joyce of Winchester, TN
The two books I read most recently have been The Red Tent by Anita Diamant (my book club's "read" of the month), and R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton. The Red Tent was an unexpected pleasure. It is not necessarily a book I would have been likely to read, so I had to thank the "Bookies" book club for that choice. It kept my interest all the way through the book, and gave me a new respect for the lives of women in biblical times. I selected R is for Ricochet simply because I have followed Sue Grafton through the alphabet, and it was time for me to read this one. R is for Ricochet was intriguingly different from the previous books in this line. She gives her main character, Kinsey, an unusual assignment --- one that she thought would be rather boring: a baby-sitting type job. But the pay was good and she had nothing else going at the time, so she took it. Needless to say, things don't always go as expected for Kinsey, and this one doesn't disappoint the reader either.
I give both books 4 stars.
jnewlan@sbcglobal.net
I've been on a mystery/thriller binge lately. The ones I liked the best:
Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris. 3 stars. Lots of fun.
Just One Look by Harlan Coben. 3 stars. Very twisty.
Tropic of Night by Michael Gruber. 3 stars. Scary and great characters.
Brimstone by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child. 3 stars. Couldn't put it down.
Catslady5@aol.com
All That Remains by Patricia Cornwell. 4 stars.
I am only partway through the book and I do believe it will go up in stars by the time I am finished. If you like forensic mystery this is a very good book. It has you constantly guessing, but at the same time you care about the characters and learn a little something along the way.
BDORM@aol.com
The Plot Against America by Philip Roth. 3 stars.
Slow going at first, but then I was unable to put it down; I had to find out what happened to America.
A Stroke of Midnight by Laurell K. Hamilton. 4 stars.
Reading her books is my dirty little pleasure; this one is probably close to softcore porn.
dglg@telus.net
I just finished reading Table For Five by Susan Wiggs. It is a beautifully written story with characters so real that I felt sad when the story ended --- like saying goodbye to good friends. Warning **** Susan Wiggs books are almost impossible to put down once you have read the first page. I give it 5 stars.
dglg@telus.net
Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly. This book deserves 5 stars plus! I have to say it is one of the greatest books I have ever read. It is the remarkable story of a young girl growing up in the late 1800s in England. It is a large book, but so enthralling that you cannot put it down. My sister recommended it to me and now I want to recommend it to all of Bookreporter's readers. If you loved Woman of Substance by the great Barbara Taylor Bradford, then you will love this! It would make an awesome mini-series for TV if it could be portrayed as accurately as this novel.
benet_gesserit@sbcglobal.net
Outfoxed by Alexandra Kitty. 3 stars.
Much like the network that it profiles, Outfoxed is filled with salacious gossip about the less-than-honest network of Rupert Murdock. Alexandra Kitty reveals how Rupert Murdock makes huge profits off his scandal machine while camouflaging it as a news organization. Former staff recites from memos that instructed them how to cover stories and who to use as experts. It turns out that only on Fox are Democrats actually Republicans. One of the tricks that Fox uses to make despised "liberals" look befuddled is to interview what Fox staffers describe as "pseudo-liberals." Pseudo-liberals are Republicans who pretend to be liberals for interviews. Naturally, their grasp of perspectives other than conservative is a bit tenuous. Fox keeps its costs down and its profits up by reducing news content and bumping up scandal. News content is low because reporters don't have time to research their stories very well. What they lack in facts, they make up in volume. Murdock prefers highly aggressive hosts and anchors rather than facts. It turns out that Fox viewers are often very confused about the actual facts of such things as "WMD in Iraq," Al Qaida and Hussein's relationship, and what's going on in Iraq. Considering that Americans are giving Murdock all kinds of corporate welfare and tax breaks to provide dreck instead of news, I was angry about Fox's purposeful and politically profitable bias.
God's Politics: How the Right Got It Wrong and The Left Doesn't Get It by Jim Wallis. 3 stars.
Wallis renewed my hope and faith in people. Finally, I understood how the Neoconservatives infiltrated the Moral Majority and Christian Coalition for their own benefit. Neither the Moral Majority nor the Christian Coalition realized how they were corrupted until it was too late to turn back. Power seduced the leaders of both groups. Money sealed the deal. Monies that were unavailable under administrations that adhered to strict Church/State separations suddenly rained onto the churches and private foundations of CC and MM leaders. It wasn't long before they were drawing big salaries and, well, you know how that goes. Neither these Christians in name nor the breast-beating politicians who reference them in every conversation are acting like Christ, according to Wallis. Throughout his teachings, Christ repeatedly admonished his believers to help the poor and misfortunate. Citing scriptural references by the chapter, Wallis dissects the neocon/Christian policies that punish the poor and reward the rich and shows how they bear no resemblance to biblical-based social policy. He wrote that Christian societies don't cut benefits to those who need them to pursue a policy of aggression. Christians don't create policies to punish those who transgress. Jesus himself forgave Mary Magdalene unlike those who shunned her. Most importantly, Jesus threw the money-changers out of the temple, he did not set up a storefront for them. Wallis points out that the religious philosophy of the neocons has about as much to do with true Christianity as witch doctors have to do with modern medicine. The book is an excellent summary of what's wrong with policies that have caused 5.2 percent short-term unemployment and 20 percent long term unemployment.
Perfectly Legal by David Cay Johnson. 5 stars.
Validates the feeling that taxes are too high on people who can't afford them. This book explains how the Reagan, Bush I and Bush II administrations have shifted the tax burden from the wealthiest Americans to the upper middle, middle and lower classes. In the course of making that change, the wealth in the country is all flowing upward! Twenty-eight thousand people who make an average of 37 million dollars a year are getting all the benefits of these changes. Tax deductions intended to help the poor are actually hurting them. For example, the mortgage interest deduction that was supposed to help poorer folks is actually inflating housing prices. How? Wealthier folks buy very expensive houses and gain huge tax breaks. Then they trade up.
Johnson explains how really wealthy people avoid the majority of their taxes as do corporations leaving only wage slaves who have to report their earnings to pick up the slack. Halfway through the book, I came perilously close to bursting a blood vessel. I found out that people who make over 8 million a year can defer their salaries in part to avoid taxes. This means that the companies who pay them cannot deduct their salaries, which means that the shareholders are getting less money because the corporation is paying taxes on those unpaid salaries. Then there are the hotshots who buy private jets and write them off as "business expenses" along with their face lifts, tummy tucks and hair care. Read this book, and you will never look at taxes or economics the same way again.
Debby236@aol.com
I am currently reading Charmed and Dangerous by Lori Wilde. This is the first one in a series and I read the second first. I liked it so much I went out and got this one. She does an excellent job with her characters and with building the suspense. I give it so far 4 1/2 stars.
sudansong@cox.net
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith is NUMBER ONE! It is a heartwarming story of novice detective Precious Ramotswe and the unusual and entertaining cases she solves. But it is also a story of Africa, with characters whose very identity springs from the African landscape. McCall Smith has written a book and created a character who touches the heart and who is extremely funny at the same time. Mme Ramotswe (Precious) is the greatest! I happily give it 5 stars.
mlmiller1@mindspring.com
I just finished reading Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts and enjoyed it very much. I don't remember ever being so inspired by a novel. The story follows the author's own life quite closely. He escaped from an Australian prison where he was incarcerated for robberies that occurred during his heroin addiction. He ended up in Bombay, India and carved out a life for himself as an administrator of first aid in a slum and later in Bombay's underworld. This work led him to participate in a gun running trip to Afghanistan during the war with the Soviet Union. It was inspiring because he survived so many trying circumstances and still had the spirit to live on. His observations about himself and other people were profound. I award it 5 stars.
lgettle@iserv.net
Reed Shelton believes his wife will benefit by spending some time in the forest, but he is horrified when she is carried off by a large, hairy creature in Monster by Frank Peretti. Well-written and believable. 5 stars.
Major Sean Drummond is investigating the biggest case of treason in U.S. history in The Kingmaker by Brian Haig. He's up against a prosecutor who rarely loses a case, and a master manipulator who doesn't care who gets hurt. This novel hooks you from page one. 5 stars
Chareem29@aol.com
Are You Satisfied Yet? A Betty Jean Title by M Bridges.
The story tells about a successful woman who has a good man, or so she thinks. She considers whether or not this man is worth it or not. This book is not erotic or explicit; it tells a story that either a man or woman can relate to. The author, M. Bridges, is a local Houston author who explores a woman's self-esteem. She makes you angry, happy, and sad. This book also encloses a tidbit of her next title, Getting up and Getting on... I give this book 5 stars because she gives details of each character in the book from beginning to end. I was able to finish this book in three days; that is how involved I am and I can't wait for the next one to come about.
bradylee@myway.com
The Burn Journals by Brent Runyon. Nonfiction. Published 2004 with 374 pages. 4 stars.
The author is writing an autobiography, but only for a short period of time when he was 14 years old…The events leading up to setting himself on fire...and those after.
This is written using the language of a 14-year-old from the beginning to page 374. I don't know how one remembers such detail at the age of 14, but Mr. Runyon does it. This was not the first attempt trying to end his life, but it was the last. In the end he certainly turned his life around, but this story would be most appropriate for a young adult to read. This tells about his thoughts and actions at that time in his life and you may learn something by reading this.
A Lotus Grows in the Mud by Goldie Hawn with Wendy Holden. 446 pages. Nonfiction. Published 2005 getting 5 stars.
This is the story of Goldie's life up to now and an interesting one it is. You will not read of any Hollywood gossip or badmouthing others. Goldie is totally optimistic and the whole book is that way (makes you feel good to be alive). There are a couple of amazing coincidences she talks about, however, with her outlook on life, and I do not believe they were chance events; they were planned by others wanting to help in this life.
If I Knew Then... by Amy Fisher and Robbie Woliver. Published 2004. 295 pages + notes. Nonfiction. 3 stars.
Many of the problems Amy had in her younger days were due to naivety, she claims. I just cannot buy that she was that dumb where she didn't think trying to kill someone was not a big deal (because she loved her man) and that she wouldn't go to jail or prison. Of course, she changed her tune later, but so many unbelievably dumb actions were done by her where she didn't think there would be consequences that it is not rational. She now earns her living writing, but the writing of this book was not that good for me.
megnicks@yahoo.com
I just finished The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. I was surprised that the main character lacked depth and wasn't even likable. Very disappointing.
jlbugbee@comcast.net
I am currently reading The Last Promise by Richard Paul Evans. It is an interesting story that takes place mostly in Italy, so there is the bilingual thing going on but anyone can read it. Most of what is written in Italian is immediately written in English for those of us who can't figure what is implied. It's a love story and the kind of book that is a real page-turner and difficult to put down. My only time for reading is before bed, so I'm not plowing through it as quickly.
SaraMalcolm@mhsolaw.com
Two Dollar Bill by Stuart Woods. 5 stars.
Great book. I love this whole series and this latest one did not disappoint.
Dead Beat by Jim Butcher. 4 stars.
Salaryman's Wife by Sujata Massey. 4 stars.
clee@dppl.org
I have recently read:
Map of Bones by James Rollins. I would give it 4 stars. Less technology would have gotten it 5 stars.
Everglades by Randy Wayne White. Definitely 5 stars. His writing is tight, witty, and his characters are just that --- characters!
Donna of New Berlin
I just finished reading Burned by Carol Higgins Clark. 5 stars. I believe it was her best book yet. It was a very exciting mystery in a beautiful setting with great characters and lots of twists that kept me reading until the end. You will be surprised who the killer really is...Enjoy!
I also started reading Women of Mystery edited by Cynthia Manson. 5 stars. There are 15 short stories by wonderful women authors. It has been great so far.
Ami Hansen from Omaha, NE
The Alphabet Sisters by Monica McInerney. 5 stars.
WONDERFUL, this will be a book club favorite. This story about three sisters combines betrayal, heartbreak, trauma, relationships, family, marriage, and life and death. This book would be an amazing movie. I can't say enough about it. You WILL fall in love with Lola, she is hilarious.
Coyote Dream by Jessica Davis Stein. 4 stars.
You will learn something from this book --- not only about coyotes but about life and love. A heartwarming story!
The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. 5 stars.
Another one of my favorite books. I loved The Secret Life of Bees she wrote as well. If you liked it then you must read this latest book. It's a very quick read.
WilddOrkid@aol.com
I'm currently reading The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy. I know it's an "oldie", but I'm finding it to be a "goodie" as well. I've seen the movie but now I want to know more about what makes these characters tick. So far I am enjoying this novel although I'm only about 1/4 of the way through it. It's a little different from many of the "quick reads" that I have been picking up lately but it truly is an enjoyable book. It can be a little depressing but that's ok --- it rings true to life. 4 stars.
natwadel@earthlink.net
The last book I finished was The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. I would give it a 5. I felt sorry for the Nanny and depressed for the child! Prior to that, I read Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie McDonald. I would give it a 3. I wasn't too impressed. I also read the first two books in the Galway series by Brock and Bodie Thoene. I give those a 5. Great storylines and would like to read others by these authors.
canterburypl@snet.net
What we are currently reading:
Before You Know Kindness by Chris Bohjalian. 4 stars.
Almost as good as Midwives. Great book discussion book.
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik. 5 stars.
Wonderful and heartwarming.
The Probable Future by Alice Hoffman. 4 stars.
Hoffman's books are usually the best book discussions.
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult. 4 stars.
The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman. 5 stars.
Excellent book, a must-read.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. 2 stars.
Half of our group really liked this book and the other half felt as I did.
An American Summer by Frank DeFord. 4 stars.
I haven't finished reading this book yet (may jump up to 5 stars!?), but the characters are charming. A great summer read!
Tsbrown62@aol.com
I just finished reading Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock. 5 stars! Read this book. The ending will astonish you.
BahamaValF@aol.com
Maximum Ride by James Patterson.
Wow! I could not put this book down. I loved the other two books he wrote on the Angel experiment and loved them too. These five children go through really bad times but always come through. Max is the toughest little Angel you will ever meet. She takes care of her four angels and always pulls them out of trouble. A very good read, but the ending could have been better. But this is the start of another series so I guess it had to end like this. I can't wait to get the next book. James Patterson is my favorite author and his books are just awesome.
NBLACK@twcny.rr.com
The Taking by Dean Koontz. 5 stars.
Koontz has outdone himself with this novel; a sincere page-grabber from the opening pages. The characters are believable, and Molly & Neil along with the dogs' personalities have you praying for goodness to prevail.
J.A. Jance, any of her series. There are two: the JP Beaumont detective series and The Joanna Brady Sheriff series. All can be read alone without reading another book in the series. Joanna Brady is a likable, stubborn Sheriff of a small Arizona County who finds herself up to her neck in plausible murder adventures. Great Southwestern descriptions to delight the senses. Highly recommended for a great reading experience. 5 stars.
VHale@ecampus.com
I am reading The Intelligencer by Leslie Silbert, a thriller about the mysterious death of 16th century playwright Christopher Marlowe. It is an excellent novel, about a very intriguing historical unsolved mystery.
cathugz@hotmail.com
I know this is probably too old, but I've been reading the Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, and they have been the only books recently that have kept my attention and makes me want to keep reading until they are all read cover to cover.
I give them 6 thumbs up. On a scale of 1-10, a 200.
Valerie.Russo@thomson.com
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. 4 stars.
I just finished this book, and it was an excellent read. It's a cross between The Da Vinci Code and Something Wicked This Way Comes, and it made me long for a trip to Spain.
mtnlady@gmail.com
I just finished The Mermaid's Chair by Sue Monk Kidd and I really enjoyed it. She has quite a way with words. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is excellent and profound.
edserve@beld.net
Confidential Source by Jan Brogan. 3 1/2 stars.
After a good start, the story slows down, but then rushes to a satisfactory conclusion.
Persuader by Lee Child. 5 stars.
More twists and turns than a Swiss mountain road. From beginning to end, a sustained white-knuckled gripper.
Anonymous
I tend to favor the fantasy or darker side of reading. Laurell K. Hamilton's Stroke of Midnight that just came out in April is a great book. 5 stars for this awesome book that is a part of her Meredith Gentry series. But then again, I would rate all her books in the 5-star category. I also enjoyed Kim Harrison's Dead Witch Walking and The Good, the Bad and the Undead. Both are wonderful books, and her newest to this series is due out the end of June. 5 stars to all her books. Christine Feehan also writes some fabulous books. Her newest is Dark Secret but a favorite of mine is Dark Desire. 5 stars hands down. Some other greats are Kelley Armstrong's Bitten (5 stars), Charlaine Harris's Dead to the World (5 stars), Mary Janice Davidson's Undead and Unemployed (5 stars), and Night Play by Sherrilyn Kenyon (5 stars). Fantastic books and authors.
Gladys Paradowski
The list of books I have read lately:
Then Comes Marriage by Kasey Michaels
The Most Unsuitable Husband by Caroline Clemmons
Kiss Me Once, Kiss Me Twice by Kimberly Raye
The Love Match by Deborah Simmons, Deborah Hale, and Nicola Cornick
Sticks & Scones by Diane Mott Davidson
The Heartbreaker by Carly Phillips
Total Package by Cait London
Last Dance by Cait London
Blackhawk Legacy by Barbara McCauley
Wild For You by Suzanne Gray
Campaign for Love by Celya Bowers
With His Kiss by Laurey Bright
Tippy Toe Murder by Leslie Meier
Flying High by Barbara Dunlop
The Playboy by Carly Phillips
High Stakes by Barbara Dunlop
Some Girls Do by Leanne Banks
When She's Bad by Leanne Banks
Dead Ringer by Annie Solomon
My Hero by Mary McBride
Tallchief: The Homecoming by Cait London
Distant Shores by Kristin Hannah
Ms. Simon Says by Mary McBride
Joyride by Colleen Collins
Every Groom's Guide Too... by Cait London
Tallchief: The Hunter by Cait London
The Road Home by Susan Crandall
I believe my very favorites were Ms. Simon Says by Mary McBride, Some Girls Do by Leanne Banks and Flying High by Barbara Dunlop.
I love a bit of humor in my romance stories and all of the above include just that. Tops for humor were Flying High (I loved the hero in this one and the way he led the heroine on) and Some Girls Do (the heroine's mom was dead, but she still played a great part in the story.) Ms. Simon Says was a darling story, too.
I have just started Master of the Highlands by Sue-Ellen Welfonder.
Reading books while riding our stationary bike has truly speeded up my reading accomplishments.
Lydia from Jasper, NY
I recommend four very differently written books and would give each one 5 stars. They are:
The Mosquito Coast by Paul Theroux
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren
marshagalinsky@earthlink.net
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld. 1 star.
Definitely does not live up to the hype; the heroine is pathetic.
The Mermaid's Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. 2 stars.
Well-written, but a bit strange and could have been half the length.
My Name is Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe. 3 stars.
Bonfire of the Vanities meets the college set; well-drawn characters; could have been edited down substantially, however.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. 5 stars.
Fabulous in every sense of the word; beautifully written and complexly plotted.
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi. 1 star.
An utter bore.
Dan Hunnel at Longwood, Florida
Flash by L. E. Modesitt. If you like intelligent Science Fiction check it out. Weaving multiple themes into an intriguing story, I'd give it 4 1/2 to 5 stars as the only thing I've read recently that tempted me to analyze just what I found so intriguing. Uses a surprisingly effective amount of economics theory to establish the context; extrapolates the development of "content filtering" and spam blocking to the point where "consumer advertising" becomes 100% ineffective; adds in the availability of asteroidal resources and nanotech manufacturing...
The protagonist is a consultant in the field of "product placement" (in a crude sense equivalent to the inclusion of "Reese's Pieces" in the movie E.T.). One plot thread deals with determining that a politician is skirting campaign regulations by subliminally equating himself to "trusted household products" (heh, heh).
Another thread evolves from "Privacy laws" that restrict access to info unless elaborately codified "need-to-know" or "sufficient evidence" criteria are met --- criteria that seem to be protecting an "elite" group.
NOT a "preachy" or "gentle" book --- various forms of violence and mayhem occur with startling abruptness. The moral message seems to be that situations can push good people into having to choose between two bad alternatives, AND that taking the easy way out is usually a sure path to a bad end. NOT the archetypical dark cyberpunk 'noir.'
The best aspect is that by the end of the book you are reading on two and three levels, understanding exactly (without lengthy explanation) the meaning of a sudden flicker of someone's eyes during a conversation.
Rammin775@aol.com
The Left Behind Series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. 5 stars.
Frankenstein by Dean Koonz. 5 stars.
Echoes by Danielle Steel. 5 stars.
BlindlyBookish@aol.com
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. 4 stars.
Cinnamon Girl (advance copy) by Juan Felipe Herrera. 3 stars.
Thekuktas5@cs.com
The Conspiracy Club by Jonathan Kellerman. 5 stars.
Blow Fly by Patricia Cornwell. 5 stars.
I am enjoying The Conspiracy Club. Different from his ones with Milo and Alex Delaware, but I am enjoying it. I loved Blow Fly. I have read all of Patricia's work and enjoy them a lot. I worked in a mortuary for 10 years and find Forensics very interesting.
mia@jacobsracing.com
I have just finished reading Piano Girl by Robin Meloy Goldsby. It is a wonderful memoir of a woman's life as a cocktail lounge pianist. It is one of the best books I have read in a long time. It is often laugh-out-loud funny and at other times warm and insightful.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this book. I give it a big 5-star rating.
judithms@cox.net
Leeway Cottage by Beth Gutcheon. 4 stars.
Several decades, switching between past and present, alternating Maine and Europe, yet the story of the families come full circle and leaves the reader satisified and pleased to have read the saga.
The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. 4 stars.
Not quite as riveting as The Secret Life of Bees, it is nonetheless an interesting tale of a mother and daughter (and their own demons), a monastery, friends, and the stories of saints and mermaids.
susanrjensen@yahoo.com
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire. 3 1/2 stars.
I expected this re-telling of the Cinderella story to be a bit more light and upbeat, but it's actually a very bleak tale. I did like the way Maguire fleshed out the story, giving the characters more depth, and generally making the well-known story more interesting. It's well-written and engrossing, but a little too dark for my taste.
bradylee@myway.com
The Wolfling by Sterling North. Fiction. Published 1969 with 204 pages. 4 stars.
I would call this an old-fashioned novel meaning it is about basic human values in a setting in Wisconsin during the 1870s. Young people from fourth grade on should love this story as it talks about life during those times and what children had to go through in helping their families. It is also about the love of a wolfling and how the main character, Robby, gets the wolf and trains it for domesticity. This is a fine read about old times.
Haneymeh@aol.com
The Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King. A first-time author for me. It deals with six Southern women and tells of their loves, deceptions and struggles. I give it 4 stars.
I also just finished Dead Of Night by one of my favorite authors, Randy Wayne White. His book takes us again to Florida and Doc Ford and Tomlinson. It deals with ecoterrorism. 5 stars.
carolyn333@juno.com
I am currently reading Blown by Francine Mathews, which I am loving every word and scene.
conniegwen@juno.com
Critical Conditions by Stephen White. 4 stars.
Denwal1@aol.com
The Dangerous Protector by Janet Chapman. 4 stars.
This was a wonderful story. I enjoyed the main characters' chemistry and all the extra characters were great and added to the story with ease. Even though there were quite a few characters, they were easy to remember because of Janet's storytelling ability. If you enjoy mystery/romance books, this one is for you.
Jewelry224@aol.com
Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews. 4 stars.
This is a great read. Mary Kay writes with a great sense of humor and is a great story about love and mystery. She had me hooked on the first page. I moved to North Carolina eight years ago and it's fun to read a books from local authors. I would love to meet Mary Kay in person.
DFSn180@aol.com
I read all of Jeffery Deaver's novels. He never disappoints; however, Garden of Beasts is his best ever. 5 stars doesn't do it justice. It is very different from his other books. Set in Germany during WWII, it is suspense all the way. Totally unpredictable.
Deb1teach@aol.com
I read The Innocent by Harlan Coben and I give it 4 stars. It's a great mystery that makes you really think about how people can get involved in bad situations. It makes you think right from the very beginning. The way the characters intertwine is very intriguing. I have read most of Coben's books, and I was not disappointed.
CTBLATT@aol.com
I have just read The Red Hat Club Rides Again by Haywood Smith. It was a delightful book. And I have just finished Teeth of the Tiger by Tom Clancy. It was excellent and suspenseful. I am eager for the sequel.
McTab@aol.com
At present I am reading two books. The first is Firewall by Henning Mankell, the seventh and latest book in the Kurt Wallander mystery series. If you are a mystery buff, all the books in this series are great reads. They provide a wonderful picture of Sweden, particularly Southern Sweden, and are very strong on dialogue and personal interaction between the various police officers who make up the detective squadron of the Ystad police force. I would rate all the books in the series 5 stars.
The second book is a history book by Eric Hobsbawm, The Age of Revolution. This book is the first in a series of four books that traces European and World History from 1789 through 1991. Hobsbawm is an outstanding writer and an exceptionally fine historian. The two revolutions that he follows in this book are the Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution. Anyone who is interested in European history will enjoy reading Hobsbawm for his scholarship and his interpretations. I recommend this book highly to anyone who enjoys history. I would also rate this book 5 stars.
lasanam@sympatico.ca
I have just finished reading The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay and it was a definite 4 stars! I really enjoyed the story and the characters and look forward to reading the next two books in The Fionavar Tapestry. The only reason I wouldn't give it a 5 is that it was a little too reminiscent of The Lord of the Rings.
Carosp@aol.com
The Fourth Hand by John Irving. 3 stars.
John Irving is one of my favorite authors, and this book was entertaining enough, but I didn't find it to be one of his best. The main character is a news anchor for a CNN-type network who loses a hand in an accident with a lion, and then receives a new one when someone dies, and becomes involved with the donor's wife.
Musical Duet by Batya Gur. 4 stars.
The fourth in a series of detective stories by this author. The main character is a police detective in Israel, trying to solve the murders of two people, father and son, who were murdered within a few days of each other and are part of a very talented musical family. Gur's books are always good.
Crystal Blackburn
I am currently reading Murder Can Mess Up Your Mascara by Selma Eichler. I give it 5 stars. I've also read her other books in the Desiree Shapiro Mystery series. They've all been this good. Desiree is a PI who is short, chubby and not exactly young. She has red hair and loves earrings. She's funny but takes her job seriously.
Goycrazy@aol.com
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
This series is my beach reading for the summer. Very sweet-natured and enjoyable, while giving a glimpse into the faraway culture of Botswana.
justme@xmission.com
The Dive from Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer has me swept away right now! It's been very hard to put this book down. Last night I burned the midnight oil trying to get it finished! FIVE great big, huge giant stars!!
cinsin2001@netscape.net
Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros. 5 stars.
This book tells the story of four generations of a family, told from the point of view of Celaya, the daughter in the youngest generation. There are frequent interruptions and comments from her grandmother, who views some events differently. The story is engrossing, and I loved reading about the cultural differences in Mexico where much of the story takes place. The writing is descriptive and sometimes almost poetic. Great story!
lesnoces@hotmail.com
I just finished Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. 5 stars, easily.
KennethRMartin@aol.com
I just finished an advanced reading copy of Killer Takes All by Erica Spindler. I give it 4 stars. This is a thriller whose main character is an enjoyable female ex-cop. There are many twists in the story and you'll be changing your mind on the villain throughout.
ABamaBecky@aol.com
I am currently reading the Texas series by Fern Michaels. The first book is Texas Heat, if you enjoy romance this is a definite read. Personally I don't, so I'm rating it 3 stars. The second book is Texas Rich, this one was not quite as flowery and I like the story line better, so I rate it 4 stars. I am 20 pages into Texas Fury, so far I would rate it 4 stars.
baxtergr@msn.com
Two books that I read last weekend while traveling to the college graduation ceremonies of a grandson include The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg. Ms. Berg's books are always a joy for me to read. They tend to deal with persons in difficult situations, but in a gentle, loving way. And so it is with this book, which tells of a recently widowed woman who moves from Boston to a small town where she remakes her life with the help of, among others, a 10-year-old neighbor boy and three college friends with whom she reconnects. I always feel a combination of sadness and hope after reading one of Berg's books and this one was no exception. 5 stars.
I also read Rules for Old Men Waiting by Peter Pouncey. An elderly man whose wife has recently died is alone in his house, a ways from others in a snowy winter. He is depressed and almost is purposefully careless to the extent of possibly freezing to death when he realizes this is not what he wants. Therefore, he makes his "rules" for daily living, including writing a story of wars, World Wars and the Vietnam War in particular. The book swings between what is happening to this man and the story he is writing. Very well done. One that both men and women will enjoy reading. 5 stars.
SEEDCAKEANDJOE@aol.com
The Pact by Jodi Picoult. 5 stars.
A beautifully written, sensitive, and very sad book, this has continued to make Picoult one of my favorite authors.
mcgillrmcgill@charter.net
I just finished John Grisham's The Broker. I'm a fan and give it 5 stars.
I am about halfway into London Bridges by James Patterson, also one of my favorite authors. Another 5 stars for this one.
a1gross@adelphia.net
The Rosary Girls by Richard Montanari. 5 stars.
I read the review of this book on the Bookreporter website and thought it sounded good. I'm always looking for a new author. I will look for more books by Montanari. I can usually figure out who "done it" before I get to the end of the book, but that wasn't the case here. I recommend this book. It's a definite 5 stars!
mbennett32003@earthlink.net
All That Matters by Jan Goldstein. 4 1/2 stars.
A lovely book about a girl who discovers that life is worth living through the help of her grandmother.
Open Season by Archer Mayor. 4 1/2 stars.
A good police procedural set in Vermont. This is the first in the series.
Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray. 4 stars.
Enjoyable book about a woman who discovers herself in midlife.
ctritt@comcast.net
I just finished The Third Secret by Steve Berry and what a read! I had about a hundred pages to finish one night before going to bed, and kept thinking about what the third secret was and how it would impact the Catholic church. So sleep eluded me, and I got up at midnight and read until 3 to finish it! I paid for it the next day, but it was well worth it. This book is excellent and keeps you interested from the very beginning. I will definitely be looking for future books by Mr. Berry.
houseconcert@lycos.com
Ella Minnow Pea: A Progressively Lipogrammatic Epistolary Fable by Mark Dunn. 5 stars.
A wonderfully written book with sly commentary on the subject of censorship.
Mightynaynay@cs.com
4th of July by James Patterson. 5 stars.
This was an excellent read, will probably read this one again. You can never go wrong with a James Patterson book.
sycomom@earthlink.net
I am reading Northern Lights by Nora Roberts. So far I give it 4 stars.
EZREADER1265@aol.com
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik. 4 stars.
It was a fun read...loved the characters and the idea of using book clubs to find your way in a new town or city. I enjoyed being with the characters through their life changes.
Hidden Prey by John Sandford. 4 stars.
Best of the Prey series so far...action, great characters and storyline. Loved it.
NGroves@aol.com
The Dew Breaker by Edwidge Danticat. 3 stars.
My book club read this and most of us agreed that it was more like a collection of short stories than a novel. It's loosely the story of a Haitian man who was a hit man and torturer for the Papa Doc Duvalier regime before escaping the island and moving to New York City. There, he has changed his name, lost weight, and lived a quiet, respectable life, although always afraid that someone will recognize and report him. As the book opens, he has finally confessed his secret to his 20-something daughter, but rather than explore how the family deals with this news, the rest of the book contains chapters focusing on other people: victims, children of victims, friends and lovers, etc. Presumably the point is to show how political repression has such a sweeping effect and lasting repercussions, beyond those most directly targeted, and to explore the possibility of change, repentance, and forgiveness. A worthwhile book, but readers will probably disagree on how well all the pieces of this puzzle eventually fit together into a coherent whole.
Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. 4 stars.
A clever novel in which a young American Jew travels to Ukraine to look for the woman who allegedly saved his grandfather from the Nazis over 50 years earlier. Chapters alternate between vignettes of life through the generations in the small Ukrainian village and the quest, decades later, for the mysterious woman. The contemporary events are told through letters sent after the fact by the man who was the American's translator and whose gloriously mangled English is the source of much of the book's humor. Ultimately, beneath the humor, is a reminder of the atrocities of war, including betrayals by friends as well as the expected brutality of enemies.
The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman. 5 stars.
This is a fantasy trilogy that I've read before but come back to every few years. Although it's usually placed in the young adult section of the library or bookstore, I find it holds my interest as an adult for its imaginative, rich cast of characters (human adults and children, demons, which are like visible souls in animal form, armored polar bears, angels, witches, beings that evolved with wheels instead of feet, etc.), and complex plot. I listened to an audio version made with a full cast, which I strongly recommend.
Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde. 4 stars.
The fourth book in the adventures of literary special operations officer Thursday Next. She's still trying to find her husband, who's been "eradicated" by the Goliath Corporation but can be brought back, while raising their toddler by herself (with the occasional help of a baby-sitting gorilla). Meanwhile, she has to cope with a fictional character who's escaped into the real world and appears likely to become a powerful dictator and is pressed into becoming the coach of a croquet team whose next match could decide the fate of the world. If that's not enough, there's also an outbreak of cloning Shakespeares, authors are being caught using performance-enhancing drugs so they can become speed writers, politicians appear on a TV talk show called "Evade the Question Time" and are scored for how well they manage not to give a straight answer, and the dreaded Goliath Corporation, which merely is trying to take over the entire planet, has announced that it will adopt a "faith-based" management system: the more you spend, the closer to their god you become. Fforde manages to satirize current events while juggling his usual offbeat, fantastic characters and plot.
ticpen@maqs.net
I discovered William Lashner's Falls the Shadow and loved it! In fact, I loved it so much, I had to go back and read his other books, Hostile Witness, Past Due, Bitter Truth and Fatal Flaw. I rate them all a 5 and admit to now having a love affair with his main character, Victor Carl, who has a wonderful sense of humor at his own expense, and gets into the darndest situations! I can't wait to meet him again!
gregc2@bellsouth.net
Table for Five by Susan Wiggs. 1 star.
About a teacher who helps her girlfriend's brother-in-law raise three kids after his girlfriend and ex-husband have a fatal accident. Use time to read something more worthwhile.
The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. 4 stars.
Can't be compared to Bees but shows a lot of depth and spirituality in finding one's true self. Gives you pause to think.
The Falls by Joyce Carol Oates. 4 stars.
Multilayered story about the lure of the falls, the Love Canal tragedy, and a lost family felt cursed by events and surroundings.
Vicki, Lexington, KY
The Intelligencer by Leslie Silbert. 5 stars.
A fast-paced and action-filled thriller, based on the historical information surrounding the death of Christopher Marlowe and what little is known about his career as a spy under Queen Elizabeth I. Excellent and enjoyable, escapist summer reading.
Bodies in Motion by Mary Anne Mohanraj. 5 stars.
A wonderful collection of short stories, held together by the characters' relationships with each other. The stories are arranged chronologically, and feature members of two different Sri Lankan families over the course of several generations, from the 1930s to the present. As compelling reading as The Interpreter of Maladies or The God of Small Things. The Sri Lankan and Tamil focus of the setting and cultural background of the characters gives another view of the South Asian experience in the 20th century. Highly recommended.
Bangkok Tattoo by John Burdett. 4 stars.
An enjoyable crime novel, told from the point of view of a detective who is in love with the narrator, a Thai prostitute named Chanya, whose love affairs end in the mysterious and tragic death of a CIA agent in Thailand. I couldn't put this book down, and I don't even usually like Elmore Leonard-type books.
Kiss and Tango by Marina Palmer. 4 stars.
Not literary reading, but it's an interesting, autobiographical novel with a definite "Chick Lit" flavor, and enjoyable just the same. It's an interesting story about an American woman who goes on holiday in Buenos Aires, and doesn't come back for several years, while she tastes the excitement of learning to dance the tango, and learns all about Latin lovers firsthand. Makes you want to brush up your high-school Spanish and pack a suitcase!
bradylee@myway.com
Lucky Child: A Daughter of Cambodia Reunites with the Sister She Left Behind by Loung Ung. Nonfiction. Published 2005 with 265 pages. 4 stars.
I read the author's first book First They Killed My Father and like it so much I had to read this one, which is a continuation of her life in the USA (in Vermont) while her sister Chou stays in Cambodia among the incredible hazards to your life, and every other chapter is about Chou and the other about Loung. This story is most interesting, though you have to pay attention to keep all participants in their place due to very large families. Ung eventually does reunite with Chou and you learn that persistence does will out.
Betty.Warner@jefferson.edu
The Church That Forgot Christ by Jimmy Breslin (2004). 2 stars.
Seeking Enlightenment... Hat by Hat: A Skeptic's Path to Religion by Nevada
Barr (2003). 3 stars.
The Spiral Staircase: My Climb Out of Darkness by Karen Armstrong (2004). 5 stars.
Plan B by Anne Lamont (2005). 5 stars
Scarred by Struggle, Transformed By Hope by Joan D. Chittister (2003). 4 stars.
DezernL@tncc.edu
Currently, I have started the Mary Russell books by Laurie R. King. And the latest Prey paperback by John Sandford.
OLTLFREAK@aol.com
Detour by James Siegel. 3 1/2 stars.
I enjoyed this book, and it moved very fast, keeping your interest. But the ending needs major work. I was disappointed how the author finished the book --- it needed more of a complete ending. I felt cheated. It's like he ran out of time, and just stopped. Then a few lousy pages to wrap up.
trish@gibson-consultants.com
I am reading Shantaram by David Gregory Roberts. Don't be scared off by the bulk of this book, it is a hefty 900+ pages and worth every single page! This is one of those unforgettable epic novels that has something for everyone. Set in Bombay, it brings culture, mystery, and a brief glimpse into the life of a fugitive. I highly recommend it to all!
Caduncan04@aol.com
I am reading Don't Move by Margaret Mazzantini, Chore Whore by Heather
Howard, Company Man by Joseph Finder, and The Half-Life by Jonathan Raymond.
dalspach@acsalaska.net
The Stone Flower Garden by Deborah Smith is a great summer read. I will give it 4 stars. There are enough plots in this book for three or four books!
John1rosie@aol.com
Enchantments by Linda Ferri, translated by John Casey. 3 stars.
A brief memoir of an uninspired and uninspiring life of a girl up to age, say, eleven, told very plainly reminds us that we can find interest and even beauty in the everyday and in the commonplace.
What Lips My Lips Have Kissed: The Loves and Love Poems of Edna St. Vincent Millay by Daniel Mark Epstein.
On the one hand, 1 star. Edna was someone we should have and could have felt something for but in the hands of this author we have too little more than an expose of sexual behavior. On that one hand, Edna's life might be seen as something oxymoronic; a life kept from love in order to write what appeared to be love poems. On the other hand those who want to have a go at being a historian-psychoanalyst will find this biography thought-provoking and interesting. Those folks might award What Lips ... 2 or even 3 stars. They might not want to read another biography on Edna but they will surely outline one in the gray matter.
bradylee@myway.com
His Brother's Keeper by Jonathan Weiner. Nonfiction. Published 2004 with 354 pages. 3 stars.
This is the story of brotherly love of Jamie and Stephen Heywood. Jamie is a dynamic "get it done" guy using strong brain power and his brother Stephen who is very smart in a different way. It so happens that Stephen contracts Lou Gehrig's disease and this is the story of what Jamie does to try to save Steve's life.
There is a tremendous amount of detail relating to both men's talents and their grand family who participates in everything. Everyone is busy and gets a lot accomplished and I would call this a whirlwind story as it almost sweeps you off your feet. Reality sets in after awhile and you understand what has been accomplished and what was for naught.
b_mooren@bellsouth.net
Digital Fortress by Dan Brown.
Fast-paced and relevant to today.
ginawjax@comcast.net
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult. 3 stars.
hawkes@citlink.net
I just finished reading Skeleton Crew by Stephen King. This is one of his older works (and hard to find), but it was well worth the search. Totally Stephen King with a few laughs thrown in along the way. 4 stars.
I just finished reading Killer Takes All by Erica Spindler. Stacey Killian (sister to Jane Killian from Erica's book, See Jane Die) has left the police force and moved to New Orleans to start a new life and attend college. Then two of her next door neighbors/friends are killed and she is thrown back into investigating not only their murders, but a series of murders all related to a bizarre Alice in Wonderland game. I give this book 4 stars.
SandraKW47@aol.com
Blues in the Night by Rochelle Krich. 4 stars.
This is the first in Rochelle Krich's Molly Blume suspense series. Molly Blume is a true crime writer as well as a columnist for a crime sheet in an L.A. newspaper. In this first novel, Molly takes on her own investigation of the mystery of a nightgown-clad woman who is the victim of a hit-and-run accident in the middle of the night off Mulholland Drive. Krich's Molly is a warm, likeable young Orthodox Jewish woman who is part of a loving family that we'd all like to have as our own, but she has her struggles with caring so much about her crime victims that she puts herself in harm's way at times, while still dealing with how to iron out the problems of her own life. One that she encounters is an old friend and date, now a rabbi, who walks back into her life. This is a very good book written with excellent character development and insight into the characters and plot so that the reader is allowed to go deep into both.
Dream House by Rochelle Krich. 4 stars.
After finishing Blues in the Night I went straight into the second in the Molly Blume series. I kind of missed Molly after the first book. This time Molly gets involved in the disappearance of a woman and the sad, tragic story of her father. The mystery and suspense centers on an organization called HARP and the controversies surrounding HARP, which is a neighborhood group to preserve the quality and historical value of homes in the area where the missing Maggie, her husband and father live. There are enough suspects in this book that I didn't have this mystery figured out at all, which added a nice surprise for me at the end. What I appreciated most about the book is the information that the author gives on several homes and buildings in the area that are connected with the golden days of entertainment.
Trace by Patricia Cornwell. 4 stars.
Another page-turner by Cornwell that kept me up late reading. Scarpetta, Benton, Marino, Rudy and Lucy all appear in this dark novel of the difficult discovery of the method and the links between several murders that are seemingly unrelated. I am always drawn into Cornwell's books from the first page.
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. 5 stars.
An American classic that I missed along the way, and I'm so glad that I read it. To think that this all really happened and the hopeless feeling that I got while reading it, yet room was left for a glimmer still of hope that the Joads would be all right. Ma's strength was an amazing thing to watch in this book. As I read I marked so many pages because of the beautiful way that Steinbeck put words together that I don't want to forget.
I'm currently reading 4th of July by James Patterson for my reading group. As with all of Patterson's books, I'm hooked.
Debby236@aol.com
I am just finished reading What an Earl Wants by Shirley Karr. It was a nice lighthearted read. I give it 4 stars.
Aileen in Methuen, MA
Face of Deception by Iris Johansen. 4 stars.
This was my first Johansen and I enjoyed it. This book keeps you wanting more until you're done! Fast-paced read!
I'm currently reading Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock. So far so good! And I'm rereading Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger --- almost like a new read. I read this in high school as a freshman (15 years ago) so it's like reading it for the first time now! And I must say that I'm enjoying it more than I did then!
myrtleme@sbcglobal.net
Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman.
Wow --- the book cover says "disturbing" and this book is. It makes you think --- a very well-written story about young girls and a baby's death. I loved it --- took this book on vacation and ended up buying another book because I read this one so fast. I definitely give this book 5 stars.
nunu@cogeco.ca
I read Alone by Lisa Gardner. What a book. Couldn't put it down. Lots of twists and turns to the plot. I will definitely be reading more of her books. I rate this book 5 stars.
Bobbewig@aol.com
The Inside Ring by Michael Lawson. 4 stars. Very good
The Innocent by Harlan Coben. 4 1/2 stars. Very good
Company Man by Joseph Finder. 4 stars. Very good
The Footprints of God by Greg Iles. 3 stars. Good
Hidden Prey by John Sandford. 2 stars. Fair
Honeymoon by James Patterson & Howard Roughan. 2 stars. Fair
khillz28@bellsouth.net
Broken Prey by John Sanford. 5 stars.
Lucas Davenport is at it again and at one of his best. Bodies are turning up and it looks like a serial killer is on the loose. The most likely suspect is a man recently released from a prison hospital --- but is he really the sick mind who is committing these murders?
Rage by Jonathan Kellerman. 5 stars.
Dr Alex Delaware is relaxing when his phone rings and a voice from his past comes back to tell him "I'm not a bad person." This takes Alex back to a murder years before of a very young child committed by two barely teenage boys. Now both of the convicted murderers are murdered, which start Dr. Delaware and his buddy Milo Sturgis on an investigation with many twists and unexpected turns.
Haddow@aol.com
Saturday by Ian McEwan. 4 1/2 stars.
A couple of pages into this book, I found myself relaxing, knowing I was in good hands. Like a cozy afternoon by the fire in a comfy over-stuffed chair, McEwan confidently takes you into the mind of neurosurgeon Henry Perowne, and it is a fine place to spend the time it takes to read this novel. Rare it is to read such a satisfying book about a happy man. Recommended.
Dotteez@aol.com
I just finished Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. This was a first-rate read, a fantasy with lots of tongue-in-cheek humor, a dash of magic and a few scary bits. Like his later novel American Gods, he weaves together a lot of contemporary people and places with great imaginary characters, some based on mythology. Funny dialogue and enjoyably well-written.
Dodojohn2@aol.com
All the President's Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward. 5 stars.
Because of the current news, I got around to read this book, which had been on my shelf for years. As I remember these events, you can see I am no kid. The book reads like a mystery to me, with all the great characters. Younger people should read this. 5 stars.
GerryD8784@aol.com
Blacklist by Sara Paretsky. 3 stars.
V.I. Warshawski is drawn into a web of family secrets when she is hired to investigate apparent trespassers on the former estate of a wealthy and influential family.
Joe College by Tom Perrotta. 3 stars.
A college student from a blue-collar family enrolls at a prestigious college and tries to leave his old life behind, until he discovers that his summer fling with a neighborhood girl has resulted in her pregnancy.
Conviction by Richard North Patterson. 5 stars.
A team of lawyers --- husband, wife, and stepson --- work to save a young black man convicted, wrongly, they come to believe, in the sexual assault and murder of a nine-year-old girl. Patterson does a masterful job of explaining the tremendous complexity of the justice system without losing the thread of his compelling story.
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult. 3 1/2 stars.
A young mother's life is turned upside down when her beloved father is arrested, accused of having kidnapped her at age 4. Having believed him when he told her all her life that her mother was dead, she is torn between her love and loyalty to him, and her horror as a mother at the idea of losing a child. While the basic plot line was good, the addition of too many subplots and meandering explorations of Hopi Indian philosophy and legends detracted from the power of the novel.
tfranzen2124@comcast.net
Mary, Called Magdalene by Margaret George. 4 stars.
A wonderful fiction work regarding the followers of Jesus. Such a good contextual piece.
And now for something completely different…
Stormy Weather by Carl Hiaasen. 2 stars.
Quirky characters and a crazy plot. A goofy summer read, I'm not sure I get his appeal.
nortomb@webtv.net
I was reading The Sight of the Stars by Belva Plain. I put it it aside to start Therapy by Jonathan Kellerman, a real page-turner. 150 pages left and then I'll go back to Belva's book.
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