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maestraw@msn.com
I just finished Raising Hope by Katie Willard. It is a wonderful story of three generations of women, and how they all come to live together as a family. The story is sweet, and the voices of the women are true to life. I would rate this 4 out of 5 stars.
gpayne@drs.state.ok.us
I read all of James Lee Burke's books as soon as they come out. I like the way he creates dialogue and molds his characters. I like to see their frailties and how they age and mature. I also like the way he describes life in southern Louisiana.
Pegsaj54@aol.com
I am currently reading Trace by Patricia Cornwell and have a question for other Cornwell fans --- Didn't Benton Wesley get killed in a previous Kay Scarpetta novel by Cornwell? He's very much alive in her new book, Trace.....did I miss something somewhere?
jberger@salud.unm.edu
Isabel's Daughter by Judith Ryan Hendricks. 5 stars.
Beautiful novel about a young woman's search for her birth mother and the individuals she encounters. Set in Santa Fe, New Mexico with vivid character and locale description. A sensitive and empathetic novel.
bab@tennis.com
A Road Through the Mountains by Elizabeth McGregor. 5 stars.
Heartfelt novel about love lost and found. Beautiful writing and an enthralling novel that pulls at your heartstrings.
mml_1998@yahoo.com
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris. 5 stars.
Codex by Lev Grossman. 3 stars.
The Club Dumas by Arturo Perez-Reverte. 3 stars.
The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank. 4 stars.
The Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. 5 stars.
tom.zemke@us.army.mil
I've just started to read an advance reader's copy of The March by E. L. Doctorow. It's a novel of the Civil War, recounting General Sherman's march through Georgia and the Carolinas. It's promising to be a great book, at least 3-4 stars.
I'm also reading The Dancing Girls of Lahore by Louise Brown. It's a nonfiction account of a woman and her daughters who live in Pakistan and who can only be described as prostitutes. An amazing tale of women's role in a society ruled by men in a religious society, and who are forced to rely on themselves to survive.... and they do almost anything to survive. If you like nonfiction, then you will like this new (2005) book. 4 stars.
maestraw@msn.com
I would like to recommend Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. Written by Lisa See, it is the story of two girls in 19th-century China who are pledged to become beloved best friends, which is referred to as "old sames." The story takes the reader through foot bindings, secret writings, arranged marriages, births, and deaths. It is fascinating! After reading it, I researched both foot binding and the secret women's language nu shu. I would have to give this one a 5!
Bjglu@aol.com
Who's Your Caddy? by Rick Reilly. 4 stars.
Funny, funny book about Reilly's experiences caddying for everyone from golf pros to comedians. Not just for golfers, but for anyone who needs a good laugh.
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder. 4 stars.
Nonfiction by the award-winning author --- about a phenomenal doctor who cares about the world we live in.
Lgluhani@aol.com
The Bachelorette Party by Karen M. Lutz. 4 stars.
Fun, light-hearted novel about a bachelorette party. True chick lit.
Therapy by Jonathan Kellerman. 3 stars.
Another of Kellerman's entertaining mysteries.
nunu@cogeco.ca
I read Bet Your Bottom Dollar by Karin Gillespie. I would rate it 4 stars. A funny, light read and a nice change of pace about big business coming into a small town and how it affects all the people. Very entertaining.
lk.mather@rogers.com
Anita Shreve did not let me down with Strange Fits of Passion, a strong 4 1/2. Shreve never fails to weave truth and deception in such a delicate, yet heartbreaking, manner. A convicted murderer tells her harrowing tale through a series of letters to a keen reporter. I loved it. Seamless.
Autumn in Woodlawn
The Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson. 4 stars.
This is one of the latest in the Alex Cross series. I found that this was not one of my favorite Patterson books; however, because of its ending, I give it 4 stars. Patterson has a wonderful talent for combining superb suspense with heartwrenching romance.
JONIVERSON@aol.com
I give 5 stars to Donald Rayfield's Stalin and His Hangmen. Rarely does one have such an opportunity to see true evil visited upon a large and majestic nation as Russia. Prof. Rayfield makes great use of recent documents unearthed from the Kremlin.
Cynderma@aol.com
I just finished reading Secrets, Vol. 7. I would rate it 4 1/2 stars. All the stories were very well written. I love Kathryn Anne Dubois. This is the second story I have read by her. She is great!! I am looking forward to reading more of her work. She always seems to have strong heroes and heroines --- lots of passion and strong emotions. Anyone who loves romance should read Kathryn Anne Dubois. She is sexy, funny, entertaining, and luscious. Read "Surrender" by her in Secrets, Vol 7.
I also love Jade Lawless --- she wrote "The Woman of His Dreams" in Secrets Vol. 7.
Next on my list to read is Lyon's Gate by Catherine Coulter, Wedding for a Knight by Sue-Ellen Welfonder, and Sensation by Thea Devine.
charris@pctelecom.us
The Closers by Michael Connelly. 5 stars.
A story of solving cold cases, which are now made easier since we have DNA. This is a Harry Bosch mystery, the last in the series about his police career. Good book.
The Poet by Michael Connelly. 5 stars.
Jack, a reporter, had a twin brother that was a copy. It looked like he committed suicide. Jack proves he did not do it. A very well-written mystery.
Sons of Texas by Elmer Kelton. 5 stars.
Kelton is called a Western writer, but his books are much more than that. They are historical as well and good writing. This is one of his best.
Goycrazy@aol.com
I've just started Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. Very funny so far, and considering the rave reviews, I'll give it 5 stars.
myrtleme@sbcglobal.net
Morningside Heights by Cheryl Mendelson. 4 stars.
A really good book --- it covers the problems a family can have. Very, very well done. I love the characters and the writing, although at times a little hard to follow. It's awesome.
Loveajoy@aol.com
Five in a Row by Jan Coffey. 4 1/2 stars.
This writer puts suspense in mystery. Strong plot, strong characters...all around excellent read.
Alars11@aol.com
Rocky Mountain Man by Jillian Hart. 4 stars. Harlequin Historical Western
Straight Silver by Darlene Scalera. 3 stars. Harlequin Intrigue
Good reading!
KATHLAU@aol.com
Pawley's Island by Dorothea Benton Frank. 3 1/2 stars.
Good beach read. As usual, all the characters have money, Southern charm, and problems that can all be solved in 300 pages. But hey, that's what summer reads are for. It's the old South updated. Grab a sweet tea, go sit in your white rocker, and relax.
Rickimc@aol.com
Treasure Forest by Cat Bordhi. 1 star.
Confusing and boring. Disappointing answer to the riddle, too.
harrises@bayou.com
Life of Pi by Yann Martel. 4 stars.
I had a hard time at first and almost quit this one. But once they got in the Pacific Ocean...watch out. I loved this story. It has stayed with me.
I just started The Mercy of Thin Air by Ronlyn Domingue. 4 stars so far, but I can tell this is a potential 5 for me. This is a galley copy, which is one of the perks of working for an independent bookseller.
GandmaRI@aol.com
This week I read two totally different books: Bad Cats by Jim Edgar with Rosen and Prichett, and Big Russ and Me by Tim Russert. Bad Cats is a series of laugh-till-you-drop photos of cats in hilarious poses and hysterical occupations. So far, eight friends have borrowed the book and four more are on the I-want-to-read-it-too list. Big Russ and Me is a story of reminiscing and love by Tim Russert (of "Meet the Press" fame) about growing up in the '50s and all of the guidance that his father has given him, and is still giving him.
It reminds me of my own childhood and made me think a lot about my Dad and all the lessons that he taught me. It is also the story of Tim and how he got to where he is today and all of the love that he has for his own son. He also writes about other influential people in his life. A wonderful and truly heartfelt story told with much sentiment, feeling and humor. I'd rate both books a 6 on a 5-point scale!
micheleserrani@carolina.rr.com
Geraldine Brooks's Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague. 5 stars.
This book is historical fiction based on actual events. A small Derbyshire village is devastated by the Bubonic Plague. But it is more about the people and their interactions with one another that make this such an interesting read.
ALEMESH@aol.com
I just finished Disordered Minds by Minette Walters about a psychologist and anthropologist trying to solve a 33-year-old murder. I would give it a 3 1/2.
I also finished The Lost Mother by Mary McGarry Morris. It's about two small children living during the Depression who seemingly lose both their mother and father to the tragedy of the time. It is heartfelt, heartbreaking and heartwarming. I give it a 5.
lgettle@iserv.net
Shock Wave by James O. Born. 4 stars.
Bill Tasker is smarting from one resolved mess with the FBI, and now he's about to reluctantly get involved with them on another case.
God's Gift by Dee Henderson. 3 stars.
A back injury has brought James Graham home. Rachel Ashcroft might be the one to heal his heart.
Babs48rn@cs.com
I'm almost finished reading The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins and I'd give it 4 stars. It is a classic mystery revolving around a large diamond. The story moves well, is told through various narrators, and is actually very humorous.
I also recommend In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner by Elizabeth George, which is 4 stars as well. It's an earlier Thomas Lynley & Barbara Havers novel. She writes about England so well.
Marsipan49@aol.com
Getting Lucy: How One Special Dog Found Love and a Second Chance at Angel's Gate by Susan Marino. 5 stars.
Refreshingly honest, Susan gave up her day job as an emergency room nurse to live her dream --- running a hospice for unwanted or seriously ill pets. She cures some and opens her heart to all.
The Day Howdy Doody Died: A Memoir by Charles Hollingsworth. 2 1/2 stars.
The author's first book details his siblings' and his life in the Midwest during the fifties, the Vietnam experience, and being black in America.
Audreystyle by Pamela Clarke Keogh. 4 stars.
A-must read for fans of Audrey Hepburn.
smleonetti@yahoo.com
I am finally reading Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. Incredible! No wonder it is a classic!
maestraw@msn.com
I just read one I am still thinking about; it is called Pocketful of Names by Joe Coomer. It is one I just happened to pick up in the library because I was afraid I would run out of things to read, as my stack is getting smaller all the time. At any rate, it is about an artist named Hannah, her uncle Arno, a stray dog, lobstermen, and people who come in and out of Hannah's life. It is set in Maine, covering a little more than a year. Loved it!! 4 1/2 stars.
Britadon@aol.com
Flashback by Nevada Barr. 5 stars.
Though I am a devoted fan of Nevada Barr's books, I somehow had missed this one, which takes place in the Dry Tortugas. It is truly one of her best with combinations of underwater and caving adventures. She has also woven plots of two time periods together in a fascinating manner and both plots are well-developed, fascinating and satisfying.
Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich. 3 stars.
This one has been sitting in my to-read pile for a while and I finally got to it. I did enjoy it but not quite as much as the Stephanie Plum series.
Three Fates by Nora Roberts. 3 stars.
Light reading as expected, but well-written for a romance.
To the Power of Three by Laura Lippman. 4 stars.
This is another very well written and enjoyable novel by Ms. Lippman. It is quite different from A Spider's Thread but excellent as it portrays relationships.
BookMomma@aol.com
Cape Perdido by Marcia Muller. 3 stars.
It's a stand-alone, but has some of the same characters and the same locale as two others by her.
Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear. 4 stars.
This is the third book in a series. I like historical mysteries. This series takes place after WWI in England.
Ex To Grind by Jane Heller. 3 stars.
Heller's characters are frequently difficult to like, but it's a beach-read type of book.
Origin In Death by J.D. Robb. 4 stars.
This is Nora Roberts writing a futuristic series. This was one of her best, with a cloning plot that really was exciting.
Killing Rain by Barry Eisler. 4 stars.
I like this series, set in Japan and the far East. The main character, John Rain, is a paid assassin.
els@core.com
Black Friday by James Patterson. 3 stars.
Stephanie O. from Spokane, WA
I am currently reading Sense and Sensibilty by Jane Austen. The last Austen book I read was Pride and Prejudice. At that time, I was in high school and was a bit off-put by what I perceived as difficult language. Now that a few years have passed, I am tackling Austen again and find that it is a much easier, more enjoyable reading experience than before. Seems that my reading ability has grown tremendously since last I tried an Austen.
servilan42@myway.com
Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich.
Can't stop laughing! Evanovich's last couple of Stephanie Plum novels have left me wanting and thinking it was time to stop reading them. However, Eleven On Top is just great! Okay, I got a little sick of Lula; truth be told, I got a lot sick of Lula, but the rest made up for it.
Highly recommend if you are an Evanovich fan. 5 stars.
Peggy from Hurst, TX
Map of Bones by James Rollins. 5 stars +.
If you enjoyed The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, you are sure to love this one. It was truly one of those books that you literally cannot put down, no matter what the clock says. Just loved it --- one of my best summer reads in years.
Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich. 3 stars.
I am a Plum series fan but this one left me somehow with the nagging feeling that there was something usually lacking.
The Third Secret by Steve Berry. 5 stars.
Thanks to you all, I discovered this author. The plot is tightly constructed. The subject fascinating --- loved all Berry's books.
The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. 4 stars.
I found this book thought-provoking and liked it as much as The Secret Life of Bees. I did find the ending a bit contrived and not as satisfying as I would have liked, but then I didn't write it!
Still to be read: A Feast of Poisons by C. L. Grace, a 15th Century mystery at the time of King Louis XI.
The Franklin Affair by Jim Lehrer, a mystery about our Founding Fathers discovered in papers of a 21st Century academic. Sounds intriguing.
maestraw@msn.com
Well, I must admit I was not prepared to enjoy Lifeguard by James Patterson. However, it was a pretty good summer read. There were some parts that were not too realistic, but that's fiction for you. I would rate it a 3 1/2 out of 5. As long as Patterson keeps writing 'em, I'll keep reading 'em.
Catslady5@aol.com
Stand by Your Man by Nancy Bartholomew. 4 stars.
A romantic suspense with lots of humor. The second in a series in which I unfortunately missed the first, but am more than willing to go back and catch up.
Carosp@aol.com
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling. 5 stars.
Had to re-read, as it's been two years since I last read it, so I'd be ready for the new one! There is no such thing as a bad --- or even mediocre --- Harry Potter book.
The Track of the Cat by Nevada Barr. 3 stars.
The first in her series about park ranger Anna Pigeon. Highly recommended by a friend. I liked it, but there are other detective-type series I like much better (Spenser!! The Burglar Who.... etc.)
Tigersmama43213@aol.com
Currently I am reading Alibi by Joseph Kanon. I would give it 4 out of 5 stars. It is a story about Venice in 1945. A Jewish girl identifies one of the Italian doctors who cooperated with the Nazis during the war with the extermination of the Jews of Italy. This is a novel, but very intense.
The other book I am reading is Dean Koontz's book, Frankenstein - Book One: The Prodigal Son. I am giving it 4 out of 5 stars also. I am a huge fan of Koontz, and he has taken this classic and brought it up to date. It takes place in New Orleans in modern times.
I am losing sleep with reading these two books. I want to finish them to see how they end; but they are so good, I don't want them to end.
Cloish049@aol.com
The book I read was The Greatest Man in Cedar Hole by Stephanie Doyon. A lifelong rivalry pits two young men to vie for greatness.
Good read! 4 stars.
Debby236@aol.com
I read Haunted by Kelly Armstrong. This is one with all sorts of paranormal entities in it. He writes in such a way that your interest is grabbed and not let go. I give it a 5.
Dena from WA
Blood Memory by Greg Iles. 5 stars.
This is a great read. There's not one mystery, but several, to be solved by Cat Ferry. On the outside, she's a strong world class forensic odontologist workaholic; on the inside --- an alcoholic, manic, chronic adulterer. The story goes between New Orleans and Natchez. So there's a lot of Southern prejudices that sadly are still happening today.
Sins of the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon. 4 stars.
Alexion and Danger's story is heartwarming and you really want these characters to have a wonderful outcome, but there's a lot they have to go through and in the end, it may not turn out that way. This book is also great because it gives you a lot of background about Acheron and the otherworldly characters you learn about in Sherrilyn's night series.
The Love Knot by Rebecca Brandewyne. 2 stars.
The story took a long time to get interesting --- about halfway through. After that it turned out to be ok.
Secrets of the Heart by Candace Camp. 4 stars.
This is the third in a series, but you need not read the other two to enjoy it. Rachel and Michael's story is sweet, although it took them seven years of marriage to finally realize their love for each other. The bumps and mystery along the way are worth reading this story.
Joyce in Winchester, TN
My husband and I have both become Dan Brown fans. We had not read Digital Fortress or Deception Point until this week. I finished Digital Fortress in one day, finding it very difficult to put down. Now he is reading that one, and I am halfway into Deception Point. Both books are so well written and intriguing that I advise anyone wanting to start these books should make sure you have some HOURS of free time before starting to read either one. I give Digital Fortress and Deception Point, both novels by Dan Brown, 5 stars.
stefanarmington@verizon.net
I have just read a book by Sue Carswell entitled Faded Pictures From My Backyard. A rating of 5 stars goes to her book because she successfully kept me balancing in anticipation between her personal story and that of an orphan. The anecdotes of her troubled childhood were so well written in detail that they had me feeling as if I could relate to some of the ways I neurotically dealt with my fears as a child. I laughed out loud, felt deep sadness, and felt personally connected to characters in the book I have never met. Great read!
Maureen from Middletown
I just finished The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. 5 stars plus. One of the best books I have ever read. I would highly recommend to everyone. This one will stay with me for a while.
Also, I read Rosie Dunne by Cecelia Ahern. 4 stars. Easy read, very enjoyable.
Mittens0831@aol.com
The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella. 5 stars.
This is a very funny book. It tells how a very brilliant woman on the verge of becoming a partner in a very prestigious law firm becomes a housekeeper who doesn't know how to cook or clean. Things go very wrong at her job and she stumbles into a new life with great friends, and let's not forget the gardener! How she deals with all that has happened makes a story well worth reading.
Kathy of Minnetonka, MN
Talk about extremes, but the last two books that I read are just that:
Another Bullshit Night in Suck City by Nick Flynn is a memoir of a young man growing up with his mother and brother in a dysfunctional family system. As a young adult, Nick works in a men's homeless shelter, where his father comes in as a guest. Nick is an author of poetry and you can hear the rhythm and music in his prose. He deals with some very difficult subject matter in his memoir, but does so in a very readable format. I'd give this book a 5 and would definitely recommend it.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith is the other book I just finished. For whatever reason, I had never read this book in school. I can see why it is considered a classic and included in many school reading lists. For those of you who haven't read this book, it is the story of a young Irish girl growing up in Brooklyn in the 1920s. Her family is very poor but they manage and in some ways feel quite rich. I would give this book a rating of 5.
ngroves@charter.net
The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson. 4 stars.
An alternative history novel that considers what would have happened if the plague had killed nearly everyone in Europe in the middle ages, thus allowing Islamic and Chinese cultures to dominate the world for centuries to come.
The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard. 3 stars.
Two soldiers try to resume normal lives and search for love and meaning in the aftermath of World War II.
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. 4 stars.
A classic kids' book, but great for anyone who has a funnybone and loves wordplay. Bored kid Milo finds a mysterious tollbooth in his room one day, goes through it, and finds himself on an unusual adventure --- visiting places like Dictionopolis (ruled by King Azaz the Unabridged), Digitopolis (ruled by the Mathemagician), and the Isle of Conclusions (you can only get there by jumping or leaping), before rescuing the princesses Rhyme and Reason to restore harmony to the realm. A clever book for kids and adults.
Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World by Rita Golden-Gelman. 3 stars.
A combination memoir and travelogue by a woman who found herself adrift in middle age after a divorce, and decided to spend her life exploring other cultures --- but not as a conventional tourist. Her goal is to live with local people whenever possible, learning their language and customs, rather than isolating herself in big-city hotels and safe tours with English-speaking guides. The book takes her to Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, the Galapagos, an extended stay in Bali, and other places over a period of several decades. The author apparently still roams much of the time rather than having a fixed address.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. 5 stars.
It'll be a long wait for the next and final book after the dramatic ending of this one.
bradylee@myway.com
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. Published 2005 with 288 pages. 5 stars.
This is a book for all seasons and for all people. A novelist could not possibly create a story like this one as it is so over the top about how a family lives that you would think it is too far from reality.
Eccentric parents with children who knew what they were involved in, but could do nothing about it as they were so young (three girls and one boy); yet, they were mostly happy with their life 'til teenage years. The parents are satisfied with the way things are while the children are not. This is a guaranteed read that will satisfy you.
susanrjensen@yahoo.com
Zorro by Isabel Allende. 5 stars.
I loved this book about Diego de la Vega, the son of a Spanish aristocrat father and a Native American mother, who becomes Zorro to help persons in need. It's a fun, swashbuckling adventure that takes the reader across the globe and back again. I loved it.
So Many Books, So Little Time by Sara Nelson. 3 stars.
This book of essays about reading is interesting to a point. I thought it would be better.
The Law of Similars by Chris Bohjalian. 4 stars.
I enjoyed this book about a hypochondriac widower named Leland Fowler who falls in love with his homeopathic healer, who then becomes embroiled in a legal battle when one of her patients dies. As a state prosecutor, Leland suddenly finds himself in a precarious moral and ethical situation. The book is suspenseful and compelling, but also hilarious at times.
gliebsack@woh.rr.com
I just completed Summer Harbor by Susan Wilson. I would give it 5 out of 5 stars. Good Read! Also Blow Fly by Patricia Cornwell. 5 out of 5 stars.
hagarrpt@earthlink.net
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. 4 stars.
Written in 1937 and set in the black community of Eaton, Florida, this book tells the story of Janie Crawford, a woman married three times and tried for the murder of her third husband. Written in black dialect, the book is a window into life in a poor black community in the late 30s and early 40s. Characters are richly drawn, and as Janie narrates the story to her friend, the reader is transported to the time and place.
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson. 4 stars.
Three past unsolved cases --- none connected --- are resurrected by London private investigator Jackson Brodie at the request of the people involved. The first case concerns a kidnapping, the second and third cases, murders. Brodie deals with his own past demons and an ex-wife who wants to take his child to Australia to live as he investigates, and solves, all three cases.
ABamaBecky@aol.com
I have just finished a trilogy by Susan Mallery: The Sparkling One, The Sassy One, and The Seductive One. They are three books that follow the lives of the Marcelli sisters. I really enjoyed these books. They are very sexy reads that are on the edge of being erotic. Most definitely for adult readers only! I rate all three books 5 stars.
Qoesls@aol.com
After struggling through As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner last month, I began to tackle the second novel in Oprah's summer book club, Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury. But it was excruciatingly difficult; I had to take a break and go for a genuine "beach read." So I chose The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova! At 600-plus pages, it might not seem like an ideal beach read, but the story involving the search for Dracula pulls you in immediately and goes very quickly. Very enjoyable. 5 stars.
I also read another "beachy" book, The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters by Elisabeth Robinson. This book is frequently quite funny, telling the story of a young single woman's struggle to produce her first Hollywood motion picture, while at the same time shuttling home to Ohio to be with her sister battling leukemia. The inside scoop on Hollywood is great, but the epistolary style --- the entire novel is written in letters --- sometimes feels forced and awkward. 3 stars.
Finally, I'm now indulging in the ultimate summer book --- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling. 5 stars. Of course.
FourPawsPetPortraits@msn.com
I'm a lead bookseller at a Barnes & Noble store in Dallas, TX., so I get an opportunity to read a lot of new authors, but I just read one that I should have caught on to sooner. I just finished Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear, and I've got to tell you that this is a charming and delightful series. I'm kicking myself for not having read her two previous Maisie Dobbs mysteries, Maisie Dobbs and Birds of a Feather. Maisie Dobbs is smart and resourceful and the kind of woman you would want looking out for you if you were in trouble. The series is set in post World War I England, with Maisie having emerged from being a battlefield nurse with some scars of her own. The period setting is delightful and authentic and Ms. Winspear brings to life the very troubling times with characters haunted by the effects of the Great War and the great losses they suffered. This mystery is not quite a "cozy" one, but I can promise you that after you had your first adventure with Maisie, you'll go back for more!
Fay from Geneva, IL
Double Tap by Steve Martini. 5 stars.
Scary tech! 'Cause it might be true!
Dead Men Don't Dance by Margaret Chittenden. 4 stars.
Fun, cozy mysteries about a country-western bar owner in California.
misstrish41472@yahoo.com
I am reading The Dark Tower, Book 7 by Stephen King, and it is great. I have been waiting for Roland to reach the tower for years and this has been worth waiting for. 5 stars.
I am also reading One Door Away From Heaven by Dean Koontz. This is another great book by him. He always keeps me guessing. 4 stars.
kathy from Maryland
Summer of Roses by Luanne Rice. 5 stars.
This is a wonderful follow-up to her story, Summer's Child. Once again, the reader is transported into Lily's world, while getting background on why she chose to disappear and how she will handle returning home. Most of Luanne Rice's novels are good reading, and this is no exception to the rule.
The Interruption of Everything by Terry McMillan. 2 stars.
Having read some great reviews and articles on this book, I picked it up, expecting something wonderful. However, after being unable to get into it after about 75 pages, I finally gave up. It seems as if this novel will appeal to a certain type of reader, and I guess I am not that type.
Lifeguard by James Patterson. 5 stars.
One of the best novels I have read in a while. Patterson certainly knows how to develop/build suspense and a story line, so you cannot put the book down. I highly recommend it to everyone.
Dance of Death by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. 4+ stars.
Good read, although not as exciting as Brimstone by the same authors. Somehow, the mystery of this book just is not there, though the book does read fast. The premise of the novel is good, but could use more development.
Sara_Fraser@cbc.ca
I am currently reading Maragret Atwood's The Blind Assassin. Also in the stack 'to be read' are all of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books --- after the first one I can't wait to read the rest!!!!
bfjohnston@mpamacs.org
I've had some good luck this summer. 5 stars to The Devil's Teeth by Susan Casey, a nonfiction book about great white sharks off the coast of San Francisco --- it's a great read. Also loved the latest by Alexander McCall Smith, In the Company of Cheerful Ladies and rate it 4 stars. Velocity by Dean Koontz was a 4-star book, as well as The Practice of Deceit by Elizabeth Benedict.
MarshaNee@adelphia.net
Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear. 4 stars.
Here's a detective in 1930 with real spunk. She'll win you over.
Until I Find You by John Irving. 5 stars.
This novel will enthrall you with the story of an actor whose search for his absent father ultimately leads him on a journey to find himself. What a ride!!!
BlondeFairy1975@aol.com
I have just finished Hard Hard City by Jim Fusilli.
I am currently reading Cold Hit by Stephen J. Cannell and A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby.
FRoybiskie@aol.com
This week I am reading and loving Have You Seen Her? by Karen Rose.
GLev@aol.com
I just finished the new John Irving book, Until I Find You. I would like John Irving to give me back the three days it took to read this book. It was horrible. The story was disjointed and did not tempt the reader to continue reading. I give this book 1 star and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Goldentrails07@wmconnect.com
I'm reading Little Bitty Lies by Mary Kay Andrews and I give it 5 stars! This book is laugh out loud funny! Also, it has a great recipe for Chicken Salad!
Set in Atlanta, it is about a woman who thinks she has it all, while all around her everybody else's marriage is ending in divorce. Then, she gets a note from her husband telling her he has left her. She has no money, for her hubby wiped out all their accounts before he left --- she has bills to pay and a teenage daughter to raise. Her daughter is Daddy's little princess; she adores him, so the mother doesn't want to tell the daughter the truth that daddy has left, so she tells a little lie...which soon becomes another lie...and another...and she enlists the help of her best friend in a plot to get money, which may or may not include her hubby turning up dead.
Pat from Nebraska
I have just finished Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. I would definitely give this book 5 stars. It is the achingly poignant story of the lifetime bond between two women in nineteenth-century China. Beyond revealing so much of the history and status of women in this time and place, it reveals the inner conflicts that resulted from this culture. I know I will spend a great deal of time rethinking my assessment of the narrator, Lily. Was she the yin or the yang in this relationship of "old sames"?
Lori from NJ
I am currently reading Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Marty Becker, and Carol Kline. This deserves 5 stars for sure! Even if you do not have a pet, this is a most enjoyable and easy read. This is even a book to read along with any other book you are currently reading, because you can pick it up and put it down whenever, since each story is only 2 to 10 pages long. However, every story in the book is worthwhile --- touching, funny, serious, dramatic, etc. It is sure to strike a chord in every reader!!! ENJOY...
melsmews@allvantage.com
I'm currently reading The Devil Served Tortilleni by Shirley Jump. It's a wonderfully funny read. The romantic dance between the two main characters is great fun and keeps you hoppin'.
patalto@earthlink.net
I just finished The War of the Worlds Murder by Max Allan Collins, who is always imaginative, almost believable, and lots of fun. Give this one a 4 for flavor of the times, characterizations, and reading pleasure. I've just started Christopher Fowler's Full Dark House. Too soon to rate, but the first couple of chapters are very promising!
Mlauerba@aol.com
I just finished The Testament by John Grisham. Grisham is always a good read, but I thought this one had a bit more to it than usual. Give it 4 stars.
I am now reading P is for Peril by Sue Grafton. Grafton's books are always interesting. Just enough suspense to keep you going. No stars yet.
DonnaPadgett@webtv.net
I just finished reading Nerd Gone Wild by Vicki Lewis Thompson and will give it 5 stars!!! Wonderful read and now I am going to have to get some more of the Nerd series.
pjablonski@ev1.net
I am hooked on books by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I highly recommend both Relic and Cabinet of Curiosities. Both rate 5. I am now going to find more of their books.
SNK from Savannah
Timeline by Michael Crichton was an interesting read. Took me a while to get around to reading this book. A different look at time travel. 5 stars.
DeepEastTXTurtle@aol.com
Broken Prey by John Sandford. 5 stars.
Grigoro@aol.com
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. 3 stars.
A real page-turner.
From Darkness to Death by Julia Spencer-Fleming. 3 stars.
I really like her books; I was hooked after reading In the Bleak Midwinter.
I'm currently in the middle of Case Histories by Kate Atkinson. This book was highly recommended, and I am enjoying it so far.
JainDough@aol.com
One Shot by Lee Child. 5 stars.
I was intrigued by Lee Child's Jack Reacher thrillers after reading The Killing Floor and was addicted after Die Trying. I work in a public library and recommend his books to both men and women who ask for a "really good read." I've had the MOST positive feedback for suggesting Lee Child and Janet Evanovich books. One Shot (June 2005) is Lee Child's ninth Jack Reacher novel and I am eagerly awaiting his tenth! Until then, thank heavens that there are many wonderful, entertaining authors writing out there :)
JSchulhafer@comcast.net
Cotton by Christopher Wilson
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
bradylee@myway.com
Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer by Scott Eyman. Published in 2005 with 516 pages + notes. 5 stars.
This one grand comprehensive biography, masterfully done, encompasses the history of the movies from their beginning, the infancy and growth of Hollywood, CA, and the details of some of the stars that helped make them famous, but of course the part that Louis B. Mayer played, which was the major leader of the whole industry. If you like reading about film and the Hollywood genre, you will enjoy this book.
Footloose4year@aol.com
I'm hearing buzz in the military over the upcoming nonfiction book, Roberts Ridge, the true story of a Pitched Battle in Afghanistan in 2002 on a mountaintop between special operations fighters (Seals, Rangers, Air Force Special Tactics guys). It was fought at the highest elevation in U.S. military history, for over 17 harrowing hours. It is best recalled as the fight that started when a Seal fell off a helo while his team was being inserted on the mountain as a lookout. Some of the Seals who have read Advanced Readers' Copies of the book swear by it, as do the rangers and many of the commanders. "Compelling" is the word.
Babs48rn@cs.com
The Last Time They Met by Anita Shreve. 5 stars.
Fortune's Rock by Anita Shreve. 5 stars.
A Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg. 4 stars. She can certainly bring out our feelings.
Lovemydog890@aol.com
Sleeping with Schubert by Bonnie Marson. 5 stars.
A surprising, original tale about Franz Schubert inhabiting the body and spirit of a lawyer from Brooklyn. Funny, provocative, moving, delightful.
An Evening of Long Goodbyes by Paul Murray. 4 1/2 stars.
A hilarious look at the declining Irish aristocracy. Witty and sophisticated silliness.
The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason. 4 stars.
The story of a 19th-century piano tuner from London who's summoned to Burma to tune the piano of a mysterious British doctor/military officer. Meticulous description, sometimes slow, but interesting.
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. 3 1/2 stars.
An interesting concept, but heavy on the gimmickry. After a while, keeping up with the literary travel device became a hindrance to my involvement with the characters. Okay, but not as good as expected.
davidandkaren@rockisland.com
Atonement by Ian McEwan. 5 stars.
Loved it, read it in two days. I read Enduring Love by McEwan before that, and was disappointed, but Atonement is definitely up to his reputation.
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy. 5 stars.
I am reading it again (read it 10 years ago) and more than ever I am amazed by his sheer cojones. Those sentences with no punctuation that go on and on. He is in a class of his own.
Love in the Driest Season by Neely Tucker. 4 stars.
It's reminding me of the joy and privilege of being a father. Neely, a reporter in Zimbabwe, struggles with the chaotic and anti-white Mugabe regime to adopt a little baby girl abandoned in the bush.
diva_web@bellsouth.net
Man Camp by Adrienne Brodeur (Random House) is an excellent read. I give it 4 stars. It is humorous and easy to read. I know a few men who I would like to send to Man Camp!
One thing I found really interesting about the book, buried in the back pages, is a page about the typeface used in the book. It tells about the history of the typeface and who founded it. I had never seen info like that included in a book before.
Butters@johnrmcadams.com
I just finished Controlled Burn by Scott Wolven. 5 stars, a terrific short story collection by an up-and-coming writer. I also have read Killing Rain by Barry Eisler, the latest in his terrific John Rain series. Highly recommended, 5 stars. I have also read The Heart of the Hunter by Deon Meyer, a wonderful, suspenseful mystery set in South Africa. 5 stars. I can't wait for his next book to be published in the US.
lgettle@iserv.net
Once in a Blue Moon: Volume One by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir, artwork by Jennifer Quick. 3 stars.
Aeslin Finn has just begun a magical quest.
Miracle by Danielle Steel. 5 stars.
Quinn Thompson, Maggie Dartman, and Jack Adams meet during a major storm and all of their lives are changed.
lntmolitor@sbcglobal.net
I am currently reading Lifeguard by James Patterson. Very good. 4 stars!
Tami from Scottsdale AZ
Having taken no real vacation this summer, I had to travel by book: The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg was a nice light, summer read that takes place near my hometown in suburban Chicago. The Starter Wife by Gigi Levangie Grazer was a guilty pleasure read that took me to the beaches of Malibu. I ended my summer sojourn in New York City with Them: A Memoir of Parents by Francine du Plessix Gray. All trips/books rate 4 stars.
April from Chicago, IL
Currently I have read:
Hunters Moon by Lori Handeland, which is a fantastic read! I love the paranormal, and this werewolf book really has it all. A fantastic story and amazing twists that will leave you wanting more.
A Stroke of Midnight by Laurell K. Hamilton is the latest book in her Meredith Gentry series and a great read! The book is a real page-turner as all her books are. Fans of the preternatural will love this along with all her other titles.
Crimson Moon by Rebecca York is another werewolf book and is a terrific read as well. Awesome stories built around memorable characters.
bradylee@myway.com
Incidental Findings: Lessons from My Patients in the Art of Medicine by Danielle Ofri. Published 2005 with 175 pages + notes. 4 stars.
A compassionate, thoughtful doctor gives her musings on the relationship between patient and Dr. and some of the strange examples of the variety of sick people. If you read this book you will see that Dr. Ofri has a big heart and that some patients overburden a caregiver with their expectations of personal attention. An interesting read.
maedwar79@hotmail.com
Here is a list of books I have read in the past month:
Hetty: The Genius and Madness of America's First Female Tycoon by Charles Slack.
Author Charles Slack provides a proper tribute to a woman mostly forgotten amongst the Vanderbilts, Morgans and Carnegies who came into prominence during her lifetime. Slack's treatment of Hetty?s life is both fair and entertaining. At the time she was mostly known as being miserly and mean-hearted but Slack offers a full-sided view of a complex woman who lived a very simple and unusual life for someone of her means. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa by Michael Finkel. 5 stars.
A former New York Times Magazine reporter loses his job to his own lies and almost loses his identity to someone else's lies. This book has the pace of a novel. 5 stars.
The Sewing Circles of Herat: A Personal Voyage Through Afghanistan by Christina Lamb. 4 stars.
Wonderful book, but she slowed the narrative down with too many intricate details and so many names.
lekeene52@msn.com
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova is a definite 5-star read and is full of surprises!
SalbyC@aol.com
Michael Connelly doesn't disappoint with Angels Flight. Another great Harry Bosch detective story. I'm trying to read all of them in order, as certain plot elements carry on. 4+ stars
marychambers@yahoo.com
Deafening by Frances Itani. 5 stars.
The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan. 4 stars.
The Book of Illusions by Paul Auster. 4 stars.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. 4 stars.
Red River War by Ray Rossom. 5 stars.
Through the Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot. 5 stars.
Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris. 4 stars.
Sin Killer by Larry McMurtry. 4 stars.
MHaury@da2nd.state.nm.us
Adored by Tilly Bagshawe. 3 and 1/2 stars.
What a delightfully trashy story! I couldn't stop reading it even though it was totally predictable and implausible. A perfect summer book.
The Wonder Spot by Melissa Bank. 3 stars.
Not as funny as her first book (The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing), but still worth reading. There was at least one "laugh out loud scene" that I couldn't even describe because I kept laughing so hard.
Fairway to Heaven by Roberta Isleib. 3 and 1/2 stars.
I love this murder mystery series starring likeable amateur sleuth and pro golfer Cassie Burdette. I would highly recommend this book as well as any of the three previous books in this series to anyone who likes golf or mysteries.
PrincesssAurora@aol.com
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. 4 stars.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. 4 1/2 stars.
Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich. 3 stars.
Memorial Day by Vince Flynn. 4 stars.
Monday Mourning by Kathy Reichs. 4.2 stars.
dglg@telus.net
I just finished reading Iron Lace by Emilie Richards and rate it a 5-star plus! This is a "can't put it down book" about a family saga in Louisiana with family secrets, racial relationships and just a real page-turner. I can't wait to read the sequel called Rising Tides. Highly recommend this book.
canterburypl@snet.net
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder. 5 stars.
This is our "One book, One Region" for Eastern Connecticut. The book is touching. Kidder does a wonderful job of describing the Haitian world of Paul Farmer, a U.S. physician with a heart of gold rather than a pocket full. If you want to broaden your mind and your senses this is the book to read.
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