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TereseRose
Infernal by F. Paul Wilson
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the latest installment in the Repairman Jack series. I can't stress enough how exciting and fun these books are! You will want to read everyone of them! Great characters, amazing plots, and lots of twists and turns!!!!!
Patricia Lewis
The Preservationist by David Maine
Rating: 4 Stars
This has a very interesting concept of the modern day Noah (Noe) and how he and his family deal with the task the Lord asks him to do. This novel allows you to imagine what life and the Lord's request of Noah ever was accomplished.
Patricia Lewis
Most Wanted by Michele Martinez
Rating: 5 Stars
This author was able to write a sparkling, exciting novel as her past life included many of the feelings and descriptions of her characters. It kept you on edge and wanting to read it all in one night.
Patricia Lewis
The Wild Girl by Jim Fergus
Rating: 5 Stars
THE WILD GIRL provides the strong sense of the nature of the Native Americans. We had a chat with Jim Fergus and his love of the landscape of the West and the sociology of the peoples showed through.
Sharon (bencanada1@yahoo.com)
A Road Through the Mountains by Elizabeth McGregor
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderful novel that is heartfelt and empathetic.
Pamela Lockman (lockmp@sjr.mb.ca)
Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a fabulous, but nearly brutal read. It is beautifully written, but deals with some harsh realities. Some topics include race relations in South Africa, also assorted other relationships such as father-daughter, teacher-student, man-woman. Coetzee has won the Booker Prize and also a Nobel prize. DEFINITELY worth it!
Carole Turner
Say When by Elizabeth Berg
Rating: 5 Stars
This interesting novel examines what it's like when a married couple drifts apart slowly over time. The story is believable, as are the characters.
Pamela Lockman (lockmp@sjr.mb.ca)
Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Rating: 5 Stars
I just finished this, the fourth Harry Potter book, and I LOVED it! There is enough magic and wizardry, as well as human relationships and surprises, to keep me more than satisfied. The 600 pages or so went by in a flash! I could hardly stop reading!
Edie Manning (emanning@premier-ortho.com)
Toxic Bachelors by Danielle Steele
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a great read for all us ladies who would like to find our own toxic bachelor. I enjoyed this book, although it was a typical Danielle Steele romance novel.
Barbara (bdorm@aol.com)
A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
Rating: 5 Stars
I finished this just in time for A FEAST OF CROWS --- I'm so glad I discovered this series. It's better than the Tolkien series!
Barbara (bdorm@aol.com)
Loop Group by Larry McMurtry
Rating: 2 Stars
LOOP GROUP was very disappointing. It was not up to his usual.
Cheryl
Charming Billy by Alice McDermott
Rating: 3 Stars
This is a book about Irish immigrants in the United States, and how one's life decisions impact on others. At first, it was difficult to follow the story, and keep track of who was who. However, as the story progressed, it became easier to follow.
Shana
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Rating: 4 Stars
One of the few books I have read that peaks in the middle. THE KITE RUNNER gives the reader insight into Afghanistan prior to and during the Taliban, and how it changed the lives of everyone there. A good read.
Sandra Furlotte
The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell
Rating: 5 Stars
Bernard Cornwell is one of the best historical fiction writers around. He has the ability to relate a wonderful adventure story and interweave accurate facts on the period of history involved. This novel (the first of a trilogy) is set in Northumbria in the nineth century and tells the story of Uhtred, a young boy captured by the Danes on a raiding mission to England. Cornwell has the ability to tread that very fine line between giving the reader just the right amount of historical fact to enhance the story, but not so much that the reader is overwhelmed and loses interest in the story. I look forward to the rest of the trilogy.
Judy
Creepers by Robert Morrell
Rating: 5 Stars
The story takes place in 8 hours while 5 urban explorers (creepers) break into a soon-to-be demolished Paragon Hotel. I thought it was a horror story (it wasn't), but I was definitely creeped out by the end. CREEPERS is definitely a different read.
Judy
The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt
Rating: 4 Stars
Although this book isn't for everyone, the "story" of the burning of the famed opera house, the Fenice, is rather threaded through narratives about eccentric Venetians, the Mafia, Ezra Pound's mistress and the machinations of the Save Venice Foundation, and lots of infighting. Such interesting characters and a little story which I found quite satisfying, but if you are looking for a point to the book... you may not find it.
Rena Cope
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
Rating: 4 Stars
This was a very respectful, informative, sometimes hilarious read. The informative part was about how cadavers have been useful to the medical field over the years --- how the use of cadavers began and what has developed since then. This is a very respectful telling of the good that has come from the gifting of the human body for scientific purposes.
Undenyably so, there are times when it may seem like Ms. Roach is making fun of this procedure, but it is quite the contrary. She is most tasteful and shows great graditude to those who have helped science/medicine take giant steps in resolving questions that could not be answered any other way.
The book is interesting and a real quick read (with the exception of the funeral chapter towards the end of the book which goes on way to long). Find out about terminal velocity and how even the hamsters got into the act of reconstructing plane wrecks.
I look forward to her new book, SPOOK Which has just been released.
Rena Cope
The Town That Forgot How To Breathe by Kenneth J. Harvey
Rating: 3 Stars
This is a new author for me, however, I found it to be a fast and interesting read. This is an unusual combination of mystery, suspense, sci-fi and thriller.
This is the back story of what happens to a small fishing village and the townspeople who live there when the government takes away their main revenu/industry. Within that story we find out about a man whose family originally comes from the small village, then moves. Now, he has a family of his own, which has been broken by divorce. The man and his young daughter go back to the village for a vacation and get caught up in a mysterious illness that is effecting the townspeople. The military gets involved, of course. There are mysterious bodies turning up in the water, strange lights, and strange island supersticions. This is one that " The X-Files" must have missed. THE TOWN THAT FORGOT HOW TO BREATHE is a quick and enjoyable read.
Jennifer Yates
The Naked Duke by Sally Mackenzie
Rating: 5 Stars
This was a wonderful historical romance with a fast-paced story and enjoyable plot. I really enjoyed the main characters and their interactions with one another.
Barb (barbvog22@yahoo.com)
Northern Lights by Nora Roberts
Rating: 4 Stars
I don't usually read a lot of Nora Roberts, because her novels are kind of all the same. This new one has a great mystery with romance, but the romance doesn't overtake the story. Sure, you know who gets which girl, but I wasn't sure of the killer until near the end. It's a great read! I'll try more of hers again.
Carolyn
Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene
Rating: 3 Stars
I'm reading this for my book group. It's an interesting sort of thriller, sort of comedy. It also kind of gives you the downside of the spy game.
Barbara Merz
Children of God by Mary Doria Russell
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a definite 'must read' after finishing THE SPARROW by Mary Doria Russell. CHILDREN ON GOD is a sequel that really 'explains' a lot of what was left unaswered in THE SPARROW, including some surprises too!
Carole
Light From Heaven by Jan Karon
Rating: 5 Stars
The last of the Mitford Years novels by Ms. Karon is as full of surprises as her previous books. It is never boring or slow. Father Tim Kavanaugh is asked to re-open a long closed church.
This series of novels by Ms. Karon are some of the most inspirational and thought-provoking stories I have read.
Amy Wood
Tabloid Nation by John Schasny
Rating: 5 Stars
TABLOID NATION is satirical and takes a poke at popular culture, as if Holden Caulfield were raised by Hunter S. Thompson and Kurt Vonnegut. This book is hilarious and also profound. It touches on many subjects, and is very enlightening.
Mo (maestraw@msn.com)
A Wedding in December by Anita Shreve
Rating: 1 Stars
This was my least favorite of all the Shreve novels. She has been one of my favorites for years. However, her last three have been disappointing. I love the novels she writes in which the ending is totally out of left field. In this one, I did not care about the characters at all, and the plot was weak.
Mo (maestraw@msn.com)
Widow of the South by Robert Hicks
Rating: 2 Stars
This is not worth the hype. I hoped this would be a novel I would fall into, but I did not. I kept reading and finished it, but it never did grab me.
Mo (maestraw@msn.com)
The Divide by Nicholas Evans
Rating: 4 Stars
I was very disappointed with the first 2/3 of this book. I kept waiting to like someone, any character. However the last 1/3 hooked me. I was drawn in and found it to be a good read. (It wasn't as good as THE HORSE WHISPERER, though.)
Mo (maestraw@msn.com)
Maybe a Miracle by Brian Strause
Rating: 3 Stars
This was a great read until the last 1/3 of the book. I found the manner in which Strause tied up all the loose ends to be too far out there. The premise is excellent and I wish the ending had fit the rest of the novel.
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
The Great Mortality by John Kelly
Rating: 2 Stars
It is an interesting subject, but it reads more like a text book that a novel. Luckily, I got it for free from the publisher.
A. Thomas
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Rating: 3 Stars
I feel it's taking me some time to get into this; maybe my expectations are too high --- with all the hype over this book I thought I'd be sucked in after the first few chapters. I'm into the 7th chapter and it hasn't happened yet.
Vikki (VikkiVand@aol.com)
Missing Mom by Joyce Carol Oates
Rating: 5 Stars
I always enjoy work by this author, it never disappoints. There are situations throughout MISSING MOM that you can only know if you've lost a Mom and have a sister. Excellent.
Dennis Fowler (dfowler1@insight.rr.com)
Predator by Patricia Cornwell
Rating: 5 Stars
I have been disappointed in her last couple of books previous to this, but she has done it again. PREDATOR is an awesome book. However, I still think that she ties her books up at the end too fast. I would like to see more details at the end of the book.
CAA
The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion
Rating: 4 Stars
After seeing Joan Didion promoting her new book, THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING, I decided to get into some of her previous work. Her eliptical way of writing piques my interest.
CAA
The Woman Next Door by Barbara Delinsky
Rating: 3 Stars
Who would have thought? THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR is a lusty, sensual story of married love and living life full of gusto, passion and deliverance!
CAA
Natural Blonde by Liz Smith
Rating: 2 Stars
A memoir that comes across as a self-conscious, trumpet-blowing for herself and her many fine qualities! She places herself as an important player on the world stage sounding exaggerated at best --- an insider, cosmopolitan, arts-loving woman in full bloom. It all has a disingenuous tone to it, as if told through a rosy, blurred filter, romanticized in bloated shallowness.
Koontz Fan
Life Expectancy by Dean Koontz
Rating: 5 Stars
Another scary, thrilling read by Dean Koontz. If you enjoy his books, be sure to give this a go. It does not disappoint.
Jenn Moss
Twenty-Seven Bones by Jonathan Nasaw
Rating: 4 Stars
I have read one other book by Nasaw, and in comparison, this one takes a bit longer to get into. It was a tad confusing at first, following each section of the chapter as it switched back and forth between characters; but by the end, I was on the edge of my seat. A definite read for any thriller lover!
Alan Broder
River of Doubt by Candice Millard
Rating: 5 Stars
One hell of a story. I can understand why people did not believe this trip took place. After his defeat for re-election for a third term, Theodore Roosevelt, his son Kermit, and a Brazilian explorer began a trip down an uncharted section of the Amazon River. It reads like a novel, replete with drownings, disease, Indian attacks, and murder.
DD McDon
Skeletons of the Zahara by Dean King
Rating: 5 Stars
A tale of shipwrecked survivors and their struggle with the unforgiving desert as well as the people who enslave them.
Stebie
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved the neverending intrigue surrounding Jesus and Mary Magdelene's relationship and the conspiracy of destroying the "truth!"
I can't wait to see Ron Howard's vision for this adaptation!!
Sandy Sherwood (jasscs@aol.com)
Saving Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan
Rating: 2 Stars
After reading all of Ms. Tan's books, this one left me cold. I did not enjoy it, and in fact, found it too long and very dull.
Sandy Sherwood (jasscs@aol.com)
Trace by Patricia Cornwell
Rating: 4 Stars
I enjoyed the book, but wanted more! It left us hanging, waiting for the next installment. I want to know the ending. Oh well, write fast, Patricia.
T. Thomas
Wickett's Remedy by Myla Goldberg
Rating: 3 Stars
This is a well-researched, well-written book that held my interest; but, I felt unsatisfied with the ending.
T. Thomas
The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt
Rating: 4 Stars
This was not as gripping as MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL, but I still enjoyed it.
D McDon
Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've by Alan Alda
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is not the usual Hollywood biography. The title suggests Alda's philosophy of life. As a child, Alda lost his dog to an accident and his father had the dog stuffed at a taxidermist to help young Alphonso (his given name) mourn... but of coursem the dog never looked the same, so Alda's special memories of his beloved pet were replaced with the gruesome memory of the stuffed replica. Thus, Alda's philosophy: Never hold on too long to a memory/ideal because sometimes letting go will preserve the untainted original forever. He talks candidly about his mother's mental illness and how it affected their relationship. You don't have to like Alda as an actor to enjoy this book.
Manogirl
Cubs Nation by Gene Wojciechowski
Rating: 4 Stars
I'm a Cubs fan, like so many other people, so this book was a treat. It follows the team for a full season, telling stories about the players and about the fans who love the team with a passion. Filled with little bits of trivia, interviews with celebrities who love the Cubs, and interviews with the team, it's a great read for ANY Cubs fan.
Jan in Edmonds
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
Rating: 4 Stars
This book has been on the NYT bestseller list for Children's Paperback Books for 73 weeks. I've rated it as one of my 10 favorite books for 2005. It's about four 15-year-old girls who were born within a couple weeks of each other, and because their moms know each other, so do the girls. It's about what happens to them and how they each learned a lesson in life. Brashares knows how to reach the hearts of teens and women of all ages.
Joan (jscady@efieldguide.com)
Identity Theory by Peter Temple
Rating: 4 Stars
IDENTITY THEORY is a stand-alone suspence novel published for the first time in the U.S. I had to re-read parts to get all the characters straight, but after that, it was a sleighride. Temple got the atmosphere and the language right, and the characters were new and interesting.
Joan (jscady@efieldguide.com)
Mission Road by Rick Riordan
Rating: 4 Stars
MISSION ROAD is the newest in the Tres Narvarre series. I always enjoy these San Antonio mysteries, but this one had more depth and intricacy of plot, and I loved the ending.
Harriet Winograd
My Life So Far by Jane Fonda
Rating: 5 Stars
I thoroughly enjoyed Fonda's book. I knew a lot about her life but only in broad strokes. I was impressed with how open she was and what a good writer she is.
It always amazes me how people can remember so many details of their lives. I wonder how much of it is made up. But, it did not matter in this book. I had great empathy for a lot of her life challenges. The book helped me understand myself better and it can't get much better than that!
ngroves
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Rating: 4 Stars
A delightful story of two young English girls who have grown up in a "castle," but whose life is more desperate than romantic. Their only income is royalties from their father's writing, and he hasn't published a thing in 12 years. When their isolation is interrupted by the arrival of two young American men, their new landlords, numerous romantic complications and awkward transitions to adulthood arise.
Debra Guyette (Debby236@aol.com)
Mind Game by Christine Feehan
Rating: 5 Stars
Christine Feehan writes excellent books and this one is no exception. With mystery, suspense and more than a touch of paranormal, this one will keep your interest from beginning to end.
ngroves
The Known World by Edward P. Jones
Rating: 4 Stars
A prize-winning book about a little known aspect of American history: black ownership of slaves in the pre-Civil War era. The non-chronological format makes it very difficult to follow the narrative until you get the hang of it and have the characters sorted out, but it's worth the effort.
ngroves
You Remind Me of Me by Dan Chaon
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a moving story about the search for connections. Raised by a single, depressed, suicidal mother, Josh decides to find his older half-brother, given up for adoption when his mother was a teenager. After "stalking" him, Josh maneuvers his way into Troy's life but is greeted with less enthusiasm than he hoped, and resorts to desperature measures to try to win his brother's accceptance.
Barbara Stamper (bstamper08@aol.com)
The Third Victim by Lisa Gardner
Rating: 5 Stars
Once again, Lisa Gardner has created a book I could not put down! This one is set in an idyllic town of Bakersville, Oregon around a school shooting where a confession by a local boy does not match the evidence at the crime scene. A must read!
Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com)
The Other Shulman by Alan Zweibel
Rating: 4 Stars
Shulman, middle-aged stationery store owner, figures he's gained and lost enough pounds to create another entire Shulman!
Laura Ayala (ayalawl@aol.com)
The Dead Place by Steven Booth
Rating: 5 Stars
THE DEAD PLACE is another excellent entry in this British mystery series. I love the main characters, Diane Fry and Ben Cooper, and the mystery was all about death --- very interesting.
Crystal Gwynn
Psychic Diaries by Lysa Mateau
Rating: 4 Stars
I have enjoyed this book. It has brought new sight to what plane our loved ones are from us. I have smiled and cried while I read this book. Lysa is honest and down to earth.
Michelle Miller (miller4plusmore@bellsouth.net)
The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
Rating: 4 Stars
This was a good book. I had only ever read THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE. However, I am reading the entire seven book series for a reading group and this was the first one (LWW is the second). I really enjoyed it, although it doesn't transition to adult reading as well as J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series.
Michelle Miller (miller4plusmore@bellsouth.net)
Hell House by Richard Matheson
Rating: 5 Stars
This book was really good! I had seen the movie adaptation several times, "The Legend of Hell House," and did not even know it was a novel first! Well, I'll tell you --- it scared me good! Stephen King wasn't joking when he said this was one of the scariest books written (not an exact quote).
ngroves
Cane River by Lalita Tademy
Rating: 4 Stars
Based loosely on her own family history, Tademy has written the story of several generations of women in an African-American slave family and their relationships --- some forced, some based on love --- with the white French planters and merchants who dominate their society. It's an interesting, detailed account of their world over the span of roughly a century.
Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com)
The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank by Ellen Feldman
Rating: 3 Stars
In this novel, Feldman creates an imaginary Peter who invents a new life in America, in which he denies his Judaism but is haunted by his past.
Kip Nettles
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Rating: 5 Stars
William Goldman writes well enough to create a replica without a copy, a Realist novel with all the trappings a Romantic adventure, all while entertaining the reader with his ironic perceptions. A wonderful read.
Connie Kallenberg (conniekallenberg@msn.com)
Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah
Rating: 3 Stars
I love Kristin Hannah's books, but this is not her best work. I would call it "a light holiday read."
Donna P.
The Light Within by Yvonne Whittal
Rating: 4 Stars
It's an older book, and though I am only about 3/4 of the way finished, I must say it's a great read! The main character is grating on my nerves a tad, but hey, I can't absolutely love each and every character. Grab it and give it a read, I'd recommend it no doubt!
Kip Nettles
Writing Workshop: The Essential Guide by Ralph Fletcher and JoAnn Portalupi
Rating: 5 Stars
Any teacher of writing should read this book. Fletcher and Portalupi outline how to set up and run a writing workshop and why doing so is important. I teach 7th grade writing and my students have never been so prolific or so enthusiastic about writing. Without the this book, I couldn't have done it.
Kip Nettles
Treason's Harbour by Patrick O'Brian
Rating: 5 Stars
The Aubry/Maturin series are masterfully written, whether you are a fan of nautical books or not. This series inspired me to purchase a Force-5 and begin my love-afffair with sailing.
Amelia Rand
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Rating: 1 Stars
My book club selected this to read. I'm not sure if it is science fiction, or if it's supposed to have a meaning that just went over my head. The last chapter of the book was the best, but even then I cannot understand that the old man's story would "make you believe in God". I hope to hear from others.
Kathy Kasten
The Great Mortality by John Kelly
Rating: 2 Stars
It focuses on the great plague during the Middle Ages, but it was really boring the way it was written. It wasn't a bad book, but I would suggest it for someone who is a scholar in that field.
Kathy Kasten
Blow Fly by Patricia Cornwell
Rating: 3 Stars
It was ok, but it just didn't seem up to the earlier works she has done.
Susan Reimers
The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
Rating: 5 Stars
Isabel Archer is an American who goes to Britain to be with her eccentric aunt and family, and discovers an extremely different social system and its customs.
Connie Kallenberg (conniekallenberg@msn.com)
How to be Lost by Amanda Eyre Ward
Rating: 4 Stars
Great for book clubs.
Connie Kallenberg (conniekallenberg@msn.com)
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
Some might find the academic setting to be a bit tedious, but I loved it and felt that this tedium was a major portion of the book's message.
Rosalie Sambuco (tigersmama43213@aol.com)
Creepers by David Morrell
Rating: 5 Stars
I could not put this book down. I read it in 8 hours. It is the best book I have read in many years. At times, I heard myself gasp and cover my mouth.
Donna L.
Velocity by Dean Koontz
Rating: 5 Stars
VELOCITY was a thrilling read. It was graphic and I was surprised by this book. I went through it quickly and really enjoyed it. You will be surprised by the story as well.
Sharon Mae Halat (SHARONMAEHALAT@AOL.COM)
Mexico by James Michener
Rating: 5 Stars
This seems to be one of his more interesting and not-so-boring-at-the-beginning novels.
Barbara Dormer (bdorm@aol.com)
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a difficult read, but it's worth making the effort, as the book gets better.
Gaye
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Rating: 5 Stars
What fun it is to discover first-time authors who can twist a good tale. Stephenie Meyer does just that in TWILIGHT, the story of Bella and Edward. Bella, an ordinary young woman, leaves sun-drenched Arizona for Forks, Washington --- the rain capital of the U.S. Resigning herself to dreary days, she is drawn to a young man, Edward, who is unlike any other --- he is a vampire. A relationship in which a small mistake could be life-threatening becomes the focus of this book filled with temptation and suspense. A wonderful debut for this author. A great side-note --- this book just jumped to # 5 on the Young Adult list of the New York Times Bestsellers!
Mimi Klein
Velocity by Dean Koontz
Rating: 4 Stars
I don't usually like this genre, but this book was so good. It kept me up until I finished it.
Jeanne Sheats (catslady5@aol.com)
The Lion's Lady by Julie Garwood
Rating: 5 Stars
Julie Garwood writes the best romantic historicals with some suspense thrown in for good measure. A definite read.
Gina
The Godfather by Mario Puzo
Rating: 4 Stars
I reread this one after many years and
the story is still riveting. The book has so many more nuances and information than the movies.
Linda T.
Predator by Patricia Cornwell
Rating: 1 Stars
A big disappointment for fans. This is a letdown to all those who religiously run to the bookstore to grab up her latest without even looking at a review, as readers often do with their favorite major authors. This book has a disastrously messy plot, characters you will not care a whit about unless you want to know what they are all driving, and the most tension you will experience is trying to decide if you should finish the book or not.
jean parker
Grimm's Grimmest by Ed. by Tracy Arah Dockray
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a wonderful book, but read it with tongue-in-cheek. Dockray has a masterful sense of rhythm, and her illustrations are incredible. It's quite provocative and is a lot fun.
Teri (Sturtze56@aol.com)
Consent to Kill by Vince Flynn
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the first novel I've read by this author. I love it. The main character is a counter-terrorism specialist for the CIA and his form of counter-terrorism is usually putting a bullet between the terrorists' eyes. In this book, a Saudi billionaire has placed a rather large price on Rapp's head for killing his son. Someone accepts the contract and the fun and games begin. Contract killings, revenge, assassinations, sex, money, and power!
Barbara
And She Was by Cindy Dyson
Rating: 4 Stars
AND SHE WAS intertwines the stories of generations of women on the Aleutian Islands. The current woman is Brandy, a woman who thought she was a free spirit, available to follow her latest man, drink the alcohol in front of her, snort the next line of coke, or smoke the next joint... a life without strings --- to herself or to others. But, as she discovers the stories of the women near her --- those who live now and those who came before --- she finds that she is not the empty vessel she thought.
This book looks at the fine lines between bravery and cowardice, destiny and fate. Set on the weather and history torn Aleutian Islands, it is a story that explores the role of women as the givers and the maintainers of life, even as they are forced to take it away.
Cindy Dyson clearly handles the difficult task of blending the past and the present into a seamless novel. She carries the reader with her on a slow but breathless journey into discovery of the uncertain role morality plays in our lives and our history --- a journey all women should take.
Mia
The Alphabet Sisters by Monica Mcinerney
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a good story about sisters who have been estranged and how they come together again.
Rachael
Life Support by Tess Gerritsen
Rating: 5 Stars
Tess Gerritsen is an excellent author! I recently discovered her and I am reading every book of hers that I can get my hands on. She writes medical thrillers, which read like great mysteries, but with intelligence. This is one of her out-of-series books and the first one I've ever read by her. I highly recommend this book.
Jean Pollock
Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson
Rating: 4 Stars
BIG BAD WOLF was a great book!
Rachael
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Rating: 5 Stars
A beautiful story with vivid characters that you can really relate to. I highly recommend this book!
Liz Shaw
Naked by David Sedaris
Rating: 5 Stars
NAKED is filled with warm, humorous, courageous, and deeply human autobiographical essays by this Thurber Award-winning author and radio commentator. The essays range from the laugh-out-loud funny "A Plague of Tics" to the wry, bittersweet "Ashes" about his mother's death. I could not put this book down.
Heidi Kraemer
Everyone Worth Knowing by Lauren Weisberger
Rating: 5 Stars
Another five star read by the author of DEVIL WEARS PRADA. A fun and escapist novel.
Karen Gold
Blood Money by Rochelle Krich
Rating: 4 Stars
Rochelle Krich is always good, and I love her detective, Jessie Drake. This novel didn't grab me quite as much as some of her others, maybe because there was less of Jessie's personal life involved. Still, it was a great story.
randi odierno (rodierno@aol.com)
History of My Life by Giacomo Casanova
Rating: 5 Stars
If I could put 6 stars in I would! These are wonderful volumes of a fantastical life, with a very modest and bizarre beginning. It is his story, written by him at the end of his life and revealing amazing adventures. During his long and wondrous life, Casanova is a thief, actor, and noble, running from his paramours or their husbands and evading religious persecution to give merely a sampling of these volumes. I thought he was a myth --- you can't write a mythological character like this!!!
Janet Best (best3sons@calldialog.net)
Two Lives by Vikram Seth
Rating: 4 Stars
What a wonderful book about the love between a husband and wife over 5 decades and the love they share with the author, their nephew. Mr. Seth writes tenderly about his aunt and uncle and shows what an impact they had on his life.
Darcy Pawlowski
A Darkness More Than Night by Michael Connelly
Rating: 3 Stars
This Connelly detective story falls right about in the middle of his body of work, both in relative quality of story, and when it was written. It tells a story of Harry Bosch earlier in his career --- before he stopped working for the prosecutor's office, but after his former partner, Kys Ryder, is promoted to greener pastures. It contains interesting background information on Harry and his motivation.
Brian Dunn
White Teeth by Zadie Smith
Rating: 4 Stars
I'm halfway through the Booker nominee. If she sticks her landing as deftly as she's detailed the lives of her characters, I'll come back and add another star.
Cynthia Winick
Hard Truth by Mariah Stewart
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is full of suspense. I read COLD TRUTH last week and I'm looking forward to reading DARK TRUTH as soon as I finish reading HARD TRUTH.
Rachael
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book. It is very imaginative and exciting. This is a terrific tale by an excellent author.
Melissa Brooks
A Man of Two Worlds by Andrea Dean Van Scoyoc
Rating: 4 Stars
Ms. Van Scoyoc's newest novel is a Horror Sinisteria thriller that will make you laugh, puke, and cry all in one page! She brings the reader through a horror-rific fantasy world of every variety of the undead ... and surprisingly, it's a great love story, too!
Nicole Hulst (kelley899@yahoo.com)
Phoenix and Ashes by Mercedes Lackey
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a great magical take on the Cinderella story, set in war-torn England during World War I.
Pat from Sugar Land
The Falls by Joyce Carol Oates
Rating: 3 Stars
THE FALLS is a good but not great book --- there is too much repetition.
However, I did go on reading. I found I was very sympathetic to the oldest son who was more or less scorned by his mother.
Christy
The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks
Rating: 5 Stars
I normally do not read nonfiction, or fiction based on nonfiction, but I loved this book! I know that it is based on this amazing woman who took care of the fallen soldiers during the Civil War. I like Hick's view on how she would of been, and the love story. I tell everyone to read this!
christy
Hula Done It? by Maddy Hunter
Rating: 5 Stars
I love the main character --- Emily Andrews, her Nana, the seniors and the two men who are both in love with her. Each book takes you on a different vacation with the senior group she leads, and someone is murdered each time. Love love love this series!
Christy
This Enemy Town by Marcia Talley
Rating: 5 Stars
I met Marcia at a book signing, and fell in love with her and her books. Each one keeps you reading until you finish. You wont be disappointed with this series.
BabbleFish
Crest of Eagles by Jocelyn Howe
Rating: 5 Stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this book about Ximbaoue (ancient Zimbabwe) and Rhodesia. The characters pulled you into their world of war, love, hate, fear... I especially enjoyed the author's take on the disappearance of the amaXimbaoue people, which remains an enigma to this day. The story ends in a bit of a cliffhanger ---- which makes me hope there will be a sequel!
Mary
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
Rating: 2 Stars
This book is well-written, but the story line tends to drag. I would never have finished the book had it not been chosen by our book club this month.
Kris
Undead and Unreturnable by MaryJanice Davidson
Rating: 4 Stars
A fun read with Betsy and the gang in this delightful vampire romp. Even if you aren't a fan of the paranormal genre, you should still give this series a try. It's quirky full of laughs.
Emily
Lethal Practice by Peter Clement
Rating: 3 Stars
I enjoyed this book. It had a good mystery that left me trying to figure out who the killer was.
sydney (sidsydney01@hotmail.com)
Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams
Rating: 5 Stars
It was an outstanding suspense, mystery and a thriller. It was his first young adult book, and he did a really good job on it. I recommend it to everyone!
Cheryl from Allison Park, PA
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Rating: 4 Stars
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It is about Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob. The story centers around the women of biblical times --- how they lived, how they must have felt, and how child-bearing was such an important part of their lives.
Gabriela Gallegos (countessgaby@msn.com)
Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts
Rating: 4 Stars
It's good so far... better than the movie.
Christina DeAngelis (misscd74@aol.com)
Double Shot by Diane Mott Davidson
Rating: 5 Stars
I enjoyed this latest installment in the Goldy Schulz catering mysteries. The inclusion of some mouth-watering recipes is a plus.
Mary
The Keeners by Maura Shaw
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a moving story of the horror of the potato famine in Ireland and the hope Irish immigrants had, bringing them to America for a chance to survive. The details of life in Ireland and in their new home of Troy, NY (by chance, also my home town!) are so vivid that you lose yourself in the story. This novel was well-researched and well worth the time it took to read.
BJ Deese (zandercage2003@yahoo.com)
Cold Truth by Mariah Stewart
Rating: 5 Stars
Mariah Stewart's new Truth trilogy has started out with a bang. This is one of my favorite suspense authors! She has an awesome talent.
D. R. Banks
Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl
Rating: 3 Stars
This memoir describes Ruth's childhood and young adulthood in a dysfunctional family, and how her knowledge of food preparation helped her survive. Some of her recipes (which are numerous) brought back memories of foods I use to prepare.
Nancy in Atlanta (n_bryan2001@yahoo.com)
At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 2 Stars
This was such a disappointment. As a reader of everything he puts his name on, I kept waiting for it to get good and it never happened.
Is it just me or does it seem like someone else has taken over Sparks's writing for the last three books? I miss the old Sparks that wrote the likes of A WALK TO REMEMBER and MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE. Maybe Jeremy Marsh isn't the only one with writers block.
Dawnymae
My Life So Far by Jane Fonda
Rating: 4 Stars
Jane Fonda has had an impact on the movie industry, on political and environmental issues. She has had an interesting life, and her book illustrates that. However, Jane gets a little preachy on some of her "musings".
Nancy in Atlanta
Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner
Rating: 4 Stars
A great book with very likable characters, and who doesn't like a mystery thrown in!
Firewind
Shooting Star: The Bevo Francis Story by Kyle Keiderling
Rating: 5 Stars
The incredible but true tale of college basketball's greatest scorer told with unflinching honesty. A saga about a player who saved a school, revived the sport, and taught America anything is possible. It is Seabiscuit in shorts.
Sherree
The Novelist by Angela Hunt
Rating: 5 Stars
THE NOVELIST --- by the highly acclaimed Angela Hunt --- is not your usual romance, but I guarantee that once you start, you will not be able to put the book down.
Sherree
Hannah's Hope by Karen Kingsbury
Rating: 5 Stars
Hannah has always felt that a part of her is missing. Just when she thinks she has found it, it looks like all of her searching is for naught. But, the Lord has always been there for her. Will He be there now?
J. P. Feingold
Mortal Fear by Robin Cook
Rating: 3 Stars
It's more fun to read about an illness than to have one.
gail
by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 5 Stars
I cannot get enough of his writings. In the last 2 weeks I've read 6 of his books. I own one other. I can't wait to get the ones I haven't read yet from the library.
Bernard MacKinnon (bmackinnon@seaside.ns.ca)
Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
Rating: 3 Stars
I'm only half-way through it, and so far, it's OK. I'm not overly enthused.
Jeff Smith
The Penultimate Peril by Lemony Snicket
Rating: 4 Stars
This is another good installment from Lemony Snicket. Unfortunately, very little actually happens for this to be the penultimate book in the series.
Barbara (bstamper08@aol.com)
The McCaffertys: Thorne by Lisa Jackson
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is part of the McCaffertys' four book series. It has enough romance and mystery to keep one entertained for hours. I couldn't wait for the next installment to be released!
Marsha
Hour Game by David Baldacci
Rating: 3 Stars
Although the pace is terrific and the diversions clever, the amount of characters confuses the reader unless he can read all 590 pages in a continous fashion.
Sarah Thompson (foreverme@national-champs.com)
Comes a Horseman by Robert Liparulo
Rating: 5 Stars
This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. At first, I was afraid it would be too violent, or it would sacrifice everything I like in a story (like character development and intricate plotting) for action, but by the fourth or fifth chapter I realized I was in good hands with this author. He gave me never-saw-it-coming thrills and brewing suspense, as well as characters I cared about, struggles I could relate to, and some really intelligent twists and turns. Besides the "big picture" writing stuff, he is a good writer on a sentence-to-sentence level. He knows how to use words to paint images in the reader's mind (at least mine). Overall, I am VERY please with this book. It is definitely worth spending time on.
alanpar (aparks467@cs.com)
The Power of the Dog by Don Winslow
Rating: 5 Stars
5 stars is not enough to give this book! A DEA agent takes on the mob, and the government and drug cartels in a story are woven with characters caught in the drug trades. I read newspaper articles about Latin America and think about this book.
Sherree
Bette by Lyn Cote
Rating: 5 Stars
This is an excellent book about a woman during World War II. While waiting to get married, she becomes a spy for the government in the meantime.
Kelly Pollock
The Secret Fruit of Peter Paddington by Brian Francis
Rating: 5 Stars
THE SECRET FRUIT OF PETER PADDINGTON is a great book. It's sad and funny, but all in all, it's a really cute story!
Gail
By A Spider's Thread by Laura Lippman
Rating: 4 Stars
A man's wife and children disappear and he is both mystified as to why, and frantic to find them. Tha many twists and turns keep the story moving nicely and the reader engaged.
Nunu
Always Time To Die by Elizabeth Lowell
Rating: 3 Stars
This novel's a little slow to start, but the plot picks up after you get all the family members straightened out. It has a 'whodunit' murder plot with romance thrown in. ALWAYS TIME TO DIE's an okay read, it's not Elizabeth Lowell's best book.
Sonia Chopra
Saving Fish From Drowning by Amy Tan
Rating: 5 Stars
I love this book... it is richly sprinkled with myths and tales from Chinese culture and laid against a background of art and diversity.
Set in China, Burma, and the United Sates, it captures the eccentricities and the beauty of all these cultures. The characters are alive and complex.
Diane
Harry Potter and Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Rating: 5 Stars
I know it's a bit late in the reading, but this book is great. It's another good installment in the series.
Rebekah Crain (littleminx@cox.net)
The Other Side of the Story by Marian Keyes
Rating: 5 Stars
Chic-Lit...
If you're looking for a fun, light, and quick read you'd probably like this book. Follow Gemma, JoJo, and Lily through the ups and downs that they call LIFE.
Randi Odierno (rodierno@aol.com)
Speak of the Devil by Richard Hawke
Rating: 5 Stars
ADDENDUM: 6 stars in fact! Mr. Hawke's wry sense of humor made me laugh aloud throughout!
Douglas Ray Cobb (goofier1@wmconnect.com)
Seventy-Seven Clocks by Christopher Fowler
Rating: 5 Stars
SEVENTY-SEVEN CLOCKS by Christopher Fowler belongs in the detective genre that I enjoy very much. It is the third book in his Bryant/May series, and though I have not read the first two, they aren't at all necessary to the enjoyment of reading SEVENTY-SEVEN CLOCKS.
The duo head up the PCU, or Peculiar Crimes Unit, of London and investigate crimes that fall out of the 'run-of-the-mill' realm. This particular installment deals with such crimes as a person who vandalises a Waterhouse painting at the British Musuem by throwing acid on it, and --- oh, yes --- multiple murders committed with unusual weapons, including death by cottonmouth venom, and by tiger.
There are elements of both Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Dame Agatha Christie in the complexity of the plot, and in the method of one of the murders. I thought SEVENTY-SEVEN CLOCKS was very well-thought out, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes detective/crime novels. I think Christopher Fowler is the future of the genre, and reading this book makes me want to purchase the first two of the series, as well as get the fourth when it eventually comes out.
Gerry (GerryD8784@aol.com)
Man Without a Country by Kurt Vonnegut
Rating: 3 Stars
More a book of aphorisms than a true memoir, Vonnegut’s MAN WITHOUT A COUNTRY reveals him as still the humorous curmudgeon he always seemed from his novels. He comes across as more than a little disgusted with the human tendency to greedily destroy the very environment that sustains us, as well as with the current state of the U.S. government and its domestic and foreign policies, but sadly, he seems to have no more idea of a solution than most of us.
Karen Moore (KLLovelady@aol.com)
Immoral by Brian Freeman
Rating: 5 Stars
Having read many of the popular authors in this genre, I am always looking for a new name. Brian Freeman does not disappoint. IMMORAL kept me turning pages, not only to the last one, but also through the online bonus chapters.
Rebekah Crain (littleminx@cox.net)
Dinner With A Perfect Stranger: An Invitation to C by David Gregory
Rating: 5 Stars
This was a very short book (100 pgs), but well worth the read. It only takes a little while to breeze through, so definitely be sure to add it to your reading queue.
BL
The Vendetta Defense by Lisa Scottoline
Rating: 5 Stars
The pace is fast, the characters are believeable, and the details about the setting make me feel like I'm back in South Philly. A great read.
Crystal Blackburn
With No One As Witness by Elizabeth George
Rating: 5 Stars
WITH NO ONE AS WITNESS is another outing with Inspector Lynley and Barbara Havers. Winston Nkata is also deeply involved. While facing their first serial killer, all three have to deal with the continuing political games wrought by Assistant Commisioner Hillier of New Scotland Yard.
Heather Frank
Galileo's Daughter by Dava Sobel
Rating: 3 Stars
This was a tough to read, but it was good for me...
Marilyn in SC
Where the River Runs by Patti Callahan Henry
Rating: 5 Stars
This was a great read. I must confess that I am a pushover for novels written the southern locales, and especially South Carolina. I was hooked from the very first chapter before I realized it was a flashback that set the relationships of the main character with two childhood friends. There were surprising twists and turns that kept the suspense up right to the very end. Now I must go back and read her first book, as this was her second.
Lauri Wilson
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Rating: 4 Stars
It took about 75 pages for this one to get going for me, but midway into it I'm enjoying it thoroughly. Give it a chance it you're looking for something different --- it will deliver.
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
Cane River by Lalita Tademy
Rating: 3 Stars
This book is a fictionalized account of real ancestors of the author who were slaves in Louisiana before the Civil War. It mostly centers on the strong women who held the family together the best that they could over a period of about 100 years.
Molly
Wild Swans by Chang Jung
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the fascinating memoir of a Chinese woman, narrated by the daughter/granddaughter of a family that became involved in the Communist movement in China. From the narrator's parents' participation beginning in the 1940s, through the children's involvement into the 1970s, we are exposed to the early successes of the Communist movement through its decline under the leadership of Chairman Mao. In particular, readers learn how his megalomaniacal personality turned a successful overhaul of the government and economy into rampant persecution of perceived "enemies" and the regression of social and economic advances.
As people tried to maintain their commitment to the Party and its values, internal machinations resulted in constant upheaval throughout the country. A loyal party member one day is denounced a traitor the next, until no one knew what to expect or whom to trust.
An excellent source of information, told in an engaging narrative.
Donna
First To Die by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
This book was thrilling, fast-paced, and very exciting. I could not put it down and I can't wait to read the second in the series of the Women's Murder Club...
B. J. Simon
Sinners and Saints by Eileen Dreyer
Rating: 4 Stars
This book drew me in right from the beginning --- and I like that in a book! A forensic nurse goes to New Orleans to find her missing sister whom she hasn't seen in 10 years. I wanted to know what shattered this family.
Molly
The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a novel of personalities, set primarily in Afganistan and later in California. The story describes the interconnectedness we share with others, the importance of honesty in relationships, and the consequences of not doing "the right thing".
The primary characters are Amir, the privleged son of a wealthy Afgani businessman, and Hassan, the son of his father's servant. As youths they are friends but never equals, according to society and in the mind of Amir. Their social inequality leads to a series of tragic events, and the novel ends with Amir's awakening to the painful knowledge that we are all members of the same human family. An achingly beautiful story.
Liza
Echo Burning by Lee Child
Rating: 4 Stars
This is my first Lee Child book, and I love the main character, Jack Reacher. He meets a woman who picks him up hitchhiking in the middle of nowhere, and ends up asking him to kill her husband. Great twists and turns!
Christy (Lolachris@aol.com)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is brilliant in its simplicity. The narrator is a 15-year-old autistic boy who sets out to solve a mystery. The bigger mystery, for me anyway, is the workings of the autistic mind. The author is able to develop such an endearing personality for someone who seems, on the outside, so unreachable. I highly recommend this book.
Michelle Dunn (michelle@michelledunn.com)
Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann
Rating: 5 Stars
This is an older book that I had never read and just picked up. It is really great, and now I want to read everything she has written. It seems this book could almost be about Jacqueline and her experiences in life.
Mammofabulous
Letters for Lizzie by James O'Donnell
Rating: 5 Stars
October is breast cancer awareness month so I thought it fitting to share info on this book. In this memoir, after Lizzie is diagnosed with breast cancer, Mr. O'Donnell writes letters to her that are at times sad, funny, and very inspiring. This book is wonderful!
Barbara Soule
Midnight Pleasures by Ashley, Shayne, Kenyon and Thompson
Rating: 3 Stars
MIDNIGHT PLEASURES is chick fantasy erotica, where all the characters end up with their "man" or werewolf or.... magic used for love. It makes for great light reading before bed!
Christy
Driving Mr. Albert by Michael Paterniti
Rating: 4 Stars
DRIVING MR. ALBERT is a wildly humorous travelogue across America, in which the object of the road trip is to deliver Albert Einstein's brain --- chopped up and kept in a glass jar in the trunk of the car. As if this is not bizarre enough, throw in the strange or strained relationship between the author, who offers to drive the car, and the owner of the brain (the pathologist who stole it); to make it even more bizarre, introduce a collection of quirky characters the two men meet along their odyssey. This is a truly enjoyable and unforgettable read.
Sandy Sherwood (jasscs@aol.com)
Ordinary Heroes by Scott Turow
Rating: 3 Stars
ORDINARY HEROES is so very different for Mr. Turow. I enjoyed this WW II book, but in spots, I wanted to put it down for lack of action. However, stay with the book as the ending is worth the wait.
Scary Witch
The Remarkable Ms. Frankenstein by Minda Webber
Rating: 1 Stars
Skip this unless you want to be bored and become annoyed with the stupid heroine and all the "remarkable" cliches.
Pat Hoel
Life on the Other Side by Sylvia Browne
Rating: 2 Stars
A friend sent me this because I've had some odd experiences since my husband died. Some of it is plausible, but the reincarnation bits left me cold. Are we to divide our time between countless others from all our "lives"? Come on!!
Albert Sears
The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a phenomenal classic Victorian mystery. It's so good that it's worth reading over and over. The story is told by different narrators, none of whom seem completely reliable. . .
Pat Hoel
Cat Cross Their Graves by Sirley Rousseau Murphy
Rating: 5 Stars
Okay, so it's talking cats! But haven't we all wished our pets could do just that? Murphy's cats are delightful, even a little believable, and the (you should pardon the expression) tales are always well thought- out and enjoyable.
Marjorie Pearson
Looking for Peyton Place by Barbara Delinsky
Rating: 4 Stars
Annie Barns, a writer, goes home to find out why her mother died, and why so many people in Middle River are ill. This is a very good read as all of Delinsky's book are.
Barbara Dormer (bdorm@aol.com)
A Million Little Pieces by James Frey
Rating: 5 Stars
Anyone who knows someone struggling with addiction or rehab should read this book.
Barbara Soule
Beyond Eden by Catherine Coulter
Rating: 2 Stars
A "chick" romance and a mystery; the ending is predictable, and it makes for pretty light reading.
Barbara Soule
Transgender Warriors by Leslie Feinberg
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a well-researched and footnoted history on transgender in pre-Christian and Native American culture. It's full of radical thinking and is a real eye-opener.
Janice Kind (KINDLEELF@AOL.COM)
The Limits of Enchantment by Graham Joyce
Rating: 4 Stars
Joyce is a fun author, always with tongue in cheek. THE LIMITS OF ENCHANTMENT is a laugh-out-loud book... depending on your sense of humor.
Janice Kind (KINDLEELF@AOL.COM)
The White Mare by Jules Watson
Rating: 5 Stars
THE WHITE MARE is full of the rituals and magic of the Celtic culture. It's a gripping saga of the struggle for freedom, cast as a journey of the spirit and heart. This is the first book of a triolgy.
Marilyn Shoemaker
Goodness Had Nothing to Do wiith It by Lucy Monroe
Rating: 5 Stars
5 Stars and more! This is the sequel to COME UP AND SEE ME SOMETIME, and is just another wonderful book by Lucy Monroe. It will be released on December 5 by Zebra.
SURPRISE, SURPRISE - The last woman business consultant Marcus Danvers expects to find at Kline Electronics is Veronica Richards. He’s supposed to be rooting out a corporate spy, not rehashing an old love affair --- with the woman who sold out the company they both used to work for and then took off without so much as a kiss goodbye. All the clues point to Ronnie as the firm’s newest mole, which means he’ll have to spend time with the stubbornly reticent --- and mouth-wateringly sexy --- woman he hasn’t been able to forget, and uncover every last thing she has to hide…
Sandy Sherwood (jasscs@aol.com)
Christ the Lord by Anne Rice
Rating: 2 Stars
I miss the old Anne Rice! The subject was great but I wanted her to bring her old joy and excitement to this book and she didn't. I hope she tries again.
Freddy Clemett
Speak of the Devil by Richard Hawke
Rating: 4 Stars
SPEAK OF THE DEVIL is a great book. It is so full of suspense that it gave me goosebumps at some points. I fully intend to recommend it to everyone!
Barbara Dormer (bdorm@aol.com)
A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
Rating: 4 Stars
A STORM OF SWORDS is 3rd in the Ice & Fire series, and is the best fantasy I have read in a long time. Martin is not afraid to kill off important characters.
K. Gold
Who Am I Without Him? by Sharon Flake
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a collection of short stories by an outstanding young adult author. Sharon Flake's novels appeal to teens, but are too good for adults to miss. The same is true of these stories --- and I'm speaking as someone who avoids short stories most of the time. All the stories address the theme of girls and the boys who are important to them. Some are depressing, some hysterically funny, and some may be forever unread by me. I teach high school reading, and brought this book to school with me before I had finished it myself. A student borrowed it within the first hour it was in my classroom, and when she returned the book, another young woman was right there waiting to take it home. I am looking forward ro reading the last couple of stories in the book, assuming I ever get it back.
Tara W.
The Wolf and The Dove by Kathleen Woodiwiss
Rating: 5 Stars
This is one of the best medieval romances I have read. The novel effectively depicts the era in which it was written. I would highly recommend this book.
Gerry (GerryD8784@aol.com)
Never Have Your Dog Stuffed and Other Things I've by Alan Alda
Rating: 2 Stars
I was disappointed to find that I enjoyed Alda as a memoir writer much less than I’ve enjoyed his work as a script-writer and actor. While it was interesting to learn about Alda's difficult life growing up with his mentally ill mother and performer father, in the end he had too little to say to make his book worthwhile, and the choppy and disjointed writing style further detracted from Alda’s memoir.
Trish Huber (tractorwidow@aol.com)
Marley & Me: Life and love with the World's Worst by John Grogan
Rating: 5 Stars
For everyone who ever thought they had the worst dog in the world --- rejoice! There is at least one worse... Marley. This is a true story of columnist John Grogan's life as it intertwined with his beloved yellow lab named Marley. You'll laugh, cry, and empathize with the Grogans as they experience their life with the companionship of the naughty, but loveable Marley. If you are a dog owner, this book will hit home. If you've ever owned a lab, it is especially personal. Grogan weaves his writing with stories of Marley and personal experiences he and his wife shared during those years with the dog. The book was a comfort and a joy to read, full of lots of life's little wisdoms as seen through a dog-lover's eyes. It left me feeling happy that there are other people who love their pets like I love mine, and are able to put it so eloquently into words. If you are not a pet owner, read it and get some introspection into the animal-lover's mind. If you have pets, it is a must read!
Carmen (guinn1248@bellsouth.net)
Predator by Patricia Cornwell
Rating: 3 Stars
This is not one of the best Kay Scarpetta mysteries so far, but it's still the quality you would expect from Patricia Cornwell.
BK
River God by Wilbur Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
RIVER GOD is one of my favorite books of all time. If you have ever visited Egypt, or ever want to, this book is for you. The story is taken from paintings on the walls of an ancient queen's tomb, which told of her life, and were created by her major domo/slave who cared for her from birth until death. Then, when you read the epilogue, you realize it is a true story. Egypt commissioned this great South African author to turn the story on the walls into a novel. If you have never read Smith, I compare him to our James Michener.
Emily (blakeek@alfredstate.edu)
Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
Rating: 5 Stars
I've read all 3 books about Hannibal Lecter and I loved them all. I would definitely recommend this one!
Karen (mrsbtea@suscom.net)
A Million Little Pieces by James Frey
Rating: 5 Stars
This was the best nonfiction I've ever read. It was so intense --- this man went through so much and came through it all.
Diane L.
City of Fallen Angels by John Berendt
Rating: 4 Stars
Just as he did with MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL, Berendt puts you right in the middle of the city of Venice. He introduces you to its citizens and you feel like you know them as well as he does. The question of how the fire that destroyed the Fenice Opera House got started --- accident or arson --- drives the plot of the book. I recommend this non-fiction book highly to anyone who enjoys a good story, whether fiction or nonfiction.
Carol Hirsh (CLoisH049@aol.com)
Cracks In My Foundation by Marian Keyes
Rating: 4 Stars
Very amusing short stories!
Jo
Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson
Rating: 5 Stars
The best book I've read in a while! SHADOW DIVERS reads like a thriller, but is nonfiction. Once you start, you can't put this book down. It is an incredible story.
Marelou A
Brother Cadfael's Penance by Ellis Peters
Rating: 4 Stars
In this last book written for the series, we learn more of Brother Cadfael's character and inner thoughts as he goes against his life's choices in his efforts to rescue his "secret son." I discovered Brother Cadfael from the PBS Masterpiece Theater and discovered Ellis Peters' writings as well. She is very knowledgable on the period, and her narrative and desciptive prose bring the era to life.
Gerry (GerryD8784@aol.com)
Beneath a Marble Sky: A Novel of the Taj Mahal by John Shors
Rating: 4 Stars
Shors’ novel caught my eye when it was listed by a reader on Word of Mouth, but it took some time to track down. I’m glad I made the effort, and grateful to the reader who took the time to post comments. This story of the circumstances and characters involved in the building of the Taj Mahal was fascinating, and made me want to learn more about the history of India.
Christine Seneca (cdcjs@aol.com)
The Myth of You and Me by Leah Stewart
Rating: 5 Stars
As one of the best books I have read in a long time, it's the story of two friends and how they find their way back to each other after a long separation. the characters are real and the emotions are heart-felt. It is a strong story that reminds you that things are not always what they seem.
Jo
Vanish by Tess Gerritsen
Rating: 4 Stars
Good pace and storyline!
Kam Aures (kerin0874@yahoo.com)
Little Girl Lost by Richard Aleas
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a great debut novel that is very entertaining, though the ending is a tad bit predictable.
Kam Aures (kerin0874@yahoo.com)
April Fool's Day by Josip Novakovich
Rating: 5 Stars
APRIL FOOL'S DAY is a very unique and well-written novel. While it deals with a serious subject, the Yugoslavian war, it is also a humorous read. This book will keep you engaged from the first page to the very last.
MMCD
Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang
Rating: 5 Stars
An unforgettable and riveting memoir of three generations of strong, loving, courageous, resilient women in China who, during twenthieth-century China, endure and survive the Cultural Revolution.
Mary Helen Walsh
Chief Left Hand, Southern Arapaho by Msrgaret Coelk
Rating: 5 Stars
Left Hand, an Arapaho, refused to fight the white man and tried to keep his warriors in check, even when the white man took his tribal land and broke all the promises made to the Indians. This history takes place in and around Denver and Boulder, Colorado.
I have never been so affected by any book before. This is very well-writen and should not be missed.
Kelly Pollock
The Bell Jar by Silvia Plath
Rating: 5 Stars
I've been meaning to read THE BELL JAR for years now, but I've never had the chance to pick up a copy until yesterday. I read it on the way to work, at work, on the way home from work, and in the bathtub before bed! It was truly a case of "can't put it down"... the worst case I've ever had! I loved every single minute of THE BELL JAR! It's a shame that this was Silvia Plath's only novel. Now I'm off to hunt down JOHNNY PANIC & THE BIBLE OF DREAMS!
Jean Pollock
Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire
Rating: 5 Stars
I've been waiting for this one since reading WICKED, and it was everything I hoped for & more! I love Gregory Maguire's style of writing!
Vikki (Vikkivand@aol.com)
The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt
Rating: 2 Stars
Venice sounds lovely, but I didn't enjoy the story or the characters.
Carol
A Wedding in December by Anita Shreve
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book from one of my favorite authors. She always comes through with a winner.
Maureen
Queen of Dreams by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Rating: 4 Stars
I am thoroughly enjoying the characters in this book, especially Rahki's mother (the dreamer). Highly recommended.
Randi Odierno (rodierno@aol.com)
Speak of the Devil by Richard Hawke
Rating: 5 Stars
A quick, gripping mystery with easily identifiable characters, dialogue one can relate to, and a timely story line. It's great, and also a quick read! (an advanced reader's copy --- not yet published)
Maureen
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Rating: 3 Stars
This is a good book, but not quite as good as I expected from all the 5 star reviews I've seen. There seems to be some parts that just drag, and I keep getting confused at who is related to whom --- there are too many Henry's, Katherines, Marys, etc.
Maureen
Anywhere But Here by Mona Simpson
Rating: 2 Stars
Just when I am ready to give up on this book --- it gets better in parts. I am plugging away at it. What a life this poor girl had. Makes you wonder about some parents. I would like to see the movie once I have finished reading the book.
Randi Odierno (rodierno@aol.com)
Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson
Rating: 5 Stars
QUICKSILVER is an amazing journey through the early days of the English colonies in America; it's full of fascinating tie-ins with some of the foremost scientists and inventors of that era, including Sir Isaac Newton and Ben Franklin. Incredible fodder for those who enjoy history one can relate to!
Linda
Light of Day by Jamie M. Saul
Rating: 5 Stars
A beautifully written story of a father's search for meaning in a family tragedy.
Gina
Left For Dead: My Journey Home From Everest by Beck Weathers
Rating: 3 Stars
I wanted to read about the 1996 Everest
climb from Weather's perspective. The book was only 10% Everest and 90% the rest of his life before and after the climb.
Weather's arrogance diminished the book's appeal as I read it.
Bernadine Bednarz
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
Rating: 4 Stars
This book hooked me immediately; I am listening to it as I drive in Los Angeles (yes, we are literate here) and can't wait until I have to get into the car again. The protaganist is in heaven and commenting on life below after she has been violently killed. She comments on her sister, brother, mom and dad, schoolmates, teachers...you can see the movie from this.
Sebold's words and phrases are stunning; I wish I could remember them now but that's how she catches you, brings you in re death. She's an original. Run to your library!
CJ
The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly
Rating: 5 Stars
Connelly has turned from his usual mystery to a legal drama --- and has done it very well. I hope to see this character again.
Thomas (tomjac0850@charter.net)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Rating: 5 Stars
I am currently over half finished with the latest Harry Potter book. As with the previous books, Rowling amazes me with her vivid and humorous imagination and ability to keep her readers captive in her imaginary magical world. This installment definitely shows a more grown up side of Harry (and his friends), and also sets up for the final act of good versus evil.
Anne Fescharek (ndcontractor@yahoo.com)
Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts
Rating: 5 Stars
And now she has RED LILY coming out as the last book in trilogy about a garden center and three women of different ages who find life truths. It inspired me to get a life..
Robin B.
Dreamboat by Judith Gould
Rating: 3 Stars
This is a book best read in paperback while on a beach or lakeshore. It seems a little tawdry and decadent for fall reading. Save this title and buy it in paperback next summer.
Robin B.
The Only Suspect by Jonnie Jacobs
Rating: 4 Stars
This is an excellent suspense novel along the lines of Harlan Coben's thrillers. The author has two series going, but this is a stand-alone thriller that will keep you turning the pages. I suspected what was really going on but it was still a surprise.
prstir
She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders by Jennifer Finney Boylan
Rating: 4 Stars
The author, an English professor at Colby College, was born a male but knew from an early age that he was really a woman. This is an extremely well-written, poignant, and funny memoir of the experience of being a transgendered person.
Debra Rehn
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
For my money and time, Ms. Smith is the best reason to spend either one in years.
Dorothy Sexton
Evening Hours by Mary Lynn Baxter
Rating: 4 Stars
You can't help but admire the leading lady in this story of broken dreams and second chances at love.
Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com)
The English Teacher by Lily King
Rating: 4 Stars
This book is worth the 6-year wait since King's last book, THE PLEASING HOUR. It's about emotional lives and new challenges. Don't miss THE ENGLISH TEACHER.
Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com)
Cotton by Christopher wilson
Rating: 3 Stars
A humorous, clever, and provocative look at 20th century America!
jeanne sheats (catslady5@aol.com)
The Lion's Lady by Julie Garwood
Rating: 5 Stars
I am only halfway through this historical romance, but it is very good and keeps you intrigued all the way.
jennifer Brady (jifbrady@yahoo.com)
At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is kind of a sequel to TRUE BELIEVER but even if you haven't read that one you would still enjoy it. It is set in a small mountain town in NC and is a great love story. It turns into a tearjerker-though.
Ricki (rickimc@aol.com)
Warrior Girl by Pauline Chandler
Rating: 4 Stars
A unique take on the St. Joan of Arc legend. WARRIOR GIRL is great historical fiction for young women.
Margie Bunting (mbunting@sbcglobal.net)
Cast of Shadows by Kevin Guilfoyle
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a fascinating book set just slightly in the future. A doctor clones the man who killed his teenaged daughter so he can look him in the eye when the killer grows up. Twisted, yes. And how about the couple who adopts the clone? The story stretches credibility more than a little (especially how the doctor gets the DNA necessary to perform the cloning), but it kept me going. CAST OF SHADOWS is a promising debut.
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
The Forest by Edward Rutherfurd
Rating: 5 Stars
This book, although not true, spans a century of time linking people from age to age. It spends a lot of time describing the differences from age to age at the same location. If you enjoy history, even though it's not for real, it's a real good read.
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