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Carol
Symptoms of Withdrawal by Christopher Lawford
Rating: 1 Stars
I had a most unusual reaction to SYMPTOMS OF WITHDRAWAL, the so-called memoir by Christopher Lawford. In his repeated referral to being "a second-tier Kennedy," he appears to be struggling mightily in this book to present himself as a first-tier Kennedy, or top of the heap, or whatever the label might be. He somehow manages to end up with a large red L on his forehead. It is a compelling read, but not a good one. This is a book that shouldn't have been written, but I couldn't stop reading it! It was quite perplexing to read the first-person account when I found myself truly disliking the author! I seldom, if ever, feel that way about anyone. I must admit I wouldn't have even considered reading this book were it not for the Kennedy connection. Yet, I find it irritating that his name appears on the cover with Kennedy as his middle name rather than Sidney, his actual middle name after his father and paternal grandfather. Then there's the book jacket with the author as a toddler with his ill-fated Uncle Jack. See what I mean? What a conundrum of reactions. I felt as though I were listening in on sessions between the author and his shrink knowing that I shouldn't, but am unable to stop. This man is a person of weak character with an excuse for every bad decision, large and small. The book left the reader with true distaste for the author and the desire to take a shower. Low, very low.
If you can't say something nice about someone, don't say anything at all.
---My Mother & probably Ben Franklin
Carol
What Remains by Carole Radziwill
Rating: 5 Stars
Poignant. Aching. True love and friendship are forever lost when the author's spouse, his cousin, and her dearest friend die within weeks of one another. Written in tender prose, this memoir bids adieu to Anthony Radziwill, John & Carolyn Kennedy.
Amanda Gillingham
Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde
Rating: 5 Stars
This last installment of the Thursday Next series shows no sign of losing the edge that caught me from the first book. It's funny, intelligent, and full of suspense... will she or won't she get her husband back? SOMETHING ROTTEN is great for people who love literature, and for people who only know as much as they learned (or forgot) in high school.
Connie Rutter (consurutte@aol.com)
True Believer by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 5 Stars
I listened to this book produced by Books on Tape and it was wonderful. The narrator, David Aaron Baker, did a marvelous job in making the characters in this book come to life for me. I am not sure that I would have enjoyed it half as much if I would have read it to myself.
It is one of those love stories that has a happy ending, but there are also some very interesting moments and laughable ones too. This is only the 2nd book by Mr. Sparks that I have read, but I do plan to read more in the future as I really do believe he is a wonderful author.
Connie Rutter (consurutte@aol.com)
The Blood-Dimmed Tide by Rennie Airth
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is set in the early 1930's on the countrysides of England. It is post World War I and pre World War II. It involves a serial killer who preys on children and has killed in more than one country.
The book was well written, in my opinion, and had some wonderful characters in it. The ending was definitely worth reading.
While this is a topic I don't normally like to read about, I thought it was done very tastefully. I laughed and shed a tear in this book, as some parts were truly touching.
This is an author I would like to read more of in the future.
Anna (slappy_kidd@yahoo.com)
Hondo by Louis L'Amour
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book. I wanted to skip work to read it, but I needed the money to buy more books. L'Amour did an incredible job with the book.
Rachael
One For The Money by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the first title in the Stephanie Plum series. I loved this book and it got me hooked on the whole series. I highly recommend reading this series in order. Each book is named with its number order.
Bonnie Gluhanich
To the Power of Three by Laura Lippman
Rating: 4 Stars
A timely mystery featuring high-school girls and a perplexing murder. The author really gets into the minds of girls this age.
David Kenny
Life Lessons From the Jungle by Barbara McAdoo
Rating: 5 Stars
I recently read this book by a new author, which I found on Amazon while looking for a business book on decision making. It contains wonderful lessons told through story form, and it help me tremendously, both personally and professionally. I could not put it down. I can't wait for the next one in the series.
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Rating: 1 Stars
I only got 1/4 of the way through and could not finish this book. It is one of the worst I have ever tried to read. I may go back and try to finish it, but there are too many good books out there I'd rather read.
Terry Leis (I_love_bookstores@yahoo.com)
Herb's First 100 Years & the Book of Truths by Randy Perkins
Rating: 5 Stars
This book contains a bit of magic --- it recharged my batteries, made me laugh out loud and cry real tears. Emotional and thought provoking, it is a bit of a cross between THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY and THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN. This is the most fun I've had with a book all year!
Christy Hawkes (hawkes@citlink.net)
A Gift To Last by Debbie Macomber
Rating: 4 Stars
There are two Christmas stories in this book:
"Can this be Christmas?" - A snowstorm strands a group of total strangers in a train station on Christmas Eve. It's touching and Heartwarming. (I cried.)
Greg Bennett hates Christmas! It takes 3 Angels, "Shirley, Goodness and Mercy," to show him what Christmas is really about. This story reminded me of A Christmas Carol.
I will be rereading this book every Christmas Season.
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a very interesting account of the internment of the Japanese-Americans during World War II and the racism that was abundant. It was also a love story and a mystery. I enjoyed it very much.
Linda
The Hot Flash Club by Nancy Thayer
Rating: 4 Stars
THE HOT FLASH CLUB is the very entertaining story of 4 women who help each other out with their personal problems. This book is full of laughs. I'm not finished yet but am enjoying reading it, and I can't wait to see what they do next. Women from my book club all recommended it.
Nicole (unicorn3d@hotmail.com)
Legacy of the Dead by Charles Todd
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the 4th book in the Inspector Rutledge series and it is just as good as the first one. LEGACY OF THE DEAD takes place just after WW I in England. The author really brings to life what a soldier must have felt like when returning to "normal" life. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the War or who just really wants a good mystery.
Cheryl
The Arm of the Stone by Victoria Strauss
Rating: 5 Stars
Good triumphs over evil in this excellent fantasy book. It was a very enjoyable read and my interest was held all throughout the book.
G. Simons
State of Fear by Michael Crichton
Rating: 3 Stars
Definitely not one of Michael Crichton's best --- he gets so bogged down in his agenda that he forgets plot and character. There are way too many charts and graphs for an action/suspense novel.
Melissa
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Rating: 4 Stars
This book was very different and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars was because the very end was a bit more difficult to read than the rest.
Maria Bongiovanni
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
Rating: 4 Stars
This tear jerker was a great book, and was a perfect selection to discuss at our reading group.
Maria Bongiovanni
Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Rating: 5 Stars
This book brought out a lot of emotions: anger, sadness, sympathy. It was a great book and I'm glad that it was chosen by our reading group. I would recommend this book to anyone. It was wonderful. The story is told in such a manner that made you feel you were there. You wanted to yell and shout at Amir to help his friend and his friend's son.
It's quite an eye opener to see life in Afghanistan and how the Taliban started. It makes you appreciate the life we have here in the United States.
D. Milburn
Windfall by Penny Vincenzi
Rating: 5 Stars
I absolutely love everything written by Penny Vincenzi, and WINDFALL was no exception. Although it was LONG, I really hated to see it end. It's about the young wife of a poor country doctor who inherits a huge amount of money under mysterious circumstances. Clear to the very end of 800+ pages, I was still wondering just what happened and why. If you want a book to lose yourself in, try this one... and for that matter, anything by Ms. Vincenzi.
Terri Loeffler (terri.loeffler@sbcglobal.net)
Just One Look by Harlan Coben
Rating: 5 Stars
This is one of the most compelling thrillers I have ever read! I listened the audiobook, and I would make up errands just to listen! It was very exciting and unpredictable! I would highly recommend this book.
Kristine Kilpatrick
Talk to the Hand by Lynne Truss
Rating: 4 Stars
TALK TO THE HAND is very amusing and very spot on about today's society. A great read!
Sarah (sarahjurban@hotmail.com)
A Million Little Pieces by James Frey
Rating: 4 Stars
I am so glad that Oprah picked this book. People who wouldn't normally read a personal account of addiction and recovery will now pick it up because Oprah said to! Frey's choppy writing style fits well with his story and you really feel as if you know him. Every one of us has a little bit of that person inside of us, so reading this book can also cause you to look at yourself.
Sarah (sarahjurban@hotmail.com)
Christ the Lord by Anne Rice
Rating: 4 Stars
Anne Rice is back! Her simple style and character development had me hooked from the first page. Keep in mind that this is a book of fiction, not a "true" account of the life of Jesus. This book needs to reach a larger audience, because the writing is superb!
Jeanne Sheats (catslady5@aol.com)
To the Edge by Cindy Gerard
Rating: 4 Stars
I just started this romantic suspense and it very well may be a 5 rating by the time I complete it. This is the first of a 3 book series.
Barbara
Missing by Sharon Sala
Rating: 5 Stars
Sharon Sala is one of today's best suspense writers! She can keep you on the edge right up to the end.
Vicki N.
What the Dog Did by Emily Yoffe
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a laugh-out-loud funny nonfiction book about some of the entertaining (and frustrating) things our dogs do.
Reva Wamsley (prwamsley@adelphia.net)
The Regime by Tim LaHaye & Jerry B Jenkins
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the second prequel to the Left Behind series. It tells of the rise of the man who will become the anti-Christ. It also follows some of the characters who will become part of the Tribulation Force after the Rapture.
Shirley from Missouri
Northern Lights by Nora Roberts
Rating: 4 Stars
This story of love and murder in Alaska kept me interested from beginning to end.
Stella Schmitz
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik
Rating: 5 Stars
It's easy to get caught up in the lives of the book club of Freesia Court. Years pass, and lives change through forty eventful years with the group.
Carol Hirsh (CLoisH049@aol.com)
The Private Hotel For Gentle Ladies by Ellen Cooney
Rating: 4 Stars
A good read that is economically written.
Monica J.
An Unfinished Life by Mark Spragg
Rating: 4 Stars
This book makes you think about family and values. It is partially told from the point of view of a young girl fleeing with her mother from an abusive relationship, and finding a grandfather she did not know existed. This is a very touching story.
Dorothy Minor
The Little Friend by Donna Tartt
Rating: 4 Stars
THE LITTLE FRIEND is absorbing and entertaining. It keeps me reading because I am interested in what happens to the characters. I also would like to know how the mystery unravels.
Dorothy Minor
Saving Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan
Rating: 5 Stars
Amy Tan's books always hold my interest. SAVING FISH FROM DROWNING gives current history on world situations, yet weaves that information into the story of the characters. This was a great book.
Maria C.
Shadowfall by James Clemens
Rating: 5 Stars
I found this book very intriguing. It was sad, funny, mysterious, and more. I couldn't put it down! I can't wait till the next one in this series comes out.
Patricia Beaver (pabtrek@excite.com)
Captain by Rick Shelley
Rating: 5 Stars
The third in a series, CAPTAIN is the continuing story of a young man whose dream of being a soldier on earth is destroyed. However, it is reborn on another planet as part of the Dirigent Mercenary Corps., where he finds a career and love at first sight. An interesting and thought-provoking novel.
Vicki N
Speak of the Devil by Richard Hawke
Rating: 5 Stars
This is an outstanding debut by a wonderful new author! Hawke grabs your attention from the very first sentence and never lets you go. The narrative sweeps you along at breakneck speed and the plot twists keep coming right up until the very last page. But don't rush through this fine book; slow down and savor the smart turns of phrase, the sharply delineated characters, pitch-perfect dialog, and vivid descriptions. Highly recommended!
Connie Rutter (consurutte@aol.com)
3rd Degree by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the third installment in the Lindsey Boxer series, about four girls who sit and puzzle out problems. 3RD DEGREE is fast paced and was written better than some of Patterson's latest books. I liked that Lindsey finally opened up to someone, and even though something tragic happens, it did set the tone for the story a bit. I can hardly wait to read the next book to see if Lindsey's romance goes anywhere.
This was an audio book by Time Warner and they make the novel so enjoyable because it's more than just someone reading the book; they enhance the drama with music so you feel like you are listening to old-time radio. The narrator did an excellent job, in my opinion.
Patricia Beaver (pabtrek@excite.com)
Venus in Copper by Lindsey Davis
Rating: 5 Stars
I have recently discovered the Marcus Didius Falco mysteries by Lindsey Davis, and am currently reading VENUS IN COPPER. For those who are not familiar with this series, it is set in Ancient Rome and Falco is an informer, something like a detective, for the current Emperor. Each book is about all the troubles he runs into and that run into him. They are well written, with equal parts of humor, romance and mystery. This particular mystery is about a gold-digger who may or may not have killed her three previous husbands, and has sights set on a fourth.
J. P. Feingold
Mortal Fear by Robin Cook
Rating: 2 Stars
The writing is halfway decent and the premise --- about healthy patients dying of multiple organ failure shortly after getting perfect marks on their physical exams --- is intriguing. But, the ending is both contrived and predictable. I felt very let down.
Sonia Chopra
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Rating: 5 Stars
I love this book. I envy the bond between the main characters as they keep meeting each other at various points in their lives, starting when Clare, the time traveler Henry's future wife, is only is six years old.
They have a connection, and time travel gives a new dimension to their relationship. They seem to discover more about themselves then they would under normal circumstances.
It's an intriguing concept, to be able to fluidly go back and forth into the past and future.
Madeline
Artifacts by Mary Anna Evans
Rating: 5 Stars
ARTIFACTS is full of history and archeology, a great sense of place (old islands in Florida), and full-bodied characters, including a heroine who is not afraid to get her hands dirty --- literally! This is a definite read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery with an interesting cast of characters.
Anne-Marie Chandler (stoneyred@comcast.net)
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig
Rating: 4 Stars
It's a great romp through British and French history before the Revolution. I am 1/3 through it, and I think the Pink Carnation --- a spy --- is a woman, though it's intimated that it's a man, as woman were not into politics then.
Anne-Marie Chandler (stoneyred@comcast.net)
The Art of Deception by Ridley Pearson
Rating: 4 Stars
This is one of the best in the Lou Boldt series, as it focuses on Daphne. The murders investigated are complex. I finished this in four days of total submersion.
Kathy Chiocca
Fallen by David Maine
Rating: 4 Stars
FALLEN is a fascinating story of Cain's life before and after he killed his brother, Abel, and was banished by his father, Adam. The book starts out with Cain as a bitter old man living in seclusion in the town his son built, and the story is told in reverse chronological order in a series of flashbacks.
Kendra (KendraPT@aol.com)
700 Sundays by Billy Crystal
Rating: 4 Stars
I zipped through this book because it was so engaging. I never knew Billy Crystal's family history, and found it to be really interesting. He met some amazing people when he was a kid and had a great family. I thoroughly enjoyed his writing style and wish I'd seen him do '700 Sundays' on Broadway.
Cherie K.
Restless Shadows by Jennifer Cloud
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a really creepy, suspenseful book. I first read an excerpt and knew I had to read the whole thing. I'm very glad I did.
Kelly Pollock
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
Rating: 3 Stars
I had trouble getting started but it was still a good book.
Sandy Sherwood (jasscs@aol.com)
Mary, Mary by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
I read this novel a seond time and it was as good as the first. This is a good book!
Bev Price (bev208@bellsouth.net)
White Hot by Sandra Brown
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is great. It's full of romance and mystery. She always writes such interesting books. You just want to keep reading it to see what is going to happen next. I suspected that Beck Merchant had something going for him but not until the end did I find out what it was. I was very surprised.
Douglas R. Cobb (goofier1@wmconnect.com)
The Iliad by Homer, trans. by Robert Fagles
Rating: 5 Stars
If you've ever had the slightest interest to read up on the Trojan War one day --- as some people say things like how they'd like to read WAR AND PEACE before they die --- I would suggest this translation. In my humble opinion, it's the best of the many translations of the ILIAD that have ever been written.
It is written in a prose syle, if you happen to either be uncomfortable with reading lengthy works of poetry, or don't like the botched attempts some people make of translating and rhyming from one language to another. Another good thing about this translation is that it has three maps to use as a reference, as well as a pronunciation glossary.
The language used is very rich and the horrors of death and war are presented, while we are also given insight into the Greeks' and Trojans' concepts of honor and relgious thinking. I would highly recommend this particular tranlation!
Sandy Sherwood (jasscs@aol.com)
S is for Silence by Sue Grafton
Rating: 4 Stars
S IS FOR SILENCE is a good book, and it was nice to be back with old friends. I enjoyed traveling back to the 1950s with this story, and loved reading about the car. Good times always with Sue.
Judy Hall
Chill Factor by Sandra Brown
Rating: 5 Stars
Just finished this book. To me, her best. Keeps you in suspense, with a surprise ending. A must-read.
Gina
Dean and Me: A Love Story by Jerry Lewis
Rating: 3 Stars
An interesting read about friendship and
loss.
Mary
Bubbles Unbound by Sarah Strohmeyer
Rating: 3 Stars
This is an entertaining, light mystery with Bubbles Yablonsky as the main character. She's a big-haired, trampy-dressing hairdresser who also becomes a reporter and gets involved in solving an old murder case.
Janet Best (best3sons@calldialog.net)
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Rating: 4 Stars
This was a sweet story that I really enjoyed reading.
Mo (maestraw@msn.com)
Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah
Rating: 2 Stars
There's not much depth in the little Christmas tome. However, it was pleasant and light reading for the holidays.
Mo (maestraw@msn.com)
At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 2 Stars
Trouble just seems to follow this young couple who met and fell in love in AT FIRST SIGHT. While they should be happily anticipating the birth of their baby girl, saddness overshadows joy. There's not much depth here, but this book is easy to read.
Mo (maestraw@msn.com)
Bee Season by Myla Goldberg
Rating: 2 Stars
I jumped on this after reading about it on this site. It was not at all what I expected. I can't decide if I will watch this one on dvd or not. With all the dark family drama, this could have been an "Oprah" book. It's not one of my favorites, but I was compelled to finish it.
Donna in New Berlin
Sister of My Heart by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Rating: 4 Stars
A heartwarming story about the power of friendship and family ties.
Donna in New Berlin
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Rating: 4 Stars
A Sad but inspirational memoir about how to endure through difficult times.
Dusty Johnson (bjohnson-att@comcast.net)
Ton Clancey's Splinter Cell by David Michaels
Rating: 3 Stars
Typical Tom Clancy fair with lot's of action and suspense.
Judy Hall
At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 4 Stars
Very sweet --- a must read for all who enjoyed his TRUE BELIEVER.
Freddy Clemett
The Penelopiad by Magaret Atwood
Rating: 3 Stars
Margaret sure is a weird one.
Anne-Marie Chandler
Impossible by Danielle Steele
Rating: 3 Stars
IMPOSSIBLE is good, but a little repetitious in the profile of Liam, such as his immaturity and irresponsibility. You just want to shake him or slap him to wake him up.
Dusty Johnson (bjohnson-att@comcast.net)
Up Country by Nelson DeMille
Rating: 4 Stars
A very good read --- DeMille at his best.
Flos
The Opposite of Fate: A Book of Musings by Amy Tan
Rating: 4 Stars
Following the second adoption of a baby girl from China into my extended family, I have read Amy Tan's THE JOY LUCK CLUB, THE KITCHEN GOD'S WIFE, THE HUNDRED SECRET SENSES, THE BONESETTER'S DAUGHTER and her two children's books: THE MOON LADY AND THE MOON LADY and SAGWA, THE CHINESE SIAMESE CAT.
I particularly enjoyed this glimpse into Ms. Tan's own life and how she delves into the influences of fate on it and the possibility of how it might effect the lives of our darling girls.
Cindy Knisely (cynderma@aol.com)
The Empress' New Clothes by Jaid Black
Rating: 4 Stars
A great erotic read. I love the alpha-type male and female characters.
Cindy Knisely (cynderma@aol.com)
Tender is the Knight by Jackie Ivie
Rating: 4 Stars
This novel was well written and full of passion and sizzle.
Debbie Maskus (delphimo@yahoo.com)
Ragtime in Simla by Barbara Cleverly
Rating: 4 Stars
RAGTIME IN SIMLA is a very enjoyable mystery --- the killer is not exposed until the end. Just when you think the puzzle is solved, something else happens. This book was full of great characters and scenery. I plan to read more of Cleverly's books.
Debbie Maskus (delphimo@yahoo.com)
I Dreamed I Married Perry Mason by Susan Kandel
Rating: 3 Stars
One of the ladies in my book club recommended this author. I wanted to read the first of the series and then read her Nancy Drew mystery. This novel is set in California, and clothes/fashion remains its strong point. I learned beaucoups of history, but the mystery itself was weak.
Sue
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Rating: 5 Stars
I tried reading this book about eight years ago when it first came out and quickly put it aside, as it didn't interest me in the least. Because of the upcoming movie I decided to give it another chance. I am now loving it and having a hard time putting it down! I have only a couple of chapters left to go --- just in time for the movie.
Evelyn in Toronto
Whiteout by Ken Follett
Rating: 4 Stars
A fast-paced chiller focused on the search for a deadly virus. The twists and turns in this plot, the compelling characters, and the realism of the circumstances make this a real page turner. The suspense is unrelenting and the tension holds the reader until the closing pages.
Lori V
Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the first book I've read by Nora and it's absolutely lovely; I couldn't put it down. It's a trilogy and I'm so excited to read the next two. Happy reading!
Evelyn in Toronto
The Plot Against America by Philip Roth
Rating: 5 Stars
Once again, Roth presents us with a masterpiece. This time, he muses about what might have happened in the US if Charles Lindbergh had become president rather than Roosevelt for a third term. The chilling events are told in a plausible manner, enough to make this reader go and check the actual historical facts. Echoes of Nazi Germany and connections to present-day events make this book believable. Roth's skill with prose and the creation of time and place make this book an exceptional read.
Jeannine (usgaui@aol.com)
Rackets by Thomas Kelly
Rating: 4 Stars
Mix up some Irish, Russian, and Italian gangs and add in some politics, love and lust, and you've got the basis of a great story. Thomas Kelly delivers a good New York tale that keeps you wondering what will happen next.
Albert Sears
The Lighthouse by P. D. James
Rating: 5 Stars
I'm in the very middle of THE LIGHTHOUSE now. It's a great book for cold weather, unfolding at an even pace, balancing plot and characterization. It's a great book!
Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com)
Kung Fu High School by Ryan Gattis
Rating: 3 Stars
The real power of this modern epic is that I was forced to see that violence is tragic and should be avoided at whatever the cost.
Debra (d.czarnogursky@comcast.net)
At First Sight by Nicolas Sparks
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderful story of true love, friendship, and commitment.
Christy Boylan (Lolachris@aol.com)
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderful book that celebrates life in the face of death. This is a book I will read several times.
Barbara L Heller (BHpurple@aol.com)
A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon
Rating: 5 Stars
It is true --- for those of us enthralled Outlander readers who were disappointed with the last in the series --- this volume is wonderful. Gabaldon is back to her great storytelling, fun characters, interesting period details, and thought-provoking questions about history. I am finding this 900-page plus book a wonderful companion for seasonal evenings of reading by the fire and will be saddened when I finish it!
Melanie House (melmee@cox-internet.com)
The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
Rating: 3 Stars
I started reading these to get ready for the release of the movie this month. I have found them to be a fun read, but not the riveting and magical work I thought they would be. I think I have been ruined by Harry Potter!
Ray Palen (razorramon@optonline.net)
King Kong: Island of the Skull by Matthew Costello
Rating: 4 Stars
The officially endorsed prequel to Peter Jackson's "King Kong" deals with all of the principal characters of that tale and how their paths are going to converge on the fateful Skull Island in 1933. The only issue I had with this interesting tale is that Kong is not featured at all and only referred to a handful of times. This really builds things up for the inevitable tale we all know so well. It's a quick read and is worth a gander.
Rashmi Srinivas
Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah
Rating: 5 Stars
I always like Hannah's writing --- it's so melodic and flowing, and makes me truly feel like being carried away by the book.
COMFORT AND JOY deals with the protagonist, Joy, and how she struggles with the double blow of finding that her husband and sister are having an affair. When she tries to get away from it all, she meets Daniel and his son Bobby, and feels a glimmer of hope. But, things don't turn out exactly as planned.
As always, the emotional conflicts feel very real, as do the characters themselves. The novel pierces readers' hearts with its poignancy and keeps them enthralled until the bitter-sweet end.
Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com)
Infidelities: Stories of War & Lust by Josip Novakovich
Rating: 3 Stars
I was able to read something about the Balkan wars, an area of history that I knew little about.
Susan Carr
Distorted Virtue by Ruth Strickling
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a great read! The suspense will keep you reading when you should be doing something else. DISTORTED VIRTUE is a great political thriller and timely story. I highly recommend it!
Margarita (mhaury2@aol.com)
The Deadly Collection by Elaine Flinn
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the third in a series of murder mysteries featuring Molly Doyle, an antiques dealer in Carmel, CA. I love the characters and there is lots of interesting antiques information. Molly is an engaging woman who is trying to rebuild her life. She also solves murders.
Fran Claggett
Three Junes by Julia Glass
Rating: 5 Stars
An amazing book, this first novel won a National Book Award! Sentences beg to be recorded, but the whole resonates with layers of life. This is a book I would love to have written.
Donna in New Berlin
Speak of the Devil by Richard Hawke
Rating: 5 Stars
A great thriller with a Private Investigator, Fritz Malone, who becomes a hero and is hauled away in cuffs all in one morning. It's action packed and Fritz Malone goes through the ringer, handling everything that comes his way. He faces a crazed killer while trying to unravel the mystery. I'll be looking forward to Richard Hawk's next book.
Dot Lechmanaick
Salem Falls by Jodi Piccoult
Rating: 4 Stars
I never thought I would like reading a book about the Wiccans. SALEM FALLS was a little spooky, but hard to put down.
Randi Odierno (rodierno@aol.com)
Ayesha: The Return of She by H. Rider Haggard
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the sequel to SHE. Haggard weaves both tales into a spellbinding story of magic, beauty, immortality, power and love. This is an amazing story worth the read! Haggard provides an brief summary in the form of a letter to the Editor, making this a readable stand-alone. But read SHE first! SHE gets 5 stars too!
Steve Chaput (sachaput@verizon.net)
Year of the Armidillo: Book One - January by Jericho Ring
Rating: 4 Stars
For twenty-four hours, beginning at midnight New Year’s Eve in 2025, communication equipment throughout the world broadcasts a single message. It states simply that if the world does not diminish the population by one third in the next year it will be done for them. Shortly thereafter, one out of every three persons from El Paso, TX disappears without a trace. All this happens in the first few pages and it just gets better.
Naturally, the various world governments agree that it is necessary to do something, or rather appear to do something, since it all might work out in their best interest in the long run. The United States (comprised of fifty-four states; five of which used to be a united Texas, but minus Alaska which dropped out, feeling they were better off as a territory) under the leadership of President Beulah Clinton is in agreement with this policy, since it doesn’t require her to do much. It’s obvious from the outset that the author wants to poke some fun at our political system and he does so brilliantly.
Ring seems to know his stuff, whether it’s political philosophy or armaments (real or imagined). The book brought to mind Stanley Kubrick’s DR. STRANGELOVE, with a military coup which sets off a very dangerous series of events. The author’s Air Marshall Rockwell “Rocky” Stone is right up there with General Jack Ripper as a brilliant comedic invention. In fact, just about every character in the book has a wonderful depth and personal history which makes the reader want to learn more about them. From Cortez Jones and free-lance journalist Maureen ‘Mimi’ de Loria, right up to President Clinton, Ring has the ability to bring them to life on the page. The only serious drawback I had was with the ghetto speak that Beulah constantly comes out with. She reminds me of the “Black Mama” character that comedian Artie Lange used to play on MAD TV (“I’m a goin’ to put ma’ foot up yo ass!”) Even in a book striving for satire, this is a bit much to accept from the President, although I’ll give Ring a pass because of Beulah’s explanation.
Lynn
Cordelia Underwood by Van Reid
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is very quirky and different, and is the first of a series. It was written in the style of an 1890's serial. The characters are enjoyable and story is full of adventures!
Peggy Probus (peggyprobus@netscape.net)
Ordinary Heroes by Scott Turow
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is set in a time period that I usually don't like to read --- the 2nd World War. However, the story is so well told that it immediately grabbed my interest and I really enjoyed the book. It makes me realize the difficulties that the men and women faced.
Diana Hattori
The Lighthouse by P.D. James
Rating: 5 Stars
P.D. James still has "it" as one of the best mystery writers. This latest foray into an investigation by the wonderful Adam Dagleish is true to form and doesn't disappoint the reader.
Rachael
Sky Burial by Xinran
Rating: 3 Stars
I highly suggest getting this from your library, rather then paying full hardcover price for this tiny 200 page book. I luckily got mine from the library. SKY BURIAL isn't a fantastic book. It was just ok to me. If you want to read a great Asian book, I suggest THE GOOD EARTH or MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA instead.
Nunu
Mad Girls In Love by Michael Lee West
Rating: 5 Stars
If you like reading about GRITS, (girls raised in the south) you will love this book. It is about 3 generations of women and it is zany, quriky, funny and sad, making this a really good read. I hope there will be a sequel to this book.
Donna in New Berlin
The Wrong Kind of Blood by Declan Hughes
Rating: 5 Stars
I have just started this wonderful new author's book, and am really enjoying it --- murder and betrayal on the streets of Dublin. Irish PI Edward Loy returns to Dublin to attend his mother's funeral, and he finds himself to be both an insider returning to his home and things he knows, and a stranger to a country unwilling to change to meet the future. He tries to help a friend who ends up dead, and finds himself in a dangerous mission involving a feared organized crime gang. It's a great read and I can't wait to finish it!
Brady Buchanan (bradylee@myway.com)
Jesus Land: A Novel by Julia Scheeres
Rating: 5 Stars
What a story! The author has two siblings plus two black boys adopted by her parents as very young children. The parents are Jesus freaks with hundreds of rules and do's-and-don'ts, while the children suffer the consequences when they step out of line. This reads like a mystery story, i.e., something new pops up all the time with the reader wondering, "what next?" Yes...this is a memoir.
Kay Davis
Feather Kisses by Kay Moretz
Rating: 5 Stars
In this world of truths, untruths, fact or fiction, sometimes it's difficult to know the difference. This book is full of many twists and turns to keep you definitely interested. It would also make a great "on the edge of your seat" movie, too.
This book makes a great Christmas, any holiday, Valentine's Day or vacation book, etc.!
Jacki Sanders (j20sanders@yahoo.com)
Cradle and All by James Patterson
Rating: 4 Stars
I bought this on ebay and it's great! James Patterson never lets you down...
Gle Miller (gleciamae@yahoo.com)
Martians in Maggody by Joan Hess
Rating: 5 Stars
All the books in the Maggody Series really crack me up... I laugh so hard I get cramps in my sides! The characters are priceless! If you've never indulged in this series, pick up any of the books and prepare to laugh yourself silly! They are mysteries, but the plots are so fun and funny you don't care whodunit!
Ricki (rickimc@aol.com)
Savage Messiah by Robert Newcomb
Rating: 2 Stars
This is a typical epic fantasy. Some plot information was withheld for too long.
Lois the Booklover
Light on Snow by Anita Shreve
Rating: 5 Stars
I started reading this book on a Tuesday morning, and had it finished by Wednesday night. (I also worked 2-8 hour shifts ). I could not put it down. I loved the story of Nicky and her father finding the abandoned newborn baby; the reader was able to empathize with all the characters involved. I will definitely read more by Anita Shreve. Fans of Jodi Picoult and Barbara Delinsky should definitely read this!
Roberta Welsh
A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge
Rating: 5 Stars
The best sci-fi book I have ever read --- it was mind-bogglingly original and absolutely riveting. I didn't want it to end.
Roberta Welsh
Once Bitten Twice Shy by Felicity Farmer
Rating: 5 Stars
I stumbled upon this book in the local library. It's an unassuming, quiet romance which turns into a medical thriller. Great stuff.
Pamela White
Predator by Patrica Cornwell
Rating: 4 Stars
PREDATOR is a good sequel to the other Scarpetta forensic mystery novels.
Connie Rutter (consurutte@aol.com)
Wicked Widow by Amanda Quick
Rating: 5 Stars
Set in Victorian England, a woman enlists the help of a gentleman to help her get her maid back because someone has taken her outside of his dream pavilion. He is a member of the Vanzagarian Society and her father was as well, but he was murdered. The Vanzagarian Society is made of a bunch of very eccentric men and they have a whole different philosophy. Madeline is a very strong-willed woman who has killed her husband and hence is plagued with the nickname, Wicked Widow. She did kill her husband, but in self defense. She was never convicted of the crime and there is a lot of speculation on what happened.
I loved this tale and I thought it was a pretty interesting mystery, as well as a romantic tale. I think the reason I like Amanda Quick is because she does have a few surprises, but she also has a very happy ending.
Judy (joswood@msn.com)
Immoral by Brian Freeman
Rating: 5 Stars
What happened to two missing teenage girls? Their bodies were never found, so nobody knows if they are dead or just runaways. Detective Jonathan Stride and his partner, Maggie, are on the case.
This book is highly entertaining and hard to put down. There are enough plot twists to make it interesting, but not so many as to make it confusing. Don't miss it if you enjoy suspense novels.
Harriet Winograd (harriet@artismoi.com)
The Dearly Departed by Elinor Lipman
Rating: 2 Stars
I have previously enjoyed Lipman's books --- especially THE INN AT LAKE DIVINE and ISABEL'S BED. But this was very thin and predictable. It did not have the wit I associate with this author. I do not recommend it.
Nicole Hulst (kelley899@yahoo.com)
A Singular Lady by Megan Frampton
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a fun Regency romance and I'm greatly enjoying my read of it.
Nicole Hulst (kelley899@yahoo.com)
Winter Moon by Mercedes Lackey, Tanith Lee, and C.E. Murphy
Rating: 3 Stars
This is a good collection of short stories from some great fantasy authors.
Michelle Callan
The Other Side of the Story by Marian Keyes
Rating: 5 Stars
I love Marian Keyes. She has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Her books are a great escape and this was no exception. The stories of the three women are told wonderfully. This was a great book!
Jane Wallace
News from Paraguay by Lily Tuck
Rating: 4 Stars
This winner of the National Book Award is a fascinating story of romance and war beginning in Paris in the 1850’s and proceeding on to Paraguay. It is based on real people. Much of the narrative is told through correspondence. It is fast paced and kept my attention. Tuck’s style describes details that make the story live in your mind. However, I yearned for more development of some of the characters, other than the one-sidedness that was only shown. Additionally, the large number of characters was somewhat confusing at times.
Jane Wallace (theaerie@skybest.com)
Feather Crowns by Bobbi Ann Mason
Rating: 4 Stars
I found this gem at a used bookstore and was enthralled. It is the story of a poor farming couple around the turn of the century. When they give birth to quintuplets, their lives are changed forever by fame and notoriety. Great writing!
Jane Wallace
Inflammation Nation by Floyd Chilton
Rating: 3 Stars
This nonfiction book proposes that our diet is causing and affecting the inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, asthma, colitis, etc. Interesting!
Jane Wallace
A Window Across the River by Brian Morton
Rating: 3 Stars
I enjoyed this one, although the ending left me hanging. It tells the story of two somewhat “star crossed” lovers who can’t quite return to their past relationship. Both are artists --- he a photographer, and she a writer. Unfortunately, this creates a bit of competition at times. One gains an insight into life in New York. If you want all loose ends tied at the end of a book, don’t read this one.
Jane Wallace
1776 by David McCullough
Rating: 3 Stars
I thoroughly enjoyed the characterization of George Washington and learned much. However, this book did not capture my mind the way that McCullough’s book about John Adams did. Perhaps John and Abigal's extensive correspondence made the difference.
Bonnie
Maybe a Miracle by Brian Strause
Rating: 3 Stars
MAYBE A MIRACLE is an intriguing novel that falls a little flat at the end, but still worth a read.
Bonnie
Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 3 Stars
A reliably entertaining mystery with a good dose of humor.
Laura
Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson
Rating: 4 Stars
A wonderful nonfiction account of divers' quest to find a WW II German submarine off the coast of New Jersey.
Deb Bull
An Unreasonable Woman by Diane Wilson
Rating: 5 Stars
This book was compelling, despite being horrifying. It should be required reading.
Connie Rutter (consurutte@aol.com)
Cast A Cold Eye by Marjorie Eccles
Rating: 3 Stars
This is the first in a series featuring Gil Mayo and it is set in the Midlands. I did guess who had done the deed, but not in the way that the author had scripted it. I don't know that it was a surprise ending though. I won't rush out to read another one, but I would like to try one to see if she did get better. For a police procedural, I think it did an adequate job taking you through the steps; however, for a 183-page book it seemed like it took a long time to get there for me.
Amelia Adames (TerracottaTurtle@hotmail.com)
The Crimson Petal and The White by Michel Faber
Rating: 5 Stars
Whenever I am asked for a book recommendation, I always suggest this novel. What an beautiful and luxurious read! The main character, Sugar, is an unforgettable character --- when I reached the end of the novel, coming back to reality wasn't easy. You'll find yourself immersed in the rich descriptions and twisting storyline. A definite must!
Ellen Engelking
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
A beautifully written and intense tale of marriage, parenting, academic rivalry and race. Smith, the author of WHITE TEETH,, has an acerbic wit and an amazing way with the English language.
Brady Buchanan (bradylee@myway.com)
Immoral by Brian Freeman
Rating: 4 Stars
This first novel is a good one and of the mystery/whodunnit genre. It's easy to keep track of the characters and involves the reader all the way. I thought the end was contrived (as happens in so many novels), but it was a good read nevertheless.
Barbara
The Dancing Girls of Lahore by Louise Brown
Rating: 5 Stars
This book explores the tradition of generations of prostitutes (dancing girls), the horror of their lives, and the everyday living of a quarter of a million people squeezed into a square mile area.
This true story is beyond comprehension for most of us. This is an eye opener and heart gripper.
Barbara
A Meal Observed by Andrew Todhunter
Rating: 4 Stars
A MEAL OBSERVED offers a mouthwatering glimpse into French cuisine, the behind the scenes art of food preparation, and the savouring of a 5 hour dinner course. If I had the extra money to spend, I'd like to experience this first hand.
This is a food lover's book for sure.
Sandra Furlotte
Oxford Knot by Veronica Stallwood
Rating: 3 Stars
This book was a delight to read. It is one of the Oxford series featuring romance/historical novelist Kate Ivory. A quick and fun read about the world of romance novelists --- authors, booksellers and readers. I would certainly read more in the series.
Ellen Engelking
26a by Diana Evans
Rating: 4 Stars
I'm on a role with young, British award winners. This is a unique and magical novel about a Nigerian-British family with identical twins who share a deep and mystical connection and one very dark secret.
Dennis J. Hotetz (djhllc@aol.com)
School Days by Robert Parker
Rating: 3 Stars
I just love this series --- unfortunately, this one was not quite up to speed for me. The story line and eventual ending was too predictable and never really got me involved. It was a good read, but not one of his best.
Dennis J. Hotetz (djhllc@aol.com)
The Forgotten Man by Robert Crais
Rating: 4 Stars
A very good read, just like all of Crais' books. This one had a few twist and turns in it and that only made the read more enjoyable.
Dennis J. Hotetz (djhllc@aol.com)
Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 5 Stars
What more can be said about this series? It is light reading with plenty of belly-aching laughs and people you only wish you knew. ELEVEN ON TOP is another triump for Stephanie Plum.
Lorena Hann
Life Support by Tess Gerritsein
Rating: 4 Stars
There are a lot of charcters to pay attention to. It will definitely keep you in suspense.
Ellen Engelking
Small Island by Andrea Levy
Rating: 4 Stars
SMALL ISLAND is the Orange Prize-winning novel about the racial conflict and culture shock that men and women from the islands experience when they settle in "the mother country" after WWII. The book is peopled with lots of fascinating characters and wonderful writing.
Chekita Hernandez
Undead and Unappreciated by MaryJanice Davidson
Rating: 5 Stars
Betsy has become Queen of the Vampires, but can she find love? With her love of shoes and her determination to stop drinking (blood), this may just be the funniest "Undead" title yet!
Vicki
Blood Memory by Greg Iles
Rating: 4 Stars
Read this book! BLOOD MEMORY has everything a good book should be. Iles is an excellent writer!
Merrilee (MAP5402@aol.com)
Forever Odd by Dean Koontz
Rating: 5 Stars
I really love this character. On one hand he is a hero, and on the other hand he is a very sad individual. I find that appealing.
Nancy in Atlanta
Predator by Patricia Cornwell
Rating: 4 Stars
PREDATOR is a great Scarpetta novel, but I was a tiny bit disappointed in the ending. It was like she just hurried up and abruptly finished.
Carol Braithwaite
A Faerie Ring by Michael Honeth
Rating: 5 Stars
An enchanting story following a woman's life from birth to cronehood and back again in a time when faeries and trolls were still a part of everyday life. It was an easy read with a different attitude.
A FAERIE RING is a romantic fairytale about a woman who is destined to do what no one has done since the age of myths. In her world of humans, fairies and trolls, she must discover who she is. But the man in her life isn't who he seems to be. Torn between love and betrayal, he must find his voice.
Amelia Adames (TerracottaTurtle@hotmail.com)
Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor
Rating: 5 Stars
Wow! 900+ pages and yet it was not enough! Amber is so bad that it makes this novel a deliciously good read! And the ending! --- you will close the book with your mouth open and then re-read it again. It was good from start to finish, and that's a lot to be said for a novel so long.
Patricia Roemer (trishajr@aol.com)
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is a great window into a society and culture so different from ours, and yet the human feelings are the same. I've seen little snippets of the film that's going to be released very soon and I could guess the scene immediately because the author described it so vividly that it stays with me. At times, the heroine seems to be in hopeless situations, but she makes it through and gives us a deep wonderful word picture of her life and the people in her life. At first, I wondered if I could get into reading about such a different culture and be able to feel for the character, but I stayed with it and really enjoyed it. It is well worth reading.
Jeanne Sheats (catslady5@aol.com)
Guardian Angel by Julie Garwood
Rating: 4 Stars
I'd really give it 4 and a half stars. This is the second in a 4 book series. This author writes my favorite historical romances.
Dennis J. Hotetz (djhllc@aol.com)
The Traveler: The First Novel by John Twelve Hawks
Rating: 4 Stars
This novel had a slow start because you don't know where the story is supposed to be leading you. Soon, however, you understand the story line and basis for the book and begin to take a vested interest in the characters.
Doris from Beautiful British Columbia (dglg@telus.net)
Detour by James Siegel
Rating: 5 Stars
A fantastic book! This is a thriller that will keep you captivated with lots of twists, turns, and unexpected surprises. Also, read DERAILED by this same author. You won't be disappointed!
Thomas (tomjac0850@charter.net)
Night Fall by Nelson DeMille
Rating: 5 Stars
Once again the sarcastic, politically incorrect maverick John Corey is up against the bad guys. But this book has a new twist --- it's based on the true story of TWA Flight 800, which crashed under mysterious circumstances and is widely believed to have been shot down, possibly by terrorists. Corey's wife, who works with him (he is a contract agent for the FBI's anti-terrorism team) gets Corey to look into some mysterious aspects of the "crash." Corey is hooked, as well as every reader who picks up this spellbinder. It has a gut-wrenching ending, which kept me awake at night, even when I wasn't reading it.
Cindy Knisely (Cynderma@aol.com)
Secrets: Volumes 11 and 12 by Angela Knight, Jess Michaels, Jennifer Probst
Rating: 5 Stars
These collections have a great selection of stories. All are well-written and very entertaining.
Heidi Kraemer
Lucky Child by Loung Ung
Rating: 5 Stars
LUCKY CHILD is must read for everyone. This nonfiction book describes how a survivor of Cambodia's Killing Fields rebuilds her life. It is an eloquent and moving account.
Marsha
Ordinary Heroes by Scott Turow
Rating: 5 Stars
Ordinary people become ordinary heroes in order to live an ordinary life. If you read only one book about WW II, it must be this one!
Pat from Sugar Land
Belle Ruin by Martha Grimes
Rating: 3 Stars
I was disappointed in this book. I read all the other ones in this series, but this one seemed to be too repetitive and maybe too many pages. I am sorry to feel this way since Ms. Grimes has always been a favorite of mine.
Pat from Sugar Land
Suspect by Michael Robotham
Rating: 4 Stars
This was a very well-written book about a psychologist who was suspected of crimes he did not commit. I will certainly read Robotham's next book too.
Mario (John1rosie@aol.com)
The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante
Rating: 5 Stars
Here is a must-read for lovers of the psychological novel. THE DAYS OF ABANDONMENT stands with KRAMER VS KRAMER and ORDINARY PEOPLE as a psychological tour de force. Set in metropolitan Italy, a husband announces to his thirty-eight year old wife that he is leaving her and their two children. Her struggle to ward off mental collapse gives the reader a shocking view on what the mix of marriage and self from a woman's point of view can be. This book is engrossing. It is truly a must read for either those who want to think about the meaning of marriage or, better yet, for those who think that they already know it all. I would especially recommend this book for men.
Bonnie Cooper
The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly
Rating: 5 Stars
A great piece of character building centered around an interesting plot.
Danielle
The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks
Rating: 3 Stars
This was a good read, but it was a bit slow at times. It reminded me (and many others) of a COLD MOUNTAIN-like tale, but the love story was less obvious.
Margie W. (sucansky@msn.com)
The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr
Rating: 3 Stars
The process which art scholars use to find the lost Caravaggio is interesting. It makes one wonder how many works of the great masters are lost, and if they will ever be found. Interjecting information about the lives of the two women involved in the search and the personalities of their superiors draws the reader into the hunt.
Gerry (GerryD8784@aol.com)
The Normal One: Life With a Difficult or Damaged S by Jeanne Sager
Rating: 3 Stars
Safer’s thesis would be better supported with more objective detail and less reliance on her own personal experience, but her book still offered an interesting and realistic perspective on issues faced by siblings of disabled, destructive, or otherwise difficult individuals.
Jack Quick (JQuick5342@aol.com)
Denial by Stuart M. Kaminsky
Rating: 4 Stars
This is Kaminsky’s fourth outing for Lew Fonesca, former investigator for Illinois' Cook County State's Attorney's Office, currently struggling to get by as a hard-up Sarasota, Florida process server consumed with grief over his wife's death in a hit-and-run accident. In this one, he gets involved in looking for two murderers, one accused by a resident of Seaside Assisted Living of killing another resident, and the hit-and-run driver who killed a local actress' 14-year-old son. With each succeeding book, Kaminksy brings Fonesca out a bit more and adds facets to the character. Hopefully, since Kaminksy himself now lives in Sarasota, he and Lew will continue to entertain for a considerable time.
Ezmerelda
Polar Shift by Clive Cussler
Rating: 3 Stars
The book features a scary idea of what can happen when fanatics and amoral people get together to change the world for their own purposes --- the end of the world, in this case. Cussler always has loads of excitement and his latest is no exception.
Connie Rutter (consurutte@aol.com)
Honeymoon by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
I have been trying to catch up on the Patterson books I missed and I am very happy to report that I enjoyed HONEYMOON very much. It was about an FBI agent's search for a black widow. There were several different things going on at once and you did have to try to remember what they were and who was who, but I really enjoyed this book. I listened to this on audio and it was like listening to old time radio. If you have not ever listened to an audio book, I would strongly recommend this one. The narrators were fabulous!
Pam (ppfqp@aol.com)
Into the Forest by Jean Hegland
Rating: 3 Stars
A scary-because-it-could-really-happen tale of the breakdown of American society told from the perspective of a teenage girl.
D-girl
Hello, Darkness by Sandra Brown
Rating: 4 Stars
This audiobook was full of suspense and drama. It was a great listen while driving, and made my long trips fly by. I can never go wrong with Sandra Brown.
Michelle McCaffrey
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 5 Stars
What a book! I couldn't put it down.
It deals with issues that make you think throughout, "What would I do?" The plot twist is amazing!
Pam (ppfqp@aol.com)
Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner
Rating: 5 Stars
Jennifer Weiner does it again. Her books hit home with women. This time she takes on suburban motherhood, with the unique twist of a murder mystery. Fans of "Desperate Housewives" will gobble it up like bon bons.
Pam (ppfqp@aol.com)
The Confessions of Max Tivoli by Andrew Sean Greer
Rating: 4 Stars
Max Tivoli is lovable despite his faults; he's a unique character who ages backwards and spends his life in pursuit of the woman he loves.
Mary
Remains Silent by Michael Baden and Laura Kinney
Rating: 4 Stars
REMAINS SILENT is a fast-paced mystery/thriller. Some bones are found when digging begins on a shopping center. When the medical examiner dies, his friend starts discovering that there may be some past secrets surrounding the bones, which will bring his life and that of his attorney's in danger.
Maureen
Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts
Rating: 4 Stars
BLUE SMOKE is about an arson investigator and her big Italian family.
Melanie House
Double Cross Blind by Joel N Ross
Rating: 5 Stars
I'm only in chapter three of this fabulous novel, but it's already sucked me into its intrigue and suspense. It's a must-read for anyone who loves to read.
Kim Hunt
Hideaway by Dean Koontz
Rating: 4 Stars
This is another gift from Mr. Koontz. When a couple gets into a car accident, Hatch (the husband) dies and is brought back to life after 80 minutes by a genius doctor. He then begins having weird nightmares where he is killing people, and he also sees these "visions" while in an awakened state. Another man, the murderer psycho, is also having dreams and visions. It seems that being brought back to life has connected Hatch with this madman. I'm only half done, and i'm sure that it's going to get even more twisted. So far, it's a good read.
Coral Harrison
The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly
Rating: 5 Stars
A legal thriller which is a very well-written lawyer story that ends quite well. I enjoyed it.
Coral Harrison
Snow Flower and The Secret Fan by Lisa See
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the story of a Chinese women in the time they bound their feet. The women had a secret language called "nu shu" that men did not know. This tells the story of two women and their lives and how it all intertwines.
Jack Quick (jquick5342@aol.com)
Vulture Capital by Mark Coggins
Rating: 5 Stars
Venture Capitalist Ted Valmont is informed that the brains behind a biotechnology start-up he's funded called NeuroStimix is missing. Valmont engages PI August Riordan to help find the missing man and we soon learn that the disappearance is part of a larger conspiracy to use NeuroStimix technology for dastardly purposes. To complicate matters, the missing man is Valmont's buddy and Valmont's own brother, as a spinal injury patient, would benefit from the NeuroStimix discovery. Co-founder of a failed Internet start-up, Mark Coggins injects lots of local color into his work, even dedicating the book to the Pets.com Sock Puppet.
Angie
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Rating: 5 Stars
I have been rereading the entire series, and I must say these books are fantastic! They're funny, absorbing, and just plain fun. I enjoy reading these over and over!
Aileen
The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan
Rating: 5 Stars
THE HUNDRED SECRET SENSES is a wonderful book! It's been on my TBR for a long time, and now I wish I had picked it up sooner! Amy Tan is truly gifted.
Pat Miller (pudgypb@aol.com)
Mirror Image by Danielle Steel
Rating: 5 Stars
Loved it, loved it, loved it! The first few pages were slow, but all of a sudden the book took off and I couldn't put it down.
J. P. Feingold
Feng Shui for the Rest of Us by Gabrielle Alizay
Rating: 5 Stars
Love life gone sour? Financial trouble? Health problems? This book has a feng shui cure for whatever ails your life. When things seem out of control, there are concrete things you can do in your home to make them better. Alizay gives the information in an amusing, pleasant manner. Key to all improvements is clutter clearing, so even if results are not immediately obvious, you'll have a cleaner house.
Jane
Manhunt by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 5 Stars
I read this one straight through. The characters are great, and the Alaska setting is wonderful!! I had just finished ELDEST, Christopher Paolini's second dragon book, and MANHUNT was a breeze to read.
Ida
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
Rating: 5 Stars
Harry Who? This book is a gift to fantasy readers of all ages. I am so glad it's part of a trilogy.
Connie Rutter (consurutte@aol.com)
The Coast Road by Peter Corris
Rating: 4 Stars
This was my first book by this author and I found it to be a little different, as I was unfamiliar with the different phrases that are common in Australia. This was was the 21st book in the Cliff Hardy series and I found Hardy to be a bit of a tough guy with heart. I thought it was well-written, and except for some of the phrases and a somewhat unpleasant ending, I liked the book. I would definitely read more by this author.
Shirley Younger
The Woman Next Door by Barbara Delinsky
Rating: 5 Stars
This New York Times Bestseller is a great book that holds your interest to the end.
Suzanne Wargo (suewargo@aol.com)
Peach Cobbler Murder by Joanne Fluke
Rating: 4 Stars
Fluke is one of those mystery authors who I can't wait to write another book. This was another clever book that kept me guessing until the end. I love the recipes too --- I always find one or two in the bunch that I make for the holidays.
SAndy (jasscs@aol.com)
A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon
Rating: 3 Stars
A good book, but it was too long and full of too many unnecessary facts. However, it was still a good and different read.
Suzanne Levin
The Dogs of Bedlam Farm by Jon Katz
Rating: 5 Stars
Jon Katz just gets it! He understands dogs and the people who love them. He writes beautifully of his dogs and in a way you just find yourself shaking your head in agreement. If you love dogs, you'll enjoy Jon Katz. I first read A DOG YEAR, which introduces you to Jon and his dogs. This book catches up with him as he decides to teach his border collies to use their natural instincts to herd sheep. So, he buys a farm and moves in with 16 sheep, a donkey and his 3 dogs. This is the true story of his adventure on the farm. One small warning though --- always have a box of tissues handy because there are moments when you'll need them.
Mary
How to Seduce a Ghost by Hope McIntyre
Rating: 4 Stars
Lee is a ghostwriter who likes likes people, but also likes to be alone a lot. She lives in a house in Notting Hill that belonged to her parents who now live in France, and even though she has a boyfriend of 8 years, she likes things just as they are. She gets involved in a mystery when a TV personality dies while her home is set on fire. Although a little slow in the beginning, the pace picks up as the plot thickens and all the characters are developed.
Sandy (jasscs@aol.com)
The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt
Rating: 1 Stars
I just did not like this book! It's not interesting and was not well-written.
Suzanne Levin
Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston
Rating: 4 Stars
BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE is a true tale of an innocent hike in a remote part of Utah that turns into a story of incredible survival. Written by Aron Ralston, an experienced outdoorsman, this story is an amazing read. Not only are you given the unbelievable details of that harrowing "accident," but the reader is brought into the life of young Aron and how certain events shaped him into the adventurer he was and is to this day. This is a very enjoyable read and one that I chose for my book club to read!
vmb
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of by Gregory Maguire
Rating: 4 Stars
This book is not what I expected, but that is not necessarily a bad thing! The writing is excellent and the story is compelling. I was drawn into the story immediately and I love the quirkiness of it. The odd thing is that while the book has my attention when I am reading it, I don't find myself eager to get back to it when it comes time to pick it up again. I've never felt quite that way about a book before. I would recommend the book to anyone who likes a story that is out of the ordinary but would make it clear that you have to be able to believe the unbelievable. As a lover of fantasy novels, I don't find that difficult.
Sandy (jasscs@aol.com)
Faith and Betrayal: A Pioneer Woman's Passage Thro by Sally Denton
Rating: 4 Stars
If you are looking for a different book for that special someone for Christmas, this is it. This is a true story... and we think we have it bad!
Sandy (jasscs@aol.com)
The Unredeemed Captive: A Family Story From Early by John Putnam Demos
Rating: 4 Stars
A good little book! It is the true story of a family captured by Indians. It's different and interesting.
Corky (imardr2@yahoo.com)
Vanish by Tess Gerritsen
Rating: 5 Stars
VANISH is very fast-paced with plenty of character development to balance the tension.
Ray Palen (razorramon@optonline.net)
The Monsters of Grammercy Park by Danny Leigh
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a great debut by this English author who writes about Queens/NYC as if he lived there! It is a cat-and-mouse tale of a mystery author looking to get back on top by writing about an evil gang lord currently serving a life sentence. Who ends up using whom makes for quite an intriguing read.
Angelique
Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Rating: 4 Stars
Some would think that the story of an old man wanting to bed an adolescent virgin on the eve of his 90th birthday would hurt their sensibilities, but in the hands of a storyteller like Nobel laureate winner, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, it is not sleaze, but a beautiful love story.
Corky (imardr2@yahoo.com)
Mary, Mary by James Patterson
Rating: 4 Stars
This is one of Patterson's better (lately) Alex Cross installments as far as plot and pacing. However, Christine is getting very tiresome, as well as Alex's sexcapades (and I am not a prude).
Randi Odierno (rodierno@aol.com)
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
Rating: 1 Stars
I'm not sure why I'm continuing to wade through the pages of this novel... it is a very strange story indeed. I'm halfway through and I'm still not sure if the man in the beret is a good guy or a bad guy! This is definitely not a readable novel!
Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com)
My Fathers' Houses: Memoir of a Family by Steve Roberts
Rating: 4 Stars
In this autobiography, journalist Steve Roberts traces his family's roots and branches from Bialystok to Bayonne, N.J. and beyond.
Mimi Klein
Dean and Me by Jerry Lewis
Rating: 5 Stars
This is one book that should be read by any person who was around in Martin & Lewis' heyday!! As Jerry said in the book, it's a love letter to Dean Martin. I laughed and cried. I definitely give this book 5 stars.
Lavonne Morrell (lavonronx@wave.net)
Badger's Moon by Peter Tremayne
Rating: 4 Stars
This series is great, for not only the mystery, but also the background of early England. The nun is a very sharp Lady!
Ray Palen (razorramon@optonline.net)
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
Rating: 2 Stars
I expected so much more based on the reviews. Three "case histories" intertwine into a mystery that is written in a plodding manner that made it difficult to care about any of the characters involved.
Judy Bug
The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad
Rating: 4 Stars
Although not as well-written as THE KITE-RUNNER, this book is certainly worth reading. The author (a female) lived with the Afghan family for three months and vividly recreates the lives of Khan (the bookseller) and his wives and children. What the author didn't witness firsthand, she gleaned from conversations with the family. It gives us Westerners a little insight into the Afghani family (although this particular family is middle class and not truly representive of the masses). We may not condone all that takes place, but the writing gives us an explanation of how this life could be lead.
Darcy P.
Plain Truth by jodi picoult
Rating: 4 Stars
If you loved MY SISTER'S KEEPER, you will feel the same about this one. By the story's end, you are very attached to the characters.
Judy Bug
Tyrannosaur Canyon by Douglas Preston
Rating: 4 Stars
A moon rock missing for 30 yrs... 5 buckets of blood-soaked sand found in a NM canyon... ambitious scientists... an early-release convict with a job to do and revenge on his mind... a rich veterinarian and his wife... an ex-CIA monk... a dark agency with a deadly mission... and the greatest scientific discovery in a remote canyon. Put them together and you have one great read.
Without recommendations from Word of Mouth, I might never have picked up this book... but I'm glad I did.
Dolora Schlesinger (Dolora647@aol.com)
Rames Collection by Christian Jacq
Rating: 5 Stars
It is a collection of 5 books about ancient Egypt.
Kris
Lifeguard by James Patterson
Rating: 4 Stars
I love James Patterson's series but I also love his stand-alone books. This one dips into the life of a thief and you are quickly pulled into the story!
Susan of St. Paul
The Cat Who Came to Breakfast by Lilian Jackson Braun
Rating: 4 Stars
I know that this is one of the earlier books in The Cat Who , , , series. I began in the middle of these books and continue to jump around. I began reading these long before I ever knew what a "cosie" was. As usual, Jackson Braun writes a very comfortable story. I throughly enjoy the fact that I can safely share these books with my teen grandchildren without worry. If I share with them, what more could I want?
Carol (breezywriter@aol.com)
The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks
Rating: 5 Stars
This provides a very interesting slant on a Civil War story.
Robin B.
Don't Try This at Home: Culinary Catastrophes From by edited by Kimberly Witherspoon and Andrew Friedman
Rating: 5 Stars
Celebrated (and not-so-celebrated) chefs relate the worst culinary disaster of their career. This hilarious must-read is for anyone who loved KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL by Anthony Bourdain (who is included in this collection).
Carol Hirsh (CLoisH049@AOL.com)
A Wedding In December by Anita Shreve
Rating: 4 Stars
Wonderful winter reading.
Maureen from Middletown
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Rating: 4 Stars
I'm not reading as much right now with the holidays, but did finish this one. I really enjoyed it, and it was quite a page turner. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next.
Annie
The 8th Habit by Dr. Stephen R. Covey
Rating: 4 Stars
A great book! I especially enjoyed the first half that focuses on finding your own voice (personal passion). This is the next step if you're a 7 Habits follower.
Dodalodle from Beautiful British Columbia (dglg@telus.net)
All That Matters by Jan Goldstein
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a heartwarming story that builds on the relationship between a grandmother and grandaughter. After a failed suicide attempt (because she feels she has nothing in her life to live for), a granddaughter moves in with her grandmother, where she gains understanding about love and life. This is the kind of book that makes you feel good (okay, and a bit sad) when you come to the finish.
Margie W.
The Interruption of Everything by Terry McMillan
Rating: 3 Stars
It may be unfair to be "reviewing" this book at this point, since I am only about 1/3 of the way through, but it just doesn't engage me the way two of her other books --- WAITING TO EXHALE and A DAY LATE AND A DOLLAR SHORT did.
Jane from Kentucky (JerJanKel@aol.com)
Bee Season by Myla Goldberg
Rating: 3 Stars
A quietly interesting book with lots of subtle family dysfunction questions. This was a book club selection for me --- I am anxious for our meeting to see how others rated it. We plan to see the movie and compare it to our views of how the movies should have been produced.
Jane from Kentucky (JerJanKel@aol.com)
Widow of the South by Robert Hicks
Rating: 4 Stars
I have been pleasantly surprised by this little book. I think it gives an extremely honest and raw picture of what the War Between the States was like, and not an easy-to-read romanticized or sugar-coated portrait. The book contained just the basics of what war is like from the different perspectives of various participants. I would highly recommend this as a teaching tool for those attempting to interest students in the Civil War era.
Susan of St. Paul
A Superior Mystery by Carl Brookins
Rating: 2 Stars
I wanted to read this because Brookins is a local author and the story is semi-local. I was so very disappointed. There was very little to no tension that never did build to anything. I don't recall ever reading such a weak ending. The best that can be said for this book is that it is a quick read with a quick ending.
Lindsey Bumpass (bsb_chick76247@yahoo.com)
Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts
Rating: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed this book. Of course, I have enjoyed every Nora Roberts book I've ever read, so I may be a bit biased. I thought the plot was really intriguing and unlike her other books, the psycho wasn't someone you would have never guessed. This person was expected and it was still intriguing. You wondered throughout what they would do next.
Marelou
Kill The Messenger by Tami Hoag
Rating: 3 Stars
KILL THE MESSENGER is set in LA where a young bike messenger becomes the prime suspect in a homicide. It was a good read, although it went in different directions in the midde of the book. The author was able to tie it all up in the end even with a surpise ending (for me) but I almost didn't finish it because it dragged in the middle.
Karen Gold
Play With Fire by Dana Stabenow
Rating: 5 Stars
All the Kate Shugak books are good. I somehow started reareading the early ones and am having just as good a time with them the second time through... or third or fourth, maybe.
Rosalie (tigersmama43213@aol.com)
No Second Chance by Harlan Coben
Rating: 4 Stars
If you enjoy Coben's books, this is a must for you to read. It's very suspenseful and is a real page turner.
Dot
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccoult
Rating: 4 Stars
Very timely and thought-provoking.
Joanne Welch (jkw5124@aol.com)
The March by E L Doctorow
Rating: 4 Stars
THE MARCH is an excellant Civil War novel. I read an excerpt first and didn't think the book seeemed that good. Then, I started the book and found it to be one of the better Civil War novels I have ever read. Doctorow develops the characters so well that they seem like real people.
Rachael
Double Shot by Diane Mott Davidson
Rating: 4 Stars
I really loved this book, which is the newest in the series. I recommend reading all the books in this series in order, and not picking up DOUBLE SHOT until you have read all of the others. I skipped ahead to this book, and it will affect my enjoyment of her previous titles because of certain events in the book. It's a great read, though, and I highly recommend.
Kris
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Rating: 4 Stars
An usual story of an autistic boy who likens himself to a bit of a Watson detective. When a dog in the neighborhood is killed, Christopher (the autistic boy) does some interesting detecting and finds out more than he expected!
Kris
Derailed by James Siegel
Rating: 4 Stars
I didn't know that this was the book on which the new movie Clive Owen and Jennifer Aniston was based. I was quickly pulled into the story of a man meeting a beautiful woman on the train. Things start spirally and you don't come up for air until it ends. This was a great read!
BJ Deese (zandercage2003@yahoo.com)
The Devil Served Tortellini by Shirley Jump
Rating: 5 Stars
Ms. Jump writes an excellent contemporary comedy.
Jim Corbran
Lolita by Vladimir Nabakov
Rating: 5 Stars
One you get past the reprehensible subject of this book you find a witty, well-written piece that you won't want to put down. Fifty years after its publication, it's still a hit.
Sarah W
Beyond the Cayenne Wall by Shaila Abdullah
Rating: 5 Stars
These short stories are interesting and unique in their focus. We are introduced to a whole new world, new cultures, new paradigms. The women have universal struggles --- desire, poverty, abusive or neglectful husbands, overbearing families, difficult jobs --- yet are each unique and interesting. The author has a knack for creating main characters that the reader can connect to emotionally.
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