| Bonnie |
| Loving Frank by Nancy Horan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
An excellent novel based on the true love affair between Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Borthwick Cheney, both of whom were married to others. The author makes you understand the impetus, the reasons these two HAD to be together. While I abhor adultery, it's a credit to Horan that we are made to empathize with Wright and Cheney. LOVING FRANK was a beautifully written and a real page turner as well. It's also a wonderful primer on Wright's philosophy of design.
|
| Debbie |
| Woman in Red by Eileen Goudge |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A wonderful adventure set off the coast of the Pacific Ocean, complete with the quirky local people and the parallel story of the 1942-1943 war era and the years following 9/11. I love the sense that in the end, love and honor and goodness wins. It's a story of choices that are not always the best; a story of love.
|
| Robin J. |
| Michael Tolliver Lives by Armistead Maupin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
For those of us who hated to close the back cover of SURE OF YOU so many years ago, this book offers a wonderful coda to the story.
|
| Ma Titwonky (matitwonky@gmail.com) |
| Whale Song by Cheryl Kaye Tardif |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
WHALE SONG is about many different things: family, love, forgiveness, folk lore, whales, and sacrifice. It's about a young girl whose life is changed forever by a tragedy in her family. She becomes an adult before she is fully able to understand and deal with the process necessary to bring her peace and restore her faith in human nature. This would make a great book-club read because there is the potential for some good discussions about the situations Tardif put into this book.
|
| Judith Bridger |
| Touching Stars by Emilie Richards |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
The fourth in the Shenandoah Album series, TOUCHING THE STARS skillfully relates the past to the present in the Virginia valley. Again, Richards delivers realistic characters while showing their struggles in dealing with past disappointments and present decisions. Some favorite characters from past novels appear to keep the series intact. I was disappointed when the 500+ page saga ended because I wanted more! Thankfully, Richards is working on a fifth tale.
|
| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
| If I Am Missing or Dead by Janine Latus |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This isn't a book I'd normally select to read, but I am so glad a friend recommend it. Super book!
|
| Allyson Crawley |
| The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Everytime I read one of Ms. Gregory's books, I can almost see and feel the surroundings. She gives thoughts and words to the women in King Henry VIII's life, and sheds light on what their lives must have been like. I love historical fiction and nobody does it better than Philippa Gregory. This was a great follow-up to THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL, which I cannot wait to see in film this winter.
|
| Ma Titwonky (matitwonky@gmail.com) |
| Speaks The Nightbird by Robert McCammon |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
SPEAKS THE NIGHTBIRD is based upon the witch trials that occurred in Massachusetts and other colonies in "The New World". It is also an interesting look at what life was like for those who came to this country to settle new developments and help them become successful towns. I enjoy Robert McCammon's writing because I believe he is a good storyteller. He did not disappoint me with this book.
|
| Ma Titwonky (matitwonky@gmail.com) |
| Peony In Love by Lisa See |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I won this book through Bookreporter.com, otherwise I may have overlooked it. That would have been a shame because this is one of the best books I've read in a while.
Peony In Love is listed by the author, Lisa See, as a historical novel, and it is, but it's also so much more than that. It's the story of a 15 year old Chinese girl living within the restrictive customs of her culture. I know very little about Chinese culture from the period of time this book covers, and that's one of the key points that made this book so interesting to me. There were times I was appalled that women were treated with such a lack of worthiness, and there were other times when I was fascinated with the customs and how strictly and rigidly those who adhere to them live their lives.
Most of all, this book is about a woman's desire to be heard whether it be through her writing or her accomplishments. It is about the inability of any culture to completely obliterate what it is that makes each woman an individual in her own right worthy of whatever she can make of her life's path.
|
| Linda M. Johnson |
| Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I've only finished the first unit of the book (out of 8), but I'm surprised how easy it is to read --- since I figured out how to keep track of the constantly changing Russian names (one character goes by several monikers). I'm awed by Tolstoy's descriptions. This may go up to 5 stars before I'm done.
|
| Carol from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
| The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A memoir of J.R as he tried to graduate from Yale and find his true life meaning. The bar he frequents (as does everyone else in town) is called Publicans. It is a place to feel safe, to talk about everyday problems, and yet it has a family atmosphere.
|
| Carol from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
| Looking For A Miracle by Wanda E. Brunstetter |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Excellent story set in Lancaster, PA with Amish families. Rebekah had an accident when she was a young child, which left her paralyzed and in a wheelchair. Rebekah, who was of courting age, became very depressed and angry at her situation and knew no one would want to court her. She had a strong belief in God, but didn't believe in herself. Through help of her family and a young Amish man named Daniel she found love, but decided she couldn't marry because she had a hard time taking care of herself
.
When an accident in the snow traps Daniel and his family in a buggy, she is able to get help and finally agree to marry him. This is a delightful story, with no violence. It also goes into detail about the Amish ways.
|
| Noreen Brown |
| The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Very powerful book....what a look into a teenage girl's life. I'm so glad my daughters are grown up and not having to deal with sexual games that 13 and 14 year olds face.
The Alaska scenes are more vivid than a travelogue; you can feel the cold. Again, Picoult's ending surprises you.
|
| Kasey |
| Taken by Chris Jordan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A parent's worst nightmare story: your child is kidnapped and you'll do anything to get him back. It's not your normal run-of-the-mill kidnapping, that's for sure. It's a fast-paced thriller, but at times, you'll feel like you're reading a screenplay.
|
| Amy (Amy3286@myway.com) |
| Scent of Darkness by Christina Dodd |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A thousand years ago, a brutal Russian warrior made a pact with the devil. For the ability to change in to an animal at will, the Russian gave his soul and the souls of his descendants. Now the males of the family Varinski have split apart. One of them had fallen in love and married. Now along with his wife and children, he is hiding in the States, and the rest of the family is trying to hunt them down. In order to stop the curse, his sons must reunite the missing pieces of the lost family icon. But before they can finish, they will have to outsmart the rest of their family.
|
| Bridget |
| Weekend at Blenheim by Joseph P. Morrisssey |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
This was a good idea for a book that just didn't deliver. A group of people gather for a weekend at Blenheim in the early 1900s. Among them are the duke and duchess; young Winston, a poor architect and his wife; a woman after the duke; and John Singer Sargent. A mystery develops --- Singer's sketch book is missing, which leads to murder. The characterization was poor, as none of the characters seemed "real" in any way. The dialogue was cliched and stilted. These two factors made this book less than a stellar reading experience for me.
|
| Linda M. Johnson |
| Just Call Me Mike: A Journey to Actor and Activist by Mike Farrell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
One of my favorite actors has written a book. I've long admired him as an actor and an activist. His writing schools haven't changed my opinion of him --- maybe increased my appreciation of the man.
|
| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
| Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
This was a very disturbing account of a boy whose father was an alcoholic and wanted nothing to do with him, and whose mother was mentally ill and made her shrink the boy’s legal guardian. What does make this book stand out and what left an impression on me, is the story. It is almost unbelievable. Some readers found it humorous. Although there were some quirky things that happened that may make you laugh, I did not find this book funny at all. It was almost depressing. The most promising part of it is the fact that Augusten was able to make it to adulthood and publish his story.
|
| Paula |
| Quietly In Their Sleep by Donna Leon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Originally published 1997 in Britain under the title DEATH OF FAITH, it is one of the best in the series featuring Commissario Guido Brunetti, solving murder cases in Venice. Donna Leon is a master of mystery.
|
| Amanda Franklin |
| Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is, by far, the best of the seven books. I didn't think that J. K. would be able to tie up all of the loose ends in 600 short pages, but she did it and she did it well. It is a series that I can read again and again and not get bored with.
|
| Monica Rogers (monica-a-rogers@hotmail.com) |
| The Quickie by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Another great Patterson book! There are so many twists and turns that it keeps you suprised to the very end!
|
| Monica Rogers (monica-a-rogers@hotmail.com) |
| The Book Thief by Markus Zusak |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I loved this book. It takes place during the Holocaust and is told from Death's point of view. Very original!
|
| Amy M. |
| Book of Air and Shadows by Michael Gruber |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
An intriguing tale of individuals brought together by a lost manuscript that could be worth millions and be priceless to academia. Clever phrasing and multi-dimensional characters make this an engrossing read.
|
| Marsha |
| The Tin Roof Blowdown by James Lee Burke |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
The destruction of New Orleans after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita did more than destroy the city. It left the residents lawless and bereft. This is a rather sad tale about the bleak picture of life that faced the people. It brought out the worst and best of them.
|
| Linda Scott (scott2@einetwork.net) |
| Priest by Ken Bruen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A reformed alcoholic in Ireland looks into pedophilia in the Catholic Church. This book offers a really good description of the Irish setting. The private investigator is described clearly, as is his struggle with his old alcoholism problem.
|
| Anita Nowak |
| Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Once again, Jodi Picoult has written a book that captures your interest from the first page. It is s wonderful story that involves the Amish people of Pennsylvania, and is a great mystery that keeps you in suspense throughout.
|
| Linda Scott (scott2@einetwork.net) |
| Helpless by Barbara Gowdy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
The child of a single parent is kidnapped by a potential child molester. Molestation doesn't happen, but looms over the book. It's hard to put down!
|
| Debbie W. |
| Island of the Lost by Joan Druett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Five seaman from the wrecked schooner Grafton are stranded on remote and icy Aukland Island in January 1864. In May of that year, on the other end of the island, another ship wreck sends 19 men ashore. Why one group survives and is rescued and the other does not is the heart of this book.
Though this is a work of nonfiction, it reads like a page-turning mystery.
|
| CJ Jones (ajones1021@comcast.net) |
| We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a grippinng international bestseller about motherhood gone awry. You are caught up in the moment as Eva writes to her ex-husband about their son, Kevin. It chronicles the events of a New York City couple, on the professional fast-track, who decide to have a baby. But, Kevin isn't like other babies from day one.
Eva is writing in the past tense about her son, who is now in a juvenile prison for a school murder of four innocent people. It's gripping and not for the faint of heart. Eva struggles with her guilt and the knowledge that she could/should have predicted the unspeakable crime her son has committed. This book is a "no holds barred" look at the dynamics of a family and their slow magnetic descent into hell. It is a fascinating, disturbing read that I couldnt put down.
Lionel Shriver is an English authoress with six other published novels. Thirty English publishers turned this book down, and yet through the author's perserverence, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN became one of the book club choices for "Good Morning America" and Barnes & Nobles on-line club. It also won the UK's Orange Prize for fiction in 2005.
Don't let the subject matter keep you from reading this book --- amongst the terror, there is love, humor and the hard truth. This book is a must read.
|
| Anita Nowak |
| Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
PERFECT MATCH is a wonderful mystery that keeps your interest until the very end. Jodi Picoult is a great writer, and this is one of her best. It delves into child abuse at its worst. It is fiction, but there is some much truth in it, you almost feel it was ripped out of the newspaper headlines.
|
| Julie Towson |
| Key Lime Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A wonderful light, summer read. The author's heroine, Hannah Swensen, is in all of her books, all with dessert titles. There are lots of recipes intertwined throughout the novel. It's not WAR AND PEACE, but a great read.
|
| Marlys Davis |
| The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I have not yet finished, but this is a very good read. It's reminiscent of the classic gothic novels (JANE EYRE, WUTHERING HEIGHTS). It is an absorbing tale, and is really two stories in one. The first is about Margaret Lea, who is writing Vida Winter's biography; the other story is that of Vida Winter.
|
| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
| A Good and Happy Child by Justin Evans |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
The writing was a bit peculiar and, at times, tiresome. I’m glad I selected to listen to the audio book as I might have given up on this early. It’s worth the time to read, but doesn’t live up the hype.
|
| Judy (AZ) |
| The Judas Strain by James Rollins |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
An unstoppable plague may be about to doom the world. But wait, we have SIGMA (a covert US operation) and a shady operation called The Guild. Into the mix, we have the explorations of Marco Polo. It is break-neck speed and full ahead. If you've not read other of his books, you might enjoy it more. But as I read, I kept thinking that I'd read it all before. However, I do like his 'truth or fiction' at the end of the book, which explains some of nearly unbelievable occurrences he writes about. This is not a bad read if you've got some time on your hands.
|
| Judy (AZ) |
| Gertrude Bell by Georgina Howell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A fascinating biography of Gertrude Bell, the female Lawrence of Arabia, who was actually the more respected and well known of the two in her time. This globe-trotting woman was a legend --- an archaeologist, spy, linguist, author, photographer, poet, and mountaineer. She was instrumental during World War I in organizing hospitals, she was an pivotal British person in the Arab world, and in supporting the creation of Iraq. No one could have penned a more interesting novel, let alone a true account of this amazing woman's life.
|
| Lorna |
| Nantucket Nights by Elin Hilderbrand |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This is the first I have read by this author. I was just looking on the shelves at the library and the title caught my eye. ( I love Cape Cod.) NANTUCKET NIGHTS was a very good story about friendships and families. I will definetly pick up other titles by this author.
|
| Sharlene (themiers@bellsouth.net) |
| The English Teacher by Lily King |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
I have never read a book in which I disliked the heroine as much as I did this one. Perhaps that was intentional, because the other characters in the book were extremely likable. Even getting to the root of the character's problem didn't make her any more appealing.
|
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Body Surfing by Anita Shreve |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
This book is about a hidden love triangle amongst one woman and two brothers. Set on the New Hampshire coast with the rhymth of the water and life's dramatic changes, it deals with many topics: Jews, lesbians, snobbishness. It's a little trite.
|
| Karen Cundari |
| A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Charles Finch's debut murder mystery, set in 1865 Victorian England, is outstanding. Intrepid amateur detective Charles Lenox, who is both enlightened and empathetic, pits his considerable intellect against the Scotland Yard and a host of suspects. When requested by a friend to investigate the suicide of her former maid, he discovers it was murder. Charles Finch uses a deft hand in describing Victorian England and creating an absorbing murder mystery. This is the first of what should become an acclaimed series. Don't miss it! Also, visit Charles Finch's website, www.charles-finch.com
|
| Debbie W. |
| Letter From Point Clear by Dennis McFarland |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
The grown Owen children reunite at their family home in Point Clear, Alabama, 10 months after the death of their alcoholic father. The youngest child, Bonnie, has married an evangelical preacher and moved into the family home. Her sister, Ellen, and her brother, Morris, both living in Cape Cod, MA, head south to find out what is really happening. This book reveals so much about families, siblings, relationships, and marriage. You will nod your head in recognition when grown adults revert back to their childhood roles!
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| Sharlene (themiers@bellsouth.net) |
| A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This book is as outstanding as Mr. Hosseini's first work, THE KITE RUNNER. If you haven't read his yet, don't delay.
|
| Becky Cruz (ABamaBecky@aol.com) |
| Street Dream by Faye Kellerman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
One of the best books that I have ever read by this author. For those of you familiar with Ms. Kellerman's Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus novels, this book centers around Peter's daughter from his 1st marriage, who is also a cop with the LAPD. Cynthia Decker pulls a baby from a dumpster and in her quest to find the mother and/or father, she goes on a roller coaster ride that takes her to areas of the city that no one wants to go to. A very good beach read.
|
| Michelle |
| The Sleeping Doll by Jeffery Deaver |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I am a big fan of the Lincoln Rhyme series, and am enjoying the author's new heroine as well.
|
| Charles Lewis |
| Intuition by ?Allegra Goodman |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
?I was rather disappointed with this book, perhaps because the publisher’s blurb gives the
impression that it will be a medical mystery. The premise --- in which one of the characters makes up
data to claim success for a cancer-fighting virus --- was enticing, but the author uses far too many
internal dialogues, with almost half of the book devoted to folks whining about what is
occurring. I also found the ending anti-climactic, almost as if the author just ran out of steam. It's not a bad book, by any means, but I thought it could have been much better.
|
| Patricia Ezzell (patriciart@aol.com) |
| Three Junes by Julia Glass |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
A fascinating study of family dynamics, although sometimes, it put me to sleep with details. The most interesting plot line involves a gay Brit living in New York, who befriends an opera critic dying of AIDS.
|
| Judy |
| Death in the Garden by Elizabeth Ironside |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
An unusual mystery spanning 2 lifetimes; 3 countries, and the subjects of war, love, and revenge; set in England, with unusual "heroines."
|
| Donna Marton |
| The Long Walk by Stephen King |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This book, which he writes as Richard Bachman, is totally engrossing. The premise of 100 teenage boys embarking on a walk, nonstop, actually had me hurting along with them. It also had me thinking of The Trail of Tears, the Bataan Death March, and how this book could also be considered nonfiction. It is one you read nonstop.
|
| Linda Maxine Williams (mxwms@msn.com) |
| The Tin Roof Blowdown by James Lee Burke |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Having read every one of James Lee Burke's books, I believe this is the best one yet. He lives in New Iberia part of the year, and New Orleans has always been a BIG part of both his writing and his life. This book addresses the aftermath of Katrina on Dave Robicheaux's friends and enemies. The descriptions are absolutely frightening. How can America let this happen to our citizens and delay help until it is too late to help them? I highly recommend this book for everyone who has heard of Katrina.
|
| Kathleen Bailey |
| The King of Lies by John Hart |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I am just getting into this book and it scores between 3-4 stars. The author does have my attention. I can't wait to get further in this legal thriller.
|
| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
| The Overlook by Michael Connelly |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I always look forward to reading a Harry Bosch novel. This story takes place a few months after ECHO PARK. Bosch is in a new department, the LAPD Homicide Special Unit, and he has a new partner, Iggy Ferras. Harry is at home awake late at night when the call comes in about the murder. It was almost like he was sitting home waiting for it. This will be his first case with the new division and he tackles it like he always has --- focus on the murder, do anything you can to get the bad guy. And like any other case Harry has been involved in, there is always something or someone to make getting the bad guy difficult. In this case, it’s the FBI. Enter Rachel Walling --- a familiar character to Bosch fans. They have a history, professional as well as romantic. The FBI involvement takes the case off track and Harry does anything he can to bring it back on. It is classic Bosch when he walks that fine line between the straight and narrow and the Bosch way of solving a case. Harry likes to take control and do everything it takes to solve a murder, even if it means putting his job in jeopardy. Ferras gets a taste of what it’s like to be partnered with Harry, like every partner before him.
This is the 13th Harry Bosch novel. I think this is one of the best mystery series out there. Connelly has developed Harry so well, I have a vivid picture in my mind of what Harry actually looks like. If you haven’t tried Bosch, this is one of the series where I think you need to start from the beginning. The progression of this character can’t be appreciated unless you have read the earlier works. That may be the only negative book of the series.
|
| Albert |
| Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I can't give anything away, but I was very satisfied with the final book. There was a lot of action, and no ends were left flapping. It takes talent to appeal to such a mass audience. Both children and adults can enjoy it.
|
| Jane (janeship@yahoo.com) |
| Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Linda See |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
See's novel addresses historical and cultural aspects of women's lives in China --- from footbinding and rigidly separated roles for men and women to the use of nu shu, a unique set of phonetic characters used by women to communicate when standard calligraphy was denied them. Her research included time with a 96-year-old woman, who was the oldest living nu shu writer. The novel is an engrossing story of friendship, family, and cultural values; it is highly readable and it pulled me into the lives of Snow Flower and Lily as a willing participant.
|
| Judy O. |
| Stormy Weather by Paulette Jiles |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This was an extremely good story of a family in Central Texas in the 1930s during the depression and the dust bowl years. Janine Stoddard is the main heroine of the story, and she takes care of her mother and 2 sisters after the man of the family dies. The trials and tribulations of living through those turbulent years is well described and makes a wonderful story.
|
| Fran |
| The Rabbit Factory by Larry Brown |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
Although there were some interesting characters in this book, I found it to be pointless and boring. I'm not sure why I finished it.
|
| Joan O. |
| The Confessor by Daniel Silva |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Daniel Silva writes awesome books. They always seem to contain some obscure pieces of history that are fascinating, as well as riveting plots that keep you guessing.
|
| Tom Barrington |
| Mary, Mary by James Patterson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I enjoy reading every Alex Cross book. It is almost like visiting him over and over again. The series get better all the time.
|
| Judy |
| The Last Enemy by Grace Brophy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This excellent mystery set in Assisi has some things in common with Donna Leon. The book has interesting characters, a religious component, and it provides the opportunity to learn about art.
|
| Charles Lewis |
| iPod Fully Loaded by ?Andy Ihnatko |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A thorough explanation of the possible uses of an iPod for a calendar, to-do list, notes, television episodes, audio books and much more.
|
| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
| If Angels Burn by Lynn Viehl |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
It might not be romance, but it's hot-hot-hot!
|
| Melinda Jones |
| The Woods by Harlan Coban |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I listened to this book and found it to be very exciting. There are many subplots and clues to solving the mystery, but the results may surprise you.
|
| Ricki (rickimc@aol.com) |
| Greywalker by Kat Richardson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
An entertaining supernatural mystery. It would have been better with no vampires.
|
| marion @aol.com (lamamil) |
| The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
It is hard to believe that all this is true. However, the book holds your interest and will make a good book club discussion,
|
| Joan (jscady@efieldguide.com) |
| Break No Bones by Kathy Reichs |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Although I had figured out the mystery before the end, I still enjoyed the read. I learned a bit more about Temperance Brennan and Charleston, SC, but it was not a gripping story.
|
| Kathy |
| The Abortionist's Daughter by Elisabeth Hyde |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A good mystery with some social implications. An easy and quick read.
|
| Debbie |
| For One More Day by Mitch Albom |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A nice summer read. His books are always good.
|
| Frannie |
| The Kitchen Witch by Annette Blair |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
This was a cute, "enchanting" story. It was a fun read by the pool. The characters were likable, though the story line was repetitive and predictable.
|
| Joan (jscady@efieldguide.com) |
| Water Like a Stone by Deborah Crombie |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I just discovered Deborah Crombie's series featuring Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James. Her characters and locale descriptions are great. I am learning a lot about life on the canals in England. The mystery at the heart of the book is also intriguing. I am looking forward to reading her other books.
|
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A delightful story of 17th-century Persia with Persian tales interwoven in the main story. It captures the life of Iranians and the struggles and joys of the everday lives of the rich and the poor. It provides a different view of a mistress hidden in the business contract of a "timed" marriage; at least this provides protection for the lady.
|
| L. Hann |
| Tales from Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Bring out your lounge chair, sit in the backyard under a shady tree, don't forget to pour yourself a frosty beverage, and let Jimmy Buffett take you on some cool adventures. For an afternoon, he will take you to places that you won't forget. Just like his songs, his book really pulls you into the worlds he has created. A great read.
|
| L. Hann |
| Babyhood by Paul Reiser |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Paul Reiser is a great comedian. He has a way of making the stress of parenthood seem funny. You almost have to take a look back at yourself and laugh. Babies don't come with manuals; there is no book out there that can tell you everything. Just sit back and enjoy the ride. Hey, we all turned out ok and our parents didn't have half the stuff that is out there for babies now. If you are thinking of having kids or have kids, read this book. It will give you a whole new perspective on "babyhood"!
|
| L. Hann |
| Don't Stand Too Close To A Naked Man by Tim Allen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
If you like Tim Allen, you'll like this book. I was in stitches!!!!
|
| theres |
| Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This enjoyable read was a very good introduction into philosophy. It's about a girl who receives letters from an unknown person asking questions. She is hooked from the start and tries to answer those questions. It's a brief history of philosophy, starting 500 years b.c. and ending with the Big Bang.
|
| Steven Schwindt (schwindt68@hotmail.com) |
| Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
No need as everyone else has read it. A good book but not memorable.
|
| Rita Sheppard (rrshep52@yahoo.com) |
| Say You Love Me by Rita Herron |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a very exciting story of a magazine writer in New Orleans who is being stalked because of her past. The writer will eventually be the last sacrificial victim for the cult leader.
|
| Phyllis |
| The Penny Tree by Holly Kennedy |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A story of a family that loses it's way for awhile, but love brings it back together.
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| Martyph |
| Patriot Hearts by Barbara Hambly |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I am thoroughly enjoying Hambly's latest, well-researched novel about real historical characters, in this case, Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, Dolley Madison, and Sally Hemings (slave of Thomas Jefferson). Reading this gives us an idea of what daily living was like in those uncertain times both before and after the American Revolution, through the eyes of the wives of famous men who were instrumental in building this brand new country of ours. Strangely enough, for those times, all four of the women were acquainted with each other. Running a plantation, living in the unfinished first White House, being Americans in Paris close to the time of the French Revolution, a slave, living as the concubine of a man who speaks out against slavery, all of these themes are touched on in some way. I only give it 4 stars because the author has so much to tell, so many intricate tales to weave with historical facts that I was oftentimes confused with who was doing what.
Hambly's book about Mary Todd Lincoln, THE EMANCIPATOR'S WIFE, is also a great read.
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| E. Quinn Knight |
| There's a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going To by Laurie Notaro |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I think it is difficult to write a comedy. The author of this delightful book has accomplished that with ease. This is an easy flowing book that laughs at the many pitfalls of life and the characters we meet along the way. The main character involved in a move to a University community (one that is known for its sewer pipes!) gets herself involved in all sorts of mundane issues that are hilarious. A really fast and funny read.
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| Steven Schwindt (schwindt68@hotmail.com) |
| China Road by Rob Gifford |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Starting in Shanghai, this NPR reporter travels west accross China on the Old China Silk Road, talking with a variety of people along the way. It was a great way to learn about China, now that I am lving here.
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| Kathy (kboucher@cableone.net) |
| Empire Falls by Richard Russo |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I loved this book! It has everything: humor, sadness, poignancy. This is a tale of a small town and its blue-collar worker, Miles Roby, and his topsy-turvy life. This also takes a good look at small-town living. Russo truly "takes us there," and we can see, smell and taste the town!
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| Jon |
| Crime Beat by Michael Connelly |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
This book was a pointless compilation of redundant reportage of various crimes and murders that took place in Florida and LA. It was boring and had no redeeming value.
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| Patty |
| The Quickie by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This was one of those books that you just couldn't put down, at least not after you get through the first half. The first part sets you up, and the last is full of nonstop twists and turns. I was just going to read another couple of chapters and had to finish because I couldn't stand not knowing what happened next. There were lots of twists and character changes. This was another great book with James Patterson co-authoring.
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| George Mathews (gm12347@aol.com) |
| Jesus Out To Sea by James Lee Burke |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Mr. Burke makes your heart ache with this poignant collection of short stories. His characters are real people, and his dialogue is the way people really talk. His situations are things that people really get into. Mr. Burke should be widely recognized as the best in the business.
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| Mary Ann Haske |
| Peony in Love by Lisa See |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I am enjoying this as much as I did SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN. I had polio as a child and my feet were mis-shapen. It breaks my heart to read of the foot-binding and the fact that someone would do that to a child's foot on purpose. I am attracted to Chinese stories as I have had 3 sons living in China. See's descriptions are very beautiful.
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| Old Mary |
| Scent of Darkness by Christina Dodd |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This isn't normally the kind of book I'd read, but as a fan of Dodd, I tried it. It's not totally believeable due to the premise of shape-shifting, tainted blood, etc. I still found it well written, intriguing, and suspenseful. I will be eager to read the rest of the series.
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| Bridget |
| Always and Forever by Cathy Kelly |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
A predictable novel a la Maeve Binchey about 3 Irish career women going through various crises in their lives. The three stories are all independent of each other 'til near the end of the book, when the owner of a day spa helps them work out their troubles. This is an okay book to wile away time on a beach on a summer afternoon.
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| Vicki |
| Killing Floor by Lee Child |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Jack Reacher is passing through a small town in Georgia when he’s arrested and framed for a murder he didn’t commit. Then, he finds out something truly shocking about the man he was supposed to have murdered. It’s a scary adventure involving some really mean characters who are out to brutally murder anyone who gets in their way. Jack risks his life to see justice done. It’s a heck of a thriller that scared the daylights out of me.
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| Carla |
| Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is one of the most compelling and engaging "did she or didn't she" stories I have ever read. This novel, based on real-life nineteenth-century events, brings the reader into the psychic realm of the prisoner, as well as the psychiatrist who is just breaking into the new world of forensic psychology. Wonderful characters whose stories are told by a wonderful writer.
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| Vicki |
| The Enemy by Lee Child |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
The book takes you back to when Jack Reacher was still in the Military. It involves the death of a general and his wife, but the bodies keep piling up. Jack is told to leave things alone, but of course, he doesn’t and he gets himself in a world of trouble as a result. It’s another great Jack Reacher novel and I can’t seem to get enough of them.
|
| Diane Dubay |
| Life of Pi by Yann Martel |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a wonderful book. To look at the basic premise, you wouldn't think it is as engrossing as it is, but you cannot help by being drawn into and touched by it!
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| Edie (Eworobe@yahoo.com) |
| Dark Tort by Diane Mott Davidson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This book is about a caterer who also solves mysteries. Davidson includes recipes in the story.
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| Sandy |
| The Sixth Target by James Patterson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I love James Patterson!! This one had 3 different cases going on at the same time and they were all good. Go get it!!
|
| Joan Waldman |
| Cooking Lessons by Nina Romano |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Exquisitely lush, sensual imagery, imbued with hope, longing and heartbreaking regret. Once you begin reading, it's almost impossible to put the book down.
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| Peggy in TX |
| Man in the Middle by Brian Haig |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
MAN IN THE MIDDLE is the latest installment of Haig's series featuring Sean Drummond, a US Army attorney. Drummond has been recently promoted to LTC and finds himself involved in a murder investigation of a highly placed Defense Department official. The investigation carries him and a most attractive JAG major to present-day Iraq --- smack in the middle of what is on the news nightly. Caught up in the machinations of the CIA and the Pentagon, Drummond is truly the man in the middle; but in determining whether the death they are investigating is murder or suicide, Drummond takes the reader on an adventure in war torn Iraq along with not so subtle commentary on the war and politics of the last several years. It is an interesting and engrossing yarn. I had figured out a bit about how it was going to end but Haig still managed to surprise me. I enjoyed the book and plan to read more of the backlist.
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| Cheryl |
| Ice Blue by Anne Stuart |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This was a great book. It was well written. I had never read anything before by this author, but since I have now, I will be checking out of her books.
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| Becky |
| Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is the second time i have read PLAIN TRUTH. It was just as engrossing the second time through as it was the first. Even though Picoult says she writes for people who don't read books a second time, I find her characters, tight plotting and moral questioning worthy of a second read.
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| Sandy H |
| To The Limit by Pamela Britton |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
This is one of Britton's NASCAR- themed books. It's fun if you want to read about what goes on behind the scenes, though I'm not sure how realistic it is. The plot is also mixed with a love story or two. TO THE LIMIT is a good quick read that is great for the beach or backyard.
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| Nyla Thompson (theclan@triotel.net) |
| Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Grace is accused of murder, and put in the penitentiary, then in the mental hospital. Is she guilty? Is she crazy? Or is everyone fooled by her? This was a hard-to-put-down book and I enjoyed it very, very much.
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| Dusty Johnson (bjohnson-att@comcast.net) |
| The Lion's Game by Nelson Demille |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Nelson DeMille is one fmy favorite authors and this book is another great story. It was hard to put this one down as John Corey races to find a Libyan terrorist who came to the US to settle a blood feud. His score is over 300 and John is closing in as the Terriost Task Force he is part of seems to want to go another way. As usual, John's independent methods save the day.
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| Cheryl |
| The Dead Room by Heather Graham |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This was a good book. I didn't expect the ending, but it was a happy and good one.
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| Cheryl |
| The Screaming Room by Thomas O'Callaghan |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
This is a fast read, but a good one for summer. If you are want a suspense book, then this is one to check out
|
| Cheryl |
| Too Late to Say Goodbye by Ann Rule |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Justice and how it was done! If you want to read a nonfiction book with a happy ending, then read this.
|
| Sandy H |
| The Hunter by Genita Low |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
THE HUNTER is part of Low's series about Navy SEALs and another similar group call GEM. This one takes place in Macedonia and deals with drugs, the sex trade and a super-secret bomb trigger.
|
| Bridget W. |
| Saturday by Ian McEwan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Beautifully written, violent, tender, the whole world and a portrait of a life distilled into one day.
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| Toni Savchuck (tonisandlin@aol.com) |
| Circumference Of Darkness by Jack Henderson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Thsi debut novelist has written a book that outshines even David Baldacci and Nelson DeMille! It is a story of a terrorist who runs up against his equal in the young woman, Jeannie Reese, computer genius and former child prodigy. It's a wild ride --- not to be started until you have time on your hands!
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| Bridget W. |
| MacGregor Tells the World by Elizabeth McKenzie |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Read this! MacGregor West is the unlikely hero of this wonderful story of redemption and forgiveness, set in an alternate-reality San Francisco.
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| Kay Keller |
| Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This seventh Harry Potter novel really does the series justice. It's a very fitting end to this wonderful epic! The action is good, the questions from previous books are answered, and Harry and his friends have grown up. Book #7 is every bit as good as the first one.
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| Shelly Itkin |
| Woman In Red by Eileen Goudge |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
One of her greatest books. It's about having to start over again and finding love and compassion along the way.
|
| Shelly Itkin |
| The Quickie by James Patterson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
THE QUICKIE is full of surprises, and a real up to the minute passed story. Lot of surprises and a great ending.
|
| Miriam |
| Creating an Empire: ESPN by Stuart Evey |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
The flow of this book is very poor and the continuity of the story very scattered and broken. The author skips around without clarity through time frames, business entities, and concepts all connected with ESPN, and with all this scattered commentary does not make fluid connections of any sort. The title implies a book about ESPN --- however, the book is more about Stuart Evey's job with Getty Oil and his love affair with being involved in the inception of ESPN; but even that part of the story is not told with any engaging information for the reader. I have plugged through this like one watches a 'dog,' believing it 'has got to get better.' It didn't.
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| Teri (TLB46rka@aol.com) |
| Still Life with Crows by Douglas Preston and Lncoln Child |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
This is my first book by these authors. It is a thriller, but I had a hard time sticking with it. It wasn't very scary or thrilling, and the twists were rather predictable. In the end, I felt like I wasted my time.
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| Sheila M |
| A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
Funny, sad, a little history about the Ukraine, some interesting characters.
|
| Jud H. |
| The Bourne Legacy by Eric Van Lustbader |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This fourth book in the Bourne series continues the story of Jason Bourne, former CIA assassin created by the Treadstone Project. Jason Bourne is actually David Webb and has returned to a normal life --- he teaches at the prestigious Georgetown University and lives with his wife and two kids. In a single day, his life is turned upside down when a sniper makes an attempt on his life and he becomes the prime suspect in the murder of two close friends. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat, and I echo the Chicago Sun-Times: "Don't start this book if you have to go to work the next day."
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| Jill |
| The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove by Christopher Moore |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
What a trip!!! This is a fun read that is laugh out funny in spots!!! Very enjoyable!!!!!!!
|
| Kristin Johnson, screenwriter |
| Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Despite the criticisms about too many new plot threads, I couldn't put it down. Definitely not for Potter novices, although those Squibs who have seen the movies might squeak by. Some unexpected plot twists and deaths, moving scenes, thick prose the British excel at, and a fitting conclusion to our favorite boy wizard's heroic journey. And am I the only one who sees parallels between the Kirk/Spock/McCoy trio and Harry, Ron and Hermione?
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| Cheri Oggy (cheri.oggy@gmail.com) |
| The Quickie by James Patterson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
As usual, James Patterson is at his best. The twists and turns in this story will keep you reading way past bedtime!
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| Kristin Johnson, screenwriter |
| The Road by Cormac McCarthy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I haven't finished this yet, but it's a marriage of science fiction and poetry dealing with the most basic human goal: survival. But why do we survive? That's the question, and McCarthy explores it beautifully.
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| Sheila M |
| The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Funny, sad, gut wrenching, poignant, and so much more.
A fictional memoir of the Vietnam War.
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| Thomas (tomjac0850@charter.net) |
| Step on a Crack by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Hostage negotiator Michael Bennett has a lot to worry about. His terminally ill wife is about to die and leave him with 10 kids to care for. A ruthless group of highly trained men has taken several very wealthy hostages inside St. Patrick's Cathedral, where they are protected from the police in a virtual fortress. It's Patterson at his best.
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| Janet Pruett (jmpruett@alltel.net) |
| The Exception by Christian Jungersen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. The characters and story line kept me up late at night.
|
| Mary from Little Valley, NY |
| Astrid and Veronika by Linda Olsson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
You will meet, and love, two very diverse characters. This is an emotionally filled page turner that you won't want to put down or see end!
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| Sheila M |
| A Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
An Imaginative, but not very believable/realistic story for historical fiction, IMHO.
|
| Valerie Wiesner (ackleyvalerie@yahoo.com) |
| Buddha by Deepak Chopra |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is an enchanting story of one of the most beloved of avatars, Prince Siddartha, and how he became the Buddha (enlightened one). There have been many variations and versions of this story written, but this one is charming in its simplicity and the way it speaks to the Western reader. It is the story of a very human man who is extremely curious, and more than curious, actually in pain over the concept of life being either a journey of suffering, or a journey of ecstasy, or both extremes. The manner in which Prince Siddartha overcame his own mental suffering is also the story of how he became known as Guatama Buddha. I recommend this book highly; it is not only inspirational, but joyful, and the reader will learn a lot about the journey we call life in reading it.
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| Linda M. Johnson |
| Powder Burn by William Montalbano & Carl Hiaasen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This was Hiaasen's first novel and is nothing like what he has become known for. It's a good mystery. The main character is drawn into the world of illegal drugs when a former lover and her daughter are killed while he stands nearby. It doesn't follow a typical mystery template.
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| Krys |
| My Sister's Child by Lyn Andrews |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This book is written by a British author. It is the story of a poor family in 1909 Liverpool who face many hardships and heartaches. It presents a vivid picture of a hard-working community. I enjoy stories that take place in England during this era, and this one is no exception.
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| Linda M. Johnson |
| Frankenstein by Mary Shelley |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
I'm trying to listen to this on CD and think it would be better if I would read it instead. I'll grab a copy to fortify the listening.
|
| Linda M. Johnson |
| Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I wish I could have given this more than 5 stars. This is the best of the series. I won't say much more since I don't want to spoil this book for anyone else. I had a couple of hunches before I started the book. I was right on with some and wrong on one biggie. Can't wait to see what she writes next.
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| Dorothy Flood |
| The Woods by Harlan Coben |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
As with all of Coben's books, someone is missing. In this case, it's two campers from 20 years ago. Two bodies were found but four bodies were missing. This is a real page turner.
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| Dorothy Flood |
| Simple Genius by David Baldacci |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
David Baldacci is back to his old self. I did not enjoy his last two books, but this one is a real David Baldacci thriller, and not difficult to follow. I highly recomend it.
|
| Sandy |
| Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a book about the lives of cadavers post mortem. Mary Roach is a very funny science writer. She goes behind the scenes and tells all the ways that cadavers are used and have been used throughout history.
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| Rachael |
| Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I inhaled and devoured this last installment in 3 days. This was, by far, the darkest book of the lot. I am sad to see the series come to an end, but all good things must end sometime. If you haven't yet read the series, start at the first book and read them in order. They get better as the series progresses. The first book or two is written for much younger children but the later books are a lot better. So don't get discouraged if you don't fall under the spell of Harry Potter after the first two books. By the 4th book, you will be hooked.
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| Dorothy Flood |
| Spare Change by Robert B. Parker |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This is another Sunny Randall novel and it is great. The killer, who would leave spare change laying next to his victims 20 years ago, has returned. It is either the same person or a copy cat. Sunny knows who is responsible from the beginning, but getting the evidence is difficult. An enjoyable fast read.
|
| Judy O. |
| The Water's Lovely by Ruth Rendell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a psychological drama about very dysfunctional people and the mysterious death of a man named Guy. I had never read anything by this author, so I was pleasantly surprised. However, I was not particularly fond of the ending, as it was not the "happy" ending for all the characters that I've come to expect. A good read nevertheless.
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| Sharron |
| Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Kingsolver is a master storyteller. She takes 3 seamingly separate stories and weaves them together into an awareness of ecology, relationships, and awareness of nature and creatures. My book club had a great discussion about this.
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| Sharron |
| Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
The author gives us more of Stephanie Plum's adventures. Evanovich never seems to run out of situations that bring humor and adventure. However, will Stephanie go on forever playing Joe against Ranger?
|
| Lynn Clifford |
| A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini |
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