| Lanny Bender |
| War On The Middle Class by Lou Dobbs |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
Reading this book gives me a hopeless feeling about my ability to change the situation we're in.
|
| Carol Drury (cdrury@gmail.com) |
| Power Play by Joseph Finder |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Great book that kept my interest from beginning to end!
|
| Buddy Garrett (garrettsambo@aol.com) |
| Lady Killer by Lisa Scottoline |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
LADY KILLER is full of memorable characters in a South Philly neighborhood. There is a great story premise laid out and the setting and characters are memorable, but what's most important to a mystery is missing --- the suspense and a sense of danger. The book is disappointing when you could consider what it could have been.
|
| Thomas Hoh |
| Stranger in Paradise by Robert B. Parker |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
Not as well written as I would have expected from a New York Times bestseller, but I love murder mysteries so it did hold my interest. I also like short chapters.
|
| Sandra F. |
| Piece of My Heart by Peter Robinson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
The latest book in the series featuring Alan Banks of the Yorkshire police is as fine as the rest of this series. The book switches back and forth between a murder in 1969 and one in the present --- both connected by the music scene.
|
| Sandra F. |
| Blue Blood by Pamela Thomas-Graham |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
BLUE BLOOD is the second book in a mystery series set in Ivy League universities. This one is set at Yale and the setting is really the central character in the book. It was a good read, written by an academic who knows the Ivy League scene from the inside.
|
| Lilyk |
| The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
One of my favorite books, THE CATCHER IN THE RYE is a poignant and touching story of a young man's adventures in New York City.
|
| Sandra F. |
| The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Written by the author of GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING, this is a story of the creation of a 15th-century tapestry detailing the story of the seduction of a unicorn. I admire any writer who can take history and provide a realistic fictional explanation.
|
| Sandra F. |
| And Then You Die by Michael Dibdin |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
A rather boring story of an Italian police officer hiding from the Mafia, who don't want him to testify at a trial. Not worth the effort.
|
| Sandra F. |
| Dead and Buried by Quintin Jardine |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This latest book in the series featuring Scottish detective Bob Skinner was not as good as others --- perhaps the author is starting to run dry of fresh ideas.
|
| Heather C |
| My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This book touches on the subject of designer children. One daughter has a rare disorder, and her parents decide to engineer another child so they can save the first, by using her cord blood to experiment. Eventually, the engineered child grows to resent the fact that she is used without her permission and decides to sue. The outcome of it all is heartbreaking, and as a parent, you begin to wonder...'what if.'
|
| Readingrat |
| The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This book seems to draw mixed reviews; however, I found it funny and enjoyable. To be fair, I must also say that I enjoyed the movie much more than the book. I found it easier to connect with the characters in the movie and preferred the resolutions developed for the movie over the ones in the book.
|
| Catie 75 |
| Land That Moves, Land That Stands Still by Kent Nelson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Excellent book! Couldn't put it down.
|
| Paula Watson |
| 311 Pelican Court by Debbie Macomber |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
As always, Ms. Macomber has the ability to capture small-town USA and make you become a part of the town she is writing about. This book is part of her Cedar Cove series, she also has a Dakota series that will take you out West; you will enter Buffalo Valley and feel right at home. A very captivating author.
|
| Paula Watson |
| Secrets In The Attic by V. C. Andrews |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I am not sure, but I think someone else is writing unfinished books. They are just not the same style nor do they hold your attention as the first in her series FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC.
|
| Thomas |
| Deception Point by Dan Brown |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a superb thriller from the author of THE DA VINCI CODE, Rachel Sexton is the daughter of a presidential candidate who finds herself in possession of information that could destroy her father's candidacy (not that it would break her heart). She is soon enmeshed in a drama involving the existence of extra-terrestrial life, a drama that threatens her own life and the lives of those around her. This is a very fast-paced thriller.
|
| Sharon (sharoncerasoli@hotmail.com) |
| Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I can't put this amazing book down. Take this journey with the author across continents, and you will not regret it.
|
| Catie 75 |
| Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Thought this would be a slow read since I would be "learning" while I read, but Kingsolver is such an amazing writer that I flew through the book. I have started signing up people to make one meal a week from all locally produced items --- our small effort to use less fossil fuels.
|
| WendyB. |
| Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Wow! This one is really different! A little bit ghost story, a little bit coming of age, a bit more commentary on modern life, and a lot of historical fiction. A woman searches through her family and town's history in an effort to identify the father she has never known. The chapters on frontier history are especially fascinating. The heroine seems immature for pushing 30, but that's where the "coming of age" part comes in. She does grow up! All in all, an entertaining and compelling read. I'm looking forward to more by this author.
|
| nncrews (crewsnn@tds.net) |
| Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Wonderfully written! The reader will never forget the characters. The book, which spans over many years and many losses, gave me something to discuss with my 18-year-old granddaughter. Loved it.
|
| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
| Thinking of You by Jill Mansell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This has to be one of the best chick-lit novels I have ever read. This is loaded with plenty of drama and humor, and it kept me wanting more and was very hard to put down. The story is about Ginny. Her daughter has left for college and she is alone. She misses her daughter terribly and doesn’t think she can cope. But she picks herself up and decides to do something about it. She rents a room in her house to a woman suffering from a broken heart. Her name is Laurel and her brother, Perry, is to die for. This is a light, funny and enjoyable read. I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this popular British author. An opportunity I may not have had if it wasn’t for book-crossing. I am going to join another ring and this author will be added to my “favorites” list.
|
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| The Cat Who Saw Stars by Lilian Jackson Braun |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
Mr. Q and his two Siamese cats try to solve the mystery of UFOs and the disappearance of a man. Not too interesting.
|
| Charlene |
| High Profile by Robert B. Parker |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I am enjoying the new paperback Jesse Stone novel. The two stories/plots are interesting and have kept me guessing longer into the book than usual. The banter is entertaining. Robert B. Parker fans will read this anyway, but I recommend this to anyone not familiar with the Jesse Stone books.
|
| Ricki (rickimc@aol.com) |
| Pirate's Passage by William Gilkerson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
Lots of information on pirates, but the storyline lost me at spots.
|
| Ed Nemmers (theyyyguy@yahoo.com) |
| On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This story, of a couple on their wedding night, is subtly unsettling.
|
| Martha E |
| Even the Wicked by Lawrence Block |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
I would give this 4 stars for the stories, but it was just too long. I had not read anything by this author before but I do enjoy mysteries. The story was interesting, although at times crude --- which isn't surprising for a crime story set in New York. I liked the dry wit and rhyming jive. My problem was that at about two thirds through I was ready for the end. Perhaps it could have made up two separate stories as it did cover more than one crime investigation. Even though there was some intertwining in the tales, it just got too long.
|
| Martha E |
| Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This sequel was just as good as the first book! It's the story of Yelena, (the Ixia Commander's food taster, instead of facing execution) and Valec (the Commander's amazing security officer) continues now in the south province of Sitia. There were new characters but old friends too. I have listened to these from Audible but will probably buy the books as well!
|
| Martha E |
| Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This was wonderful to listen to. I enjoyed the story with its political intrigue, plot twists, adventure and danger, set in a fantasy medieval culture, and with magic as an additional feature. I thought there was good character development with doubts, betrayals, vulnerabilities and interesting interaction with enemies, friendships and a gentle romance. I thought the narration was wonderful and I will look for this narrator again. I will definitely listen to the sequels.
|
| Catie 75 |
| Cheat and Charmer by Elizabeth Frank |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
This is not well written and did not hold my attention.
|
| Dean |
| A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A very intriguing book, full of wisdom from throughout the ages.
|
| Joan |
| Memory of Water by Karen White |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
This is the story of two sisters who survived a sailing accident during which their mother drowned. Instead of drawing closer together because of it, they grow apart. They both have different memories of what happened on that fateful day. Marnie eventually moves away from their hometown, and years later, she is called back home to help her young nephew through a crisis. Family secrets are revealed and a shocking revelation faces Marnie.
|
| Jennifer (jennifer_at_the_library@hotmail.com) |
| The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I read this book to kids at the library, grades 3-6. Although some of the vocabulary had to be explained, the kids loved the book. An added bonus was that I loved it too! The underlying message is beautiful!! I read it again for my own enjoyment.
|
| Bridget |
| Beverly Hills Dead by Stuart Woods |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I gave this book 5 stars, not because it is so well written and such a great piece of writing, but because I just liked it so much. Are the characters believable? Not really, but they are people you like and want to know more about. Is the plot believable? Not totally, but it kept my interest and I kept wanting to find out what would happen next. It's set in Hollywood of McCarthy, a time and place that interests me. It's fun to read about how the movie business was once (maybe) with both glamor and grit combined.
|
| Judy O. (joswood@msn.com) |
| Betrayal by John Lescroart |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Evan Scholler is a young soldier who was stationed in Iraq. He is badly brain injured while guarding a convoy and is sent back to the United States. Back home, he is accused of killing Ron Nolan, a man he knew in Iraq. Dismas Hardy takes on the appeal after Evan is found guilty. This book is a terrific courtroom drama and a very suspenseful mystery. Lescroart never disappoints.
|
| Tom Sewall (trsewall@comcast.net) |
| Salem Witch Judge by Eve LePlante |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
An excellent narrative portrait of the author's relative and direct ancestor, Judge Samuel Sewall, who --- in 1697 --- took the blame for the twenty innocent deaths of people accused in the infamous Salem Witchcraft Trials in 1692.
|
| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
| What The Dead Know by Laura Lippman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I have mixed feelings about this book. The book is about two sisters who disappear. Several years later, a woman appears who claims to be one of the missing sisters. The suspense and mystery, I thought, was stellar. I loved the plot and the way the author built up the suspense. I think this is one of the best mysteries I have read in a long time. On the other hand, there were parts of the book where I felt like it was stuck in the mud. I thought there was development on some characters that was not necessary. Too much detail about a minor character became the source of the drag. I liked the book and would recommend it but would mention its flaws.
|
| Marsha |
| Run by Ann Patchett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Although most of the action takes place over a 24-hour period, a family comes together in unforeseen ways. It begs the question as to what exactly is a family? Do genetics or nurturing or privilege determine our lives? This is a lovely story.
|
| Victoria |
| The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
This book is the latest from Tess Gerritsen. it is very well written, but is a lot different from her others. The story is about a woman who buys an old house, only to discover a skeleton buried in her garden. The story switches back and forth between 1832 and the present, unfolding a story about a young man and his friends attending medical school. You will later find out how the story of the young friends relates to the bones in the garden. I liked Gerritsens other books much better than this one. its not as page turning as the rest, but still a good book.
|
| Sunny |
| Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
It's been around for over 50 years for a good reason, and it reads like it was written today.
|
| Readingrat |
| The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A wonderfully constructed story of two sisters and the tragic event that separates them for over 60 years.
|
| Paula Watson |
| The Art of War by Sun-tzu |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a great read full of philosophical warfare. My favorite passage is, "Ultimate excellence lies not with winning every battle, but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting."
|
| Paula Watson |
| 311 Pelican Court by Debbie Macomber |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
As usual, Ms. Macomber can make you feel a part of the captivating community of Cedar cove. With her ongoing series, each set of characters in the story are a story all of their own. You cant wait to read the next installment to see what happens with the characters whose lived intertwine though her entire Cedar Cove series.
|
| Paula Watson |
| Dakota Born by Debbie Macomber |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Once again, you are drawn into a community in Buffalo Valley. While reading the Dakota series, you feel that you are part of the community that faces the hardships together and come together for a common good. She is an wonderful author who has the uncanny talent of taking you home though her books, no matter where you are.
|
| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
| Mistress of the Revolution by Catherine Delors |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
The author should be commended her display of realism. This book took me so far into the story that I completely forgot about my own life. Luckily, we are on spring break and I have some free time. Oh, let me warn you now, although it might be tempting to read the last few chapter to see what will happen in the end, DON'T! I am one to talk since that is what I usually do. For some reason, I didn’t in this book. I guess I was so busy reading that I forgot. Anyway, I’m glad I didn't as it will ruin the book.
|
| Ali |
| The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This book has been on my expanding pile of books to read for a long time and it finally surfaced. I loved it. The complex relationships, feelings, and choices make outstanding reading. Well done.
|
| Kathy V. |
| The Remains of The Dead by Wendy Roberts |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
The first installment in the Ghost Dusters mystery series about a lady called Sadie who owns her own business of cleaning up crime scenes. She finds herself with a special talent that leads her into all kinds of trouble. I very highly recommend this book. It is one of those books that is very hard to put down and really hard to wait for the next one that comes out in Dec. 2008.
|
| KT Morris |
| Daughter of Venice by Donna Jo Napoli |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A rich Catholic girl in Renaissance Venice wants to see the world outside her sheltered home, so she pretends to be a boy. She meets a Jewish scribe, learns to read, and otherwise sees what life is like for the not-so-priviledged. Well researched historical fiction.
|
| Audrey Larson |
| St. Bart Breakdown by Don Bruns |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A great action-packed book. There's never a dull page!
|
| Robin Mayerhoefer (rmayerhoefer@cox.net) |
| Frankenstein by Mary Shelley |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
As I'm not a fan of horror movies, this is a classic that took me awhile to get around to reading. I'm not sure what I expected, but from my vague memories it is about a misunderstood monster who can't communicate and accidentally kills people. The book is much, much than that, and the writing just flows.
|
| Marsha |
| The Appeal by John Grisham |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
Grisham attempts to explain the state Supreme Court election system in Mississippi. The chemical company that has been accused of dumping toxins in a small town's water supply has been found guilty of causing a "cancer cluster," and the resulting payouts are too much to ignore. They decide to finance and manipulate an unsuspecting young man to to replace the liberal judge who is up for reelection so he can be the deciding vote to reverse the ruling when it comes before the State Supreme Court. It gives you thought as to whether judges are better elected or appointed. Either way, there will be unseen powers pulling strings. The book, however, has so many characters that few are developed enough to engage the reader.
|
| Kathy V. |
| A Bone to Pick by Charlaine Harris |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
An Aurora Teagarden Mystery, Librarian Roe finds herself in a mystery after she inherits a house, along with a mystery after she finds a skull in it. So, she is off to find out these answers but finds herself in all kinds of trouble. This is the second book in this series.
|
| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
| Longevity Made Simple by Richard Flanigan MD and Kate Flanigan Sawyer MD, M |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
With charts, graphs, lists and concise explanations, the Flanigans have made the medical science easy to understand. They write with just enough science to provide meaning and with common language to make it understandable. The amount of data inside makes this a very good quick reference book to have on hand.
|
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Naughty Neighbor by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
Cute story of DC romance and intrigue. The story of Louisa and Pete and the dealings of politics --- a little.
|
| Readingrat |
| The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A beautifully written multi-generational tale of new beginnings, cultural traditions, fate, and chance.
|
| Becca |
| Lord John and the Hand of Devils by Diana Gabaldon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Having read all of Diana's books to date (including the OUTLANDER Companion), I can't get enough. Her characters are people I identify with --- her research is impeccable. I eagerly, tho it's hard at times (because they're so far between), look forward to each and every one of her books. The next one can't come soon enough for me!
|
| Shirley Smith (ssmith@msde.state.md.us) |
| Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse by Louise Erdrich |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Not the easiest read but one of the most rewarding. It is a member of my "quirky but I can't wait to recommend it" list of titles. A nun, a pianist, a priest, a storyteller --- all wrapped up in one person.
|
| Lesa D |
| The Stand by Stephen King |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
I'm a fast reader, but it took me a long time to finish THE STAND. It's a great story, but it got bogged down in the middle and I had to force myself to keep going. It was worth the effort, though.
|
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Rhett Butler's People by Donald McCraig |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
The book followed Margaret Mitchell's story better than the movie version. It brought so many of the story's facts to light. Interesting.
|
| Kona |
| Captivity by Debbie Lee Wesselmann |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This exciting novel is set at a primate rescue center where the director must deal with an unknown saboteur and her own haunting memories. It's a touching and rewarding read.
|
| Lesa D |
| Getting Garbo by Jerry Ludwig |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
This is a fun Hollywood noir-ish story. If you like old-time Hollywood gossipy stories, you'll like this one.
|
| ck |
| One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Jackson Brodie, our friend from CASE HISTORIES, sees a man rear end a car, get out and begin to club the driver with a baseball bat. Another man throws his laptop at the enraged man.Then the author begins twisting the plot, weaving these three men into a complex story that includes a real estate tycoon and his wife, a couple of Russian maids, plus an Edinburgh detective and her son. The reader is surprised in every chapter by the way the characters keep bumping into each other. Great fun to read!
|
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
The Stephanie Plum series is starting to wear thin. Instead of Joe and Ranger, we now have Diesel --- always a drop-dead looking man. The fun rests with a talking horse and Grandma Mazur.
|
| Nancy |
| Women & Money by Suze Orman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a basic guide, but just the kind of book someone like me needs to get going on basic investing and other financial planning.
|
| Ann Schreffler |
| Another Thing to Fall by Laura Lippman |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
I was happy to read more about Tess Monaghan's life, but this book just didn't much for me. I kept waiting for it to get better. Not one of Laura Lippman's best.
|
| Ann Schreffler |
| Charley's Web by Joy Fielding |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I can't put this one down. I was involved from the first page.
|
| Fran |
| Lost and Found by Jacqueline Sheehan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
The adorable dog on the front cover was what grabbed my attention and made me want to read this book. This was a cute story about the healing power between people and animals. I loved the dog in the story and the story line was cute.
|
| Sherry (slbercu@msn.com) |
| Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
All of Jodi Picoult's books are amazing, and CHANGE OF HEART is no exception. The book leaves one to think, "oh this is so far fetched" --- a convicted murderer on death row tries to donate his heart to his victim's sister. But like all her novels, there is a twist. The book is great --- I was not able to put it down.
|
| Juanita |
| The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Very Compelling!
|
| Amanda Richards |
| Captivity by Debbie Lee Wesselmann |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
The latest novel by Debbie Lee Wesselmann takes us into the world of chimpanzees living in captivity, but don't think for a moment that this is either a dry-as-dust scientific lecture or a gut-wrenching plea for animal rights.
The well-balanced story unfolds through the eyes of Dana Armstrong, a primatologist with a difference, who runs a chimpanzee sanctuary in South Carolina.
This is a well-researched novel, with excellent character development, and believe me, at certain points of the story you are going to want to inflict pain on some of the (human) characters. It is a work of fiction, based on fact, and will have you torn between wanting to read it as quickly as possible and not wanting it to end. Highly recommended.
|
| Dena |
| Vampires are Forever by Lynsay Sands |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is my third book of Lynsay's I've read and I wish that I would have discovered her sooner! There is a mystery and some humor in this page turner that kept me up, losing sleep. If you like a different kind of vampire then you will enjoy this story.
|
| Readingrat |
| A Rose for the Crown by Anne Easter Smith |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
The author definitely had an interesting concept for the book and the amount of research she did into the time period is readily apparent. However in a story that stretches out for over 600 pages, the author never really manages to bring any of her characters fully to life or make the reader care much about their fates.
|
| Thomas |
| The Last Detective by Robert Crais |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I think this was the best Elvis Cole novel I have read. The son of Cole's girlfriend has been kidnapped and all indications are that the kidnappers have a grudge against Cole, dating back to Vietnam. But all the people closest to him were killed in action. Cole and his partner, Joe Pike, search deeper and find that Elvis was only a smokescreen for a much more sinister operation. Very hard to put down.
|
| Wendy Catalano |
| The Mist by Stephen King |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
The mist takes over a small town, leaving people stranded in a local grocery store. It's what is in the mist that makes Stephen King the King of Gore and Suspense. I read this in one sitting and couldn't put it down.
|
| Bridget |
| The Vanishing point by Mary Sharratt |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
An interesting book about two sisters. It's the 1600s and one is sent to the new world to marry a distant cousin as her prospects in England are shot (she's the town trollop). A few years pass and the younger sister is an orphan, so she sets off to join her sister in the new world. She learns her sister has died from child bed fever (not the truth), falls in love with her brother-in-law and starts a life with him.
The story is told from the point of view of different characters, which makes for some interesting reading. There are lots of twists and turns in the plot, and the ending is not all together happy.
|
| Dena |
| Accidental Vampire by Lynsay Sands |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I loved Lynsay's book and her take on vampires. Every writer has their idea of what vampires are and how they act.Lynsay's is very different from others. Her story is funny and I couldn't put it down.
|
| Liza |
| Officer Down by Theresa Schwegel |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A gritty mystery involving a female Chicago cop trying to find out who killed her partner...with her gun. While she deals with suspicions of guilt by her co-workers, she is determined to find the killer. There are lots of twists and interesting characters.
|
| Margaret |
| The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a really cute, quick read. It is about the Queen discovering reading and how it changes her life. It turns out that the palace is not pleased and discourages her from becoming more literate. She, of course, being Queen Elizabeth, is able to hold her own.
|
| Becky Wreyford (beckywreyford@hotmail.com) |
| Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Excellent story about Japanese internment camp in Colorado (I didn't even know we had one in Colorado!) during World War II. This story is told through the eyes of a 13-year-old girl. Well done. Provocative. Excellent book club choice.
|
| Kathy Hecht |
| Breakable You by Brian Morton |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
Interesting story about characters in transition in their personal lives, wrestling with changes in relationships with others.
|
| Sue |
| The Fortunes of Indigo Skye by Deb Caletti |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This may be five stars, but I am just starting it. This author is an award winner with almost all her YA books.
|
| Kathy V. |
| Going Out In Style by Chloe Green |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
In this series, a lady by the name of Dallas works in the fashion spread biz. Working against her boss and a serial killer but will she come up on top? It's a pretty good read.
|
| Ladyslott (lslott@optonline.net) |
| Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Shay Bourne has been convicted of the murder of a young child and her step-father. When it becomes clear is execution is imminent, he makes known his wish to donate his heart --- to the younger sister of the girl he killed, in dire need of a transplant.
This book brings up a whole lot of issues all ripe for discussion: the death penalty, religious beliefs, the meaning of miracles and more. It's hard to say I enjoyed a book that was full of so much sadness, but I did, it made me think about a lot of things.
|
| Ladyslott (lslott@optonline.net) |
| Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Hannah Baker is a teenage girl who has committed suicide. After her death, 13 people begin to receive a series of tapes telling them why she killed herself and what role they played in her decision. This was a very sad book but a good one to read and discuss with your teen and preteen children.
|
| Noreen Brown |
| World Without End by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Great story that is very interesting and exciting. I loved all the historical facts. Holding the 1,014 page book will build up your arm muscles.
|
| Marion Miller (lamamil@aol.com) |
| Not Me by Michael Lavaigne |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A little different but plausible Holocaust story about a son's search for information on his father, leading him from Germany to Israel to the U.S., with an interesting outcome. There is much to think about here.
|
| Debbie (deble_2000@yahoo.com) |
| Seaview Inn by Sherryl Woods |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Hannanh Matthews --- single mom, PR executive, breast cancer survivor --- goes home to Seaview to try to talk her 85-year-old grandmother into moving into an assisted living facility. There, she discovers her 20- year-old daughter is pregnant, an old flame reappears in her life...this is Sherryl Woods at her best!
|
| Margaret |
| A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I am a very avid reader and this, without question, is the best book I have read in the last ten years. The characters of Laila and Mariam are quite simply both heroic and unforgettable. I loved this book.
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| Coral Harrison |
| A Cup of Tea by Amy Ephron |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A short, very well-written story written during World War I. It is a darkly romantic novel, plotting deep sense or foreboding with shocking conclusion.
|
| Sandra |
| Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Very entertaining book about two sisters and a very unusual garden. Loved it!
|
| Frank Nigro (frnk_nigro@yahoo.com) |
| The Third Secret by Steve Berry |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
A good, suspenseful thriller by an author who did his research. The subjects are the Vatican and the miracle at Fatima. The plot is great, but Berry's characters are a little cardboard and underdeveloped. A good read nonetheless.
|
| Fran |
| The Honey Thief by Elizabeth Graver |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This book surpassed my expectations! The writing is lyrical and prosaic and the characters are endearing and humanly flawed. I loved the intertwining of the past and the present, which offered unique insight into each character's personality and life struggles. It is the type of book where little actually happens, yet the reader is turning the pages to find out more. I did not want this to end!
|
| Kay Keller |
| A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This story has not grabbed me the way KANE AND ABEL did many years ago; nevertheless, it is an interesting story and even though I'm in the middle of the book now, I look forward to reading it every day. Yes, I'd give it a big thumbs up!
|
| Ann |
| Red Rover by Dierdre McNamer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
An interesting tale about love between brothers, spanning the 1920s until the present. There's a "mystery" involved, and I can't wait to have it resolved!
|
| Susan C |
| People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Brooks is the most artful writer of any I have read. While YEAR OF WONDER is still my favorite of hers, I was captivated by the timeline and idea of discovering the history of the book.
|
| Susan C |
| Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I am a Jodi fan; THE PACT will always be my favorite. While I enjoyed this book and its cutting-edge topic, I found myself overwhelmed by some of the discussion of religion. I did like the way she alternates the "voice" of the story.
|
| Norma Nance |
| Lady Killer by Lisa Scottoline |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I was glad to see the return of the series featuring Mary DiNunzio after an absence of several years. There was plenty of suspense and had a truly surprising ending. As always, Mary, her family and friends were fascinating characters.
|
| Marsha |
| The Silver Swan by Benjamin Black |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a sequel to his award-winning CHRISTINE FALLS. It is much darker that his first, but he does develop the character of Quirke and his failing relationships.
|
| Reva Wamsley (prwamsley@roadrunner.com) |
| Dead Aim by Iris Johansen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
As usual, Iris Johansen does not disappoint. This book is one you won't want to put down. Alex Graham, a photographer, is taking pictures of a dam collapse and discovers it may not have been an accident. The next thing she knows, she's on the run.
|
| Beverly |
| Burning Up by Caroline B. Cooney |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I'm a Caroline B. Cooney fan because her books work so well to utilize in my middle school classroom. This book was no exception and it also caused me to look introspectively at my life and my views of the world.
|
| Coral Harrison |
| Just One Look by Harlan Coben |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A good mystery with a different twist. Grace Lawson was hurt in a mob when a gun was shot at the Band concert at the Boston Gardens. Several were killed and she was badly hurt. This story starts several years after that, but it all ties into that time.
|
| KG |
| Solitary Places by Joan Vannorsdall Schoeder |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I enjoyed this book so much that it was hard to put it down. It is a beautifully written story. This book was sitting on a bookshelf for ages --- I am glad I finally read it.
|
| Shannon Jensen |
| 7th Heaven by James Patterson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
In my opinion, this was one of his better books I've read in a long while. One of the Women's Murder Club books, Lindsay and crew are dealing with a firebug and a prostitute accused of murdering San Francisco's golden boy. A great installment.
|
| Kathy (kboucher@cableone.net) |
| The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A delightful book; a group of women of all ages come together through knitting, and share their laughs, cries, fears, joys....the reader becomes involved with each person, and truly feels a part of the group. In the center is Georgia, owner of the yarn store, and her teenage daughter, Dakota. We share their trials and tribulations, as well as their joys, and really become a part of their lives. This is a book to treasure and is hard to put down.
|
| Jennifer Bertram |
| Chasing Fireflies: A Novel of Discovery by Charles Martin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Southern storytelling at its best.
|
| E. Quinn |
| Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Ferris's first novel is outstanding. He writes about living in the environment of an ad agency 5 days a week. He has an eye for detail and explains to us what living in this space means to everyone involved. The impending layoff is always on someone's mind. We are invited into the tensions and humor of living within this nutty space.
|
| Kristie Morrison |
| When the Morning Comes by Cindy Woodsmall |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
The second in a new Amish Fiction series was totally engrossing. I can't wait to see what will happen to the characters next. As an interesting twist, this involves lots of Amish interaction with the English world.
|
| Crystal Johnston (ez2love_98@hotmail.com) |
| Obedience by Will Lavender |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
OBEDIENCE is a very scary and clever story that turns its own pages. The story is about good and evil, set on the campus of a university, of all places. Original, it is a puzzle that I am enjoying to the max and believe you will too. It is a house of mirrors that makes me want to get to the end and find out the finale. This is a great read by a new author. The chapters are short which is my favorite way to get through a book. Go get your copy. You won't regret it!
|
| Ivy |
| A Thouand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseni |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
An absolutely amazing, heart-wrenching story about life in Afghanistan and the friendship between two women. The lives of these women will stay with the reader long after reading the last page of this exceptionally well-written book.
|
| Jen Ladwig |
| Dear Isabelle by Jessica Swan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Beautifully and descriptively written. It kept me in suspense and I read it over a two-day mini-vacation!
|
| Sarah P.C. (romantic_saamus@yahoo.ca) |
| The Morcai Battalion by Diana Palmer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I never really liked sci-fi romance, but this one sure drew my attention from the beginning. There's lots of action, but at same time, interesting description exactly when it's necessary. For those who don't like romance to be almost like 'porn', well you'll like this one, since there is nothing explicit or shocking.
|
| A. Downing |
| The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I've just started it and I'm really enjoying the story of the survival of these two women. It's a page turner!! Difficult to put down.
|
| Shirley Akins |
| Twisted by Andrea Kane |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Andrea has really made you understand what "twisted" really means! As usual, you can't bear to put the book down. If you like good suspense, then you'll love this.
|
| Carol B |
| Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This book is an incredible story of how a person without the "necessary" skills can make an incredible difference in the world just by continuing to try! It is very inspirational
|
| Velda Brotherton |
| Dearly Devoted Dexter by Jeff Lindsay |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A wild premise about a serial killer who works for the police because his foster father taught him it is only good to kill the truly worst criminals. Told in a humorous voice that makes this a truly believable and enjoyable read.
|
| Velda Brotherton |
| Bleeding Kansas by Sara Paretsky |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
An intricate family story that explores contemporary small-town and farm life in Kansas.
|
| Marleen Davis |
| The Quickie by James Patterson |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
Since I've been reading really wonderful authors lately, this book seemed very amateurish and disappointing. However, it was a very fast read and a diversion from deeper works. I like Patterson's Alex Cross books, but this one was very poor.
|
| Lesley Fry |
| The Binding Chair by Kathryn Harrison |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Everyone in my book club loved this book, set in turn-of-the century Shanghai, London and Nice, where colonial and Chinese culture come together. The central character is May-li, whose feet were bound as a child. Married at 15 to a brute, she runs away and becomes a prostitute in Shanghai. She later marries Arthur Cohen, a gentle philanthropist who brings her into the opulent household of his sister, her wealthy husband and their two young daughters. Her niece, Alice, becomes especially important to her and their relationship is one of the themes of the book. If you like books that are different and exotic, this is for you.
|
| Julie |
| The Somnambulist by JonathanBarnes |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A wonderful, wacky, 19th-century mystery.
|
| Ezmerelda |
| Orbit by John J. Nance |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is an excellent adventure. The protagonist is not a person, but space. Kip Dawson wins a trip on a commercial space flight. Something terrible happens, the pilot dies and Kip is left orbiting earth. Alone. He begins writing a journal, not knowing that the whole world can read his thoughts on life.
|
| Dawn Torvik-Wahba |
| Consolation by Michael Redhill |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
An excellent read. It's a story that goes back and forth between the founding years of Toronto and the present. The characters come alive on the page. Highly recommended.
|
| Gary Kahn |
| Exile On Main Street by Robert Greenfield |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
An in-depth glimpse into the lives and times of the Rolling Stones circa 1971 as they recorded the landmark album.
An excellent read, and a must have for any true rock fan.
|
| Gary Kahn |
| This Must Be The Place by David Bowman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Fans of Talking Heads are sure to enjoy this fascinating portrait of the legendary rock band.
The book is an entertaining and informative must have for any true rock fan's library.
|
| Tammy Sorrell (tesorrell@aol.com) |
| Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I am a huge Picoult fan. I love her books with all the twists and turns they have.
|
| Gary Kahn |
| Clapton: The Autobiography by Eric Clapton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A revealing glimpse into the life of a rock legend.
|
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Now You See Him by Eli Gottlieb |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
A man's story of friendship, love, hate, and death. It was very slow moving and unexciting. The missed events of life that present "what ifs".
|
| Bridget |
| The Air We Breathe by Andrea Barrett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A wonderful novel that takes place in a TB sanitarium in the Catskills, just before and in the early years of World War I. There are layers to this novel. On one layer it's about the people in the sanitarium and those who care for them. There's another layer that's like a finger on the pulse of America and its attitude towards immigrants at this time period. There's unrequited love, as well as a sidebar that deals with the discovery of and refinement of the science of x- rays. This sidebar is deftly woven into the story and is really quite interesting. Overall, I do not think anything was lacking in this book.
|
| Karen Mathis |
| The Doctor's Wife by Elizabeth Brundage |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Excellent book. I didn't want to put it down. I can't wait for this author to write another one.
|
| Dawn T. |
| One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
Oh my gosh. . . . One Hundred Years of Craptitude! I'm trying to get through it for book club but have a feeling I won't be able to finish. Supposedly, it's more character driven than plot, but I don't really care about any of the characters. Long, dry, boring with some fantasy thrown in.
|
| Karen Mathis (kmathrn@elp.rr.com) |
| The Secret Between Us by Barbara Delinsky |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A great book that just grabs you and keeps you wanting to read more.
|
| Jen |
| Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortensen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Fabulous book. So inspiring, I just think to myself everytime I'm reading it, "I should/could be doing more." It's awesome what this man has accomplished and continues to accomplish. I just listened to Greg speak here in my town and he is an absolute treasure.
|
| Linda M. Johnson (tcheer4life@yahoo.com) |
| The Sound of One Thigh Clapping by Meredith Clair |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
Very quick read. Cute, but the only way this classifies as Haiku is the syllable count. No "ah ha!" moments or nature observations.
|
| Michelle |
| A Place Called Rainwater by Dorothy Garlock |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A good read,lots of characters,romance and murder
|
| Betty |
| The Art of Mending by Elizabeth Berg |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
I was very disappointed in this book. It was a tale of child abuse by a mother to her daughter, but at the end, there was no closure. Nothing got solved and no one benifitted. I do not recommend it.
|
| Tamara |
| The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A very fun book, and it has made me wonder about the history of Sitka and the Jewish population. Michael does some wonderful things here, especially playing with words.
|
| Michelle |
| A Place Called Rainwater by Dorothy Garlock |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A good read, with lots of characters, and murder as well as romance.
|
| D. Lohrding |
| Literacy and Longing in L.A. by Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I enjoy this pair of authors. A funny quick, and quirky narrative about a 30-something female living in L.A. --- who loves to read!
|
| D. Lohrding |
| Perfect Weight America by Jordan Rubin |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
Too many rules in order to reach "perfect." I did enjoy the making your world greener section.
|
| Kate M. |
| The Book Thief by Markus Zusak |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Don't let the "Young Adult" classification keep you from reading this incredibly good book. Zusak approaches the Holocaust from an angle that is at once new and indelible. I can't recommend this book highly enough.
|
| Julie Siemek (lsiemek@yahoo.com) |
| Sisters by Danielle Steel |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Fantastic book. Anyone who has siblings --- whether brothers or sisters --- will and can relate to the family in this book.
|
| Sharon L. |
| A Vision of Light by Judith Merkle Riley |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
For my birthday a friend gave me the trilogy of Margaret of Ashley, who --- as a14th century woman --- goes beyond the bounds of normal life of women of that time. If the remaining two books are like the first, I will certainly enjoy this birthday present!
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| Linda M. Johnson (tcheer4life@yahoo.com) |
| Not Quite What I Was Planning by edited by Smith Magazine |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
Supposedly Ernest Hemingway was asked to write a story in half a dozen words. He penned, "For Sale: Baby Shoes. Never worn." The editors of the online magazine Smith have requested and gathered others' attempts.
|
| Linda M. Johnson (tcheer4life@yahoo.com) |
| Reality Show by Howard Kurtz |
| Rating: |
