Saturday, June 28, 2008

The Actress

Author: Elizabeth Sims
Bugs: 4
Review by: book diva

What an unusual way to use an actress and with a terrific ending!

Neverwhere

Author: Neil Gaiman
Bugs: 5
Review by: A. Natalo

A fun, sometimes scary, adventure story with magical creatures and people, Neverwhere is for both adults and kids. I thoroughly enjoyed Neverwhere with its mix of London Above and London Below.

Son of a Witch

Author: Gregory Maguire
Bugs: 4
Review by: Renee Falzarano

This apparently has been around for a while and is a sequel to the original Wicked penned by the same author. My daughter became interested in the play so when I saw the book figured we had to read it - when we found out that there was a sequel, well it made the difference in the closure of the characters. We both cried at the end.

Firefly Lane

Author: Kristin Hannah
Bugs: 5
Review by: BoxerMom

This is a wonderful novel about friendship through the years. There are so many issues that challenge the friendship as the girls grow and mature into women with two very different career/life choices. I enjoyed this book for many reasons. Its references to the seventies and eighties brought back many memories long forgotten. Women's friendships can be very complicated and fragile which this novel depicts so well. It gets a little wordy toward the end, but I really enjoyed this book.

The Secret Life of Bees

Author: Sue Monk Kidd
Bugs: 5
Review by: bookaweek

Compelling, couldn't put it down. Would love to meet these women.

Dream Makers

Author: Nora Roberts
Bugs: 2
Review by: KAD

VERY CORNY.

The Miracle at Speedy Motors

Author: Alexander McCall Smith
Bugs: 5
Review by: Liza D.

Within two or three paragraphs of any of the books in this series, I am in Botswana. This author is amazing in his ability to bring you right into the actual scenes of his stories. I just adore Mma Ramotswe - if I could pick my own auntie, it'd be her. She is such a kind yet determined person. And, of course, I am particularly fond of the fact that she is, proudly, traditionally built! In my opinion, this book has everything good in it that the series has to offer - an interplay between traditional and modern Botswana, the humor of the characters, and the depth of emotion and sense of belonging to the land that runs through the books. The "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series" is one of my all-time favorite series. I am always so excited when a new one comes out. I understand that a movie is in the works. I wonder who will play Mma Ramotswe?

Stranger in Paradise

Author: Robert B. Parker
Bugs: 3
Review by: Big Da

Short sentences, short paragraphs, short chapters, pithy dialogue, classic Robert Parker.

Black Rainbow

Author: Barbara Michaels
Bugs: 3
Review by: rebecca-m

A very spooky Gothic Romance filled with evil characters.

A Deadly Yarn

Author: Maggie Sefton
Bugs: 2
Review by: rebecca-m

I did not love this knitting mystery. The setting was nice, but I thought the pacing was plodding. Maybe I was just in a bad mood. My sister said she liked it a lot.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Skinny Dip

Author: Carl Hiaasen
Bugs: 4
Review by: rebecca-m

A very amusing and very well-written book about a man who pushes his wife off of a cruise ship for reasons the reader doesn't know at first. Full of insights and surprises.

Kitchen Confidential

Author: Anthony Bourdain
Bugs: 5
Review by: travelreader

If you like Bourdain's show on Travel Channel, No Reservations, you will love this book. Sarcastic, honest, and funny, Bourdain reveals the inner workings of restaurant kitchens and the food industry.

Bound

Author: Sally Gunning
Bugs: 5
Review by: A. Natalo

A well written story about a run away indentured servant, the book recreates life in a Cape Cod village and some of the events just prior to the American Revolution.

Sail

Author: James Patterson & Howard Roughan
Bugs: 3
Review by: Big Da

Quote from pg.253: The plot "...couldn't get crazier and more random..." Implausible story, but a page-turner, nonetheless.

Chasing Harry Winston

Author: Lauren Weisberger
Bugs: 1
Review by: judy-avid reader

This book was a disappointment. After reading her first book, The Devil Wears Prada, I was expecting something more than 3 friends seeking or not seeking sex.

Zamba: The True Story of the Greatest Lion That Ever Lived

Author: Ralph Helfer
Bugs: 5
Review by: ralphs

Last summer, I read The Beauty of the Beasts by Ralph Helfer and one of the chapters was devoted to the story of Zamba. I really enjoyed the book and this summer, I wanted to read more about Zamba. I think this book will be the highlight of this summer's reading club experience. It was that good and I recommend it to all.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Saving Juliet

Author: Suzanne Selfors
Bugs: 4
Review by: Annas

I really enjoyed reading this book. Saving Juliet was filled with action, adventure, comedy, and romance. It proved in even the most tragic stories there's always a happy ending waiting to be discovered.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

Author: Barbara Kingsolver
Bugs: 4
Review by: Barbie

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, which I have been wanting to read for a while, motivates me to eat better as well as grow more of my own food. The book validates my yearning to cook and bake from scratch, to buy locally raised beef and to raise my own eggs. Barbara Kingsolver and her family take a year to live off their farm, only purchasing food that has been grown locally if not grown by themselves. The idea is interesting and Ms Kingsolver tells her stories with interest and humor. This was a good book to be reading at the start of summer. Farm Markets, here I come!

The Wise Woman

Author: Phillippa Gregory
Bugs: 3.5
Review by: SCart

Enjoyable but not as good as her more recent novels.

The Sugar Queen

Author: Sarah Addison Allen
Bugs: 4
Review by: SCart

Even though I knew what was going to happen in the story before it did, it was an enjoyable summer read. A good palate cleanser!!

The Last September

Author: Elizabeth Bowen
Bugs: 4
Review by: J.E.

In the summer of 1920, a group of Anglo-Irish aristocrats in County Cork spend their time in trivial pursuits while avoiding the approaching end of British rule in southern Ireland. The movie version of this book has an impressive cast, including Maggie Smith and Michael Gambon.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Netherland

Author: Joseph O'Neill
Bugs: 2
Review by: Big Da

Not to my liking.

Cheater

Author: Michael Laser
Bugs: 5
Review by: Library Aimee

An excellent Young Adult novel about high-tech cheating in high school!

The Ginseng Hunter

Author: Jeff Talarigo
Bugs: 4
Review by: Paula N

Beautifully descriptive language about a tough political subject. Very human side of tragic events but a little disjointed in the telling. All in all a worthwhile read.

Hullaballoo in the Guava Orchard

Author: Kiran Desai
Bugs: 4
Review by: bookaweek

Not as funny as claimed, but entertaining and a good read.

Love the One You're With

Author: Emily Giffin
Bugs: 4
Review by: Book Lover

A light, fun read. I couldn't wait to find out the conclusion.

Fearless Fourteen

Author: Janet Evanovich
Bugs: 4
Review by: scrappy3

Stephanie Plum and her wacky friends are back in this latest entry. Definitely worth reading but I was disappointed that Ranger and Grandma Mazur weren't featured more.

Th1rteen R3asons Why

Author: Jay Asher
Bugs: 5
Review by: Babygirl Shaina 27

This book was OUTSTANDING!! I just don't understand why she did it.

Dead Man's Folly

Author: Agatha Christie
Bugs: 5
Review by: BookWorm

A fantastic mystery story. The plot does not become clear until the very end.

Murder on Bank Street

Author: Victoria Thompson
Bugs: 5
Review by: Tartu

The murder of turn of the century midwife Sarah Brandt's husband Tom is finally solved. It is bittersweet for Sarah as she misses Tom very much, but it also allows her closure and now will be able to move on in her life, including her relationship with Detective Sergeant Malloy.

The Virgin Blue

Author: Tracy Chevalier
Bugs: 4
Review by: 584 B.D.

A good story but the ending seems unfinished.

Degrees of Separation

Author: Sue Henry
Bugs: 4
Review by: Ethel Maude

I love the way Sue Henry describes her characters, breathtaking landscapes, and the history of Alaska. She makes you feel as if you're right there.

Demon's Fire

Author: Emma Holly
Bugs: 4
Review by: Ethel Maude

If your fire's gone out and you need a little lift, this book is for you!

Whistling in the Dark

Author: Lesley Kagen
Bugs: 4
Review by: Ethel Maude

Remarkable book! I went back in time to my own childhood; things were so much different then. This would make a great book club read.

Breaking Her Fall

Author: Stephen Goodwin
Bugs: 3
Review by: Little Red Hy

Not a fast-paced page-turner, but any parent with a 15 yr. old will relate to the ups & downs of raising teens -- hoping you're doing it right. I could really relate to the father in this well written book.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Just Who Will You Be?: Big Question. Little Book. Answer Within.

Author: Maria Shriver
Bugs: 3
Review by: JennyFlowerPower

A short little book good for a graduation gift, but for the rest of us at different stages of our lives, it's good to be reminded to think about the kind of person we want to be.

The Secret Twin

Author: Denise Gosliner Orenstein and Dan Mccarthy
Bugs: 4
Review by: Veronica

My daughter had picked this from the young adult section. Main character is an orphaned surviving conjoined twin (Noah) living with his anorexic alcoholic grandmother. Chapters alternate between Noah's perspective and Grace's, a nurse caring for him after grandmother is hospitalized. (Are you hooked yet?) :-) I knew conjoined twins growing up. Perhaps this and my own nursing background compelled me to finish this book - might be a bit bizarre and overloaded for most, though.

At the Stroke of Madness

Author: Alex Kava
Bugs: 4
Review by: SwimMom

Agent Maggie O'Dell is supposed to be on vacation. But at the request of her friend, psychologist Gwen Patterson, she goes to Meriden, Connecticut to find out what happened to a patient of Gwen's. The patient, Joan Begley, had gone up for the funeral of her grandmother, but then disappears from her hotel. Maggie O'Dell gets dragged into the police investigation by the local sheriff, hoping for some help from the FBI profiler, but also for a way "to cover his a--" in case things go wrong. And they do!

Guardian

Author: John Saul
Bugs: 4
Review by: SwimMom

Good light reading. The story starts off in New Jersey. A mother with two children (10 and 13 years old) is having marital problems (the husband has been cheating on her). A life-long friend of Mary Ann (the mother) dies and names her as the guardian of her 13 year old son (Joey) and the estate in Idaho. The estate is in excess of 150 million. Mary Ann moves her children to Idaho. Unexpected twists and turns to the plot result in unexpected deaths!

Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church

Author: Bishop Geoffrey Robinson
Bugs: 4
Review by: Bid Da

In matters of doctrine and morality, Bishop Geoffrey Robinson outlines a middle- of- the- road approach between a Church that has been in a prison of the past, and a Church which has an "anything goes" mentality. A book for Catholics who are serious about the future of their Church.

Married Lovers

Author: Jackie Collins
Bugs: 5
Review by: book diva

You have to be a Jackie Collins fan to appreciate her writing style. This story weaves all the characters together and leads to an exciting ending. Great summer read!

Back in the Saddle Again

Author: Gene Autry w/Mickey Herskowitz
Bugs: 2
Review by: ralphs

I found that the book lacked the passion and the color that I expected from living the kind of life Gene Autry lived. It was more like an expanded resume of accomplishments. I wanted to read a book as big as the scenes in his movies.

The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted

Author: Elizabeth Berg
Bugs: 3
Review by: A. Natalo

As with many collections of short stories, some stories will strike a cord with some reader, and other stories with other readers. Overall, an enjoyable book.

Couldn't Keep It to Myself

Author: Wally Lamb & the Women of York Correctional Institution
Bugs: 5
Review by: Stacey

Wow. What an amazing work. This book had Lamb's name on it so I picked it up but I was struck with the women's stories. I look forward to reading the second edition.

Hard Eight

Author: Janet Evanovich
Bugs: 5
Review by: bookmom

Janet Evanovich books are must reads for summer. This was one of my favorites of the series so far. Things are finally "resolved" with Ranger!!!!

Oxygen

Author: Carol Cassella
Bugs: 4
Review by: Tartu

Very good medical/legal story. Do not read if you are planning on having surgery soon. Very detailed about anesthesia.

The Island of Dr. Moreau

Author: H.G. Wells
Bugs: 5
Review by: BookWorm

By far one of H.G. Wells's best!

Saturday, June 21, 2008

The Post-American World

Author: Fareed Zakaria
Bugs: 5
Review by: wsh

West is best - as current thinking goes - but what about the rest? In his well-researched and highly readable analysis of America's long, lone status as a superpower, Mr. Zakaria considers the economic and geopolitical might of China, India, Brazil, South Africa and other nations vying for contention on the world stage. Using factual data and estimable sources, the author cites history, draws analogies and offers suggestions for a new approach to 21st-century world order. Some of the examples and situations given are not those ordinarily presented in drier tomes: who remembers the Parsley crisis (p. 215) as a defining moment? Summer Reading Club Members, take note: while the season may indicate lighter fare, please give this book a try - preferably before November.

The Space Between Before and After

Author: Jean Reynolds Page
Bugs: 3
Review by: book diva

This is a book about two generations coming to grips with their family crisis. I feel this would make an excellent book discussion read.

Killing Floor

Author: Lee Child
Bugs: 5
Review by: Michelle

Great crime novel. No superfluous scenes - it's a good break from Oprah books. Saw this author's newest reviewed in the NY Times and agree that he is worth the read.

Dreams from My Father

Author: Barack Obama
Bugs: 5
Review by: nanibev

This is a must read for anyone planning to vote for Obama, and for anyone planning not to vote for Obama. It is honest and heartfelt and insightful on so many levels. One of those books from which we can learn and grow..

Murder She Wrote: Margaritas and Murder

Author: Jessica Fletcher & Donald Bain
Bugs: 4
Review by: rebecca-m

I really loved the Murder She Wrote TV series, and have read almost all of the spun off mystery books based on that series. This one has a lovely setting in Mexico. Jessica Fletcher has to save the day again! An enjoyable light mystery read.

Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana

Author: Anne Rice
Bugs: 5
Review by: LateNightReader

Again, I was absorbed by following Anne Rice's version of what events led up to Christ's ministry. She tells of the people who lived in the region and the hardships that they went through. She paints a picture of what Jesus might have seen and done. Kept my interest from the beginning!

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Rickles' Book

Author: Don Rickles w/David Ritz
Bugs: 4
Review by: ralphs

Having a bad day? This book was very funny and will make you forget your troubles!!! I laughed when I read that his father was selling tickets for better seating at the Synagogue that his family attended, "like a scalper at a ballgame".

Friday, June 13, 2008

Certain Girls

Author: Jennifer Weiner
Bugs: 3
Review by: JennyFlowerPower

A follow-up of the characters in her first book (and in my opinion, best) Good in Bed. It made me both laugh and cry - good chick lit.

A Page Out of Life

Author: Kathleen Reid
Bugs: 4
Review by: Tartu

Nice, easy read. Ashley has let herself, her house and her marriage go after four kids. Now, with the help of a scrapbooking group, she finds her way back to herself.

Hello, Stranger

Author: Virginia Swift
Bugs: 3
Review by: book diva

A college student goes missing and Mustang Sally tries to unravel the mystery surrounding her disappearance.

A Long Way Gone

Author: Ishmael Beah
Bugs: 4
Review by: Nance

The subtitle of the book is "Memoirs of a Boy Soldier." It is the heartwrenching story of a boy in war torn Sierra Leone in the 1990s. It is written in simple language, but the descriptions are graphic.

Speaker for the Dead

Author: Orson Scott Card
Bugs: 4
Review by: Annas

I thought the book was an excellent sequel to Ender's Game. I really enjoyed reading this book.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

The Reapers

Author: John Connelly
Bugs: 4
Review by: Big Da

Intricate plot, likeable bad guys.

The Thin Man

Author: Dashiell Hammett
Bugs: 5
Review by: BookWorm

A fantastic mystery story written by the author of The Maltese Falcon. Fans of the Thin Man Movie series will love this book.

Moon Shell Beach

Author: Nancy Thayer
Bugs: 5
Review by: ADAR

very good summer read. predictable but fast moving. kept my interest.

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace-- One School at a Time

Author: Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin
Bugs: 4
Review by: Judy D.

Good

Lucky

Author: Rachel Vail
Bugs: 3
Review by: Tartu

The first in a series of how three sisters react to their mother losing her job.

Hold Tight

Author: Harlan Coben
Bugs: 5
Review by: Big Da

Starting from 5 families, each with their own problems, Coben weaves a story of parental supervision, murder, adultery and violence into a satisfactory ending.

Change of Heart

Author: Jodi Picoult
Bugs: 5
Review by: SCart

This book was like a box of good chocolates. I couldn't stop myself from reading it and I didn't want it to end. It wasn't as good as my favorite Jodi Picoult book (My Sister's Keeper) but it was still a great read.

Tell No Lies

Author: Julie Compton
Bugs: 4
Review by: Tartu

Very engrossing. Along the lines of Fatal Attraction, with obsession and deception. The main character is hard to sympathize with at first, as is his wife, but by the end they've both made some positive changes.

Killng Bridezilla

Author: Laura Levine
Bugs: 4
Review by: book diva

This book is from the Jaine Austen mystery series. Jaine takes on writing a scene from a balcony for a friend getting married and the humorous adventure continues.

Beautiful Boy

Author: David Sheff
Bugs: 5
Review by: Kelly Ronca

Couldn't put this down. Liked it so much, I just had to read his son's book - Tweak.

Tweak

Author: Nic Sheff
Bugs: 5
Review by: Kelly Ronca

Gripping! Scary! What a great read.

Bright Shiny Morning

Author: James Frey
Bugs: 5
Review by: Kelly Ronca

For those of you that have read Frey's two other books, this one is just as well written. I enjoy Frey's style of writing and found that I couldn't put this book down!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Heart-Shaped Box

Author: Joe Hill
Bugs: 2
Review by: bookmom

Too scary for me!

Amazing Grace

Author: Danielle Steel
Bugs: 3
Review by: KAD

Basic story line is good but her books are so repetitive that she says a lot of nothing on most of the pages.

Then She Found Me

Author: Elinor Lipman
Bugs: 4
Review by: Momma "D"

A 30 something woman is found by her birth mother with a few interesting twists

Plum Lucky

Author: Janet Evanovich
Bugs: 2+
Review by: Transitory Reader

Well, this is one of the "Between the Numbers" novels by Janet Evanovich... and so any of the usual Stephanie Plum readers will know in a heartbeat what's on the agenda... the usual summer no-brainer, just entertainment and a fast read. Not one of her best, but in keeping with the character. It gets a bit stale, but when I read a really heavy duty, intense book, I always look for something that is just "light" and Janet Evanovich books fill the bill.

Light Feel

Author: Evan Fallenberg
Bugs: 3
Review by: Transitory Reader

A very strange book to say the least. It was interesting because it provided insight into the world of two religious Jews, one a rabbi and the other a young scholar. Both are married with families and upon a chance meeting, their lives are changed forever.

The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music

Author: Steve Lopez
Bugs: 5
Review by: Transitory Reader

One of the best books I read this summer. Steve Lopez, author, is a journalist with the Los Angeles Times and he sees, by chance, a middle-aged black man playing a violin that has only two strings and despite this fact, is producing amazing music. Mr. Lopez thinks there's a story waiting to be told and that's exactly what the reader learns - the story behind this homeless person, his amazing musical talents and mental health issues. I found the book to be an amazing journey told in an open manner. One begins to learn how some people end up homeless and what it's like to exist on skid row and survive. We as readers learn about the mental health systems, how they work, and don't work, about friendship, loyalty, and most importantly, the trust that builds up between the two main characters in the true story, Steve Lopez and Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, the musician. I couldn't put the book down and only hope that Mr. Lopez writes another to tell us of Mr. Ayers's progress through life!

Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt: A Novel

Author: Anne Rice
Bugs: 5
Review by: LateNightReader

Great story about what the life of Jesus as a child might have been like. Enjoyed the descriptions as Anne Rice writes them! She pulls you into the story.

Under the Banner of Heaven

Author: Jon Krakauer
Bugs: 4
Review by: Mary NK

History of the Mormon Church and chilling modern-day murder by Mormon Fundamentalist brothers, of their own sister-in-law and her baby.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Whatever You Do, Don't Run

Author: Peter Allison
Bugs: 5
Review by: ralphs

The book is a collection of stories from Peter Allison's experiences as a safari guide in Botswana, Africa. One of my favorite stories is about Salvador, a female elephant, who has tusks curved like Salvadore Dali's mustache, hence her name. Since I was little, the mere mention of the name, "Africa" conjured an exciting and mysterious country and the adventure of a lifetime. It was wonderful to experience some of these feelings, in the pages of this book.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

The God of Animals

Author: Aryn Kyle
Bugs: 2
Review by: bookmom

I guess this book was more about the journey rather than the destination. It wasn't bad, it just really didn't go anywhere.

The Dying Game

Author: Beverly Barton
Bugs: 5
Review by: KAD

This book was full of excitement but was a bit on the gory side.

The Adventures of Slim and Howdy

Author: Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn
Bugs: 3
Review by: book diva

This book is written by the country duo of Brooks and Dunn and is a funny, fast paced action adventure of their alter egos.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

The Bourne Identity

Author: Robert Ludlum
Bugs: 5
Review by: BookWorm

A fantastic read with continual twists.

Playing for Pizza

Author: John Grisham
Bugs: 3
Review by: Nance

I listened to this book on tape. It was read well. The plot was entertaining. There was a lot of reference to specifics in Italy and to football and the plays. If you are interested in Italy and or football, I would recommend this book.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Diary of a Wimpy Kid & Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

Author: Jeff Kinney
Bugs: 4
Review by: wsh

Highly recommended by my 9-yr-old greatnephew, these books were a fun path to summer reading. Adults who want to channel their inner child can save $ on therapy and simply transport themselves into hero Greg Heffley's analysis of middle school geeks, gags, grades, and girls. Filled w/clever cartoons, believeable dialogue and realistic situations, these humorous books will resound w/anyone who has struggled w/being "cool" yet conscientious.

Sundays at Tiffany's

Author: James Patterson
Bugs: 5
Review by: book diva

Couldn't put this one down - excellent read!

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Hooked on Murder

Author: Betty Hechtman
Bugs: 3
Review by: Tartu

Yet another crafting mystery series begins. At first, the plot was a little thin and the characters were not well drawn. As the book went along, both improved. Here's hoping the same for the planned series.

Bulls Island

Author: Dorothea Benton Frank
Bugs: 3
Review by: book diva

This story is about two southern families - one thinking they are better than the other. The ending was a surprise!

Trashed

Author: Alison Gaylin
Bugs: 3
Review by: scrappy3

Good beach read full of hollywood scandals, tabloid reporters and a serial killer.

The Sixth Form

Author: Tom Dolby
Bugs: 3
Review by: book diva

Anyone having a son heading off to college would enjoy this book.

Boy Meets Boy

Author: David Levithan
Bugs: 5
Review by: Babygirl Shaina 27

POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT: I'm so glad in the end of the book he got the guy he wanted.

A Child Called "It": One Child's Courage to Survive

Author: Dave Pelzer
Bugs: 5
Review by: Babygirl Shaina 27

IT WAS AN AMAZING BOOK, i dont understand how a mother could do that to her own son though.

Sticky Fingers

Author: Niki Burnham
Bugs: 5
Review by: Babygirl Shaina 27

It was a very very good book. i really enjoyed that book.