Author: Jo Walton
Stars:
5
Review by: bd
Hard to accurately describe how good this was...prior reviewers have called it a
Jane Austen novel with dragons (yes, dragons) as the characters but since I
haven't read any Austen I can't corroborate. What I can say is that it was a
very enjoyable and interesting tale of an extended family of dragons as they
deal with life, death, class, love and marriage, and matters of estate. It was
fun imagining how large the described rooms needed to be to accommodate a group
of dragons varying in size between 20 and 75 feet. I have never really given
dragons a second thought until now and this book gave me plenty to think about.
Highly recommended.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
New This Week
The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner (Atria)
Believing she is realizing
her dreams when her sitcom is bought, television writer Ruth Saunders finds her
happiness threatened by demanding actors and executives as well as an
unrequited crush on her boss and her septuagenarian grandmother's upcoming wedding.
Criminal by Karin Slaughter (Delacorte)
A Georgia Bureau of Investigation search into a
shocking crime from 1975 poses unprecedented personal and professional
challenges for top agent Will Trent, who encounters threats against his life
and revelations about his past.
Die a Stranger by Steve Hamilton (Minotaur)
When the murders of five
people and the mysterious landing of an airplane on a deserted Upper Peninsula
airstrip implicates his missing Ojibwa friend Vinnie, Alex McKnight races
against time to find his friend, who is also being sought by a mysterious
stranger.
Gold by Chris Cleave (Simon & Schuster)
Cyclists Zoe and Kate are
friends and athletic rivals for Olympic gold, while Kate and her husband Jack,
also a world-class cyclist, must contend with the recurrence of their young
daughter's leukemia.
Juliet in August by Dianne Warren (Amy Einhorn)
Just Jennifer
Nom de Plume by Carmela Ciuraru (Harper Perennial)
Would a rose by any other name still smell as sweet if it were called say, Skunk Cabbage? Essayist and anthology editor Carmela Ciuraru explores the mystique and mythology surrounding pen names and why authors choose to use them. Working chronologically, Ciuraru begins with the Bronte sisters who used male pseudonyms simply because at the beginning of the nineteenth century, women did not publish novels. Aurore Dupin and Marian Evans (Georges Sand and Eliot) used men’s names for similar reasons, among them in order to gain easier acceptance into literary circles. While many names, both real and assumed, will be familiar to readers (Twain, O.Henry and Lewis Carroll) some lesser known, Fernando Pessoa and Henry Green will inspire readers to try some new authors. Ciuraru her history stops in the early twentieth century with Sylvia Plath and Patricia Highsmith; in an interview in an appendix, she explains her decision not to include more modern authors such as Stephen King or Anne Rice, noting their pseudonyms are more transparent and are branding device more than anything (an interesting comment in light of her chapter on the Brontes). Fans of literary minutia will find much to enjoy here, though it may not be for the casual reader.
Would a rose by any other name still smell as sweet if it were called say, Skunk Cabbage? Essayist and anthology editor Carmela Ciuraru explores the mystique and mythology surrounding pen names and why authors choose to use them. Working chronologically, Ciuraru begins with the Bronte sisters who used male pseudonyms simply because at the beginning of the nineteenth century, women did not publish novels. Aurore Dupin and Marian Evans (Georges Sand and Eliot) used men’s names for similar reasons, among them in order to gain easier acceptance into literary circles. While many names, both real and assumed, will be familiar to readers (Twain, O.Henry and Lewis Carroll) some lesser known, Fernando Pessoa and Henry Green will inspire readers to try some new authors. Ciuraru her history stops in the early twentieth century with Sylvia Plath and Patricia Highsmith; in an interview in an appendix, she explains her decision not to include more modern authors such as Stephen King or Anne Rice, noting their pseudonyms are more transparent and are branding device more than anything (an interesting comment in light of her chapter on the Brontes). Fans of literary minutia will find much to enjoy here, though it may not be for the casual reader.
Callsign: Rook
Author: Jeremy Robinson & Edward G. Talbot
Stars: 4
Review by: Marianne S.
Part of a series of novellas focusing on the "Chess Team" -- Delta operatives saving the world. Takes place after Robinson's Threshold. Nazi werewolves!
Stars: 4
Review by: Marianne S.
Part of a series of novellas focusing on the "Chess Team" -- Delta operatives saving the world. Takes place after Robinson's Threshold. Nazi werewolves!
Callsign: Knight
Author: Jeremy Robinson & Ethan Cross
Stars: 3
Review by: Marianne S.
Part of a series of novellas focusing on the "Chess Team" -- Delta operatives saving the world. Takes place after Robinson's Threshold. Killer gargoyles!
Stars: 3
Review by: Marianne S.
Part of a series of novellas focusing on the "Chess Team" -- Delta operatives saving the world. Takes place after Robinson's Threshold. Killer gargoyles!
Callsign: Bishop
Author: Jeremy Robinson & David McAfee
Stars: 3
Review by: Marianne S.
Part of a series of novellas focusing on the "Chess Team" -- Delta operatives saving the world. Takes place after Robinson's Threshold.
Stars: 3
Review by: Marianne S.
Part of a series of novellas focusing on the "Chess Team" -- Delta operatives saving the world. Takes place after Robinson's Threshold.
Callsign: Queen
Author: Jeremy Robinson & David Wood
Stars: 3
Review by: Marianne S.
Part of a series of novellas focusing on the "Chess Team" -- Delta operatives saving the world. Takes place after Robinson's Threshold. Genetic mutants!
Stars: 3
Review by: Marianne S.
Part of a series of novellas focusing on the "Chess Team" -- Delta operatives saving the world. Takes place after Robinson's Threshold. Genetic mutants!
Callsign: King - Book 2 - Underworld
Author: Jeremy Robinson & Sean Ellis
Stars: 4
Review by: Marianne S.
Part of a series of novellas focusing on the "Chess Team" -- Delta operatives saving the world. Takes place after Robinson's Threshold. Interesting Southwest setting.
Stars: 4
Review by: Marianne S.
Part of a series of novellas focusing on the "Chess Team" -- Delta operatives saving the world. Takes place after Robinson's Threshold. Interesting Southwest setting.
Callsign: King - Book 1
Author: Jeremy Robinson & Sean Ellis
Stars: 3
Review by: Marianne S.
Part of a series of novellas focusing on the "Chess Team" -- Delta operatives saving the world. Takes place after Robinson's Threshold and introduces a new archenemy.
Stars: 3
Review by: Marianne S.
Part of a series of novellas focusing on the "Chess Team" -- Delta operatives saving the world. Takes place after Robinson's Threshold and introduces a new archenemy.
Callsign: Deep Blue
Author:
Jeremy Robinson & Kane Gilmour
Stars: 3
Review by: Marianne S.
Part of a series of novellas focusing on the "Chess Team" -- Delta operatives saving the world. Takes place after Robinson's Threshold.
Stars: 3
Review by: Marianne S.
Part of a series of novellas focusing on the "Chess Team" -- Delta operatives saving the world. Takes place after Robinson's Threshold.
The Fifth Child
Author:
Doris Lessing
Stars: 4
Review by: C.J.
The story of a couple who dreams of having a large family, and the fallout when their fifth child is not "normal". I really enjoyed reading this.
Stars: 4
Review by: C.J.
The story of a couple who dreams of having a large family, and the fallout when their fifth child is not "normal". I really enjoyed reading this.
And God Came In: The Extraordinary Story of Joy Davidman
Author:
Lyle W. Dorsett
Stars: 4
Review by: nanibev
The story of Joy Davidman's unusual life, spiritual journey and eventual marriage to C.S. Lewis. Kind of a must for C.S. Lewis fans.
Stars: 4
Review by: nanibev
The story of Joy Davidman's unusual life, spiritual journey and eventual marriage to C.S. Lewis. Kind of a must for C.S. Lewis fans.
Ape House
Author:
Sara Gruen
Stars: 3
Review by: Avid Reader
This book had a wonderful beginning, and I couldn't put it down at first. After the explosion in the lab, I wanted to keep reading to see what happened to Isabel and her ape family. The plot became far fetched then which was a bit upsetting, but overall I enjoyed the book.
Stars: 3
Review by: Avid Reader
This book had a wonderful beginning, and I couldn't put it down at first. After the explosion in the lab, I wanted to keep reading to see what happened to Isabel and her ape family. The plot became far fetched then which was a bit upsetting, but overall I enjoyed the book.
The Hypnotist's Love Story
Author:
Liane Moriarty
Stars: 5
Review by: BookHunter
This is a love story with a crazy stalker - a must read for the summer - I loved it.
Stars: 5
Review by: BookHunter
This is a love story with a crazy stalker - a must read for the summer - I loved it.
The Rosary
Author:
Florence L. Barclay
Stars: 3
Review by: Barbie
And old book for an old reader. Things sure were different a century ago when this book was on the New York Times Best Seller list. It was slow moving with lots of prose and dialogue, but a good read. Perhaps the complete opposite from Fifty Shades of Gray!!
Stars: 3
Review by: Barbie
And old book for an old reader. Things sure were different a century ago when this book was on the New York Times Best Seller list. It was slow moving with lots of prose and dialogue, but a good read. Perhaps the complete opposite from Fifty Shades of Gray!!
Friday, June 29, 2012
Three Stations
Author:
Martin Cruz Smith
Stars: 4
Review by: BigDa
Having just returned from Moscow, I was able to recognize the various settings.
Stars: 4
Review by: BigDa
Having just returned from Moscow, I was able to recognize the various settings.
Kill For Me
Author:
Karen Rose
Stars: 4
Review by: Fernanda
I really enjoyed the story but there was a lot going on. Could be easy to get confused. New characters were continually being added.
Stars: 4
Review by: Fernanda
I really enjoyed the story but there was a lot going on. Could be easy to get confused. New characters were continually being added.
Liberating Paris
Author: Linda Bloodsworth Thomason
Stars: 4
Review by: smudge
Six high schools friend in Paris, Arkansas, have just passed their fortieth birthdays. Their stories are sometimes wise and often funny.
Stars: 4
Review by: smudge
Six high schools friend in Paris, Arkansas, have just passed their fortieth birthdays. Their stories are sometimes wise and often funny.
The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great
Author:
Eva Stachniak
Stars: 3
Review by: Smudge
This fictional account was accurate, but uninspired. The author could have written a more informative and interesting story.
Stars: 3
Review by: Smudge
This fictional account was accurate, but uninspired. The author could have written a more informative and interesting story.
Wicked Business
Author:
Janet Evanovich
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
The second in this spin-off series. Our duo are looking for the 2nd special stone. A great treasure hunt, campy humor make it a fun read. Thought the ending was... All that work up for, "really?" Let me know what you think. Maybe I've been Evanovich'ed out.
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
The second in this spin-off series. Our duo are looking for the 2nd special stone. A great treasure hunt, campy humor make it a fun read. Thought the ending was... All that work up for, "really?" Let me know what you think. Maybe I've been Evanovich'ed out.
Between You and Me
Author:
Emma McLaughlin & Nicole Kraus
Stars: 2
Review by: BookHunter
This is a story about a character who is followed by millions and finds out that she is loved by none. These two are the authors of The Nanny Diaries. I expected this to be a better story.
Stars: 2
Review by: BookHunter
This is a story about a character who is followed by millions and finds out that she is loved by none. These two are the authors of The Nanny Diaries. I expected this to be a better story.
The Land of the Painted Caves
Author:
Jean M. Auel
Stars: 2
Review by: syd
This final book of her series was way too long. She recaptured everything from her previous books and made for very long reading. It wasn't until the last third of the book that the plot developed.
Stars: 2
Review by: syd
This final book of her series was way too long. She recaptured everything from her previous books and made for very long reading. It wasn't until the last third of the book that the plot developed.
Dirty Secret - A Daughter Comes Clean
Author:
Jessie Scholl
Stars: 3
Review by: Pam B
A memoir about the daughter of a hoarder and how she copes with the situation.
Stars: 3
Review by: Pam B
A memoir about the daughter of a hoarder and how she copes with the situation.
101 Unforgettable Dresses
Author:
Hal Rubenstein
Stars: 3
Review by: Pam B
Very large size book - better to show off the dresses.
Stars: 3
Review by: Pam B
Very large size book - better to show off the dresses.
Would It Kill You to Stop Doing That
Author: Henry Alford
Stars: 3
Review by: Pam B
A modern guide to manners, but written in a breezy style.
Stars: 3
Review by: Pam B
A modern guide to manners, but written in a breezy style.
The Burning Soul
Author:
John Connolly
Stars: 3
Review by: BigDa
Convoluted - you have to pay attention.
Stars: 3
Review by: BigDa
Convoluted - you have to pay attention.
Princess Sultana's Daughters
Author:
Jean Sassoon
Stars: 3
Review by: Pam B
Life for a Saudi Arabian family (mostly the women) who are distantly related to the Saudi royal family. Sequel to PRINCESS.
Stars: 3
Review by: Pam B
Life for a Saudi Arabian family (mostly the women) who are distantly related to the Saudi royal family. Sequel to PRINCESS.
I Capture the Castle
Author: Dodie Smith
Stars: 3
Review by: Pam B
Written in the first person, this 1948 novel set in the 1930's England, is about a poverty stricken artistic family who are three years in arrears on the castle they rent. They encounter the new American owners of the castle and one thing leads to another. The author also wrote THE ONE HUNDRED AND ONE DALMATIANS.
Stars: 3
Review by: Pam B
Written in the first person, this 1948 novel set in the 1930's England, is about a poverty stricken artistic family who are three years in arrears on the castle they rent. They encounter the new American owners of the castle and one thing leads to another. The author also wrote THE ONE HUNDRED AND ONE DALMATIANS.
The Killer Angels
Author:
Michael Shaara
Stars: 5
Review by: mysterygirl
Picked this book up at the HC Library sale this spring and I'm so glad I did. We're traveling to Gettysburg this summer and I highly recommend it to anyone planning to visit. It offers a stunning re-creation of the battle with vivid descriptions of the sights, sounds, smells, and most importantly, the men who fought and risked their lives on the battlefield. This book should be on everyone's to read list!
Stars: 5
Review by: mysterygirl
Picked this book up at the HC Library sale this spring and I'm so glad I did. We're traveling to Gettysburg this summer and I highly recommend it to anyone planning to visit. It offers a stunning re-creation of the battle with vivid descriptions of the sights, sounds, smells, and most importantly, the men who fought and risked their lives on the battlefield. This book should be on everyone's to read list!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Neverwhere
Author:
Neil Gaiman
Stars: 3
Review by: Mich D
Quirky book, a bit fantasy. About a London man who ends up in another world that exists below London.
Stars: 3
Review by: Mich D
Quirky book, a bit fantasy. About a London man who ends up in another world that exists below London.
Beautiful Ruins
Author: Jesse Walter
Stars: 4
Review by: Tartu
Very different than his first novel; will most likely have broader appeal.
Stars: 4
Review by: Tartu
Very different than his first novel; will most likely have broader appeal.
The Night She Disappeared
Author: April Henry
Stars: 4
Review by: Tartu
A Young Adult title, but still suspenseful.
Stars: 4
Review by: Tartu
A Young Adult title, but still suspenseful.
I Never Promised You a Goodie Bag
Author: Jennifer Gilbert
Stars: 3
Review by: Tartu
A quick read, but not what I expected.
Stars: 3
Review by: Tartu
A quick read, but not what I expected.
Sisterhood Everlasting
Author: Ann Brashares
Stars: 4
Review by: Eleanor, Booklover
Enjoyable follow up on the Traveling Pants friends.
Stars: 4
Review by: Eleanor, Booklover
Enjoyable follow up on the Traveling Pants friends.
Angel of the Dark
Author: Sidney Sheldon
Stars: 4
Review by: Eleanor, Booklover
Another Sidney Sheldon winner.
Stars: 4
Review by: Eleanor, Booklover
Another Sidney Sheldon winner.
Oscar Wilde and a Game Called Murder
Author:
Gyles Brandreth
Stars: 4
Review by: Reader
2nd in a series. Authentic historical novel - set in London in the late 1800s. Interesting characters - authors, poets, etc. Includes quotes from Oscar Wilde.
At a dinner party, Wilde asks the question, "Who would you murder?" The names that were written are then read. The names, in the order read, become victims.
Stars: 4
Review by: Reader
2nd in a series. Authentic historical novel - set in London in the late 1800s. Interesting characters - authors, poets, etc. Includes quotes from Oscar Wilde.
At a dinner party, Wilde asks the question, "Who would you murder?" The names that were written are then read. The names, in the order read, become victims.
A Slice of Murder
Author: Chris Cavender (Tim Myers)
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This is the first book in this "cozy" series by C.C. (aka Tim Myers). I found that he has written a lot of cozies under numerous alias' both male and female. This is about a widow, pizza maker, trying to find her way after the death of her husband. She is accused of a murder because while making a pizza delivery she found the body. She and her sister start investigating in order to clear her name. It was a nice read with some soul searching about when is it time to move on after a death of a loved one while sticking to the cozy format. The book has a pizza crust and sauce recipe included.
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This is the first book in this "cozy" series by C.C. (aka Tim Myers). I found that he has written a lot of cozies under numerous alias' both male and female. This is about a widow, pizza maker, trying to find her way after the death of her husband. She is accused of a murder because while making a pizza delivery she found the body. She and her sister start investigating in order to clear her name. It was a nice read with some soul searching about when is it time to move on after a death of a loved one while sticking to the cozy format. The book has a pizza crust and sauce recipe included.
Can't Wait to Get to Heaven
Author: Fannie Flagg
Stars: 4.5
Review by: Barbie
My first e-book! It was a fun read.
Stars: 4.5
Review by: Barbie
My first e-book! It was a fun read.
Afterwards
Author: Rosamund Lipton
Stars: 4
Review by: libraryaimee
A mystery/thriller about an elementary school arson fire. Satisfying, but sad ending.
Stars: 4
Review by: libraryaimee
A mystery/thriller about an elementary school arson fire. Satisfying, but sad ending.
The Litigators
Author: John Grisham
Stars: 4
Review by: C.J.
I find that Grisham's descriptions of his characters create a vivid visual image and I enjoyed the growth of the main character in this book.
Stars: 4
Review by: C.J.
I find that Grisham's descriptions of his characters create a vivid visual image and I enjoyed the growth of the main character in this book.
If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't)
Author: Betty White
Stars: 2
Review by: Carol
A little collection of anecdotes and opinions by the delightful Betty White.
Stars: 2
Review by: Carol
A little collection of anecdotes and opinions by the delightful Betty White.
Fifty Shades of Grey
Author: E.L. James
Stars: 5
Review by: BookHunter
I never thought I would read this book but it was great! I don't know why a young girl would put herself through the things that happened to her but it sure kept me wanting more! Don't miss this one.
Stars: 5
Review by: BookHunter
I never thought I would read this book but it was great! I don't know why a young girl would put herself through the things that happened to her but it sure kept me wanting more! Don't miss this one.
Penelope's Daughter
Author: Laurel Corona
Stars: 5
Review by: Smudge
Imagine that Odysseus had a daughter, born shortly after he left for the Trojan War. Then weave a story told about the 20 year wait for his return. Written by the author of The Four Seasons, this is a wonderful story about strong women.
Stars: 5
Review by: Smudge
Imagine that Odysseus had a daughter, born shortly after he left for the Trojan War. Then weave a story told about the 20 year wait for his return. Written by the author of The Four Seasons, this is a wonderful story about strong women.
The Deep
Author: Peter Benchley
Stars: 3
Review by: Jambob
This book and movie made a splash after JAWS....has more to do with treasure and drug booty under the sea off the coast of Bermuda. Netflix shows this movie in HD and it's well worth the watch...Jaqueline Bisset started the wet T-shirt craze from this movie. The Deep Blue Sea with Jessica Alba is an awkward remake. This is the original with Lou Gossett Jr....nasty...watch out for that giant Moray eel!
Stars: 3
Review by: Jambob
This book and movie made a splash after JAWS....has more to do with treasure and drug booty under the sea off the coast of Bermuda. Netflix shows this movie in HD and it's well worth the watch...Jaqueline Bisset started the wet T-shirt craze from this movie. The Deep Blue Sea with Jessica Alba is an awkward remake. This is the original with Lou Gossett Jr....nasty...watch out for that giant Moray eel!
Sarah's Key
Author:
Tatiana de Rosnay
Stars: 5
Review by: Carol
Riveting, disturbing, heart-wrenching.
Stars: 5
Review by: Carol
Riveting, disturbing, heart-wrenching.
Under My Skin: Wildlings Book 1
Author:
Charles de Lint
Stars: 5
Review by: Marianne S
YA fantasy featuring skin walkers -- 1st in a series.
Stars: 5
Review by: Marianne S
YA fantasy featuring skin walkers -- 1st in a series.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Demons Are a Ghoul's Best Friend: A Ghost Hunter Mystery
Author:
Victoria Laurie
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
The second book in this series has our 3 main characters helping out a friend stop a ghost terrorizing her niece's boarding school. This is a darker book than her previous books as the ghost in question is angry and violent. A web of past lies and sad lives leads the reader on small roller coaster type ride-slightly scary/disturbing but fun. Very easy reading.
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
The second book in this series has our 3 main characters helping out a friend stop a ghost terrorizing her niece's boarding school. This is a darker book than her previous books as the ghost in question is angry and violent. A web of past lies and sad lives leads the reader on small roller coaster type ride-slightly scary/disturbing but fun. Very easy reading.
Gone Girl
Author:
Gillian Flynn
Stars: 5
Review by: bd
A story of a marriage, told from alternating viewpoints, after the wife has gone missing on their fifth anniversary. Definitely a page-turner...kept me going until the end. Lots of interesting character development and psychological thrills. A great summer read!
Stars: 5
Review by: bd
A story of a marriage, told from alternating viewpoints, after the wife has gone missing on their fifth anniversary. Definitely a page-turner...kept me going until the end. Lots of interesting character development and psychological thrills. A great summer read!
Kill Shot
Author:
Vince Flynn
Stars: Death-defying anti-hero Mitch Rapp
Review by: BigDa
Very interesting as long as you suspend moral judgment.
Stars: Death-defying anti-hero Mitch Rapp
Review by: BigDa
Very interesting as long as you suspend moral judgment.
Heart and Soul
Author:
Maeve Binchy
Stars: 3
Review by: deckreader
Another Binchy book about friends and acquaintances in Dublin and how their lives intertwine.
Stars: 3
Review by: deckreader
Another Binchy book about friends and acquaintances in Dublin and how their lives intertwine.
Death Perception: A Psychic Eye Mystery
Author:
Victoria Laurie
Stars: 4
Review by: Saraswati
The next book in this series takes our main character and her crew to Las Vegas to help her FBI love find his cousin. The story links an old murder, family rivalry, psychic intrigue, stolen identity, and a woman-hunt for a fast paced, fun read.
Stars: 4
Review by: Saraswati
The next book in this series takes our main character and her crew to Las Vegas to help her FBI love find his cousin. The story links an old murder, family rivalry, psychic intrigue, stolen identity, and a woman-hunt for a fast paced, fun read.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
New This Week
Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand (Reagan Arthur)
Follows the lives of four
high school students, their friends, and families after a fatal car accident on
graduation night on Nantucket has lasting
repercussions for everyone involved.
Bloodline by James Rollins (William Morrow)
A yacht bearing a young
American couple is attacked by Somali pirates, leading to bloodshed and the
violent kidnapping of the pregnant woman on board. To aid in her rescue from
the lawless and war-torn jungles of coastal Africa ,
Sigma Force enlists the aid of a unique search team
Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker (Random House)
Imagines the coming-of-age
story of young Julia, whose world is thrown into upheaval when it is discovered
that the Earth's rotation has suddenly begun to slow, posing a catastrophic
threat to all life.
Yes, Chef by Marcus
Samuelsson (Radom
The Top Chef: Masters winner
and James Beard Award-winning proprietor of Harlem's Red Rooster traces his
Ethiopian birth, upbringing by an adoptive family in Sweden and rise to a
famous New York chef, sharing personal insights into his challenges as a black
man in a deeply prejudiced industry.
Feast of Fools
Author:
James Lee Burke
Stars: 5
Review by: BigDa
Sentences, paragraphs, allusions, and encyclopedic knowledge randomly thrown into the fabric of the story.
Stars: 5
Review by: BigDa
Sentences, paragraphs, allusions, and encyclopedic knowledge randomly thrown into the fabric of the story.
Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting
Author:
Pamela Druckerman
Stars: 4
Review by: libraryaimee
Very interesting take on the differences between parents in France & America. Highly recommended for anyone pregnant!
Stars: 4
Review by: libraryaimee
Very interesting take on the differences between parents in France & America. Highly recommended for anyone pregnant!
Fifty Shades Freed
Author:
E.L. James
Stars: 3
Review by: Patti K
Decided to start my summer reading by finding out what all the fuss was about. Interesting reads.
Stars: 3
Review by: Patti K
Decided to start my summer reading by finding out what all the fuss was about. Interesting reads.
Crime Seen: A Psychic Eye Mystery
Author:
Victoria Laurie
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This is the book that follows Killer Insight. The story continues to develop as our main character tries to regain her life after being shot. A new angle to the story starts when she decides to work with her PI friend. Murder, fraud, misleads, dark secrets of the FBI and CIA and working out a love life with a Psychic makes for a fun read. This story sets you up for the next book and makes you want to move right along with the series.
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This is the book that follows Killer Insight. The story continues to develop as our main character tries to regain her life after being shot. A new angle to the story starts when she decides to work with her PI friend. Murder, fraud, misleads, dark secrets of the FBI and CIA and working out a love life with a Psychic makes for a fun read. This story sets you up for the next book and makes you want to move right along with the series.
What's a Ghoul to Do? A Ghost Hunter's Mystery
Author:
Victoria Laurie
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This is the first book in Laurie's Ghost Hunter's series. This series focuses on "Ghost Busting" more than psychic readings like the other series. This follows her same pattern but with a different cast of characters. The mystery adds another character that appears to be a permanent fixture for the future. Murder, inheritance, affairs, and general craziness makes this a light summer read.
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This is the first book in Laurie's Ghost Hunter's series. This series focuses on "Ghost Busting" more than psychic readings like the other series. This follows her same pattern but with a different cast of characters. The mystery adds another character that appears to be a permanent fixture for the future. Murder, inheritance, affairs, and general craziness makes this a light summer read.
Hiroshima
Author:
John Hersey
Stars: 4
Review by: smiley september
Touched by the human spirit and the life of the survivors of Hiroshima.
Stars: 4
Review by: smiley september
Touched by the human spirit and the life of the survivors of Hiroshima.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
The Space Between Us
Author:
Thrity Umrigar
Stars: 5
Review by: judyangel
Very interesting. Two different lives of Indian woman.
Stars: 5
Review by: judyangel
Very interesting. Two different lives of Indian woman.
Guilty Wives
Author:
James Patterson & David Ellis
Stars: 4
Review by: syd
This book was disturbing, but had me riveted to the end.
Stars: 4
Review by: syd
This book was disturbing, but had me riveted to the end.
Porch Lights
Author:
Dorothea Benton Frank
Stars: 4
Review by: BookHunter
This book will make an enjoyable summer read for fans of Frank. The story pulls you in from the very beginning and the ending is a happy one!
Stars: 4
Review by: BookHunter
This book will make an enjoyable summer read for fans of Frank. The story pulls you in from the very beginning and the ending is a happy one!
Joy School
Author:
Elizabeth Berg
Stars: 3
Review by: Ann M
This is the story of Katie, a 13 year old girl, that moves to a new town and makes new friends. She navigates keeping old friends, family, and first love.
Stars: 3
Review by: Ann M
This is the story of Katie, a 13 year old girl, that moves to a new town and makes new friends. She navigates keeping old friends, family, and first love.
Oxford Messed Up
Author:
Andrea Kane Kaufman
Stars: 2
Review by: bd
Not what I expected, and not well written. Had a good premise; a high-achieving grad student with severe OCD travels to Oxford on a Fullbright scholarship and has to overcome many challenges brought on by her disease. But it rapidly turned into a trite and unconvincing love story. Oh well.
Stars: 2
Review by: bd
Not what I expected, and not well written. Had a good premise; a high-achieving grad student with severe OCD travels to Oxford on a Fullbright scholarship and has to overcome many challenges brought on by her disease. But it rapidly turned into a trite and unconvincing love story. Oh well.
Wild
Author:
Cheryl Strayed
Stars: 4
Review by: bd
Really liked it, despite a slight abundance of oversharing. Having hiked sections of the AT with a heavy pack (granted, not as heavy as hers, and for good reason) I commiserated with her descriptions of the physical challenges she faced. At times the book, especially her emotional reasons for attempting the hike, seemed a bit disjointed but she pulled it all together in the end. Recommended.
Stars: 4
Review by: bd
Really liked it, despite a slight abundance of oversharing. Having hiked sections of the AT with a heavy pack (granted, not as heavy as hers, and for good reason) I commiserated with her descriptions of the physical challenges she faced. At times the book, especially her emotional reasons for attempting the hike, seemed a bit disjointed but she pulled it all together in the end. Recommended.
Let's Pretend This Never Happened
Author:
Jenny Lawson
Stars: 5
Review by: libraryaimee
Funniest memoir ever! I laughed so hard in a doctor's waiting room that I was crying! I looked insane! Highly recommended!
Stars: 5
Review by: libraryaimee
Funniest memoir ever! I laughed so hard in a doctor's waiting room that I was crying! I looked insane! Highly recommended!
Cutting for Stone
Author:
Abraham Verghese
Stars: 5
Review by: ddlesmom
The story is a riveting saga of twin brothers, Marion and Shiva Stone, born of a tragic union between a beautiful Indian nun and a brash British surgeon at a mission hospital in Addis Ababa. Orphaned by their mother's death in childbirth and their father's disappearance, and bound together by a preternatural connection and a shared fascination with medicine, the twins come of age as Ethiopia hovers on the brink of revolution.But it's love, not politics -- their passion for the same woman -- that will tear them apart and force Marion to flee his homeland and make his way to America, finding refuge in his work at an underfunded, overcrowded New York City hospital. When the past catches up to him, wreaking havoc and destruction, Marion has to entrust his life to the two men he has trusted least in the world: the surgeon father who abandoned him and the brother who betrayed him.
Stars: 5
Review by: ddlesmom
The story is a riveting saga of twin brothers, Marion and Shiva Stone, born of a tragic union between a beautiful Indian nun and a brash British surgeon at a mission hospital in Addis Ababa. Orphaned by their mother's death in childbirth and their father's disappearance, and bound together by a preternatural connection and a shared fascination with medicine, the twins come of age as Ethiopia hovers on the brink of revolution.But it's love, not politics -- their passion for the same woman -- that will tear them apart and force Marion to flee his homeland and make his way to America, finding refuge in his work at an underfunded, overcrowded New York City hospital. When the past catches up to him, wreaking havoc and destruction, Marion has to entrust his life to the two men he has trusted least in the world: the surgeon father who abandoned him and the brother who betrayed him.
Girls Night Out
Author:
edited by Carole Matthews
Stars: 2
Review by: Saraswati
"25 stories from the hottest female writers on the scene." This is the quote on the back cover of the book. The stories made me feel that the art of short story writing is being lost to TV timing. Many of these stories had a long build up (2 pages) and a BOOM ending (1 page max). Many of these stories felt like sample tastes to see if you want to go out get the whole dish later. The majority of stories focused on the trials and tribulations of 30ish, single women trying to find true love or at least nurse themselves through a breakup. Two stories were cute. Reunion by Meg Cabot is written in email format about friends going to their 10 year high school reunion. Wishing Carefully by Marian Keyes is about wishing for a fairy tale romance and getting it, with a twist. Very easy summer reads.
Stars: 2
Review by: Saraswati
"25 stories from the hottest female writers on the scene." This is the quote on the back cover of the book. The stories made me feel that the art of short story writing is being lost to TV timing. Many of these stories had a long build up (2 pages) and a BOOM ending (1 page max). Many of these stories felt like sample tastes to see if you want to go out get the whole dish later. The majority of stories focused on the trials and tribulations of 30ish, single women trying to find true love or at least nurse themselves through a breakup. Two stories were cute. Reunion by Meg Cabot is written in email format about friends going to their 10 year high school reunion. Wishing Carefully by Marian Keyes is about wishing for a fairy tale romance and getting it, with a twist. Very easy summer reads.
700 Sundays
Author:
Billy Crystal
Stars: 5
Review by: BookWorm2
A funny and poignant memoir of Billy Crystal's 700 Sundays with his father. I highly recommend this fast read to all.
Stars: 5
Review by: BookWorm2
A funny and poignant memoir of Billy Crystal's 700 Sundays with his father. I highly recommend this fast read to all.
Clobbered by Camembert
Author:
Avery Aames
Stars: 3
Review by: L.Z.
Part of a series. If you liked the others, you'll like this. The "mystery" of the murder in this one gets solved, but not the mystery of the relationships between these characters. Guess you'll have to keep reading the series to figure it out!
Stars: 3
Review by: L.Z.
Part of a series. If you liked the others, you'll like this. The "mystery" of the murder in this one gets solved, but not the mystery of the relationships between these characters. Guess you'll have to keep reading the series to figure it out!
Minding Frankie
Author:
Maeve Binchy
Stars: 4.5
Review by: Barbie
This is a nice, pleasant, feel good book. I've always liked Maeve Binchy books.
Stars: 4.5
Review by: Barbie
This is a nice, pleasant, feel good book. I've always liked Maeve Binchy books.
Misery
Author:
Stephen King
Stars: 4
Review by: Erin B.
Misery is a classic Stephen King novel, written way back before I was even born. His early work is his best work, in my rather well educated opinion (I've read at least a dozen of his novels and some short stories). It's exciting and frightening, yet comforting in its familiarity. King's writing style almost never varies, which is part of why he's such a popular author, if not a terribly well-respected one, especially not of late. He didn't write the Great American Novel, but he has written some Pretty Good American Novels.
Stars: 4
Review by: Erin B.
Misery is a classic Stephen King novel, written way back before I was even born. His early work is his best work, in my rather well educated opinion (I've read at least a dozen of his novels and some short stories). It's exciting and frightening, yet comforting in its familiarity. King's writing style almost never varies, which is part of why he's such a popular author, if not a terribly well-respected one, especially not of late. He didn't write the Great American Novel, but he has written some Pretty Good American Novels.
Little Night
Author:
Luanne Rice
Stars: 5
Review by: BookHunter
This is the best book I have read so far since the summer reading program began. Exciting ending!
Stars: 5
Review by: BookHunter
This is the best book I have read so far since the summer reading program began. Exciting ending!
Killer Crullers
Author:
Jessica Beck
Stars: 3
Review by: L.Z.
If you've read any others from the Doughnut Shop Mystery Series, you'll find this one to be very similar. Quick, easy, fun summer read.
Stars: 3
Review by: L.Z.
If you've read any others from the Doughnut Shop Mystery Series, you'll find this one to be very similar. Quick, easy, fun summer read.
Make the Bread, Buy the Butter
Author:
Jennifer Reese
Stars: 4
Review by: L.Z.
Loved it! Humorous read, along with some very interesting facts and ideas...and some recipes that I'd like to try!
Stars: 4
Review by: L.Z.
Loved it! Humorous read, along with some very interesting facts and ideas...and some recipes that I'd like to try!
The Girl in the Blue Beret
Author:
Bobbie Ann Mason
Stars: 3
Review by: Smudge
Although a little repetitive, this story about members of the French Resistance and a saved American pilot was interesting.
Stars: 3
Review by: Smudge
Although a little repetitive, this story about members of the French Resistance and a saved American pilot was interesting.
Tangle of Need: A Psy-Changeling Novel
Author:
Nalini Singh
Stars: 2
Review by: Saraswati
This is the latest book in this series. It took me a while to get my bearings straight while reading this book. I remember reading the last book, but there are just so many story lines to keep track of. There is the love story of a couple trying to fight their attraction; the story of the new Alpha and his mate trying to find their way; the stories of multiple inter-breed lovers; the story of the Changling's rebuilding after a bloody battle and preparing for the next; the story of a civil war between the Psy's; and the human's story. Good thing there was a cast of characters at the start. Once into the swing of things the book reads well and there is enough to make you want to find out what happens next, if you can keep it straight.
Stars: 2
Review by: Saraswati
This is the latest book in this series. It took me a while to get my bearings straight while reading this book. I remember reading the last book, but there are just so many story lines to keep track of. There is the love story of a couple trying to fight their attraction; the story of the new Alpha and his mate trying to find their way; the stories of multiple inter-breed lovers; the story of the Changling's rebuilding after a bloody battle and preparing for the next; the story of a civil war between the Psy's; and the human's story. Good thing there was a cast of characters at the start. Once into the swing of things the book reads well and there is enough to make you want to find out what happens next, if you can keep it straight.
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt
Author:
Beth Hoffman
Stars: 5
Review by: FineReader
Loved it. Beautifully told story for all ages.
Stars: 5
Review by: FineReader
Loved it. Beautifully told story for all ages.
The Copper Beech
Author:
Maeve Binchy
Stars: 5
Review by: deckreader
A story about eight friends who grow up together in a very small Irish village.
Stars: 5
Review by: deckreader
A story about eight friends who grow up together in a very small Irish village.
Sarah's Key
Author:
Tatiana de Rosnay
Stars: 3
Review by: BookDancer
Eye-opening account of the little known Velâ dâ Hiv roundup, which took place in France during
World War 2. Gripping and emotional tale weakened by the uneven parallel plots.
Stars: 3
Review by: BookDancer
Eye-opening account of the little known Velâ dâ Hiv roundup, which took place in France during
World War 2. Gripping and emotional tale weakened by the uneven parallel plots.
Undead and Unstable
Author: Mary Janice Davidson
Stars: 2
Review by: Saraswati
The latest Betsy, Vampire Queen, installment continued where the last, very confusing, book ended. More Vampires, Zombies, Devils, Anti-Christ's and time travel problems make this read a little difficult to follow at times. The story speaks of a changed time line, while stating that time is a wheel, while key characters (past and present versions) remain untouched by what happens. Don't think too hard when reading this, after all it's campy fiction, right?
Stars: 2
Review by: Saraswati
The latest Betsy, Vampire Queen, installment continued where the last, very confusing, book ended. More Vampires, Zombies, Devils, Anti-Christ's and time travel problems make this read a little difficult to follow at times. The story speaks of a changed time line, while stating that time is a wheel, while key characters (past and present versions) remain untouched by what happens. Don't think too hard when reading this, after all it's campy fiction, right?
Saturday, June 16, 2012
The House at Tyneford
Author: Natasha Solomons
Stars: 3
Review by: Carol
A good read. Somewhat predictable. Ending too condensed.
Stars: 3
Review by: Carol
A good read. Somewhat predictable. Ending too condensed.
Our Kind of Traitor
Author:
John le Carre
Stars: 3
Review by: BKF
Another suspenseful spy thriller from John le Carre. A young couple gets caught up in the plot of a Russian money launderer to defect. Who do you trust? And, in the end, do you ever really know if the "good guys" are just that? Fiction? Real life? Same questions. No answers.
Stars: 3
Review by: BKF
Another suspenseful spy thriller from John le Carre. A young couple gets caught up in the plot of a Russian money launderer to defect. Who do you trust? And, in the end, do you ever really know if the "good guys" are just that? Fiction? Real life? Same questions. No answers.
Trouble at High Tide: a Murder, She Wrote Mystery
Author:
Jessica Fletcher & Donald Bain
Stars: 3
Review by: Jambob
This one in the long series was mildly more amusing as it took place on Bermuda and involves a judge from New Jersey. The crimes were committed by a Jack the Ripper copycat and Jessica's long distance heart throb, Scotland Yard Inspector Sutherland, comes for a visit. Make yourself a Dark and Stormy (cocktail) and crack open this book...on a beach.
Stars: 3
Review by: Jambob
This one in the long series was mildly more amusing as it took place on Bermuda and involves a judge from New Jersey. The crimes were committed by a Jack the Ripper copycat and Jessica's long distance heart throb, Scotland Yard Inspector Sutherland, comes for a visit. Make yourself a Dark and Stormy (cocktail) and crack open this book...on a beach.
Shadow's Edge
Author:
J.T. Geissinger
Stars: 5
Review by: Carrie Beth H.
Really great book. Its about shifters, specifically panthers. Good plot, flowed nicely, can't wait for more, hopefully there will be a sequel.
Stars: 5
Review by: Carrie Beth H.
Really great book. Its about shifters, specifically panthers. Good plot, flowed nicely, can't wait for more, hopefully there will be a sequel.
The Godfather
Author: Mario Puzo
Stars: 5
Review by: Carrie Beth H.
Must read! It is a great book, it keeps you captivated and has such an amazing plot!
Stars: 5
Review by: Carrie Beth H.
Must read! It is a great book, it keeps you captivated and has such an amazing plot!
Nobody's Princess
Author:
Esther Friesner
Stars: 3
Review by: Carrie Beth H.
This is a Young Adult book. The whole time reading I was waiting for the big adventure to happen, but it starts to happen in the second book. Other than that it was a good book. I haven't read the second book yet, Nobody's Prize, but I am going to because I know the big adventure happens so it should be even better.
Stars: 3
Review by: Carrie Beth H.
This is a Young Adult book. The whole time reading I was waiting for the big adventure to happen, but it starts to happen in the second book. Other than that it was a good book. I haven't read the second book yet, Nobody's Prize, but I am going to because I know the big adventure happens so it should be even better.
Summer Breeze
Author:
Nancy Thayer
Stars: 4
Review by: BookHunter
A fun summer read - this book makes we want to be reading it on the beach somewhere instead of my house!
Stars: 4
Review by: BookHunter
A fun summer read - this book makes we want to be reading it on the beach somewhere instead of my house!
Kiss the Dead: An Anita Blake Vampre Hunter Novel
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Stars: 2
Review by: Saraswati
This is the latest installment in the Anita Blake series. I really didn't like her last book, Hit List, and didn't know what to expect this time. Anita is up against a vampire rebellion which puts those she loves in danger. There is more police work in this novel than in the past. She also does more soul searching and questioning of her morals. Much lighter than past novels. To me, it just felt like something was missing or hastily put together. I get a feeling (or I'm hoping) that these are the growing pains books and the real great story is just around the corner. NOTE: There is an advert on the end to get a mini-e read spin off of the series, but when I read the majority of the "Don't waste your $" reviews I didn't go for it.
Stars: 2
Review by: Saraswati
This is the latest installment in the Anita Blake series. I really didn't like her last book, Hit List, and didn't know what to expect this time. Anita is up against a vampire rebellion which puts those she loves in danger. There is more police work in this novel than in the past. She also does more soul searching and questioning of her morals. Much lighter than past novels. To me, it just felt like something was missing or hastily put together. I get a feeling (or I'm hoping) that these are the growing pains books and the real great story is just around the corner. NOTE: There is an advert on the end to get a mini-e read spin off of the series, but when I read the majority of the "Don't waste your $" reviews I didn't go for it.
Unlikely Friendships: 47 Remarkable Stories of Animals
Author:
Jennifer Holland
Stars: 3
Review by: mystery lover
Stories about animals connecting with other species of animals. It's interesting how it's possible and how there are various time lengths of the connections.
Stars: 3
Review by: mystery lover
Stories about animals connecting with other species of animals. It's interesting how it's possible and how there are various time lengths of the connections.
Along the Way: the Journey of a Father & Son
Author:
Martin Sheen & Emilio Estevez
Stars: 4
Review by: BookHunter
The father and son lead very interesting lives and it is nice to read that they are still very close and that Martin Sheen has been married for 50 years in Hollywood!
Stars: 4
Review by: BookHunter
The father and son lead very interesting lives and it is nice to read that they are still very close and that Martin Sheen has been married for 50 years in Hollywood!
The Body in the Bouillon: A Faith Fairchild Mystery
Author:
Katerine Hall Page
Stars: 2
Review by: Saraswati
Book #3 of the series - Faith gets sent on a mission, from her Aunt, to check out a retirement home where her Aunt's friend died. The book moved slowly at the beginning setting up a cast of characters and multiple murders but picks up speed in the end with a surprise twist. Easy summer read.
Stars: 2
Review by: Saraswati
Book #3 of the series - Faith gets sent on a mission, from her Aunt, to check out a retirement home where her Aunt's friend died. The book moved slowly at the beginning setting up a cast of characters and multiple murders but picks up speed in the end with a surprise twist. Easy summer read.
Me and Mr. Darcy
Author:
Alexandra Potter
Stars: 3
Review by: Linds M.
You have to be interested in the topic in order to get through this book!
Stars: 3
Review by: Linds M.
You have to be interested in the topic in order to get through this book!
Sarah's Key
Author:
Tatiana de Rosnay
Stars: 4
Review by: Miss Lucy
The Holocaust is not usually subject matter that people WANT to read about, but this book is written in a way that will get you through it. Each disturbing chapter is quickly followed by a chapter about present-day characters, so that it's possible to go on reading. The book is really well-written and keeps your interest. I didn't give it a 5-star rating, though, because I felt like the author really jammed down the readers' throats the fact that most people were unaware that Jews were deported from Paris. She must have mentioned that at least 20 times in the first half of the book alone. But all in all, it's a great book. Put it on your must-read list!
Stars: 4
Review by: Miss Lucy
The Holocaust is not usually subject matter that people WANT to read about, but this book is written in a way that will get you through it. Each disturbing chapter is quickly followed by a chapter about present-day characters, so that it's possible to go on reading. The book is really well-written and keeps your interest. I didn't give it a 5-star rating, though, because I felt like the author really jammed down the readers' throats the fact that most people were unaware that Jews were deported from Paris. She must have mentioned that at least 20 times in the first half of the book alone. But all in all, it's a great book. Put it on your must-read list!
Friday, June 15, 2012
Thursday, June 14, 2012
New This Week
Wicked Business by Janet Evanovich (Bantam Dell)
Dazzling her patrons
with scrumptious cupcakes at her Salem ,
Massachusetts
The Long Earth by Terry Prachett and Stephen Baxter (Harper
Collins)
Finally finding the mecca of isolation in a distant region
known as the High Meggas, Larry Lynsey, a recluse who is aggressively
protective of his singular solitude, finds his quiet existence shattered by the
arrival of two accidental tourists and will do everything in his power to make
them leave.
The Orphan Master by Jean Zimmerman (Viking)
In 17th-century New Amsterdam, today Manhattan , 22-year-old trader Blandine von
Couvering and British spy Edward Drummond investigate the mysterious
disappearance of orphan children.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Just Jennifer
Bloodline by James Rollins (William Morrow, June 26, 2012)
James Rollins SIGMA force novels have been thrilling readers
for years. In his latest novel, he
answers the age old question: if you could live forever, would you choose to do
it? When three seemingly disparate acts
collide: the kidnapping of the United States President’s pregnant daughter by
Somali pirates off the coast of the Horn of Africa, a bombing at a fertility
clinic in South Carolina that has been experimenting with the human genetic
code, and an eleventh-century Templar knight finding the staff of Jesus, a
sequence of events is set off that turns deadly. As former Army Ranger Tucker Wayne and his
canine companion Kane set out to rescue Amanda Grant-Bennett things go terribly
wrong and Wayne quickly learns this isn’t an everyday Somali pirate kidnapping. Rollins seamless weaves history with heart
stopping action, creating the intricate, believable---and infinitely scary if
there is any truth to it---plot readers have come to expect from this
best-selling author.
Room
Author:
Emma Donoghue
Stars: 4
Review by: Ann M
Told through Jack, a 5 year old perspective, the abduction of
his Ma, his birth, their life in the Room, the escape and living after
the escape.
Stars: 4
Review by: Ann M
Told through Jack, a 5 year old perspective, the abduction of
his Ma, his birth, their life in the Room, the escape and living after
the escape.
Lost December
Author:
Richard Paul Evans
Stars: 4
Review by: Ann M
Luke Crisp is to take over the business from his father, a
self-made millionaire. His father asks him to get his MBA and Luke
becomes the prodigal son.
Stars: 4
Review by: Ann M
Luke Crisp is to take over the business from his father, a
self-made millionaire. His father asks him to get his MBA and Luke
becomes the prodigal son.
Murder with Reservations: A Dead-End Job Mystery
Author:
Elaine Viets
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
Book #6 in this series: This time Helen is working at a hotel
as a maid. The maid sub-stories are sad, but funny. Once again she
stumbles upon a murder. So while avoiding the police she tries to solve
the mystery. To add to her misery, her ex catches up with her and they
play a game of cat and mouse. Fun, easy read. (Need to find Book#2 -
Murder Between the Covers for this summer's club.)
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
Book #6 in this series: This time Helen is working at a hotel
as a maid. The maid sub-stories are sad, but funny. Once again she
stumbles upon a murder. So while avoiding the police she tries to solve
the mystery. To add to her misery, her ex catches up with her and they
play a game of cat and mouse. Fun, easy read. (Need to find Book#2 -
Murder Between the Covers for this summer's club.)
Tote Bags and Toe Tags
Author:
Dorothy Howell
Stars: 4
Review by: BookHunter
The latest in the Haley Randolph mystery series. This is a fun
summer read!
Stars: 4
Review by: BookHunter
The latest in the Haley Randolph mystery series. This is a fun
summer read!
Home to Big Stone Gap
Author:
Adriana Trigiani
Stars: 2
Review by: Smudge
Not as good as the Valentina series.
Stars: 2
Review by: Smudge
Not as good as the Valentina series.
Sweetgrass
Author:
Mary Alice Munroe
Stars: 4
Review by: Smudge
A good summer read. Although a little predictable, Sweetrass is
nevertheless a well told story about the secrets of a family struggling
to keep their land along the marshes of the low country.
Stars: 4
Review by: Smudge
A good summer read. Although a little predictable, Sweetrass is
nevertheless a well told story about the secrets of a family struggling
to keep their land along the marshes of the low country.
A Wedding in Haiti: the Story of a Friendship
Author:
Julia Alverez
Stars: 4
Review by: Tartu
The author recounts her friendship with a young Haitian working
on their coffee plantation in the Dominican Republic as he grows into a
young man, marries, has a family and continues to face the abject
poverty and natural disasters in Haiti. Alvarez is a very lyrical
writer and lends a certain beauty to the island and its people.
Stars: 4
Review by: Tartu
The author recounts her friendship with a young Haitian working
on their coffee plantation in the Dominican Republic as he grows into a
young man, marries, has a family and continues to face the abject
poverty and natural disasters in Haiti. Alvarez is a very lyrical
writer and lends a certain beauty to the island and its people.
Killer Insight: A Psychic Eye Mystery
Author:
Victoria Laurie
Stars: 4
Review by: Saraswati
Book #4 in the Psychic Eye Mystery Series: We find ourselves
going to a wedding of Abby's childhood friend. Meanwhile, Abby knows
something is wrong but can't figure it out. She has a mini-break up
with her boyfriend Dutch just before she heads out to the wedding.
Once there, all her friend's friends disappear and wind up dead. This
book carried a lot of emotion as Abby sees her future and it does not
look bright. Fast paced and kept me interested.
Stars: 4
Review by: Saraswati
Book #4 in the Psychic Eye Mystery Series: We find ourselves
going to a wedding of Abby's childhood friend. Meanwhile, Abby knows
something is wrong but can't figure it out. She has a mini-break up
with her boyfriend Dutch just before she heads out to the wedding.
Once there, all her friend's friends disappear and wind up dead. This
book carried a lot of emotion as Abby sees her future and it does not
look bright. Fast paced and kept me interested.
The Watery Part of the World
Author:
Michael Parker
Stars: 4
Review by: bd
A fictional account based on two true stories of island
dwellers off the North Carolina coast in the 19th and 20th centuries. In
parallel narratives, we learn the story of Theodosia Burr (daughter of
recently exiled Vice President Aaron Burr) whose ship is attacked by
pirates and is left for dead on Nag's Head island. One hundred and fifty
years later, her two elderly descendants are among the last remaining
residents of the same North Carolina island. The writing is beautiful
and lyrical and once you are attuned to the local dialect, quite
immersing. I'm giving it four, rather than 5, stars, because I felt that
there were issues and plot points that the author should have resolved,
but overall it was an enjoyable and interesting read.
Stars: 4
Review by: bd
A fictional account based on two true stories of island
dwellers off the North Carolina coast in the 19th and 20th centuries. In
parallel narratives, we learn the story of Theodosia Burr (daughter of
recently exiled Vice President Aaron Burr) whose ship is attacked by
pirates and is left for dead on Nag's Head island. One hundred and fifty
years later, her two elderly descendants are among the last remaining
residents of the same North Carolina island. The writing is beautiful
and lyrical and once you are attuned to the local dialect, quite
immersing. I'm giving it four, rather than 5, stars, because I felt that
there were issues and plot points that the author should have resolved,
but overall it was an enjoyable and interesting read.
I'm Not Hanging Noodles on Your Ears
Author:
Jag Bhalla
Stars: 4
Review by: Mary NK
An entertaining collection of idioms from many non-English
languages. The title is Russian for "I'm not pulling your leg.".
Chapters on food, colors, body parts, animals and numbers reveal sayings
that make sense ("An octopus in a garage" is Spanish for "A fish out of
water") or often, lose a lot in the translation ("Put saliva on one's
eyebrows" = a fake, in Japanese). A lesson we see frequently in this
little book is that idioms don't work in other languages. for example,
"wool gathering" in Hindi is to be at wit's end, NOT, as in English
"absentmindedly thinking". And an Italian who "has liver" is brave;
while a Frenchman with livers has cold feet.
Stars: 4
Review by: Mary NK
An entertaining collection of idioms from many non-English
languages. The title is Russian for "I'm not pulling your leg.".
Chapters on food, colors, body parts, animals and numbers reveal sayings
that make sense ("An octopus in a garage" is Spanish for "A fish out of
water") or often, lose a lot in the translation ("Put saliva on one's
eyebrows" = a fake, in Japanese). A lesson we see frequently in this
little book is that idioms don't work in other languages. for example,
"wool gathering" in Hindi is to be at wit's end, NOT, as in English
"absentmindedly thinking". And an Italian who "has liver" is brave;
while a Frenchman with livers has cold feet.
Home Front
Author:
Kristin Hannah
Stars: 3
Review by: deckreader
A story about a woman separated from her family while serving her country.
Stars: 3
Review by: deckreader
A story about a woman separated from her family while serving her country.
Beach Music
Author:
Pat Conroy
Stars: 4.5
Review by: Barbie
Lots of good descriptive writing. The characters stay with you.
I wish I had been able to sit on a beach to read it.
Stars: 4.5
Review by: Barbie
Lots of good descriptive writing. The characters stay with you.
I wish I had been able to sit on a beach to read it.
The Body in the Kelp: A Faith Fairchild Mystery
Author:
Katherine Hall Page
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This is the second book in this series about a minister's wife and
caterer that finds herself entangled in murder mysteries.
This time she is on vacation in Maine but rest and relaxation don't
seem to on the agenda. A treasure map found in hidden in quilt design,
missing treasure, betrayal, and love make for a fun read.
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This is the second book in this series about a minister's wife and
caterer that finds herself entangled in murder mysteries.
This time she is on vacation in Maine but rest and relaxation don't
seem to on the agenda. A treasure map found in hidden in quilt design,
missing treasure, betrayal, and love make for a fun read.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Karma: A Serendipity Novel
Author:
Carly Phillips
Stars: 2
Review by: Saraswati
The third book in the trilogy about 3 brothers coming back together after many years apart and how they fall in love. The story is about the youngest brother coming to grips with a tragedy of his youth while falling in love with a woman that constantly reminds him of that time. It moved a little slow, but it could be having read them somewhat back to back. However, in the sense of most trilogies there is more to come. Expect spin off novels starting early 2013.
Stars: 2
Review by: Saraswati
The third book in the trilogy about 3 brothers coming back together after many years apart and how they fall in love. The story is about the youngest brother coming to grips with a tragedy of his youth while falling in love with a woman that constantly reminds him of that time. It moved a little slow, but it could be having read them somewhat back to back. However, in the sense of most trilogies there is more to come. Expect spin off novels starting early 2013.
Sybil Exposed
Author:
Debbie Nathan
Stars: 4
Review by: libraryaimee
Tells the true facts behind the sensational book and tv movie about Sybil--the multiple personality woman. It's a fascinating expose on how Shirley Mason was misused and misled by her psychologist and by the author of the original book. She had a legitimate vitamin B deficiency that went untreated all her life. A sad story, but I couldn't stop reading it.
Stars: 4
Review by: libraryaimee
Tells the true facts behind the sensational book and tv movie about Sybil--the multiple personality woman. It's a fascinating expose on how Shirley Mason was misused and misled by her psychologist and by the author of the original book. She had a legitimate vitamin B deficiency that went untreated all her life. A sad story, but I couldn't stop reading it.
The Family Corleone
Author:
Ed Falco
Stars: 4
Review by: BookHunter
If you enjoyed The Godfather you will certainly enjoy this book. I didn't want to put it down.
Stars: 4
Review by: BookHunter
If you enjoyed The Godfather you will certainly enjoy this book. I didn't want to put it down.
The Freedom Writers Diary
Author: The Freedom Writers with Erin Gruwell
Stars: 4
Review by: Reader
The true story of how a first year English teacher inspired at risk students by using books and diaries.
Stars: 4
Review by: Reader
The true story of how a first year English teacher inspired at risk students by using books and diaries.
A Confederacy of Dunces
Author:
John Kennedy Toole
Stars: 4
Review by: Reader
Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction in 1981. Set in New Orleans and contains
unusual characters.
Stars: 4
Review by: Reader
Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction in 1981. Set in New Orleans and contains
unusual characters.
New This Week
Bellwether Revivals by Benjamin Wood (Viking)
Feeling apart from the privileged students who roam Cambridge 's colleges and
spires, nursing home assistant Oscar Lowe is drawn into the opulent world of
the charismatic Bellwether siblings and falls in love with medical student Iris
before realizing the dangers posed by troubled Eden Bellwether, who believes he
can heal people with his music.
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter (Harper)
Follows a young Italian innkeeper and his almost-love affair
with a beautiful American starlet, which draws him into a glittering world
filled with unforgettable characters.
Between You and Me by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus (Atria)
Reunited with her cousin Kelsey when a job offer returns her
to the home of her unhappy childhood in Oklahoma ,
Logan risks
everything to secure her cousin's happiness while Kelsey's celebrity and
controlling parents threaten her efforts to live a normal life. By the authors
of The Nanny Diaries.
Heading Out to Wonderful by Robert Goolrick (Algonquin)
Charlie Beale meets Sylvan Glass, the bride of the town's
richest man, and Sam Haislett, the son of owner of the butcher shop where
Charlie gets a job, and soon the interaction between Charlie, Sylvan, and Sam
alters the town forever.
Porch Lights by Dorothea Benton Frank (William Morrow)
In the South Carolina Lowcountry, three generations of a
family--a grandmother, a mother and a son--discover the indelible power of
love, in this emotional journey that interweaves stories of swashbuckling
pirates and an enigmatic writer named Edgar Allan Poe with the bonds of family.
Red House by Mark Haddon (Doubleday)
A tale told from rotating viewpoints traces seven days of
bitterly comic family dynamics and confrontation when a wealthy doctor invites
his estranged sister's family to join his newly blended one at a vacation home
in the English countryside. By the Whitbread Book of the Year Award-winning
author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Needled to Death: A Knitting Mystery
Author:
Maggie Sefton
Stars: 2
Review by: Saraswati
Book #2 in the Kelly Flynn series. A CPA trying to find her way back home after the death of key members of her family gets herself involved with solving local murders while learning to knit. This moved a little slow for me but it was interesting to learn about knitting and to see what a knitting pattern looks like. This book talks a lot about Alpaca ranches which is very popular in our area. Not a bad summer read.
Stars: 2
Review by: Saraswati
Book #2 in the Kelly Flynn series. A CPA trying to find her way back home after the death of key members of her family gets herself involved with solving local murders while learning to knit. This moved a little slow for me but it was interesting to learn about knitting and to see what a knitting pattern looks like. This book talks a lot about Alpaca ranches which is very popular in our area. Not a bad summer read.
The Rule of Four
Author:
Ian Caldwell & Dustin Thomason
Stars: 1
Review by: ddlesmom
Boring book....don't waste your time.
Stars: 1
Review by: ddlesmom
Boring book....don't waste your time.
The Year of the Gadfly
Author:
Jennifer Miller
Stars: 4
Review by: Tartu
Another take on prep schools in New England. There was something appealing about this though there wasn't much new.
Stars: 4
Review by: Tartu
Another take on prep schools in New England. There was something appealing about this though there wasn't much new.
Sarah's Key
Author:
Tatiana DeRosnay
Stars: 4
Review by: deckreader
A young girl's story about the brutality she and her family endured during the roundup of Jews by the French in 1942.
Stars: 4
Review by: deckreader
A young girl's story about the brutality she and her family endured during the roundup of Jews by the French in 1942.
I've Got Your Number
Author:
Sophie Kinsella
Stars: 5
Review by: Linds M.
It was a very entertaining book! Sophie Kinsella manages to surprise you and give you a great book all in one.
Stars: 5
Review by: Linds M.
It was a very entertaining book! Sophie Kinsella manages to surprise you and give you a great book all in one.
Wife 22
Author:
Melanie Gideon
Stars: 3
Review by: BookHunter
This is a clever, funny book about facebooking and marriage counseling.
Stars: 3
Review by: BookHunter
This is a clever, funny book about facebooking and marriage counseling.
The Kingdom of Ohio
Author: Matthew Flaming
Stars: 2
Review by: BKF
NYC in 1901, digging of the subway, the start of the mechanical age, time travel, love story. Confusing, scrambled storyline. Footnotes were a distraction, too many of them. Wouldn't recommend it.
Stars: 2
Review by: BKF
NYC in 1901, digging of the subway, the start of the mechanical age, time travel, love story. Confusing, scrambled storyline. Footnotes were a distraction, too many of them. Wouldn't recommend it.
The Unseen
Author: Heather Graham
Stars: 3
Review by: Libraryaimee
A supernatural murder mystery that takes place in San Antonio with the ghosts of the Alamo as a backdrop. A fast read, similar to her others, but very enjoyable!
Stars: 3
Review by: Libraryaimee
A supernatural murder mystery that takes place in San Antonio with the ghosts of the Alamo as a backdrop. A fast read, similar to her others, but very enjoyable!
Murder Unleashed: A Dead-End Job Mystery
Author:
Elaine Viets
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
A cute twist to the women sleuth genre. A woman on the lam gets involved with solving a murder mystery while trying to avoid the police and working dead-end jobs. This time our main character, Helen, is working for a pampered pet store and winds up getting entangled in a web of intrigue and very strange, wealthy people in her area. The story leads you right up to the next installment. Waiting for it to arrive at the library. A fun, summer read.
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
A cute twist to the women sleuth genre. A woman on the lam gets involved with solving a murder mystery while trying to avoid the police and working dead-end jobs. This time our main character, Helen, is working for a pampered pet store and winds up getting entangled in a web of intrigue and very strange, wealthy people in her area. The story leads you right up to the next installment. Waiting for it to arrive at the library. A fun, summer read.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Just Jennifer
Anthony and Agatha Award-nominated Rosemary Harris’s fourth book Slugfest is now available in trade paperback with a kicky new cover. Originally published by St. Martin’s Minotaur imprint, Slugfest continues the story of gardening professional Paula Holliday from Springfield, Connecticut. Paula finds herself in Manhattan as the exhibit booth manager for a reclusive garden sculptor at The Big Apple Flower Show. She is hoping for busy weekend full of gardening tips and ideas, but instead uncovers professional jealousies & rivalries, exhibit sabotage including headless gnomes and the Javits Curse. When a body is found floating in the exhibit’s river, Paula is unwittingly left holding the bag, literally, that contains the clue to the murderer’s identity. Add in a pesticide that the inventor claims is a sure thing and Paula and a no-nonsense security guard have more than exhibits to keep their eyes on. Rosemary’s first novel, Pushing Up Daisies is an Anthony and Agatha Nominee for Best First Novel and was on Library Journal’s best first fiction list in 2008. In addition to writing mysteries, Rosemary is a Master Gardener, has been on six Habitat for Humanity trips, built the Chalula Library in Tanzania and is an avid hiker and kayaker and has hiked to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Rosemary is a strong advocate for libraries and is a gracious speaker we have been very pleased to host twice at the Hunterdon County Library. Be sure not to miss this great series that will appeal to not only gardeners but also to mystery fans who enjoy a witty, sassy, no-nonsense heroine. Read alike authors include Susan Witting Albert, Sarah Graves and Harley Jane Kozak.
A Vision of Murder: A Psychic Eye Mystery
Author: Victoria Laurie
Stars: 4
Review by: Saraswati
A fun combo of parapsychology, female sleuths, hidden treasure, murder, and mayhem. After getting roped into buying a "fixer-upper" with her sister and friend, the main character, Abby, finds herself caught in a web of intrigue, history, and murder. Don't forget a little love on the side. A fun summer read.
Stars: 4
Review by: Saraswati
A fun combo of parapsychology, female sleuths, hidden treasure, murder, and mayhem. After getting roped into buying a "fixer-upper" with her sister and friend, the main character, Abby, finds herself caught in a web of intrigue, history, and murder. Don't forget a little love on the side. A fun summer read.
The Lost Years
Author:
Mary Higgins Clark
Stars: 2
Review by: Judy
A very easy read, but I wonder if she gets paid by the word as she is so repetitive.
Stars: 2
Review by: Judy
A very easy read, but I wonder if she gets paid by the word as she is so repetitive.
Overbite
Author:
Meg Cabot
Stars: 3
Review by: C.J.
This book was fun and a quick read. It helps to be familiar with the original Dracula by Bram Stoker, as the author uses some of the characters in her story.
Stars: 3
Review by: C.J.
This book was fun and a quick read. It helps to be familiar with the original Dracula by Bram Stoker, as the author uses some of the characters in her story.
Just Jennifer
15 Seconds by Andrew Gross (William Morrow, July 2012)
In his fifth solo novel, James Patterson co-author weaves a
story of revenge and two fathers’ love for their daughters that hits the ground
running and doesn’t stop until the final page.
Young Amanda Hofer has just run down a young mother and her infant son
in their front yard. She was high on Oxy
and is in prison facing a twenty year sentence with a father out for vengeance
for his daughter’s life which she feels is over. Plastic surgeon Harry Steadman is in Fort
Lauderdale to attend a medical conference and play a few rounds of golf. While
trying to find his hotel, he makes a wrong turn and ends up handcuffed in the
back of a police car, for what, he’s not quite sure. Next thing he knows, he is released and back
in his own car, but witnesses the drive-by, execution style murder of the
arresting officer. He finds himself
being shot at and fleeing the scene, becoming Florida’s most wanted
fugitive. Harry is now on the lam after
finding his best friend dead and learning that whoever is masterminding this
plot has his daughter. His only hope is
a dispatcher, Carrie, who has just returned from bereavement leave and who, for
some reason, believes Harry. Readers
will either guess who is pulling the strings or feel the tell comes a little
early in the plot, but as the rest of the plot unfolds and Carrie and Harry
chase down leads and make connections, the tension remains high and the
trademarked pace Gross is famous for never slows until the very end.
Just Jennifer
Criminal by Karin Slaughter (Delacorte, July 2012)
Karin Slaughter brings back Will Trent, Amanda Wagner and
Dr. Sara Linton in her latest novel that flashes back to Amanda’s early years
on the force and tells the story of how Will went from being a dyslexic ward of
the state to a Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent. The setting deftly switches back and forth
between the mid-1970’s when two young women were murdered and the present day
when a co-ed has disappeared, bearing an eerie similarity to the earlier
cases. Sara and Will are in the early
stages of a relationship, Will still married to, though separated from and
mostly estranged from, his childhood protector, the ever psychotic Angie who
continues to stalk Will and Sara, leaving Sara threatening notes almost daily
on her windshield. As Amanda and her
partner Faye investigate the murders in the seventies, they are unwittingly
telling Will’s story and his family history, a history Sara knows very little
of; she is patient with Will and wants him to tell the story in his own time,
but before long, his past comes crashing into the present with alarming speed
and surprising results and when it seems that all is said and done, Amanda and
Angie each have one last surprise for everyone.
Will and Sara have been readers’ favorites for a long time, in their
individual series and when they have helped each other out on cases in the
past, but Criminal throws then
together in new and intimate ways, exposing Will, and Amanda, in ways that make
them even more realized than before. Add
a break neck pace and murder investigations spanning four decades and this is
one of Slaughter’s best books to date.
Just Jennifer
Bellwether Revivals by Benjamin Wood (Riverhead Books, June
2012)
A startling prologue depicting a scene of death and
confusion is juxtaposed next to the first scene in which twenty-year-old Oscar
Lowe, a caregiver at Cedarbrook Nursing Home, wanders into a Cambridge chapel, lured in by the sounds of
Eden Bellwether’s hypnotic organ playing.
There Oscar meets, and falls in love with Eden ’s
younger sister Iris, a medical student who wants Oscar’s help in proving that Eden is mentally
ill. Eden is a gifted musician who believes that
musical therapy can hypnotize and cure physical ailments, including Iris’s
broken leg and a psychologist’s brain tumor.
As Eden ’s
obsession to cure grows, so does his madness and so his decline begins into a
madness that no one, not even Iris can stop.
Wood’s prose is as lyrical as Eden’s music as he envelopes all of the
reader’s senses with his descriptions of the sights, smells, and most
importantly, the sounds, Oscar experiences as he is drawn into this gothic
family. Even though the end is
inevitable, and the results displayed in the prologue, there is a palpable
tension present as Oscar watches hopelessly as Eden, and Iris by association,
spiral out of control in this wonderfully atmospheric first
novel.
Just Jennifer
The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty (Riverhead Books, June 2012)
What starts out as the story of the woman who accompanied a
young Louise Brooks from Kansas to New York City where she first attended dance
school, quickly becomes the story of a woman who has lost her past, given up
her present and has little hope for the future until the summer of 1922. Cora Carlisle agrees to chaperone an eager
teenage Louise Brooks for the summer as she travels to New York City to do what
she has always longed to do, dance, with dreams of becoming a star on
stage. Louise’s story become predictable
as the fifteen-year-old wants to experience everything New York has to offer,
though she has had very little experience in life back in Wichita, Kansas. Cora’s story quickly unravel as we learn she
was born in New York and raised in a Catholic orphanage who sent trains west on
a regular basis. As Cora’s quest to find
her birth family unfolds, she finds herself facing a moral situation she never
imagined and finds herself making choices that would be unthinkable to the old
Cora. Returning to her life in Kansas,
we learn that things were not as they seemed for Cora, and they will remain so
to the public, but finally Cora will be happy and satisfied with her life. Louise makes another appearance after her
short stint in movies, back home, broken and very much alone, as Cora makes a visit
to her, not to judge Louise for her choices but to offer
her a look at what might have beens can become if a path other than the
conventional one is chosen. Some may
find Cora’s choices ridiculous until they are placed in the context of early
twentieth-century mid-west America.
While historical fiction fans and those who enjoy fictionalized
biographies will find much to enjoy here, the story goes much deeper as it
becomes Cora’s, expanding the appeal to a broader audience.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee
Stars: 5
Review by: Bookworm237
There's a reason this book is a classic. Set in 1930's Alabama, it's the story of a young girl nicknamed Scout and her transformation from innocent childhood to the harsh and cruel world that adults live in. Scout is fortunate to have her father, Atticus, guiding her through this time with his heartfelt and deep life lessons. The story is about racism and the prejudices that adults tolerate, and how we create a world that innocent children are subjected to and cannot understand. Atticus is ahead of his time in the 30's, and backs up his words when he defends an African-American man on trial for his life when a white girl and her father accuse him of rape. The book's title becomes extremely meaningful and clear in the last few chapters of the story, when parts 1 and 2 come together full circle. We could all stand to take a lesson from Atticus. It's such an amazing book. I cannot recommend it enough.
Stars: 5
Review by: Bookworm237
There's a reason this book is a classic. Set in 1930's Alabama, it's the story of a young girl nicknamed Scout and her transformation from innocent childhood to the harsh and cruel world that adults live in. Scout is fortunate to have her father, Atticus, guiding her through this time with his heartfelt and deep life lessons. The story is about racism and the prejudices that adults tolerate, and how we create a world that innocent children are subjected to and cannot understand. Atticus is ahead of his time in the 30's, and backs up his words when he defends an African-American man on trial for his life when a white girl and her father accuse him of rape. The book's title becomes extremely meaningful and clear in the last few chapters of the story, when parts 1 and 2 come together full circle. We could all stand to take a lesson from Atticus. It's such an amazing book. I cannot recommend it enough.
Alice On Board
Author:
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Stars: 2
Review by: Tartu
This series is getting a little drawn out and predictable.
Stars: 2
Review by: Tartu
This series is getting a little drawn out and predictable.
Drop Dead Chocolate: A Donut Shop Mystery
Author:
Jessica Beck
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
The latest edition to the Donut Shop Mysteries. Combine donuts, mayoral elections, murder, love and longing and you get Drop Dead Chocolate. Another light, fun summer read. Keep your eyes open for the next installment, Powdered Peril, coming soon.
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
The latest edition to the Donut Shop Mysteries. Combine donuts, mayoral elections, murder, love and longing and you get Drop Dead Chocolate. Another light, fun summer read. Keep your eyes open for the next installment, Powdered Peril, coming soon.
Snowy Night with a Stranger
Author:
Jane Feather
Stars: 2
Review by: Saraswati
This book contains three stories: A Holiday Gamble by Jane Feather, When Sparks Fly by Sabrina Jeffries and Snowy Night with a Highlander by Julia London. All of these are historical romances based around the theme of spending a snowy night with a stranger, falling in love, and happiness ever after. As with many short stories, things move too fast without much substance. These are quick and cooling reads.
Stars: 2
Review by: Saraswati
This book contains three stories: A Holiday Gamble by Jane Feather, When Sparks Fly by Sabrina Jeffries and Snowy Night with a Highlander by Julia London. All of these are historical romances based around the theme of spending a snowy night with a stranger, falling in love, and happiness ever after. As with many short stories, things move too fast without much substance. These are quick and cooling reads.
Lone Wolf
Author: Jodi Picoult
Stars: 4
Review by: Jambob
My dad passed away last month from a massive heart attack that left him on life support for 2 weeks. I am grieving his passing as his only child but I reflect back on the decisions I needed to make for his care at the time. Although I was surrounded by family members they were ultimately my decisions. What agony! I could have read clinical books about the circumstance, instead I read this fictional account of a man whose life ambition was to understand wolves by entering a wolf pack himself and living in the wild. Actually a man has entered a wolf pack in real life. This author intersperses the lives of the people involved with the man's health condition in ICU due to brain death following a vehicle accident; his estranged son, loving guilt-ridden daughter, divorced wife and aspects of his own life as he learns about wolf relationships in the wild. For anyone who had to face the daunting and haunting task of making medical decisions for a loved one I highly recommend reading this book. For others who are fascinated by wolf behavior or how dysfunctional families may heal...this book is filled with treasures. Our families are all dysfunctional in one way or another and by varying degrees and you may be called upon to make life/death decisions for someone in your care. The author fleshes out the complexities of this gut-wrenching situation and the family dynamics which surround it. I finished the book and had a good cry then began reflecting more deeply on my own circumstances.
Stars: 4
Review by: Jambob
My dad passed away last month from a massive heart attack that left him on life support for 2 weeks. I am grieving his passing as his only child but I reflect back on the decisions I needed to make for his care at the time. Although I was surrounded by family members they were ultimately my decisions. What agony! I could have read clinical books about the circumstance, instead I read this fictional account of a man whose life ambition was to understand wolves by entering a wolf pack himself and living in the wild. Actually a man has entered a wolf pack in real life. This author intersperses the lives of the people involved with the man's health condition in ICU due to brain death following a vehicle accident; his estranged son, loving guilt-ridden daughter, divorced wife and aspects of his own life as he learns about wolf relationships in the wild. For anyone who had to face the daunting and haunting task of making medical decisions for a loved one I highly recommend reading this book. For others who are fascinated by wolf behavior or how dysfunctional families may heal...this book is filled with treasures. Our families are all dysfunctional in one way or another and by varying degrees and you may be called upon to make life/death decisions for someone in your care. The author fleshes out the complexities of this gut-wrenching situation and the family dynamics which surround it. I finished the book and had a good cry then began reflecting more deeply on my own circumstances.
Defending Jacob
Author:
William Landay
Stars: 4
Review by: Judy
An interesting novel that combines a courtroom trial with upsetting family dynamics.
Stars: 4
Review by: Judy
An interesting novel that combines a courtroom trial with upsetting family dynamics.
A Lucky Irish Lad
Author: Kevin O'Hara
Stars: 3
Review by: BKF
A charming memoir. Four year old Kevin sets sail for America in 1953 with his parents and four siblings, settling in Pittsfield, MA. Three additional siblings,born in America, would be affectionately referred to as "the Yanks." The book is comprised of stories of his youth up to 1973. An engaging read.
Stars: 3
Review by: BKF
A charming memoir. Four year old Kevin sets sail for America in 1953 with his parents and four siblings, settling in Pittsfield, MA. Three additional siblings,born in America, would be affectionately referred to as "the Yanks." The book is comprised of stories of his youth up to 1973. An engaging read.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
All the World's Mornings
Author:
Pascal Quignard
Stars: 5
Review by: BookDancer
When I recently saw the highly acclaimed and profoundly moving French film, All the Mornings of the World (1991), it immediately went on my "all-time favorites" list of movies. It is about the relationship of 2 French musicians in the late 17th century. The book upon which it is based is a slim paperback, difficult to obtain but so worth the effort. Most of the time, it's better to read a book before seeing the movie. In the case of All the World's Mornings, see the movie first if you can because of the stunning musical score and tremendous acting, although the book can stand alone as a richly textured and unforgettable account of love, passion and music set in the historical context of 17th century France.
Stars: 5
Review by: BookDancer
When I recently saw the highly acclaimed and profoundly moving French film, All the Mornings of the World (1991), it immediately went on my "all-time favorites" list of movies. It is about the relationship of 2 French musicians in the late 17th century. The book upon which it is based is a slim paperback, difficult to obtain but so worth the effort. Most of the time, it's better to read a book before seeing the movie. In the case of All the World's Mornings, see the movie first if you can because of the stunning musical score and tremendous acting, although the book can stand alone as a richly textured and unforgettable account of love, passion and music set in the historical context of 17th century France.
Fifty Shades of Grey
Author:
E. L. James
Stars: 3
Review by: Barbie
I think almost everything has been said about this book, a book for the Bachelor/Bachelorette fans. I do worry that young people reading it, especially young girls, will think that a relationship like this is the norm, and then find it acceptable to enter into.
Stars: 3
Review by: Barbie
I think almost everything has been said about this book, a book for the Bachelor/Bachelorette fans. I do worry that young people reading it, especially young girls, will think that a relationship like this is the norm, and then find it acceptable to enter into.
Betrayal
Author:
Danielle Steel
Stars: 3
Review by: deckreader
A successful woman director is betrayed by two of her most trusted friends/coworkers.
Stars: 3
Review by: deckreader
A successful woman director is betrayed by two of her most trusted friends/coworkers.
Four Pictures by Emily Carr
Author:
Nicolas Debon
Stars: 4
Review by: Elaine
Anyone who is an artist would enjoy this graphic novel.
Stars: 4
Review by: Elaine
Anyone who is an artist would enjoy this graphic novel.
Man and Wife
Author:
Tony Parsons
Stars: 2
Review by: BookHunter
Could have been a little more exciting - dull at times but a happy ending.
Stars: 2
Review by: BookHunter
Could have been a little more exciting - dull at times but a happy ending.
Red Hot Murder: An Angie Amalfi Mystery
Author:
Joanne Pence
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
Just found out from the author's website that this is the next to the last book out in this series (author is planning her own wedding). This takes Angie and Paavo to an Arizona town where Paavo went to visit in his youth. Add western folklore, secrets, cooking and misadventure and you get a fun, easy mystery. It can be difficult to feel sorry for Angie since she's rich enough to do the things that she does. Must be nice. Still this is fiction...
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
Just found out from the author's website that this is the next to the last book out in this series (author is planning her own wedding). This takes Angie and Paavo to an Arizona town where Paavo went to visit in his youth. Add western folklore, secrets, cooking and misadventure and you get a fun, easy mystery. It can be difficult to feel sorry for Angie since she's rich enough to do the things that she does. Must be nice. Still this is fiction...
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Due or Die
Author: Jenn McKinlay
Stars: 3
Review by: libraryaimee
The second in the Library Lovers Mystery series. How could I resist a book about a librarian solving murder mysteries in her hometown?
Stars: 3
Review by: libraryaimee
The second in the Library Lovers Mystery series. How could I resist a book about a librarian solving murder mysteries in her hometown?
Courting Disaster: An Angie Amalfi Mystery
Author:
Joanne Pence
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
Next to the last installment, at this time, of the Angie series. Again, light, fun mystery. This one features her neighbor/friend Stan, a mystery woman and a baby. Angie's "investigation" collides with her fiancee, Paavo's, investigation and leads to craziness. All before the big engagement party.
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
Next to the last installment, at this time, of the Angie series. Again, light, fun mystery. This one features her neighbor/friend Stan, a mystery woman and a baby. Angie's "investigation" collides with her fiancee, Paavo's, investigation and leads to craziness. All before the big engagement party.
The Lost Years
Author:
Mary Higgins Clark
Stars: 3
Review by: deckreader
A double mystery about a missing priceless document and a murder. A good read.
Stars: 3
Review by: deckreader
A double mystery about a missing priceless document and a murder. A good read.
Two Cooks a Killing: An Angie Amalfi Mystery
Author: Joanne Pence
Stars: 2
Review by: Saraswati
Towards the end of the Angie series, this is another fun, light, mystery and mayhem book about Angie, her fiancee and friends. Cool recipes are at the end of the book. This one combines an old soap opera reunion, a rich, bad winemaker, murder and Christmas in April.
Stars: 2
Review by: Saraswati
Towards the end of the Angie series, this is another fun, light, mystery and mayhem book about Angie, her fiancee and friends. Cool recipes are at the end of the book. This one combines an old soap opera reunion, a rich, bad winemaker, murder and Christmas in April.