Author:
Ransom Riggs
Stars:
5
Review by: BookDancer
Marvelous fantasy; so completely different. Can't wait for the sequel!
Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
The Tao of Pooh
Author:
Benjamin Hoff
Stars: 5
Review by: BookWorm2
A fantastic introduction to Taoism using examples from the Winnie the A.A. Milne Pooh novels. A fast, fantastic, and informative read that should not be missed.
Stars: 5
Review by: BookWorm2
A fantastic introduction to Taoism using examples from the Winnie the A.A. Milne Pooh novels. A fast, fantastic, and informative read that should not be missed.
Safe Haven
Author:
Nicholas Sparks
Stars: 5
Review by: Page Turner
The reason I gave this book a 5 was because it takes place in Southport, NC - our vacation home.
i was there while they shot the film and saw the stars etc. It was extremely exciting and if you look close you may see me in the movie
Stars: 5
Review by: Page Turner
The reason I gave this book a 5 was because it takes place in Southport, NC - our vacation home.
i was there while they shot the film and saw the stars etc. It was extremely exciting and if you look close you may see me in the movie
The House I Loved
Author:
Tatiana De Rosnay
Stars: 2
Review by: NancyW421
This book had good description of Paris, but I felt there could have been more action and point to the story.
Stars: 2
Review by: NancyW421
This book had good description of Paris, but I felt there could have been more action and point to the story.
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter
Author:
Tom Franklin
Stars: 5
Review by: NancyW421
This book was easy to read, with great descriptive writing. It stayed with me. I think of it as a mystery where the reader gets obvious hints about what happened, as the story unfolds, but the drama is in waiting for the characters to figure it out.
Stars: 5
Review by: NancyW421
This book was easy to read, with great descriptive writing. It stayed with me. I think of it as a mystery where the reader gets obvious hints about what happened, as the story unfolds, but the drama is in waiting for the characters to figure it out.
In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin
Author:
Erik Larson
Stars: 5
Review by: Barbie
Wow, I felt like I was part of the family and scene. Lots of interesting facts put together to make a wonderful story read.
Stars: 5
Review by: Barbie
Wow, I felt like I was part of the family and scene. Lots of interesting facts put together to make a wonderful story read.
It's Time to Sleep, My Love
Author:
Nancy Tillman
Stars: 5
Review by: jlb
Lovely book for children-beautiful pictures.
Stars: 5
Review by: jlb
Lovely book for children-beautiful pictures.
Lost & Found
Author:
Jayne Ann Krentz
Stars: 4
Review by: L.Z.
Picked this up at the suggestion of the librarian...as she promised, it was a fun mystery. it did include more "romance" than i'd anticipated or would have chosen, but not so much that you'd have lost any of the story when you skip it. i'll likely look for more of her work to read again soon!
Stars: 4
Review by: L.Z.
Picked this up at the suggestion of the librarian...as she promised, it was a fun mystery. it did include more "romance" than i'd anticipated or would have chosen, but not so much that you'd have lost any of the story when you skip it. i'll likely look for more of her work to read again soon!
Plum Spooky
Author:
Janet Evanovich
Stars: 3
Review by: Marian
Another fun book from a different Evanovich series.
Stars: 3
Review by: Marian
Another fun book from a different Evanovich series.
When She Was Good
Author:
Laura Lippman
Stars: 4
Review by: Tartu
I didn't enjoy this as much as her other stand-alones. I think reading the short stories that featured Helen/Heloise might give more character insight.
Stars: 4
Review by: Tartu
I didn't enjoy this as much as her other stand-alones. I think reading the short stories that featured Helen/Heloise might give more character insight.
Wicked Business: A Lizzy and Diesel Novel
Author:
Janet Evanovich
Stars: 3
Review by: Marian
It's a fun read. Evanovich incorporates some strange characters and interesting places.
Stars: 3
Review by: Marian
It's a fun read. Evanovich incorporates some strange characters and interesting places.
The Descendants
Author:
Kaui Hart Hemmings
Stars: 3
Review by: Mich D
About a man with two girls who has to say goodbye to his wife. This was the book the George Clooney movie was based on. My uncle said he thought it was funny, I just thought it was sad.
Stars: 3
Review by: Mich D
About a man with two girls who has to say goodbye to his wife. This was the book the George Clooney movie was based on. My uncle said he thought it was funny, I just thought it was sad.
The Imperfectionist
Author:
Tom Rachman
Stars: 3
Review by: Mich D
Several short stories that each focus on one character that works for a foreign newspaper. In between are chapters that talk about the history of the paper. Funny, sad; all the characters are flawed, but some have winning characteristics.
Stars: 3
Review by: Mich D
Several short stories that each focus on one character that works for a foreign newspaper. In between are chapters that talk about the history of the paper. Funny, sad; all the characters are flawed, but some have winning characteristics.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
The Virgin Cure
Author:
Ami McKay
Stars: 4
Review by: Pam B
A novel about a 12 year old girl ("sold" into servitude by her mother) and her adventures in 1871 New York City.
Stars: 4
Review by: Pam B
A novel about a 12 year old girl ("sold" into servitude by her mother) and her adventures in 1871 New York City.
How to Survive Being a Presbyterian
Author:
Bob Reed
Stars: 3
Review by: Little Red Hen
I was raised in this denomination and laughed and laughed at the truth of the descriptions. It was written with humor and with great affection and appreciation for the history of these traditions and beliefs.
Stars: 3
Review by: Little Red Hen
I was raised in this denomination and laughed and laughed at the truth of the descriptions. It was written with humor and with great affection and appreciation for the history of these traditions and beliefs.
Mission to Paris
Author:
Alan Furst
Stars: 2
Review by: Little Red Hen
I like reading about WWII especially behind the scenes little-known stories. I found this disappointing and unbelievable.
Stars: 2
Review by: Little Red Hen
I like reading about WWII especially behind the scenes little-known stories. I found this disappointing and unbelievable.
The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection
Author:
Alexander McCall Smith
Stars: 5+
Review by: Liza
I adore this series of books, and am so happy when I see another is published. Mma Ramotswe is one of my very favorite characters. I wish I had her for an auntie.
Stars: 5+
Review by: Liza
I adore this series of books, and am so happy when I see another is published. Mma Ramotswe is one of my very favorite characters. I wish I had her for an auntie.
Pope John XXIII
Author:
Thomas Cahill
Stars: 5
Review by: nanibev
This book starts with a history of the papacy, highlighting the actions of several of the most influential Popes.
It then provides a study of the life and career of Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli prior to his election as the 258th leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Cahill presents a study of the papacy of John, the kind of Pope he was, his plans and dreams for the ecumenical council that he called, and what happened after his death.
John XXlll's life and papacy are truly an inspiration and source of hope for the future.
So worth reading.
Stars: 5
Review by: nanibev
This book starts with a history of the papacy, highlighting the actions of several of the most influential Popes.
It then provides a study of the life and career of Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli prior to his election as the 258th leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Cahill presents a study of the papacy of John, the kind of Pope he was, his plans and dreams for the ecumenical council that he called, and what happened after his death.
John XXlll's life and papacy are truly an inspiration and source of hope for the future.
So worth reading.
A Pizza to Die For: A Pizza Lovers Mystery
Author:
Chris Cavender
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This story has the sisters coming out of their shell a little more while they make pizza and solve a murder mystery. A funny part of the book is when one sister asks the other about why she isn't reading her craft cozy mysteries and doing crafts anymore. The sister replies the author stopped writing them so she lost interest. Then goes on to explain she emailed the author and got a response with an explanation that she goes into. What a coincidence that the author also wrote craft cozy mysteries and no longer does...
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This story has the sisters coming out of their shell a little more while they make pizza and solve a murder mystery. A funny part of the book is when one sister asks the other about why she isn't reading her craft cozy mysteries and doing crafts anymore. The sister replies the author stopped writing them so she lost interest. Then goes on to explain she emailed the author and got a response with an explanation that she goes into. What a coincidence that the author also wrote craft cozy mysteries and no longer does...
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
Midnight Guardians
Author:
Jonathon King
Stars: 3
Review by: BigDa
A no-nonsense mystery, with a believable plot.
Stars: 3
Review by: BigDa
A no-nonsense mystery, with a believable plot.
Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything
Author:
Joshua Foer
Stars: 2
Review by: bd
Learned a few things, but the book was not exactly what it was described as being...it's more of a journalist's account about how he became a memory champion with a couple of facts thrown in. Some parts were very interesting and others were very skimmable.
Stars: 2
Review by: bd
Learned a few things, but the book was not exactly what it was described as being...it's more of a journalist's account about how he became a memory champion with a couple of facts thrown in. Some parts were very interesting and others were very skimmable.
Full Service
Author:
Scotty Bowers
Stars: 3
Review by: libraryaimee
A memoir of Scotty Bowers's time in Hollywood during the 40s and 50s. He slept with many, many celebrities--both men and women. He also procured others to sleep with celebrities. WAY dirtier than 50 Shades...!
Stars: 3
Review by: libraryaimee
A memoir of Scotty Bowers's time in Hollywood during the 40s and 50s. He slept with many, many celebrities--both men and women. He also procured others to sleep with celebrities. WAY dirtier than 50 Shades...!
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Author:
Paul Torday
Stars: 5
Review by: Smudge
Told through memos, diary entries, emails, and interviews, Salmon Fishing... is a funny story about faith and politics.
Stars: 5
Review by: Smudge
Told through memos, diary entries, emails, and interviews, Salmon Fishing... is a funny story about faith and politics.
Calling Invisible Women
Author:
Jeanne Ray
Stars: 5
Review by: Smudge
Maybe you're a little bit older, no longer vibrant. Perhaps you're taken a for granted. And you've taken some medications that don't mix well. Then, one day you are invisible. This book will make you laugh and make you feel good.
Stars: 5
Review by: Smudge
Maybe you're a little bit older, no longer vibrant. Perhaps you're taken a for granted. And you've taken some medications that don't mix well. Then, one day you are invisible. This book will make you laugh and make you feel good.
Stay of Execution
Author:
Quintin Jardine
Stars: 3
Review by: BigDa
Chapter 75 begins: "There were so many officers required..." So many of everything.
Stars: 3
Review by: BigDa
Chapter 75 begins: "There were so many officers required..." So many of everything.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln
Author:
Stephen L. Carter
Stars: 3
Review by: bd
Enjoyed the premise and the overall story, but the legal part was just not my thing.
Stars: 3
Review by: bd
Enjoyed the premise and the overall story, but the legal part was just not my thing.
Diary of a Stage Mother's Daughter
Author:
Melissa Francis
Stars: 3
Review by: Tartu
Cassandra, the adopted child from Little House on the Prairie grows up. The book was okay, but the mother didn't seem exceptionally dysfunctional which was the premise of the entire book.
Stars: 3
Review by: Tartu
Cassandra, the adopted child from Little House on the Prairie grows up. The book was okay, but the mother didn't seem exceptionally dysfunctional which was the premise of the entire book.
Summer in Tuscany
Author:
Elizabeth Adler
Stars: 4
Review by: Jambob
Like a cool sweet cappuccino on a hot summer day...Emergency room doctor from NYC finds herself thrown into Tuscany one summer to help her mom claim a villa as her inheritance. There is multi-generational romance....lovely italian towns and fine wine with pastries. Delicious! Bon Appettito!
Stars: 4
Review by: Jambob
Like a cool sweet cappuccino on a hot summer day...Emergency room doctor from NYC finds herself thrown into Tuscany one summer to help her mom claim a villa as her inheritance. There is multi-generational romance....lovely italian towns and fine wine with pastries. Delicious! Bon Appettito!
Joy for Beginners
Author:
Erica Bauermister
Stars: 4
Review by: Smudge
Each of the women's stories were enjoyable.
Stars: 4
Review by: Smudge
Each of the women's stories were enjoyable.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Summerland
Author:
Elin Hilderbrand
Stars: 2
Review by: Eleanor, Booklover
I don't like books that jump from character to character.
Stars: 2
Review by: Eleanor, Booklover
I don't like books that jump from character to character.
Back Fire: An FBI Thriller
Author:
Catherine Coulter
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
The latest Sherlock & Savich novel. More links coming together from past cases and intertwining the characters. Typical Coulter style but still a good read.
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
The latest Sherlock & Savich novel. More links coming together from past cases and intertwining the characters. Typical Coulter style but still a good read.
Time Untime: A Dark-Hunters Novel
Author:
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This is the latest installation in this series and it is part of Kenyon's branch out to other pantheons. This is the story of Kateri & Ren and the 2012 end-of-the-world band wagon. Started out difficult to get a hold of since there was a lot more back story to deal with but once it got started it was a fun read.
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This is the latest installation in this series and it is part of Kenyon's branch out to other pantheons. This is the story of Kateri & Ren and the 2012 end-of-the-world band wagon. Started out difficult to get a hold of since there was a lot more back story to deal with but once it got started it was a fun read.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Calling Invisible Women
Author:
Jeanne Ray
Stars: 4
Review by: Miss Lucy
I picked up this book without knowing anything about it, as I've loved all of Jeanne Ray's other books. This one is a bit atypical, though. Once you can mentally get past the silly premise, this is a fun, yet thought-provoking, book.
Stars: 4
Review by: Miss Lucy
I picked up this book without knowing anything about it, as I've loved all of Jeanne Ray's other books. This one is a bit atypical, though. Once you can mentally get past the silly premise, this is a fun, yet thought-provoking, book.
Beach Colors
Author:
Shelley Noble
Stars: 3
Review by: Miss Lucy
A nice little romance that takes place at the beach.
Stars: 3
Review by: Miss Lucy
A nice little romance that takes place at the beach.
War and Peace
Author:
Leo Tolstoy
Stars: 5+++++++++++
Review by: BKF
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Not much I can add to the general assesment by many who consider this book to be at the top of the list of the greatest books ever written.
Stars: 5+++++++++++
Review by: BKF
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Not much I can add to the general assesment by many who consider this book to be at the top of the list of the greatest books ever written.
Anatomy of an Illness
Author:
Norman Cousins
Stars: 5
Review by: Patti K
This, I believe, is a MUST READ for everyone. Not sure if the library has a copy (this was my personal copy) but it is probably the first book about the mind-body connection and its impact on your health and wellness. Cousins (former editor of the Saturday Review) was diagnosed with an incurable, degenerative, progressive disease of the spine/cartilage. He explains, in detail, the unique protocol he put together ~ including laughter ~ to not only overcome the pain but, ultimately, the disease itself. Wonderful book ~ again, EVERYONE should read this book.
Stars: 5
Review by: Patti K
This, I believe, is a MUST READ for everyone. Not sure if the library has a copy (this was my personal copy) but it is probably the first book about the mind-body connection and its impact on your health and wellness. Cousins (former editor of the Saturday Review) was diagnosed with an incurable, degenerative, progressive disease of the spine/cartilage. He explains, in detail, the unique protocol he put together ~ including laughter ~ to not only overcome the pain but, ultimately, the disease itself. Wonderful book ~ again, EVERYONE should read this book.
The Last Boyfriend
Author:
Nora Roberts
Stars: 5
Review by: Patti K
Love, Love, LOVE Nora Roberts ~ never fails to please. Can't wait for Book 3 of this Trilogy to come out.
Stars: 5
Review by: Patti K
Love, Love, LOVE Nora Roberts ~ never fails to please. Can't wait for Book 3 of this Trilogy to come out.
Summer Breeze
Author:
Nancy Thayer
Stars: 4
Review by: Barbie
A nice simple summer read with some good characters who discover what they really want in life.
Stars: 4
Review by: Barbie
A nice simple summer read with some good characters who discover what they really want in life.
Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict
Author:
Laurie Viera Rigler
Stars: 4
Review by: BookWorm2
A fantastic time travel tale about a 21st century woman waking up in the body of a 19th century woman in Jane Austen's England. A must read for all Austen fans.
Stars: 4
Review by: BookWorm2
A fantastic time travel tale about a 21st century woman waking up in the body of a 19th century woman in Jane Austen's England. A must read for all Austen fans.
Plain Truth
Author:
Jodi Picoult
Stars: 4
Review by: L.Z.
Not sure why I've ended up with so many Jodi Picoult books on my list this summer (probably because so many of them are being recommended here!), or why I even continued through my list to this one, since I have been unimpressed with the others I've gotten to...but, I am glad that I picked up this one. An interesting murder trial set in Amish country out in Lancaster...a book that draws you in and does not disappoint!
Stars: 4
Review by: L.Z.
Not sure why I've ended up with so many Jodi Picoult books on my list this summer (probably because so many of them are being recommended here!), or why I even continued through my list to this one, since I have been unimpressed with the others I've gotten to...but, I am glad that I picked up this one. An interesting murder trial set in Amish country out in Lancaster...a book that draws you in and does not disappoint!
Little Bee
Author:
Chris Cleave
Stars: 4
Review by: Carol
A most enjoyable read with a disappointing ending that left me "up in the air".
Stars: 4
Review by: Carol
A most enjoyable read with a disappointing ending that left me "up in the air".
Buried in Buttercream
Author:
G.A. McKevett
Stars: 3.5
Review by: mystery lover
Easy read but you didn't know how or who did it until the end
Stars: 3.5
Review by: mystery lover
Easy read but you didn't know how or who did it until the end
The Expats
Author:
Chris Pavone
Stars: 4
Review by: BigDa
After 100 pages, I thought I would need a spread-sheet to follow who's who, where the action takes place, and the time line, but it all worked out in the end.
Stars: 4
Review by: BigDa
After 100 pages, I thought I would need a spread-sheet to follow who's who, where the action takes place, and the time line, but it all worked out in the end.
In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin
Author:
Erik Larson
Stars: 4
Review by: Reader
Sometimes, felt like it dragged but basically a good book.
Stars: 4
Review by: Reader
Sometimes, felt like it dragged but basically a good book.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
There Is No Dog
Author: Meg Rosoff
Stars: 5
Review by: libraryaimee
A Young Adult book that imagines God as a teenage boy. The weather on earth is tied to his emotions!
Insightful and hilarious! Oh, he also has dyslexia!
Stars: 5
Review by: libraryaimee
A Young Adult book that imagines God as a teenage boy. The weather on earth is tied to his emotions!
Insightful and hilarious! Oh, he also has dyslexia!
A Brew to Kill
Author: Cleo Coyle
Stars: 5
Review by: Tartu
Always a great series; this time with a surprise mention of Hunterdon County.
Stars: 5
Review by: Tartu
Always a great series; this time with a surprise mention of Hunterdon County.
Touch-Me-Not
Author: Cynthia Riggs
Stars: 3
Review by: Kathy G.
This book reminded me of the TV show Murder, She Wrote. It takes place on Martha's Vineyard and has a number of local characters, similar to TV.
Stars: 3
Review by: Kathy G.
This book reminded me of the TV show Murder, She Wrote. It takes place on Martha's Vineyard and has a number of local characters, similar to TV.
Just Jennifer
Charlotte Markham and the House of Darkling by Michael
Boccacino (William Morrow, July 2012)
Fans of Jane Eyre will enjoy this creepier tale of the
Darrow boys whose mother is recently deceased and whose nanny has just been
found brutally murdered just outside their village of Blackfield. Charlotte Markham, who has been working for
Mr. Darrow, finds herself with two young charges, missing their mother and now
their nanny, terribly. On an outing in
the forest, the trio finds themselves in The Ending, where Lily Darrow is
waiting in the House of Darkling, a place as enchanted and mysterious as it is
foreboding and sinister. Charlotte can only imagine how much Lily misses her
boys, and knows how much the children miss their mother, and at first thinks
that while the house is strange it is not all bad to let the family have this
time together. As Charlotte realizes
quickly, Lily has made some unimaginable sacrifices in order to have some more
time with her children, but if Charlotte is not able to undo what has already
been set in motion, the Darrow’s fate will not be a good one, and neither will
hers.
Fans of Victorian Gothic tales of horror will find
themselves as quickly drawn into Then Ending as Charlotte and the Darrow
boys. Charlotte understands loss as most
of her family is gone and after her husband perishes in a terrible fire. Both creepy and delightful, this is not a
story to read before going to bed, or to paraphrase Charlotte, “every night
[you will dream] of the dead”.
Miss Me When I’m Gone by Emily Aresnault (William Morrow,
July 2012)
When Jamie’s best friend from college, author Gretchen
Waters, dies in a freak accident after falling down the library steps after a
lecture, Gretchen’s family asks Jamie, who is in the late stages of her first
pregnancy, to become Gretchen’s literary executor. Gretchen’s first memoir Tammyland, in which Gretchen wrote about her divorce using the
songs of classic country female legends such as Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and
Tammy Wynette as frames for her travels across the country. Gretchen’s next book was to be a similar
format using male country legends as she traced her search for her birth
father. As Jamie begins to read through
Gretchen’s notes, she realizes that Gretchen’s second memoir was not to be the
light-hearted, find yourself book the first one was and begins to think that a
murder that has been haunting Gretchen’s family for years may have finally come
back to finish what was started over twenty years ago. As Jamie races against the birth of her son,
she fills in the gaps of Gretchen’s childhood that Gretchen never shared with
her friend and hopes against hope that Gretchen left her what she needs in the
jumble of notebooks and interviews and that Jamie can untangle it so Gretchen
can rest in peace and her family can finally begin to heal.
This story about the bonds of friendships that are formed
when we are younger that never go away no matter how much time passes also
explores what obsesses us and how others’ obsessions become our own. Jamie and Gretchen were in much different
places in their lives when Gretchen died, Jamie struggling in her career as a
traditional copy editor at a print newspaper, married and expecting their first
child, Gretchen divorced from her college sweetheart and searching for the past
she lost as a child. Jamie takes on a
big responsibility when she agrees to be Gretchen’s literary executor, and she
doesn’t realizes just how big, but is willing to see it through as an old friend
of Gretchen’s to help her new friends and family grieve and come to terms with
not only Gretchen’s death, but with her life and how it shaped those closest to
her.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir)
Author: Jenny Lawson
Stars: 4
Review by: Miss Lucy
The author is off her rocker and also a very funny writer. Running throughout the book is evidence of her love/hate relationship with taxidermy and its results, but don't let that dissuade you. Her stories about her social skills (or lack thereof) are the best!
Stars: 4
Review by: Miss Lucy
The author is off her rocker and also a very funny writer. Running throughout the book is evidence of her love/hate relationship with taxidermy and its results, but don't let that dissuade you. Her stories about her social skills (or lack thereof) are the best!
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Vacation
Author: Matthew Costello
Stars: 2
Review by: BigDa
Not my cup of tea. Need to a)suspend belief and b)have a strong stomach.
Stars: 2
Review by: BigDa
Not my cup of tea. Need to a)suspend belief and b)have a strong stomach.
The Sleepy Hollow Family Almanac
Author: Kris D'Agostino
Stars: 2
Review by: libraryaimee
This book got great reviews--all of which referred to it as a funny book. But it wasn't funny. It was super depressing! I kept reading in hopes of getting to the happy parts, but I never did...and then the book ended!
Stars: 2
Review by: libraryaimee
This book got great reviews--all of which referred to it as a funny book. But it wasn't funny. It was super depressing! I kept reading in hopes of getting to the happy parts, but I never did...and then the book ended!
Annette Vallon
Author: James Tipton
Stars: 3
Review by: Smudge
Although little is known about Annette Vallon, Mr. Tipton has written a rather good novel about this heroine of the French Revolution and the mistress and muse of William Wordsworth. At times, the novel reads as slowly as a Wordsworth poem, at other times, especially when about the Reign of Terror and Mlle. Vallon's role in helping people escape, it moves quickly.
Stars: 3
Review by: Smudge
Although little is known about Annette Vallon, Mr. Tipton has written a rather good novel about this heroine of the French Revolution and the mistress and muse of William Wordsworth. At times, the novel reads as slowly as a Wordsworth poem, at other times, especially when about the Reign of Terror and Mlle. Vallon's role in helping people escape, it moves quickly.
Great Expectations
Author: Charles Dickens
Stars: 4.5
Review by: Barbie
I suppose that I must have read this in an earlier life, but.......
I did enjoy it this time around and found it to be witty and humorous at times. I loved the writing and flow of words. There is no wonder why this book has been around for so long. Now to watch the movie.
Stars: 4.5
Review by: Barbie
I suppose that I must have read this in an earlier life, but.......
I did enjoy it this time around and found it to be witty and humorous at times. I loved the writing and flow of words. There is no wonder why this book has been around for so long. Now to watch the movie.
Before I Wake
Author: Eric Bowman
Stars: 3
Review by: BigDa
The villain reminded me of Mr. Moriarty of Sherlock Holmes fame.
Stars: 3
Review by: BigDa
The villain reminded me of Mr. Moriarty of Sherlock Holmes fame.
Harmony's Way: A Novel of Paranormal Passion
Author: Lora Leigh
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This is another earlier book in the series that I missed. This is the story of Harmony (aka Death) and Lance and formed a mating pair. There are a lot of sub-stories here that didn't seem to finish out. Still an easy read.
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This is another earlier book in the series that I missed. This is the story of Harmony (aka Death) and Lance and formed a mating pair. There are a lot of sub-stories here that didn't seem to finish out. Still an easy read.
Dawn's Awakening: A Novel of the Feline Breeds
Author: Lora Leigh
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This is an earlier book in the series that I somehow missed. It's the story about Dawn and Seth and how they overcame their laboratory upbringing to mate. Easy summer read.
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This is an earlier book in the series that I somehow missed. It's the story about Dawn and Seth and how they overcame their laboratory upbringing to mate. Easy summer read.
One for the Money
Author: Janet Evanovich
Stars: 4
Review by: deckreader
Easy reading, a few laughs, still has serious parts of a murder mystery.
Stars: 4
Review by: deckreader
Easy reading, a few laughs, still has serious parts of a murder mystery.
The Best of Me
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Stars: 4
Review by: deckreader
Two people are brought together 25 years after their teenage romance. Kept my interest.
Stars: 4
Review by: deckreader
Two people are brought together 25 years after their teenage romance. Kept my interest.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
I've Got Your Number
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Stars: 5
Review by: Avid Reader
Hilarious. Couldn't put it down.
Stars: 5
Review by: Avid Reader
Hilarious. Couldn't put it down.
Tangerine
Author: Edward Bloor
Stars: 5
Review by: Avid Reader
This book was actually my son's summer reading choice. I highly recommend it to middle school aged kids.
Stars: 5
Review by: Avid Reader
This book was actually my son's summer reading choice. I highly recommend it to middle school aged kids.
Murder on the Orient Express
Author: Agatha Christie
Stars: 5
Review by: BookWorm2
A truly classic Poirot mystery. The ending was fantastic and the analysis of the plot ingenious.
Stars: 5
Review by: BookWorm2
A truly classic Poirot mystery. The ending was fantastic and the analysis of the plot ingenious.
Maine
Author: J. Courtney Sullivan
Stars: 4
Review by: bd
Even though some parts of this book hit a little too close to home, I enjoyed it and it got me to thinking about my own family circumstances. That said, I feel like there was something missing; like a buildup to something that never really materialized. I don't mind ambiguous endings, but maybe this was just a little too realistic in that many things weren't resolved or changed in any way at the end of the book. But I recommend it to anyone who grew up in an Irish-Catholic family.
Stars: 4
Review by: bd
Even though some parts of this book hit a little too close to home, I enjoyed it and it got me to thinking about my own family circumstances. That said, I feel like there was something missing; like a buildup to something that never really materialized. I don't mind ambiguous endings, but maybe this was just a little too realistic in that many things weren't resolved or changed in any way at the end of the book. But I recommend it to anyone who grew up in an Irish-Catholic family.
The Goodbye Quilt
Author: Susan Wiggs
Stars: 3
Review by: Marian
A nice read about the trip a mother and daughter make across country to take the daughter to college. Lots of thought and emotions are brought into the story. If you have been on this kind of trip you will recognize yourself.
Stars: 3
Review by: Marian
A nice read about the trip a mother and daughter make across country to take the daughter to college. Lots of thought and emotions are brought into the story. If you have been on this kind of trip you will recognize yourself.
James Herriot's Cat Stories
Author: James Herriot
Stars: 3
Review by: BKF
Endearing cat stories by the author of All Creatures Great and Small.
Stars: 3
Review by: BKF
Endearing cat stories by the author of All Creatures Great and Small.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Red Water
Author: Judith Freeman
Stars: 5
Review by: Marianne S.
Told from the POV of three Mormon sister-wives in late 1800's Utah, it relates the story of John Lee, the only man prosecuted and convicted in the Mountain Meadows Massacre, when a group of settlers traveling to California were ambushed by a group of Native Americans and Mormons.
Stars: 5
Review by: Marianne S.
Told from the POV of three Mormon sister-wives in late 1800's Utah, it relates the story of John Lee, the only man prosecuted and convicted in the Mountain Meadows Massacre, when a group of settlers traveling to California were ambushed by a group of Native Americans and Mormons.
Flash & Bones
Author: Kathy Reichs
Stars: 3
Review by: jcoward
I enjoy Kathy Reichs but this novel was predictable. I solved it well before the end.
Stars: 3
Review by: jcoward
I enjoy Kathy Reichs but this novel was predictable. I solved it well before the end.
Monday, August 13, 2012
In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin
Author: Erik Larson
Stars: 5
Review by: Dinah
Professor William Dodd becomes ambassador to Germany in 1933 and he moves to Berlin with his family. A part of history is seen through their experiences.
Stars: 5
Review by: Dinah
Professor William Dodd becomes ambassador to Germany in 1933 and he moves to Berlin with his family. A part of history is seen through their experiences.
House Rules
Author: Jodi Picoult
Stars: 3
Review by: L.Z.
This is the second Jodi Picoult book that I've read recently. Like the first, it drew me in enough that I did not want to stop reading, but I was disappointed by the end. Won't tell you why (don't want to give it away to those who might read it!), but it could have been better.
Stars: 3
Review by: L.Z.
This is the second Jodi Picoult book that I've read recently. Like the first, it drew me in enough that I did not want to stop reading, but I was disappointed by the end. Won't tell you why (don't want to give it away to those who might read it!), but it could have been better.
Columbo: The Glitter Murder
Author: William Harrington
Stars: 3
Review by: Jambob
For you Columbo fans....a little snappier than a Murder She Wrote mystery. Cheatin stealin husband gets his and Columbo gets his man....er....gal.
Stars: 3
Review by: Jambob
For you Columbo fans....a little snappier than a Murder She Wrote mystery. Cheatin stealin husband gets his and Columbo gets his man....er....gal.
Falling Angels
Author: Tracy Chevalier
Stars: 4
Review by: Lynne T.
This is my 5th Tracy Chevalier book. It doesn't matter what time period she writes about, I love her writing. This book deals with Edwardian England and it focuses on two families and their tragic lives...but it's also amusing somehow too.
Stars: 4
Review by: Lynne T.
This is my 5th Tracy Chevalier book. It doesn't matter what time period she writes about, I love her writing. This book deals with Edwardian England and it focuses on two families and their tragic lives...but it's also amusing somehow too.
Insurgent
Author: Veronica Roth
Stars: 4
Review by: Lynne T.
The second book in a trilogy (the third one is not out yet). The action and exciting plot continues in this Young Adult thriller. I enjoy the pace of these books and the characters!
Stars: 4
Review by: Lynne T.
The second book in a trilogy (the third one is not out yet). The action and exciting plot continues in this Young Adult thriller. I enjoy the pace of these books and the characters!
Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Stars: 4
Review by: Lynne T.
This is a Young Adult book, but it is a great read if you like dystopian future fantasy books. The characters are brutally realized, the pace is fast, and the action is great! (Very Hunger-Games-ish)
Stars: 4
Review by: Lynne T.
This is a Young Adult book, but it is a great read if you like dystopian future fantasy books. The characters are brutally realized, the pace is fast, and the action is great! (Very Hunger-Games-ish)
The Summer Without Men
Author: Siri Hustvedt
Stars: 4
Review by: Lynne T.
This book is a great read for the summer, because it takes place during that season, and it's a flawed but artistic treatment of a woman in her 50s struggling with her marriage troubles and reflecting on her mother's friends, her students, and her young neighbor. Her insights are refreshing.
Stars: 4
Review by: Lynne T.
This book is a great read for the summer, because it takes place during that season, and it's a flawed but artistic treatment of a woman in her 50s struggling with her marriage troubles and reflecting on her mother's friends, her students, and her young neighbor. Her insights are refreshing.
Savage Run
Author: C.J. Box
Stars: 3
Review by: BigDa
C.J.Box enhances the legend of Joe Pickett, a Wyoming game warden, in this thriller of a battle between wealthy ranchers and environmentalists.
Stars: 3
Review by: BigDa
C.J.Box enhances the legend of Joe Pickett, a Wyoming game warden, in this thriller of a battle between wealthy ranchers and environmentalists.
Gold
Author: Chris Cleave
Stars: 4
Review by: bookmom3
Interesting to read a book about the Olympics while simultaneously watching the Olympics!
Stars: 4
Review by: bookmom3
Interesting to read a book about the Olympics while simultaneously watching the Olympics!
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Author: Seth Grahame-Smith
Stars: 4
Review by: Mich D
Loved this! Uses actual facts from Lincoln's life but mixes in a vampire tale. Love the writing, love the premise! Read if you like vampire, zombie stories.
Stars: 4
Review by: Mich D
Loved this! Uses actual facts from Lincoln's life but mixes in a vampire tale. Love the writing, love the premise! Read if you like vampire, zombie stories.
1Q84
Author: Haruki Murakami
Stars: 3
Review by: Mich D
About a woman who finds herself in an alternate 1984. Characters collide back and forth in this book and there are quite a few interweaving stories. Read it if you like science fiction, but not if you think this will be like the originally book, 1984. Long, but good. Ending not great.
Stars: 3
Review by: Mich D
About a woman who finds herself in an alternate 1984. Characters collide back and forth in this book and there are quite a few interweaving stories. Read it if you like science fiction, but not if you think this will be like the originally book, 1984. Long, but good. Ending not great.
The Marriage Plot
Author: Jeffrey Eugenides
Stars: 1
Review by: Mich D
Horrible! About a college grad who falls in love with a guy that suffers from depression. But someone else falls in love with her. Annoying characters, not very likable, and I am not sure there really was a plot at all!
Stars: 1
Review by: Mich D
Horrible! About a college grad who falls in love with a guy that suffers from depression. But someone else falls in love with her. Annoying characters, not very likable, and I am not sure there really was a plot at all!
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Back of Beyond
Author: C.J. Box
Stars: 3
Review by: BigDa
Darn it! It took me till the end to realize that I had read it before.
Stars: 3
Review by: BigDa
Darn it! It took me till the end to realize that I had read it before.
The Chocolate Jewel: A Chocoholic Mystery #7
Author: JoAnna Carl
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This book in the series has Lee & her hubby adjusting to their new lives as a married couple. Unfortunately, their home is overrun with guests, the town is in a middle of a heat wave (not good for chocolate) and there is a murder mystery to solve. A fun summer read with snippets of chocolate related books in between.
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This book in the series has Lee & her hubby adjusting to their new lives as a married couple. Unfortunately, their home is overrun with guests, the town is in a middle of a heat wave (not good for chocolate) and there is a murder mystery to solve. A fun summer read with snippets of chocolate related books in between.
The Cut
Author: George Pelecanos
Stars: 4
Review by: BigDa
In short staccato-like scenes, The unlikely - but likeable - anti-hero (Spero Lucas)"investigates" a heist of marijuana in order to retrieve it and get "A Cut" from the hijackers.
Stars: 4
Review by: BigDa
In short staccato-like scenes, The unlikely - but likeable - anti-hero (Spero Lucas)"investigates" a heist of marijuana in order to retrieve it and get "A Cut" from the hijackers.
Friday, August 10, 2012
The Devil Amongst the Lawyers
Author: Sharyn McCrumb
Stars: 5
Review by: SCL
Excellent book. A murder trial in 1935 rural Virginia garners national attention. The "big city" reporters arrive along with Carl, the local boy looking to make it as a reporter. There is mystery about the crime, commentary on the press (that may apply today as well), and thought provoking insight into the private lives of the characters. I enjoyed each of the intertwining stories, and was satisified with the ending.
Stars: 5
Review by: SCL
Excellent book. A murder trial in 1935 rural Virginia garners national attention. The "big city" reporters arrive along with Carl, the local boy looking to make it as a reporter. There is mystery about the crime, commentary on the press (that may apply today as well), and thought provoking insight into the private lives of the characters. I enjoyed each of the intertwining stories, and was satisified with the ending.
Fly Away Home
Author: Jennifer Weiner
Stars: 3
Review by: Marian
A fine story and easy read about a mother and her two daughters who finally get to know each other in their adult years.
Stars: 3
Review by: Marian
A fine story and easy read about a mother and her two daughters who finally get to know each other in their adult years.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
The Boy in the Suitcase
Author: Lene Kaaberbol & Agnete Friis
Stars: 4.5
Review by: Miss Lucy
I get too scared reading thrillers, so I don't know what possessed me to pick up this book. But once I got started, I couldn't stop. This book is from Denmark and translated into English. It moves at a rapid pace and has some nice twists.
Stars: 4.5
Review by: Miss Lucy
I get too scared reading thrillers, so I don't know what possessed me to pick up this book. But once I got started, I couldn't stop. This book is from Denmark and translated into English. It moves at a rapid pace and has some nice twists.
Oxford Messed Up
Author: Andrea Kayne Kaufman
Stars: 4
Review by: Miss Lucy
What happens when a girl with OCD meets a recovering drug addict at Oxford, where they share a loo and a love for Van Morrison's music? Nice story with interesting characters.
Stars: 4
Review by: Miss Lucy
What happens when a girl with OCD meets a recovering drug addict at Oxford, where they share a loo and a love for Van Morrison's music? Nice story with interesting characters.
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Author: Ray Bradbury
Stars: 5
Review by: BookWorm2
A true classic and timeless in that it very well happen today. A must read for all.
Stars: 5
Review by: BookWorm2
A true classic and timeless in that it very well happen today. A must read for all.
The Girl Who Played with Fire
Author: Stieg Larsson
Stars: 4
Review by: Carol
I had no idea that Swedish people drink so much coffee.
Stars: 4
Review by: Carol
I had no idea that Swedish people drink so much coffee.
These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine
Author: Nancy Turner
Stars: 4
Review by: ddlesmom
Diary of Sarah Prine in settelment of Arizona Territory in 1780s.
Stars: 4
Review by: ddlesmom
Diary of Sarah Prine in settelment of Arizona Territory in 1780s.
The Kitchen House
Author: Kathleen Grissom
Stars: 4
Review by: ddlesmom
Life on a Virginia Tobacco Plantation in 1780's.
Stars: 4
Review by: ddlesmom
Life on a Virginia Tobacco Plantation in 1780's.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Home for a Spell: A Bewitching Mystery
Author: Madelyn Alt
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
The latest installment in this series has Maggie recouping from her last adventure and questioning the direction of her life. This leads to an adventure of murder and mystery. It had a slight feel that I read this before but it just came out. Fun, summer read.
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
The latest installment in this series has Maggie recouping from her last adventure and questioning the direction of her life. This leads to an adventure of murder and mystery. It had a slight feel that I read this before but it just came out. Fun, summer read.
Tight As a Tick
Author: Toni L.P. Kelner
Stars: 3
Review by: mystery lover
Good summer read with a good pace.
Stars: 3
Review by: mystery lover
Good summer read with a good pace.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Breasts: A Natural & Unnatural History
Author:
Florence Williams
Stars: 4
Review by: libraryaimee
A non-fiction look at the history of breasts. I am breast feeding a newborn now so the chapters on toxins in breast milk were particularly relevant!
Stars: 4
Review by: libraryaimee
A non-fiction look at the history of breasts. I am breast feeding a newborn now so the chapters on toxins in breast milk were particularly relevant!
The Penderwicks
Author:
Jeanne Birdsall
Stars: 5
Review by: KM
"A summer tale of four sisters, two rabbits, and a very interesting boy."
A delightfully old-fashioned children's story that is very well written. The author states she grew up wishing there were more good books to read--that by 10, 11 years old, she'd run out of books she enjoyed and that one day she would write her own.
Stars: 5
Review by: KM
"A summer tale of four sisters, two rabbits, and a very interesting boy."
A delightfully old-fashioned children's story that is very well written. The author states she grew up wishing there were more good books to read--that by 10, 11 years old, she'd run out of books she enjoyed and that one day she would write her own.
Behind the Scenes at the Museum
Author:
Kate Atkinson
Stars: 1
Review by: ADAR
I did not even finish listening to it. That is how much I did not like it.
Stars: 1
Review by: ADAR
I did not even finish listening to it. That is how much I did not like it.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Author:
Stieg Larsson
Stars: 4
Review by: Carol
Until I realized this is the first in a trilogy, I thought there wasn't enough emphasis on "the girl".
Stars: 4
Review by: Carol
Until I realized this is the first in a trilogy, I thought there wasn't enough emphasis on "the girl".
Grievous Angel
Author:
Quintin Jardine
Stars: 3
Review by: BigDa
A lot of Scottish idioms which delay a quick read.
Stars: 3
Review by: BigDa
A lot of Scottish idioms which delay a quick read.
The Chocolate Bridal Bash: A Chocoholic Mystery
Author:
JoAnna Carl
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This is the book where Lee and Joe get married. Nothing is ever that easy in a cozy read. This however, brings in a mystery that sent Lee's Mom a running over 30 yrs prior. Do wedding bells ring? Read and find out. There is a lot of the Author's personal notes about chocolate and her life throughout the book.
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This is the book where Lee and Joe get married. Nothing is ever that easy in a cozy read. This however, brings in a mystery that sent Lee's Mom a running over 30 yrs prior. Do wedding bells ring? Read and find out. There is a lot of the Author's personal notes about chocolate and her life throughout the book.
Better Read Than Dead: A Psychic Eye Mystery
Author:
Victoria Laurie
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This is an earlier book in the series. It has Abby struggling with her new Beau Dutch and her Psychic reading career. She winds up getting mixed up with a mob that Dutch is investigating and you know the style - murder, mystery and mayhem. Fun summer read.
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This is an earlier book in the series. It has Abby struggling with her new Beau Dutch and her Psychic reading career. She winds up getting mixed up with a mob that Dutch is investigating and you know the style - murder, mystery and mayhem. Fun summer read.
Knit One Pearl One
Author:
Gil McNeil
Stars: 3
Review by: ADAR
Never read any of this authors but I enjoyed it enough to try them.
Stars: 3
Review by: ADAR
Never read any of this authors but I enjoyed it enough to try them.
White As Snow
Author:
Tanith Lee
Stars: 4
Review by: Marianne S.
A beautiful reworking of the "Snow White" folktale crossed with the myth of Persephone.
Stars: 4
Review by: Marianne S.
A beautiful reworking of the "Snow White" folktale crossed with the myth of Persephone.
Blackwood Farm
Author:
Anne Rice
Stars: 1.5
Review by: Marianne S.
I haven't read anything by Anne Rice since the mid-90s, so when I drifted past this on the library shelves, I thought I might give it a try. Now I remember why I stopped reading Anne Rice. Ridiculous characters, who act unbelievably, even for vampires and witches.
Stars: 1.5
Review by: Marianne S.
I haven't read anything by Anne Rice since the mid-90s, so when I drifted past this on the library shelves, I thought I might give it a try. Now I remember why I stopped reading Anne Rice. Ridiculous characters, who act unbelievably, even for vampires and witches.
The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket
Author:
Edgar Allan Poe
Stars: 4
Review by: Marianne S.
A re-read. I didn't remember it as being as fragmented as it is.
Stars: 4
Review by: Marianne S.
A re-read. I didn't remember it as being as fragmented as it is.
Lethal
Author:
Sandra Brown
Stars: 4
Review by: Marian
A good quick read that takes place in the Bayous of Louisiana. The book is filled with twists and turns, corruption, betrayal and trust. Likeable characters with a story that will keep you interested right from the start.
Stars: 4
Review by: Marian
A good quick read that takes place in the Bayous of Louisiana. The book is filled with twists and turns, corruption, betrayal and trust. Likeable characters with a story that will keep you interested right from the start.
Honeymoon
Author:
James Patterson
Stars: 5
Review by: Patti K
This is turning out to be "The Summer of James Patterson" and I'm loving it. Loved this book, too.
Stars: 5
Review by: Patti K
This is turning out to be "The Summer of James Patterson" and I'm loving it. Loved this book, too.
The Unseen
Author:
Heather Graham
Stars: 3.5
Review by: Jambob
Ms. Graham is a prolific author who writes many crime solving mysteries with a supernatural flare...its not too over the top to make it unbeleiveable ...just enough intrigue to keep your interest on the darker side of the law with some romance throw in.
Stars: 3.5
Review by: Jambob
Ms. Graham is a prolific author who writes many crime solving mysteries with a supernatural flare...its not too over the top to make it unbeleiveable ...just enough intrigue to keep your interest on the darker side of the law with some romance throw in.
Come Home
Author:
Lisa Scottoline
Stars: 4
Review by: ADAR
Current topic as she usually does. Mystery where you do not know the answer until the very last page.
Stars: 4
Review by: ADAR
Current topic as she usually does. Mystery where you do not know the answer until the very last page.
Leonardo's Swans
Author:
Karen Essex
Stars: 5
Review by: Smudge
The story of Beatrice and Isabelle d'Este is one of power, decadance, and control set against the artistic and political changes taking place during Renaissance Italy. This makes the book interesting and enjoyable. In addition, the excerpts from Da Vinci's notebooks and the information about the art produced during this time are fascinating.
Stars: 5
Review by: Smudge
The story of Beatrice and Isabelle d'Este is one of power, decadance, and control set against the artistic and political changes taking place during Renaissance Italy. This makes the book interesting and enjoyable. In addition, the excerpts from Da Vinci's notebooks and the information about the art produced during this time are fascinating.
The Cottage at Glass Beach
Author:
Heather Barbieri
Stars: 4
Review by: libraryaimee
A novel for grown-ups about selkies!
Stars: 4
Review by: libraryaimee
A novel for grown-ups about selkies!
The Knife of Never Letting Go
Author:
Patrick Ness
Stars: 4
Review by: bd
A quick read...it falls under the young adult category and I was previewing it to see if my sons would be interested and was pleasantly surprised and intrigued enough to want to read the second one in the trilogy to see what happens.
Stars: 4
Review by: bd
A quick read...it falls under the young adult category and I was previewing it to see if my sons would be interested and was pleasantly surprised and intrigued enough to want to read the second one in the trilogy to see what happens.
50 Popular Beliefs That People Think Are True
Author:
Guy Harrison
Stars: 2
Review by: L.Z.
Read this based on the review of another summer reading club member. Honestly, I was disappointed. First, many of these "50 popular beliefs" are not *that* popular...I know very few people who even consider these things (like flying saucers) as possibilities. Second, although the author vehemently opposes many of these beliefs, and is adamant that the believer is responsible for proving them to be true, he does not do much to prove his theories, making it seem that he does not follow his own rules. (For example, he writes a scathing report of those who believe in creation, simply says that evolution is proof that creation is not true...but gives none of the evidence that he demands of others to "prove" evolution). Finally, his writing seems to indicate that he is one of those people who likes to be difficult, critical, and accusatory simply for the sake of being difficult, critical, and accusatory. I am not entirely convinced that he believes what he writes, but that his goal is to incite readers...if there are actually any who believe the myths that he speaks of.
Stars: 2
Review by: L.Z.
Read this based on the review of another summer reading club member. Honestly, I was disappointed. First, many of these "50 popular beliefs" are not *that* popular...I know very few people who even consider these things (like flying saucers) as possibilities. Second, although the author vehemently opposes many of these beliefs, and is adamant that the believer is responsible for proving them to be true, he does not do much to prove his theories, making it seem that he does not follow his own rules. (For example, he writes a scathing report of those who believe in creation, simply says that evolution is proof that creation is not true...but gives none of the evidence that he demands of others to "prove" evolution). Finally, his writing seems to indicate that he is one of those people who likes to be difficult, critical, and accusatory simply for the sake of being difficult, critical, and accusatory. I am not entirely convinced that he believes what he writes, but that his goal is to incite readers...if there are actually any who believe the myths that he speaks of.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Plum Lucky
Author:
Janet Evanovich
Stars: 3
Review by: Bernie
Light and very humorous. Living in New Jersey makes it more enjoyable.
Stars: 3
Review by: Bernie
Light and very humorous. Living in New Jersey makes it more enjoyable.
The 9th Judgment
Author:
James Patterson
Stars: 5
Review by: Larry Remaly
Great book! One of Patterson's best!
Stars: 5
Review by: Larry Remaly
Great book! One of Patterson's best!
Murder on the Half Shelf
Author:
Lorna Barrett
Stars: 3
Review by: Tartu
Mostly I like these mysteries, but sometimes I don't care for the characterizations.
Stars: 3
Review by: Tartu
Mostly I like these mysteries, but sometimes I don't care for the characterizations.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Just Jennifer
When Susannah realizes her fourteen-year-old daughter Kate
begins to engage in self-destructive behavior and her eleven-year-old son Quinn
is being bullied in school she decides to move her children to the northwest to
Sounder Island where life is simpler for a year. Susannah doesn’t realize the toll her
decision will take on herself, her children and her marriage to Matt, a man she
has loved for most of her life. On the
island, Susannah meets Betty who has been living on the island refuge for
almost fifty years. Betty has seen the
consequences of the decisions she made to live on the island and strikes up an
unexpected relationship with Susannah which helps both women come to peace with
their decisions and helps guide each toward forgiveness, most of all for
themselves. Isolated from almost
everything, Susannah and her children learn about each other and themselves
without the distractions of everyday life.
As new friendships are forged both women begin to heal and figure out
what is most important to each in her life.
Carson Forsyth is dying and he and his wife Elaine have
returned to her child hood home, a tree house high above a North Carolina lake. As Carson
faces his approaching death, Elaine tries to envision a life without Carson . What she doesn’t count on is Carson ’s mother Greta, who has not spoken to
Elaine in over twenty years. Greta has
just been arrested for setting a neighbor’s herd of alpacas loose and while Carson finds the
situation hilarious, Elaine is not sure what to make of the woman who never
accepted Elaine and Greta’s grandson Mick.
After Carson ’s
death, the three much must learn how to live without him and learn how they are
to create a family. When Mick learns his
family may be larger than he expected after a summer relationship with a local
girl, and Greta accuses Elaine that Mick is not Carson ’s son, both Mick and Elaine find
themselves questioning the lives they knew and the families they thought they
had. As the three grieve and learn to
live with their grief, their family goes through a kaleidoscope of changes as
they restructure their lives and relationships.
Margaux Sullivan had dreamed of being a top designer since
she read her first copy of a bridal magazine.
Her climb to the top has not come without cost, but she has finally made
it and her designs, under the house of M Atelier have been featured in Vogue and Marie Claire. Margaux,
however, did not pay as much attention to her husband as she did to the details
of her designs and is shocked to learn he has cleaned out their bank accounts
and left. She finds herself penniless
except for one car, her business completely repossessed, her life a shambles
and can think of only one place to retreat to lick her wounds, heal and
refocus, the coastal town of Crescent Cove, Connecticut, where she summered
with her family and where she had an annual crush on townie Nick Prescott who
is now the interim chief of police of Crescent Cove. Nick has also given up his dreams to return
home to Crescent Cove where he is taking care of his now orphaned nephew,
Connor. Together, with the nurturing of
their friends and families, these two lost souls will find their ways back to
themselves and to each other, learning to forgive and asking for forgiveness
along the way and learning what is really important. When Margaux has a chance to have it all back
again, she considers it until she realizes the cost of having it all, for
herself and for others. Shelley Noble
has drawn a warm town that welcomes strangers and returnees looking for
place. She takes Margaux and Nick on a
journey neither would have expected, of themselves or each other, and they both
are surprised to find they are each exactly where they
need to be.
Firefly Cloak
Author:
Sheri Reynolds
Stars: 2
Review by: ADAR
I listened to this book on CD. Good reader but I do not think I would have enjoyed reading it.
Stars: 2
Review by: ADAR
I listened to this book on CD. Good reader but I do not think I would have enjoyed reading it.
The Old Man and the Sea
Author:
Ernest Hemingway
Stars: 4
Review by: KM
Rated this a four, however, it felt more like an assignment for school. I just wasn't in the mood to read literature---more interested in light, fun stuff I guess. But, it is a classic and it was good to have read it. It *is* a good one for summer since it's about the sea and fishing.
Stars: 4
Review by: KM
Rated this a four, however, it felt more like an assignment for school. I just wasn't in the mood to read literature---more interested in light, fun stuff I guess. But, it is a classic and it was good to have read it. It *is* a good one for summer since it's about the sea and fishing.
That Strange Divine Sea
Author:
Christopher Derrick
Stars: 3
Review by: nanibev
This is a layman's (a very educated layman) look at what it means to be Catholic. There is a lot of food for thought but I wish he had followed through more on some of these thoughts. Certainly worth reading even if it does add more to the question side of things than the answers. At least they are good questions.
Stars: 3
Review by: nanibev
This is a layman's (a very educated layman) look at what it means to be Catholic. There is a lot of food for thought but I wish he had followed through more on some of these thoughts. Certainly worth reading even if it does add more to the question side of things than the answers. At least they are good questions.
The Ink Train
Author:
William Kennedy
Stars: 4
Review by: nanibev
If you are in the right mood, this is hilarias! If you have ever been on strike, you have a basis for identifying with the insanity.
Stars: 4
Review by: nanibev
If you are in the right mood, this is hilarias! If you have ever been on strike, you have a basis for identifying with the insanity.
A Month at the Shore
Author:
Antoinette Stockenberg
Stars: 5
Review by: Marian
An engaging romance and mystery that takes place on Cape Cod. The story includes 3 main characters - siblings- who stay together to try to revive a family business but who get caught up in a mystery of the past. Very enjoyable read, any time of the year.
Stars: 5
Review by: Marian
An engaging romance and mystery that takes place on Cape Cod. The story includes 3 main characters - siblings- who stay together to try to revive a family business but who get caught up in a mystery of the past. Very enjoyable read, any time of the year.
American Dervish
Author:
Ayad Akhtar
Stars: 4
Review by: Marianne S.
A coming of age story dealing with faith, non-belief, intolerance and cultural norms. Intriguing storyline let down by the ending.
Stars: 4
Review by: Marianne S.
A coming of age story dealing with faith, non-belief, intolerance and cultural norms. Intriguing storyline let down by the ending.
In the Neighborhood
Author:
Peter Loveheim
Stars: 5
Review by: Marian
This is a true story about a man who sets out to understand the community of his neighboorhood. The quest came after a murder-suicide took place in the neighborhood in which he grew up and still lived. He believed that no one really knew anyone else in this enclave and if they had, maybe someone would have been able to help the murder victim before it was too late. A very thought-provoking book, filled with wonderful insights.
Stars: 5
Review by: Marian
This is a true story about a man who sets out to understand the community of his neighboorhood. The quest came after a murder-suicide took place in the neighborhood in which he grew up and still lived. He believed that no one really knew anyone else in this enclave and if they had, maybe someone would have been able to help the murder victim before it was too late. A very thought-provoking book, filled with wonderful insights.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
One of Our Thursdays Is Missing
Author:
Jasper Fforde
Stars: 5
Review by: BookWorm2
The latest in the Thursday Next series and a triumph as always. This series is an absolute must for any book lover. It opens up a world inside the books and uncovers what happens when books are not being read.
Stars: 5
Review by: BookWorm2
The latest in the Thursday Next series and a triumph as always. This series is an absolute must for any book lover. It opens up a world inside the books and uncovers what happens when books are not being read.
Headstone
Author:
Ken Bruen
Stars: 3
Review by: BigDa
Ken Bruen chronicles the life of an Irish alkie as he bumbles his way through life, yet coming out smelling like roses in the end.
Stars: 3
Review by: BigDa
Ken Bruen chronicles the life of an Irish alkie as he bumbles his way through life, yet coming out smelling like roses in the end.
The Pillars of Hercules: A Grand Tour of the Mediterranean
Author:
Paul Theroux
Stars: 5
Review by: Little Red Hen
Hercules, strong as he was probably wouldn't have consulted Rick Steves before he cast two rocks creating the Pillars of Hercules. Neither did Paul Theroux who traveled from one pillar began at Gibralter the long way around the Mediterranean. This account gave me insights into the conditions of countries and places so much in our news such as Aleppo.I like learning about writers who lived and worked in Theroux's Mediterranean.
Stars: 5
Review by: Little Red Hen
Hercules, strong as he was probably wouldn't have consulted Rick Steves before he cast two rocks creating the Pillars of Hercules. Neither did Paul Theroux who traveled from one pillar began at Gibralter the long way around the Mediterranean. This account gave me insights into the conditions of countries and places so much in our news such as Aleppo.I like learning about writers who lived and worked in Theroux's Mediterranean.
Red Velvet Revenge: A Cupcake Bakery Mystery
Author:
Jenn McKinlay
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
The Cupcake team gets an opportunity to sell cupcakes at a rodeo during their slow business time. While trying to out sell a BBQ stand in the next vendor stall, the team get's caught solving a murder mystery. Easy read!
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
The Cupcake team gets an opportunity to sell cupcakes at a rodeo during their slow business time. While trying to out sell a BBQ stand in the next vendor stall, the team get's caught solving a murder mystery. Easy read!
The Body in the Cast: A Faith Fairchild Mystery
Author:
Katherine Hall Page
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
A movie comes to town and Faith will be the film's caterer. The book waits until at least 1/2 way before the bodies start being found. The side bar to this story is Faith's internal struggle with being a wife, mom and starting her new business.
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
A movie comes to town and Faith will be the film's caterer. The book waits until at least 1/2 way before the bodies start being found. The side bar to this story is Faith's internal struggle with being a wife, mom and starting her new business.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Sail
Author:
James Patterson
Stars: 1
Review by: ADAR
I have not read one of his books in a long time and it will be a long time before I try again. In fact if I had not been listening to it on a CD I would never have finished it.
Stars: 1
Review by: ADAR
I have not read one of his books in a long time and it will be a long time before I try again. In fact if I had not been listening to it on a CD I would never have finished it.
True Sisters
Author:
Sandra Dallas
Stars: 5+
Review by: ADAR
Like all of her books this was a great read and an entirely different subject than any others. About the Mormons and their journey to Salt Lake City.
Stars: 5+
Review by: ADAR
Like all of her books this was a great read and an entirely different subject than any others. About the Mormons and their journey to Salt Lake City.
State of Wonder
Author:
Ann Patchett
Stars: 4
Review by: Paula N
I thought it was slow going in the beginning but worth the effort in the end.
Stars: 4
Review by: Paula N
I thought it was slow going in the beginning but worth the effort in the end.
Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake
Author:
Anna Quindlen
Stars: 5
Review by: Little Red Hen
Anna Quindlen wrote her memoir as she reached 60 as a series of essays, looking back to the Fifties and ahead. This gave me a time perspective as a woman who has reached 75 and remembers those Fifties, but reads this book more from a woman of her mother's generation. Sometimes it was painful, and I didn't want to hear about how Anna never did own or would not own an iron or ironing board. Much of the way I lived from younger years was a total waste, I became convinced. But she becomes kinder and very human.
Stars: 5
Review by: Little Red Hen
Anna Quindlen wrote her memoir as she reached 60 as a series of essays, looking back to the Fifties and ahead. This gave me a time perspective as a woman who has reached 75 and remembers those Fifties, but reads this book more from a woman of her mother's generation. Sometimes it was painful, and I didn't want to hear about how Anna never did own or would not own an iron or ironing board. Much of the way I lived from younger years was a total waste, I became convinced. But she becomes kinder and very human.
The Red Chamber
Author:
Pauline A. Chen
Stars: 4
Review by: pla
This is a rewrite of an old Chinese classic. Good book!
Stars: 4
Review by: pla
This is a rewrite of an old Chinese classic. Good book!
Berried to the Hilt
Author:
Karen MacInerney
Stars: 3.5
Review by: Jambob
Third in the Gray Whale Inn Mystery series...warm and cozy with delicious recipes. Pirate ships, treasure, murder and mystery with a dash of romance....perfect summer read.
Stars: 3.5
Review by: Jambob
Third in the Gray Whale Inn Mystery series...warm and cozy with delicious recipes. Pirate ships, treasure, murder and mystery with a dash of romance....perfect summer read.
The Perfect Storm
Author:
Sebastian Junger
Stars: 5
Review by: BKF
Wonderful fact-based story of the lives of New Bedford sword fishermen and the storm that claimed many lives.
Stars: 5
Review by: BKF
Wonderful fact-based story of the lives of New Bedford sword fishermen and the storm that claimed many lives.
Mad Men Unbuttoned
Author:
Natasha Vargas-Cooper
Stars: 4
Review by: BKF
An interesting book about what was happening during the 60's, the decade in which Mad Men takes place. A perfect primer for all the references in the tv series that we either "don't get" or have forgotten.
Stars: 4
Review by: BKF
An interesting book about what was happening during the 60's, the decade in which Mad Men takes place. A perfect primer for all the references in the tv series that we either "don't get" or have forgotten.
Fever
Author:
Bill Pronzini
Stars: 4
Review by: BigDa
Following two private eyes around San Francisco and environs, as they interview suspects and witnesses, is like a guided tour of all the famous places.
Stars: 4
Review by: BigDa
Following two private eyes around San Francisco and environs, as they interview suspects and witnesses, is like a guided tour of all the famous places.
A Decadent Way to Die
Author:
G.A. McKevett
Stars: 3.5
Review by: mystery lover
This one is better than most of the others. It covered different ideas for the main characters instead of being the same as always.
Stars: 3.5
Review by: mystery lover
This one is better than most of the others. It covered different ideas for the main characters instead of being the same as always.
The Litigators
Author:
John Grisham
Stars: 3
Review by: Dinah
It was a refreshing read. Sometimes the good guys do win....
Stars: 3
Review by: Dinah
It was a refreshing read. Sometimes the good guys do win....
Sex, Murder and a Double Latte
Author:
Kyra Davis
Stars: 4
Review by: KM
A great beach read, or just for escaping, anytime.
Very similar to author Jennifer Crusie.
Stars: 4
Review by: KM
A great beach read, or just for escaping, anytime.
Very similar to author Jennifer Crusie.
Fifty Shades of Grey
Author:
E.L. James
Stars: 1
Review by: Mich D
I wanted to read this to see what the hype was all about, but I was disappointed. The writing wasn't great, the story wasn't great, the characters were annoying. I think that people don't realize that erotica books are available, and have been for awhile. Not impressed.
Stars: 1
Review by: Mich D
I wanted to read this to see what the hype was all about, but I was disappointed. The writing wasn't great, the story wasn't great, the characters were annoying. I think that people don't realize that erotica books are available, and have been for awhile. Not impressed.
The Age of Miracles
Author:
Karen Thompson Walker
Stars: 1.5
Review by: Miss Lucy
A coming of age story during a fictional time when the rotation of the earth is slowing. I thought both plot lines were weak and shallow. I don't understand why there is so much hype about this book.
Stars: 1.5
Review by: Miss Lucy
A coming of age story during a fictional time when the rotation of the earth is slowing. I thought both plot lines were weak and shallow. I don't understand why there is so much hype about this book.
Dirty Secret: A Daughter Comes Clean About Her Mother's Compulsive Hoarding
Author:
Jessie Sholl
Stars: 4.5
Review by: Miss Lucy
If someone in your life is a hoarder, then this is the book for you. Sholl combines anecdotes with what she has learned about hoarders. Follow her journey toward understanding her mother and accepting her mental illness. If you liked The Glass Castle, you will probably like this book as well.
Stars: 4.5
Review by: Miss Lucy
If someone in your life is a hoarder, then this is the book for you. Sholl combines anecdotes with what she has learned about hoarders. Follow her journey toward understanding her mother and accepting her mental illness. If you liked The Glass Castle, you will probably like this book as well.
At Home
Author:
Bill Bryson
Stars: 5
Review by: Smudge
Bill Bryson noticed a door in the attic of his English home that led to small area in the roof. It got him to thinking about houses, then research, and finally writing this book. Filled with interesting facts and anectdotes, this book is difficult to read straight through. However, if you have the time to pick it up, read, and digest, you will thoroughly enjoy At Home.
Stars: 5
Review by: Smudge
Bill Bryson noticed a door in the attic of his English home that led to small area in the roof. It got him to thinking about houses, then research, and finally writing this book. Filled with interesting facts and anectdotes, this book is difficult to read straight through. However, if you have the time to pick it up, read, and digest, you will thoroughly enjoy At Home.
Incognito
Author:
Gregory Murphy
Stars: 4
Review by: Smudge
This mystery, set in the Gilded Age, will appeal to both the reader of mysteries and the one who enjoys the life of the rich and famous of that period.
Stars: 4
Review by: Smudge
This mystery, set in the Gilded Age, will appeal to both the reader of mysteries and the one who enjoys the life of the rich and famous of that period.
Orange Is the New Black
Author:
Piper Kerman
Stars: 3
Review by: L.Z.
Read this based on the review of another reader. An "inside look" at the federal prison system through the eyes of a woman who spent a year there. Interesting, thought I'm not quite sure what I would say the "take away" or lesson from this book is.
Stars: 3
Review by: L.Z.
Read this based on the review of another reader. An "inside look" at the federal prison system through the eyes of a woman who spent a year there. Interesting, thought I'm not quite sure what I would say the "take away" or lesson from this book is.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
Author:
Julieanna Hever
Stars: 4
Review by: L.Z.
Easy to read and understand, very informative, with useful tips on making the move to (and sustaining) a plant based diet for you and your family.
Stars: 4
Review by: L.Z.
Easy to read and understand, very informative, with useful tips on making the move to (and sustaining) a plant based diet for you and your family.
When Ghosts Speak
Author:
Mary Ann Winkowski
Stars: 3
Review by: Marian
The author is the inspiration and consultant for the show The Ghost Whisperer. Her life's work is to communicate with earthbound spirits. The book tells her story.
Stars: 3
Review by: Marian
The author is the inspiration and consultant for the show The Ghost Whisperer. Her life's work is to communicate with earthbound spirits. The book tells her story.
Demons
Author:
Bill Pronzini
Stars: 3
Review by: BigDa
The Nameless Detective reluctantly accepts a case whose demons remind him of his own.
Stars: 3
Review by: BigDa
The Nameless Detective reluctantly accepts a case whose demons remind him of his own.
A Gathering of Old Men
Author:
Ernest J. Gaines
Stars: 5
Review by: line82
I bought it at the book sale. Couldn't put it down. Am bringing it to the beach to pass on to friends. A great book on Southern race relations.
Stars: 5
Review by: line82
I bought it at the book sale. Couldn't put it down. Am bringing it to the beach to pass on to friends. A great book on Southern race relations.
On Maggie's Watch
Author:
Ann Wertz Garvin
Stars: 4
Review by: line82
I bought it at the book sale. Entertaining, but a little predictable.
Stars: 4
Review by: line82
I bought it at the book sale. Entertaining, but a little predictable.
In Siberia
Author:
Colin Thubron
Stars: 3
Review by: line82
I bought this book at the book fair. I like to buy books about travel to places that I'll probably never get to visit. I learned a lot about Siberia, foremost that I probably don't want to visit Siberia.
Stars: 3
Review by: line82
I bought this book at the book fair. I like to buy books about travel to places that I'll probably never get to visit. I learned a lot about Siberia, foremost that I probably don't want to visit Siberia.
Thirteen: The Epic Finale to the Otherworld Series
Author:
Kelly Armstrong
Stars: 4
Review by: Saraswati
As the title states this is the last book in this series. It was interesting to read the Author's forward about what she expected of the series and what occurred. I felt like a neighbor was moving away. They will in your thoughts but not as much as when they were next door. This is also a special short story at the end to tie up a side story too. It does bring the youngest character to adulthood and leaves the door open for additional side stories.
Stars: 4
Review by: Saraswati
As the title states this is the last book in this series. It was interesting to read the Author's forward about what she expected of the series and what occurred. I felt like a neighbor was moving away. They will in your thoughts but not as much as when they were next door. This is also a special short story at the end to tie up a side story too. It does bring the youngest character to adulthood and leaves the door open for additional side stories.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Author:
Rebecca Skloot
Stars: 5
Review by: bookmom3
This didn't read like a typical non-fiction book. It wasn't dry at all and very interesting.
Stars: 5
Review by: bookmom3
This didn't read like a typical non-fiction book. It wasn't dry at all and very interesting.
The Sandcastle Girls
Author:
Chris Bohjalian
Stars: 4
Review by: Barbie
A well written, interesting, yet horrifying story of a couple that finds love in the midst of the Armenian genocide in 1915. Good characters.
Stars: 4
Review by: Barbie
A well written, interesting, yet horrifying story of a couple that finds love in the midst of the Armenian genocide in 1915. Good characters.
The 500
Author:
Matthew Quirk
Stars: 5
Review by: BigDa
"The 500" are the group of most influential men and women in Washington, D.C., who are also the easy marks for power hungry con men. Read it!
Stars: 5
Review by: BigDa
"The 500" are the group of most influential men and women in Washington, D.C., who are also the easy marks for power hungry con men. Read it!
Mozart's Last Aria
Author:
Matt Rees
Stars: 4
Review by: Smudge
An historical conspiracy theory on Mozart's death. This well researched and historically accurate whodunit was a good read, especially for Mozart lovers.
Stars: 4
Review by: Smudge
An historical conspiracy theory on Mozart's death. This well researched and historically accurate whodunit was a good read, especially for Mozart lovers.
Sundays at Tiffanys
Author:
James Patterson
Stars: 3
Review by: Patti K
Took me a while to get into it but glad I hung on for the journey. Enjoyable, easy read.
Stars: 3
Review by: Patti K
Took me a while to get into it but glad I hung on for the journey. Enjoyable, easy read.
The Weight of Heaven
Author:
Thrity Umrigar
Stars: 5
Review by: judyangel
I have read all of this authors books. She is an excellent writer. Her stories are thought provoking and true to reality.
Stars: 5
Review by: judyangel
I have read all of this authors books. She is an excellent writer. Her stories are thought provoking and true to reality.
Look Me in the Eye
Author:
John Elder Robison
Stars: 4
Review by: libraryaimee
A memoir by the brother of Augusten Burroughs. The brother with Asperger's Syndrome that Augusten refers to in his own memoirs. It was very interesting to read about the same events in Running with Scissors from the brother's perspective.
Stars: 4
Review by: libraryaimee
A memoir by the brother of Augusten Burroughs. The brother with Asperger's Syndrome that Augusten refers to in his own memoirs. It was very interesting to read about the same events in Running with Scissors from the brother's perspective.