Friday, August 31, 2012

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Author: Ransom Riggs
Stars: 5
Review by: BookDancer


Marvelous fantasy; so completely different.  Can't wait for the sequel!

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

It's Time to Sleep, My Love

Author: Nancy Tillman
Stars: 5
Review by: jlb


Lovely book for children-beautiful pictures.

Death of a Cad

Author: M.C. Beaton
Stars: 5
Review by: jlb


Interesting plot.

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!

Plum Spooky

Author: Janet Evanovich
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Starbucked

Author: Taylor Clark
Stars: 3
Review by: Pam B


A 2007 book about Starbucks.  Very thorough.

The Skeleton Box

Author: Bryan Gruley
Stars: 3
Review by: BigDa


A new author for me and a good story

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.

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.

High Five

Author: Janet Evanovich
Stars: 3
Review by: Avid Reader


Very Funny!

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.

Night and Day (Jesse Stone)

Author: Robert B. Parker
Stars: 4
Review by: nanibev


Really funny!

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.

Eragon (Inheritance, Book 1)

Author: Christopher Paolini
Stars: 3
Review by: nanibev

Fun fantasy.

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...

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Progress Thus Far

Click on image to enlarge.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Congratulations to...

... Little Red Hen, our Week #13 prize winner!!!

Incendiary

Author: Chris Cleave
Stars: 4
Review by: Carol

Unusual format; terrific read!

Friday, August 24, 2012

Midnight Guardians

Author: Jonathon King
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.

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...!

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.



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.

Stay of Execution

Author: Quintin Jardine
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.

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.

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!

Joy for Beginners

Author: Erica Bauermister
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.

Fifty Shades Darker

Author: E.L. James
Stars: 2
Review by: Barbie

What can I say?

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.

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.

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.

Beach Colors

Author: Shelley Noble
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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".

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

Plum Lovin'

Author: Janet Evanovich
Stars: 4
Review by: Bernie

Fun reading.

Run for Your Life

Author: James Patterson
Stars: 5
Review by: Larry Remaly

Very suspenseful.

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.

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.

Progress Thus Far

Click on image to enlarge.

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!

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.

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.

Congratulations to...

... Sarah F., our Week #12 Prize Winner!!!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

Before I Wake

Author: Eric Bowman
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.

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.

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.

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.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

I've Got Your Number

Author: Sophie Kinsella
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.   

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.

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.

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.

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!

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)

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.

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.

Gold

Author: Chris Cleave
Stars: 4
Review by: bookmom3

Interesting to read a book about the Olympics while simultaneously watching the Olympics!

Progress Thus Far

Click on graph to enlarge.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Congratulations to...

... Book Worm 1, our Week # 11 Prize Winner!!!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Friendship Bread

Author: Darien Gee
Stars: 3
Review by: Smudge

an up feeling, summer read.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Kitchen House

Author: Kathleen Grissom
Stars: 4
Review by: ddlesmom

Life on a Virginia Tobacco Plantation in 1780's.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

A Soft Place to Land

Author: Susan Rebecca White
Stars: 4
Review by: ADAR

Good read.

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.

Tight As a Tick

Author: Toni L.P. Kelner
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!

Death of a Gossip

Author: M.C. Beaton
Stars: 5
Review by: jlb

Good mystery.

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.

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.

Wife-in-Law

Author: Haywood Smith
Stars: 3
Review by: ADAR

Fun read.

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".

Grievous Angel

Author: Quintin Jardine
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Man Made: A Stupid Quest for Masculinity

Author: Joel Stein
Stars: 5
Review by: Smudge

very funny.

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.

The Cottage at Glass Beach

Author: Heather Barbieri
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.

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.

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.

The 9th Judgment

Author: James Patterson
Stars: 5
Review by: Larry Remaly

Great book!  One of Patterson's best!

 

Where We Belong

Author: Emily Giffin
Stars: 4
Review by: Sarah F.

Loved it!

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.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Just Jennifer

A Simple Thing by Kathleen McCleary (William Morrow Paperbacks, 2012)

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.  

Safe Within by Jean Reynolds Page (William Morrow Paperbacks, 2012)

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. 

Beach Colors by Shelley Noble (William Morrow Paperbacks, 2012)

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.

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.

Progress Thus Far

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Congratulations to...

... Barbie, our Week #10 Prize Winner!!!

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.

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

11/22/63

Author: Stephen King
Stars: 5
Review by: bd

Another great pageturner from Steven King.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Light on Snow

Author: Anita Shreve
Stars: 3
Review by: Reader

More of a women's book.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

The Sixes

Author: Kate White
Stars: 4
Review by: ADAR

Good mystery. Kept you guessing to the end.

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.



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.

Annabel

Author: Kathleen Winter
Stars: 5
Review by: Paula N

Super handling of a sensitive subject.

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.

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.

The Red Chamber

Author: Pauline A. Chen
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Litigators

Author: John Grisham
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Demons

Author: Bill Pronzini
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.