Current reads

Thursday, August 2, 2007

July Reads

Black Girl White Girl by Joyce Carol Oates 2.5* a story of a white girl
with a black roommate at college in the 70's who is the victim of
racially motivated attacks, didn't like the writing, was too murky

The Crimson Portrait by Jody Shields 2.5* set during WWI at a military hospital in England that specializes in facial injury. I felt no connection with any of the characters.

But Inside I'm Screaming by Elizabeth Flock 3* a book about one woman's mental break down and all the people she meets in the hospital

Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen 4* fast read about a woman who has to face demons from her past. lots about horses, so good if you are an animal lover!

Dream When You're Feeling Blue by Elizabeth Berg 4*, great story set during WWII that revolves around 3 sisters. Didn't like the ending though, thought it was too rushed and completely unbelievable.

Shocking Pink by Erica Spindler 2*, ugh, too many cliches, no suspense or originality!

Fireworks by Elizabeth Hartley Winthrop 3* the story of a man's life after his 4 year old son dies

Trans-sister Radio by Chris Bohjalin (re-read) 5* My favorite Bohjalin book. The story revolves around a woman who falls in love, only to find out the man is preparing to have a sex change operation. It follows her and her family and him/her through the operation and the aftermath.

Midnight Champage by A. Manette Ansay 3* story about a couple's wedding during the middle of snowstorm in a hall that is known to be unlucky

Woman in Red by Eileen Goudge 3.5* needed an editor badly!, can't believe how many words were left out, otherwise good story about a woman who runs over the drunk driver who killed her son. the story picks up after she gets out of jail and returns to the same town. Also has a parallel story about her grandmother during the 40's during WWII in the same town. Parts were unbelievable (romance-novelish) though.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (reread) 5*

Molaka'i by Alan Brennert 4* story of a little girl who grows up in a leper colony

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 5*, LOVED it!! won't go into any detail as to not spoil it for others

Red River by Lalita Tademy....Not sure I will finish this one. Kind of disappointed as I LOVED Cane River. this one just doesn't capture my interest. I am halfway through and really have no interest in going on....

Christine Falls by Benjamin Black 3* a bland mystery/thriller....

Divisadero by Micheal Onjaatje (audio) 3* starts out as a story about 2 sisters and their "adopted" brother, then turns into a story about 2 men and a woman in France. Odd storytelling, but both stories are interesting.

Julia's Chocolates by Cathy Lamb 4* quirky and funny, made me laugh and cry, great chick lit

The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Lousie Murphy 4* story is set during WWII, revolves around 2 children and their father who are seperated

Into the Forest by Jean Hegland 3* a story about what happens when the power goes out, no phones or gas, interesting idea, I just found the ending unbelievable....

We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg 4* a story about a woman who gets polio and ends up paralyzed from the neck down, how she raises her daughter, set during the 60's, easy read but fascinating as it was based on a true story

The Terror by Dan Simmons 3* story of an expedition to get through to the Northwest passage with a slight supernatural angle, great historical fiction, just dragged on a little long

Sunday, July 1, 2007

June reads

The Saving Graces by Patricia Gaffney 3* similar to Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons, but not as good

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemorsky 2.5*, I wanted to like this book because I love the era it's set in (WWII), but I just felt no connection with the characters and the book just didn't go anywhere.....

Family tree by Barbara Delinsky 1*, just couldn't get more than a third of the way in....all I could think was that
they had a healthy baby, who cares if the skin is a little tan???? and if that's all your "friends" care about then who needs friends like that?

Bright Angel Time by Martha McPhee 3* a girls' parents split up. her mother falls in love with a hippie, and they travel the country in a camper

What The Dead Know by Laura Lippman 4*

Body Surfing by Anita Shreve 4*

Saying Grace by Beth Gutcheon 4*

The Lucky Ones by Laura Cusk DNF, just couldn't get into

Happiness Sold Seperately by Lolly Winston 4* a couple try to have a baby and all the stress from invtro, etc cause marital problems

Some Things That Stay by sarah Willis 3* a story about a girl whose family moves every year

Girls in Trouble by Caroline Leavitt 3.5* Would have been a 4* book, but I didn't think the ending was believable, about a teenage girl who gets pregnant and has an open adoption and all that it entails

Things Unspoken by Antra Sheen 3.5* a story about a dysfunctional family

The River Wife by Jonis Agee 3.5* ARC historical fiction that revolves around the 4 women in Jacques Ducharme's life. I thought overall it was a really good book, but there were parts that bogged down the book.

The Night Journal by Elizabeth Crook 3.5* another historical fiction, this one is parallel stories about a lady today and her great grandmother a century ago

Good Family by Terry Gamble 3* a story about a WASP-y family and their summers in Michigan

Friday, June 1, 2007

May reads

Remembering Sarah by Chris Mooney 4* the book is about the effects on a man after his daughter disappears, I couldn't put the book down until I finished it.

TallGrass by Sandra Dallas 5* this book shows the effects on a small town caused by a Japanese internment camp during WWII

Blindness by Jose Saramago haven't been able to finish yet. Such an interesting concept (blindness that is contagious), but it gets so depressing and the writing style is very hard to get through. I picked it up and read some more yesterday because I DO want to finish, it's just hard to read. I don't often put a book down and come back to it, but this is one I do think I will eventually finish.

The Only Girl in the Car by Kathy Dobie 3* coming of age memoir....lots of teen angst, nothing new

The Woman Who Walked into Doors by Roddy Doyle 2* about a woman who's husband is abusive....

The Memoir Club by Laura Kalpakian 3.5*, started out as a 4* book but the last 30 or so pages went downhill and became unbelievable....it's about several women in a memoir writing class

Sleep Toward Heaven by Amanda Eyre Ward 4* very good story told from 3 different viewpoints, a woman on death row, the wife of the man she killed and the doctor who takes care of her in prison

Breathing Water by T. Greenwood 3*

Sophie's Choice by William Styron 3*, book basically about a young woman during WWII, part of this book was a 5* book, but other parts were 2*.....I thought the parts about Sophie were excellent, but Stingo IMO was boring.....

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss 2.5*, confusing but good enough that I wanted to finish

Sky Bridge by Laura Pritchett 4* a young girl has to raise her sister's baby after she leaves town

They Cage the Animals at Night by Jennings Michael Burch 4* a true story about a boy in and out of orphanages and foster homes in the 50's

The Water and the Blood by Nancy Turner 4* about woman in the workforce and racial tensions during WWII

A Woman's Place by Lynn Austin 3* a lot like The Water and the Blood, but not quite as good

White Girl by Kate Manning 3.5* an interesting look at a bi-racial couple's relationship and the stress involved, the ending infuriated me!

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See 4* an in depth look into a different culture

Family History by Dani Shapiro 3*, once again would have been a 4* book but the ending was horrible. it's about the devestation to a family when their teenage daughter becomes mentally ill.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

April reads

April
Sarah's Quilt by Nancy Turner (sequel to These is my Words)4*

Bliss by O.Z. Livaneli (audio) 3.5* interesting look at a different culuture from 3 different views

New Mercies by Sandra Dallas 3*

Undressing the Moon by Tammy Greenwood 3.5*

The Elegant Gathering of White Snow by Kris Radish 2* fluff

The Surrogate by Judith Henry Wall 2*....too soap opera-y

The Box Children by Sharon Wyse 4* very good story about a young girl who lives on a farm whose mother is crazy and the effect on the family

Five Women by Rona Jaffe 3.5* story of five friends and their different lives

How To Be Lost by Amanda Eyre Ward 4.5* a story about how a little girl's disappearance affects the family for the rest of their lives

The Odyssey by Homer (audio) 3*

The Night Listener by Armisten Maupin 4* couldn't put it down until the end.

The Interruption of Everything by Terry McMillan 3.5* basically a story of a ,idlife crisis

Sunstroke by Jesse Kellerman 2.5*, not as a good a writer as his dad!

Wickett's Remedy by Myla Goldberg ugh couldn't finish, stuck halfway through.Ay first the footnotes irritated me but by the time I put the book down they are what I liked best!

Family and Other Accidents by Shari Goldhagen 3* pretty good story about 2 brothers who lost their parents.

Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner 3.5* funny chick lit

The Sin Killer by Larry Mc Murty (audio) haven't finished yet, but so far it's a 3

The Abortionist's Daughter by Elisabeth Hyde 3.5*

Still Waters by Jennifer Lauck this is the follow up to Blackbird. Not quite as good as Blackbird, but still a good read, kind of depressing though 3.5*

March reads

Pull of the Moon by Elizabeth Berg 3*....not her best....not sure it even deserves 3*

Icebergs by Elizabeth Johns 3.5* went over 3 different time periods, WWII, Vietnam War, and the 90's. I liked the first part of the story the best, the second almost as good, by the 90's I thought the story got boring.

Twenty Questions by Alison Clement 4*, not sure how plausible it was, but quite a page turner!

Dancing With Einstein by Kate Wenner 2*

Ride The Wind by Lucia St. Clair Robinson 5* The story of Cynthia Ann Parker, who was kidnapped by indians at the age of 9. Fascinating story, couldn't put it down

The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon (audio) 4* loved the narrator's voice and her accents!

Like Dandelion Dust by Karen Kingsbury DNF,just too preachy, couldn't get into it.

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult 4* interesting read, but not sure I bought the ending

Fatherland by Robert Harris 3* interesting concept (Hitler actually won) but the storyline itself wasn't that engrossing

These Is My Words by Nancy Turner 5* story set in the 1880's, heartbreaking and funny rolled into one fascinating novel

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert (audio) just couldn't finish, got to disc 7 out of 10 but it's so BORING!!!

The Kitchen Boy by Robert Alexander 3*

The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas 3.5* had almost too many characters to keep track of, otherwise it was a good story set in the 1930's

Alice's Tulips by Sandra Dallas 4*

Blackbird by Jennifer Lauck 5*

The Glass Lake by Maeve Binchy 3*

Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris (audio) 3*

Traveling Light by Katrina Kittle 4* heartbreakin story about a girl whose brother is dying

The Chili Queen by Sandra Dallas 3* not her best, but still a pleasant read

Invisible Girl by Tess Hudson 3* backlash 30 years after the Vietnam war. Not sure how realistic the story is, a lot of "bad ass" characters that I had trouble believing

Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Rubio 3*, started strong but I didn't like the ending

Friday, March 2, 2007

February reads

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro 2* (one of the worst stories I've ever read. Only gave it a 2 because I DID finish. I didn't care about the characters or the story, total waste of time.)

Sleep No More by Greg Iles (audio)....couldn't finish. Not sure if it's the reader, may try the actual book.

Trace by Patricia Cornwell (audio) 3* (typical Cornwell, but not her best)

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne 3*, (interesting but unrealistic view of the Holocaust)

The Bitch Posse by Martha O'Connor 3* (dark chick lit)

My Sister's Bones by Cathi Hanauer 4* (very good story about the effects of anorexia on the whole family)

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman 3* (not big on science fiction but this was okay)

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver (audio)3.5*

Nearer Than The Sky by Tammy Greenwood 4* (new author to me, will definitely read more by her)

Best Friends by Martha Moody 3.5*

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell 3* (too religious for me)

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 4* (different and interesting perspective of the Holocaust than normal, hated the narrator though. Took me a few pages to get used to the narrator).

Range of Motion by Elizabeth Berg 4* (light easy read, but as always with Berg, an enjoyable read)

The Husband by Dean Koontz (audio) 3* (action packed but unrealistic)

Half Broken Things by Morag Joss (couldn't finish, just too depressing!)

What Is Mine by Anne Holt 4*, (good story about kidnapped children in Norway, but I thought the ending was tied up too neatly)

Double Bind by Chris Bohjalin 4* (another good one by Bohjalin)

Lisey's Story by Stephen King (audio) (only half way through so far it's just okay)

The Diary Of Mattie Spenser by Sandra Dallas 4* (LOVED this book, but the ending was a let down after such an awesome story, will definitely read more by this author. Love this time period (1800's) with the Indians and hardships and how different people's outlook on life is compared with today)

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

January reads

Several really good books this month!

Where or When by Anita Shreve 3* (would have been a 2 but the ending rescued it somewhat)
All The Numbers by Judy Merrill Larsen 5*
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith 3* (wasn't as thrilled with this as everyone else....)
World of Pies by Karen Stolz 4*
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler 3.5*
For Keeps This Time by Kathleen Kane 3*, I'm not a fan of romances but this was cute, a light easy read
The Ha-Ha by Dave King 4*
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini 5* (was pleasantly surprised by how good this book was because I didn't really think it would be one I would enjoy)
The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver 3*
Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver (sequel to The Bean Trees) 3*
The Queen's Fool
by Phillipa Gregory 235 pages in I quit, just too boring.
The Kindness of Strangers by Katrina Kittle 5* heartbreaking but a page turner
Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen 3.5* (audio)
Replay by Ken Grimwood 3.5*
The Birthdays
by Heidi Pitlor 2.5* (Told from too many viewpoints, I never feel like I understood even one of the characters, had to push myself to finish and then the ending was disappointing.)
Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell 4* (very interesting historical fiction set during WWII. Learned some history I was not aware of before)
The Invisible Circus by Jennifer Egan 2* (not sure why everyone raves about this book)
Dovey Coe by Frances O'Roark Dowell 3* Didn't realize it was YA book, but still a decent read. Light easy reading.
Beach Road by James Patterson (audio) 4* LOVED the ending!
Crow Lake by Mary Lawson 3*