Jessica's reviews

Water, stone, heart by Will North

2009-07-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

A newly divorced architect goes to Cornwall for a stone-building class and comes alive. The place, Cornwall, becomes another well drawn character in this novel. Heartwarming.

The Castaways, by Elin Hilderbrand

2009-07-21T10:35:00.000-07:00

Four couples on Nantucket have been friends for years, until one couple dies in a boating accident. Hilderbrand peers under the surface to see what's really been going on between them. Beach read for people who stay on the sand.

Real Life & Liars, by Kristina Riggle

2009-06-25T07:54:00.000-07:00

Max and Mira are about to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary and all three of their children come home for the party, but the first thing we learn about Mira is that she still smokes pot at 65. Then we find out she's just been diagnosed with breast cancer. Mira is a wonderfully drawn character, very much her own self. The author tells the story from different viewpoints so we get to know all the members of the family. For a first novel, this really stands out.

Still Alice: a novel, by Lisa Genova

2009-05-21T11:17:00.000-07:00

What is having Alzheimer's disease like, from the point of view of the person who has it? This fragile story has a hard-hitting impact. Alice Howland, a 50-year-old Harvard professor, finally goes to the doctor to find out if she's in menopause, because she's had a few episodes that don't make sense to her. Early onset Alzheimer's disease, is the diagnosis. The scientist in her carefully observes herself. She makes a daily to-do list on her Blackberry, including asking herself five questions, with a note to herself on what to do if she can't answer those questions. She watches the effect that her behavior has on her husband and children. Both personal and objective, this novel will haunt you. I'm recommending this book to everyone.

Don't look twice, by Andrew Gross

2009-03-19T16:05:00.000-07:00

Detective Ty Hauck (from The Dark Tide) is in the gas station with his 13-year-old daughter when a shotgun is fired through the plate glass window. Dead is a federal prosecutor. The action never stops, even when the killer is found. Gross is a co-author with James Patterson and has developed the right ingredients for a real page-turner.

Mounting fears, by Stuart Woods

2009-03-17T11:02:00.000-07:00

Another in the series about Will Lee, now President of the United States, and his wife Kate, now CIA Director. A group seizes a missile site in Pakistan; a vice president has cancer; affairs are covered up and uncovered; the elusive Teddy Faye is discovered in Panama City. Another great suspense story from Woods.

Terminal freeze, by Lincoln Child

2009-03-17T11:00:00.001-07:00

A story from frozen Alaska; scientists find something buried in ice that looks like a sabre-toothed tiger. A documentary team flies in to film the unveiling of the corpse, but instead the thing defrosts itself and becomes what it was when it was flash-frozen: a killing machine. Blood, gore, and ice trucking - what fun!

Critical mass, by Whitley Streiber

2009-03-09T07:37:00.001-07:00

Las Vegas is blown up by an atomic bomb. Yeah, I'm in! We follow James Deutsch as he tracks the trail of the bomb and tries to get to the President before the traitors within the government find him. His ex-wife, Nabila, is also on the job. Will they find the next bomb before it blows up Washington? Read and find out!

Lethal legacy, by Linda Fairstein

2009-02-25T08:05:00.000-08:00

What's beneath the fabled 42nd Street library? Alex Cooper and her two cohorts, Mike and Mercer, are looking for clues to a murder and get a behind-the-scenes look at NYPL. Rich donors, eccentric board members, secret tunnels - for library lovers, this is great fun; library staff and conservators will be horrified by the rough handling of rare books and maps. Put on white gloves before you pick up that bloodstained clue!!

Racism 101, by Nikki Giovanni

2009-02-16T13:45:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful collection of messages! "... the biggest stumbling block to progress in America is still racism... we have to find a way to comfort young white people about the fact that, though they will never ... rule the world again, they can make valid contributions to our planet. The world is not, and has never been, white..." A great way to touch base with how far we've come, and how far we still need to go.

Enough, by Juan Williams

2009-02-16T13:32:00.000-08:00

Subtitle: the phony leaders, dead-end movements, and culture of failure that are undermining Black America - and what we can do about it. Williams is excited by Bill Cosby's perceptive, focused challenge to parents in his famous speech celebrating the anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling. "Study," Cosby (and Williams) tells students. "That's all." Williams quotes statistics such as the difference in the amount of time spent studying by white, African-American, Hispanic and Asian students, the amount of time spent watching TV, the number of middle-class African-Americans leaving inner city schools, and time spent by parents helping their children with homework. It all points to more parental involvement. Williams is scathing of so-called civil rights leaders who help their own families to succeed, but don't lead marches on our failing schools or stand in front of crack houses.

Too close to home, by Linwood Barclay

2009-01-23T12:05:00.000-08:00

Note to residents of Racine, Wisconsin: I finished reading this book the week our Mayor was arrested.
Jim Cutter's next door neighbors are murdered, while his son Derek hid in their basement. Derek is afraid to say anything about what he saw and heard -- until he is arrested for their murder. Jim used to work for the Mayor of Promise Falls (don't you love that name?) until he got aggravated and punched him in the nose; now he has his own lawn maintenance business while his wife works at the local university. More people are killed while Jim tries to find the thread holding the murders together. Finally it leads back to the Mayor, who had sex with a 15-year-old girl (hence the punch in the nose) and is now about to run for Congress. Barclay is a great writer, but towards the end of the book I just kept saying out loud, oh my goodness. The coincidences between our newspaper headlines and the storyline were just too amazing.

Milk (movie)

2009-01-02T07:21:00.000-08:00

Sean Penn does a wonderful job portraying Harvey Milk, the San Francisco city/county supervisor who was murdered by former supervisor Dan White (creator of the "Twinkie defense").
The movie shows Milk's character changing, becoming more politically active, and yet he is still innocent and charming.
I find it depressing that society hasn't evolved much since Milk's murder. This movie is rated "R" because of the subject matter, not because of what you see on screen. And not all families and couples have the same civil rights. We have a long way to go.

Brass verdict, by Michael Connelly

2009-01-02T07:18:00.000-08:00

A brass verdict is street justice, not necessarily legal justice. Defense attorney Mickey Haller inherits Jerry Vincent's cases after Vincent is murdered. Detective Harry Bosch is investigating Vincent's death and how it relates to Haller's new big case, a Hollywood mogul charged with killing his wife and her lover. Connelly is first rate, several good surprises here.

Living dead girl, by Elizabeth Scott

2009-01-02T07:11:00.000-08:00

This horrifying story's first chapter begins with, "This is how things look." The second chapter begins with, "This is how things are," and we learn about a girl who was abducted five years ago and is still kept in terror by her abductor. She is numb. He won't let her eat, to keep her young looking, but she's growing anyway. He forces her to find her another, younger girl.
There are monsters living among us, and we don't see them; we only see "how things look."
Powerful and moving.

When will there be good news, by Kate Atkinson

2008-12-23T08:58:00.000-08:00

You know how some books start at the beginning and lead you carefully through a story, explaining everything along the way?
This isn't one of those.
Atkinson sets the scene in England, beginning with a horrendous, bloody murder of a family, then jumps ahead 30 years. Jackson Brodie turns up (from earlier books), and you are jolted from one event to the next, from one character's viewpoint to another's, from one surprise to an even bigger surprise.
If you like the unexpected, you will love this. I did!

Your heart belongs to me, by Dean Koontz

2008-12-11T14:58:00.000-08:00

This man writes literary symphonies. I love the way he uses language; I always know I'm going to read words I don't understand, and be carried away with the subtext of feelings that his words generate. The main character needs a heart transplant, he discovers after an episode leaves him weak while surfing. Although he's a young retired software genius, his money can't buy him a higher slot on the waiting list. This is a story of growing up, coming to terms with mortality, the underworld of organ selling, dreams, and Edgar Allen Poe.

Stand and be counted, by David Crosby and David Bender

2008-11-10T11:04:00.000-08:00

Musician David Crosby tells the behind-the-scenes stories of benefit concerts. The impact of music on issues such as civil rights has been powerful. Artists who are committed to making a difference have found their greatest personal satisfaction in contributing to a cause they believe in and raising the awareness of the population in general, and fans in particular. Since the concert for Bangladesh, which was tangled in the court system for eleven years before funds were available, promoters and musicians have worked hard to make sure that monies raised go to the right places. This will make you feel good as you read it.

The necklace, by Cheryl Jarvis

2008-10-30T09:41:00.000-07:00

Sort of a Traveling Pants for grownups, this is the story of one diamond necklace shared by thirteen women. Each woman is carefully drawn and the reasons for the joint purchase are different for everyone. Intriguing.

The keepsake, by Tess Gerritsen

2008-09-25T07:19:00.000-07:00

A terrific blend of Egyptian mummies and present-day serial killers. Yes, two of them. Boston detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles team up to unwrap the mysteries. Gerritsen is another writer you don't want to read while eating.

The book of lies, by Brad Meltzer

2008-09-16T08:37:00.001-07:00

By the author of the Book of Fate, I love the cover; looking up at a wall of books. This is a literary and historical mystery, based on the story of Cain. When a homeless man is shot, Cal Harper is called to respond and learns that the man is his long-lost father. Together, they start to put together the puzzle pieces of an eighty-year-old mystery involving the creator of Superman. Turns, twists, back roads and surprises from this great writer.

The beach house, by Jane Green

2008-09-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

Nan, 65, learns she is running out of money, so opens her Nantucket home as a bed and breakfast. We learn about the people who come to stay, their families, their hopes and dreams, and find out more about Nan, over a lazy summer on the island. Hey, it's not autumn yet, and this is a great summer read.

Tribute, by Nora Roberts

2008-09-16T08:32:00.000-07:00

Former child star Cilla McGowan is remodeling her grandmother's house in Virginia. Her neighbor across the street, handsome Ford Sawyer, writes graphic novels and decides she is a perfect character for his new story. They are drawn together when someone starts trying to scare Cilla away from town. Roberts combines romance and mystery very well; a great read.

Woman in red, by Eileen Goudge

2008-09-05T11:26:00.001-07:00

I like this author. The story begins when a child is killed by a drunk driver. When the driver isn't punished, the mother's life changes again when she sees him after the trial. She's driving, he's in front of her, and her other young son is in the front seat. Nine years later, when she gets out of jail, her story continues. Meanwhile, we learn about her family and how they are connected to the man who killed her son. Set on Gray's Island off the coast of Seattle, this is a great family saga.

The condition, by Jennifer Haigh

2008-09-04T09:36:00.000-07:00

Haigh writes brilliantly about family dynamics. When young Gwen is diagnosed with Turner's syndrome, her family realizes she will stay in her child's body forever. This is the story of how each one reacts to a truth they can't change. Well written.

Say goodbye, by Lisa Gardner

2008-09-04T09:33:00.001-07:00

A horrifying story of a young boy who is kidnapped by a pedophile. Special agent Kimberly Quincy, now pregnant, is investigating the disappearance of prostitutes. They seem to be linked to a man who has a fascination for spiders; he wears a red baseball cap to cover up the eyes he has had tattooed on his forehead. Not for the squeamish.

TailSpin, by Catherine Coulter

2008-08-27T11:36:00.000-07:00

Married FBI agents Savich and Sherlock are back in action. The book begins when a drugged girl wakes up enough to discover she's about to be drowned. She was the captain of her college swim team so is able to escape, and then is in the right place to save someone else when a plane crashes. A fast-paced, tense page-turner.

Off season, by anne Rivers Siddons

2008-08-26T06:49:00.001-07:00

Set in Maine against the rocky coast, this novel ebbs and flows with the tide, telling the love story of Lilly and Cam. Lilly's childhood is well drawn, a loving family hit with tragedy and retreating to Washington, DC. Then Lilly meets Cam, and begins to live again. Siddons does another excellent job of pulling us into her characters' lives.

Foreign bodies, by Robin Cook

2008-08-22T06:49:00.000-07:00

Another medical thriller by one of the most recognized physician-authors. The subject is "medical tourism," Americans traveling overseas for cheap operations. Is this a threat to the U.S. healthcare industry? One company thinks so, and sends a mole to India to start killing off patients, creating a PR nightmare. If only Cook's characters weren't so flat and lifeless...

The Broken window, by Jeffery Deaver

2008-08-20T14:45:00.000-07:00

When Captain Lincoln Rhyme, the paraplegic, learns that his cousin has been arrested for murder, he reluctantly agrees to look into it. The evidence against his cousin, he learns, has been carefully arranged by someone who used computer access to incriminate him. And his cousin is not the only one who's been set up this way. One company, SSD, a "knowledge service provider," has collected computer information on all of us "16's" and sells it to corporations as well as the government. Get ting too close to the criminal, Rhyme has his electricity turned off due to nonpayment of bills; Amelia Sachs, his partner, has her car (a 1969 Camaro) repossessed; one detective fails his drug test and another detective's wife is seized by INS officials. We librarians do our best to protect patron privacy; it's mind-boggling how much information is available online and how it can be twisted against us.

Tropic Thunder (movie)

2008-08-18T07:01:00.000-07:00

This movie is like getting on a plane to Boston, and then finding out that it's really going to Bora Bora. Do you tell the flight attendant you're on the wrong plane, or do you settle back and enjoy the unique experience? Racist, indeed. Pokes fun at people with disabilities, yes. Trite ending, absolutely. Ben Stiller knows just how far he can go -- and then goes even farther, getting great performances from these terrific actors.

Fractured, by Karin Slaughter

2008-08-18T06:58:00.001-07:00

Imagine a mother's rage as she finds her daughter dead and the murderer standing over her. This mother kills him with her bare hands. The Atlanta police have a closed case. Enter Will Trent from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, who finds that another girl was also there, and has been kidnapped. Slaughter takes us on a wild ride and you'll enjoy each twist and turn. This is the second time Will Trent, the dyslexic detective, shows up as a character in one of Slaughter's books. He's a keeper!

Shadow of power, by Steve Martini

2008-08-11T09:46:00.000-07:00

Did you realize that in the Constitution, former slaves are referred to as 3/5 of a human being? The language itself has not been amended. A new book reveals that to the general public, and the author is on a book tour, generating protests that are increasingly violent. He refers to a letter written by Jefferson that is so inflammatory, he predicts social revolution will occur. After he's murdered, attorney Paul Madriani defends the accused killer.

What was lost, by Catherine O'Flynn

2008-08-11T09:17:00.000-07:00

Kate, ten, has her own detective agency and takes her notebook of observations everywhere she goes. Although she doesn't have any friends her age she hangs out with the 20-year-old son of the shopkeeper next door.
The story then leaps ahead in time, and you learn that Kate disappeared. You don't learn what actually happened until the end of the book. That engaging ten-year-old will stay with me for a long time.

The dark tide, by Andrew Gross

2008-07-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

Karen's husband is killed in an explosion at Grand Central, a terrorist attack. A year later, watching footage of that awful day, she glimpses him -- after the explosion, hurrying away from the scene. Meanwhile, a detective is investigating hit-and-run accident that seems to be linked to Karen's dead husband; other people are looking for him too, claiming that they are owed hundreds of millions of dollars. Gross does a nice job of keeping you guessing.

Without a backward glance, by Kate Veitch

2008-07-30T08:48:00.000-07:00

Another book about a motherless family, but unlike The Rope Walk, these children are grown up , dealing with their father's growing dementia, and beginning to put the pieces together about how their mother's abandonment affected them all: handsome James, studious Robert, fly-away Meredith, and Deborah, the "good one," along with their children. James is at a dinner party when he finds himself talking about how his mother left on Christmas Eve; the next day, one of the guests calls him and says, I know that woman; she's my mother's best friend.
This book sweeps you along as you learn the family's secrets.

The rope walk, by Carrie Brown

2008-07-30T08:29:00.000-07:00

An immersion in childhood, done with delicacy and intensity. Ten-year-old Alice lives in Vermont with her professor father and five older brothers, and inhabits a dreamy world of her own until a boy her age comes to stay with the family. Theo is a whirlwind of activity, leading Alice into what she starts to call the real world. There is the giddiness of unthinking youth, coupled with the sadness of a neighbor's illness, leading to a remarkable act of heroism by the two youngsters. This is a book for grownups, but you'll feel young again reading this.

More than it hurts you, by Darin Strauss

2008-07-23T07:24:00.000-07:00

I like big fat books, and this is one; however, I found myself skipping to the end, to find out how it ended. Strauss takes on the topic of Munchausen by proxy, from the viewpoint of the attending doctor, the mother, the husband, and the lawyer. Also the attending doctor's father. Too many characters with no real significance, for me.

Death angel, by Linda Howard

2008-07-23T07:20:00.001-07:00

I really like the way Howard portrays her main characters. Drea, formerly Andrea, is a drug dealer's mistress. Escaping from him, and from a hired hit man, her car runs off the road and hits a tree. From here, the book takes on a weird angle, but Drea, now Andie, stays true to her own character. I liked it.

Olive's ocean, by Kevin Henkes

2008-07-23T07:13:00.000-07:00

Racine's own Kevin Henkes writes a banned book? His young adult novel, "Olive's Ocean," made it to number three on the 2007 list; "Sexually explicit, offensive language." I went back and re-read it, and even knowing what I was looking for -- I didn't find it. A twelve-year-old girl and her family spend two weeks at the beach. The girl is pondering becoming a writer, wondering about a girl named Olive who was hit by a car and died, and dealing with her first crush. Hmmm. You read it; what do you think?
http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2008/may2008/penguin.cfm

Friend of the Devil, by Peter Robinson

2008-07-18T06:25:00.001-07:00

Chief Inspector Alan Banks and Detective Inspector Annie Cabbot are investigating different murders that are linked by past serial killers, including a husband-and-wife team, the Paynes. Lucy Payne, the infamous "Friend of the devil," has been murdered. These are terrific characters and a complex story. If you haven't read any of his previous works, you're in for a real treat -- start at the beginning with "Gallows View" and enjoy! I especially like to learn what music Robinson's characters listening to, and in fact, Robinson's website (www.inspectorbanks.com) now has a playlist link. What fun!

The appeal, by John Grisham

2008-06-16T17:35:00.000-07:00

Can judicial elections be bought? If they could, how would you go about doing so? Grisham lays out the whole process for us. In fact, if you're running for office, you could learn a lot from this novel. Unlike past legal thrillers, Grisham has an agenda with this book, and it isn't hidden: judges should be appointed.

Scream for me, by Karen Rose

2008-06-16T17:30:00.000-07:00

Alex Fallon's twin sister, Alicia, was killed thirteen years ago. Special Agent Daniel Vartanian is investigating a serial killer and finds connections to this old murder. The author shares with us the voice of the maniac behind the action. You won't be able to turn the pages fast enough.

Executive Privilege, by Phillip Margolin

2008-06-09T06:39:00.000-07:00

Margolin's newest political thriller has the President involved with teenage girls who mysteriously end up dead. Were they killed by the Ripper, a serial killer? Or is there some other killer on the loose? Private detective Dana Cutler and her client are on the trail. Great story here.

www.phillipmargolin.com

When we get to Surf City, by Bob Greene

2008-06-05T10:41:00.000-07:00

"I got a '34 wagon and we call it a woodie" --- hearing that opening line, I'm rushed back to 1963 when I lived outside Chicago. Everything that mattered was happening in California that summer. Why was that music so important? Because it made me feel good. It made us all feel good. It made us feel like dancing the way they danced in California (which we learned watching Dick Clark's Bandstand); it made us grow our hair long and rinse it with lemon juice and sit in the meagre Midwestern sun. The music coming out of my transister radio connected me, invisibly, to every other teenager in America. We were all California girls, sidewalk surfers.

Greene has the chance to sing and play backup with Jan and Dean, and writes about it like the fan he is. He becomes a permanent member of the band. He talks about the venues, the sitting around waiting for the show to start, the going out for dinner afterwards, with a childlike appreciation for the incredibly gift he's been given: to play in a band he's admired since he was a kid.

He shares the itineraries with us, including the part that impels all the band members to show up: "TODAY WE: Play"

You'll want to listen to Jan and Dean, and the Beach Boys, while reading.
Caution: don't try to dance and read at the same time.

Case histories, by Kate Atkinson

2008-05-27T05:52:00.000-07:00

Not a collection of short stories, although it starts out feeling that way, but a maze that eventually links the characters to murder. Like a connect-the-dot puzzle, the picture remains fuzzy until close to the end of the book. I really liked the chapters where Atkinson begins with an assumption, and as the writing progresses you feel you've been included in a secret. Good writing, well drawn characters. I'll have to go back and re-read her other works.

Careless in red, by Elizabeth George

2008-05-22T09:29:00.000-07:00

Continuing the story of Detective Superintendent Thomas Lynley, who, trying to come to grips with the murder of his pregnant wife, is hiking in Cornwall when he discovers a dead body. Becoming involved in solving the crime brings him slowly back to life. Good characters with wonderful names and lots of plot twists. Another good story from George's series.

Sundays at Tiffany's, by James Patterson

2008-05-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

I found it telling that the only titles listed under "Also by James Patterson": included "Sam's Letters to Jennifer" and "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas," with a complete list available on pages 312-313. Get out the kleenex. This story definitely comes from Patterson's sensitive side, with help from co-writer Gabrielle Charbonnet. Did you ever have an imaginary friend, as a child? Did you ever wonder what happened to that imaginary friend? What would it be like if you met your friend again when you were grown up? This is a fast read with a satisfying ending. I couldn't help wondering how Stephen King would have handled the same idea!

The year she disappeared, by Ann Harleman

2008-05-22T09:20:00.001-07:00

Why would a grandmother kidnap her daughter's child? Because her daughter asked her to. A powerful look at the emotions of a mother and grandmother. What makes someone a "good mother?" How are mothers shaped by their mothers? You'll find yourself looking into your own past as you read this novel.

A prisoner of birth, by Jeffrey Archer

2008-05-12T18:30:00.000-07:00

From the blurb about the author: "...he served five years in the House of Commons, fourteen in the House of Lords, and two in Her Majesty's prisons..."
But he writes a great book! Innocent of the murder of his best friend, Danny Cartwright is nevertheless convicted and sentenced to 22 years in prison (the same one Archer was in). He strikes up a friendship with his cellmates and the action never stops. From the author of "Kane and Abel," a great story.

The whole truth, by David Baldacci

2008-05-07T07:36:00.000-07:00

I love the way Baldacci gives us a glimpse into the inner workings of the political world. I always suspected there was one person somewhere pulling the strings, and what a perfect name for him - Nicolas Creel. Who profits the most from war? The person selling the weapons. What's the best way to increase profits? Create a war. Fascinating and repelling at the same time.

Hold tight, by Harlan Coben

2008-05-05T12:02:00.000-07:00

Tia and Mike Baye have a 16-year-old son, Adam. Adam's good friend Spencer committed suicide and Adam has been despondent ever since. Adam's parents decide they need to find out more about what Adam is doing, so they purchase a computer program that lets them into his computer. They find a suspicious message, and then Adam disappears. Tightly written, fast-paced look at a typical family concern: do teens have a right of privacy?

Guilty, by Karen Robards

2008-04-28T07:27:00.000-07:00

Robards, author of Obsession and other fast-paced mysteries, has another winner here. Kat Kominski is now a single mom and a prosecuter in the DA's office after a rough childhood. Her former life catches up with her when a man starts shooting in the courtroom and she is taken hostage. Mothers will do whatever it takes to protect their young. Quick read.

The ten year nap, by Meg Wolitzer

2008-04-28T07:25:00.000-07:00

Four stay-at-home moms find themselves floundering when their children no longer need them at home all day. This is classic Wolitzer, examining women's lives within a generational focus. How are we different from our own mothers? How are our daughters different from us? Excellent reflective novel.

Easy innocence, by Libby Fischer Hellmann

2008-04-28T07:23:00.001-07:00

Great fun to read this suspense novel set in Chicago and the north suburbs. When a high school girl is murdered during a hazing incident, Georgia Davis is hired by the suspect's family to look into it. Real estate deals, high school prostitution, and an ex-boyfriend make this a fun read.

The Third Angel, by Alice Hoffman

2008-04-28T06:29:00.000-07:00

Maddy is so jealous of her older sister, she takes great glee in sleeping with her sister's fiance. Her sister has written a successful children's book based on a story their mother used to tell them when they were little about a blue heron and his two wives; one is an earth wife, and one is a heron wife. This theme is intertwined with the story; differing points of view are taken by different characters, who pop up throughout the book. Hoffman at her best; recommended for book clubs. Lots to discuss here.

Compulsion, by Jonathan Kellerman

2008-04-25T07:09:00.000-07:00

Child psychiatrist Alex Delaware is back; so is Detective Milo Sturgis. A couple of seemingly unrelated murders are pulled together, and the hunt is on for the serial killer - or killers. Alex and Robin are back together, and I would have liked to have read more about that.... maybe next time, Mr. Kellerman?

Shattered dreams: my life as a polygamist's wife, by Irene Spencer

2008-04-22T05:57:00.000-07:00

What a hard life Irene has led. As the second wife, she was expected to share her husband with his first wife and also recruit more wives for him. Only with seven wives would her husband be assured of his full heavenly reward, and only by believing in The Principle (polygamy) would Irene also be rewarded in heaven. Children were the reason for the marriages; the more children, the more glory in heaven. These families believed that they would be together eternally if they all followed The Principle. Irene writes movingly about jealousy, poverty, the grinding routine of caring for multiple children, the agony of sharing the man she loved with other women, and the fear of civic authorities who might tear their family apart.

I found this especially poignant because of the raid this month on a polygamous family compound in Texas, and the 400 children who are separated from their parents while civic authorities try to determine whether illegal acts were committed.

An amazing story of faith and courage.

Change of heart, by Jodi Picoult

2008-04-22T05:52:00.000-07:00

Jodi's new book is about a seven-year-old girl who needs a heart transplant. It's about a man who wants to give her his heart; he's on death row for killing her sister and step-father. It's about a Catholic priest who was on the jury who convicted the death row inmate. It's about an ACLU attorney who discovers another way to try and stop the death sentence from being carried out. It's about a man who might be the Messiah. Each character tells their viewpoint in the first person, with a different font for each. Does your head hurt yet? Jodi Jodi Jodi, it was a great story idea, but my goodness it was hard to follow. Lots of discussionable issues for a book club though.

Stone cold, by David Baldacci

2008-03-17T06:32:00.000-07:00

Uncovering the hidden, secret work of the government is what Oliver Stone and the Camel Club are committed to. New honorary member Annabelle Conroy was last seen in The Collectors, when she swindled $40 million from the guy who murdered her mother; he's after her now. The Camel Club also has to protect Oliver from Harry Finn; Oliver has secrets about Finn that Finn will kill to keep from becoming public. Suspense drama at its best.

Protect and defend, by Vince Flynn

2008-03-17T06:15:00.000-07:00

The one bad thing about reading a series featuring a continuing character like Mitch Rapp, CIA, is that sometimes a book ends without a satisfying resolution; you have to read the next book to see what happens. Flynn's last book, Act of Treason, ended that way, but the good news is that this book begins with a great resolution. Mitch works for the CIA but his boss, Irene, and the President both depend on him for his knowledge of Iraq and Iran. When Iran's nuclear power plant implodes and they blame the US and Israel, Mitch works to bring the warring parties together. I learn a lot from this series.

Betrayal, by John Lescroart

2008-03-17T06:10:00.000-07:00

Dismas Hardy is back, but most of the story centers around Iraq. Here's an inside (fictional) view of who is getting rich in Iraq, and why. Overtrained and overzealous, former SEAL and now contract security Ron Nolan becomes used to killing "loose ends" who get in his way. National Guard reservist Evan Scholler is a loose end.

Chariots of Fire

2008-03-03T07:59:00.000-08:00

Academy-award winning and a joy to watch, this is a story of a Jewish student at Cambridge and a young Scot becoming a minister, both runners, and their excelling at the 1924 Olympic games. Plus the wonderful music!

Rhett Butler's people, by Donald McCaig

2008-03-03T07:53:00.000-08:00

If you want to know where Rhett Butler's people came from, make up your own story. This is racist crap. I only read a few pages; if you finish it, please let me know if it gets any better than the comment by a slave to young Rhett: "for a white boy, you was a pretty fair nigger." Back in 1936, when the original Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell was published, the narrative can be viewed in the context of the cultural atmosphere of the time, but there is no excuse for continuing this type of hurtful garbage.

Be Kind Rewind

2008-03-03T07:46:00.000-08:00

This movie must have been such fun to make! The whole audience at the Gurnee Marcus Theater (it's not playing in Racine) was howling at the main characters' attempts to quickly remake classic movies like Ghostbusters, Driving Miss Daisy, RoboCop, and others; the shorter the better, so more people would be able to check them out. The remade, or "Sweded," movies are on the website. It was like watching Jack Black and Mos Def outtakes. Hilarious.

http://www.bekindmovie.com/

Oscar season, by Mary McNamara

2008-02-28T06:08:00.000-08:00

This was great fun to read while watching the Academy Awards. McNamara has been a reporter for the Los Angeles Times writing about Hollywood for 17 years so is able to give this story authenticity. Juliette, the heroine, is the PR director for a major Hollywood hotel. Who knew hotels had PR directors?! Juliette's job is to make sure the hottest stars stay at her hotel, and that they are treated extremely well. I loved her description of the Oscar fanny-packs that the staff is issued; the bags contain everything from aspirin to Xanax. You're seeing behind the scenes, and you're guessing which character was inspired by which famous actor or actress; I enjoyed it.

Double Cross, by James Patterson

2008-02-25T07:03:00.000-08:00

Psychologist Alex Cross stars again and so does the evil Kyle Craig. Sentenced to death, Kyle still manages to escape from a maximum security prison with the help of his attorney, who obligingly hangs himself in Kyle's cell. Would your attorney do that for you? Two of Kyle's big fans are on a killing spree, "in your honor," they tell him. The best thing is that Alex has a new lady, but I didn't like the ending. I think Patterson's agent called and told him to wrap it up.

Duma Key, by Stephen King

2008-02-11T06:24:00.000-08:00

One of my absolute favorite authors, King has written about a contractor who comes to Duma Key, Florida, to recuperate from the accident which left him one-armed. His doctor has told him to get a hobby, and Edgar Freemantle used to like to draw, so he picks up a pencil. Six hundred pages later, I finally took a deep breath. My sister, also a big King fan, was reading it too and sent me text messages which I had to ignore. A little bit of fun, a little bit of horror, and a little bit of rock n roll with a big message about doing what's right.

Capitol conspiracy, by William Bernhardt

2008-02-04T06:47:00.001-08:00

Ben Kincaid, now junior senator from Oklahoma, is shot in the cheek during an assassintion attempt on the President. Bernhardt gets to the heart of the civil rights and privacy issues surrounding us in post-9/11 as the President pushes for a temporary ban on the Bill of Rights. Good story.

Cloverfield [movie]

2008-02-04T06:41:00.000-08:00

I'm a pacifist and a vegetarian. I say that first because, I'm a sucker for movies where things get blown up and destroyed. This starts out as a love story, then a love story gone wrong, then suddenly there are monsters in New York and the head of the Statue of Liberty comes flying out of the sky. Lots of running and panting, and you actually get to see the monsters. Best of all, the cameraman gets swallowed by one and there's wonderful red goo and gore. I liked the quirky ending too. I also ate half a bucket of popcorn so I wouldn't get too seasick from the jerky hand-held camera style. Great fun.

There Will be Blood [movie]

2008-02-04T06:34:00.000-08:00

I had to see the performance of Daniel Day-Lewis in this movie, and as promised, he is absolutely outstanding. However, I was blown away by Paul Dano as the young minister. Here is a young actor to watch; he was perfect in "Little Miss Sunshine" as the mute older brother of Abigail Breslin's character and he is mesmerizing here. The score, or soundtrack, or music, was a huge part of this experience, from the sound of a mining horn to ominous violins to sweet hymns. A truly enriching experience.

the 3:10 to Yuma [movie]

2008-02-04T06:24:00.000-08:00

I love Westerns. The first record I ever bought was Frankie Lane singing "Rawhide" (until I discovered Elvis, another country singer). This movie is a superb Western, old style heroes and villains. The bad guy even proudly wears a black hat. Russell Crowe is excellent as a train robber without a conscience. Christian Bale, the unlikely hero who just wants to keep his farm from foreclosure, inspires sympathy and admiration. His son, played by Logan Lerman, is a moody teenager who hates his father. Peter Fonda does an excellent job as an embittered bounty hunter. Terrific.

Beverly Hills dead, by Stuart Woods

2008-02-04T06:21:00.001-08:00

At last! A good story from Woods after a series of superficial gloppy books featuring Stone Barrington. Set in 1940's Hollywood, this combines the Hollywood Ten, a slick hero, and (in the last quarter of the book) a murder. Even though it's filled with stereotypes, I enjoyed seeing the back lots of early moviemaking. And you might recognize a couple of names here, if you're a Woods fan.

Paula Spencer, by Roddy Doyle

2008-02-01T09:55:00.000-08:00

From the author of "The woman who walked into doors," published in 1996, this continues the story of Paula Spencer. Paula has not had a drink for four months and it's wonderful to watch her come alive again. Her husband, the no-good wife-beating jerk, is long dead - shot during the police after a kidnapping. Doyle has a real knack for describing the inner life of a woman, a mother, and an alcoholic. I loved it and cheered for Paula!

The kept man, by Jami Attenberg

2008-01-21T06:52:00.000-08:00

No, this isn't about a male mistress (mister?); Martin, a famous artist and the husband of Jarvis, is in a coma after a fall. Jarvis is keeping him alive. She meets three men in a laundromat, men whose wives support them, and falls into an unlikely friendship. I liked learning about the art world, and Jarvis was an interesting character, and the ending was satisfying, but it was like eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on white bread - not enough to chew on.

Clay's quilt, by Silas House

2008-01-21T06:49:00.000-08:00

This book is all about setting. It takes place in Kentucky and the characters are Appalachian, hard-working, hard-drinking, and religious. Clay, the central character, is extremely well drawn. The author, who is from Kentucky does a terrific job expressing the language of the people. This is one of those books I had to stop reading for a minute to breathe in the poetic feel of the writing. Excellent!

The manny, by Holly Peterson

2008-01-16T07:05:00.000-08:00

Is your husband working so hard to ascend the ladder of success that he doesn’t have time to spend with his young son? Hire a male nanny! Jamie Whitfield does. Breezy and superficial, like whipped cream on hot chocolate - just the thing for a cold winter day.

Crashing through, by Robert Kurson

2008-01-16T07:01:00.000-08:00

A wonderful story of Mike May, who loses his vision at age three and has it restored when he’s in his thirties. He never acts like a blind person. He's not afraid of falling or running into something. This will really get you thinking about what it means to "see." What is sight? How do we perceive the world around us? May breaks it down into small slices. Exhilarating!

Annie Freeman’s fabulous traveling funeral, by Kris Radish

2008-01-16T06:57:00.000-08:00

Another wonderfully filling experience by the author of “Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn” and other woman-oriented stories. Five women celebrate the life (and death) of one of their dear friends by going to different parts of the world that were important to Annie. Annie has arranged everything ahead of time, including tickets, hotel reservations, and spending money. You can’t read Radish’s books without coming away celebrating life, believing in your dreams, and determining to put yourself first.

And if this plot seems familiar, it's similar to the new movie "P.S. I Love You" based on Cecelia Ahern's book of the same name, which I also enjoyed.

West Wing

2008-01-14T12:11:00.000-08:00

I don't know what started it, probably presidential election fever, but I'm on a West Wing kick. I've borrowed the first couple of seasons from other libraries and it's fascinating. Yes, I watched some of the episodes when they first aired, but who had time to keep watching one TV show at the same time week after week? Now we just TiVo or watch online on our own schedule, not network or cable TV's broadcast slot. Anyway, it's a lot of fun to watch smart people, with the ability to make policy decisions, tackle real issues. I guess it was a little ahead of its time!
It's nice to know that if there's a TV series I want to watch again, I can borrow it from the library. Oh wait - it's due tomorrow! Must stay up late and watch the final three discs (double sided)...

The woman who walked into doors, by Paddy Doyle

2008-01-07T06:23:00.001-08:00

Paula Spencer is a sister, a battered wife, mother of four and an alcoholic. Doyle puts us right inside her mind, getting us to understand who Paula is and why. I hope you cheer as I did when she throws her husband out the door. A sequel has just been published, "Paula Spencer," which continues the story.

Still summer, by Jacquelyn Mitchard

2008-01-02T09:38:00.000-08:00

A sailing trip for four women changes when one woman's husband has appendicitis; a daughter is invited instead. A lazy vacation becomes a nightmare when the women must sail the boat themselves, and relationships are torn apart as fiercely as the sails.

Songs without words, by Ann Packer

2008-01-02T09:34:00.000-08:00

Liz and Brody's daughter, Lauren, tries to kill herself. Packer does a tremendous job of following the ripples of this event; it's effect on the family, friends, and on Lauren herself. You'll really know these characters, care about them, and feel sad when you have to close the book.

Consequences, by Penelope Lively

2008-01-02T09:26:00.000-08:00

Lively's novel begins in London in 1935 and takes you in slowly, spiraling into a tale of generations of women. Molly, the first daughter, works in a library and requests that the trustees (who are appointed for ten years) provide a program on D.H. Lawrence's new book, Lady Chatterley's Lover. The director is horrified, and Molly is unemployed. Lively's characters seem to float in space while she describes their actions.

Boom! Voices of the sixties, by Tom Brokaw

2008-01-02T09:21:00.000-08:00

I love that one of the voices is Kris Kristofferson! One of my musical heroes. Kris is under the "Something's happening here" section on counterculture and revolution, along with Judy Collins and Berry Gordy. It was lots of fun to read who Brokaw selected as spokespeople for the 60's.

Stupid and contagious, by Caprice Crane

2008-01-02T09:16:00.000-08:00

A great new writer who is comfortable with both male and female voices, Crane portrays the new Twitter generation with humor and perception. Heaven is a PR person who gets fired and finds work as a waitress -- also getting fired from that job. Brady has his own record company but no bands yet. A great scene is set in Seattle at the ten-year anniversary of Kurt's death. She has a new book, "Forget about it," that I haven't read yet but look forward to.

The view from Mount Joy, by Lorna Landvik

2007-12-26T08:25:00.000-08:00

The view from Mount Joy, by Lorna Landvik

Landvik's main character is a teenage boy, quite a change from her woman-centered novels, but this one works too. Joe works part-time in a grocery store and lusts after the luscious Kristi. By the end of the story, Joe's love of people and quirky contests have made him very successful, while Kristi becomes an evangelist.

Watchman, by Ian Rankin

2007-12-20T05:36:00.000-08:00

This is an early Rankin, without his main character John Rebus. Miles Flint is a government spy who unravels a complex skein of events while hunting a terrorist; the trail leads close to home, even to his wife, before the mystery is solved. I love the way Rankin writes!

Little face, by Sophie Hannah

2007-12-20T05:34:00.000-08:00

Imagine yourself a new mother with a two-week-old baby, going out for the first time and leaving the baby in charge of your husband - and when you return, he's asleep, the front door is open, and a different baby is in your baby's crib.
This is a great story, but very poorly written. Skip right to the end and save yourself some frustration.

Bones to ashes, by Kathy Reichs

2007-12-11T10:31:00.000-08:00

Bones to ashes, by Kathy Reichs

Temperence Brennan, the forensic anthropologist, is in Montreal when an old friend from her childhood, who disappeared suddenly, comes back into her life. Don’t read this while you’re eating. Reichs goes into as much detail as Cornwell does when describing dead bodies; not very appetizing, but fascinating.

Every grain of rice

2007-12-07T11:57:00.000-08:00

Every grain of rice: portraits of Maui’s Japanese community, by Rita Goldman

My friend Rita moved to Hawaii when she was thirty. This wonderful book gives us a view of an immigrant society who has shaped Maui in many different ways. The photographs provided by the Japanese people help to bring the words to life. Great job, Rita!

The race

2007-11-27T10:22:00.000-08:00

The race, by Richard North Patterson

It’s election season, and Corey Grace, a prisoner of war survivor from the Gulf War, has emerged as a front-runner. Includes all the sordid messiness behind a campaign, as well as the reason why good people want to serve.

Home to Holly Springs

2007-11-27T10:21:00.000-08:00

Home to Holly Springs, by Jan Karon

Labeled “the first of the Father Tim novels,” this is the story of Father Tim Kavanagh returning to his hometown. Lots of surprises here. His wife stays home with a broken ankle, so it’s just Tim and the dog, Barnabas. We learn about Tim’s mother, his father, his best friend, his first girlfriend, and more. If this is the new Mitford series, bring it on!

The kindness of strangers, by Katrina Kittle

2007-11-21T12:38:00.000-08:00

The kindness of strangers, by Katrina Kittle

I hated the blurb for this book. The main character, a young boy, “has survived a terrible tragedy, leaving him without a family.” The truth is, his parents molested him as part of a ring of pedophiles and he misses his mom terribly when she is arrested. Why wouldn’t the publisher say that on the jacket? The whole message of the book is, don’t let this be a secret any longer!! OK, rant over, this is a great story and you will be cheering for this little boy as he journeys towards wholeness with another family. You’ve heard it before: most child molesters are family members, neighbors, and trusted adults.

While you're waiting for Keith Richards' autobiography...

2007-11-19T15:03:00.000-08:00

Wonderful tonight, by Pattie Boyd

George Harrison’s ex-wife, Eric Clapton’s ex-wife. From the woman who inspired “Layla,” “Something in the way she moves,” “Bell-bottom blues,” and others, I expected more than superficial fluff, but it’s all froth.

Clapton, the autobiography, by Eric Clapton

A remarkably honest and humble look at himself, with only a few bits about how he plays guitar. Clapton talks about his addictions and his shortcomings, ending with his now mellow life with his wife and children. Rare glimpse into a real person.

Slowhand, by Eric Clapton

I have this recording on a long-playing album, so borrowed via inter-library loan the CD. Much to my delight, the CD was sent inside the original album jacket sleeve! This is Eric at his best, from bouncy “Lay Down Sally” to pensive “Wonderful Tonight.” Very enjoyable soundtrack while reading his biography (above).

Ronnie, by Ronnie Wood

After reading Clapton and Pattie Boyd’s biographies, it was great fun to read the tale of two Ronnies – the loveable, carefree, “blending styles is my forte” guitar player, and the drunk. Clapton’s biography is more in depth about his alcoholism. Although Woody is enjoying his sobriety too, it’s not his passion, and he talks about missing the blurred rock and roll lifestyle. Having always enjoyed Ron’s guitar playing, I was slightly miffed to read him disparage his own talents. According to him, he provided the studio and other players just dropped by; he and Keith have developed the art of weaving, which seems to be Ron playing off Keith. There’s a reason the others all want you in the band, Ron, and it’s not just your happy-go-lucky personality. Great gossip about Rod Stewart, Elton John, and the capers and hijinks of rock and roll touring.

The worst thing I’ve done, by Ursula Hegi

2007-11-19T15:01:00.000-08:00

The worst thing I’ve done, by Ursula Hegi

Starts out with Annie driving late at night, listening to talk radio. Then we discover that her husband, Mason, has killed himself, leaving her with their best friend and a seven-year-old. I liked seeing the layers peel off of this story.

You’ve been warned, by James Patterson

2007-11-19T15:00:00.000-08:00

You’ve been warned, by James Patterson

No thought at all was put into the writing of this. The writers were obviously trying to make up the plot as they went along. A complete waste of time. You’ve been warned!

Lead us into temptation, by James B. Twitchell

2007-11-19T13:47:00.000-08:00

Lead us into temptation, by James B. Twitchell

A powerful look at why we are consumers, and what commercial products and their lure mean to us as a society. “Born to shop” is not just a motto; it’s a basis for American lifestyle choices. Twitchell has researched how shopping makes us feel, and how that relates to being part of the group, being safe, and being treated deferentially. I especially enjoyed reading about how people like Tommy Hilfiger scope out what’s happening “on the street” by sending teens out with videocams (cell phones) to report back. Just a reminder: you can relieve stress, be part of the group that you feel closest to, leave with a pile of things that excite and delight you, and not spend a dime by visiting the library to “shop.”