Adult Summer Reading 2014: Reader Reviews

4 stars. I really liked it.
This was a great read, kept me interested and I sped right through it. The fact that the main character didn't notice some things I found obvious (she's CIA, she should've seen it!), normally would have turned me off but it was well written so I still really enjoyed the characters and storyline. Can't say any more, don't want to spoil it!

2 stars. It was OK.
I really wanted to like this book but just found it disappointing. Possible SPOILER- The part about the flowers was great, homeless girl turns her life around, has an incredible (magical?) talent for knowing what flowers will make peoples lives better, works hard, etc. I would have loved it if that was the story and we saw more of it. I enjoyed the story of her and Elizabeth, their relationship, Victoria's learning to love and grow and feel regret. I accepted the romance part, it was an interesting way to bring back Victoria's past. But what killed the whole book for me was the baby. I found it unrealistic that these people that supposedly cared for her would just leave a teenager with a baby by herself. I found Victoria selfish and immature and became disinterested in her. By the time I got to the end I was so angry at the author for ruining the story with the baby, I just wanted it over with and found myself thinking, "Oh, give me a break!" every few minutes.

4 stars. I really liked it.
For anyone interested in maps, especially antique ones, this book is a rare treat. It not only tells the story of a map dealer gone bad, as they say, but it traces the history of map-making from its origins as far back as the 15th century. What makes a well respected map dealer steal? What are the consequences? You'll find answers in this very readable non-fiction book. But we warned, there is a very considerable amount of map history in this exhaustively researched book.
--Alice Kintisch

5 stars. I loved it.
I really enjoyed this latest Preston and Child novel. A well written narrative will delight Sherlock Holmes fans as well as followers of the eccentric Aloysius Pendergast whose protege Corrie Swanson travels to Roaring Fork, Colorado to research a story about a man eating bear. Enjoy!
--Ann Marie Homicki

3 stars. I liked it.
Author mentioned about so many worries of the human beings. My idea about this book is not to worry about anything. Whatever is going to happen it will happen. Be happy.
-- Jolly Mathew

5 stars. I loved it.
Great book!

4 1/2 stars. I really liked it.
Very enjoyable. The medical jargon can be difficult, but it can be informative as well.
--Jean C.

3 stars. I liked it.
A YA book that does not seem appropriate for young adults, Grasshopper Jungle was definitely an original story. Interesting narrator and an unexpected ending.
--Joanna Ollendorff

5 stars. I loved it.
Excellent and disturbing memoir about slavery. I have not seen the movie yet.

5 stars. I loved it.
Excellent story about foster care -- the beginnings in our country and the present.

5 stars. I loved it.
Beautiful, beautiful language. Great story. You learn about a great African American Community.

5 stars. I loved it.
Perfect for the inspired gardener. Barbara and her family embark on a one year journey, living off the food they grow and raise on their farm. They support locally raised agriculture and enjoy the seasonal local foods available. She's full of helpful tidbits from her own experiences. Brilliant!

2 stars. It was OK.
I think I expected a lot more from this as it's on about every summer reading list I've seen. All I can say is "eh". It was cute, I guess, not much happened. I can see where it was going, the growth of the characters, etc. but it didn't quite get there. I didn't NOT like it, it was just there.

5 stars. I loved it.
I'm sure we all have heard during the course of our life someone saying, "There is no book on how to get through life." Well, I think I have found a book that comes close to it. If you ever had something negative happen in your life and it turned out to be positive and wondered how or why that happened, the Saint Germain Series seems to spell it all out. This book has allowed me to look at life's situations in a whole new way. The simple examples and principles keep me grounded and good things start to happen. Don't take my word for it, just get a copy and see if your entire view of life changes. It's not a religious book; it's a book that will help you tap into your inner power.
--Belinda James

5 stars. I loved it.
This a wind-up of the Boonsboro trilogy featuring Hope Beaumont and her turn for true love with a Montgomery. Roberts books are always fun with romance, magic and an understanding of how families operate.

4 stars. I really liked it.
A suspense-race against time. It is an unsolved crime. Stephen King is always resourceful.

3 stars. I liked it.
Fun 3rd "Young James Bond" in series, full of adventure, that reads like a cast-paced movie.

4 stars. I really liked it.
This is a gripping adventure novel that uses the premise of a killer virus spread by human hosts. Dr. Jonathan Smith, a microbiologist joins forces with Sarie Von Keuren, a virologist, and Peter Howell, an adventurer to track the virus with the hope of destroying it. This novel takes the reader to Ethiopia, Uganda, Iran and also Washington D.C. in its quest to thwart Ayatollah Khomeini's plan to destroy America with the virus. - Audrey Gastel

3 stars. I liked it.
Very light. My 1st experience with Thurlo. -Barbara Taicner

4 stars. I really liked it.
Drama, family, connections, history - all rolled into one enjoyable book. -Barbara Taicner

1 star. I did not like it.
Disappointed. I read this book in part because I grew up in the Rockaways. While I enjoyed references to streets that I know (shopping on Bch. 116th street, for example), this book missed the mark for me. I cannot understand how the friend Emily's birth figures into Sarah's story. Is she now contemplating having children? What's with the call to her gynecologist? And what happened with Marty? It's not explained. Am I to intuit that he was using her and then discarding her? Why did she throw away her paints? And two points bother me that perhaps needed a closer editing: The train to the Rockaway Peninsula does not go under Jamaica Bay, as Ison writes. It goes over it. I also got the impression from the text that a seder was taking place on the last night of Passover. That's not correct. And what was the purpose of the caretakers in the story? Too many questions for me to be satisfied as a reader. -Alice Kintisch

2 stars. It was OK.
As a former editor and proofreader, I thought this book would be a hoot to read. And it was... for a while. Then it became repetitive. It works better as a short article; half-way through it I was surprisingly not interested in continuing. I did finish it, but the quality deteriorated as we've all read numerous times the supposed errors made by kids in school. I suggest you read the first half; you'll get a few nice chuckles and a few actual belly-laughs at the gaffs. And forgive me if I have any typos in this review! -Alice Kintisch

4 stars. I really liked it.
Very well written. Enjoyed the interplay between the two stories. -Debby Katz

4 stars. I really liked it.
If you like Criminal Minds, you'll like this book. Crazy serial killer with a great twist. Also, a mystery that goes in a different direction. I will continue to read this author.

4 stars. I really liked it.
People "of a certain age" cannot escape the lure (lurid, too?) of a close-up account of the seasons that led up to the resignation of then President Nixon. Ms. Drew's book is a diary, with entries originally written as she experienced them. The book is replete with her comments (frequently of disbelief), unlike a conventional news article or non-fiction history of the time. Having lived through this remarkable and frequently unbelievable sequence of events I was thoroughly engrossed in Ms. Drew's book. It must be taken in small doses, however, as this book is highly detailed. The style is readable, and I am left with the impression that Drew was indeed mystified herself, as we all were, as events unfolded and became more and more sensational. Often she writes that no one in Congress had any idea how to handle the impeachment process; there were no precedents that applied. I found this book absolutely fascinating. To the end of his life, Nixon remains a mystery and a phoenix who rose from the ignominy of resignation to world statesman -- at least that is how he saw himself after he left the White House. Kudos to Ms. Drew for producing this intriguing volume. The original diary was first published shortly after Nixon's resignation. This new edition contains the original text plus an afterword that she wrote to comment on what happened to Nixon after he left Washington. -Alice Kintisch

If you love murder mysteries, this is the book for you.

3 stars. I liked it.
I must confess it took 30 pages to get into the book, but then I was hooked. Trying to figure out who done it. Everyone involved had a motive. Laurie Moran is the producer of a cold case real life drama. A crime took place 30 years ago. Laurie believes that by recreating the night of the murder, justice will prevail, however, Laurie has a true crime drama of her own. The murder of her husband is still unsolved after 5 years. The murderer is still at large and has threatened to come for her and her son. This is the one case she wishes to solve. -Anny Soto

2 stars. It was OK.
Two beautifully crafted love stories. Light-hearted, easy summer read. These love stories will put you in a good mood, no matter how bad your day may have been. Debbie Macomber does not disappoint. -Anny Soto

5 stars. I loved it
As many novels as I have read throughout the years, this one I will never forget. Beautifully written. It tells the story of how devastating war can be, the struggles of two women and the hardships they endure throughout their lives. It tells of their culture, their religion and the love for their homeland. -Anny Soto

4 stars. I really liked it.
Compulsion is a fast-paced, thrilling manhunt from California to New York. Dr. Alex Delaware, a psychologist and his partner, Milo, pursue a homicidal maniac as he changes his disguises from stabbing murder to stabbing murder. From their investigations they also solve a 16 year old case. The killer is finally cornered in a terrifying and bizarre ending.

4 stars. I really liked it.
Highly recommended. Wonderful family story that will touch your heart. Surprisingly enough, it is about a hermaphrodite.

4 stars. I really liked it.
Romantic. Typical Steel. A good beach read!

<4 stars. I really liked it.
Beautifully written like a gracefully flowing river.

3 stars. I liked it.
Interesting story about a mom who misses her 7 year old son, who is away at boarding school, and begins to hear a choir singing all the time - then sees the choir kids.

The sudden death of Nicole's sister, Mary, shatters her world. She realizes Mary's death was no accident and she is now being targeted. Great read.

5 stars. I loved it.
I can't wait to incorporate this book into my Earth Science and Biology classes. It's a fabulous story, not dry, and most insightful. -Ann Owens

3 stars. I liked it.
I found this one hard to get into, but since my library's book club was reading it, I pushed through. The book got better once the connections between the main characters were established. I ended up liking it but not loving it. I was turned off by the obvious politics of agri-business and the world of genetically modified seeds. However, I highly recommend another of Ms. Ozeki's books: A Tale for the Time Being. (You can read my review on GoodReads.) IMHO that is a much stronger novel.
--Alice Kintisch

4 stars. I really liked it.
I really liked this book. Who cares if it has an implausible plot device? I don't. What drew me in were the characters... the longing of the mother, the absentminded father, the genius socially-inept son. The daughter's special gift (she can tell the feelings of the person who made a particular food) is so well presented as the confusion of a nine-year-old and then later as an adolescent. All this within the boundaries of a dysfunctional family trying hard to be normal but realizing that they aren't until one member makes a move that puts their entire act into jeopardy. The thoughts of the young girl, later teen and then adult are so well presented that I found her completely believable, even as I knew the plot device to be a fantasy. Beautifully written it grabbed me, and I did not want to put it down. Despite those who think this is ridiculous; I do not. I found it engaging and moving. Read it. -Alice Kintisch

5 stars. I loved it.
If you enjoy historical fiction, then you'll be taken back to the stories of Henry VIII, Queen Catherine and Ann Boleyn. Very well-written and the audio adds to the Anglo fervor with an accent. -Ann Owens

3 stars. I liked it.
I likely this book with only a few reservations. The journey that starts out unexpectedly is not that unfamiliar to us. This is the sort of plot device that has been used before: elderly person realizes life is short or something has been left undone and he/she takes a sudden turn toward the unknown by some out-of-character action. What makes this book different for me is the gradual unveiling of the main characters' back story. I found that well done and compelling. My two reservations with the book were (1) the predictable ending, (2) the section of the book that describes how Harold is joined on his journey by others. That said, it is a well written story, and the despair and elation felt by the main characters are realistically presented. It is nice to see "people of a certain age" as main characters who haven't lost their wits and are presented as having both brains and courage.
--Alice Kintisch

3 stars. I liked it.
The best part of this book was its humor. There were some very funny lines and one hilarious character (the elderly gentleman who mistook his daughter for a plumber). I also liked the interactions between the sisters -- especially when they reverted to their 8 year old selves. I found that to be realistic and touching.

3 stars. I liked it.
Some parts made me uncomfortable. -Jean C.

5 stars. I loved it.
Very enjoyable. Look forward to the next story in the series. -Jean C.

4 stars. I really liked it.
Disturbing tale about a little girl who saves her brother and herself when their parents are attacked by a bear while camping. Difficult to read and intense.

2 stars. It was OK.
I'm a fan of short stories, so I was eager to pick up this highly regarded book of stories by Joan Silber. I don't know why, but I was not drawn into these somewhat related stories. I didn't find the characters memorable or interesting. Others have given this book rave reviews (I picked it up because of a very favorable review by The New York Times Book Review). Perhaps I read it in the wrong season or frame of mind or something I'd can't even identify. In any case, it's a short book. You can pick it up, read one or two stories, and then make up your own mind as to whether you want to continue reading.
--Alice Kintisch

4 stars. I really liked it.
Creepy story about an asylum for psychopaths, a town that is an asylum and twin brothers. I don't want to give it away, but it was good.

4 stars. I really liked it.
This book contains 2 stories in the Immortal After Dark Series of Murdoch Wroth, Vampire and Daniela the Ice Naiad, half Valkyrie, half Ice fey. No one can touch her. They are mated but can't be together. Read these adventures and find out the solution to their problem. Gena Showalter's story is about Aleaha Love, who can change her form, and Breean, and otherworld alien. Read these adventures. I would recommend this book and these stories.

4 stars. I really liked it.
The second book in the Immortal After Dark Series. I this story Sebastian Wroth, vampire (doesn't drink human blood) and Kaderin the Cold Hearted, vampire assassin are mated. He wants to die and she hates vampires. You read of their adventures. I would recommend this book.

5 stars. I loved it.
A poetic handling of a horrible subject, childhood cancer. The scars that we are leaving on the world, what some may call "leaving our mark" are getting deeper and more potent, where we now have arrived at a place where discussing childhood cancer is an inevitability. Important piece of fiction. -Heather Cornell

3 stars. I liked it.
Brian Michael Bendis's Age of Ultron is an entertaining if ultimately forgettable read. This story itself, where longtime Avengers villain Ultron, a malevolent and psychotic artificial intelligence, attacks the Earth and wipes out almost all life except for a handful of superhero survivors, is not bad, but it leaves a little to be desired. It never stops to tell the reader who these characters are. It seems to be a given that any potential reader is as intimately familiar with major heroes like Spider-Man, Captain America and Wolverine, as they are with minor league and obscure villains like the Wizard and the Mad Thinker.

After establishing the threat that is Ultron and the impossibility of defeating it, the plot reveals itself to be window dressing for yet another crossover event designed to draw in readers by featuring popular and well-liked characters, and prime them to read unrelated stories that are soon to come. Sometimes in the organic nature of comic book storytelling this works out, but more often than not, it's forced and obvious. After establishing the Ultron threat, it turns into a time travel story, where Wolverine and the Invisible Woman go back and try to prevent the creation of Ultron by murdering its creator, founding Avenger Henry Pym, only to come back to the present to discover they've made things worse, only to go back again and interfere with their slightly younger selves to prevent the murder and make Pym program Ultron to make it defeatable in the future. This sort of works, but it "breaks" time having unspecified consequences, other than the appearance of a non-Marvel character created by Neil Gaiman on the last page. Basically, this massive and overly-complicated story turns out to be just an excuse to introduce a character Marvel had negotiated the rights to use within the Marvel Universe, and she doesn't even do anything.

The structure of the collection was a little frustrating too. After ten issues of the story with the non-ending, they tack on several issues telling individual characters points-of-view of the aftermath of the Ultron invasion. Knowing that time gets reset and that they are mostly set around the McGuffin of Ultron, we know none of these stories matter, especially since the story turns out to be a lesson on the perils of time travel.

As a comic book fan, I get that stories often serve as an introduction or set up to other stories. It can be part of the fun, but it gets tiring to read so many stories with these anti-climactic endings, which only serve as advertisements for future volumes that go nowhere. -Mark Hershberger

5 stars. I loved it.
What happens in a single moment can change a life. Great book. I highly recommend.

3 stars. I liked it.
The code hidden in the great Da Vinci unveiled. Great read.

2 stars. It was OK.
Two nice end of summer reads: Island of Flowers and Untamed. Fast-reading love stories. Family, love and forgiveness go hand in hand. -Anny Soto

5 stars. I loved it.
This book isn't really Avengers versus Thanos, so much as it's Thanos versus several contemporary heroes in the Marvel Universe, including, on occasion, some members of the Avengers, and on two occasions, the actual Avengers. But what's in a name?

There's a lot going on in this collection. It's essentially the first run for Thanos, who would eventually become one of Marvel's major villains, and it spans several different, seemingly unrelated titles throughout the 70s. He worships the literal manifestation of death, and to gain her favor, plots to basically destroy the universe, and failing to do so, settles for trying to destroy all life in the solar system. It's full of big, metaphysical ideas and trippy moments. -Mark Hershberger

It's the sort of story that could only be told in comic books.

3 stars. I liked it.
An interesting twist on time travel and alternate realities. This hefty page turner really breathes life into the late 50's/early 60's and makes the reader feel they are really there. - Joanne Ollendorff

4 stars. I really liked it.
A funny and unexpected black comedy about a disfunctional family and the art that brings them together while tearing them apart. - Joanna Ollendorff

4 stars. I really liked it.
I read this book again after reading it perhaps 15 years or more ago. I still found it fascinating. A teenager kills his girlfriend -- we know that right from the beginning. But then what? What happens in his family between him and his parents, between his mom and his dad? And what about his younger sister? Questions of loyalty, responsibility, moral courage, all of these figure prominently in the book. How do we reconcile behavior of our loved ones with society's expectations? What should we do to protect our loved ones: our children, our spouse? Lots to think about in this well-written tale of a family in distress. --Alice Kintisch

5 stars. I loved it.
Twelve suspenseful short stories in which appearances are often deceiving. This book is a must read for those of us who enjoy Deaver's writing as well as those who are new to this author!
--Ann Marie Homicki

5 stars. I loved it.
This book is dedicated to the later Tony Hillerman. It is a well crafted mystery scanning 50 years and a complex cast of characters. I really enjoyed reading it.
--Ann Marie Homicki

4 stars. I really liked it.
Typical Tim O'Brien fashion where it involves a lot of mystery. Very interesting because he talks about one of the most horrific events that America took part of, which is the My Lai Massacre.

5 stars. I loved it.
Set in the 17th century, a half black half white little girl abandoned by her white mother and becomes an indentured servant for a white family. Struggles with abuse and no one comes to help.

5 stars. I loved it.
This book should be required reading for high school and college students. I grew up in the 1950's and 1960's. I didn't realize how bad things were for African Americans. When the three civil rights workers got killed, how common killings of African Americans and "Liberal trouble makers" was. The book is fiction, but its basis is the truth. I had gone to a boarding school just north of the Mason/Dxion line. I went to a local theater was asked to leave, because I refused to move from the "Colored Section." This book is excellent. It tells a story that most people would like to forget.
Penn and Caitlin are the main characters and they are flawed. Greg paints a realistic picture of yesterday and today in Natchez. It a long book, but it's a great experience.

<5 stars. I loved it.
Looking forward to the next book in the series.
--Jean C.

4 stars. I really liked it.
Great novel. Easy read and a little dirt on Ernest! Fun!
--Shannon Dedyo

5 stars. I loved it.
I loved this book! I devoured it in two days. Reading it brought me back to the 1980s, when I was 16 and falling in love for the first time. Just magical!
--Joanna Ollendorff

4 stars. I really liked it.
Sad and disturbing story about poverty in India.

5 stars. I really loved it.
Disturbing story about teenage alcohol use/peer pressure/foster care, and consequences.

5 stars. I loved it.
Thought provoking novel about the Holy Grail. Murder mystery and suspense. Excellent story and well written.

5 stars. I loved it.
Great book about what women had to go through during the times of slavery and how it continues to be ignored.

4 stars. I really liked it.
You could read this without having read The Shadow of the Wind, it's not a sequel. It actually takes place before Shadow and I found myself wanting to re-read Shadow to understand the characters better. I really can't say anything about this book without giving it away except that I'd love to find someone else who has read it so we can talk about it! This was a fun thriller, a lot faster than it's size.

2 stars. It was OK.
I'm conflicted about this book. The title intrigued me; I picked it up knowing nothing about the author or her previous works. The language was lovely, but something about the style or the progression of chapters didn't grab me at all. I thought the description of childhood was the best part of the book, really the only part I liked. On the strength of that I will pick up her Swimming Home, an earlier book that was a finalist for the Man Booker prize. - Alice Kintisch

1 star. I didn't like it.
I have read several books by Jance, but this one was a disappointment. The plot and the character Ali Reynods were poorly done. This book came to the library in 2007. Her previous books were much better as were her later books. In many ways the book was a stupid read!

4 stars. I really liked it.
This book was well done. It was a book that you didn't want to put down. Air bags played an important role in this mystery. In this novel(2002) we learned about the connection between Sheriff Joanna and Beaumont. Both of these are wonderful characters.
Thank God that Jance didn't put Ali Reynolds in this book! It's a good read!

4 stars. I really liked it.
Best book ever. True love story between two people who happen to have cancer. Sad ending.

5 stars. I loved it.
This is a thrilling and frightening tale of the Nazi siege of Leningrad as seen through the eyes of David Benioff's grandfather as a teenager. Lev Benioff is imprisoned for looting the body of a dead Nazi. He meets Kolya, a charismatic deserter. They will be pardoned if they can find a dozen eggs for the Russian Colonel's daughter's wedding. Their adventures through besieged Russia to find the eggs is both funny and horrifying. - Audrey Gastel

4 stars. I really liked it.
Clever. - Barbara Taicner

5 stars. I loved it.
Another exciting thriller featuring Kate Burkholder Chief of Police In Painter's Mill. Her insights into Rumspringa, the rite of passage in the Amish community help us to understand her characters.

3 stars. I liked it.
Interesting take on a late in life meeting of lovers. The locations in the book were interesting and made for an colorful backdrop to a rather slow unfolding of a story. It was a bit of work to get to the surprise ending.

An excellent introduction to sensitive topics for teens. The story is a page turner, sad but wonderfully light at the same time. Also laugh out loud funny in parts. The handling of the main antagonist is a bit heavy handed, but considering the audience it is aimed at, I'll give her that.

5 stars. I loved it.
Story about a woman from Trinidad and the trials and tribulations she and her family suffer.

5 stars. I loved it.
The book was even better than the movie. Time travel, romance and danger.

5 stars. I loved it.
For any Harry Potter fans, or anyone who wanted to live in a fictional world. The characters were great and 3 dimensional and the plot very satisfying. Loved it! -Joanna Ollendorff

2 stars. It was OK.
Not my favorite of her writing, but interesting as a cultural perspective. -Debby Katz

4 stars. I really liked it.
Kendra Michaels is a wonderful character. Her enemy is a sick serial killer named Eric Colby. There several twists that make the ending in doubt. The book moved and never stopped. It is a must read. You realize that you are lucky not to live in Kendra world. There is so much death in her world. She has a wonderful mind that can deduct things that most people would over look.
The ending will leave you with many questions. That is a wonderful gift that the writers have! It's nice that a mother and son can write such a interesting novel!

5 stars. I loved it.
Written by Rita May Brown and co-authored by Sneaky Pie Brown (a cat) the latest in the series featuring Mary Minor "Harry' Haristeen and her contingent of kitty and a corgi sleuths. Well written and fun. Can you guess the murderer or the identity of the unearthed skeleton?

Great reading. If you like suspense you will love this book.

This book has so many twists you don't want to put it down. A great book for reading at the beach.

3 stars. I liked it.
Abigail Lowery, the mysterious woman living alone in the woods, has caught the attention of Police Chief Brooks Gleason. Abigail has a secret past. At the age of 16, she witnessed a double murder. Since then she has been running from the FBI and the Russian mob. After 12 years on the run, she did not think she could trust anyone. She never thought she was able to find someone to love her and care for her. She never had love or trust before. -Anny Soto

2 stars. It was OK.
What can happen when a no-nonsence FBI Agent (Laine Carrington) crosses paths with an ex-con (Eric Gentry). In this heartfelt love story, two people from different walks of life take a chance on love, find true happiness and help others. Funny, touching and an easy poolside read. -Anny Soto

2 stars. It was OK.
Christmas in July. A beautiful holiday story about how a man takes on the challenge of raising his 5 year old niece after her mother dies in a car accident. On the other hand, Maggie lost her husband to cancer a year ago. Sometimes it only takes a little faith for a Christmas miracle. -Anny Soto

4 stars. I really liked it.
Very readable and thoughtful short stories, set in the Midwest. Stories are for the most part heartfelt and somewhat sad, so don't read these looking for comedy. A few of the stories are quite memorable: the Bread Man who sees himself as G-d's gift to women (and who usually is...), the heart-broken widower who only wants to bury his wife on his own farm. Not a beach book for sure (funny that I was given this book in the heat of the summer!), but quite lovely nonetheless. -Alice Kintisch

This book has non-stop action. It is a great read if you love mysteries like I do.

5 stars. I loved it.
I learned so much about Grand Central Terminal and the Waldorf Astoria. I grew up in Manhattan and I really believed that I knew everything there was to know about Grand Central Terminal. I was wrong. Besides this book being a great murder mystery it was a wonderful way of learning about Manhattan's history(part of it). I remember going to Grand Central in the early 1950's. It was a beautiful place. I learned so much about how complex it really is. lt is a world in itself. There were three major murders in this book and at the end DA Alex Cooper, Detective Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace solve the crimes. I really enjoyed this book.
I recommend it!! -Eugene W. Homicki

4 stars. I really liked it.
Interesting, well-researched look at the educations of 12 famous Americans, focused on the value of informal education compared to formal education.

4 stars. I really liked it.
An adventure with grief, loss, drugs, friends, lovers and philosophical questions at the end. Tartt is an expert storyteller. -Marion Francis

4 stars. I really liked it.
I enjoyed the beginning of this book, then the plot turns. While it was intriguing, and mysterious, it lost some of my interest mid-way. -Ann Owens

4 stars. I really liked it.
Very witty summer read filled with eccentric characters telling the story backward. -Ann Owens

5 stars. I loved it.
Simply hilarious. The most entertaining book I've read this summer. Bernadette Fox has vanished and in doing so, she finds herself. After coming to terms with her idiosyncrasies, and her numerous allergies, she becomes the mother her daughter Bee always loved. Thank you, Katie for recommending this as a first audiobook. Loved it! -Anny Soto

4 stars. I really liked it.
An enjoyable sci-fi book. A hometown visit to an old farm unlocks memories of a mystical youth and who the main character really is. -Ann Owens

4 stars. I really liked it.
This sci-fi novel takes you to the edge of no return and the only hope for a dying Earth. Quite enjoyable. I hope there is a sequel for this novelist soon. -Ann Owens

5 stars. I loved it.
This sequel to Wolf Hall takes you behind the scenes as Cromwell continues his manipulation, which eventually brings down the Boleyns and ushers in the Seymours. Henry, of course, continues to engage in all things ego-centric. -Ann Owens

5 stars. I loved it.
I loved it. I am an introverted person and it feels good to know I am not the only one and that there's nothing wrong with that.

4 stars. I really liked it.
The poor life of colored people where even after racism became illegal, there was still racism. It has the mind of a man who tries to break free of his fears by appearing to be tough when really he is scared.

3 stars. I liked it.
Very long novel maybe longer than it really needs to be, but has a lot of literary techniques that can be used if anyone wants to write their own novel. Austen gives a taste of the typical unfair life of the social classes in 19th century England.

4 stars. I really liked it.
Slow at the beginning but the story unfolds to become one of those books where you don't want to say goodbye to the characters, alive or dead. Having lived through the beginnings of the AIDS crisis in NYC, it was devastating to read. It's an important book for teens to understand the emotion behind an era that rocked our world.

5 stars. I loved it.
Another enjoyable story. -Jean C.

4 stars. I really liked it.
Formulaic Y.A. novel about the future of the U.S. Scary thoughts about what would happen to women and girls if they lose their rights in this country.

2 stars. It was OK
This recently popular trilogy follows Tris and 4's quest to fulfill their inner needs and change the current schema of their society. OK, but predictable outcomes. -Ann Owens

3 stars. I liked it.
Ever since I read and loved Then She Found Me by Elinor Lipman I've looked forward to reading her books. I didn't know she also wrote short stories. I picked this one up at a library book sale. It is in the Lipman style: breezy, easy reading, funny, great characters. Although not up to the high standards of Then She Found Me (my personal favorite of all the Lipman books), it is still a fun read. The misunderstood, almost nebbishy characters all looking for love are a hoot to read about. I must admit I like the happy ending stories better than the few in this collection that end on a sad or ambiguous note. Good beach read or for when it's raining out and you want to stay curled up on the couch with a fun book. -Alice Kintisch

4 stars. I really liked it.
I waited a long tine for the last book in this trilogy. Loved it! If you're into witches and vampires, you'll love it. Very historical!

4 stars. I really liked it.
The first book in the Immortals After Dark Series. It is about Lachlain MacRieve, leader of the Lykae clan and Emmaline Troy, half Valkyrie, half vampire. He was held prisoner by vampires and hates them. She is a timid person, afraid of being alone and hunted by vampires. They are mated and your read about their trials abd problems. I would recommend this book.

4 stars. I really liked it.
Another Immortal After Dark Series. Bowen MacRieve, Lykae Clan, lost his mate. Mariketa The Awaited is prophecied powerful witch of all time. They come together and Bowen cannot stop thinking of her. Can it be possible a mate? Read their adventures. I would recommend this book.

2 stars. It was OK.
Well written, but at times predictable. Interesting relationships between parents and children. -Debby Katz

4 stars. I really liked it.
This book was a lot of fun to read. It was funny, informative and totally lacking in pretension. The writer, an associate professor of history at the University of Kansas, is a self-confessed Godzilla nerd; a genuine fan of monster movies. He doesn't look down on or sneer at the material. His approach is both self-effacing an engaging. He starts with an embarrassing anecdote when he once dressed as Godzilla for Halloween, stretching the sewing skills of his mother significantly. It doesn't end well for him or the costume, but it helps us like him immediately. Fellow nerds such as myself know exactly what it's like to have an expression of our fandom backfire unexpectedly. It sets the tone for the rest of the book nicely.

Tsutsui does a good job discussing the history of Big G, from his origins as a metaphor for the atomic bomb in a somewhat somber and downbeat movie, to the campy and colorful monster brawls of the 60s, to the US's embrace of Godzilla as an icon and beyond.

It's chock full of a surprising amount of trivia for a relatively short book. Lots of interesting information about the cultural history of Godzilla in Japan and in the US as well as internationally. This includes any number of knock offs and imitations, mostly cheap and uninspired, but a few quality such as Britain's Gorgo, with the most bizarre going to the North Korean Pulgasari, conceived of by dictator Kim Jong-Il and made by a South Korean director whom Kim had kidnapped to help revive his country's moribund film industry.

Having rediscovered my fondness for Godzilla this summer through watching several of the old movies found in my local library system, I had to try and find something that would help explain these movies' appeal. Yes, they're more than a little goofy, and often downright bizarre, but there is something about them that keeps drawing you in. Tsutsui dispenses with pretentious, overreaching cultural criticism and film theory often seen in books like this. He even makes fun of the clumsy attempts to psychoanalyze fans and the imagery contained in these movies. He knows that we like them not because they are good or deep, but because they are fun and that in spite of our better instincts, sometimes we can't help ourselves. -Mark Hershberger

Guaranteed to keep you up late. Great reading.

5 stars. I loved it.
My favorite book ever! Scarlett is my kind of person.

5 stars. I loved it.
Don't mess with a girl with a tattoo. Good read.

5 stars. I loved it.
Another excellent story filled with mystery, twists, and comedic interaction.

4 stars. I really liked it.
Nice easy reading. Two themes emerged. 1. Fame versus family. 2. Dysfunctional family as a youth versus hope.

5 stars. I loved it.
A true story of family bonding together through devastating hardships and triumphs. -Barbara Taicner

4 stars. I really liked it.
Chinese women today. Beautifully written and revealing. -Barbara Taicner

3 stars. I liked it.
This is a story about a mom, her developmentally disabled daughter, and their journey. It is interesting, but very scattered. The narration jumps around too much.

5 stars. I loved it.
Beautifull written novel. Based on the Nigeria - Biafra war of 1967. In this novel one feels the devastation of war. It tells the story of 4 main characters and the way the endure the perils of war. A must read. The story will stay with you for a long time. Loved it. Thanks Katie!! -Anny Soto