austinquiltgirl

First book of 2012 - The Litigators by John Grisham

2012-01-08T12:12:00.001-08:00

I really enjoyed this new one by Grisham. I needed a quick legal fix and this fulfilled my need. His last book The Confession was really good also. Entertaining just like the jacket on the book says!

Judgement Calls by Alafair Burke

2010-09-09T10:20:00.000-07:00

This is the first book I have read by the daughter of my favorite all time author. So far I have had hits on most of those familial combos and I again had one here. I've read every book James Lee Burke has ever written and started with his daughter's first book here. I have already ordered her second, looking to see how she grow's as an author. Good crime drama!

Promises to Keep by Jane Green

2010-09-09T10:19:00.000-07:00

This novel qualifies as a sad delightful romp. Good read, kind of a beach read.

In the Name of Honor by Richard North Patterson

2010-09-09T10:17:00.000-07:00

Newest from one of my favorite authors and was very enjoyable. Always like his novels, they tend to shed light on a different subject. In this case a military trial. Good read.

Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

2010-07-18T10:42:00.000-07:00

Qualifies as a delightful romp, read in two days. Moves quickly, about a marriage and what happens when someone else shouldn't have entered it.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

2010-07-16T19:49:00.000-07:00

First, this book is not really in my normal range of reading. I do read non fiction, usually history or an occasional biography. This book is heavily weighted in the area of science which was always one of my absolute worst subjects in school. However, it was worth every minute of reading.

Henrietta Lacks was unknowingly one of the biggest contributors to medical research in the world. In 1951 she was diagnosed with cervical cancer, she underwent treatment at John Hopkins hospital in Baltimore and did not know at the time that the cells taken from her cervix were going to be used for research. She was an African American women from a family with not a lot of means and she died within months of her treatment. Her cells became known within the science community as HeLa cells. Unlike other cells that were being researched that would die within days, hers multiplied at an insanely high rate. No one in her family knew about this until decades later when her personal information was divulged and they were bombarded by the press.

HeLa cells are still around today and have been used for almost 50 years in research and development of many drugs and treatments. I'm sure at one point in my life, I've probably been injected with a vaccine that had her cells in it. This book is the amazing story of how this happened, the effect on her family and the medical community. It is a pretty technical book but I was easily able to understand the complexity's of the science. That is pretty much a miracle in itself which gives credit to a great author.

The Lion by Nelson DeMille

2010-07-16T19:46:00.000-07:00

The is a sequel to a book DeMille wrote over 10 years ago called The Lion Hunter. Great read, suspenseful, terrorism, action and a little humor and romance mixed in. I genuinely enjoy all of his books and look forward to each one being published.

Lowcountry Summer by Dorothea Benton Frank

2010-07-16T19:45:00.000-07:00

This book qualifies as a delightful romp. My sister and I use that phrase for chick flicks and books like this. Quick read, no major thinking but very enjoyable.

The Scent of Rain and Lightening by Nancy Pickard

2010-07-16T19:42:00.000-07:00

A little girl is left essentially an orphan at three years old and her wealthy grandparents raise her on their cattle ranch in Kansas. They keep the family home in town where the incident took place involving her parents. It's somewhat of a mystery and the ending surprised me. This is the first book I've read by this author but I will be backtracking and reading more.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest by Steig Larsson

2010-07-16T19:37:00.000-07:00

The third and final book in the series by this Swedish author. I've enjoyed all of them a great deal, however, he died after he turned in the three manuscripts. Evidently, he had a fourth manuscript in the works and I am betting that since these have all been huge bestsellers that it will be finished by someone.

These books are full of action, suspense and interesting political angles. Great reads, start at the beginning; The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and then The Girl Who Played with Fire.

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

2010-07-16T19:32:00.000-07:00

Very enjoyable book with a storyline set at the beginning of WWII. The book goes back and forth between several women in different situations which eventually will tie together. A young reporter in London during the Blitz, a newlywed girl who's husband enlists and then the postmistress of a small town in Massachusetts. The story's intertwine very nicely and it was a good read.

Deliver us from Evil by David Baldacci

2010-07-16T19:28:00.000-07:00

Another suspense, thriller, a little romance from David Baldacci. I've always enjoyed his books and this one didn't fail.

Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns

2010-07-16T19:22:00.000-07:00

My friend Mette recommended this book to me and I can see why. Set in 1906 in small town Georgia, this novel follows a fairly well to do family which is ruled by an iron fisted patriarch. The story follows a two year period where the patriarch bucks many social convention that causes upheaval in the family and the town. Don't want to give the story away! This book was written in 1984 but is a great read no matter what decade you are in.

Every Last One by Anna Quindlen

2010-07-16T19:20:00.000-07:00

This book was pretty heart wrenching. Story of a tragedy that befalls a family and how to scrape yourself up and start over. Anna Quindlen is a Pulitzer Prize winner before and it is easy to see why.

The Ninth Judgement by James Patterson

2010-06-29T15:11:00.000-07:00

Latest in the Women's Murder Club series. Pretty good book, need to have read the others first. I've become a little cynical about the writing since he publishes a book almost every month. Will stick with the Alex Cross books and this series in the future!

Innocent by Scott Turow

2010-06-29T15:08:00.000-07:00

This is the sequel to the book Presumed Innocent that Scott Turow wrote almost 25 years ago. Great read, legal thriller!

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

2010-06-29T15:05:00.000-07:00

This was a fun first novel about a retired British Army Major, widowed, who finds an unlikely romance in his small town with an Indian woman. It was a great book, the way she wove the two different character's stories and some outside interests. Very enjoyable, will definitely look for her next novel.

Lucid Intervals by Stuart Woods

2010-06-12T13:46:00.001-07:00

Another book in the Stone Barrington series, good reads, like the character, really enjoy Woods' writing.

The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley

2010-06-12T13:43:00.000-07:00

This is the second book in the Flavia deLuce series by Alan Bradley and it was as much fun to read as his first one "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie". Both books main character is Flavia who is a pre-adolescent girl who has a knack for solving mysteries. Set in post WWII England they are fun and adventuresome but not written for children. Highly recommended!

Ford County by John Grisham

2010-05-30T12:27:00.000-07:00

This new book by John Grisham is a compilation of short stories that all take place in Ford County Mississippi where his first book A Time to Kill took place. Great stories, many different characters and always a lot of thought.

Thereby Hangs a Tail: A Chet and Bernie Mystery by Spencer Quinn

2010-05-14T10:27:00.000-07:00

This is the second book in the Chet and Bernie mystery series. Chet is a dog, Bernie is his owner, the stories are told from Chet's perspective and are funny and entertaining. Dogs probably think this way and are ruled by their sense of smell. Good read!

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

2010-05-13T11:40:00.000-07:00

Great second novel by Kate Morton. Set in the early 1900's about a girl who appears on a wharf in Australia without any identity. The book fluxes back and forth between several decades and from different perspectives. Really enjoyed it, last year I read the House at Riverton and this was equally good.

Deception by Jonathan Kellerman

2010-05-13T11:39:00.000-07:00

Another good crime/suspense novel with the Alex Delaware book. I never get tired of them and order them from the library as soon as I can!

Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen

2010-05-04T15:15:00.001-07:00

Good women's fiction book. Think about the title and go from there. Wife escapes abusive, cop husband and tries to make a new life.

Hell Gate by Linda Fairstein

2010-05-04T15:13:00.001-07:00

Another good suspenseful mystery by Linda Fairstein. Same characters, who have really grown on me, and dang it, I wish the two main characters would just get together! Recommend starting with her first book and then going forward.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Moshin Hamid

2010-04-29T10:11:00.001-07:00

Interesting book about a man who is Pakistani, living in New York City and what happens to him after 9/11. Towards the end I was ready to finish but very much worth reading.

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

2010-04-19T08:18:00.001-07:00

This is one of my favorite books of the year so far. Great story of twins born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It follows them from the time they are born, where their mother died in childbirth, and then through some very interesting times in their lives. I don't want to tell to much because it would give a lot of the plot away.

This is book is fiction, the author has written to other books that are non fiction which I am going to have to read soon.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

2010-04-19T08:16:00.000-07:00

Another sweet novel by Sarah Addison Allen, she generally has a female character in the south and food is always involved in her books. Qualifies as a delightful romp!

Think Twice by Lisa Scottoline

2010-04-16T04:54:00.000-07:00

Another good book from Lisa Scottoline. By the way, read her column in the Philadelphia Inquirer on Sundays, very funny. www.scottoline.com/Site/Column/ She writes about the things that women think about.

The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

2010-04-06T06:34:00.000-07:00

This is a first novel by Jamie Ford who writes about what is familiar in his family history. Looking at his name you wouldn't know that he is of Japanese descent. This is a love story that goes between 1986 and the early 1940's after Pearl Harbor. A young Chinese boy who meets a Japanese girl whose father forbids him to become friends with at the time. It follows there story from meeting in school until she and her family are sent to an internment camp and the are separated. He visits her twice but then loses contact. The story goes back and forth with the main character remembering their brief time as kids and after he has been widowed, his regrets in not finding her. Great book, I've read another book about an internment camp and it is interesting and sad.

House Rules by Jodie Picoult

2010-04-06T06:29:00.000-07:00

Another good book by Jodie Picoult. She generally writes about people who are living their lives with an extraordinary circumstance. In this case a woman who has a son with Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism. Really good book, you can't help but care about the characters.

Horns by Joe Hill

2010-04-03T15:32:00.001-07:00

This is the 2nd novel by Joe Hill (aka Stephen King's son). I've enjoyed both immensely, this one really creeped me out good. Let's just say there were snakes and anyone who knows me, knows I can't stand snakes. But they weren't really bad snakes, just snakes. Excellent read.

The Paperboy by Pete Dexter

2010-03-31T17:17:00.000-07:00

Really good book about a reporter in the 60's who is trying to find out the truth about the murder of a sheriff in Florida in a small town. It's a book written 14 years ago but holds up without any problems. I discovered this author last year and am now on a quest to read everything he has written. The first book I read was from 1988 so 20+ years later it was a great read. It is called Paris Trout and was the national book award winner from 1988. Good author, highly recommend his books.

Brava Valentine by Adriana Trigiana

2010-03-31T17:16:00.000-07:00

This is part of a series about a custom shoemaker who is Italian and her attempt at finding love. Qualifies as a delightful romp.

Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls

2010-03-23T14:41:00.000-07:00

This is the second book from Jeanette Walls that is about her family. The first one I read last year and was excellent. This book she writes from her great grandmothers perspective of being a woman in Texas who runs a cattle ranch with her husband in Arizona and the raising of children in the depression. Really good read, is non fiction but based on accounts from family archives so almost falls into the fiction category.

Secrets if Eden by Chris Bohjalian

2010-03-17T11:12:00.001-07:00

This is another excellent book by Chris Bohjalian. He has turned into one of my favorite authors in the last few years. This is a story of a murder/suicide and the resulting turmoil it creates in the town and the lives of the main characters. Really good book with a twist.

Cleaving by Julie Powell

2010-03-09T20:47:00.001-08:00

This is the second book by the author of Julie and Julia. This book takes up her life after the publication of the first book but before the movie was made. She's kind of slutty. Cheats on her husband, he cheats back. In the midst of this she is being an apprentice at a butcher shop in upstate New York and it is kind of grisly but interesting reading about the art of butchery. I told my sister not to read this, she would turn into a vegetarian. Me, I wanted a steak.

The Big Burn by Timothy Egan

2010-03-09T20:43:00.000-08:00

This was a great non fiction book about how the forest service started back in the early 1900's and was fought against by many people. Until the largest forest fire in Idaho and Montana that has historically been referred to as the Big Burn. Great book about the experiences of the group of men who started the forest service and it was pushed through by Teddy Roosevelt (I have little love for him but this was a good thing). The book then moves through the experiences of the first forest rangers and what happened with the Big Burn and then into the aftermath with the acquisition of National Parks. Good book.

Worst Case by James Patterson

2010-03-09T20:42:00.001-08:00

Same old, but not so same? This is one of his newer characters, is set in NYC and was a good read. You can count on them to keep you interested.

Kisser by Stuart Woods

2010-03-09T20:40:00.000-08:00

Another Stone Barrington novel, my favorite character he writes about. Always a good diversion and moves quickly. Start at the beginning of his books though because they are in a somewhat chronological order.

The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris

2010-03-09T20:38:00.001-08:00

This is the second novel from the writer and is not quite as quirky as the first but is an excellent read. Imagine having a physiological/psychological disease that no one else has, no doctor can help and your family can only support you as best you can. This story is about a man who has such a disease and it takes him on "walks" at any given moment. Sounds kind of weird but is really fascinating. Good book!

The English Major by Jim Harrison

2010-03-05T10:38:00.000-08:00

I really enjoyed this book a lot. The story is about a long time farmer in his sixties. whose wife unceremoniously divorces him and he takes a road trip on his own with the plan to visit his son. The characters he meets, you will either like or dislike, but they are well written. The title of the book doesn't sound like anything to do with the character but he is a well read and educated man with an English degree. I am now going to go find other books written by him.

True Compass by Edward M. Kennedy

2010-02-28T12:20:00.000-08:00

Thoughtful book written by the man himself. No matter what people say about the Kennedy's, public service was what they were bred to do. I enjoyed this autobiography very much. It's amazing how much loss the family went through but kept going. Very much the New England stiff upper lip.

I, Alex Cross by James Patterson

2010-02-28T12:19:00.000-08:00

The usual writing style, Alex Cross wins, I do like these books better that most of the others though.

Under the Dome by Stephen King

2010-02-23T09:16:00.000-08:00

1072 pages of good writing, 134 pages a day, eight days. Call me OCD. This was a very enjoyable Stephen King book, took me back to the days of The Stand. What would happen to your small town if a dome descended over it that was impenetrable?

The Well and The Mine by Gin Phillips

2010-02-22T06:27:00.000-08:00

First novel by this author and it was great. The book is set in the early 1930's in a small Alabama coal mining town. It centers around the mine but also the main character is a young girl who witnesses a baby being thrown in a well. This action shapes her through the next few years. Great story, characters are well written. Highly recommended.

The Imperial Cruise by James Bradley

2010-02-12T06:39:00.000-08:00

This book by James Bradley was about a cruise that Teddy Roosevelt sent his daughter and the Secretary of War, William Taft, on in 1905. The purpose of the cruise was to see the far east, in particular, China, Japan, the Philippine's and Korea. Teddy Roosevelt had been working for years to bring Imperialism, or following the sun, to that region to Americanize the area. The belief that white/Aryan ways were the best way for the world to live. This belief along with some of the meetings that William Taft had divided up the area and can be directly related to different wars in the area including the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It was an interesting book, I realized what a racist that Roosevelt was and the cause and effect of our relations over a 50 year period of time, before and after this cruise, affected world history.

Hollywood Moon by Joseph Wambaugh

2010-02-10T17:07:00.001-08:00

I'm severely behind this year. I finished this book almost a month and a half ago.

Hollywood Moon is a good crime novel. The first book I read by Joseph Wambaugh was written in 1973 and I think I was in high school, 1979ish, when I wanted to read it. My parents didn't want me to, thought it was too violent but I won out. That or I sneaked it in. It was non fiction, an actual account of a horrible murder in the California central valley. It was close to home in a way, I grew up in an agricultural area. It chronicle the murder of two policemen who were kidnapped and tortured in California in the 1960's. Even at 17 or 18 I got hooked on his writing and have read everything since. This book is fiction and a good read.

My sister's quilt

2010-01-09T20:55:00.000-08:00

Quilting my sister's quilt

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

2010-01-02T15:18:00.000-08:00

Audrey Niffenegger first book was The Time Travelers Wife, it was one of my top books for that year. I haven't seen the movie they made from that book yet. This one will rank in my top ten for this year. A kind of haunting book about mirror twins, ghosts and a historic cemetery. Loved it! Very interesting, the characters are interesting and the plot is great. The end surprised me, it wasn't quite what I thought was going to happen so that is always fun!

Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog by Lisa Scottoline

2009-12-27T15:51:00.000-08:00

This was a delightful romp. I have read fiction books by Lisa Scottoline for years, they are all legal thrillers with strong women characters. I follow her column she writes in the Philadelphia Inquirer weekly. This book is a compilation of her columns and frequently makes me laugh out loud. The columns cover everything from pets, her daughter, menopause, parents and eating. It is a fun read.

American Rebel - The Life of Clint Eastwood by Marc Eliot

2009-12-25T16:48:00.000-08:00

First, I have to say I respect the man's talent, which has grown enormously with him as he has aged. However, what a man slut. His first marriage was a somewhat "open marriage", where he fathered two children with other women before he had any with his wife. He's got a total of seven kids and only three of them are from marriages. He slept his way through about every movie he made until it appears he met his current wife. Who was 30 when they got married and he was 68. He doesn't sound like a very warm person from all of the accounts that are quoted in the book. He does have talent though! Great book, read it in a few days during this busy holiday season.

The Scarpetta Factor by Patricia Cornwell

2009-12-22T09:02:00.000-08:00

Another good Kay Scarpetta book by Patricia Cornwell. Fairly twisted but has all of her characters from the Scarpetta novels which is enjoyable. I read a little bit about Patricia Cornwell on wikipedia.com and found out she worked as a technical writer and computer analyst for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia. Reading about her before it made her sound like she was a medical examiner and that isn't true. She also sounds like she may have a screw loose but then, to write some of the books she does, she would have to.

True Blue by David Baldacci

2009-12-22T07:44:00.000-08:00

David Baldacci's first book was Absolute Power which was made into a movie starring Clint Eastwood. When it was first published it was done anonymously. Since then he has written 16 books and I've read them all. Always good spy, espionage, thrillers with a tiny bit of romance thrown in. Very tiny bit. Read them and enjoy.

Evidence by Jonathan Kellerman

2009-12-21T08:48:00.000-08:00

Another good book by Jonathan Kellerman. I never get tired of his main characters, Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis. This one has a little international intrigue, the usual psychic killer bend and was thoroughly enjoyable.

Traveling with Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Taylor Kidd

2009-12-21T08:42:00.000-08:00

This book is a memoir of the travels of writer Sue Monk Kidd (Secret Life of Bees and The Mermaid Chair) with her daughter Ann. They travel to a lot of religious sites in Europe over several years. It was interesting but maybe a little to much about "empowerment and enlightenment" for me. I guess I am just too matter of fact.

The Vintage Caper by Peter Mayle

2009-11-27T11:41:00.000-08:00

The first book Peter Mayle wrote was A Year in Provence, I started there and haven't missed one of his books yet. It was a great non-fiction account of how he and his wife moved to Provence from the UK and the trials and tribulations of learning the french way of doing things. Since then he has written several other non-fiction books and some fiction books. This falls into the latter category. This is a story about the theft of three million dollars worth of wine and a private detectives moves to solve the case. Great little read, always a delightful romp.

The Blind Side by Michael Lewis

2009-11-27T11:36:00.000-08:00

The name of this book may sound familiar, it is currently a fairly new released movie starring Sandra Bullock. The author of this non-fiction book, Michael Lewis, has written many non-fiction books, others about sports, financial issues and the Silicon Valley. I've read them all, they are really well written. The book is about the NFL, college football, high school football, recruiting and one African American boy who has led a life of unimaginable hardship. I guess you could call him lucky, the planets aligned, whatever, he found himself in a situation where a wealthy white family took him in and loved him and steered him. Great book, not telling more about that story. I also learned a lot about what the blind side is, the side the quarterback can't see when he is preparing for a pass and how it is the most vulnerable moment for him to be taken down.

Bird in Hand by Christina Baker Kline

2009-11-22T11:18:00.000-08:00

This novel is about two marriages, the wives having known each other since childhood. There is a tragedy outside their families that creates a landslide out of other issues going on in their lives. Good book, will look for the other books she has written and read them also.

Nocturnes by Kazuo Ishiguro

2009-11-18T15:45:00.001-08:00

I have loved all of his books, great fiction writer who is most recognized for the novel "Remains of the Day" which became an Academy award nominated movie. My favorite of his other books is "Never Let Me Go". This book is an anthology of short stories based around musicians. Not my favorite read, most of the characters are not particularly likable. If you want to read something by him, pick up Never Let Me Go!

The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan

2009-11-18T15:41:00.000-08:00

Historical fictional account of the town of Niagara Falls (the Canadian side) in the early 1900's and the battle of hydroelectricity along the falls. You can see the beauty of the falls and the danger in this novel and learn a lot about the history. Another excellent first novel!

Apologize! Apologize! by Elizabeth Kelly

2009-11-18T15:38:00.000-08:00

First novel from this author and a great debut. Took a little time to get into it but then I breezed on through. Two sons from a family of wealth and a great deal of disaster and animosity within the family. I will definitely get her next book.

The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenhauf

2009-11-18T15:35:00.000-08:00

Good book, about a family where one of the children goes mute in a moment. Explores one day in the life of the family and how they got to this place. Don't want to say more. Read it.

A Single Thread by Marie Bostwick

2009-11-07T18:56:00.000-08:00

A fictional book for quilters that deal with a serious subject of breast cancer. Good book, if you go to her website you can download a quilt pattern from the book. mariabostwick.com

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

2009-11-06T10:20:00.001-08:00

Great memoir by a contributor to MSNBC. I always get my books at the library but went and bought a copy for Nicole, my "niece" (best friends daughter). Nicole is a therapist and will enjoy this book. It is a miracle that Jeannette Walls and her brother and two sisters made it out of their childhoods alive. If it wasn't the '70's at the time they would have been taken away from their parents for neglect. Not physically abused, just no guidance and living in extremely substandard conditions, without food, running water, etc. Yet, she loved her parents dearly. It sounds depressing but it wasn't. Really good book.

92 Pacific Boulevard by Debbie Macomber

2009-11-06T10:19:00.000-08:00

Cedar Cover series, usual delightful romp.

A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg

2009-11-01T16:56:00.000-08:00

This is a wonderful book, of course I got it at the library, but now I am going to go buy it.

This book reads like a novel but it is a cookbook essentially. Molly Wizenberg started a blog after her father died five years ago (link for her blog Orangette is below) and it took off like crazy. She met her husband through her blog. She blogs about cooking and recipes and how they tie to her life. The book was really good, I need it, because today I made the Slow Roasted Tomatoes to put in an Italian dish I made up and they are really wonderful. Most of the recipes are wonderful. Every chapter is a family or personal story that has food tied to it, at the end of the chapter is the recipe. If you love food and family this book is for you.

Paris Trout by Pete Dexter

2009-10-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

This is a great story set in Cotton Point, GA after WWII. Paris Trout is a complicated and evil man. It follows his actions through a time period in the racist south and examines his relationship with his wife and law enforcement. Great book, I've read one other book by Pete Dexter and they are all interesting.

Hothouse Orchid by Stuart Woods

2009-10-24T17:57:00.000-07:00

This book is part of the Holly Barker series written by Stuart Woods. He has a couple different series; Stone Barrington, Will Lee and Ed Eagle. Sometimes the characters cross over and have special appearances in each others series. Anyhow, I have read all of his books, they are quick mystery/thriller/crime drama books and enjoyable. Always a good diversion.

Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain

2009-10-20T12:47:00.000-07:00

First, this book is not for the faint of heart. It is her third book in a series which started with "Heartsick" then "Sweetheart". The author has to be a little twisted to write these books but they move quickly and are very engrossing. Serial killer who is a doctor and a detective who is hunting her, who also happened to be the one victim that got away.

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

2009-10-19T15:11:00.001-07:00

Pretty much like all his others.

A Change in Altitude by Anita Shreve

2009-10-13T19:33:00.000-07:00

I finished this last night, another good book from Anita Shreve. She writes "women's" books. Generally fiction about women who have an event in their lives that is subject worthy. In this case in was a trip up Mt. Kenya at the beginning of the book. She is a fairly well known author because of a book called "The Pilot's Wife" that I think was an Oprah book club title. Really good book, I read everything she writes.

The Girl She Use to Be by David Cristofano

2009-10-11T08:40:00.000-07:00

I'm on a really good run of books right now. Also behind in posts.

This is a first novel about a girl who was put in the witness protection program at the age of six because she and her parents witnessed a mafia murder. Now a six year old isn't going to remember that she can't remember what her name is when it has just been changed, move number one and name change number two. We catch the story when she is 26 and is moved again, this time for different reasons. It's a great little book, a fictional account of how hard it would be to be alone and unable to make any attachments. Can't wait for his next novel!

A Good Indian Wife by Anne Cherian

2009-10-11T08:32:00.000-07:00

I keeping finding myself reading books written by Indian women. They are so interesting and the cultural information I just absorb like crazy. This book by Anne Cherian is about a woman who is considered an old maid in her town in India because she is 30 and never chosen for marriage even though she has been pranced in front of a lot of men. She is smart, well read, English teacher at a university. Still lives at home of course and her mother is overbearing. An arranged marriage takes place with a doctor who is called home to India because his grandfather is dying. This turns out to be a hoax after the arrangements are made. He has a girlfriend in California and returns with his Indian wife. I won't say anymore but it is a great book!

When I'm Falling by Laura Moriarty

2009-10-05T16:29:00.000-07:00

This may sound like a love story because of the title but it's really not. It's more about a college student whose life is falling apart. Her parents get divorced, she is getting her education in something she doesn't want to do to meet her father's expectations, her mom hangs up on her when she has a crisis, it's a whole parade of things which sound depressing but it is really good book. I've enjoyed this author's other books but think this is my favorite.

The Spire by Richard North Patterson

2009-10-04T12:31:00.000-07:00

Psychological thriller. That about sums it up. It is a good book, went fast, liked the characters. His most recent two books before this I really enjoyed. The Eclipse was set in west Africa and actually helps you understand the political issues there and The Exile was set in Israel and gives good insight into the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. Fiction that you can learn from!

Dog On It by Spencer Quinn

2009-10-02T19:27:00.000-07:00

A mystery for the animal lover. One of my friends recommended it to me and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. First time novel, told in the point of view of the dog who is owned by a private eye. The dog was trained as a police dog but failed the final exam and the private eye is a former cop that you don't quite no why yet he is a former cop. Great quick read and my understanding it is the first in a series.

Even Money by Dick and Felix Francis

2009-09-28T19:31:00.001-07:00

I've read every one of the Dick Francis books published. This goes back to 1957, before I was born. He is about to turn 89 this year and is now writing with one of his sons. My mom read his books and that is how I got into them and that was probably over twenty years ago. They are great crime stories based generally around the sport of horse racing. He was a RAF pilot and then a champion jockey before he started writing so he can explain a lot about horse racing in great detail! Very enjoyable read!

The Lost Quilter by Jennifer Chiaverini

2009-09-24T06:39:00.000-07:00

This is a shout out to my quilting friends. This is the umpteenth in her series of books about The Elm Creek Quilters. I really enjoyed this one which goes back into the historical perspective of life in the 1850's for a slave in the South and her failed attempt at freedom and then her life afterwards. They are always good reads and enjoyable.

South of Broad by Pat Conroy

2009-09-22T07:43:00.000-07:00

Another good Pat Conroy book, I've enjoyed all his books; Prince of Tides, My Losing Season, The Great Santini and Beach Music are the ones I've read so far. He is considered somewhat of a current day icon and his books are enjoyable.

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

2009-09-16T16:13:00.004-07:00

This is a great book. Earlier this year I read his book called The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I had seen this author mentioned on a lot of reading lists and had heard good things. The name of the book put me off for some reason but it is a great read. Good story line, suspenseful and the characters are great. The Girl Who Played with Fire is just as good as the first one. There is another book in the series coming out next year called The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. They are all set in Stockholm as the writer is Swedish, the translation is excellent. Sadly, these will be the only books we will see from this author. He turned in all three manuscripts in 2004 and died a short time later from a heart attack.

2009-09-16T16:13:00.003-07:00

2009-09-16T16:13:00.001-07:00

The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman

2009-09-11T16:37:00.000-07:00

I usually like Alice Hoffman books but this was not that enjoyable. Moved slow, not particularly like able characters, kind of exhausting. Sorry for the lack of enthusiasm.

2009-08-30T15:20:00.001-07:00

I finished reading "The Shimmer" by David Morrell last night. He is a thriller writer whose most know character is Rambo from the First Blood series. Yup, the Sylvester Stallone movies! I love his books because they are action packed, have good twists and the endings are generally satisfying. This particular book is based on a fictional town called Rostov which is depicting the real Texas town of Marfa and it's weird light phenomena. Good read!

New Mercies by Sandra Dallas

2009-08-26T18:04:00.000-07:00

This is the third book I've read by this author this year, her most recent book, Prayers for Sale, I read a few months ago and before that Tallgrass. New Mercies was published in 2005 and I am slowly going to work my way back through her novels. Sandra Dallas lives in Colorado and most of her characters do also, writing what you know is a good idea. All of her books that I have read so far have been set back in the first half of the 20th century or earlier. I believe they are true to their time periods and I've enjoyed them all a great deal. Her female characters are generally strong women who have had extraordinary things happen to them. Prayers for Sale was set after the Civil War and a very young war widow ends up in a rough mining town in Colorado and befriends an 87 year old widow. Tallgrass is written from the eyes of a teenage girl in Colorado who has a WWII Japanese internment camp set up next to her family farm. New Mercies is about a divorcee in the 1930's who finds out that she has an aunt she never knew about who leaves her a plantation in Mississippi. I'm looking forward to the next novel going backwards in her body of work.

Also, to all my quilting friends, quilting is mentioned in everyone of the books.

2009-08-24T10:52:00.000-07:00

Last night I finished Happens Every Day by Isabel Gillies. This is a non fiction book about a divorce. It was good, probably very cathartic for the author. Being divorced twice myself I get it, my story on my first marriage may be a little more harrowing than hers but it was a story that was easy to relate to for myself. I read it quickly, it was good and also when it is 104 outside, it is easier to stay inside and read.

By the way, if anyone watches Law & Order SVU, this author is the actress who plays Detective Stabler's wife.

2009-08-23T11:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I finished That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo. He's a great writer, Pulitzer prize winner for Empire Falls which was made into a HBO movie that Paul Newman was in, can't complain about anything with Paul Newman! This book, you don't really like all of the character's but that is what made it interesting. There were several moments where I laughed hard out loud by myself. Good read!

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahirir

2009-08-22T11:35:00.000-07:00

Two days ago I finished Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri, this is a Pulitzer Prize winning book of short stories. As all of her books, the characters are all of Indian descent. These short stories vary in time but all have rich characters that she can bring to life and you generally get a picture of a time period in their lives. She has written two other books since this was published, Unaccustomed Earth which was another collection of short stories and a novel called The Namesake. She has probably been the author who introduced me to a group of Indian female writers that I have since really enjoyed. She's an amazing talent who bridges the gap in the differences between generations of India families.

Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner

2009-08-17T18:10:00.000-07:00

This was a quick read but good. You may have heard of Jennifer Weiner from her first novel which really made a splash called Good In Bed. Her second book became a movie and it was called In Her Shoes. She writes generally about kind of chubby women and there relationships with others but also with themselves. I enjoy it as a chubby woman. Great reads, did this one in about two days!

Rain Gods by James Lee Burke

2009-08-15T17:47:00.000-07:00

I just finished James Lee Burke's newest book called Rain Gods, go read his books now, five star rating. First, let me say, he is in my top five favorite all time authors, probably in the top two. I learned about him in 1998 when I first moved to Texas. I met a guy, Ed, who I dated for a few months. Ed was a Cajun guy who was a retired Navy Seal (hard to believe I dated someone who was a Navy Seal) and worked for the FAA, he was kind of a tough guy who could cook and also read a lot. This relates together because James Lee Burke is a Cajun author, well, mostly just a fantastic author who is from the New Orleans area. Burke lives there and also in Montana. Ed was a good guy who told me about this author and I started from the very beginning of his body of work and now I wait with anticipation for his new novels. There is a series with 17 books out of his 30, that has a character called Dave Robicheaux; sheriff, struggling with sobriety, widowed twice, struggles with many inner demons and walks the fine line between law and vigilantism. This book is part of another series he has written based in Texas, the first book with this character, Hackberry Holland, was written in 1971! His characters in all of his books are flawed and interesting. He's an award winning author, nominated for a Pulitzer, won two Edgar awards for his writing and my guess he will some day win a Pulitzer. He has such prosaic writing and I can't say enough about his books. But start at the beginning, you learn about the different layers of his characters in each novel. He has also published some short stories that are great. What can I say, Ed, wherever you are thanks!

http://www.jamesleeburke.com/

2009-08-12T13:44:00.001-07:00

Latest book update, finished Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella. Delightful romp. This is the author who did all the "Shopaholic" books. Recent movie release that lasted about a week at the theatre. My sister refers to this as drivel. Drivel is okay.

I just started the new James Lee Burke book, he is in my top five favorite authors of all time. Very excited when a new one comes out!

Return to Sullivan's Island by Dorothea Benton Frank

2009-08-08T16:12:00.000-07:00

Just finished this book yesterday, qualifies as a delightful romp. Set in the Carolina's, can't remember if North or South but one of the those two! Good beach read, have read all of this author's book and she writes what she knows which is that area. Makes me want to go rent a beach cottage there and hang out for awhile. Since I don't really like sand, that made it a pretty good read!

2009-08-02T07:21:00.000-07:00

Morning, just finished a new book. "Summer Affair" by Elin Hilderbrand. This falls into my classification called a delightful romp. Otherwise known as mindless summer reading. I like this sometimes, read a few non-delightful romps then you get a delightful romp. Like dessert.

2009-07-28T18:31:00.001-07:00

Well a year and almost a half later, I've got my book list for this year on my blog. Thanks to my friend Rain! I owe her, will have to come up with something for her help!

It took awhile to get all the books listed, I read a lot and now I want to figure out how to put in some ratings. Right now I am about to finish a book called Olive Kittridge by Elizabeth Strout which was recommended from the author Jennifer Weiner's blog. It's pretty good, it is a series of short stories with the character Olive Kittridge running through them. Sometimes she just passes through another characters life very briefly but she is in every one of the stories. My best friend Tish's daughter, Nicole, noticed I was reading this book and said she was also. Generation gap between the two of us, she's 26, I'm 48, and after talking with her about the book briefly she said it was good but I have a feeling it's for the over 40 woman. I have enjoyed it thoroughly. Not quite a delightful romp (delightful romps are not meaty books)but worth the read. By the way, Elizabeth Strout won a Pulitzer prize for fiction for this short story collection.

First book of the year!

2008-01-13T10:23:00.000-08:00

Well today is the first time I try this blogging experience.

I am almost finished with my second book of the year. The first book I read way by Steve Martin and it is called "Born Standing Up". It is a memoir of when he first started performing back in the '60's until he decided to quit doing stand up 20+ years later. Quick read and I really enjoyed it and laughed out loud. He is much more of the intellectual than you may think because of the "wild and crazy guy" persona, he was very deliberate about picking his type of comedy. Would recommend highly, his faction books have been all very thoughtful and enjoyable also.