stop saying the same thing over and over again
posted by kid darkness on May 23, 2013 at 4:46PM

Very good story. Held my attention and was very exciting. 8 of 10 for me.
posted by MysteryMan on May 21, 2013 at 1:40PM

This is more than just a cookbook. It's a beautifully illustrated celebration of the joys of cooking and eating delicious food that's in season during autumn and winter. With the very long winter we just had, I really enjoyed it.
posted by Susan H. on May 21, 2013 at 12:21PM

My first Salman Rushdie novel - a book for guys , in spite of it's name . Compelling , but violent :somewhat historical , but bawdy ;irreverent and long on elaborate vocabulary
posted by LDP on May 20, 2013 at 2:45PM

*** stars. This book has some of the feel of " The Red Badge of Courage" set in World War II France shortly after the Normandy invasion. An 18-year-old Iowa boy is called Heck by his comrades because he refuses to swear. He meets a young French girl, but is so young and inexperienced that he does not know if what he feels for her is love or not. He is overwhelmed by the horrors of battle, feels he is a coward, and ultimately commits an outright act of cowardice. The pivotal event of the novel concerns Heck's confrontation of the consequences for a soldier who has deserted. No one would call this boy a brave soldier, but it is difficult to judge Heck who never even saw an ocean before he was shipped off to Omaha beach. How can one cast stones when you have no idea how you would react if thrown into hell at 18. Arvin does a good job of capturing the confusion, terror and randomness of war. Recommend.
posted by bookwoman_cat on May 18, 2013 at 6:47PM

1/2 * stars. I guess at 65 I am too old to appreciate the wanderings of a 30 year old woman from man to man and job to job. The men disappeared from chapter to chapter often without explanation of why Sophie was attracted to them or why they are no longer in her life. She hates her jobs, but moves on only with the assistance of friends. I kept waiting for the stories of self-indulgent inertia to lead to some progress or insights in Sophie's life. My hope was never fulfilled. I found her life boring to the very end. Cannot recommend
posted by bookwoman_cat on May 18, 2013 at 6:18PM

The subject of an international conference at the University of Oxford this spring, 2013 marks the centenary of the publication of this groundbreaking study. In it Beard examines the personal finances of the members of the Constitutional Convention, and explains how these factors shaped the final document.
posted by Maple Grove Library on May 18, 2013 at 9:29AM

I loved this book. I read it in only a couple of days, and from somebody who is a very slow reader, that’s quite the accomplishment! Definitely a page-turner.
posted by aisharenee on May 15, 2013 at 2:09PM

The entire series is tense...!
posted by merlin on May 15, 2013 at 12:45PM

What a great read! Not only hilarious in parts, it’s informative and unexpected, well-written, and reminded me sometimes of Wild by Cheryl Strayed.
posted by Kim B on May 15, 2013 at 9:07AM

Another great story by Nicholas Sparks. A little reminiscent of "Sleeping with the Enemy" movie, but with an entirely different twist. Great love story with an amazing and unexpected ending!! You won’t be disappointed reading this story--9 out of 10 for me.
posted by HappyGirl on May 14, 2013 at 6:07PM

This is the story of Penelope Taberner who goes to stay in a country farmhouse, Thackers, a manor house once inhabited by the Babington family of 1582. The Babingtons were supporters of Mary Queen of Scots and wanted her restored to the throne. Penelope finds she is able to slip back in time to the Elizabethan era and becomes involved with inhabitants of the manor house and the plot to liberate Mary Queen of Scots from the nearby Wingfield Manor. She slips effortlessly between the past and the present. It is a bittersweet story because Penelope is aware of the fate of both the Queen and the Babington family and that she will not be able to change the future. The book is written for children but it was written in the 1930’s and the language is very formal and somewhat old fashioned—I don’t think this is a book that would be enjoyed by younger children or even teens. Even I had a hard time finishing the book though I found the topic intriguing. A 2.5 out of 5 stars.
posted by Marsap on May 14, 2013 at 3:42PM

*** stars This story is set in 1975 France. A young book editor starts receiving letters shortly after the death of her mother. They slowly tell the story of events just before and during World War II. At first she believes the letters are from an author who wants to get his book read and has used them as a strategy to bring his work to her attention. Gradually she begins to wonder if the stories relate to her own life. The author keeps you reading to find out what happens. recommend.
posted by bookwoman_cat on May 13, 2013 at 4:04PM

*** stars A young woman whose husband has left her for another woman returns to Bainbridge Island, Washington to the home of her great aunt to heal. She finds a ? dairy / ? novel about events in the World War II era. Gradually she begins to wonder if the story relates to her own life and long kept family secrets. Ms. Jio keeps you reading to find out what happens and has a talent for interweaving the past and the present. recommend.
posted by bookwoman_cat on May 13, 2013 at 4:00PM

*** stars This is an amazing story of an African American family over 12 days of the approach, duration, and aftermath of hurricane Katrina. The teenage daughter is pregnant who finds her heroines in mythology. One brother has a fighting pit bull. Ms. Ward does not pull any punches in describing the brutality of the life of this poor family. It took me a while to engage with the book, but was soon invested in the survival of the family. recommend
posted by bookwoman_cat on May 13, 2013 at 3:43PM

*** 1/2 stars I grew up in rural Iowa. In the 1960's a family from the community "disappeared" into Scientology in California. From that day forward I have had a fear of and curiosity about the "church". Mr. Wright has done thorough research and written a very readable account of the history of L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology. Recommend
posted by bookwoman_cat on May 13, 2013 at 3:33PM

Re reading this series in preparation of reading the sequel. I still don't buy that the expansion and decompression rate of gas could be affected without simple biologic processes also being affected.. but if you can suspend your disbelief and just pretend this is "magic" it works great as a apocalyptic dystopia
posted by SpeculativeFictionFan on May 11, 2013 at 10:38AM

Excellent. 'Nuf said.
posted by lilyismyname on May 9, 2013 at 5:16PM

Set in Cambridge and Marblehead, Mass , this novel alternates between Connie Goodwin, a 20th century PhD candidate in history searching for an original primary source, and the story of a group of 17th-century outcast women who are accused of witchcraft (which may or may not be true). After moving into her grandmother's house to get it in shape for sale, Connie comes across a small key and piece of paper reading only Deliverance Dane. This discovery launches Connie on a quest—to find out who this woman was and to unearth a rare artifact: a physick book or “receipt book” which may really be a witch’s shadow book. The novel gives an interesting look at not only the Salem witch trials, but the process of research and discovery.. Similar to another book I read recently, Ghostwalk, this novel was much better written, well told, fast paced, engrossing, and interesting. A 4 out of 5 stars.
posted by Marsap on May 9, 2013 at 3:48PM

City of Thieves is an adventure story, a history lesson and a sweet coming of age story rolled into one fun book. Lev Beniov is a quite, comtemplative young man thrown into jail for looting during the siege of Leningrad. There he meets Kolya a brash and charming solider imprisoned for desertion. The young men are given an opportunity to avoid the death peanlty by completing a seemingly impossible task: gather a dozen eggs for a powerful colonel to use in his daughters wedding cake. To get the eggs the young men must leave a starved Leningrad and head out behind enemy lines. This exciting story is told with a lot of warmth and well-drawn characters. The friendship that develops between the two main characters is a great balance to the adventureous plot.
posted by Anna D. on May 8, 2013 at 11:31AM