I have just finished reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and enjoyed it immensely. I did find the beginning a little slow.

Steig Larsson's death is a significant loss. He was too young and too talented!

The Music Teacher plays with the idea that "those who can't do, teach." Readers who teach or play an instrument will be drawn in to the excitement of Pearl Swain giving violin lessons a gifted yet troubled student. A couple of unexpected plot twists kept me turning the pages; I finished in one sitting. As a bookseller, I see lots of new fiction. This one is worth the time.

Lorna Ladnvik developed the story around the universal truth that life never turns out the way you expect. As always, her writing is filled with unexpected, delightful description and insight. This time, however, her characters failed to capture my heart. I did not connect to the characters, so for me, the emotion of the plot felt false and contrived. Reactions to the book, within a group, will most likely be quite diverse, so with mild reservation, I would recommend it for a book club selection.

The writing is excellent. I have read a great deal about China.

Mysterious, horrifying, and even funny at times. Describes the revenge plot of a young man for his father's death. Interesting depictions of life in the Middle East. The arbitrary and inhumane punishments and unstable government make me glad to live in America. Recommend for anyone interested in other cultures.

This book is full of eccentric, interesting characters. A little bit of history, a little bit of fantasy and time travel... It reminded me a little of Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife in that you have to suspend your disbelief, but it is ultimately rewarding. The thing I love most about this book is that it sparks my interest in learning something new. I had no idea who Nikola Tesla was before I read this, but now I am glad that I do know about him and his contributions to society. I particularly enjoyed the theme of conflict between invention for invention's sake and invention for fame. Thomas Edison as foil for Tesla in this regard was a surprising and thought provoking element. I definitely recommend this book to any reading group whose members like to be challenged.

A sweet story set in small town Texas, Talk of the Town is a typical romance with a touch of comedy. Although the accents are exaggerated almost beyond bearing, the characters are just innocent and loveable enough to make this a pleasant, blush-free read.

For anyone with an interest in music, history or just a touching story about family, desire, opportunities lost, opportunities gained. A wonderful book that expertly blends fact and fiction to provide a window into an historic family and to create characters that linger long after the final page is read.

Part history, part romance, part coming-of-age, Mozart's Sister describes the difficulty Nannerl has growing up in the shadow of her larger-than-life younger brother. Whether we sympathize with Nannerl or are frustrated with her stubbornness, we are drawn along anxious to know whether she will find happiness in herself or forever be a victim of a society that oppressed her because she was a girl. The novel has an interesting structure, some told in letters, some told in prose, and parts are given names of musical movements. The musical passages are descriptive and almost bring the music alive. I would highly recommend this novel to any reading group because there is much to discuss in the complex character of Nannerl.