Though comparisons to Wharton and Wolfe seem a wee bit generous, I still managed to gobble down this modern novel of manners in greedy gulps. From time to time we all don our masks--but to what degree, how often, and ultimately--at what cost? Lots for book clubs to consider here.

I've been a fan of this author's work since publication of her debut ("Sleep Toward Heaven"), and her newest novel is no exception. In "The Same Sky," Ward employs alternating narrators--Alice, approaching 40 and desperate for a child denied her both by nature and adoption, and Carla, an 11-year-old Honduran seeking reunion with her absent mother--to explore a multitude of up-to-the-moment AND universal themes. Infertility, immigration, family, motherhood, loss: this novel walks a fine line between heartache and hope, offering rich (and potentially controversial) fodder for book-group discussion. The pages flew by!

The players are familiar; the story as well. Even some of the (exact) dialogue has been heard before. No problem. Ms. Leveen has created an intriguing (and plausible) backstory for the tragedy in Verona, and she has done it in a style and a voice that honor her source, while still maintaining a surprising level of suspense. Chalk it up to the point of view; we only learn of unfolding events as they are revealed to Angelica, young Juliet's nurse. Before the last page was turned, I was pulling Shakespeare off the shelf. I absolutely LOVED this book--a great book club selection, particularly read in tandem with the play.

Uncontrolled fires burn beneath the decaying town of Barrendale, PA, creating an apt metaphor for the secrets simmering just below the surface of the 'cursed,' coal-mining Howley family in this bleak coming-of-age novel. The unusual and atmospheric setting, and the resulting below/above-the-façade tension, are the novel's strong suit; less so the characters (sorry, but Brigid is no Scout Finch) and somewhat predictable mechanisms of the plot. Final analysis: good, but not great.

This is a tough one! I echo the comments of many previous reviewers: the writing was the best part of this first novel. For that alone, I might have rated it 4 or 5 stars; however, the intriguing premise (youngish woman struggling with the isolation of early widowhood) was betrayed by the plot itself, which felt strained--a conscious effort to convey an edginess that bordered on the gratuitous--and the ending felt rushed and contrived. Disappointing.

I was attracted to this book because of early comparisons to "The Age of Innocence," one of my all-time favorite novels. I figured I'd either love it or hate it. The "jury" is in: Segal has crafted a deft homage to Wharton's Pulitzer classic, transporting the focus from the upper-echelons of late-19th-century NY citizenry to contemporary North West London, the established center of the city's thriving Jewish society. The plot, the characters, the themes are very much the same, but unfold with a freshness and flair that has much to offer today's reader. How much have things really changed in 140 years? A great choice for book clubs--lots to discuss; would make a great tandem read with Wharton's "Age."

While I suspect this novel has much to offer in describing the relationship between white settlers and the Noongar Aboriginal people in 19th-century Australia, I simply couldn't crack it and--uncharacteristically--gave up after about 75 pages. Had I some experience with the culture and history of the people, the setting, and the period, I might have fared better; however, facing the additional challenges of a constantly shifting timeline and disjointed narrative style, I just felt lost. I suppose I'll have to chalk this one up to the adage: "Too many books, too little time."

On one hand, I admired this gritty novel for the voice of its narrator (the pregnant, 14-year-old Eshe), the unusual setting, and the device of the slowly and ominously building plot that so closely mimicked the movement of Katrina in the Gulf. On the other hand, I felt too distanced from the action to say that I LIKED it. The author's shortcoming or mine? Couldn't say. I'm simply disappointed that I couldn't abandon myself more readily to a story with such powerful potential.

Although it begins with what would appear to be the familiar "husband leaves wife for younger woman and look what happens next" scenario, this is no fluffy, escapist, chick-lit stuff. Instead (yes!!) it is an intelligent, well-written, thought-provoking--and often close-to-the-bone--examination of women at various stages in their lives. I'll forgive the one-subplot-too-many (the young neighbor) for the gift Hustvedt gives us in Mia's mother and the other Four Swans.

I can't remember the last time I read a book with so many out-loud "oh!" moments. Book clubs will find tons to discuss.

This simply, but exquisitely written novel tells the story of two young Mennonites, Katherine and Will Siehn, who journey to mainland China in 1906 to offer their lives in missionary service. The narrative is told from two viewpoints: his recollections as an elderly man returned to America, and hers through her diary. The resulting "weave" is a quietly powerful story of a marriage, commitment, and a land moving from imperial rule toward an uncertain political future.

It's now almost mid-August. Since January 1, I have read 88 books, a list that includes contemporary literary fiction, quality non-fiction, and acknowledged classics. "City of Tranquil Light" is the best so far, and I look forward eagerly to Ms. Caldwell's next work.

"The Queen’s Lover" tells the story of Catherine of Valois, the French princess given in marriage to Henry V as part of a peace settlement following the English conquest of northern France, and the Welshman who became her clerk of the wardrobe—and ultimately her husband—Owain (Owen) Tudor. This improbable union led to the establishment of the Tudor dynasty through their grandson, Henry, Duke of Richmond, who took the crown as Henry VII after defeating the Yorkist king, Richard III, at Bosworth Field in 1485. The dynasty eventually produced—arguably—the two most recognizable names in the history of the British monarchy: Henry VIII and his daughter, Elizabeth I.

At 500 pages, "The Queen's Lover" is epic in proportion. After a somewhat slow start, Bennett serves up everything you might expect—and desire—from a meaty work of historical fiction set in 15th century Europe: dysfunctional royals, court intrigue, war (civil and international), romance, conniving clergy, and the occasional offspring of “questionable origin.” Yes, at times Owain seems a bit too good to be true, and Catherine’s behavior occasionally borders on the insipid (e.g., her besotted u-turn upon meeting Henry V, her future husband), but on the whole, "The Queen’s Lover" is a highly enjoyable imagining that describes the unlikely origins of one of England’s most fascinating families.

If you’ve ever wondered about the 21st-century relevance of our national motto—Out of Many, One—wonder no more. This fascinating collection of 50 essays, one per state, each penned by a different writer, is a tour de force of letters and lore, affirming both the rugged individuality and the common threads that personify the American Experience. Each narrative opens with a mini-almanac of state facts; the compendium is enhanced with appendices of relevant tables and a signature of photos, the latter provided by the individual authors.

The essays are eclectic in content and style. The iconic Merritt Parkway surfaces as central metaphor in the mini-memoir penned by Connecticut native son, Rick Moody. John Hodgman’s riff on the uniqueness of Massachusetts is delivered with the dry wit of the observational humorist. Jonathan Franzen attempts a tongue-in-cheek interview with New York State. Daphne Beal waxes nostalgic about the life “ballast” cemented by her Wisconsin childhood. Joe Sacco (Oregon) and Alison Bechdel (Vermont) employ the comic strip to tell their stories. Some entries are love songs to “the old home state,” others chronicle the immigrant experience, still others recall a temporary, but memorable sojourn to the state in question.

Despite the diversity of subject matter and tone, there are certain recurring threads. The decimation and continued isolation of the native peoples; the emergence (or exacerbation) of intrastate political and geographical polarities; concern for the environment: these oft-repeating themes demonstrate that, regardless of our individual experiences, we do—on occasion—think as one.

State by State is the kind of book you can swallow in a gulp, or savor state by state as the mood moves you. It would make a great book club read; if your group is feeling particularly ambitious, pair it up with Travels with Charley, Steinbeck’s 1962 classic.

I found reading this gritty novel about the relationship between a drug-addicted, bipolar adult son and his enabling mother akin to watching a train wreck: simultaneously horrifying and mesmerizing. The language is spare - at times almost abrupt - contributing to the sense of tension and anxiety that pervades the third-person, shifting narrative. If you were grabbed by A Million Little Pieces, you might want to pick this one up ... then be prepared to keep those pages turning.

I wavered between a 3 and 4 rating for this book. Although I didn't feel it lived up to the promotional hype comparing it to the Jeffrey Wigand/tobacco industry expose, there is lots of "food" for thought and discussion. While the first part, which focuses on the failings of the food industry, seems kind of "old news," the remainder is devoted to potential--some rather innovative--solutions.

I truly wanted to love this "coming-of-age-in-the-Tidewater" tale by bestselling author, Sheri Reynolds...but I didn't. I didn't "hate" it either: I simply found nothing that hasn't been done before, and done better.The plot seemed thin; the cast of characters largely unsympathetic; the voice and/or depth of Kenny, the almost 18-year-old narrator, surprisingly lacking (as opposed, say, to Scout Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird" or Frankie Adams in "The Member of the Wedding"); and the promised "unexpected" denouement a bit of a letdown.

This book won't put me off Reynolds for good--I enjoyed "The Rapture of Canaan"--but I hope she'll have more to offer next time.