This is a great read and a wonderful "who dun it!" I especially enjoyed the female police detective. All of the characters are well developed and the plot line is well though out. This is the first time I have read this author and I know that I will be reading more from him. He is a great find for anyone who enjoys British mysteries!

Amy Tan introduces us to a group of people who are out for an adventure, so they sign up with their friend and guide, Bebi Chen. The problems start when Bebi dies, or is she murdered ? The group decides to go on without her, in her memory and that's when the fun, adventure starts. The group is composed of the hypochondriac, the world savior, the womanizer and two teenagers. These are only some of the people, and what an adventure they have. The story us laugh out loud funny in parts and ironic in others. The book is very different from her other works. It is readable and lends itself to discussion. A really good read.

With parents like Jeannette had, it's a wonder that she, and her siblings, survived. Her parents, one one side, are feckless, self absorbed, mean-spirited, and on the other hand hopeless romantics ! The amazing part is that she turned out as successful, both personally and professionally , as she did. This book made me think about the human spirit's resiliency. It also made me think about how children either stay whole or fracture apart. A good book, well written, and one that will be discussed for years to come.

Olive Kitteridge is strong, sassy, thoroughly opinionated and totally lovable. The stories that Elizabeth Strout uses to tell us about Olive are so well written and so detailed that you really get to know the character. Just When you think you know Olive's story, she goes and surprises you. When I re-read this book, I realized that there all parts of Olive in many of my friends. I have lent this book to a few of my girlfriends and we have all agreed that this is one of our favorite books. I totally recommend this book to anyone who likes to about strong women who can make their own way in the world.

This is a wonderful love story, but not in the traditional sense. The story is told through the lives of the two main characters, Buckley and Becca. It is the story of these two trying to fit into their particular world and how they come together to find their place. The handbook is interwoven through the book and at times is distracting, however for the most part it works well. If you are looking for a good book discussion book, this will work beautifully. I fell in love with these characters and would love to read about them in another book.

Wow, what a great start for this author. There is so much to like about this book on many levels. The themes are universal, growing up, growing old and learning how to deal with all of life's seasons. I identified with the mother and the grandmother the most and I'm sure that anyone who reads this book will also have their favorite characters. The trip through modern China is fascinating ! A good read and a great choice for a book club !

This book manages to take itself seriously while the author is making fun of the very stuff he is writing about. I loved it !The story is full of double crosses, and red herrings, both in the present and in the past. Characters from the past are mirrored in those in the present day story and the women in the book are great. Michael Gruber has written a good whodunit thriller. I'm looking froward to reading more by him.

If you ever thought that the stuffed head in your grandparents' house was watching every move you made, you will enjoy reading this book.They could be watching you! Ms. Milgrom goes into great detail about the art of taxidermy and the pains that the people who do it go to to make the animals life like. Her sections on museum dioramas is wonderful. She has taken a dull subject and brought it to life. A bonus for the book would be the inclusion of more photos. There is only one in the book and that is not labeled. Overall a decent read.

This is the story of how one family survives, and endures, a pandemic outbreak of avian flu in this country. It is the story of the choices that the main characters, Ann, Peter and Shaiza make and the consequences that those choices have. Ms Buckley has written a remarkable first novel. Her characters could be your next door neighbors. The plot line is simple but powerful. She asks and answers the question "what would you do to survive in a emergent situation". The book will remind the reader of Katrina and New Orleans and have us hoping that nothing like this ever happens in our country. I highly recommend this book. It is a thought provoking read that will stay with you for a long time after you finish the book.

From the first story of unrequited love to the last story of love fulfilled and love's potential, I was caught up in the magic that Maile Makoy created with each of her eleven short stories. Her book reminded me of just how wonderful short stories can be when they are well written. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can recommend it without reservation. It will make a great discussion for any book club

One of the main characters in this story realizes that a person can be starving for words as well as food. Ron Rash has written a story that will fill the reader with both words as well as food for thought. This story is set in the early days of the Great Depression in South Carolina lumber country, a time of great innocence and greed in this country. The descriptions of both the land and the characters are beautifully written and the reader will soon find themselves caught up in a story that is hard to put down. Serena is a character that is hard to fathom or forget, but it is well worth the readers time to try to understand her. I hope that Ron Rash has a sequel planned for this book, I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more of his work.