The In-Betweens by Mira Ptacin is a textbook on the many facets of spirituality and the 140-year history of Camp Etna, Maine. Ms. Ptacin went to the source to meet spiritualists and explore Camp Etna; she immersed herself in the study of spiritualism by actually living at Camp Etna. In the beginning of the book, Ms. Ptacin seemed dissatisfied, not with her family, but in finding a meaning to life. This was something different; a deeply personal search to discover herself. She mentioned she was raised a Catholic but didn't like formal religion. I think she found what she was looking for by immersing herself in spiritualism.

The In-Betweens is a book of a nontraditional religion which was full of tradition, hierarchy, and colorful characters whom you personally meet in the pages of this book: from the Fox Sisters who made Camp Etna, to spiritualists, mediums - both physical and mental, table tippers, psychics, ghost hunters, dowsers, transfigurationists, readers, and many more.

The In-Betweens is a great source for the reader who has always wanted a comprehensive study on spiritualists and spiritualism.

Children 4 Sale, the 1929 depression, choices and consequences. Kristina McMorris' novel "Sold on a Monday" explores the sale of children during the depression. Was it desperation or avarice? Two children, their mother, a reporter's chance photograph and story change lives in unforseen ways. A glimpse into a piece of unforgettable American history. Terrific.

Rachel is immortal and with so many lives already lived, difficult to understand at times, but you want to hold her hand and run with her to the next "version".
Dara Horn's style of writing is so refreshing, her story so demanding that I got up in the middle of the night just to find out what happens next. Her wordplay of description and simile, English and Hebrew, slang from today and ancient times all mixed together and flowing like a river of song, easy on the eye and the mind, stirring interest so much that I could hardly wait to turn the page, but then went back and reread what I had just devoured.
EL is a book of fantasy but it's also of could be, and of why not. So much is possible now that never was thinkable in the past, and so much of the past is inscrutable that this is a distinct possibility. I am going to look differently at people after reading this book, and wonder if he or she is another Rachel.
This is the first time I've read a book by Dara Horn – but it certainly won't be the last!

A very unusual book! An interesting treatment of a problem a woman and her family has to deal with from her birth and through her entire life. Even though it is the cause of her way of life, it's handled reasonably without great and gory detail. The characters are alive and real, and although there are some "raw" scenes, it's part of Miss Jane's life, and well-presented. Even though it's not for everyone, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, enough to get a couple of Watson's other stories as well.

This book had me in a real quandary. I liked the story and the characters. I liked the setting. I liked the author's writing. And that's why I'm giving it a 3. But, I absolutely hated all the cursing and the sex. Then I realized that I'm an "old" lady, and I'm applying the morals and scruples of 50 years or so ago to today's society, and that just doesn't work. It's too bad we've sunk this low, and are striving for an even lower baseline. Thanks, Ms. Fierro, for opening my eyes and giving me the awareness to stay out of the mainstream, and read books that are a little less "modern".

This book captivated me from the first page to the very last! I was enthralled with Lewis' writing style (poetic, visionary, promising), giving me such a plethora of sights and sounds, accents and idioms, colorful words and sights, that my imagination was overloaded to the point of exhaustion. Lewis' use of "other than" words sent me repeatedly to the dictionary and Google, surprising me time after time that common words ("frowning brow") could be replaced by a magical phrase ("synclinal eyebrows") and still mean the same. I ended up with a page-long list of "I have an advanced degree in the English language" replacing my own very trite excuse for communication. The story takes the reader through a family and its discordant history, the physical and psychological aberrations, triumphs and failures. The protagonist is easy to side with and walk with in his journey.

I find it hard to believe that this is a debut novel. I read it once for review purposes; now I am going to read it again for the pure enjoyment of it. Thank you, Phillip Lewis!

A story of an honest, loving family brought to its knees by an impulsive act of youth and the mob hysteria driven by hatemongers and fortune-seekers taking advantage of a bad situation. The book is beautifully written; Smith deftly uses her skill to convey emotions and scenes; a paintbrush dipped in the alphabet and stroked across the page in an original and thoughtful manner. I wanted very much to keep her words in my memory long after I put the book down. I hope this book touches people and leaves as much of an impression of both the story and the author as it did for me.

When I received this book, I wasn't thrilled; novels where the story takes place hundreds of years ago are not my thing. Once I began reading this one, though, I was so wrapped up by the third chapter I even had to stay up nearly all night to finish it! The characters are so meaty, the action so intriguing, and the scenarios so realistic, I was completely swept away – not to return until the last word was read. Now I can hardly wait to dive into Hodgson's first book to get the feel of what came before! My favorites in this book were Sam and Kitty; they were stalwart friends (at least) of Tom Hawkins, and kept their parts interesting all the way through. I can hardly wait for the next book to hit the shelves!

Sound of Gravel as a novel is a difficult but interesting read. As a memoir, it is mind-boggling that people actually manage to convince themselves that what they are doing and what they believe is acceptable, not only to society, but to the human race and, if God is in your realm, that He would condone such aberrant behavior. At times I wanted to just throw the book across the room, but then had to dive back into it, hoping for justice. Sound of Gravel is one of those books you want to chew the pages of but can't because you have to hear the rest of the story. Ruth is a lifeline for her siblings and neighbor children. I was amazed at the ending. Thank you, Ruth Wariner, for a terrible story well-told.

This may be one of the strangest books I have ever read! At first I thought I'd never make it through, but the more I read the more fascinated I became. Trying to follow all the characters was not easy at first, but the rhythm of the story finally caught me and it all came together. Taylor's use of language is stunning – she sings this story together! She has created a weird menagerie and connected them all in a crazy quilt design. The time span from 1885 to 2143, not in chronological order, isn't confusing at all – once the rhythm catches you. The Shore is populated by characters that when you meet them, you hear those banjos playing and wonder how many places there are that hatch such oddballs. They do latch on to you and get under your skin, and you have to keep reading. The last chapter is unto itself, written in a local patois or vernacular that is scary as all get-out. I enjoyed this book very much, and hope to see a lot more from Sara Taylor.

I approached this book with a bit of trepidation, but after a few pages my doubts vanished as I was slinking along dark streets with a young girl, worrying about being spotted by not only a pursuer but others who might see us and expose us. After a bit I relaxed, only to be caught up in a wartime scene, with people trying their best to show a little gaiety during a hellish time.

Grey toggles between modern times and wartime with ease, each scenario drawing me further along and wanting to find out what happens next. The characters are living, breathing souls trying to find the same conclusion, despite the years between them. I was completely swept away by the story, and ended up staying up half the night so I could put everything together. I would love to see this book made into a film, and hope that it would match the one in my head as I lived my way through the pages.

The Book of Speculation is a book full of surprises! There are more twists and turns, more unexpected moments, than a person can keep up with. But, you will keep reading and turning the pages faster and faster as you follow the stories that twine and intermingle, pull apart and go off in unexpected directions. You will root for Amos and Simon, and want to yell at them not to be so bullheaded. The characters, odd as fairy tale gremlins at first, are so alive, so quirky but tender, trying only to protect themselves and the ones they love, and to find out the true story of the family. The situations that are stopping points in this journey pull us forward to see what can possibly happen next. Even after I finished this book, I kept turning back to read random pages, just because I didn't want it to end. The ending was satisfactory; I just didn't want the story to end! Thank you, Erika Swyler, for a tale well-told!

Everybody Rise is a story of a young girl, trying to please her mother, herself, and everyone else in the world. How she handles her inevitable slide into oblivion and the climb back out is heart-wrenching and a serious lesson for many young people today. I was so angry at her blind ambition, spending without regard for consequence, and believing that she could break the $$ ceiling which masquerades as a caste system in this country. I would say that this should be required reading for teenagers but they would never believe it could happen to them.

Clifford has written a terrific character study. I highly recommend it.

The Well is a beautifully-written book. The plot is scarily possible, the people wholly identifiable. I can't say I loved the book, because it isn't that kind of story. I found myself going back and forth on the 'whodunit' right up until the moment the truth was revealed. The author's prose was deliciously poetic, particularly the natural environment. The sadness ingrained in Ruth was given to us with such raw-ness, it was easy to feel the hurt, the anger, the grief along with her. There were many words unfamiliar to the American dialect (I'm still not quite sure what a Rayburn is; a stove, maybe) but they added to the story and kept us in place.
The Well kept me turning the pages and reading on into the night; it's a story to keep your attention and drags out all sorts of emotions, so keep your tissues handy, as well as something tough to bite on so you don't start talking back in the middle of the night. Also give some rein to the possibility of climate changes brought about by man's thoughtlessness.

[editor's note: a Rayburn is indeed a type of stove - cast iron with an enamel finish. Traditionally wood or oil fueled, many keep them burning all year round, providing an instant source to cook on and in, and also heat all or part of the house. Nowadays many run on electricity so retain the traditional look and feel but can be turned on and off more readily]

The Nightingale is a wonderful, horrible book, a book that brings the reader to his/her knees. It's not about the warriors, the front-line fighters, the military heroes and wolves. It's about the people who were in the shadows, who had to live amongst the death and destruction, the hate and fear, the not-knowing, and still try to draw breath, raise and feed children, believe in themselves and God, and make it to the end of the devastation. It's about the people who risked everything they knew and had and loved in order to try to do what they believed was right.

By coincidence, I am taking a course on the Holocaust at the same time I was given this book to review. The facts borne out by history's voice and not by some screaming mustachioed maniac give this book backbone and a hell of a message. Everyone – everyone – needs to read this book, to get into the parts of the characters, and try to feel just an iota of what they felt during this time in their lives. To give a final warning to this book, remember…history has a bad habit of repeating itself. Look at what is happening in the world today.

I can't honestly say I "liked" this book – but I was completely enthralled by it, engrossed in it, and educated by it. The Bird family is reminiscent of the Weston family in August-Osage County, without the theatrics, and tempered by the Britishness of their upbringing. Jewell's characters were so deliciously analyzed and emotionally warped, even in their understatement of quiet destruction and coming together again, that I felt as though I were watching a drama rather than reading it. Lorelei's excuses, reasons, for her actions were spot on for someone trying to justify an illness and addiction, and her confessional letters drove home how all-consuming a psychological obsession can be. Her family's dismissal of her condition in the early years was a typical reaction for being too close to the situation, and then the disgust later on aimed at themselves as well as Lorelei, drove a stake into their relationship, seemingly severing any hope of continuing on as a family. That they came together at all was a miracle, and understanding what had happened reclaimed their humanity and sanity. Not a feel-good novel, but a sympathetic look at the horrors an average family can confront and overcome in its history. I must have missed many British novels, because the language and slang were very entertaining, although I am still wondering what some of the words meant. I will definitely recommend this book to my friends.

A brutal 17th century countess in the 21st century? Linda Lafferty has captured how evil can transcend time in the House of Bathory. A fact-based historical novel that takes us from 1600 Slovakia to present-day Colorado to meet Betty Path and Daisy Hart. A novel of suspense, intrigue and a curse.

I liked especially the historical side, although I thought Lafferty did a very good job of alternating between the times. Her characters were well-developed and she made the plot a real burner! It's difficult to believe that a human being could be so cruel to others, but history has proven it time and again. This would make a heck of a movie!

A brutal 17th century countess in the 21st century? Linda Lafferty has captured how evil can transcend time in the House of Bathory. A fact-based historical novel that takes us from 1600 Slovakia to present-day Colorado to meet Betty Path and Daisy Hart. A novel of suspense, intrigue and a curse.

I liked especially the historical side, although I thought Lafferty did a very good job of alternating between the times. Her characters were well-developed and she made the plot a real burner! It’s difficult to believe that a human being could be so cruel to others, but history has proven it time and again. This would make a heck of a movie!

This is a delightful read! I found myself underlining certain passages and phrases all the way thru the story; Saville has a refreshing store of them! I particularly enjoyed the different points of view. Saville walked very deftly in Henry's sandals, expressing (what I think is) a man's way of thinking about personal issues, the acceptance or non-acceptance of a woman's ideas and ideals. Mr. George could have been more fleshed out, or maybe not - he was not one of the heroes. Vea rang very true; her solemn acquiescence of island life and then doing what she knew was best was touching. Rachel was an enigma. She wouldn't let the world in, created her own sanctuary, but in the end, was - as much as she could allow herself to be - happy.
I felt led down many paths in this novel. But I also felt I had a very good guide in Saville.

I have mixed feelings about this book. The writing was superb; I enjoyed Loyd's descriptive text and interactions. Many of the pages are marked where snippets jumped out at me. I wasn't so wild about the subject matter after I got into the story. Maybe I'm a little behind the times, or not that interested in the kind of relationship that drove most of the rest of the story. The characters, Celia, Hope, Mr. Coughlan, and other minor characters were well-fleshed out, varied in their make-up, and truthfully written. The settings were beautifully described.
I will definitely read Loyd's novels in the future.