The Kitchen God's Wife

The Kitchen God's Wife
By Amy Tan
080410753X

This is my favorite of Amy Tan's books that I have read so far. The main thing I liked was that most of it took place in the past. In a country and within boundaries of behavior that are both foreign to me and yet completely understandable. I was expecting another story of a US-born child struggling to get along with her old-world mother. And yet this was something much deeper than that.
9/10

Summer

Summer
By Edith Wharton
0553214225

Moving story of how a girl falls into something she swore she never would. Charity is better than the other girls, she thinks. She won't do the stupid things they do with boys, won't be trapped by those boys. Then she falls in love and her whole mind and life unravel. Touching story, wonderful characters, you were really rooting for almost everyone! Of course, any Edith Wharton book is amazing. I would have expected nothing less of this one.
9/10

The Cross Country Quilters

The Cross Country QuiltersBy Jennifer Chiaverini
0743202570

Very believable situations, yet again so different than what is the norm in books! The stories and the women are varied and interesting. Almost all seem like women it would be interesting and rewarding to know. This is the third book in the series, I already have the fourth ready to read! It's a shame, once that one is done I'll be halfway through the series.
8/10

Glory and the Lightning

Glory and the Lightning
By Taylor Caldwell

I remember reading this book years ago, but I misplaced or loaned my copy. So when I found it again in a bookstore, I decided I'd pick it up and reread it. Parts of it were as good as I remembered. The early lives of the main characters, before they meet, are very good. Their meeting is so-so. Their life together is so bogged down in politics and plots that the story starts to lose focus. Aspasia becomes a minor character in the last third of the book, even though this is supposed to be half her story. The secondary characters, some of them should have been expanded, I think. Good book, though I probably won't read it for a third time.
7/10

The History of Love

The History of Love
By Nicole Krauss
1410340727 (book on CD)

This book is one of those told from many different perspectives. The chapters switch between the characters as they each tell their stories. What I liked the most is that you aren't sure how the characters are going to intersect. Their lives are so different, they seem to be talking about completely different things sometimes. As the book progresses, the tiny links appear and grow bigger until they seem like they were always there. I wish there weren't so many unanswered questions at the end though. Like, Bruno? Mischa? The publishing house and the book? Alma and her mother?

9/10

The Secret Lives of Men and Women

The Secret Lives of Men and Women
By Frank Warren
0061198757

Another amazing postcard book, full of interesting, shocking, and frequently sad secrets. There's really nothing to say that wasn't already said about the first one I read. And honestly, these books should be seen instead of talked about.

10/10

Tilly

Tilly
By Frank Peretti
0891074961

Very different from his other books, which I've read and adored. And should reread, now that I'm thinking of them. Much shorter, for one thing. And not about spiritual warfare, as such, although it is a little. Just not in obvious ways. I didn't realize where the book was headed, but the revelation was dragged out a bit too much, the dialogue was a little stilted at times. And unfortunately, those who should read this book won't be the ones who do.

8/10

The Canterville Ghost and other stories

The Canterville Ghost and other stories
By Oscar Wilde
0486419258

Just to confess right off the bat, I love Oscar Wilde. So I went into this book with certain expectations. Which were met! I love The Canterville Ghost, made me laugh out loud. The other three stories are good also, the twists are just perfect. And the Poems in Prose are great, deep and moving and thoughtprovoking. For such a short book, this packs a huge punch!

9/10

Round Robin

Round Robin
By Jennifer Chiaverini
068486892X

Second book in the Elm Creek Quilters books. Great book! I love how the stories are set up. Every woman has her own story, but there are traces of that story in each other story. Even when they're dealing with their own problems, we see how the problems of their friends affect each woman. Each of the problems are real, no convoluted storylines here. Yet they are not all your normal problems. A zoning dispute over a skateboard park? Never read a story with that as one of the plotlines!

9/10

My Secret

My Secret
By Frank Warren
0061196681

Easily one of the most powerful books I've ever read. The concept that Frank Warren came up with is for people to write a secret on a postcard and mail it in. The cards then become part of the website or, in this case, a book. They are anonymous, they are therapeutic, they are frequently heartbreaking. This is a book to be considered, not simply read. I had to stop a few times just to think about something I had just read, a secret that someone in the world had been burdened with. Opening the book at random will almost certainly give one of these heartbreaking phrases. The one I opened to just now was": "Every day I pray that you will stand up at my wedding when the priest asks if anyone has a reason these two shall not be wed. I am counting on you." Powerful stuff here. Not all doom and gloom, though, there are some funny ones as well. "I think I'd enjoy life on a deserted island because almost everybody gets on my nerves." And some are both funny and sad: "I faked my own graduation."

10/10

The Understudy

The Understudy
By David Nicholls
1565119878 (book on CD)

Once there was a famous actor who starred in a play in London. He had a beautiful, funny wife, adoring fans, an amazing home, and the respect of those around him. This is the story of his understudy. Steven is in love with Josh's wife, wants his fame and the respect, though is a little boggled at the house. Other than that, he'd gladly trade lives. When he and Josh's wife become friends, things get pretty interesting in his formerly dull life. His daughter is one of the bright spots in this book, she's witty and intelligent and yet still a child. Not easy to pull off. The ending drags a bit, and there are a few phrases that become overused by the end. Overall, a good book.

8/10

TV Guide Movie Reviews, Volume 1

TV Guide Movie Reviews, Volume 1
The Greatest Films of All Time
1559934867

Glad I read this one last, it was the best of the three! The most on target of them. I guess it's easy when it's the "greatest" movies, no bad reviews to argue with and be annoyed with. It was very fun to read what someone else thinks about some of my favorite movies and I found a few movies that I think I'll have to watch now because they sounded good.

8/10

The Quilter's Apprentice

The Quilter's Apprentice
By Jennifer Chiaverini
0684849720

After reading #7 in the series, I decided to start at the beginning. So this is #1 in the series. And a very good start of a series it is! Very quick read, good characters, interesting storyline. I don't know much about quilting, even though I've known how to sew most of my life, but that's okay. The story was about much more than quilting. I'm definitely interested in finding out what happens next for these characters. And the house sounded gorgeous, I would love to live there. This seems like a nice place to visit, this little town with it's interesting people and fun things to do.
8/10

Finding Noel

Finding Noel
By Richard Paul Evans
1428116222(book on CD)

Good Christmas story. Cute with no big surprises. Girl tries to find her sister with the help of a new friend. Well-written though, which makes any story much better to listen to! Not really sure what to say about this book, it was pretty ordinary and nice- nothing either very good or very bad to say!

8/10