In the Woods by Tana French

This was a really excellent book!! It was highly suspenseful and intriguing. The story starts out with a flashback by telling about the disappearance of three children who were best friends. When they went to the woods to play, no one thought a thing about it because it was something they always did. When enough time had gone by and it seemed apparent they weren't going to show up, the police were called. One of the children was found; his shoes were full of blood. He was no help in relaying what had happened or where the other two were because he could remember nothing. The other two never showed up or were never found. Now an adult, the boy went by his middle name (Rob) so that he would not be associated with what had happened to him as a child. He is now a police detective.

When a murdered child is found in the same town where Rob's childhood incident had occurred, Rob and his partner Cassie are given the case. She is the only person who know of Rob's past. Parallels are quickly drawn between the two situations, and many feel they are connected. Although Rob knows he shouldn't be working on this case, he forges ahead anyway. As he and Cassie work to bring the little girl's killer to justice, great care is taken to show how all of this is affecting Rob; and great care is also given to showing us how this situation along with memories of his own childhood situation lead to the unraveling of Rob.

This was a book I found hard to put down. There was a carefully woven plot which consisted of much intertwined suspense. The characters were developed so well that you feel that you know them personally, and you feel that you completely understand them, their thoughts, and their feelings. If you are fans of books by Deborah Crombie or Peter Robinson, then you will LOVE this book. I can't wait to go out and get the next one (The Likeness).

Suzanne

The Adoration of Jenna Fox

I am not one who likes to read science fiction or medical thrillers; however, this was a very good book. It really made me think about the future and the path that science, medicine, and technology may take.
-Beth Ann

Dairy Queen

I finally read this book. I really liked it! It seemed like the author was describing my hometown. I also gained much insight about farming and raising animals. I have a new appreciation for those who have worked on a farm and raised animals. I admire DJ and her strength, not just physical but also emotional. She was able to attain recognition by her hard work and fortitude. I want to read the next book to follow DJ's adventure. What an inspiring person DJ is!
~Shirley

The Adoration of Jenna Fox

I found this story to be very intriguing and interesting. I like Stephen King stories and this story had a science fiction twist that was very compelling. The author created a plot with a very controversial theme. How can a person decide between medical science and moral convictions? I found this book to be very well written and creative. I would recommend it to others who like to theorize about the application of science to a modern world with a conservative set of values. I began to adjust my thoughts about science and how it can affect a change in society's problems.
~ Shirley

Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers

This is an excellent first-person look at what fighting in the most recent Iraq war is like. The story follows Robin "Birdy" Perry, a new recruit from New York, and his squad as they encounter the horrors of war.

There is enough realistic violence to appeal to male readers but enough of a personal, more human storyline to attract female readers as well. Overall, this is a well-written book which makes you seriously consider the sacrifices that the men and women of the armed forces make for us all on a daily basis.
~Jackie

Books by Georgette Heyer

I also read three books by Georgette Heyer. These were all three classic English country-house mysteries all written in a manner similar to Agatha Christie's mysteries. Each has its own separate cast of characters. In Why Shoot a Butler?, barrister Frank Amberley stops to help a woman. What he finds is a sports car with a dead body behind the wheel. Throughout the book, he goes back and forth between thinking this girl is innocent and thinking she is guilty. Along with finding out who killed the man in the car, Frank must also solve other murders which occur as the plot unfolds. In Behold, Here's Poison, the master of the Poplars, home of the Matthews family, is found dead in his bed. It seems to be a death due to natural causes until the autopsy reveals he died of nicotine poisoning. Resourceful Inspector Hannasyde is called in to handle this case. Unfortunately for him, all family members had motives for wanting Mr. Matthews dead; and none of them have an alibi. In The Unfinished Clue, people are gathering at the home of Arthur Billington-Smith (an abusive, most hated man) for a lovely English country weekend. The guest list contains a strange array of characters. Over the course of the weekend, when Mr. Billington-Smith is found stabbed to death, no one seems particularly upset. Scotland Yard's Inspector Harding arrives to find himself in the middle of a real mess. To add to his problems, anyone there could have done it; and since no one there seems to have an alibi, there is no one he can eliminate from his investigation. Since I am a big Agatha Christie fan, these books were right up my alley!!
Suzanne

Books by Laura Caldwell

I read three books by Laura Caldwell: Red Hot Lies, Red-Blooded Murder, and Red, White , and Dead. All were excellent. The series centers around the character Izzy McNeil who is an attorney. In the first book, she is working for a high profile law firm which specializes in entertainment law. Her most important client (also a friend) is murdered. After this murder occurs, Izzy's fiance has mysteriously fled town with important documents belonging to the dead man, which makes him a prime candidate as a murder suspect. Izzy is left to try to solve the murder plus discover the whereabouts of her fiance and discover what his role in all of this is. In the second book, Izzy, now out of a job, has been offered a position at a new network station called Trial TV. Her boss will be one of her former clients at her previous law firm. Izzy's friend/boss is found strangled in her home. The network moves Izzy into the position of "star" of the show. According to the police, Izzy's new position, along with several other things, makes her suspect #1. Izzy must now fight for her own life/freedom as well as figure out who the real killer is. The third book takes an unexpected turn. In this installment, Izzy becomes involved in a search for her father, who was presumed dead for many years. Her search takes her to Italy, where she becomes a target of the Italian mob. This one was really interesting in part due to the fact that it was so different from the first two.

Suzanne

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult is intense, interesting, uncomfortable at times, full of surprises, and well worth reading. I liked it much better than I thought I would since I knew some of the story line. The book definitely evokes your emotions and makes you think.
Pam

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

This is quite possibly the most interesting and intricate book that I have ever read. The story is told from the separate viewpoints of Henry and Clare. Henry time travels involuntarily due to a genetic disorder, and Clare happens to be the woman who loves him. Much of the conflict arises due to Henry traveling in and out of Clare's life, leaving her to wait for his return and hope for his safety.

What makes the story unique is that Henry often travels to the past where he meets with a younger version of Clare (beginning at her age 6). Clare, of course, stays in the present but knows from her younger visits with Henry that they will get married, have a home, etc. Through the first person narratives, the reader gains a real sense of the emotional roller coaster these two characters travel as Henry continues his travels back and forth through time.

I will say this book is a bit mature and should be recommended for the upper grades only. Also, the changing narrative might make it difficult for younger readers to follow.

Overall, this is a timeless (*wink*) love story and a great read.

~Jackie

Knock Off by Rhonda Pollero

Finley Tanner is a West Palm Beach paralegal who hates the gym, still rents her condo, and loves long lunches and shopping trips. One of her greatest assets is hunting down deeply discounted designer goods. Though she is just a paralegal, her superiors dump a case on her. It seems there is a grieving widow who is convinced that her husband's so-called "accidental" death was really murder. All her company wants Finley to do is to wrap up the paperwork ASAP. However, Finley starts to buy into the widow's claims and starts to investigate on her own, even though she has no experience in this area. To help with the investigation, the widow hires hunky, sexy Liam McGarrity to assist Finley. Although there is definitely a mutaul attraction between the two, on the surface they get along like oil and water.

Finley's life as investigator is taking some exciting, unpredictable, and dangerous turns. There are those who are out to sabotage her every move as she and Liam press forward to exposing murder and corruption.

If you enjoy mystery, humor, and romance, then this would be a great read for you. It has great characters and an ever-interesting plot. (P.S. The second book in this series is every bit as good as this one!!)

Dairy Queen

Dairy Queen was a terrific book. I was expecting a shallow teen story, but DJ was a more complex character than some other teen characters. She was very dependable when her family needed her. Even though Brian is a jerk for being ashamed of their relationship, I still hope he grows up and realizes how great DJ is. I can't wait to read Front and Center and see how things turn out for DJ.

-Jeannette

The Exploding Toilet

Finally, a humorous read for me! I enjoyed most stories--some were a little gross, some were about really stupid people! I did laugh out loud and made my kids wonder what I was reading. I also liked that it was a bunch of short stories so it was easy to pick up and put down when I needed to do so.
~Amy

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

Sparks has written another winner that would make a great romantic movie in The Lucky One. Elizabeth is a young single mother taking care of her usually independent grandmother who is recovering from a stroke, their kennel and dog training business, and her ten year old son who prefers reading and the violin over sports, much to the disappointment of his father. Until Thibault comes to town and applies for the job in the kennel, she was thinking she would have to quit her teaching job to take care of the business. Thibault is thrilled to take the job since he walked from Colorado to Hampton, NC, just to find Elizabeth although he had no idea what her name was at the time. He had found her picture in the desert sand in Iraq, posted it, and when no one claimed it, decided to keep it on a whim. Suddenly he was very lucky in cards and in his encounters with the enemy. A Marine buddy, who also died shortly after while once again Thibault was barely scathed, convinced him to find the girl in the picture because he felt it was Thibault's destiny. Naturally there are complications like the jealous ex-husband, flooding, and misunderstandings. This was a very good book that will appeal to Nicholas Sparks fans and anyone else who likes romance.
Pam

The Glass Castle

This is an excellent book. I don't really enjoy nonfiction, but this book kept my interest from beginning to end. Some parts are shocking; some are sad; some are humorous. I feel that anyone who reads this book will enjoy it.
-Beth Ann

Duma Key

Duma Key by Stephen King grabs the reader's attention immediately when the main character Edgar Freemantle suffers a traumatic construction site accident in Minneapolis leaving him with a fractured skull, shattered hip, and an amputated arm. King uses specific and detailed descriptions of Edgar's intense pain and suffering as he tries to recuperate. The reader feels even more sympathy for Edgar when his wife leaves him. He then moves to Duma Key, an isolated island in Florida. Even though the weather is warmer, a cold and evil spirit seems to fill his new house. Edgar takes up painting which leads to all sorts of supernatural events. The story's suspense builds rather slowly at this point in the story. However, the conclusion is very well developed. King introduces clever and unique twists in the plot that will make it worth your time to finish the book.
Shirley~~~

Skintight by Susan Andersen

I just finished Skintight by Susan Andersen. Definitely NOT a book for the library, but certainly a good, hot, sexy summer read for the beach or pool-side. It is about a Las Vegas showgirl with a heart of gold and a poker player with a deep dark secret. Quite a fast and interesting read!

Sail

A typical James Patterson book that you just cannot put down! He hooks you on the first page and keeps you interested the whole way through. It's not an Alex Cross book, for you fans of James Patterson, but it is a great book to read. The family goes through so much! It is full of exciting events!
~Sharon

BEACH BLONDES by Katharine Applegate

I just finished reading Beach Blondes by Katharine Applegate. The students, especially the girls, are going to love it. It is long - over 700 pages - but it reads faster than a much shorter paperback would. The story involves a girl from Minnesota who goes to stay with her cousin for the summer on one of the Floriday Keys. The cousin doesn't want her to be there and puts all sorts of obstacles in her way, but she managed to make friends anyway and gets into lots of trouble (which our students will like to read about!) Another good beach read.

Off Season by Anne Rivers Siddons

Loved this book. Not an AR book, but for anyone who loves a great story to take to the beach, this is it! A love story filled with twists and turns you won't see coming. An ending that will leave you speechless! I recommend to anyone looking for a great, relaxing, can't put the book down, story.
Angie

Gone With the Wind

This was an epic novel about the South. It included war, love, jealousy...and stupidity. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a really really great story.
~Jackie

Welcome

Welcome all of you Survey Class members. I hope you like posting on this blog. It is a very good way to comment on books, reading, and any related topic!