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#1. Parker, Robert - Sea Change 01-02-09

After seeing a Jesse Stone movie I wanted to read the series. The books are very easy to read and I find the perfect filler between those big fat life sucking books.

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#2. Lamb, Wally - The Hour I First Believed 1-10-09

I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved it for the most part, and I was spellbound by the way Lamb weaves stories together. He takes you on a ride with each story and you don't know where your going then you arrive at your destination and your just in awe. There were a couple of parts that got a little draggy, but otherwise it was a great book in true Lamb fashion.

#3. Allen, Sarah Addison - Garden Spells 1-16-09

After reading the Sugar Queen I could not wait to get my hands on another book by this author. I was slightly disappointed as it was not as great as the Sugar Queen. Overall, it was still good and a little different in that it has a slight magical theme comparable to Alice Hoffman in style.

#4. Crusie, Jennifer - Anyone But You 1-18-09

Being a big dog lover I loved this book. It was a nice fluffy romance story.

#5. Jacobs, Kate - Comfort Food 1-31-09

Being a big fan of cooking shows I thought this would be right up my alley. Unfortunately, it was very slow reading that almost landed me in a slump. The story was nice and did end up enjoying the book. Maybe it was just bad timing on my part.

#6. Mattison, Alice - Men Giving Money, Women Yelling 2-1-09

I had this book on my shelf for years before something made me pick it up. I think I read it in a couple of hours over 2 days. I really like the writing style and I think I will read more by Mattison. I did not think I liked her after reading the Book Borrower, but now I want to give her a second chance!

#7. Banks, Russell - The Sweet Hereafter 2-11-09

Yet another old book collecting dust and making me feel guilty. I pulled it off the shelf and was hooked after the first page. The story line was well developed and a couple of little plot twist made it a nice fast read.

#8. Bartlett, Anne - Knitting 2-14-09

Since I love reading and I will pretty much read anything it is rare that I would give a book only one or two stars. Somehow I pushed myself to finish this book, but I should have given it up after the first 25 pages. I ended up disliking one of the characters so much that I was cringing. This just was not for me!

#9 Humphreys, Josephine - Rich in Love

I really liked this book a lot. It was yet another one I pulled from a pile of books I got about 7 years ago. I recall pulling it of the remainders shelf at the New England Mobile Book Fair (a great place if you've never been). Usually I like books with high levels of character development, so I was a little disappointed that the author didn't expand more of the second characters. I will be looking for more Humphreys books to read.

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#10 Meyer, Stephenie - Twilight

About half way through this book I was really questioning why so much hype? Sure, it's a sweet love story and Bella and Edward are cute, but what is the umph factor that I'm missing? Well, about 400 pages in I started to like it more and I will trudge on to New Moon to see what happens. So I'm intrigued what will happen next....

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#11 Morrison, Toni - A Mercy

I gave this book 4 stars for the beautiful writing in the parts that I could understand. Then were the parts that were ridiculously wordy and borderline incomprehensive to me. Overall, I think it is a great book that takes patience and a better understanding of Morrsisons writing style. I think this is the kind of book that people appreciate more each time they read it. With millions of books in the world I will only be reading it once. I do have a couple more Morrison books in my TBR pile, it will be interesting to see how those go.....

Andrea, I'm getting caught up on posts in the "75" group - so WELCOME!

Good for you, dusting off some of those books you've had for awhile. I intended to do the same thing this year, but somehow things that I stumble over at the library are getting in the way. I just came home from the library today with a stack of 8 that I hadn't planned on reading!

Kay wrote: "Andrea, I'm getting caught up on posts in the "75" group - so WELCOME!

Good for you, dusting off some of those books you've had for awhile. I intended to do the same thing this year, but somehow ..."

First of all thank you very much for the nice welcome, I am having so much fun. I really feel like I'm accomplishing something by getting some of those older books off the pile. Since I don't keep the books I read I am always moving them around and pushing the older ones to the bottom. I'm trying to read an older one for every couple of new or library books that I read. The library is always a huge problem for me since it is like free shopping, and who doesn't love that!

# 12 Ephron, Amy - One Sunday Morning

This was a cute little book set in NY during the 1920's. I have always like reading books set in this time period since I read the Great Gatsby many years ago. I would have likes to seen this story extended to be a little longer. The base for good character development was there but never evolved.

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#13 Reid, Shauna - The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl

I really liked this book, it was similar to style of Bridget Jones diary but realistic. I picked it up after seeing Shauna on a talk show and was so amazed at her story I had to read her book. She seems like the kind of girl anyone would be proud to call a friend. I really liked how she was able to weave stories about her traveling in with the main story of how she got her life back and became healthy physically and mentally.

#14 Phillips, Marie - Gods Behaving Badly

I loved this book! It was so funny and different from anything I have read in a while. I never knew much about the different God's so it was fun learning about the different myths. I don't think this book is everyone but I think people will know if they like it after reading just a few pages.

#15 Oates, Joyce Carol - Sexy

I really like how Joyce Carol Oates writes, she has this very dark side that is refreshing and surprising. She writes about topics that would be hard to touch since they are so sensitive.

I love Oates too! We Were the Mulvaneys and You Must Remember This were fabulous. Did you like Sexy? Which other ones by her have you read?

#16 Robinson, Maggie Greenwood - the Biggest Loser

I love this show so reading the books is a given for me. I don't think the book is going to help someone who knows basic nutrition and exercise principles, but it would be great for someone who doesn't know much about either. I have now moved onto the 30-day jump start which has even more recipes and exercise plans.

Andrea, I didn't even know that there was a Biggest Loser book! I will probably take a look at this one.

Kay wrote: "Andrea, I didn't even know that there was a Biggest Loser book! I will probably take a look at this one."

There are several including a cook book! They are pretty cool if you are working on your weight or trying to get healthy.

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#17 Crouch, Katie - Girls in Trucks

This was a cute book, maybe a good beach read or a lazy day by the pool. A little more substantial then typical chick-lit, but pretty predictable overall. I would give Crouch another chance if she continues writing.

#18 Reynolds, Sheri - The Sweet In-Between

I really did not think I liked the story until about 100 pages in and then I appreciated it a lot more. I just love the way Reynolds writes. She has this gift to draw you in and make you feel like you are a true observer of what is happening. I think this is the kind of book that people will either really like or not like at all. I will be anxiously awaiting Sheri Reynolds next book.

#19 Atkinson, Kate - Case Histories

This was the best book I have read in a while! I loved all the individual stories and the mystery/ slight thriller aspects. My only issues was that some of the cases were not tied up nice and neat at the end. I happen to like when the ending of a book leaves you feeling that everything came to a clear conclusion. With this book I didn't get the "left wondering" ending. I have a line of friends waiting for the book, we'll see what they think!

#20 Haddon, Mark - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

This book is awesome! Right from the first page readers will be in awe of Christopher's capacity to understand math and his other methodical "quirks." I finished the book in a couple of hours and enjoyed every page up to the last one! The ending was nothing spectacular, it did tie up all the ends which are often one of my "quirks." With a more unique ending it would have easily hit 5 stars.

#21 Anderson, Joan - A Year by the Sea: Thoughts of an Unfinished Woman

This book reminds me of A Gift From the Sea. I read a lot of reviews by other people and I agree that maybe it is selfish that Joan ran off to her Cape cottage to reconnect with herself. On the other hand I think that if you ever find yourself in the position where you feel like you have lost yourself the a person can feel the only way to get back is isolation. Living on the Cape Cod border makes this book special for me because I can picture some of the things she describes.

I read this book during a time when I had recently shared some pretty heavy conversations with my boyfriend, so to say this came at a perfect time is pretty accurate. Though I didn't run off and hide for a year, I spent a day at the beach just doing something that makes me happy even if it is selfish :)

In order to be happy in any relationship, you must first find happiness within yourself

#22 Jolly, Elizabeth - The Sugar Mother

When I started this book I thought it was odd, but good because it was unusual. It had been sitting on my pile for ohh about 10 years. Yet another one of the dusty remainder books from the New England Mobile Book Fair.

When the "neighbors moved in" the book took a turn from unusual to freaky! I really liked it all the same but the ending was just so-so. Maybe I'm the kind of person who just puts too much emphasis on the ending of book. Maybe I am just being a sour puss for not figuring out the ending before it became so obvious!

#23 Zusak, Markus - The Book Thief

This book was just amazing! I finished it days ago and yet can't seem to come up with an appropriate review that would relay how much I loved this book. Let me start by saying the depth of character development brings readers right into Himmel Street homes. I keep pushing the book around my desk hoping that I can figure out who I should give it to. I only want to share it with someone who will appreciate it as much as I did. Growing up I have read and learned a lot about the Nazi Germany and Hitler, but as an adult I was finally able to really grasp the situation after seeing it through the eyes of a sweet little child. I am still thinking about it....

#24 Cabot, Meg - Queen of Babble in the Big City

I never read the first Queen of Babble book, but that didn't seem to matter much. It was a cute beach read kind of book and moved along pretty quickly due to the chapter set up. After the Book Thief I was read for something fluffy and this was just right. I also have a friend getting married soon so I picked up a couple of tips for her perfect dress style...lol

#25 Beam, Alex- Gracefully Insane

It took me over three months to read this book! To be honest it may have to do with the fact that I was also reading several other books at the same time. Anyhow being from Boston made this book extra special for me since this is the location for that famous McLean Mental Hospital. The rich history of the facility and the treatment of mental health was fascinating. I also found some of the famous patients like Sylvia Plath and the Taylor (James, Livingston, and Kate) family to be very interesting, Having read Girl Interrupted and seen most of the movie gave me a very vivid image of what McLean Hospital looked like on the inside and out. Susanna Kaysen's troubled years at McLean Hospital were the basis for writing about her experiences while at McLean. Maybe it is my curiosity for mental health disorders that made this book so fascinating for me but I think not everyone would feel the same. I have heard some reviews in which people called Beam's writing nothing more then name-dropping-gossip, I happen to disagree. Working in health care I have learned a lot about mental health and the stories contained in this book and others like it help to take away some of the stigmatisms related to mental health while exploring the difficulties of treating it.

#26 Evavovich, Janet - Plum Lucky

Another cute Plum between the numbers novel. I was in the mood for something to make me laugh in the mist of an otherwise stressful day. Stephanie and her antics never fail to deliver a good time.

#27 Coben, Harlan - The Woods

I spent three days with my nose buried in this book and loved every second until I got to the last page and then I felt like...well that could have been a better ending! Harlan is amazing and I really love his writing, it just never gets monotonous to me. The Woods reads like a camp fire tale and brings a big dose of suspension and a side of action. True to Coben style fans will enjoy the twists and turns!

#28 De Blasi, Marlena - A Thousand Days in Tuscany

I really liked this book, maybe it is because of fascination with Italy and my love of cooking. The story line is simple and sweet, yet not something that would be great without the travel and cooking elements. The relationship she has with her husband seems pretty wonderful and envious at times. It is also great to witness the relationship with other characters except they don't really seem to develop regardless of some pretty intense moments. I already have the previous book by De Blasi and I'm looking forward to reading more about how she got to where I first discovered her.

#29 Albom, Mitch - The Five People you Meet in Heaven

This is the kind of book that now only stays with a person for a long time but also has the ability to change the way you see the meaning of life. The meaning of the book is how we each impact those we know and even some that we don't know directly. Like Tuesdays with Morrie, Albom reaches down deep to create stories that make readers truly feel and reflect inwardly.

#30 Lahiri, Jhumpa - Unaccustomed Earth

I LOVED this book! I love Jhumpa Lahiri and was hoping that Unaccustomed Earth might be as good as Interpreter of Maladies or The Namesake and i was not disappointed in the least! Unaccustomed Earth was even better for me because I love the way she mentioned all of these locations near where I grew up. The way she writes is pure art to me. She has shown me that short stories can be as amazing and in depth as a 500 page novel. I can't wait for her next book!

#31 Sarah-Kate Lynch - House of Daughters

This book was cute and the development of characters was very good. It was interesting to learn about champagne and how it is made. Since I love "location" books it would have been nice if the author wrote more about the area. The ending was good even though a little predictable.

#32 Atkinson, Kate - Not the End of the World

My first impression of this book was similar to reading Dr Suess! Atkinson weaves stories dropping tidbits from story to story until the reader is able to make the wonderful connections. I truly loved this book and can't wait to read more by one of my new favorite authors!

#33 Radziwill, Carole - What Remains

I'm so happy that I sometimes pick books based on the cover art and that I love memoirs! Being from Boston I grew up feeling like the Kennedy Family were distant relatives always hearing this or that about them. Calole Radziwill starts her book the night John Jr, Carolyn, and Lauren go down in the plane heading for the Vineyard. It was a shock to everyone that the Kennedy family would endure this tragedy along with everything else they had gone through. A week after they were found off the coast of the Vineyard I was in NYC visiting a friend and she took me by their apartment. People still lined the street up and around the block to share in the make-shift front door memorial. This iconic family was respectfully portrayed in Carole's amazing journey of being in the Kennedy family but more importantly to loving someone with so little time left. Radziwill has an amazing gift in writing and I hope she finds peace in her life knowing she was a good wife and friend.

#34 Powell, Julie - Julie and Julia

I finished this book 5 days ago and I can't come up with a review which is usually something that comes to me easily! Let me first say that I loved the idea of the book, and that Julie and her friends seem amazing! I'm a huge fan of Julia's and chefs like Ina, Emeril, and Bobby so this should have been the ideal book for me. All that comes to mind was that Julie had a great idea, and the book was cute. Yet, I'm so not happy with that because I feel like she has a lot of talent and deserves a better review.

#35 Zafron, Carlos Ruiz - The Shadow of the Wind

This book was nothing short of an amazing adventure that could of entertained me for another 500 pages. My arms may be happy I finished, but if it was up to me I would still be listening to Julian, Daniel and the others. Part love story, part thriller, part mystery, all the elements were there!

#36 Evanovich, Janet - Motor Mouth

Evanovich never fails in making me laugh out loud. I read Motor Mouth on a day/errand trip from Plymouth to Needham and kept reading funny parts to my boyfriend. I always turn to these books when I need a break from the stress of work and school. I can't wait to read more about Alex, Hooker, and the gang!

#37 Grisham, John - Playing for Pizza

This was a great book, I was not expecting to like the story as much as I did. The story is so far from Grisham's normal genre that it is hard to believe that the person that wrote this book also writes such stories as A Time to Kill. I enjoyed the football, beer, pizza, and endless travel. I do wish that additional elaboration was made on the relationships.

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#38 Shaffer, Mary Ann and Barrows, Annie - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

"Perhaps there is some secret sort of instinct in books that brings them to their perfect reader."

Any book that starts off with such an amazing quote has great potential! I was excited to dive in and quickly soaked up the first 100 pages until I suddenly wondered if maybe I needed to be evaluated for ADD because I was utterly confused going back and forth from letter to letter. Somehow after stumbling through 50 more pages I was able to pull my brain together and understand what was going on. I'm blaming my silly brain for this and not necessarily the writing of two great authors. I did end loving the book and was very saddened to hear of the authors recent illness and death.The love stories were predictable, but sweet and different enough to keep reading in anticipation. The picture painted of Guernsey creates a place that anyone would want to discover. The information about the German occupation was a lot more vivid and disturbing then I ever thought.

#39 Mitcham, Judson - The Sweet Everlasting

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. The story and writing were both great. I enjoyed learning about the sharecropping era and the rich history of the South. The relationship in the story was amazing and it was hard to swallow the tragedy. Great book, great writer! I am so glad that I dug this off the bookcase!

#40 Berg, Elizabeth - Until the Real Thing Comes Along

I love anything Berg, she just speaks to my heart and makes me feel understood. Thirty five year old Patty resembled me in so many ways that at first I felt like I was reading about my own life. In true Berg fashion I was hooked by the first page and sat reading for a couple of hours until I hit the last page. I also have to mention that I love the way Berg so often touches on more sensitive issues like illness. She had a compassionate view that makes you see illness from the viewpoints of both the patient and the family/friends. As I sit here typing this I wonder if I have any more Berg I can dive into tonight.....

#41 Tyler, Anne - Back When We Were Grownups

While reading this book I kept thinking about how I would rate it. My range of stars kept changing teetering and totting between three and five. I liked the story and loved getting to know Rebecca, Poppy, and Will. Some of the filler story was boring and the pages could have been filled with more character development of the girls and Joe. I remember reading Patchwork Planet and liked the story a lot, but maybe not the writing style. I do have a couple more Tyler books on me TBR pile and I'm going to give her another try since I really enjoy the story elements and characters in her bookes.

#42 Di Blasi, Marlena - A Thousand Days in Venice

As I have said before there is just something about travel books that draws me in. Ever since I read A Year in Provence I was hooked on the genre. A couple of months ago I read A Thousand Days in Tuscany. Not far into the book I realized that Venice came before Tuscany and I had missed how our lovely couple met and moved to Tuscany. I'm a stickler for reading series in the correct order so I was disturbed that I was going to have to go backward and the story would be ruined. The way de Blasi writes proved that this was not going to be a problem at all. The history of Venice from de Blasi's perspective was very romantic and made the book enjoyable. I look forward to seeing where these two lovebirds settle down next!

Andrea, I'm so glad to see you liked "The Shadow of the Wind", it's one of my favourite books and i bet i'll read it again some day.
i started reading "The Book thief" - it's really amazing!

I loved both of these Ola! I think what makes them so great is that they have such unique stories and writing styles. Sometimes I feel like I keep reading the same books over and over and only the setting and characters change. With these books I felt like they really were fresh and intriguing!

exactly - narration in "The Book thief" is so original and [because of the narrator:] so surprising it makes reading it much more exciting! :)
By the way - great to see you as the group's co-moderator :)