The Widower's Tale by Julia Glass

I adored Three Junes. But I'd heard that some of Julia Glass's other books did not live up to the wonder of Three Junes, so I stayed clear. However, I'd recently heard that The Widower's Tale was a great read, so I gave it a go. And I completely agree. The characters are just wonderful.... Percy, of course, being my favorite. The story develops by seeing the action through different characters which is a technique I really like. It allows the reader to really know the characters. I highly recommend The Widower's Tale. - June

The Stuff that Never Happened by Maddie Dawson

After reading Freedom, I needed something lighter - something less dysfunctional. So while browsing through some Kindle selections, I came across this book. Although it sounded a bit like light chick-lit, it also received rave reviews. It starts off great and the author bounces back and forth between the present time and the 1970's and early 1980's. But as I read it, I realized that it has almost the same plot line as Freedom!! Woman loves two men.... one is stable, kind, rather boring... the other one is sexy, exciting, and handsome. Woman loves them both but maries Man #1. Then has an affair with Man #2. Years pass, but woman can't forget Man #2. Of course, they meet again and Man #2 turns out to be a tad disappointing so she reunites with Man #1. Really? How could I find two books with the same plot. However, in the writing style and the character development the books are wide apart. This book is more predictable and fluffy, but still has some humor and well-written scenes. -June

Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

After all the hype about this book, I was almost afraid to start it for fear it wouldn't live up to my expectations. But I have to say, I really enjoyed reading all ten million pages of it. The author writes with so much detail (perhaps too much) that the characters are completely real. All of them are flawed and I could find myself and others people I know in them. There were pages I would read and then read again just to note how the author managed to create a scene or develop a character. Amazing! - June

The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman

Alice Hoffman's books always deal with the supernatural and are sometimes a tad strange. But they are all well-written and certainly are interesting. This one is no exception. The main character makes wishes and they somehow come true. And it's how her life changes as a result of these wishes that creates the story. The characters are all a bit off-center, but I really found myself liking all of them. It's a quick read and is worth the time. - June