The Book Thief by Markus Zsak

"Deserves a place on the same shelf with The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank...poised to become a classic." "This is a virtuoso work. Zusak exhibits the kind of mastery and peak power Kurt Vonnegut showed in his wartime tale "Slaughterhouse-Five." "Both gripping and touching, a work that kept me up late into the night feverishly reading the last 300 pages. You can't ask for more than that." Well, I think you can and I wish the first 200 pages had griped me like the last 300...but I am so glad I persevered. This is 1939 Nazi Germany -- 9 year old girl picks up a book (The Gravedigger's Guide") left at her brother's graveside and so begins her life as a "book thief." Her foster father used that and a book she "rescued" from a Nazi book burning and a couple stolen from the mayor's library to teach her to read. Her love of words and the books they build is but one theme, but probably part of what attracts the avid reader. The style and format are completely unique and the story compelling. The book has won numerous awards in Children's Literature--teens, but I agree with one reviewer who said that it was rich enough to satisfy readers of any age. (or something like that) - BT

The Bright Forever by Lee Martin

This book proves that you can't judge a book by it's cover - or it's title. When I saw the paperback at a used book sale, I thought it screamed "chick lit". The cover is pastel blue with a picture of a lock of hair. I imaged it to be a romantic book designed for 16-year-old girls. But just as I was putting it down, I noticed a seal in the corner that said it was a Pulitzer Prize Finalist so I figured it was worth a dollar. This book is nothing like I thought it would be. In fact, it's quite dark. It's about a 9-year-old girl from a wealthy family who is missing. We also are introduced to some pretty creepy characters who live in her town and we hear their stories. It's easy to determine that one of these guys had something to do with her disappearance, but all the clues don't come together until the very end. Very well written and a good, quick read. -June

Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

What a great story! This is another book that jumps between two separate times - the 1940's and the 1980's. It's about Henry who grew up in Chinatown in Seattle. He befriended a Japanese girl when they attended the same school. He's devastated when her family is evacuated to an internment camp during the war. In the 1980's, we find Henry recently widowed and his thoughts return to his young friend. It's a great story and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. There are a couple of times I felt the book needed some editing when the author repeats things he's already told us, but overall, it's a wonderful book. - June

The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

There are lots of books out there that focus on groups of women. The plots are all basically the same. A group of eclectic women gather together for a purpose (books, cooking, quilting, etc). We're introduced to each member and learn her story and what about her current situation. Over the course of the book, the members are there to support each other, overcome their differences, and learn from each other. And in the end, the group has bonded and all is well. This book follows the pattern. The main character, Georgia, owns a knitting shop in NYC. Her customers form a casual Friday night group where they sometimes knit and always talk and eat. They are all ages and all types, yet they form close relationships and we like them all. The ending was a shocker, but the group did pull together. This is a good beach book or ideal for a time when you're in the mood for something light. - June

Home to Italy by Peter Pezzelli

I wanted to love it. After all, it's about Italy and I love the place. But I couldn't get past page 50. The writing is so poor that I was shocked it ever pass the inspection of any editor. Maybe it stuck me more because the last few books I've read have been so well written that this one was an abrupt change. Anyway, it's going on my shelf of books to be donated. On to the next one. -June

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

I have a feeling this book will stay with me for a long time. Alice, a Harvard professor, is diagnosed with Altzheimer's Disease, and the book chronicles her decline. It's written through her eyes, and you feel the frustration, the sadness, and the confusion as she does. This is a book that everyone should read. I couldn't put it down. -June

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

After reading Olive, I figured the next book would fail in any comparison. But I enjoyed this book because it is so very different from Olive K. The narrator is Enzo, a dog who understands language and learns everything he needs to know on TV, but he can't communicate what he knows to people around him. He tells the story of his family... his owner Denny who marries Eve and they have a daughter named Zoe. Eve becomes sick and ultimately dies leaving Denny is a tangle of legal issues with his in-laws. Enzo tells the reader all the details from his point of view and also how he compares racing cars to life. A quick read for anyone who loves dogs. - June

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Stout

I'm not usually a fan on short stories. So when friends raved about this book, I put it off. Finally, a trusted friend told me it was her favorite book from the last few years. And she said it had won a Pulitzer. That did it. I had to read it. I must say it is one of the best I've read in a long time. I didn't want it to end. I wanted more stories about the people in this little Maine town, and I wanted to hear more about Olive. - June

Brandan Wolf by Brian Malloy

Why is it so many authors create a book you adore and then when they write the next novel, it just doesn't measure up? I absolutely loved "The Year of Ice" and I kept waiting for another book from Brian Malloy. When Brandan Wolf came out, it received decent reviews but not great ones, so I decided to pass on buying it. But when I saw the book at a local second-hand book sale for $1, I grabbed it. I guess you get what you pay for. There were parts I liked, and I really think the author writes well, but the story was strange and the ending disappointing. I'll wait to see what he comes up with next. -June

The Story of Forgetting by Stefan Merrill Block

This novel was devoted to the subject of Alzheimer's and how it has had an impact on two individuals. One of them is a young teenage boy whose mother is suffering from this horrible disease. The other is an older man who we learn is actually his grandfather. The book moves toward the end when the two eventually meet. The book is very well written, and for me, it's hard to believe it was written by a man only his 20's. Really liked it. - June

So Brave Young and Handsome by Leif Enger

I thought Sister BK had already reviewed this book, but I don't see it in the list. So let me be the one to say it's a beautifully written book. I always thought that Peace Like a River was an all-time hit, and I couldn't figure out why this author hadn't written anything else. Well, after about a 10-year break, he did. So Brave Young and Handsome is the story of the adventures of an author who has writer's block, so maybe that was the problem. Anyway, the characters are wonderful, and it's a book I recommend you read. - June

Home by Marilynne Robinson

If you think about a book even when you've put it down and walked away, does that mean you like it? If so, I really liked this book. It doesn't have much of a plot and very little action, but this quiet book did haunt me. I didn't read Gilead which is about the same town and even some of the same characters. But both books have received good reviews, and I'd recommend this one. There really are just 3 characters: an elderly man and two of his grown children who have returned to live with him. And it takes place in a small town in Iowa and there's mention of the big city of Des Moines. - June