Brunelleschi's Dome by Ross King

I read this to prepare for our trip to Italy. It's the history of the beautiful dome you see in every picture of Florence, and it is known for it's architectural significance. I'm glad I read it (ok, I actually skimmed the second half) because it does give insight into that era (early 1400's). Truly, it seems like they were constantly at war, constantly dying from the plague, and feuding with each other about their accomplishments. If you are at all interested in architecture, this might be fascinating reading. Let me know... I'll send it to you. -June

Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson

Without any doubt, the work that Mortenson and his organization are doing is incredible. I'm horrified by some of the conditions he describes in the lives of the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan. And I believe that education is truly a way to remedy the situation. The stories of the students and how their lives changed as a result of the schools being built were inspirational. But I confess I found the book too long and the details too tedious to enjoy. It was a hard read for me. - June

The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

Warning... do not read this book when you're hungry. You'll feel like throwing the book down and running to the kitchen. This book is about a cooking class that meets weekly. There's a chapter about each student in the class giving you background information on that character and how they are changed by the class. It's a very quick read and perfect for a plane ride or a weekend vacation. The way the author describes food makes you smell and taste it. OK, I need to stop now and eat. -June

Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler

Remember that guy on TV who would throw a dart at the US map and then go to that city. Then he'd open a phone book and point to a name and track down that person and find out their story. His philosophy was that everyone has a story. Well, this book is Liam's story told to us by Anne Tyler. All of Tyler's books portray characters who are unexceptional. She writes about unattractive, average people leading normal mundane day-to-day lives. She's kind of an anti-Danielle Steele. In Noah's Compass, we learn about Liam, a 60-something man who has just lost his job. He's been married multiple times, and he doesn't really have a solid relationship with any of his daughters. There isn't much action in the book, yet there is something about the way Tyler creates her characters and the detailed descriptions she provides that always leave me wanting more. If you like Anne Tyler, this is one for you. - June

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