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Fiction:
"Dublin 4" "Evening Class" "Tara Road" "Summer Sisters" "River, Cross My Heart" "Moonlight Becomes You" "Pretend You Don't See Her" "For My Daughters" "Legend" "The Red Tent" "The Mistress of Spices" "White Oleander" "My Summer With George" "The Saving Graces" "Memoirs of a Geisha" "Tall, Dark, and Deadly" "The Partner" "A Map of the World" "Stones from the River" "A Widow for One Year" "The Ritual Bath" "I Know This Much Is True" "She's Come Undone" "Where the Heart Is" "Jewel" "Feather Crowns" "While I Was Gone" "The Deep End of the Ocean" "The Last Don" "The Ghost of Hannah Mendes" "Jephte's Daughter" "The Sacrifice of Tamar" "Sotah" "The Rapture of Canaan" "Genuine Lies" "The Reader" "Acts of Faith" "Tell Me Your Dreams" "The Pilot's Wife" "Up Island"
Non-fiction:
"Taking Charge of ADHD" "Teach Yourself Paint Shop Pro 5 in 24 "Hours" "Daredevils and Daydreamers" "Your Hyperactive Child" "Setting Limits" "1-2-3 Magic" "The Baby Book" "Creating Paint Shop Pro Web Graphics" "What You Need to Know About Ritalin" "The Hyperactive Child, Adolescent and Adult" |
"I Know This Much Is True"by Wally LambDominick and Thomas Birdsey are identical twins, barely distinguishable from one another on the outside, yet their personalities are in complete contrast to one another. Dominick is the "tough" one, the "protector', the stereotypical male. Thomas is gentler and more insightful -- and also schizophrenic. It is Dominick who tells this very moving story of one brother's love and hate for another, of being "twinned" and "untwinned", of sanity and insanity and of finding meaning in life.The story shifts back and forth between the twins' childhood to adolescence and their adult years, describing the complicated relationship between the brothers and their family, mainly from Dominick's point of view. In addition, a "story within a story" gives us background information on their family and its roots. Though the story line occasionally seems just a bit too "unreal" (could so many things happen in just one family?), the characters are believable and the message is powerful. This is probably the longest novel I have ever read -- 900 pages -- yet I read through it at amazing speed and had a lot of trouble putting it down. I was a bit surprised by the ending, but though I should have been disappointed, I found myself developing a new understanding of where the story had been going and why Dominick was telling his story at all. I loved this book and I am even tempted to pick it up again and start all over. A beautiful story and a must read -- but be sure to have a box of tissues handy. "She's Come Undone"by Wally LambAt 13, Delores Price's life is changed forever by a traumatic experience. She spends her adolescent years in front of a television, eating anything and everything available. Eventually, Dolores becomes a 257 pound woman with a low self-esteem and no self-confidence. However, Dolores doesn't give up on life. Even as her problems deepen and life becomes more difficult, Dolores manages to find a way to overcome it all. This book made me want to cry and to laugh at the same time. Delores is one of the most admirable heroines I have ever met in a novel. The story, told in the first person, made me feel as if I were right there by her side through her years of anguish and eventual coming to terms with life. I found it difficult to put this book down and, despite it's length (465 pages), I finished it in almost no time at all (and found myself wishing there was more). Don't miss this novel! "Where the Heart Is"by Billie LettsSeventeen years old and seven months pregnant, Novalee Nation finds herself stranded in an Oklahoma Wal-Mart with just $7.77. Little does she know that this is a new beginning for her. In this small town, Novalee will meet the wonderful people who will shape her life. Each of the characters in this book is unusual in his or her own way, but all share a common trait: a loving, caring heart. The town takes Novalee in and becomes her true home, in every sense of the word. I loved everything about this book. It was easy to read (I finished it in a day) and it was funny and sad and moving. This is a book that challenges our traditional conceptions of "family". It also delivers the message that ultimately, the good at heart are rewarded in life, no matter how hard things may be at times. "Jewel"by Bret LottIn 1943, Jewel, a 39 year old woman from Mississippi, gives birth to her sixth child, a girl named Brenda Kay. Little does she know that Brenda Kay's birth will change the course of her life. Never was a mother more devoted to a daughter than Jewel to Brenda Kay, the child who is both a burden and a blessing. This is a story about how sometimes, life takes control of us. It is a book filled with love and compassion and devotion. To call this book incredible would not be giving it enough credit. This is truly one of the most compelling and most beautifully written novels I have ever read. It is so moving that at times, I actually had to hold back the tears. The impact of this book remains with the reader long after the story is over. "Feather Crowns"by Bobbie Ann MasonThe year is 1900. Christie Wheeler is huge as a house and sure she must be pregnant with a monster. Then she gives birth to quintuplets. At the turn of the century, no one had ever heard of such a thing and Christie becomes a curiosity and a living legend, her life turned into a circus side show.This novel, inspired by a true event, is haunting. Through much of it, I felt like screaming at Christie to follow her instincts and at the other characters for their stupidity and ignorance. Yet, the fact is that nearly 100 years ago, little was known about caring for premature infants. This book is powerful and moving--a must read. "While I Was Gone"by Sue MillerJo Becker seems to have a perfect life -- a loving husband, three grown daughters, a beautiful home and a successful veterinary practice. But Jo is haunted by events of her past and is forced to confront them when an old roommate reappears in her life. Jo's obsession with that period in time, along with a feeling of restlessness in her current life, lead her towards lies and deception. Ultimately, a secret from her past is revealed to her and she is forced to deal with it. I enjoyed this book, but I didn't particularly like Jo, the main character. I'm not quite sure why, really, but perhaps because I felt that she was too impulsive and she wasn't appreciative enough of the things around her. The plot was good, though, and I would recommend the book. "The Deep End of the Ocean"by Jacquelyn MitchardBeth Cappadora's high school reunion turns into a nightmare when her three-year-old son disappears and cannot be found. Days pass, then weeks, then years with no sign of Ben. The Cappadora family is nearly torn apart by the tragedy. Beth cannot function as a mother, her husband's health deteriorates and her oldest son turns wayward. Then, in a single moment, their lives are changed again. The story is told from Beth's point of view and also from the point of view of her oldest son, Vincent. As a mother of young children, I found this story to be terrifying, but I couldn't put it down. While the characters in the book chastised Beth for walking through life in a fog, I could only ask myself where she found the strength to go on at all. This is an excellent read, but one word of warning: A few days after reading the book, I saw the movie. That was a huge disappointment. The movie lacks the depth of the book, as it follows the storyline alone (and loosely, at that) and hardly deals with the relationship between the characters. Read the book, but skip the movie. |
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