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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" |
"The Last Don"by Mario PuzoThis is a Mafia novel about the Clericuzio family of New York. Don Clericuzio wants his family to be integrated into "legitimate society", yet some of his heirs have other ideas. We learn all of the dark secrets of this family and get to know some of the characters intimately--and even come to love them.This is a wonderful book. Although I don't generally enjoy this genre, I couldn't put this book down. It has everything--gambling, beautiful men and women, Hollywood… The characters are so well developed that I felt as if I knew them personally. And the story line is fascinating. This is a must read for anyone who enjoys good fiction. "The Ghost of Hannah Mendes"by Naomi RagenCatherine da Costa, a descendant of a highly respected Sephardic Jewish family, is dying. As she faces the fact that she will soon be gone, she realizes that her heritage, the history of her family and her religion, are nearly unknown to her daughter and granddaughters. She fears that the very faith that her ancestors suffered through generations of torture to preserve is soon to be lost to her family forever. It is at this time that the ghost of her ancestor, Hannah Mendes, appears and tells her what she must do.Catherine sends her granddaughters , Francesca and Suzanne, on a mission throughout Europe to recover the missing manuscript of Hannah Mendes. This journey is meant to bring them closer to their roots and to help them to develop pride in their family history and to appreciate the significance of their faith in order to enable them to preserve and carry on the family tradition. The Ghost of Hannah Mendes is completely different from Naomi Ragen's previous books (also reviewed here), which deal with the religious Jewish community. This book describes the plight of the Sephardic (Spanish) Jews in the years of the Inquisition. I found this aspect of the book fascinating, as I knew very little about Sephardic Jewish history. Ragen cleverly integrates the story of the ancient manuscript into the modern-day lives of Francesca and Suzanne, providing very enjoyable reading. "Jephte's Daughter"by Naomi RagenThis book is by a very popular American/Israeli author (who, by the way, honored me with a visit to this page).Batsheva Ha-Levi is the only daughter to an Orthodox Jewish family in California, which happens to be an incredibly wealthy family, as well. Her father, a Holocaust survivor, is the only living son of a famous and respected European rabbi In hope of continuing his "dynasty", Batsheva's father arranges a shidduch (arranged marriage) between his daughter and an outstanding student of Judaism in Jerusalem. Batsheva, perhaps looking for adventure, agrees to the marriage, even before she has ever met the groom. Soon, Batsheva finds herself trapped in what seems to be a primitive lifestyle in the Holy Land. She is forced to make a choice--she can either stay and forfeit her dreams or leave, thus destroying the dreams of her father, whom she loves and respects. In this book, which gives a closer look into the world of the ultra-Orthodox, the author presents options for living a modern, yet pious life. Highly recommended. "The Sacrifice of Tamar"by Naomi RagenAnother book which explores the world of ultra-orthodox Judaism. Tamar, a young religious woman, married to a scholar and living in Brooklyn, is raped by an intruder. This traumatic event comes back to haunt her 20 years later. As she faces her past, Tamar discovers that Judaism is not just black and white. Ultimately, Tamar changes the way that she looks at life and religion.Though about Jewish life, this book is certainly captivating enough even for non-Jews. Flashbacks throughout the book give us insight into Tamar's childhood and her relationships with others. Her character is developed in such a way that I felt that I truly knew her--and loved her, as well. I highly recommend this book. "Sotah"by Naomi RagenThis book had been on the bestseller list in Israel for a while, so I thought I'd give it a try. The author is an American who has lived in Jerusalem for many years. The story is about an ultra-religious Jewish woman living in Jerusalem. Despite the teachings of her religion, she gives in to her passion and sets off a chain of events that eventually lead to a new awakening for her.I wasn't sure where the story was leading for a while and I started wondering what all the hype was about. When I reached the end, I understood. I loved this book and the message that it conveyed (but I don't want to say what that was, as not to spoil it!). Highly recommended reading, especially for Jewish people and those interested in Judaism (though anyone could enjoy this book). "The Rapture of Canaan"by Sheri ReynoldsNinah is a young girl growing up on the compound of the Church of Fire and Brimstone and God's Almighty Baptizing Wind, founded and led by her grandfather. The people of the church community live very restricted lives and are taught to love and fear God through strict rules and harsh punishments. When Ninah finds herself pregnant by James, her sister's step-son, she naturally fears the wrath of the community. After Canaan is born, though, the story takes a surprising turn. This is a story about breaking away from tradition, going against society's expectations and earning independence and freedom. It is also the story about a girl's relationship with God. This book is over 300 pages long, but I got so involved in it that I finished it in a single day. I whole-heartedly recommend it. "Genuine Lies"by Nora RobertsJulia Summers has been hired by the famous actress, Eve Benedict, to write her biography. The single mom and her ten-year-old son pick up their lives and move west to California, where they will live until the book is done. Little does Julia know how this one book will change her life forever. As Eve reveals her secrets, Julia finds her life in danger. And the biggest of secret of all will affect Julia in a way she never dreamed possible.Another romance novel with too much sex for my taste, but a very captivating story line. This book held my attention until the very end and I recommend it for those who enjoy romance and mystery and are looking for some light reading. |
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