Sarah

This was a fascinating book and well worth listening to. Although long, I learned a lot and found myself trolling Google for images and movies of rogue waves. I still cannot imagine the 1700-ft wave that smacked Lituya Bay, Alaska in 1958. That's nearly 1/3 of a mile. Tall. Clearly, hundred-foot waves are not the impossibility scientists once believed, and this is a fascinating peek into the surfers who seek out these monster waves.

This wasnn't quite the book I expected. Sankovitch deals mostly with the loss of her sister and Sankovitch's own redemption through reading. I think it's difficult to write a book about reading because books mean different things to each reader and so much depends on external factors, like what else is going on in the reader's life. Still worth a read.

This is a well-crafted novel with deep characters, but I found the end rather unfulfilling. Durrow has created an engaging and relatable story from a horrific event, and this is still an impressive first novel.

Interesting, fun, and different. This is well-written and funny, but also human, with all the sadness and tragedy that entails. Perhaps because it is told from the perspective of an Armenian immigrant, this book felt refreshingly unlike other novels I've been reading lately.

I know a few readers who gave up before the second chapter, and I can understand why. This is not quite a slow, intellectual novel but probably not a beach read. I enjoyed it, but the ending was so abrupt that I am now trying to remember whether I actually finished it! (I did.) It's certainly well crafted, but I think the focus on obscene wealth almost necessarily leaves the reader feeling empty.

This is a fun YA series, kind of like young Austen characters crossed with the atmosphere of Lemony Snicket.

An interesting and unconventional read, I wavered between being caught up in the story and dragged along for the ride.

I do love Tina Fey! This reminded me a little of Sarah Silverman's book - both autobiographies of hairy, awkward teenagers who end up in Hollywood. Fey's remembrances of her childhood are one of my favorite parts of the book. She kept me listening (since you know I listen to all my books these days!) through the showbiz and producing a network show sections with her humor. A fast read and easy listen.

Although I do love Fforde's wild imagination and great appreciation for literature, I found this book a little hard to follow. Still, it's a nice summer read if you liked the other Thursday Next novels.

Interesting stuff. Not graphic or gross, as I feared it might be. Good for the Patricia Cornwell or CSI/Bones fan.

I enjoyed this book - there is practical, studied advice for improving a relationship, as well as plenty of optimism about the state of marriage in general. I appreciated the scientific approach to understanding marriage. Useful for those about to get hitched (ahem, moi) and especially tailored to those who are married - whether the relationship is strong, good, or needs work.

Excellent - and I learned stuff, too! Read if you like Mankell and Larsson.

Everyone woman and mother of a daughter should read this book. It's a quick read (I started yesterday and am halfway through) but thought-provoking and even funny. Orenstein doesn't preach against the pinkification of American girls, but struggles to balance her ideals with the reality of mothering a toddler girl.

I guess I wasn't as enthusiastic about this book as Oprah ;) I loved The Corrections, but found Freedom too...sad? Tragic? I saw the satire, and enjoyed the writing, but felt empty despite the ending. I realize that is part of the power of the book, but it doesn't make me like it better.

Amazing so far - it has kept me inside on a gorgeous day and prevented me from falling asleep because I was so engrossed!

Fantastic so far - very American Studies ;)

loving this book - something i wanted to stay up reading.

I had high hopes - a librarian solving mysteries! sadly, the book fell flat.

Unsatisfying and dated. I'm not sure it's a “mystery” if you never know the culprit. Also, the events (ecoterrorism at Vail)took place before September 11 and the economic crisis, and the world described feels naive and idealistic (even if we were naive and idealistic then). Don't bother.

Lovely, magical realism (as with many of Allende's) story full of fabulous characters, war, and intersecting lives in an unnamed country in Latin America/South America.

I actually listened to this (instead of reading it) on a car trip. It's a very sweet story and an easy listen. The main characters are teen girls, which may be why I would peg it as more of a young adult book, but I liked it.

Bring a box of tissues, but read it. I'm a fan of Lamb's writing, though this is certainly a heavy read (Columbine + women's prison...).

Again, big Krakauer fan. This book is a weeper, but Krakauer did his research and the book is fascinating.

Oy! I started out loving this book. I read it in a day, it was so engrossing. But by the last quarter, I realized that there was no redeeming this novel. Everything fun and bizarre about the book became macabre, frightening and stupid.

Excellent, with lyrical descriptions of the Montana plains, this novel is quick-paced and enjoyable. I found the ending a bit abrupt, but that's not a reason to avoid it. I plan to read more books by Doig.