Swallows of Kabul

Swallows of Kabul
by: Yasmina Khadra

I found this book in the library in the "New" section. I judged the book by it's cover, thought it looked interesting, so I got it.

I enjoyed it. It was not a happy, go lucky book. It was a bit intense, but what a look inside of Afghanistan! It is a good look, only if the author was authentic and who would know that! This about life in Afghanistan with the Taliban ruling. It was not a pleasant place, nor are they teaching anything to brag about. I enjoyed the learning and by that the thankfulness that I feel waking up in my bed in America with all those rights and freedoms that we have. Let's not waste them.

Read this book for the learning experience. It is a quick read. It is mainly about 2 families and how they are dealing with their difficult lives. You learn about the men and you learn about their wives. You learn of their ideas of love, marriage, sacrifice, religion. I found it interesting.

Can't Wait to Get to Heaven

Can't Wait to Get to Heaven
By Fannie Flagg

Do you remember Fannie Flagg? Mark remembers her from "Candid Camera" in the late '60s. I remember her from "Match Game" in the late '70s. I was completely surprised to find out that she is a writer. And that she wrote "Fried Green Tomatoes" (which I read on the cruise). So when I was wandering through the library I made sure to pick up a Fannie Flagg book.

Great Book!! Ms. Flagg does such an excellent job of telling the story of old southern ladies!. And my favorite part - the protagonist's name is Elner Shimfissle. Elner is a woman. She doesn't really know how old she is, because her younger sister abscounded with the family Bible where her birthday was recorded and Elner just doesn't know what year she was born!


Elner dies at the beginning of the book and goes to heaven. All of her friends are devastated. Elner is such a force for good in her town. The story is told in a wonderfully light manner--you get to see the stories of all the people around Elner--her niece and nephew, her neighbors in town and out in the country, the Sunset Club (who gather on Elner's front porch every evening to watch the sunset). I truly love books that have lots of characters and lots of good development.

The one thing that really bothered me were the scenes in Heaven where Elner meets "her Maker". Ms. Flagg has a decidedly Unitarian view point--God, Buddah, Mohammed--it doesn't matter. All roads lead to heaven and god. That particular world view really annoys me. But other than that I think this was a great book and really worth the read.

John 3:16

John 3:16
by Nancy Moser

I picked this book up on the fly at the library. I figured that it was written by a Christian author (with a title like that) and I was looking for something uplifting. It turned out to be very good. I will find more books by this author.

The story brings together multiple story lines--people who are about to be affected by a John 3:16 sign at a football game. Again, this story is told from multiple points of view and I am finding that I really like that approach. A woman going through the anguish of infertility, a father whose life is completely wrapped around his son's football abilities, the son whose life has been deeply affected by God and a woman who gave up a baby for adoption twenty years ago. Really well written--although it does get slightly preachy every now and again. The story lines are nicely intertwined with one or two very unexpected surprises. Has a very realistic ending--rather than the "happily ever after" thing that you may be expecting.

The Alibi

The Alibi
By Sandra Brown

Sandra Brown is one of my favorite authors. She started out writing historical romance novels, but grew into contemporary mystery/romance. She does a great job of building suspense and creating interesting plot twists. Of course, there is still the romance part. I'd say the plot is about 80% mystery and about 20% romance.

This story is told from multiple points of view, which was slightly confusing at first, but I really enjoyed it by the end. Assistant DA (County Solicitor in South Carolina) Hammond Cross finds himself deeply involved in the murder of a local bigwig. His personal and professional integrity is stretched to the breaking point. The woman is a psychiatrist, and the main suspect in the murder. There are three or four different subplots going on, lots of characterization which I love. The author does a fantastic job of capturing the culture of South.

There are several passages of graphic "romance novel" sex. I tend to just skip over those parts, but be forewarned. I really enjoyed this book.

Undiscovered Country

Undiscovered Country

by: Lin Enger

I just found this book, no recommendation. Then I read the back: "Unaware that his life is about to change in ways he can't imagine, seventeen-year-old Jesse Matson ventures into the northern Minnesota woods with his father on a cold November afternoon....a muffled crack of a gunshot rings out...he races through the trees to find his dad dead of a rifle wound, apparently self-inflicted."

That really intrigued me! Why? It is kind of dark and mysterious, but I figured I would try it. And....I REALLY enjoyed it. The writing was great; a different style. The author never used quotation marks! It is written in first person, from Jesse's perspective. It seems like it would be a dark and sad tale, but to me it was an intriguing mystery. I enjoyed being inside that 17 year old's head.

It was a good mystery, written well. The author tells a good story, interesting characters.

The Heartbreak Pill

The Heartbreak Pill

by: Anjanette Delgado

Here is the story on this book: I like to go to the mall to the big book store and see all their very exciting and tantalizing books. I always have paper and pen and I write all the books down that I would like to buy. Then I go to the library and look for those books. THIS book looked very funny and interesting. The "blurb" on the back is something like, "wouldn't it be nice to take a pill to get over your heartache instead of going through it? Erica has made this pill!" It seemed funny. Sadly, I couldn't find the book at my library! I decided to ask the library to get it. I asked and a few weeks later the library called and said they would buy it!

Happily, I got the book. My expectations were too high. I thought it was good, but the story was different than I thought. It was a bit more crass than I thought.

I thought the story would be about her taking the pill, feeling better, dating, etc. It was about her horrible divorce, her horrible sadness, her deciding to do something about it - she is a scientist at a medical lab that makes a migraine medication. The author is a Latina and she speaks a LOT of Spanish. I felt like I really needed to finish the story because I requested the library buy the book. I hope others at the library like it better than I did. Read the book below this instead, So Brave, Young and Handsome. It was way better.

I am still grateful that the library got it for me. That was very nice.

So Brave, Young, and Handsome

So Brave, Young, and Handsome

by: Leif Enger

This book is by the same author as Peace Like a River.

I REALLY enjoyed this book. I loved how it was written, such great words. I enjoyed the story. It is NOT an action packed book, it is more about how the author writes that I enjoyed.

This book takes place around the turn of the century, I think. There is a little family in Minnesota, husband, wife and little boy. The husband wrote a fabulous book that sold well. He tries to write another book and just can't. He feels frustrated. They meet a man who is living down the way from them and this man takes them all on quite an adventure.

It is about love, respect, forgiveness, choices, and being true to yourself.

Please someone read it, I really want to talk about the title!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

by: Mary Ann Shaffer and
Annie Barrows

I loved this book! It is charming and written the the form of letters being sent to many different people. You see the story unfold as you read these letters.

There is an Island, in the Channel Islands by England that is called Guernsey. This Island was occupied by the German troops for 5 years. This was an interesting part of history to learn about. The people on the island were cut off from all news of the war. The book takes place after the war is over, and one person, Juliet is contacted by someone on the island asking about a book. That starts many, many inquisitive letters.

Here is a quote from the end of the book from one of the authors:
from Mary Ann Shaffer
"I hope that my book will illuminate my belief that love of art - be it poetry, storytelling, painting, sculpture, or music - enables people to transcend any barrier man has yet devised."

Read it. It is worth it. It will make you want to be a letter writer!