The Undomestic Goddess

The Undomestic Goddess
by: Sophie Kinsella

I quite enjoyed this book - about a work-a-holic who gets a change in her life. It is written from an English perspective which I very much enjoy too. I love the different English terms; hob, hoover, boot and such. This is the same author as the Shopaholic books.

Very light, funny, easy read and enjoyable.

World Without End

World Without End

Author: Ken Follett

I loved this book so much, I had to post about it on the other Payne site.

Ken Follett tells this medieval story so well! I am almost sad to be done with it because I enjoyed it so much.

Boo

From: Julie

Boo by Rene Gutteridge

I got this book because it was next the the book Riding Lessons in the library. I liked the cover, thought I would try it. Apparently it is a series, and I am glad.

I really enjoyed this book. It was funny, cute with a bit of a romance. Easy read with funny character names. The author does not take herself so seriously. I will definitely read more of this series...after I finish my tome, World Without End.

Riding Lessons

from: Julie

Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen

This is by the same author as Water For Elephants. This was her first book. Could it be good?? IT WAS GREAT. I really liked it. It reminded me of The Horse Whisperer. If you haven't read that book, it is great too. I thought this was a compelling story, one that I had a hard time putting down.

Balzak and the Little Chinese Seamstress

From: Julie


Balzak and the Little Chinese Seamstress
by Dai Sijie

I heard about this book awhile ago and found it on the shelves on my libary. Very interesting story about the "re-education" of Chinese citizens. This happened in the 1990's! The story is fiction, but the re-education did occur.

The story is about two friends who were sent to be re-educated in a very remote mountain village. Their parents were highly educated, doctors, dentist. Therefore the boys needed to be re-educated. Interesting story.

One Thousand White Women

From Julie

One Thousand White Women

by Jim Fergus

Fiction, but written as a woman's diary who volunteered to live with the Cherokee Indians for two years. She was to marry an Indian and have a baby.

The Chief of the tribe meets with the President of the United States to say that they will trade 1,000 horses to the U.S. government in return for 1,000 white women to marry and give birth to Cherokee babies. That is true, in real like the President does not agree, but in this book, the President agrees. The book is the diary of one of those women.

I heard about this book about 10 years ago, thought it was fascinating, but my library never had it! Then suddenly, there it was and I scooped it up. The beginning was GREAT. Then the author got too carried away with himself and the story, it dragged and was too slow for me. I skipped to the more interesting parts and then the end. I liked it, just wish it was 150 pages shorter. It is a hefty book.

Read it if you have a lot of time.

Water for Elephants

from: Julie

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

I loved this book!!! One of my top favorites. It is about circus life in the 1930's. Very Interesting.
The book goes back and forth between the present 2004(?) and the past, 1930's. The man is a veterinarian for the circus. The book starts with him being between 91 or 93 years of age. He is living in an assisted living establishment. He remembers his past, then we see a glimpse of his life in the circus.

Playing For Pizza

Playing For Pizza - by John Grisham

Sadly, THE worst Grisham book I have read. Was not his usual style. It was just a book he wrote so he could travel to Italy. It was ok, but I cannot recommend it. Very heavy into football. The main character goes to Italy to play.

Into the Wild

from Julie:

Into the Wild by John Krakauer

I REALLY liked this book. Non-fiction about a boy, 21, and his journey by himself, hiking, camping, eventually living up in Alaska. It is about 2 years of this boy's life. Very interesting because this boys is totally different than anyone I have ever met. I enjoyed "getting to know him". And, you know the outcome of the book on the first page. I could read it with ease. It is also short, won't take a lot of time.

I have also read other Krakauer books, liked them all.

Dear John

from Julie:

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

I have read many books by Nicholas Sparks. My favorite being "Three Week With My Brother".

I liked this one ok...barely. It is a sad, somewhat depressing book. I like my books to all end happy, everyone ends up with the one they want, no suffering, or sadness. I finally just read the end to get me out of my suspense...then I decided to just finish it becuase I think his next book, "The Choice" is about these same two characters. So, maybe after I read The Choice that will make this one worth it.