Not Without Hope

Not Without Hope
by: Nick Schuyler

True story: last year in February, 4 friends, two of them being professional NFL players, went out deep sea fishing 70 miles off the Florida coast. The anchor of the boat got stuck, they capsized the boat, a ferocious storm came, only one survived.

An amazing story. You really wish by the end it would have a different ending, but it is what it is. I liked it. Can't say I enjoyed it, but it was interesting; sad. I can't enjoy hearing the demise of real people. I DO recommend reading the book. It gives you a real appreciation of the ocean and boat and water safety! Really, read it!

One Amazing Thing

One amazing Thing

by: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Interesting story of nine people in the Indian Consulate, trapped by an earthquake. While they wait to be rescued, one person suggests that they each tell their "one amazing thing". Every one has one in their life.

It is an interesting way to hear people's stories. Interesting what we are willing to tell strangers.

I liked it.

It was a quick read.

The First Rule

The First Rule

by: Robert Crais

Has the usual protagonist Joe Pike.

A friend from his past is murdered along with his family.

Joe wants to solve this mystery.

Russian Mob; kidnapped baby; ruthless people; usual Joe Pike novel.

I liked it. Escape. Easy read.

Hawaii Reads!

The books that I read in Hawaii....since that's all I did, I did get to read a few books; here are my thoughts:

Heart's Blood
by: Juliet Marillier

Such a good story; kind of a re-telling of Beauty & the Beast.
Girl runs away from a bad situation, up a mountain to the castle. She is hired for the summer to do some reading and writing.

It is a very good story; nicely told. I got into it right away. I highly recommend! Get it and read it!

Little Bee
by: Chris Cleave

This story is told from 2 different perspectives. One from an African girl, the other from a 30 year old NY woman. These two people cross paths and their lives are never the same. It is a great story. I REALLY liked the perspective (and writing of the NY woman).

Read this!

The Covenant
by: Beverly Lewis

This one is just ok. I ended up liking it, but I had to read it in a very unconventional way. The author was taking too long to get anywhere; driving me crazy. I had read maybe the first 100 - 150 pages of the book; then I skipped to the end! I did. I started reading from the last page. I liked that, so I read the next to the last page, then the next, I did that for quite some time, then I went back to where I originally left off and met myself. I liked it better that way. I really wanted to like it because it is a series. I don't know if I will read anymore. I guess my probability is 65%.

The story: Amish family. Girls getting ready for marriage age; time to be baptised in the church; what boys do they like; they don't like the ones their father picked out.


Listen
by: Rene Gutteridge

I have read several of her other books. They were fine. Boo, I really liked. This one has a great idea for a story, I just didn't like her telling. In fact I didn't finish it. The story is about a religious town that gets caught up in gossip. Doing it, spreading it, listening to it. It could have been so good. It wasn't. Read it at your own risk.

Nothing To Lose

Nothing To Lose

by: Lee Child

All his books are with the protagonist Jack Reacher.

This is my 5th one to read. Maybe I am on JR overload.

I do very much recommend his books. I enjoy them...just not all at one.

This time Jack wanders into 2 towns in Colorado; Despair and Hope. They throw him out of Despair, he goes to Hope, finds a lovely woman cop who helps him find out with the deal is with Despair and why they don't like strangers.

Lots of stuff happens. I DO really like all the things Jack Reacher notices; he is very literal. Go ahead, pick this book up and read it!

21 Books Read Since OCT(!) 2009

The Hunger Games & Catching Fire
by: Suzanne Collins



finished: Sept & Dec 2009 VERY good 9

Future; like the lottery, kids have to survive to the last to live.













Keys to the Kingdom
by: Cronin
Finished: oct 09 didn’t finish, too flat-line

Mom loved this; it went no where for me, priest’s life

31 hours

by: Masha Hamilton

Finished: oct 09 Interesting 7-8 ½
Mother has a sense her son (21) is in trouble; needs help; boy is with & helping terrorist; book has no real ending…you decide!

June Bug

by: Chris Fabry

Finished: oct 09

A re-telling of Les Miserables! It is an interesting story, good read. Author did a good job. It makes you think. I recommend!

An echo In The bone

by: Diana Gabaldon

Finished: oct 09

I LOVE this series. This particular book was a little hard to get into, but once I did, I had a hard time putting it down. THEN, I had to go back and re-read the whole series. It was VERY enjoyable. Really good. If you haven't read these books, start with the first....Outlander.

Outlander Diana Gabaldon oct 09
Dragonfly in Amber Diana Gabaldon nov 09
Voyager Diana Gabaldon nov 09
Drums of autumn Diana Gabaldon dec 09
The Fiery Cross Diana Gabaldon dec 09
A breathe of Snow & Ashes Gabaldon Feb 10

Rainwater

by: Sandra Brown

Finished: Dec 09 Liked! 8-9
1940’s? woman runs boarding house, autistic child, love, quick read

Fearful Symmetry

by: Audrey Niffenegger

Finished: Dec 09 can’t tell..4-8

Beginning ok, middle hard, end fantastic. Death, spirits, love, OCD, graveyard, twins

Sundays at Tiffany’s

by: James Patterson

finished: Dec 09 fine 6-7

Quick read..24 hrs…imaginary friend, sad girl, frustrated woman, she sees her old imaginary friend; falls in love

Band of Brothers

by: Stephen E. Ambrose

Started: Jan 2010

Christopher recommenced this. He loved it. I thought it interesting, in a text book kind of way. I liked what I read, but I was in the middle of the Outlander series and I just couldn't make myself read this instead. It is still on my nightstand. I will read some more of it. WW2. Makes you appreciate what those men and women in the armed services do for us!

True Colors

by: Kristen Hannah

finished: Jan 10 too typical romance..4-5

Read to @ pg. 150. skipped ahead, ranch, sisters, love, bad love, trials, happy ending

The Enemy

by: Lee Childs

finished: can't remember 9 really enjoyed

Jack Reacher; france, mother dies, brother, murder on base, N. Carolina

Gone Tomorrow

by: Lee Childs

finished: Jan 10 9

really enjoyed; fast read
Jack reacher; NY, subway suicide, al queda, bad people

The Killing Floor

by: Lee Childs

finished: Jan 10 9 really enjoyed; fast read

Jack reacher; wanderer, stops in GA, arrested for murder, didn’t commit, helped solve; corrupt town

Die Trying

by: Lee Childs

finished: Jan 10

Fine, not as great as the others. Need a Jack Reacher break

This one was set in Montana with a bunch of wack-o-politicals that wanted to have their own country. Kerry enjoyed it.

Heir To SevenWaters

by Juliet Marillier

So Good! 4th in the Series. First is Daughter of the Forest.

Can't really describe it.

A tale of long ago. Family lives in the forest; there are fair folk, strong family bonds, love, long heritage. Fantasy. Great story.

The Shack

The Shack

by: William P. Young

Even Money

Even Money

by: Dick Francis

If this is really by Dick Francis....oh, I don't believe it! He may have written the title, but the insides are just not like his real "Dick Francis" books.

This book deals with bookkeeping. A lot of book keeping, like bookies and betting. There is a long lost father and death and mystery.

It was readable, but barely.

Good in Bed

Good in Bed

by: Jennifer Weiner

I have never read this author before. I don't know if I will again.

The book is not necessarily what the title professes. It does start out funny; a woman who is curvaceous and has some extra weight on her breaks up with her boyfriend who then writes about personal life in a magazine. She is horrified and embarrassed. It makes her look at her life, her weight, her self image and decide what she wants to do about it.

It was ok. I really enjoyed the beginning. It was funny. Then it began to drag. I did finish it, I will say that. I don't know that I recommend it though.

Twenties Girl

Twenties Girl
by: Sophie Kinsella

This is not the usual Kinsella book. It was ok; readable.

It starts at a funeral of a great aunt that is VERY old; like 102.
That aunt comes back as a ghost and haunts and helps the main girl in the book.

The characters are sometimes not likable, but I read through it. I give it a 6-7 out of 10.