Easter Island by Jennifer Vanderbes

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __4___

Storyline: __4___

Pacing: __3___

Setting: __5___



Use one word to describe this book?

Curious
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?
Yes


Comments?
Alternating stories makes following the novel a bit odd at times. Not sure it really ties the threads together but still an interesting book.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lackes by Rebecca Skool

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __5___

Storyline: ___5__

Pacing: __5___

Setting: __5___



Use one word to describe this book?

Fascinating
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?
Yes


Comments? A must for anyone suffering from any disease especially survivors of cancer.

Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __5___

Storyline: __5___

Pacing: ___5__

Setting: __5___



Use one word to describe this book?

Magnificent
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?
Yes


Comments?
This is a prequel to Walls' Glass Castle. It is very important to read Glass Castle FIRST to fully appreciate.

Those Who Love by Irving Stone

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __5___

Storyline: ___5__

Pacing: __3___

Setting: ___5__



Use one word to describe this book?

Epic
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?
Yes


Comments? Historical fiction on the life and love between John and Abigail Adams

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Laarson

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __4___

Storyline: ___5__

Pacing: __3___

Setting: _3___



Use one word to describe this book?

Intriguing
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?
Yes


Comments? Took me until about page 70 to hook me.

Pearl in the Storm by Toni McClure

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: ___5__

Storyline: __5___

Pacing: ___5__

Setting: ___5__



Use one word to describe this book?
Strength


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?
Yes


Comments?
Should be a "must read" for young women--dealing with defeat, endurance and success

CELEBRITY READER-Rob Pontau, Topsham Director of Public Works

As you can imagine, being Director of Public Works and Dad to two adorable little girls takes a lot of Rob's time! He offers the following suggestions for great family reads --- and one for grown-ups!

Title: Bad Kitty
Author: Nick Bruel

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __5___

Storyline: __3___

Pacing: __5___

Setting: __4___

Use one word to describe this book?


____________________Repetitive_____________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

__x____YES _______NO


Kitty is not happy when all that's left to eat is Asparagus, Beets, Cauliflower, Dill...and 22 other equally unappealing vegetables. This riotous story of a cat gone berserk is a creative take on more than one alphabet journey whisking children on a laugh out loud romp from A's to Z's.



Title: Giraffes Can’t Dance
Author:Giles Andreae

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __5___

Storyline: __5___

Pacing: __5___

Setting: __4___

Use one word to describe this book?


Inspirational


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

__x____YES _______NO


With light-footed rhymes and high-stepping illustrations, this tale is gentle inspiration for every child with dreams of greatness. IF you read it with a little rhythm, your kids will bob to the beat. Pretty soon, you’ll find yourself bobbing and dancing as well.

Audio books make that commute go a little smoother!

Title: The Husband
Author:Dean Koontz

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __5___

Storyline: __4___

Pacing: __5___

Setting: __4___

Use one word to describe this book?


Intense


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

___x___YES _______NO


Comment, if you wish!
Rob says, "This was a great audio book!"

An ordinary man's extraordinary commitment to his wife takes him on a harrowing journey of adventure, sacrifice, and redemption to the mystery of love itself—and to a showdown with the force that would destroy it forever in this masterful novel. Read THE HUSBAND and you'll understand why "there is no one who can match Dean Koontz for pure excitement." — Denver Post

CELEBRITY READER-Lynn Morgan, TPL Library Staff

Celebrity Reader, Lynn Morgan works at the Topsham Public Library's front desk doing everything from checking out books, answering questions, cataloging and helping out with Children's Programs--especially the Parent-Child Workshops and the Sleepover! She reads lots of books and likes to open the boxes of books that we buy to see what is new!

Here's what Lynn has been reading!

Author: Eve Brown-Waite

Title: First Comes Love, Then Comes Malaria (non-fiction)

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __4___

Storyline: __4___

Pacing: ___4_

Setting: ___5__



Use one word to describe this book?

Interesting
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?
Yes


Comments?

Interesting to learn about other cultures--laced with humor!

Beyond the Darkness by Alexandra Ivy

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __4___

Storyline: __4___

Pacing: __4___

Setting: __3___



Use one word to describe this book?

alluring
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?
Yes


Comments? Part of a series--one has to read them all to truly appreciate the characters--a dark, sensual adventure.

Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __5___

Storyline: __5___

Pacing: __5___

Setting: ___5__



Use one word to describe this book?

inspiring
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

Yes

Comments?

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen (2nd Review!)

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __4___

Storyline: __4___

Pacing: __4___

Setting: ___4__



Use one word to describe this book?

Sweet
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

Yes

Comments?
Pleasant, easy read --sweet with a little magic similar to her other novels.

Frankenstein - Lost Souls by Dean Koontz

Characters: 5
Storyline: 5
Pacing: 4
Setting: 5

One word: Maddening

I would recommend this book only if you've read the first 4 in the series

Dean Koontz fans will be glad that he finally got to the next book in the series. It's maddening because it is being continued on with book 6 next year.

CELEBRITY READER- Ed Caron, Topsham Director of Solid Waste Facility

Celebrity Reader, Ed Caron is the Director of Topsham’s Solid Waste Facility. Along with his many outdoor passions, he is an avid audio book reader. Ed is one of the Topsham Public Library’s favorite and most special patrons! Here is Ed's current read!

Title: Fablehaven Series
Author: Brandon Mull


RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __4___

Storyline: __4___

Pacing: __4___

Setting: __4___

Use one word to describe this book?

Intriguing
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

___X___YES _______NO


Ed says, " This is the kind of book that makes you want to read the next as soon as possible to see what happens. Full of mythical and magical characters that keep you wanting more."

WHAT ARE YOU READING? Click the word "comments" below to let us know!

The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __4___
Storyline: ___4__
Pacing: ___4__
Setting: ___4__

Use one word to describe this book?

____intriguing_____________________________________

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?
__x____YES _______NO


Comment: The first of the Gabriel Allon series. If you like spy stories, you’ll love this one.

Morrigan's Cross by Nora Roberts

Ratings:
Characters--4-
a vampire, a witch, a sorcerer, a scholar, a warrior and a shape shifter-and a really evil vampire
Storyline--4-
they need to save not only "the" world-but all worlds in all dimensions
Pacing--4-
fast paced, lots of action and romance Setting--4-
Ireland and other realms

One word to describe this book: fun

Would you recommend? Yes-but only to people who can talk about vampire books without rolling their eyes.

Comment:
The first in a series of 3. An Easy, quick, and fun read. Summer reading at its best.

The Zigzag Way by Anita Desai

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: _4____

Storyline: __4___

Pacing: __5___

Setting: __5___



Use one word to describe this book?


______Transporting___________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?
YES


Comments?

It took me away to a very different time and place.

I'm A Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __5___

Storyline: __5___

Pacing: __5___

Setting: ___5__



Use one word to describe this book?

Funny!
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

YES

Comments?

Bill Bryson does it again--a funny (laugh out loud!) thoughtful book--great summer read!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __5___

Storyline: __5__

Pacing: __5___

Setting: ___5__



Use one word to describe this book?

Heartwarming
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

YES

Comments?

Entertaining and educational!

CELEBRITY READER-Helen Tomer, TPL Library Cataloger

Helen Tomer is TPL's cataloging specialist and a long-time staff member. She likes reading, movies and chocolate cookies! (YUM)


Title: Beachcombers
Author: Nancy Thayer

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __4___

Storyline: ___4__

Pacing: ___4__

Setting: __5___

Use one word to describe this book?

Summer
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

___x___YES _______NO

Dead Man's Bones by Susan Wittig Albert

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __4___

Storyline: __4___

Pacing: ___3__

Setting: ___4__

Use one word to describe this book?

Easy
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

____X__YES _______NO


Comment, if you wish!

Interesting tidbits about herbs

Two by Madeleine Wickham AKA Sophie Kinsella

Author: Madeleine Wickham

Title: Twenties Girl

Rate this book---
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __4___

Storyline: __4___

Pacing: __4___

Setting: ____4_

Use one word to describe this book?

Hilarious
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

___X___YES _______NO


Comment, if you wish!
I love Madeleine Wickham (Sophie Kinsella). I am addicted to her books. This one was one of her more comical ones. I loved the idea of being followed by her dead aunt. It was a nice switch from her Shopaholic books.




Author: Madeleine Wickham

Title:The Wedding Girl

Rate this book---
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: ___5__

Storyline: __4___

Pacing: _4____

Setting: __4___

Use one word to describe this book?


______Beach__________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

__x____YES _______NO


Comment, if you wish!
This book is a great beach read. It is about a girl whose past comes back to haunt her. I like the character of the mother. She was overbearing and narrow sighted on the surface. It was written similarly to the other Sophie Kinsella books. If you like them, you would most likely enjoy this one too.

50 Harbor Street and Orchard Valley Grooms by Debbie Macomber

Author: Debbie Macomber

Title: 50 Harbor Street

Rate this book---
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: _3____

Storyline: __3___

Pacing: _3____

Setting: ___5__

Use one word to describe this book?


________Easy_________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

____X__YES _______NO


Comment, if you wish!
This book was a nice book to read while at camp. I like that even though it is part of a series, I was able to start with this book and not be lost. I plan on reading more from this series. It didn't take a lot of thought. While predictable, it was a nice escape. Debbie Macomber's settings are always appealing to me.





Author: Debbie Macomber

Title: Orchard Valley Grooms

Rate this book---
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __3___

Storyline: __2___

Pacing: _3____

Setting: __3___

Use one word to describe this book?


_____________Mindless____________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

__X____YES _______NO


Comment, if you wish!
This was not a favorite book by the author. It was another mindless read though.

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)


Characters: ___5__

Storyline: __4___

Pacing: __5__

Setting: __5___

Use one word to describe this book?

Funny!
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

__X____YES _______NO


Comment, if you wish!

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __4___

Storyline: __5___

Pacing: __5__

Setting: __5___

Use one word to describe this book? (OK-2 if you need!)

Feel-good
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

__X____YES _______NO


Comment, if you wish!

Excellent version of an after-life experience

The Vampire's Bride by Gina Showalter

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __4___

Storyline: __3___

Pacing: __3___

Setting: ___4__

Use one word to describe this book?

good
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

_X_____YES _______NO


Comment, if you wish!

The characters made the book--some of them were very interesting!

The Whisperers by John Connolly

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters 5
Storyline 5
Pacing 6
Setting 5

One word.
Twisted

I would recommend this book

This book is for readers who like creepy stories and reading about evil people getting their just desserts. And, Charley Parker's friends Louis and Angel are a hoot!

Winners

This week's winners are---
Terri Eggleston and Carre Gardner
WAHOO!

The Lake Shore Limited by Sue Miller

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __5___

Storyline: __4___

Pacing: __3___

Setting: __4___

Use one word to describe this book?

Nuanced
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

__X____YES _______NO


Comment, if you wish!

Seeing the story through the eyes of all the major characters made it more rounded and thought-provoking . Miller has a fine way of revealing the ebb and flow of relationships.

Linda Rollins

The Butcher: An Anatomy of a Mafia Psycopath by Philip Carlp

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __3___

Storyline: __3__

Pacing: __4__

Setting: ___4__

Use one word to describe this book?

Disturbing
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

___X___YES _______NO


Comment, if you wish!

An interesting book about a psychopathic mafia killer.

CELEBRITY READER-Marge Whipple, TPL Library Trustee

Topsham Public Library Trustee, Marge Whipple is not surprisingly, an avid reader. A member of the Highlands Book Look book discussion group sponsored by the library at the Highlands, Marge is beginning her second term as a member of the Library Board.


The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __4___

Storyline: ___4__

Pacing: ___4__

Setting: __4___

Use one word to describe this book?

good
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

___X___YES _______NO


Comment, if you wish!

It was written in the late 1800's and is long (600 pages) but worth it!

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: ___4__

Storyline: ___4__

Pacing: __4__

Setting: __3___

Use one word to describe this book?

humorous
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

__X____YES _______NO


Comment, if you wish!

Easier to read than I thought it would be!

Three Junes by Julia Glass

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)
Characters: __2___
Storyline: __3___
Pacing: ____2_
Setting: ___3__

Use one word to describe this book?
__disappointing_______________________

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?
______YES ___x____NO

Comment: I read this on CD and found it difficult to follow the timeline as it wasn’t linear and I found the end very unsatisfying. Great premise; poor execution. It should have been better.

Tough Cookie by Diane Mott Davidson

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters 4
Storyline 4
Pacing 4
Setting 5

One Word to describe the book:
Exciting

Would recommend!

Comment:
This is the 8th in the Goldy Schultz the caterer mystery series. The series is set in Colorado. This is the first set at a ski resort - great descriptions of the beauty of the area. Several plots throughout the book keep your interest as to how they're related. Best to read the series in order of publication. The first being Dying for Chocolate.

Thank you for entering this into the adult reading program. A reading program for adults is a great idea!

Carol Thibeault

Supreme Justice by Philip Margolin

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: 5
Storyline: 5
Pacing: 5
Setting: 4


One Word: Twisty


I would recommend this book.

Comment: I've read a lot of political thrillers, and Margolin is one of the best. However, it seems that in almost every political thriller I've read (with the exception of those by Tom Clancy) the evil bad guys are all either Conservatives and/or Republicans, Christians or any combination of the three. "...what media bias?"

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

Author: Nicholas Sparks

Title: The Notebook (on cassette)

Rate this book---
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __5___

Storyline: ___5__

Pacing: __4___

Setting: __5___

Use one word to describe this book?
Emotional / heart-wrenching

_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

____X__YES _______NO


Comment, if you wish!

This was a great book to listen to on tape! I loved how two readers were used to make the characters come alive. This was an abridged version which makes me wonder what I missed, but the storyline was fantastic. It was very addicting and kept me on the edge of my seat so to speak. The descriptions were so real and I could picture everything in my mind. The fireplace part was a bit over the top and didn’t need to be so detailed, but other than that I loved the book!

I would definitely recommend this to others. I’ll have to see the movie now to see how close it came.

Susan Moyes

The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __4.5___

Storyline: __4___

Pacing: __4___

Setting: __4___

Use one word to describe this book?

Hope
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

___X___YES _______NO


Comment, if you wish--
The author uses many characters and stories of grief to demonstrate healing.

By Brenna Coughlin

CELEBRITY READER-Curt Neufeld, TPL Board of Trustees, President

Celebrity Reader, Curt Neufeld joined the Library Board of Trustees in April, 2006. The Joy of Art and Joy of the Lens juried art/photography shows were among Curt's many great ideas for the library! He is also an enthusiastic reader!


Author: Stieg Larsson

Title: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Rate this book---
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __5___

Storyline: __5___

Pacing: __4___

Setting: __5___

Use one word to describe this book?


Exciting


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

__x____YES _______NO


Curt says:

A fast paced story. Very interesting learning about Sweden, too. It has been a best seller for a reason.

Lover Mine by J. R. Ward

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __5___

Storyline: __5___

Pacing: ___5____

Setting: __5___

Use one word to describe this book?

Amazing
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?
X
______YES _______NO


Comment, if you wish!
It is the last book of a series, so I recommend you read the whole series to truly appreciate this book. ** it is explicit in some parts

Wild Fire by Christine Feehan

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __3___

Storyline: ___4__

Pacing: __4___

Setting: __3___

Use one word to describe this book?

creative
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?
X
______YES _______NO


Comment, if you wish!

Interesting paranormal saga

Lions Heat by Lora Leigh

Title: Lions Heat


Author: Lora Leigh

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __4___

Storyline: __5___

Pacing: __5___

Setting: ___4__

Use one word to describe this book?

creative
_________________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

___X___YES _______NO


Comment, if you wish!

a paranormal saga between the "two worlds" (human vs. animal)

A False Mirror by Charles Todd

Title: A False Mirror

Author:Charles Todd

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: ___3__

Storyline: __4 __

Pacing: __2___

Setting: __3___

Use one word to describe this book?

whodunit


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

___X___YES _______NO


Comment, if you wish!

Sizzlin' Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

Sizzlin' Sixteen
Janet Evanovich

I rate this a #4 all the way across the board!

ONE word would be FUNNY!!!

Yes, this is a classic Stephanie book!

Comment
...and it's about time that she brought Vinnie more into the picture! Definitely a good beach book!!

CELEBRITY READER-Marlene Oliver, TPL Board of Trustees, Secretary

Celebrity Reader, Marlene Oliver is the Secretary of the Library Board of Trustees, member of the Friends of the Topsham Public Library and long-time library champion!

"The Memory Bible - An Innovative Strategy for Keeping Your Brain Young"
by Gary Small M.D.

Self-help book

One word to describe this book: fascinating

Would you recommend? Yes

Comment: This book is an easy read and very informative. It shows memory techniques and "brain fitness" exercises to help our brains stay active and healthy.

-------------------------
"Outliers: The Story of Success"
by Malcolm Gladwell

Non-fiction

One word to describe this book: interesting

Would you recommend? Yes

Comment: By focusing on people and their stories the author shows that success is a gift. He explains how outliers benefit by seizing special opportunities and lucky breaks. I also enjoyed his earlier book "Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking" that tells about the powers of rapid cognition, i.e., intuition.

Inheritance by Natalie Danford

Author: Natalie Danford
Title: Inheritance

Characters: 4
Storyline: 5
Pacing: 5
Setting: 5

One word description: Family history - do we ever know it?

I would recomend this book!

I love books where the whole story comes together in the last few pages - in this case, the last page. Beautifully written. Father's character, however, a bit too flat for me.

The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo by Steig Larsson

Author: Steig Larsson
Title: The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo

Characters: 5
Storyline: 5
Pacing: 3
Setting: 5

One word description: Awesome

I would recomend this book!

This is one of the best books I've read this year. The pacing could have been faster, but this did not in any way harm the story. The ending would have been a bit of a let down if I hadn't known there was a sequel.

The Red Thread by Ann Hood

Title: The Red Thread
Author: Ann Hood

RATE THIS BOOK:
Characters: 4
Storyline: 5
Pacing: 4
Setting: 4

Use one word to describe this book?
Compassionate

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?
Yes

Comments: I appreciated the parallel stories of the birth families and the adopted families experiences.

Read by: Brenna Coughlin

Raffle PRIZES!

Special thanks to the Friends of Topsham Public Library and
all the local businesses who support the library with summer reading prizes!

Auto Shine Car Wash
Beau Bella Day Spa
Borders
Bull Moose
Chinatown Restaurant
Evening Star Cinema
Regal Cinema
Romeo’s Pizza
Starbuck’s (coffee and gift certificate)

Two Winners picked every Monday from July 19-August 30!
(Prizes awarded on a first come, first served basis)

Congratulations to this week's winners!
Norman LeBlanc
Jill Wallace

Skein of the Crime by Maffie Sefton

Summer 2010-
Get away!
Adult Summer Reading Review
Tell us what you really think!

Title: _____Skein of the Crime
Author:_______Maggie Sefton

RATE THIS BOOK:
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)
Characters: _1____
Storyline: __1___
Pacing: ___1__
Setting: ___2__

Use one word to describe this book?
______________irritating
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?
______YES ___x____NO
Comment, if you wish!

I can count the number of books that I have started and not finished on the fingers of one hand. This book is joining that elite group. Sefton writes like an elementary student who has just learned about adjectives. Everything is described in mind numbing detail whether or not it is pertinent to the story line (which by the way is sketchy to say the least). First the group of friends “laugh softly”, and the next thing you know laughter “ripples around the table”. What are they laughing at? Your guess is as good as mine. The main character “retrieved the cheese and sausage pizza from the green and black granite counter.” Yikes! Lucky for me I checked out four books this week!

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
(also an audio book!)

Ratings:
Characters--3
Storyline--3
Pacing--4
Setting--4

One word to describe this book: Thought-provoking

Would you recommend? Yes

Comment:

CELEBRITY READER-Rich Roedner, Topsham Town Planner

Topsham Public Library Celebrity Reader and Town Planner, Rich Roedner shares his summer picks!

Why New Orleans Matters by Tom Piazza

Breach of Faith:
Hurricane Katrina and the near death of a great American city by Jed Horne

Now I Can Die in Peace: how the sports guy found salvation and more, thanks to the world champion (twice!) Red Sox by Bill Simmons
Rich says,
"Fantastic story, great ending, lots of drama in the middle!"

What are you reading?

Ballistics by Billy Collins

Ballistics by Billy Collins

Ratings: This is a book of poetry.
Characters--n/a
Storyline--n/a
Pacing--n/a
Setting--n/a

One word to describe this book: Entertaining

Would you recommend? Yes

Comment:

Convincing Alex by Nora Roberts

Convincing Alex by Nora Roberts


Ratings:
Characters--1
Storyline--1
Pacing--4
Setting--4

One word to describe this book: Mindless

Would you recommend? No

Comment:

To Lure a Lady by Nora Roberts

Review: To Lure a Lady by Nora Roberts
Ratings:
Characters--3
Storyline--2
Pacing--4
Setting--4

One word to describe this book: Mindless

Would you recommend? No

Comment:

U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton

Review: U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton
Ratings:
Characters--4
Storyline--5
Pacing--5
Setting--4

One word to describe this book: Satisfying

Would you recommend? Yes

Comment:

The Yellow House by Patricia Falvey

Review: The Yellow House by Patricia Falvey
Ratings:
Characters--5
Storyline--5
Pacing--4
Setting--5

One word to describe this book: Urgent

Would you recommend? Yes

Comment:
This novel set in Northern Ireland during The Troubles made me think of The Thorn Birds in that one of the central characters chooses service to the Cause over devotion to spouse and home. I couldn’t put the book down. While there is a love triangle, the book also explores (and not too heavily) Ireland’s struggle to end England’s dominion. The female protagonist will both frustrate and appease the reader.

The Poacher’s Son by Paul Doiron

Review: The Poacher’s Son by Paul Doiron
Ratings:
Characters--4
Storyline--4
Pacing--4
Setting--5

One word to describe this book: Easy

Would you recommend? Yes

Comment:
This is the author’s first novel. The setting is Maine and Doiron seems to have a detailed, evocative handle on this state. That resonated with me. However, the few really exciting parts weren’t all that exciting or too surprising. This (rather bland) suspenseful tale explores both loyalty and betrayal wrapped around a manhunt whereby the opportunity to not only find a fugitive, but also oneself presents.

Mapping of Love and Death by Jaquiline Winspear

Author: Jacquiline Winspear
Title: The Mapping of Love and Death
Characters: 5
Storyline: 5
Pacing: 5
Setting: 5
One word to describe this book: Inspiring
Would I recomend this book:
Comment: Mystery, insight, inspiration and a wonderful character

Paganini's Ghost by Paul Adam

Author: Paul Adam
Title: Paganini's Ghost
Characters: 4
Storyline: 5
Pacing: 5
Setting: 5
One word to describe this book: WONDERFUL!
Would I recomend this book: Yes
Comment: Lots of history, musicology, and suspense

Sorry if we are confusing you!

Thanks for bearing with us on this fun and new blogging venture!

Apparently, there is some confusion about how this works--here's my best (I hope) and clearest explanation of how to post a review on the blog.

Right below the latest blog entry is a line that says:
"Posted by NAME at TIME PM --# comments"

Click on the "# comments" part and you will open a new window with a comment box to your right. If you want to use our checklist review form --click on "show original post" which is located after the title of the post to the left of the comment box.
Copy the form by highlighting the text and right clicking "copy" on your mouse.
Move your mouse and click anywhere in the comment box and right click "paste."

Now you can edit the form with your own book review! (Don't forget to add the Author and Title of the book in the comment box.)

You can also just add a regular comment like:
"Yes, I liked this one, too!"

If all else fails---email director@topshamlibrary.org with your review and Susan will put it on the blog for you!

Eat, Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Author: Elizabeth Gilbert

Title: Eat, Pray, Love

Rate this book---
(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: __5___

Storyline: __5___

Pacing: __4___

Setting: __5___

Use one word to describe this book?


___Amazing (journey)______________________________________


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

__x____YES _______NO

Raffle begins weekly Starting Monday, July 19!

Thanks to the Friends of Topsham Public Library and the following local businesses for the great raffle prizes!
Chinatown Restaurant
Romeo's Pizza
Borders
Starbucks
Regal Cinema
Beau Bella Day Spa

Get your reviews in to be included in the raffle!

Review: The King Commands

Ratings:
Characters--4
Storyline--3
Pacing--4
Setting--3

One word to describe this book: unpredictable

Would you recommend? Yes

Comment:
The second in a series. Easy, quick, and fun read.

How it works!

Thanks to everyone who has been handing in reviews at the library!
Just so you know--here's how this works:
You can post directly to this blog if you have a gmail account.
When we see a new post, we put in a raffle ticket toward some great prizes for you!
IF you prefer to give us a "hard copy", we will post it on the blog as well but you can fill out your own ticket for the raffle!

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

Tell us what you really think --
on a scale of 1-5 (1 being"yuck" and 5 being "great!")
about the :
Characters _4___
Storyline ___3_
Pacing __2__
Setting __3__

Use one word to describe the book (OK--2 at the most!) __looonngg_______________________

Do you recommend the book? ___yes _X__no

Any other comments?
I had to read it for a scholarship--story line is good but the philosophy is repeated over and over and over,

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

Adult Summer Reading Review

Tell us what you really think!

Title: ___The Girl Who Chased the Moon

Author:_____Sarah Addison

RATE THIS BOOK:

(1= Yuck 2=Fair 3=OK 4 =Good 5=Great)

Characters: ___4__

Storyline: ___4__

Pacing: ___4__

Setting: __5___

Use one word to describe this book?

__________Whimsical_______________________________

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

___X___YES _______NO

Comment, if you wish!

Light and magical--an easy read

From the Comment pages!

The Forgotten Garden
by Kate Morton

Tell us what you really think --
on a scale of 1-5 (1 being"yuck" and 5 being "great!")
about the :
Characters 4
Storyline 5
Pacing 4
Setting 5

Use one word to describe the book (OK--2 at the most!) Beautifully Written

Do you recommend the book? __X_yes ___no

Any other comments?
Part historical saga, part mystery and part fairytale, this well written novel develops simultaneously in three different eras--solving the mystery of a little girl abandoned on an Australian dock in 1913

This just in from a "hard copy" review!!

Title: A Long Shadow

Author: Charles Todd

Tell us what you really think --
on a scale of 1-5 (1 being"yuck" and 5 being "great!")
about the :

Characters _4___
Storyline __3__
Pacing __3__
Setting __4__

Use one word to describe the book (OK--2 at the most!) __Enjoyable__________________

Do you recommend the book? _X__yes ___no

Any other comments?

Just discovered the Rutledge series. This isn't my favorite in the series but it is good--I'm always anxious to begin the next one in the series!