In addition to all of the magical novels written by Charles Dickens, the titles below reflect books where he or his characters were inspiration for a new tale, along with a few excellent books about his life and writings.

Fiction

Barnaby Rudge : a tale of the riots of ‘eighty / by Charles Dickens
The chaos of the “No Popery” or Gordon Riots of 1780, with Lord George Gordon as a major figure.

Charles Dickens’ best stories/ edited and with an introduction by Morton Dauwen Zabel
Girl in a blue dress: a novel inspired by the life and marriage of Charles Dickens/Arnold, Gaynor
Recently widowed Dorothea Gibson examines her difficult life with a late, beloved, celebrity author during Queen Victoria’s reign in this novel based on the real-life troubled marriage of Charles Dickens.

Drood/ Simmons, Dan
Drood…is the name and nightmare that obsesses Charles Dickens for the last five years of his life. On June 9, 1865, Dickens and his mistress are secretly returning to London, when their express train hurtles over a gap in a trestle. All of the first-class carriages except the one carrying Dickens are smashed to bits in the valley below. When Dickens descends into the valley to confront the dead and dying, his life will change forever. And at the core of that ensuing five year nightmare is…Drood.

The last Dickens : a novel/ Pearl, Matthew
Boston, 1870. When news of Charles Dickens’ untimely death reaches the offices of his struggling American publisher, Fields & Osgood, partner James Osgood sends his trusted clerk Daniel Sand to await the arrival of Dickens’ unfinished novel. But when Daniel’s body is discovered by the docks and the manuscript is nowhere to be found, Osgood must embark on a transatlantic quest to unearth the novel that he hopes will save his venerable business and reveal Daniel’s killer. 

Mister Pip / Lloyd Jones
On a copper-rich tropical island shattered by war, on which survival is a daily struggle, eccentric Mr. Watts, the only white man left after the other teachers flee, spends his day reading to the local children from Charles Dickens’s classic “Great Expectations.”. 

Death by Dickens / edited by Anne Perry
An anthology of original mystery stories celebrates the work of Charles Dickens by bringing in some of his most famous characters, with contributions by Bill Crider, Carole Nelson Douglas, Peter Tremayne, and Anne Perry.
 

Mad as the Dickens: a Laura Fleming mystery / Toni L.P. Kelner
When her cousin implores her husband Richard to direct a production of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, Laura Fleming accompanies Richard to her hometown in North Carolina, where she becomes embroiled in murder and mayhem when the man who was cast as Scrooge is viciously slain.

Non-Fiction

Charles Dicken : a life / Claire Tomalin
A biography of Charles Dickens, examining his difficult youth, his rise to hero status as an author, and virtues and vices as a writer and a human being.

Charles Dickens/ Smiley, Jane
Offers a profile of Dickens’s life, interpretations of his major works, and a study of his narrative techniques, themes, characters, and style.

What Jane Austen ate and Charles Dickens knew: from fox hunting to whist : the facts of daily life in nineteenth-century England / Daniel Pool
Essays provide a view of British life during the nineteenth century.

Becoming Dickens: the invention of a novelist / Robert Douglas-Fairhurst
Looks at Charles Dickens’ early life before, and as, he established himself as a novelist, explaining how he was uncertain as to which career path to follow and describing the many struggles he had early on.

Week Two:

Here are this week’s reviews from the members of the Adult Winter Reading Club:

No Greater Sacrifice by John C. Stipa

This is a book continuing the Indiana Jones/Robert Langdon vein of adventure.  Archeologist Renee d’Arcadia and Professor David Arturo are summoned to the reading of a will in Rennes-le-Chateau, France.  They are soon unraveling clues to a 100 year old mystery, racing around Europe, and dodging killers.  At times I felt a bit lost with the leaps of logic that took place to advance the story, but overall this was a very entertaining read.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Outrage by Arnaldur Indridason

I love this series of mysteries!  This is the sixth book in the Dectective Erlendur series, and even though his colleague Elinborg solves this murder, it’s still a fascinating story.

Rating: 5 out of 5

The Retribution  by Val McDermid

This is part of a British mystery series featuring detective Carol Jordan and profiler Tony Hill.  This story has an interesting twist from the usual murder mystery in that there are two serial killers to chase down this time.  I was not familiar with the previous books in this series, but that did not detract from the thrills of this book.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Travels in the Scriptorium by Paul Auster

This is the story about Mr. Blank, an old man clueless as to his identity and location.  He’s just as lost as to why he is being helped with his daily routine.  As you are reading it, you continue to wonder if any of this mystery can have any logical explanation.

Rating: 3 out of 5

11/22/63 by Stephen King

Stephen King at his best!  You will be transported to the late 1950′s – early 1960′s along with main character Jake Epping as he travels back in time to try to prevent JFK’s assassination.  I did not live through this time period so it was especially interesting to get a glimpse into what it was like to experience the Cuban Missile Crisis – and how terrifying it was for Americans. I found it very suspenseful and highly recommend it – whether you’re a long time King fan or have never read his work!
 

Blizzard of Glass – The Halifax Explosion of 1917 by Sally M. Walker

I enjoyed reading the personal stories of those people affected by the explosion, mixed in with the factual information on the circumstances of this disaster.  Fascinating and not morbid.

Rating: 3 out of 5

The Book Thief  by Markus Zusak

A tale of a young German girl in Nazi Germany who is sent to live with foster parents by her mother (accused of Communist leanings) for her own safety. Most of the story takes place on a small, poor German street but it is so richly written that it opens up an entire world of memorable characters. A heartbreaking tale of what it means to be brave, supportive, and neighborly during horrific times.

Everyone should read this novel – but bring a box of tissues.

Can You Get Hooked on Lip Balm?  by Perry Romanowski

This is a non-fiction book which dispels many myths about cosmetics, soaps, and beauty products.  I learned a lot from this book.  Some of the facts are amazing, and also disturbing!

Rating 4 out of 5
 

Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill

This is the story of Jude Coyne, a semi-retired rock and roll star with a penchant for collecting macabre death-related artifacts. He gets more than he bargained for when he purchases a ghost from an ebay-type auction site. I haven’t been this terrified by a book in a long time!  I found myself reading it in small bits and pieces, forced to put it aside when my heart was beating too fast. The suspense and terror starts early and is maintained through most of the novel. Joe Hill follows wonderfully in his father, Stephen King’s, footsteps. If you’re looking for a scare – look no further. And now a disclaimer from my husband. He would like you all to know that I’m a bit of a wimp. Agreed. But this book was still quite scary!!

Sister by Rosamund Lupton

This is a British type of mystery which slowly unfolds to reveal Bee Hemming uncovering clues that led to her sister’s (Tess) death.  The story is told in a reflective mode which keeps one guessing till the end.  I enjoyed the descriptions of all the characters/suspects.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Smarty Jones by Billy Valentine and “Team Smarty”

The true story about the winner of the Kentucky Derby.  The ups and downs of “Smarty” and his “Team Smarty” leave you with a clear sense of what it takes to be a champion.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Step on a Crack  by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

Excellent read.  I love the main character, Michel Bennet, an Irish NYPD homicide detective who was once on the Hostage Negotiation Team.  The story begins with the first lady poisoned and a huge celebrity crowd attending her funeral in St. Patrick’s in NYC who are all taken hostage.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Vaclav & Lena by Haley Tanner

A very touching book.  The characters are adorable.  I will remember this book for a long time.  I cried at the very touching ending.

Rating: 5 out of 5

We the Animals  by Justin Torres

I enjoyed this book.  It is a bit of an odd read, but the characters do stick with you.  It’s interesting and memorable.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Love Walked In by Marisa De Los Santos

Harboring romantic notions about golden-age Hollywood film stars, thirty-one-year-old Philadelphia cafe manager Cornelia Brown embarks on a too-good-to-be-true relationship with the debonair Martin Grace.

Echoes by Maeve Binchy

A priest knows the secrets of many people in his small town but divulges none of them.

Summer sisters by Judy Blume

Two girls meet one summer and become best friends until one girl falls passionately in love. An exploration of choices, of friendship, love, families and having a friend too dangerous to forgive and too essential to forget.

Beach House by Jane Green

Disregarding local gossip that pegs her as an eccentric, sixty-five-year-old Nantucket widow Nan skinny-dips in unattended pools and steals her neighbors’ flowers before her dwindling funds force her to take in boarders, a change that brings an unexpected visitor.

Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver

Hallie Nodine fights for justice in Nicaragua while her sister, Codi, returns to Arizona to confront her dying father, as myths, dreams, and flashbacks blend to examine life’s commitments.

Friendship Bread by Darien Gee

One afternoon, Julia Evarts and her five-year-old daughter, Gracie, arrive home to find an unexpected gift on the front porch : a homemade loaf of Amish Friendship Bread and a simple note : I hope you enjoy it. Also included are a bag of starter, instructions on how to make the bread, and a request to share it with others. Still reeling from a tragedy that left her estranged from the sister who was once her best friend, Julia remains at a loss as to how to move on with her life. But when Julia meets two newcomers to the small town of Avalon, Illinois, she sparks a connection by offering them her extra bread starter.

Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

Gathering for their weekly knitting club at a small yarn shop on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, a group of friends shares such challenges as raising children, navigating the ups and downs of their careers, and pursuing uncertain relationships.

Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand

Visiting Nantucket with their children during a summer vacation, three women befriend a local youth and share their struggles with such challenges as infidelity, the loss of a job under scandalous circumstances, and health problems.

A Turn in the Road by Debbie Macomber

Bethanne Hamlin takes a road trip with her daughter, Annie, and her former mother-in-law, Ruth. They’re driving to Florida for Ruth’s 50th high school reunion. A long-time widow, Ruth would like very much to reconnect with Royce, the love of her youth. Bethanne’s ex-husband, Grant, would like to reconcile, so she also has a major life decision to consider. And Annie is out to prove to her onetime boyfriend that she can live a brilliant life without him. But even the best-laid plans can take an unexpected turn– or even be completely derailed.

Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner

Popular television personality Valerie Adler turns to her long-forgotten, Illinois hometown friend Addie Downs when she runs into a bit of trouble involving betrayal and loyalty, family history and small-town secrets.

Connelly, Michael Black Echo
A Vietnam veteran-turned-detective, Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch discovers the body of a former comrade-in-arms during an investigation and, with the help of an attractive FBI agent, hunts for the murderers on a trail leading back to Saigon.

Ginsberg, Debra The Neighbors are Watching
Set against the backdrop of the deadly 2007 wildfires that forced the evacuation of half-a-million San Diego residents, the author’s novel examines the dark side of suburbia- a place where everyone has something to hide.

Jenkins, Grant A Very Simple Crime
Assistant D.A. Leo Hewitt investigates a woman’s murder, discovering an emotionally disturbed wife, a husband who would do anything to escape his marriage, and a mentally handicapped adult son under suspicion.

Moore, Graham The Sherlockian
Literary researcher and Sherlock Holmes enthusiast Harold White is shocked when a scholar who discovered Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s missing diary is murdered, while in 1890s London, Conan Doyle hunts a serial killer to prove his superiority to his famous character.

Pepper, Andrew Kill-Devil and Water
A gripping tale of brutal murder and deception set in the back streets of Victorian London and the cane fields of Jamaica.

Pullman, Philip Ruby in the Smoke
In nineteenth-century London, sixteen-year-old Sally Lockhart, a recent orphan, becomes involved in a deadly search for a mysterious ruby.

Sheldon, Russell The Insane Train
Railroad security worker Hook Runyon and a crew of damaged World War II veterans find themselves facing murder when they escort a group of mental patients and their doctors to a new home after the Baldwin Insane Asylum burns to the ground.

Stout, Rex Hand in the Glove
Private detective Dol Bonner investigates the murder of a wealthy man, who had hired her to uncover information on an Indian guru’s extortion scheme.

Winspear, Jacqueline Birds of a Feather
When Maisie Dobbs is hired to find the missing daughter of a wealthy grocery magnate, she discovers that three of the heiress’s friends have died violently, leading her to investigate the connection between the disappearance and the murders.

If you like Sherlock Holmes

Allen, Sarah Addison The Girl Who Chased the Moon
Emily Benedict came to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to solve at least some of the riddles surrounding her mother’s life. But the moment Emily enters the house where her mother grew up and meets the grandfather she never knew–a reclusive, real-life gentle giant–she realizes that mysteries aren’t solved in Mullaby; they’re a way of life.

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Childs, Laura Fiber & Brimstone
After two men who had unfriendly relationships with Jekyl Hardy wind up dead, Carmela Bertrand must put aside her monster-puppet craft project for the Halloween Monsters & Mayhem parade and find out who is framing the man she has known for years.

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Coyle, Cleo Holiday Grind
Coffeehouse manager and head barista Clare Cosi and her NYPD detective boyfriend discover the snowy body of a man dressed up in a Santa suit, and become convinced the death was more than a mugging gone awry.

Davidson, Diane Mott Fatally Flaky
Colorado caterer Goldy Schulz encounters bridezilla–and murder–when bridezilla’s fiancé is killed because he was doing research at the Gold Gulch Spa–an allegation that’s confirmed when the deceased’s best friend (Goldy’s godfather) is attacked.

Fluke, Joanne Plum Pudding Murder
When Larry Jaeger, the owner of the Crazy Elf Christmas Tree Lot, is murdered, bakery owner Hannah Swensen, during the busiest time of the year, must sift through a wealth of suspects before a murderous Scrooge strikes again.

Greenwood, Kerry Earthly Delights: A Corinna Mystery
Former accountant Corinna Chapman, has opted for the more sedate life of a baker. But with an assortment of offbeat neighbors, a drug addict dead on her doorstep, a secret admirer, and a threatening-letter writer, her new life is hardly sedate.

Gilbert-Collins, Susan M. Starting From Scratch
Withdrawing from graduate school after the death of her mother, Olivia avoids dealing with her grief by immersing herself in cooking and working for Meals on Wheels, where she stumbles upon a dark family secret.

Glass, Julia The Whole World Over
Hired as the personal chef to the governor of New Mexico, Greenie Duquette leaves behind her Greenwich Village pastry business and her husband to head west with her four-year-old son, prompting a period of upheaval and reflection for herself.

Hendricks, Judith Ryan Bread Alone
When her husband leaves her for another woman, Wynter Morrison moves to Seattle to start a new life and pursues her passion for bread making by accepting a position in a local bake shop, where she discovers the extraordinary healing power of making bread.

Melucci, Giulia I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti
“A Brooklyn-based publicist’s account of her relationships gone awry, and the food that sustained her through it all.”

Parkins, Gaile Baking Cakes in Kigali
Rendered a confidant and supportive friend for her willingness to listen to her neighbors in genocide-stricken Rwanda, baker Angel Tungaraza provides decadent confections and transforming counsel to a series of troubled customers.

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Ray, Jeanne Eat Cake
Ruth draws on her talent for concocting delectable cakes and desserts when her family begins to disintegrate around her–her husband loses his job, her mother moves in, and her long-estranged father shows up at the door with no place to go.

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Senate, Melissa Love Goddess’ Cooking School
Holly Maguire’s grandmother Camilla was the Love Goddess of Blue Crab Island, Maine–a Milanese fortune-teller who could predict the right man for you, and whose Italian cooking was rumored to save marriages. When Holly inherits Camilla’s Cucinotta, she’s determined to forget about fortunes and love and become an Italian cooking teacher worthy of her grandmother’s legacy.

Wizenberg, Molly A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes From my Kitchen Table
Author of the internationally famous blog, Orangette, Molly Wizenberg recounts a life with the kitchen at its center. From her mother’s pound cake, a staple of summer picnics during her childhood in Oklahoma, to the eggs she cooked for her father during the weeks before his death, food and memories are intimately entwined.

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Burpo, Todd Heaven is for Real
Presents the story of the four-year old son of a Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven.

Chevalier, Tracy Girl With a Pearl Earring
A poor seventeenth-century servant girl knows her place in the household of the painter Johannes Vermeer, but when he begins to paint her, nasty whispers and rumors circulate throughout the town.

Cleave, Chris Little Bee
Presents a tale of a precarious friendship between an illegal Nigerian refugee and a recent widow from suburban London, a story told from the alternating and disparate perspectives of both women.

Collins, Suzanne Hunger Games
In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss’s skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister’s place.

Diamant, Anita The Red Tent
The story of Dinah, a tragic character from the Bible whose great love, a prince, is killed by her brother, leaving her alone and pregnant. The novel traces her life from childhood to death, in the process examining sexual and religious practices of the day, and what it meant to be a woman.

Donoghue, Emma The Room
A 5-year-old narrates a story about his life growing up in a single room where his mother aims to protect him from the man who has held her prisoner for seven years since she was a teenager.

Ford, Jamie The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
When artifacts from Japanese families sent to internment camps during World War II are uncovered during renovations at a Seattle hotel, Henry Lee embarks on a quest that leads to memories of growing up Chinese in a city rife with anti-Japanese sentiment.

Gruen, Sara Water for Elephants
Ninety-something-year-old Jacob Jankowski remembers his time in the circus as a young man during the Great Depression, and his friendship with Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, and Rosie, the elephant, who gave them hope.

Hillenbrand, Laura Unbroken
On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil and blood. Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared — Lt. Louis Zamperini … Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a foundering raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft and beyond, a trial even greater. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will.

Kidd, Sue Monk The Secret Life of Bees
After her “stand-in mother,” a bold black woman named Rosaleen, insults the three biggest racists in town, Lily Owens joins Rosaleen on a journey to Tiburon, South Carolina, where they are taken in by three black, bee-keeping sisters.

McLain, Paula The Paris Wife
Follows the life of Ernest Hemingway’s first wife, Hadley, as she navigates 1920s Paris.

Rosnay, Tatiana de Sarah’s Key
On the sixtieth anniversary of the 1942 roundup of Jews by the French police in the Vel d’Hiv section of Paris, American journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article on this dark episode during World War II and embarks on investigation that leads her to long-hidden family secrets and to the ordeal of Sarah, a young girl caught up in the raid.

Setterfield, Diane The Thirteenth Tale
When her health begins failing, the mysterious author Vida Winter decides to let Margaret Lea, a biographer, write the truth about her life, but Margaret needs to verify the facts since Vida has a history of telling outlandish tales.

Skloot, Rebecca The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer, yet her cells–taken without her knowledge–became one of the most important tools in medicine. The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years. HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secrets of cancer and viruses; helped lead to in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions. Her family did not learn of her “immortality” until more than twenty years after her death, when scientists began using her husband and children in research without informed consent. The story of the Lacks family is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of.

Stockett, Kathryn The Help
Limited and persecuted by racial divides in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, three women, including an African-American maid, her sassy and chronically unemployed friend, and a recently graduated white woman, team up for a clandestine project.

Walls, Jeannette The Glass Castle
The child of an alcoholic father and an eccentric artist mother discusses her family’s nomadic upbringing, during which she and her siblings fended for themselves while their parents outmaneuvered bill collectors and the authorities.

Verghese, A. Cutting for Stone
Twin brothers born from a secret love affair between an Indian nun and a British surgeon in Addis Ababa, Marion and Shiva Stone come of age in an Ethiopia on the brink of revolution, where their love for the same woman drives them apart.

Zusak, Markus The Book Thief
Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II, Death relates the story of Liesel–a young German girl whose book-stealing and story-telling talents help sustain her family and the Jewish man they are hiding, as well as their neighbors.

What We Saw: The Events of September 11, 2001, in Words, Pictures, and Video
A historical record of the events of September 11 and what was learned from them is culled from the CBS News archives and includes a full-length DVD of video footage.

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City of Dust: Illness, Arrogance and 9/11
A discussion of the environmental and health aspects of the 9/11 attacks.

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Cultures of War: Pearl Harbor/Hiroshima/9/11/Iraq
A groundbreaking comparative study of the dynamics and pathologies of war in modern times.

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The Ground Truth: The Untold Story of American under Attack on 9/11
A senior counsel to the 9/11 Commission draws on recordings, transcripts, and recently declassified records to reveal aspects of the attacks that have not been previously disclosed, arguing that the day’s events were predictable and that the nation is still at risk.

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Dust: The Inside Story of Its Role in the September 11th Aftermath
An investigator presents his findings on the extent of the toxicity of the particulate matter released from the World Trade Center site in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks.

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The 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States
Provides the final report of the 9/11 Commission detailing their findings on the September 11 terrorist attacks.

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Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11
Explores both the American and Arab sides of the September 11th terrorist attacks in an account of the people, ideas, events, and intelligence failures that led to the attacks.

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102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers
Recounts the survival efforts of thousands of people who were inside the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, in an account that also raises questions about building safety and New York’s emergency preparedness.

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Messages: Signs, Visits and Premonitions from Loved Ones Lost on 9/11
The wife of a 9/11 victim relates true stories about the spiritual and paranormal experiences–including premonitions, signs, dreams, visitations, and communications through mediums and psychics–of others who lost loved ones during the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil.

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A Journey: My Political Life
Tony Blair is a politician who defines our times. His emergence as Labour Party leader in 1994 marked a seismic shift in British politics. In this firsthand account, he describes his role in shaping our recent history, from the aftermath of Princess Diana’s death to the War on Terror. He explores the challenges of leadership, and the ramifications of standing up, clearly and forcefully, for what one believes in.

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Decision Points
Decision points is the memoir of America’s 43rd president. George W. Bush offers a candid journey through the defining decisions of his life while writing about his flaws and mistakes, as well as his accomplishments.

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Leadership
The former mayor of New York City describes the management, decision-making, and leadership skills that made him a success as a prosecutor and as mayor of New York City.

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Debunking 9/11 Myths: Why Conspiracy Theories Can’t Stand Up to the Facts
Analyzes and refutes twenty of the most predominant theories involving the United States government’s role in perpetrating the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

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In the Shadow of No Towers by Art Spiegelman
The creator of Maus conveys experience of the September 11th tragedy in a series of drawings and text that capture the horror of the event, its impact on his own life, and the dangerous erosion of American democracy that has occurred in the aftermath of the attack.

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American Widow by Alissa Torres
Presents, in graphic novel format, the story of Alissa Torres, whose husband was killed in the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, and her legal and psychological battles over his death.

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Fiction

Falling Man by Don DeLillo
Escaping from the World Trade Center during the September 11 attacks, Keith makes his way to the uptown apartment where his ex-wife and young son are living and considers how the day’s events have irrevocably changed his perception of the world.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Foer
Oskar Schell, the nine-year-old son of a man killed in the World Trade Center attacks, searches the five boroughs of New York City for a lock that fits a black key his father left behind.

A Disorder Peculiar to the Country by Ken Kalfus
On September 11th, a couple in the midst of a divorce, each believing the other has been killed in the attack, discover that they both have survived and continue on with their fierce battle over assets.

The Good Life by Jay McInerney
A revelatory novel of family, love, conflict, and loss chronicles the lives of diverse characters–including Luke McGavock, a man searching for a sense of purpose in life; Corinne Calloway, a mother of twins; and her husband, Russell–whose world is forever transformed by the catastrophic events of September 11th.

Ghost Story by Jim Butcher
A solid follow up to his last book “Changes.” Being dead doesn’t mean main character Harry Presden can relax. Troubles still abound.
Rating: 4 out of 5

The Ledge by Jim Davidson and Kevin Vaughan
This is a well told story about what happened to Jim Davidson and Mike Price on June 21, 1992, on Mount Rainier, WA. An incredible tale of survival which definitely tested a human’s emotional and physical limits. I enjoy these kinds of reads because I would never try mountain climbing, so I can live vicariously through this book.
Rating: 3 out of 5

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
A marine finds a picture of a girl, and his luck changes significantly in his safety and gambling. The story continues with the soldier looking for the girl in the picture once he gets home.
Rating: 4 out of 5

The Scent of Jasmine by Jude Deveraux
Another great book by Jude Deveraux. Love and adventure. Another great book.

Suddenly in the Depths of the Forest by Amos Oz
Strange, fairytale-like story. Lots of symbolism which went way over my head. I give it a low rating because it is just too odd; little is explained.
Rating: 2 out of 5

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
I really enjoyed this book. The most interesting character is the mother. It is fascinating and engrossing to listen to the mother’s story of her time in Leningrad during WWI. I do recommend this book!
Rating: 4 out of 5

You Might Be a Zombie and Other Bad News by Cracked.com
Don’t let the title fool you. This book is filled with disturbing and disquieting historical, medical nature, and political facts, ALL TRUE. Written in a witty and comedic frame.
Rating: 5 out of 5