The Amateur Marriage: A Novel190 reviews Anne Tyler Ballantine Books, 2006 A highly imperfect union + Lives In Time + ONE OF THE BETTER BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ You can easily imagine that Tyler's first title was "Immature Marriage" but being a wordsmith, the more interesting title (and concept)emerged. (Amateur is a word from the Latin, which means "to love.") And, the umbrella question of the whole book is whether this is love... is it passion, is it ...             House of Sand and Fog (Oprah's Book Club) (Vintage Contemporaries)746 reviews Andre Dubus III Vintage, 2000 GREAT READ + Suspenseful, keeps you reading! This is a great story of tragedy. I found it an easy read and couldn't put it down. I finished it very fast because the writer keeps the story moving. Very good writing as the characters are strong and easy to imagine. Highly recommended.             Fast Food Nation1410 reviews Eric Schlosser Harper Perennial, 2005 The true world of Fast Food opens before your eyes! + By the Author of Outstanding You + highest approval This book is truly interesting in that it explains a process that many consumers thought that they were already familiar with. This book will explain why: 1) it always seems the person at the register is being "trained". 2) children flock to most fast food joints. 3) the fast food ...             Little Children: A Novel238 reviews Tom Perrotta St. Martin's Griffin, 2006 Big Children + A- Tom Perrotta is a master of realism. A few of the blurbs on the inside cover refer to Little Children as "satirical," but I haven't ever read anything that better describes the normal lives of normal people while keeping entertainment a part of the process (See Dave Eggers, A Heartbreaking Work of ...             My Sister's Keeper: A Novel1029 reviews Jodi Picoult Washington Square Press, 2005 Amazing story about where loyalties lie + Heart-wrenching, but captivating + Should we be? + Wonderful read + Deep issues in an interesting novel             The Divide58 reviews Nicholas Evans Putnam Pub Group, 2005 Rich, nourishing read + GOOD READ FOR LONG WINTER NIGHTS + Absolutely marvellous After a bit of a slow start (too much detail about the initial discovery, I think), this one is a real page-turner, and I could not put it down. I love Evans' descriptive style and his plot is rich and well-developed. I was particularly impressed by how he got into Sarah's head in terms of her ...             Nineteen Minutes452 reviews Jodi Picoult Washington Square Press, 2008 WOW + Very good book! + wow I may be young but let me tell you that this book was probably the best book I have ever read in my life. It is written SO well and I love the little pieces of information that show what leads up to Peter doing what he did. I cried and cried SO much when I read because this book is so emotional and ...             Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel604 reviews Lisa See Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2006 Snowflower and the Secret Fan + SNOWFLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN + Phenomenal Women Book Club (Houston, TX) + chinese culture insight             The Master Butchers Singing Club (P.S.)87 reviews Louise Erdrich Harper Perennial, 2005 Best read of the year. + Balance + Captivating Read + Intricate and filled with delightful description             Before You Know Kindness46 reviews Chris Bohjalian Vintage, 2005 deceptively simple This book, on the surface, is simple, straightforward and plot-driven. But the real power comes from its understatement. It is a beautifully-written and conceived story that reveals the complexity of human nature and yields a powerful statement about what is important in life. I am a ...             The Memory Keeper's Daughter873 reviews Kim Edwards Penguin (Non-Classics), 2006 Freeze Frame + What a memory!!! On a snowy winter night in 1964, Dr. David Henry is forced to deliver his twins and makes a split-second decision that forever alters theh lives of everyone involved. When it is apparent to him that his daughter has Down's Syndrome, he asks the nurse to take her to an institution, without telling ...             The Double Bind (Vintage Contemporaries)229 reviews Chris Bohjalian Vintage, 2008 Literary Suspense Plays Games with Your Mind + Excellent + Gatsby on the Rocks with a Twist + Whose Reality is Real? + Fabulous Read!             The Photograph57 reviews Penelope Lively Penguin (Non-Classics), 2004 An Archaeology of Regret + Great read, annoying protagonist + What Is Time? + A Ghost Story - Perhaps!             Middlesex: A Novel854 reviews Jeffrey Eugenides Picador, 2002 You Are Such a Flirt + One of my favorites! + A Wonderfuf Read + From a pediatric Urology Nurse's view point, well done             Strange Fits of Passion1 review Anita Shreve Harvest Books, 1999 Great book This book held my interest from beginning to end. I felt compassion for the main character and liked how the book made me think. There's a nice book club guide at the end as well.             One True Thing: A Novel121 reviews Anna Quindlen Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2006 Tight, fluid, moving + Great story... + On True Thing + Out of all of the ways I have tried to deal with my father's death, reading this book was the most therapeutic + Very gripping, and layered book             Crow Lake (Today Show Book Club #7)125 reviews Mary Lawson Dial Press Trade Paperback, 2003 Quiet But Brilliant Novel About Family + A Troubled Family + great book! + MOST TOUCHING             The Kite Runner Illustrated Edition2515 reviews Khaled Hosseini Riverhead Hardcover, 2007 Fantastic + powerful and moving + Could Not Put it Down + All that an exceptional book should be. + heartbreaking tale of loyalty             The Good Mother: A Novel43 reviews Sue Miller Harper Perennial, 2002 Thought provoking, and explicit. The Selfish Mother? + Controversial Choice for an Open-minded Book Group + Truthful and hard-hitting + Fantastic story             The Mercy of Thin Air: A Novel74 reviews Ronlyn Domingue Washington Square Press, 2006 An enchanting read + Lovely ending + in my top 3 of the year + WONDERFUL READ!!! + A Story of Love