Unaccustomed Earth119 reviews Jhumpa Lahiri Knopf, 2008 A Perfect 10 + Book of short stories - Cover to cover without a break? + It was so good, it made me cry + Rich with detail and complexity, these short stories are novels that end too soon + Emotions will linger long after you've finished the book             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 ...             So Brave, Young and Handsome: A Novel82 reviews Leif Enger Atlantic Monthly Press, 2008 It's all about friendship .... + Intriguing Novel from Talented Author + A great modern western + another hit for Enger + Good historical novel about writer's block, personal relationships and redemption.             The Condition: A Novel79 reviews Jennifer Haigh Harper, 2008 A deeply moving book + The Condition (of Life) + Great Book This was an extraordinary novel. What was most impressive was how deeply character driven the book was. Haigh shifts beautifully in time. Because the characters are so well written, changes in time feel both natural and, in an odd way, chronological because the plot hinges on people rather than ...             The Cure for Modern Life: A Novel15 reviews Lisa Tucker Atria, 2008 TUCKER IS THE CURE FOR MODERN LITERATURE + What if.... With each book Lisa Tucker gets better and better. She's that rare author who writes beautiful, original stories with deep and meaningful characters. This book has her trademarks - people who crave family and carve it out of thin air if that's what they have to do - people who break your heart ...             The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears32 reviews Dinaw Mengestu Riverhead Trade, 2008 Worthy Debut Novel About the Immigrant Experience + The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears Mengestu's debut novel brings to life the American immigrant experience in a touching way. The novel is about an Ethiopian immigrant, Sepha, and his experiences in the Washington DC area over a seven month period in the 1970s. Mengestu captures the hopes and dreams, as well as the struggles and ...             The Girl with No Shadow (published in the UK as The Lollipop Shoes)24 reviews Joanne Harris William Morrow, 2008 Relevant Magic + tri-perspective treat + More Witchy than Chocolat + Dark Chocolate for second helpings             The Alchemist1289 reviews Paulo Coelho HarperCollins, 2006 Inspiring + Actually life-changing + Overall, a good read Anyone unsure of what they want to do after high school should read this book.             The House at Riverton: A Novel114 reviews Kate Morton Atria, 2008 Couldn't Put it Down!! + Same book, different name! + Enchanting Fiction + The House at Riverton             Of Men and Their Mothers6 reviews Mameve Medwed William Morrow, 2008 Another Fine Comic Novel + of women and their mothers-in-law + Witty and Wise + Thank Goodness for Mameve Medwed             Tangerine Dream84 reviews Ken Douglas, Jack Stewart Bootleg Press, 2003 Shades of a Past President and his Problem + A bit of a stretch, but pretty good + Very Good Book Club Pick United States Senator Stacy Sterling is running for president. He's also running for some kind of record with young hookers that his newscaster wife doesn't know about. She's in New Zealand, he's in San Francisco. She's on vacation with her daughter Dylan. He's on vacation too, only the child he's ...             The Philosopher's Apprentice: A Novel15 reviews James Morrow William Morrow, 2008 A fun, amusing read, with many dashes of philosophy + Four Stars A very good read, with a setting in the science fiction present. Lots of fun playing with philosophy and how it can or cannot infuse your life. A woman clones younger versions of herself, then hires moral counsellors to fill in the gaps in their upbringing (or lack thereof). Explores how this ...             The Story of a Marriage: A Novel33 reviews Andrew Sean Greer Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008 A multi-layered shimmer that bedazzles + Intimate and surprising Andrew Sean Greer is a riot of talent. He carves his words with such precision that one can have no choice but to be surrender to his writing. His works, including Story of a Marriage, always deal with the subtle underplay of the human mind, and ultimately reveal the fragility of our existence. I ...             The Shadow Year: A Novel8 reviews Jeffrey Ford William Morrow, 2008 Riveting and Character Driven + Terrific Story Telling + History I'm Old Enough To Remember + Wonderful Portrayal of Childhood             Dream When You're Feeling Blue: A Novel112 reviews Elizabeth Berg Ballantine Books, 2008 Sweet nostalgia! + nice little sentimental journey A return to a simpilier time. . . . It does seem simple on the service: the references to movie stars of the time, hair styles, food, speech, etc., but actually...things were extremely hectic. A horrible war was going on. Boys left for the war and it was not known if they would return. The family ...             The Emperor's Children (Vintage)242 reviews Claire Messud Vintage, 2007 The Vanities Before the Bonfire + Intelligent and sophisticated The novel captures with perfect pitch the shallowness of American culture in the last blissful days before September 11. It's strength rests on terrifically drawn characters, flushed out in so many subtle and nuanced ways. I think Bootie may be my new hero. The irony is that he far more ...             River of Heaven: A Novel13 reviews Lee Martin Shaye Areheart Books, 2008 Another great read from a gifted storyteller + "It was a long time ago and we were different people" + My Midwest + A sweet and tragic story, well-told             The Gift of Rain: A Novel13 reviews Tan Twan Eng Weinstein Books, 2008 Packs a Huge Emotional Punch + A triad of cultures + A True Gift + Magnificent, Masterful, Mesmerizing!             The Bastard of Istanbul27 reviews Elif Shafak Penguin (Non-Classics), 2008 Exceptional book + What a story............. + A Pleasant Book About A Different Point Of View + A pleasant surprise; engaging storyline amidst controversy             Moral Disorder and Other Stories18 reviews Margaret Atwood Anchor, 2008 A BRILLIANT, DEEPLY MOVING, TOUR DE FORCE CHARACTER STUDY -- AND SEIMI-AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL TO BOOT! + Brilliant Writing at its Best! + Good, but not her best "Moral Disorder" by Margaret Atwood is a collection of eleven short stories. Each stands easily and delightfully alone; in fact, five of them have previously appeared in magazines. But taken as a whole, this collection gathers synergy and eventually morphs into a most uncommon and extraordinary ...