Consequences2 reviews Penelope Lively Penguin (Non-Classics), 2008 Romance Over Three Generations If you are in the mood for an intelligent romance that is full of interesting characters, amply emotional but seldom sappy, you will enjoy Penelope Lively's CONSEQUENCES. All the more so if (like me) you have a British connection or have overlapped the three generations that the author describes. ...             Mister Pip54 reviews Lloyd Jones Dial Press Trade Paperback, 2008 Popeye + an unusual find "Everyone called him Popeye." Thus begins Mister Pip, an eloquently written story about how profoundly literature can influence lives. As Popeye evolves into Mr. Pip, the personalities and character traits of the islanders also emerge. Mother and daughter, war and resistance, husband and wife, ...             Swine Not?: A Novel60 reviews Jimmy Buffett Little, Brown and Company, 2008 more like a childs novel + Fun read for adults and children I loved it, but found it more like a childs novel than for adults. It was a very fast read.             Dear American Airlines: A Novel32 reviews Jonathan Miles Houghton Mifflin Co, 2008 Fantastic + charmingly hilarious and sad + Funny and original self examination from a talented writer + One part was better than another ... + Entertaining Read             No One Belongs Here More Than You: Stories48 reviews Miranda July Scribner, 2008 I'M JEALOUS + You belong here, too. + like stepping into the head of someone you thought you would never meet but always wanted to + Desperately delightful.             The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao222 reviews Junot Díaz Riverhead Hardcover, 2007 Not So Brief, But Just As Wondrous + One of the best bad novels or one of the worst good ones? + Joys, suffering, fears and passions + The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao             The Girl Who Stopped Swimming34 reviews Joshilyn Jackson Grand Central Publishing, 2008 The Girl Who Stopped Swimming + A moving, absorbing thriller hard to put down + Highly entertaining page turner + Great reading! Jackson is an excellent writer! + Review             The Shadow Catcher: A Novel19 reviews Marianne Wiggins Simon & Schuster, 2008 Syncronocity is unbelievable + Deliciously nostalgic + The Shadow Catcher Just as the our own lifes are ruled by time and chance so was the life of this most famous artist, Edward Curtis. A photographer captures art in all ways and this book certainly is believable. I was not the one driving the truck who enabled Wiggins to describe our vast western prairie but I ...             Netherland: A Novel58 reviews Joseph O'Neill Pantheon, 2008 Amazingly sublime + Lyrical and flexible prose captures relationships and sports + Cricket in New York Joe O'Neill captures the angst that pervaded the city post 9/11 by channeling a collection of fascinating characters and genres. Even if you're not a cricket fan you'll get this!             The Other23 reviews David Guterson Knopf, 2008 Melancholy "madness" + Compelling tale + "I don't want to participate in any of it." + Engaging at multiple levels, but not for everyone             The Art of Racing in the Rain262 reviews Garth Stein Harper, 2008 Confessions of a dog lover + The Art of Racing in the Rain + stein truly knows the love and devotion of man and woman's best friend. + THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN             The Memory of Water16 reviews Karen White NAL Trade, 2008 One of the best I have read this year... + Good Book, Good Summer Read! + wonderful book + The Memory of Water             The Pillars of the Earth (Deluxe Edition) (Oprah's Book Club)1300 reviews Ken Follett NAL Trade, 2007 Great choice by Oprah + A must read + Simply Brilliant + A page-turner about cathedral construction? YES!             Bulls Island44 reviews Dorothea Benton Frank William Morrow, 2008 Bulls Island + Another great tale + Easy read I have read all of Dorothea Benton Frank's novels. I am a fan because she always accurately includes the history and local color of the Low Country. While this was not my favorite, I enjoyed reading it while vacationing on Isle of Palms.             The Yiddish Policemen's Union: A Novel (P.S.)291 reviews Michael Chabon Harper Perennial, 2008 Ghetto Mentality Retrogression + Chabon's best to date + Bittersweet like woodsmoke The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon: Ghetto Mentality Retrogression Review by Arthur L. Finkle Mr. Chabon writes a masterpiece of a "what-if" portion of history. In this case, what if the Jews lost their War on Independence on 1948? The solution was one proffered at that time, ...             Stalin's Ghost: An Arkady Renko Novel94 reviews Martin Cruz Smith Pocket, 2008 Arakdy Renko is Back and it was Worth the Wait + Another good Russian story + Remarkably good at details of Russian life + Arkady Is Back!             Barefoot: A Novel46 reviews Elin Hilderbrand Back Bay Books, 2008 Great summer read + If you're planning to wait for hours in the airport or somewhere else.. + K. Bills Barefoot Review Entertaining, the characters are so real, you feel like you are part of the Nantucket summer.             The Tenderness of Wolves: A Novel48 reviews Stef Penney Simon & Schuster, 2008 An impressive debut from Penney + cold northern Territories...and more than one mystery to solve. + Lyrical - one of the best books I have read in a long time + Best Read of the Year!             Luncheon of the Boating Party40 reviews Susan Vreeland Penguin (Non-Classics), 2008 Best Book Ever! + Pretty Good Book - - Though Slow + Pleasant Diversion This was one of the best books I've ever read. With all that France has had to endure, the French people are celebrated here through art, food and the love of the outdoors. Ms. Vreeland did an excellent job researching her subject. If you are not an avid art lover or Impressionist fan, you will be ...             Water for Elephants: A Novel1503 reviews Sara Gruen Algonquin Books, 2007 wonderful and entertaining + Great book! + Under the big top, under the bright light... + A SURPRISE READ + Gripping Story and Characters