The Witch of Portobello: A Novel (P.S.)38 reviews Paulo Coelho Harper Perennial, 2008 An excellent improvement + I still prefer The Alchemist + very intresting! Let me state this bluntly - I read Coelho's famous "The Alchemist" and absolutely hated it. I found it a stupid, simplistic waste of time. I picked this up because the title and cover photo looked interesting and I thought, "Hey, let's give him another chance." Most second chances end in ...             An Irish Country Village (Irish Country Books)3 reviews Patrick Taylor Forge Books, 2008 warm sequel + A No-Brainer + A Pleasure In the 1960s having decided to practice medicine in Balleybucklebo, Northern Ireland, (see AN IRISH COUNTRY DOCTOR) Barry Laverty begins his "apprenticeship working for Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly, a local legend. He finds the wide range of patients with their diverse problems fascinating and ...             The Kite Runner2395 reviews Khaled Hosseini Riverhead Trade, 2004 a must read + One of my favorite books of all time + wow + Another book every American should read             Skylight Confessions40 reviews Alice Hoffman Back Bay Books, 2008 The best book Alice Hoffman has ever written. + Great Summer Reading + Alice Hoffman is a satisfying author. + Hoffman light, but good             Suite Francaise351 reviews Irene Nemirovsky Vintage, 2007 Excellent book + A beautiful and unusual read Just today did I finish this book. It is not a fast moving book. It was not full of action and intrigue, but I enjoyed this book for what it was. I did not know much about the German occupation of France and appreciated what I learned. Later I learned that the author reread Tolstoy while ...             The View from Castle Rock (Vintage)2 reviews Alice Munro Vintage, 2008 Alice Munro tells great short stories Alice Munro is a wonderful Canadian writer. She has won numerous awards for her work in Canada, the United States and in the United Kingdom. The View from Castle Rock is her eleventh book of short stories-and it is terrific. Castle Rock is a high rocky outcropping in Scotland, not too far north ...             The Yiddish Policemen's Union: A Novel250 reviews Michael Chabon HarperCollins, 2007 The Last Days + Send more Chabon! This is the third Chabon book that I have read (after THE FINAL SOLUTION and THE MYSTERIES OF PITTSBURGH) and it is unquestionably the best -- imaginative, audacious, thought-provoking, and humane. As I gather he did with KAVALIER & CLAY, Chabon takes a genre of popular fiction, in this case the ...             Then We Came to the End: A Novel182 reviews Joshua Ferris Back Bay Books, 2008 Living up to the hype + Fun, inconsistent 2007 novel on life at a failing ad agency + dark comedy + Safety in Numbers             The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel522 reviews Diane Setterfield Washington Square Press, 2007 Great book + Things Are Seldom What They Seem + Buy This Book + One of the Best Books I've Read in Long Time!             Out Stealing Horses: A Novel63 reviews Per Petterson Graywolf Press, 2007 Out Stealing Horses is Why I Read. + I love this book + Father and Son + The Bookschlepper definitely recommends             Love the One You're With115 reviews Emily Giffin St. Martin's Press, 2008 ellen + "Love is the strength of our commitments" + Loved it...insightful and interesting maybe this is heresy among emily giffin fans, but i really liked ellen much more than rachel in something borrowed (too whiny). she's not quite up there with the fabulous darcy, or the smart alecky claudia, but she's an engaging character simply because of the fact that she's so brutally honest ...             Celebutantes23 reviews Amanda Goldberg, Ruthanna Khalighi Hopper St. Martin's Press, 2008 A look inside Hollywood Loved this book!!! A quick read that gives you an inside look at Hollywood the week leading up to the Oscars!! A great beach read!             The Friday Night Knitting Club147 reviews Kate Jacobs Berkley Trade, 2008 Deeply satisfying This was one of the best books I have read in a long time. It's a great story of friendships, both intended and unintended. It's warm and relatable without becoming soppy or overindulgent. Highly recommended!             Bridge of Sighs111 reviews Richard Russo Knopf, 2007 Second only to Empire Falls + A Fabulous Book + Definitely recommended + I Did SIgh--and Wished for More Editing             The Shadow of the Wind502 reviews Carlos Ruiz Zafón Penguin (Non-Classics), 2005 All time masterpiece. + A moving allegory + Quote Mine + Stuck In A Rut?             Loving Frank: A Novel103 reviews Nancy Horan Ballantine Books, 2007 Sensitive Portrayal of a Scarlet Woman + Best book of 2008 + Love doesn't always conquer all + A masterpiece for a first-time writer             The Hearts of Horses27 reviews Molly Gloss Houghton Mifflin, 2007 wonderful book + Outstanding character-driven novel + Hearts of Horses + Ride through history             The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao139 reviews Junot Díaz Riverhead Hardcover, 2007 Very Engaging + Superb + Book Club Pick + a surprise             Certain Girls: A Novel108 reviews Jennifer Weiner Atria, 2008 A well-written and absorbing tale...just not a true sequel to "Good in Bed" + Certain Girls + Insightful + Good read!             Body Surfing: A Novel84 reviews Anita Shreve Back Bay Books, 2008 "The family never stays after Labor Day. Never." + Surfing Through Life There are very few books in my life that I picked up and read all in one day. Body Surfing is one of those books. Sydney, age 29, has not had a terribly easy life thus far. She has had two marriages, one of which ended when she divorced her husband and the other ended when she was widowed. We meet ...