The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao170 reviews Junot Díaz Riverhead Hardcover, 2007 Worth the spanish dictionary!! + Well-deserving of the Pulitzer! + a blend of two worlds + A delectable Dominican dish of (mostly) unsavory, (oft cursed) characters + Wow for Wao             My Sister's Keeper: A Novel1007 reviews Jodi Picoult Washington Square Press, 2005 WOW! + Great first Picoult Read + I like the story... + TOUGH DECISIONS + One of my favorites             When Madeline Was Young27 reviews Jane Hamilton Anchor, 2007 Not For The 'Oprah' Audience + Interesting character study Jane Hamilton is a great Literary author. The only author I've read whose prose had a greater scent of 'America' was John Steinbeck's. Her exposition of characters has no gender boundaries whatsoever. Her earlier novels happened to be mostly either about women, or in 'The Short History of a ...             Water for Elephants: A Novel1417 reviews Sara Gruen Algonquin Books, 2007 wonderfully entertaining + Wonderful Read! + Great Book + More than I expected             A Spot of Bother (Vintage)96 reviews Mark Haddon Vintage, 2007 One very funny book + Stuck with me for a long time... + The MBC Abbreviated Review + Hard to put your finger on             Life Class: A Novel25 reviews Pat Barker Doubleday, 2008 Interesting setting; uninspired characters + A coda to the "Regeneration" trilogy I haven't read much fiction set during WWI and I thought the juxtaposition of the war front and the art school was very interesting and promising. The setting did come alive: the isolation of the art world and the horror of the battlefield hosptial are both well drawn. Unfortunately, the ...             Ines of My Soul: A Novel45 reviews Isabel Allende Harper Perennial, 2007 Superb book + A Fabulous Read + Good Historical Fiction This is a historical novel, very well researched and wonderful. Typical of Isabel Allende style, it transports you to a long gone time, full of of truthful Latin-American flavour. Five stars!             The Road (Oprah's Book Club)1511 reviews Cormac McCarthy Vintage Books, 2007 Depth Expressed through Brevity + The Road + Beautiful + "Where men cant live gods fare no better."             Out Stealing Horses: A Novel80 reviews Per Petterson Graywolf Press, 2007 A most extraordinary voice + Personal Search/Reflection on a life + Out Stealing Horses First, I read In The Wake, then Out Stealing Horses. Both books affected me in the same way; I was mesmerized. This is a writer who controls his reader from the start. He draws you in while you drum your fingers impatiently -- what a slow book, you are thinking -- then he owns you. After ...             Loving Frank: A Novel142 reviews Nancy Horan Ballantine Books, 2007 Loving Frank is a book to love + Loving Frank at the expense of everyone else... + Great read. + Loving Frank + Loving Mamah....             Tangerine Dream79 reviews Ken Douglas Bootleg Press, 2003 Good fiction + A Nice book + Made me wonder, what if? I really liked this book. The ending was one of the best, the writing was good and made me feel like I was really out there on the ocean, sailing with those girls and that's what fiction is all about.             Thirteen Moons: A Novel174 reviews Charles Frazier Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2007 A story that invites you in told in rich language. + An Immersive Historical Fiction + First book I've ever finished and immediately reread + Thirteen Moons better than reviews             The Last Town on Earth: A Novel78 reviews Thomas Mullen Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2007 Best novel I have read in years + Movie in the future? + 1491 + Quietly frightening             Special Topics in Calamity Physics246 reviews Marisha Pessl Penguin (Non-Classics), 2007 Attention! Read the entire book! Several one star reviewers did not read past page 100. This book is very slow to start but it picks up the pace AND FAST. It is very well written and clever. Give it a go, you will love it!!             The History of Love: A Novel272 reviews Nicole Krauss W. W. Norton, 2006 equal parts of good and sad + A Wonderful novel about a novel about love + Loved this, very bittersweet Just want to share that this is the best fiction I've read in as long as I can remember. Enjoy it.             The Echo Maker: A Novel100 reviews Richard Powers Picador, 2007 Intelligent and entertaining + Who's Who Anyway This novel, the winner of the 2006 National Book Award, addresses the question of how we know who we really are. This novel is extremely well-crafted and a worthwhile read. Intelligent and entertaining.             Dear John212 reviews Nicholas Sparks Grand Central Publishing, 2007 I love this Author! + A Different Relationship Stands Out... + Bittersweet and Pretty Predictable + A truly great love story             The Commoner: A Novel43 reviews John Burnham Schwartz Nan A. Talese, 2008 Engrossing + A Sense of Duty I found this novel to be a fascinating look at the life of one Japanese woman, her early life, and the enclosed and constricted world of the royal family. It is very well-written and I found the story engrossing.             Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel587 reviews Lisa See Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2006 It is as beautifull as it can be sad, sometimes even funny. + Mesmerizing Tale of Friendship and Tradition + A beautiful tale of love and friendship + Snow flower was pure honest relationship writing + good purchase             The Whistling Season53 reviews Ivan Doig Harvest Books, 2007 Great Reading Group Book! + Highly recommend this book + Read this Book! + A season of The Waltons? + Well worth reading