Peony in Love: A Novel103 reviews Lisa See Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2008 Favorite Summer Fiction Read + Loved this book. Such a wonderful love story. I wanted to be there and in the moment. It felt so real at times. I wanted to believe in the story so much....that all of it was really possible.             The Gathering (Man Booker Prize)128 reviews Anne Enright Grove Press, Black Cat, 2007 Graceful & Imaginative I'm not surprised that this book won the Booker Prize. Enright has a superior command of the language. She creates fluid yet surprising prose, moving between real and imagined events, past and present with astounding grace and skill. This book is a surreal meditation on family--mother love, sister ...             The Enchantress of Florence: A Novel55 reviews Salman Rushdie Random House, 2008 a little hard to follow, but beautiful poetic writing + India and Italy in the 16th Century + Decameron & Arabian Tales rolled into one + Couping a set of flippant short stories to a serious novel does not work             The Double Bind (Vintage Contemporaries)231 reviews Chris Bohjalian Vintage, 2008 Double Bind + Excellent + Gatsby on the Rocks with a Twist + Whose Reality is Real?             The Friday Night Knitting Club208 reviews Kate Jacobs Berkley Trade, 2008 Friday Night Knitting Club I really enjoyed this book. It was fairly predictable throughout, though there were a few unexpected twists. The message seemed to be that we can't run away from our family, and family love overcomes all other.             The Sugar Queen52 reviews Sarah Addison Allen Bantam, 2008 Sweet Read + Sugar Queen + The Sugar Queen is SWEET. + Fairy-tale sweet             Perfect Family: A Novel12 reviews Pam Lewis Simon & Schuster, 2008 Perfect Family is a Perfect Summer Book + Enjoyable Read + An entertaining and intriguing read... + Enjoyable read, though a bit too easy + compelling reading             Cathedral of the Sea14 reviews Ildefonso Falcones Dutton Adult, 2008 "Can these people really be your representatives?" - Arnau Estanyol + Receives Paul Michael's extensive stage and film background and talents + Great read- page turner. + Cathedral of the Sea is a Great Read + cathedral of the sea             Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel605 reviews Lisa See Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2006 Phenomenal Women Book Club (Houston, TX) + Buy this book! + Snowflower and the Secret Fan + SNOWFLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN             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 Resurrectionist12 reviews Jack O'Connell Algonquin Books, 2008 A powerfully entertaining page turner + A Real Worcester Tornado! I hadn't read any of Jack O'Connell's novels before so I wasn't sure what to expect. What I got really impressed me. O'Connell shows he can is a master of suspense, drama, science-fiction and fantasy. The story is well narrated and constructed -- you don't know where you're going, but you don't ...             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             The Road (Oprah's Book Club)1608 reviews Cormac McCarthy Vintage Books, 2007 A Road To Treasure + Carrying the Fire Through The Darkness You know who they are. Those people that get upset when stories are told that aren't a sugar coated version of the world, stories that seem like they were written by authors who truly believe that ignoring cold, hard reality is the best medicine. Cormac McCarthy is not one of those authors. At ...             Things I Want My Daughters to Know: A Novel10 reviews Elizabeth Noble William Morrow, 2008 Touching book! + things i want my daughters to know + A book about love: between mothers and daughters, sisters, and others This is a great book. I could not put it down. As a mother, I was moved by Barbara's need to leave something for her girls. The characters are very complicated and the author gives great insight to each of them.             Desperation Moon26 reviews Ken Douglas Bootleg Press, 2003 Great find! + Non-Stop Action + A New Fan + A Book I Could Not Put Down             Peace12 reviews Richard Bausch Knopf, 2008 Man's (In)Humanity to Man + Nearly like Hemingway and a good summer read. + A fine piece of writing + A Perfect Novel About War + Well worth your reading time             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             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 White Tiger: A Novel58 reviews Aravind Adiga Free Press, 2008 An amazing book, and an entertaining read! + "The WhiteTIger" + Harsh but I think it is very representative This book was simply amazing. Adiga put together a fascinating portrait of a city, some beautiful dark comedy, but what absolutely made me unable to put down this book was the voice of the main character. This is a "told" story. In a letter to a Chinese official coming to visit Bangalore, Balram ...             The Forgery of Venus: A Novel18 reviews Michael Gruber William Morrow, 2008 I didn't want to put it down! + Classic Gruber + Fascinating + A Novel with Sprezzatura