Michael Tolliver Lives: A Novel137 reviews Armistead Maupin HarperCollins, 2007 Alive and Kicking! Michael Tolliver is (as the title rather clearly suggests) alive and kicking. Those who thought they would never see him again and imagined him succumbing to AIDS are in for a pleasant surprise. Michael copes perfectly well with the virus and he finds out that life still has a lot of surprises in ...             The Abstinence Teacher106 reviews Tom Perrotta St. Martin's Press, 2007 From the frontlines of the culture wars Tom Perotta does have a knack of getting in front of the latest political wave with his novels. This one takes an entertaining look at the cultural wars. Ruth Ramsey, the health teacher in a suburban school, suddenly finds herself accosted by the religious right and their insistence on teaching ...             A Thread of Grace77 reviews Mary Doria Russell Ballantine Books, 2005 An Inspiring Tale of Human Courage + a thread of grace by mary doria russell + Fascinating portrayal of little-known historical events + Relevant for our times and our lives             Wickett's Remedy: A Novel28 reviews Myla Goldberg Doubleday, 2005 Lyrical, Moving, and Inventive + Interesting, inventive, but sometimes weak It's lovely, with an inventive narrative. The whisperers are charming, funny, and heartbreaking. A beautiful novel, especially for those who love historical fiction.             The History of Love: A Novel278 reviews Nicole Krauss W. W. Norton & Company, 2005 My Highest Recommendation + Life, death, and the meaning in between This tale is woven together so masterfully it's nearly impossible to put down. The characters and their distinct voices are rich, unique, and memorable in a way that has worked into my own personal history of the love of reading. We begin by getting to know "the oldest man in the world," Leopold ...             The Gum Thief: A Novel17 reviews Douglas Coupland Bloomsbury USA, 2007 great! + not his best, but still really good + Almost there... and then, nothing. + Definitely not what I was expecting             Gods in Alabama124 reviews Joshilyn Jackson Grand Central Publishing, 2006 Hilarious read! + An Unexpected Surprise!... + You can run but you can't hide! + Very enjoyable and memorable writing             The End of The Alphabet: A Novel14 reviews Cs Richardson Doubleday, 2007 Excellent short read + Wonderful little book + A Melancholy Love Story Delightfully clever with the full range of human emotion, yet succinct enough to be read in one sitting. The author knows how to stimulate the senses with true depth, eliminating the quest for shock value that lesser writers often use in place of talent.             An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England: A Novel61 reviews Brock Clarke Algonquin Books, 2007 Witty and Intelligent + At last, something smart to read Smart and highly stylistic, AAGTWHINE is not for everyone, as the range of reviews here shows. If you're looking for a book to get lost in, with characters of great depth and emotion, where a man facing great personal disappointment overcomes tragedy and becomes a better person, don't read it. If ...             Memories of My Melancholy Whores108 reviews Gabriel Garcia Marquez Knopf, 2005 Minotaur-mania: Garcia Marquez Explores the Myth of Love + "It is a triumph of life that old people lose their memories of inessential things" + The desires of an older man + That obscure object of imaginary desire...             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 ...             Hartsburg, USA: A Novel7 reviews David Mizner Bloomsbury USA, 2007 well-worth reading - timely and thoughtful + Intelligent and entertaining + very thought provoking book + An enjoyable and perceptive book + Terrific Novel             Snow Flower and the Secret Fan605 reviews Lisa See Random House, 2005 Phenomenal Women Book Club (Houston, TX) + Buy this book! + Snowflower and the Secret Fan + SNOWFLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN             True Believer214 reviews Nicholas Sparks Grand Central Publishing, 2005 Great Reading!!! + true believer + My Absolute Favorite! I loved this book, and even more so after I read the sequel, "AT FIRST SIGHT". Jeremy Marsh the main character in both books is the ideal man all women would love to have love them, the way he loved Lexie. The supernatural or unexplained happenings are an added bonus, but you don't really get the ...             Between, Georgia56 reviews Joshilyn Jackson Grand Central Publishing, 2006 'Fuedin' Fussin' and a Fightin' + A Thousand Thanks + Best of Her Three Books By Far + Great reading - sorry to see the story come to an end + Great!             Tree of Smoke: A Novel92 reviews Denis Johnson Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007 A Bright and Shining Truth + "War and Peace" for the United States I've been a fan of Johnson for some time now. To me Johnson is the American Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Tree of Smoke struck me as quite a bit better than his earlier books (those that I read anyway.) Johnson has always attempted to inject philosophical and religious points into his narratives and ...             Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell: A Novel728 reviews Susanna Clarke Bloomsbury USA, 2005 Instant Classic + Wonderfully Clever Book + The Line Between the Mystical and the Physical This evocative tale of English magicians who become associates and eventual rivals/enemies is one of the most impressive literary debut-novels in any genre, ever. Every atmospheric detail is rich and crucial; there is nothing that is not essential to this mesmerizing, often frightening tale. ...             A Thousand Splendid Suns1307 reviews Khaled Hosseini Riverhead, 2007 Enthralling... + Very touching + Very good BOOK + Excellent Story             The Last Days of Dogtown: A Novel58 reviews Anita Diamant Scribner, 2005 Gripping novel + The Last Days of Dogtown + Good Read Could not put it down! Anita Diamant's "The Last Days of Dogtown," like "The Red Tent," is a chick book (although my husband also likes them), but extremely well written and researched. Diamant's fluid and lovely writing style, historical perspective, thoughtful observations, action, and the ...             Songs Without Words52 reviews Ann Packer Knopf, 2007 I was not bored I enjoyed this book and was never bored. I came to care about the characters and wanted to know how their stories turn out. In a time when non-fiction memoirs seem ridiculous, it's nice to read an honest portrayal of life in a work of fiction.