Grayson

by Lynne Cox

Grayson is the true story of the author's magical encounter with a baby gray whale during her morning swim in the ocean. Lynne realizes the 18 foot baby lost its mother as they journeyed north to the Bering Sea and that its up to her to find the mother whale before it dehydrates or starves to death. An amazing book! Loved it! ****

The Dive From Clausen's Pier

by Ann Packer

This used to be one of my favorite novels when i first read it about five years ago. However, in re-reading it this week, I can't remember why I liked it so much. The main character, 23 year old Carrie Bell, begins to question everything in her life after her fiance and longtime boyfriend, Mike Meyer, is injured in an accident that leaves him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. My main problem with this book is that I don't think that Carrie and her new boyfriend, Kilroy, are very likeable characters. (Maybe if I re-read other books on this blog, I would feel differently about them, too?) I still think this novel poses an interesting question about how much you owe someone you love and reminds the reader how precarious life is. Worth reading but it could have been better. ***

Two Little Girls: A Memoir of Adoption

by Theresa Reid

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one at first but it turned out to be a worthwhile read. This is the true story of Theresa and her husband Marc, who find themselves unable to conceive and decide to adopt a child from Russia. I had no idea that international adoption was so expensive and difficult. An interesting look at one couple's journey towards becoming a family of four. Rating: ***

Chosen By A Horse: A Memoir

by Susan Richards

The story of how the author saved the life of a malnourished and abused horse named Lay Me Down and how Lay Me Down taught her new owner how to love and live again. A real tear jerker; I could not put it down. A great book for animal lovers. Rating: *****

History Lesson for Girls

by Aurelie Sheehan

Allison Glass is the new girl in her Connecticut town until she is befriended by popular Kate Hamilton. A great story about friendship and family secrets set in the 1970's. Loved it!****1/2

House Under Snow

by Jill Bialosky

A coming of age story set in Cleveland in the 1960s' and 70's. Anna Crane's family is devastated by the sudden death of her father in an accident. Her fragile mother Lily is so focused on finding a new man to take care of her that she almost completely forgets about caring for her three daughters. A beautifully written book. ****1/2

Best from 2005-2006

Upstate by Kalisha Buckhanon ****1/2

Snowed In by Cristina Bartolomeo ****

We Are All Fine Here by Mary Guterson ***1/2

Bachelorette Party by Karen Lutz ***

Sight Hound by Pam Houston *****

Smashed by Koren Zailckas ****

Cowboys Are My Weakness by Pam Houston ****

Pig and I by Rachel Toor ****

New Year's Eve by Lisa Grunwald ***1/2

Good Wife by Stewart O Nan ****

Dear Zoe by Philp Beard ****1/2

Mountain Betty by Heather McCouch ****

Drama City by George Pelecanos ***1/2

Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson ****

Everything Changes by Jonathan Tropper ***

If Andy Warhol Had a Girlfriend by Alison Pace ****1/2

Untelling by Tayari Jones ****

Good Grief by Lolly Winston ****

Same As It Never Was by Claire LaZebnik ****

First Love by Adrienne Sharp ***1/2

Lost Night by Rachel Howard ****

Trophy House by Anne Bernays ***1/2

Shop Girl by Steve Martin ****1/2

Whatever Makes You Happy by Lisa Grunwald ****

Little Beauties by Kim Addonizio ***1/2

Saturn's Return to New York by Sara Gran ***1/2

On a Night Like This by Ellen Sussman ***1/2

What the Dog Did by Emily Yoffe ***1/2

Night Garden by Pamela Holm ***1/2

Myth of You and Me by Leah Stewart *****

What Remains by Carole Radziwill ***1/2

Wedding in December by Anita Shreve ***

Tin Box by Holly Kennedy ***

Breakdown Lane by Jacqueline Mitchard ***1/2

Marley and Me by John Grogan ***

Adultery for Beginners by Sarah Duncan ***

Twins by Mary Dermansky ***

Enter Sandman by Stephanie Williams ***1/2

Cooking for Mr Right by Susan Volland ***

And Baby Makes Two by Sheehan ***

Good Family by Terry Gamble ***1/2

How to Kill a Rock Star ***

Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls ****

Cat People by Korda ****

Mrs Kimble by Jennifer Haigh ***1/2

Year of Magical Thinking by Didion **1/2

Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh ****

Two Harbors by Kate Benson ***

Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards ***

Everyone Else's Girl by Megan Crane ***

Love Walked in by De Los Santos ****

Anyone but You by Jennifer Cruisie ***

Love and Other Impossible Pursuits by Ayelet Waldman ****

Song Reader by Lisa Tucker ***1/2

Shout Down the Moon by Lisa Tucker ***1/2

Ruins of California by Martha Sherrill ***1/2

Torch by Strayed ***

Wish by Melina Gerosa Bellows ****

And She Was by Cynthia Dyson ****

Pug Hill by Alison Pace ***

Once Upon a Day by Lisa Tucker ***1/2

Jane Austen in Scarsdale by Jennifer Beth Cohen ***1/2

Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhust ***

Between Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson ***

Firefly Cloak by Sheri Reynolds ***

Favorites from 2004

Girls In Trouble by Caroline Leavitt *****

City Boy by Jean Thompson ****

Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett ****

Drowning Tree by Carol Goodman ***

Little Children by Tom Perotta ****1/2

Remind Me Again Why I Married You by Rita Ciresi ****

To Have and To Hold by Jane Green ****

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin ****

Stone Garden by Molly Moynahan ****1/2

Food of Love by Anthony Capella ****

Big Love by Sarah Dunn ****

Bad Boy's Wife by Karen Shepard ****

Light on Snow by Anita Shreve *****

How to Be Lost by Amanda Eyre Ward ****1/2

Honeymoon by Amy Jenkins ****1/2

Secret Word by Jenifer Paddock ****

Pursuit of Alice Thrift by Eleanor Lipman ***

Daughter's Keeper by Ayelet Waldman ****1/2

Shutterbabe by Deborah Kogan ***1/2

Third Child by Marge Piercy ***1/2

Speak Now by Kaylie Jones ***

From Baghdad With Love: A Marine, the War and a Dog Named Lava

by Jay Kopleman and Melinda Roth

This book is not something that I normally would pick for myself but it was a Christmas gift from my husband. I should have known he would pick a good book for me; he has great taste! This is the true story of a Marine in Iraq who found a tiny defenseless puppy amid all the ugliness of war and became determined to save its life. Tender and beautiful but not sappy, Kopleman also offers honest insight into what it is like to be a Marine in Iraq.

Rating: ***1/2

Ghost at the Table: A Novel

by Suzanne Berne

A tale of two sisters and a lifetime of family secrets set in New England. Cynthia and Frances grew up in the same family but have very different memories of their childhoods. An interesting look at families and dysfunction. Another good novel from Ms. Berne.

Rating: ***1/2

Last Seen Leaving

by Kelly Braffet

A story about the tenuous relationship between mother and daughter. When Anne is unable to reach her daughter Miranda, she fears something terrible has happened. She leaves her solitary, peaceful life in Sedona to investigate her daughter's disappearance. Gripping and difficult to put down. I liked Braffet's first novel but this one is much better.

Rating: ****

How Nancy Drew Saved My Life

by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

An American nanny accepts a job caring for the child of an ambassador in Iceland. Cute story if you're in the mood for a light read. P.S. Iceland is amazing!

Rating:**1/2

Instant Love: Fiction

by Jami Attenberg

Presents the interwoven stories of four women and their experiences with love. Smart and real. Loved the line "...we are the sum of all of the loves before us until we reach our one great love."

Rating: ***1/2

Nearlyweds

by Beth Kendrick

I was afraid this one might be too "cutesy" for me but I have to admit I kind of liked it. Three recently married women who were married on the same day by the same minster find out the ceremonies aren't legal due to a paperwork problem. I think Beth Kendrick's books are a step above most chick lit.

Rating: ***

Undressing the Moon

by Tammy Greenwood

"When you know you are dying, things begin to make sense."
The story of woman struggling with breast cancer and coming to terms with her past. A well written, interesting story about acceptance, friendship and love.

Rating: **** (out of 5)