What is Freedom Reading?
Book reviews by library patrons
To Cut A Long Story Short by Jeffrey Archer
reviewed by Doris K. Black
This book of short stories had some interesting, some boring and some funny.
Protect and Defend by Vince Flynn
reviewed by Gere Lane
Fast moving. Violent for those who may not enjoy that. Rapp, the main character, is a CIA "Dirty Harry" type...he gets the bad guys.
Double Tap by Steve Martin
reviewed by Gere Lane
OK, but not my type...legal mystery. Have read others with the main character who is similar...cover ups and cover ups.
The Hair-Raising Joys of Raising Boys by Dave Meurer
reviwed by Cindy Andrews
A funny, light-hearted look at raising boys.
Mild Glass Moon by Adriana Trigiani
reviewed by Gere Lane
This is the final for the series. It is enjoyable and fun. It does leave the door, so to speak, open for a 4th book. I hope she does one.
The Queen of the Big Time by Adriana Trigiani
reviewed by Gere Lane
I like this author...her characters have some depth. This takes you through the life of a young Italian girl till her death. It is funny, tragic and yet uplifting.
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
reviewed by Elizabeth Marx
3rd in the series and I continue to read them. Still interesting as it follows the storm across the Atlantic and into the sugar plantations of the islands.
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
reviwed by Maggie Buzzell
This book was awesome. I just couldn't put it down. The story is about a family and its dog "Enzo". Enzo tells the story as he sees life. Even though this was not a true story, which is generally all I read, I loved this book and would highly recommend it as a great read.
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
reviewed by Barbara Donlon
A wonderful story weaving together fascinating characters with evocative detail that makes the reader feel the heat and hardship of life on the coast of Columbia at the turn of the century. Not a beach read though the story is dense with detail, so plan on devoting an hour at a time to this one.
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
reviewed by Elizabeth Marz
Powerful book. Intense and informative about one professor's journey to teach western literature in Islamic Republic of Iran. This story of brave women makes me appreciate even more, the beauty and the power of books.
The Pact by Jodi Picoult
reviwed by Roberta Fitch
Her usual good book. Good plot
Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
reviewed by Peg Scully
What a story! Mamah Cheney (may-ma, a nickname), left her husband and children in 1907 for the dashing architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, himself a married father of 6. The author fleshes out the story to tell what might have happened between them, but the facts are stronger than fiction. You won't believe the ending.
Murder on Marble Lane by Victoria Thompson
reviewed by Gere & Caryl Lane
We like this author. She writes stories like Anne Perry's mysteries only set in the US instead of Great Britain.
Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
reviewed by Gwen Genest
A real page turner. I loved it! Agreat book club book that I can't wait to discuss.
Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer
reviewed by Elizabeth Marx
Colfer does it again. I'm a big fan of his Artemis Foul books and I was not disappointed with his realistic fiction about Fletcher Moon solving "crime" without fairies, elfs or magic. Even with the stereotypic "bad family", Colfer depicts a clever teen and interesting characters.
The Black Sun by James twining
reviewed by Sue Stamm
If you enjoyed the convoluted albeit credible "read, of the DaVinci Code, the Black Sun is for you. Historically accurate details surround the action....and rather interesting to me because I really have not been a World War II history buff. Love the Brit authors...Twining and Ninette Walters. Beware of spelling differences and enjoy rushing around Europe...Fun!
Atonement by Ian McEwan
reviewed by Sandy Martin
The book is much better than the movie. It's about a love story that lasts a lifetime even though they are never together.
The Parting by Beverly Lewis
reviewed by Anon
An Amish family struggles for peace and understanding when their long-time traditions are challenged.
Lottery by Patricia Wood
reviewed by Lee Allison
Good tale about a retarded boy who is amazingly smart in so many ways. When he wins the lottery he learns who his real friends are.
Guardian of the Horizon by Elizabeth Peters
reviewed by Sue Stamm
Archeology has always been a magnet for my curiosity. Guess I was hoping for a repeat adventure of The DaVinci Papers Alas, complex, convoluted and trite...but some fun tongue-in-cheek fun with the too English Peabody and her one step ahead perceptions. A bit of everything from romance to rogues in this summer read.
Women of Magdaline by Rosemary Poole-Carter
reviewed by Sue Stamm
The period of the Civil War is for any informed reader, the darkest blot in American History. Gruesom beyond description until I read this book. If you are looking for ad epressing, morbid albeit accurate summer read, this book takes the prize. Yuk! (and I am not a polly-anna).
The Choice by Nicolas Sparks
reviewed by Judy Johnson
One of his best books. I couldn't resist peeking to see how it ended before I quite got there.
The Last Season by Eric Blehm
reviewed by Cindy Davis
Part wilderness adventure, part mystery. The true-life story of a 28 year old veteran of the National Park Service who disappears during a routine patrol in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Water for the Elephants by Sara Grier
reviewed by Betsy Smith
Author found all the worst traits in humans and wrote a novel.
A Cat named Darwin by William Jordan
reviewed by Betsy Smith
Soooo intellectual...Not enough about "the cats"
Jumbo by Paul Chambers
reviewed by Lisa Wheeler
So sad sad sad!
Such A Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster
reviewed by Lisa Wheeler
It's official...Jen Lancaster is my fave author.
Home and Exile by Chinua Achebe
reviewed by Jennifer Molin
Thought provoking...Until the lions can hire their own historian...the hunt will always glorify the hunter. The other side of the conquest of Africa...from the conquered.
A Beautiful Death by Charles Finch
reviewed by Melissa Florio
Great mystery....didn't know the culprit(s) until the end.
Even Now by Karen Kingsbury
reviewed by Melissa Florio
A great book. But she was a little lax on details from one part of the story to the next.
The Return Journey by Maeve Binchy
reviewed by Melissa Florio
I didn't like how short every story was. She should have kept with the first chapter...the letters being written by mother...daughter.
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
reviewed by Melissa Florio
I re-read this book with my daughter and loved it.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
reviewed byMelissa Florio
A great book. Read again with Cora and Anya and they took away the moral of the story.
Songs of the Humpback Whale by Jodi Picoult
reviewed by Ellen Gomarlo
This book was hard to get into. It was not nearly as good as My Sister's keeper.
The Host by Stephanie Meyer
reviewed by Elizabeth Marx
It took me about 300 pages to get "into" these characters, byut then I couldn't put it down. Twilight meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
Caprice and Rondo by Dorothy Dunnett
reviewed by Gere Lane
7th of a series. After all the turmoil, adventure and intrigue, the last few chapters were a disappointment. The ending was just a ________________.
Rococo by Adriana Trigiani
reviewed by Gere Lane
I couldn't get into this. Her others have been great, but this did not have the same response.
Double Identity by Margaret Haddix
reviewed by Anon
This is a youth book but it was very good---suspenseful.
The Last Patriot by Brad Thor
reviewed by Sue Stamm
Interesting insights on Islam and devious/subtle infiltration of islamic ideas in a "Politically Correct" American society.
Nantucket Ghosts by Blue Balliett
reviewed by Anon
Some of the stories were so-so, but others were downright creepy--even while read during the light of day.
Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn
reviewed by Anon
Perfect light summer read. Victorian London mystery with a nice twist at the end.
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell
reviewed by Anon
---A page turner in a macabre sort of way- flashbacks numerous and hard to follow. Families filled with mystery and deception--but in the end a glimmer of resemptive love.
Killjoy by Julie Garwood
reviewed by Melissa Florio
Great mystery----had you guessing to the end.
To Lie with Lions by Dorothy Dunnell
reviewed by Gere Lane
#6 in one of a series of 7 books in 1400-1500 Europe and Scotland---lots of adventure----some romance.
Murder on Bank Street by Victoria Thompson
reviewed by Gere Lane
Late regency era mysteries set in New York City. Fast read---few characters.
Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall
reviewed by Myrtle MacLeod
Excellant---unbelievable story.
Shattered Dreams by Irene Spencer.
reviwed by Brenda Conca
Great story of polygamist's wife. !st hand account of an (sometimes) unbelievable life. Does not dwell on religion as much as the difficulties living in a plural marriage in inconceivable conditions.
To Cut a Long Story Short by Jeffrey Archer
reviewed by Doris Black
This book of short stories had some interesting, some boring and some funny.
Land of the Living by Nicci French
reviewed by Brenda Conca
Quick read----good for an "in between" book. Story of a girl abducted, her trials as she tries to uncover the truth while suffering from amnesia.
The Wedding Letters by Jason Wright
reviewed by Melissa Florio
A great story. Many angles. Mystery, love and families. It had it all.
Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian
reviewed by Roberta Fitch
Tragic! A good insight into the plight of the Jews during the 2nd World War.
The Broken Shore by Peter Temple
reviewed by Bev Grant
Slow in getting into this book...but improved. Don't think I would read another of his books.
Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix
reviewed by Elizabeth Marx
Historical Fiction following three girls through the 1910's labor movement and suffrage. Powerful story of hope and survival. Tragically, close to the truth of an ugly time in America. Unfortunately, this story is still true to others in overseas factories.
Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
reviewed by Joyce Silke
Interesting read of medieval times, where a female doctor was unheard of.
The Serpent's Tale by Ariana Franklin
reviewed by Joyce Silke
Continues where Mistress of the Art of Death ended. Enjoyed this book even more. Adelia Aquilar (main Character) examines the dead to solve murders. This is in the year 1171-73.
Parson's Daughter by Catherine Cookson
reviewed by Roberta Fitch
Her usual good read.
Chat by Archer Mayor
reviewed by Lee Fritz
This series about Joe Gunther, a policeman with the Vermont Bureau of Investigation, is well researched and well written. His characters are appealing and his material always current---in "Chat"---sexual predators use of the interrnet.