Karen

When I first read the description, I wasn't sure I would like this book. By the end, as I found myself wanting to know what happens next, I came to love it. Loyal Blood, and his family, don't have an easy life. While they often make both right and wrong decisions, they live their lives authentically. Proulx's descriptions brought me into the scenes, both beautiful and plain. It's a slow read, but well worth it.

I enjoyed this first adventure of symbologist Robert Langdon in Vatican City and Rome. With the unexpected and sudden flight to the CERN hadron collider and his subsequent travel to Rome to find a dangerous item, the story kept my interest throughout.

I enjoyed this first book in the Academy series. At first, the narrative of the planet archaeological exploration seemed a little slow, but as it continued and as the characters faced obstacles both personal and alien, my interest increased. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Deepsix.

I enjoyed this book about different world interacting - the "real" world and the "faerie". Eithnie, an artist, becomes entangled in both as she wrestles with finding her muse and trying to figure out whether the faces she sees in the woods are real or not. I liked de Lint's descriptions of the woods and the sounds Eithnie hears as she moves through them. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Something Rich and Strange by Patricia McKillip.

I enjoyed this book about family -- the one you're born into and the one you create. Every character is true to themselves and while it can take awhile each can appreciate the other even if they can't always understand them.

I found this to be a mesmerizing book about time, connections, family and self awareness. I liked how the characters interacted and how they learn more about themselves through their interactions with others.

This was a great book of historical fiction set in Finland in the early 1900s and New York City during the jazz age of the 1920s. Reading it, I could almost hear the music playing and the men working on the steel girders of the growing skyscrapers. The characters also came to life with their hopes and fears.

This was an informative account showing how one persuasive man with a well-written, descriptive document exploited people's greed and gullibility. Other major topics include the independence movements in Central and South America in the early 19th century and the eagerness of Europeans to help militarily and financially. Sinclair wraps up the book nicely in his analysis of how MacGregor started becoming caught up in his own fantasy towards the end.

Although some of the scenes and dialogue in “The Attraction” were clichéd, I liked the overall story of teenagers lost in the desert confronting an ancient monster. I also liked the second story, “Necromancer,” especially how the narrator discovers the truth about his twin's death.

While this rather strange and quirky book made me chuckle at times, I felt that it could have used some trimming here and there. In particular, some types of jokes, while funny, were overused from time to time. Still, I liked the story of the put-upon Porrig learning about other worlds and creatures and finding the courage to save this world.

This was a good fantasy fable about learning what's important in life and what's not. I liked the main character, William Bogart Ingersol, aka “Big the Dog,” even when he recounts his past behavior. I also liked the interactions between “Big” and the creatures and people of the Fair Lands.

This book was a good police procedural with an emphasis on the wide spectrum of autism behaviors. I liked how the point of view switched from former patient Jeffery Clifford who has developed ways of coping with the world to detective Emily Folkestone who learns about how autistic people behave.

This book combined many of my interests - ships, Antarctica, the naturalist's wonder and interest in the animal world. I liked following Murphy's voyages both literal as he learned about the ways of whaling on the brig Daisy and emotional as he wished to get home to his new wife, Grace.

This was a good science fiction book with lots of untapped potential. I liked the interactions between the people from the future and the ones in the present. At the end, however, I found myself wondering what happens next and being a little disappointed that there were so many unanswered questions.

This was a poignant and thoughtful book. Aymer Smith reminded me a little of Eugene Henderson in Saul Bellow's Henderson the Rain King. Both characters try so hard to do the right thing, and often their efforts make things worse. I liked the interactions between Aymer Smith and the townspeople of Wherrytown and the American sailors.

I enjoyed this book featuring hemophages (vampires) and angels. I especially liked the interactions between the angel Michael and the hemophage Jenn and between the angel Uziel and the hemophage Chemosh.

This was a very interesting book about language and culture. I especially liked the chapters about the Isle of Man and the Yuchi Indians.

This book was an engaging thriller with lots of twists and turns. I liked the sense of being in the thick of adventure with Bret and his friends, especially the scenes on the boat in Colombia.

This was a very moving and complicated book about a boy trying to make sense of the world in his own unique way. I especially liked the alternating storylines between Oskar's search for the lock and his grandparent's experiences in World War II and afterwards. I also liked the use of photographs in the book.

This was a good mystery with a mix of humor and history as Falco, his wife Helena, and various family members go to Athens, Olympia and Delphi, Greece. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Saturnalia.

Although the plot was a bit formulaic at times, the intensity of the action and the predicament of the characters kept my interest throughout. I especially liked getting the different viewpoints from the characters such as Chet, Davy and Celia.

This was a very interesting urban fantasy which mixed the fantastical with the historical time period. I liked how Jared tried to do the right thing even when things were difficult at home and at work.

This was a good depiction of a world in which the fantastical becomes real. I liked the interactions between the characters, especially Gwynn and the Rev.

This was a thought-provoking look at how faith can encourage helping others, promoting peace and being better stewards of the planet.

This was a very intense thriller which kept my interest throughout. I liked how Peter knew something was wrong and that Ed was somehow involved even if he didn't know exactly what was going on. I also liked the way the point of view switched from third person (Ed) to first person (Peter).