Authors A-E

Maeve Binchy

Quentins - I enjoyed this book because it tied in characters from several of her other books. It seemed to drag occasionally (maybe just because I got irritated with the main character), but on the whole, I thought it was worth reading. *Buy it*

Scarlet Feather - For me, this book was a lot of fun to read because I had something in common with the characters - I like to cook and have a little bit of catering experience (thanks, Mom). You can't help but like the characters - they're down to earth and pretty funny, especially the twins. It's easy to be drawn in to this book, and I know that it's one I'll reread. *Buy it*

Tara Road - Although this book wasn't as humorous as some of Binchy's other work, it was still a good one. Some parts were fairly obvious, but it didn't detract too much from the story. Tara Road was not the easiest of her books to read, however, so you might want to start with a different work if you're reading Binchy for the first time. *Buy it*


Judy Blume

Summer Sisters - This is such a great book. I suppose it's technically a romance novel, but it said more to me about friendship than about love. I'm sure it's one that B&N would call a "beach read" but as far as I'm concerned it's an anytime read! *Buy it*

Wifey & Smart Women - I read these two novels in the same volume. I expected to be just as taken with them as I was with Summer Sisters, but apparently there was a reason they didn't do as well as that novel! I wasn't very impressed. *Borrow it from the library or don't bother*


Dan Brown

Digital Fortress - This is a great book for anyone who likes computers. I read this book in one sitting; I could not put it down. Lots of twists and turns will keep you guessing about what Digital Fortress actually is, although a few things are obvious. All in all, very entertaining. *Buy it or borrow it from the library*

Robert Langdon Series
Angels & Demons - I actually read this book after I read The Da Vinci Code (oops!). I liked the ancient mystery approach, and the book seemed to move quickly. The murders in this one were a bit more gruesome than in the second book. Definitely an interesting book. *Buy it*

The Da Vinci Code - I liked this book better than Angels & Demons, but that might just be because I was exposed to this one first. It just seemed more thought-out, a little deeper, than the first novel. It's a great mystery story. (Please note - I recommend this book for entertainment purposes only!! There's a reason this was published in the FICTION category, people! I'm not promoting goddess worship or changing your religion or anything like that...it's FICTION.) *Buy it*


Jill Conner Browne

The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love - I laughed out loud while reading this book. It's that good, especially if you were born and/or raised in the South. It's a little mix of everything, and you definitely should not pass this one by! *Buy it*

God Save the Sweet Potato Queens - There were parts of this book that were funny, but on the whole I was disappointed in it. It was marketed as if it were a completely different book from TSPQBOL (as it is referred to in this book), but it seemed to mostly be letters from people who had read TSPQBOL and wanted to share their own stories. If I had expected that from this book, I would have had no problem with it, but I feel a little bit gypped because of the marketing approach. *Borrow it from the library*


Tracy Chevalier

Falling Angels - I found this as a bargain book and purchased it because I recognized the author's name. I enjoyed the writing style, which reminded me a little of Alice Hoffman. While this book will probably never make my list of favorites, it certainly wasn't bad, and I am looking forward to reading other books by Chevalier. *Buy it or borrow it from the library*

Girl with a Pearl Earring - So I finally got this book from the library and read it. It was really good! (Now I just want to see the movie...) This was so well-written. It just gives the painting more depth to have this kind of history attached to it. Even if there is no truth to the story at all (I really have no idea how much of the story is based on fact), it makes you look at the painting in a new light. Excellent book. *Buy it*

Virgin Blue - This is a good book, switching from modern-day to the past. It dragged occasionally, and it didn't really have a firm ending, but I enjoyed reading it. I believe this was Chevalier's first novel, and in some respects, it shows. Overall, while it will never make a favorite's list, it's a good read. *Borrow it from the library*