Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Deep in the Valley by Robyn Carr

Jane Hudson, the daughter of an aging doctor, takes over his practice. She tries to keep secret her love affairs with a DEA agent and treats a wide range of medical problems. Does love win out in the end? Read the book to find out. I'd definitely recommend this one!

~Submitted by Helen

Monday, October 5, 2009

Brooklyn by Colm Toibin

I absolutely loved this book! I listened to it on CD and the narrator spoke with a great dialect which made the characters really come to life. It is a simple story about a young girl who leaves her native Ireland for a new life in Brooklyn. Nothing earth-shattering happens, but it is the telling of her story and the play between the characters that make this book come alive. It is similar in style to An Irish Country Doctor - simple but well worth reading.

~Submitted by Susan

Friday, October 2, 2009

Even Money by Dick and Felix Francis

Although the world has lost the fast-paced horse racing mysteries of prolific author, Dick Francis, his son, Felix, seems to be filling his (horse) shoes nicely.
Ned Talbot works as a bookmaker at a race track, and is taken by surprise when a booky claims to be his father, whom Ned thought died many years ago. Before Ned can untangle the web of deceit his father is murdered. Ned finds himself trying to make sense of things and in the process becomes a target.

I recommend this book.


~Submitted by Sue

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Keep Submitting Your Book Reviews and Win Prizes

Summer's over but we still want to hear about what you're reading so keep submitting your book reviews! At the end of each month we'll be drawing a winner from the reviews we've received. Printed review forms are available in the library or you can submit them online at http://www.laglib.org/bookreviewform.html. Reviews will be posted here throughout the year. So if you're ever stumped about what to read next, you can always count on Book Chat for some ideas.

This program is made possible through the generosity of the Friends of the LaGrange Library.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer


The Power of Intention is an engaging book with practical suggestions to improve one's attitude and achieve positive solutions to life's problems. Direct, simple language with realistic examples. Thought provoking, yet not preachy. Definitely worth a second (or first!) read.

~Submitted by Patty

Thursday, August 27, 2009

The Pretend Wife by Bridget Asher


I LOVED THIS BOOK! Okay, now that that is out of the way - Bridget Asher's book The Pretend Wife was just the kind of book I like. I found Asher's writing style to be very witty & relaxed - and I loved her main characters a great deal. I really cared about what was going to happen to them - which is very important for me in book choices!

Gwen Merchant is happily married (at least in her understanding of a marriage she is) to Peter. After unexpectedly encountering her old college boyfriend Elliot Hull, she & her husband accept a very unusual proposition from Hull. Elliot's mother is dying & he told her a little white lie saying that he was married & she shouldn't worry about him. One problem - he isn't really married! After being invited to a party by Peter, Elliot asks Gwen to pretend to be his wife so that he can introduce her to his mother! Shockingly, Gwen's husband Peter is okay with this idea (really?! - yes that was my exact response when I read it!). And that is when I was pulled in - what does this say about Peter & Gwen's marriage? Why would Elliot choose Gwen? How is Gwen going to handle this predicament? Yet, something deeper in the story is the turmoil in Gwen's life of dealing with the loss of her mother at a young age & how that seems to have had an overall effect on her life's choices & relationships. Oh boy! Once you hit the climax of this story, you are already in way too deep!

~Submitted by Samantha

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Congratulations to our third Fun in the Sun raffle prize winner, Carol McCurdy! She is the winner of a $25 Mobil Gas Card! Now she can re-fill her gas tank, on us!, & continue coming to the library for more good reads!

You too can be a winner of great prizes just like this - the fourth AND final drawing will be on Tuesday September 8th - when the Fun in the Sun Grand Prize will be announced!

Monday, August 24, 2009

Below Zero by C.J. Box


Could the thought-to-be deceased foster daughter of Wyoming's Game warden, Joe Pickett, really be alive? In the newest chapter of the Joe Pickett series, Below Zero, Pickett's 17 year old daughter, Sheridan, begins receiving disturbing text messages from someone claiming to be her dead sister; and Pickett's entire family is forced to relive the tragedy. Even worse, whoever is sending these messages is traveling cross country with a suspected serial killer who is targeting people whose carbon footprint is too high. Joe's effort to fly under the radar is foiled again when the case goes high profile and involve his long time nemesis, FBI's Portenson.

~Submitted by Sue

Friday, August 21, 2009

Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos

As promised, here's my review of Love Walked In. It's actually a prequel to Belong to Me, though I don't remember it mentioned that way on the Belong to Me jacket. If I had, I'm sure I would have read them in order and enjoyed Belong to Me much more.

In Love Walked In you meet Cornelia Brown who is romantic and looks at life and people through classic movies, such as The Philadelphia Story. A point which I, not being a movie buff, found distracting. However, midway through the book the movie references seem to fade and I found myself enjoying Cornelia's story of how she meets her young friend Clare who transforms Cornelia's world. Of course, you also meet Cornelia's friend Teo and learn how he fits into her life. Love Walks In is a tale of Cornelia's growth and self-discovery.

My recommendation is definitely read Love Walked In first before picking up Belong to Me. You'll get to know, like and understand what make Cornelia and Teo tick before venturing with them to their life in the suburbs. I think you'll enjoy what you find.

~Submitted by Lisa

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Congratulations to our second Fun in the Sun raffle prize winner, Jen Vessio! She is the winner of a $25 Red Robin Gift Card! After reading a good book, she'll be able to enjoy a nice burger & bottomless basket of fries with a chocolate milkshake! Yum!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

A Coldness in the Blood by Fred Saberhagen


This is the first book I've read by this author. As far as vampire fiction goes, this book was good but a little lacking in the suspense department! I would read others in this series but was a little disappointed in the weak plot line. Supposedly legendary Vlad Dracula is in today's world & has distant family ties to a human family, the Southerlands. They assist each other in a mystery concerning a philosopher's stone, keeping its magical power away from some evil characters. I find it laughable that the original Dracula would be in need of human assistance & willing to keep ties with human relatives. Despite that, I still recommend this book.

~Submitted by Rachel

Monday, August 10, 2009

The Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux

The opening tag line of this book is : Have you ever wanted to rewrite your past?

While that intrigued me, I picked this book up because the 3 friends the book is based around are celebrating their 40th birthdays, as I will be later this year. Leslie, Madison and Ellie are offered the opportunity to go back in time to any 3 week period of their lives and see how the course of their existences could have been different if they had simply made different choices. They travel back in time with the understanding that they can choose to return to their current lives after the 3 weeks with or without the memories of the changes they'd made or continue living the lives that were predicated on their altered choices.

At first, I'll admit, I was skeptical about the whole time travel aspect of The Summerhouse. I tend to like my books entirely based in reality. However, Jude Deveraux writes in a way that makes the entire story believable. She also creates characters that are people you care about and find yourself rooting for. So, if you're not immediately hooked because you've often wondered what your life would be like if you'd made other choices, the characters will draw you in. This was an enjoyable read.

~Submitted by Lisa

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Congratulations to our first Fun in the Sun raffle prize winner, Christine Lent! She is the winner of a $25 Regal Cinemas Gift Card! After reading a good book, she's off to an evening @ the movies!

Monday, August 3, 2009

Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos

Marisa de los Santos shows that just as you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, you shouldn't judge the people you meet until you've had the opportunity to really get to know them. Chances are you'll be surprised with what you find.

Belong to Me tells the story of Cornelia Brown and the people she meets as she and her husband, Teo, move to the suburbs. Some she clicks with right away, others prove more elusive. However, their lives are much more intertwined than they first appear.

Belong to Me was an enjoyable read but not one I'd say would be a favorite. Stay tuned, though. De los Santos' Love Walked In is at the top of my "to read" pile. I'll let you know how that one goes.

~Submitted by Lisa

Friday, July 31, 2009

The Family Man by Elinor Lipman


I have never been disappointed with a book written by this author, and Family Man fits the bill! Anyone who enjoys books set in New York City will enjoy this story. Mrs. Lipman knows how to make her characters jump off the page and seem real. I was immediately involved with the main character Henry, a gay man who, after divorce, reunites with his now adult daughter, Thalia. The book was quite humorous and the supporting characters were full of personality. If you have not read anything by this author, run to the library!


~Submited by Susan

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Still Alice by Lisa Genova



Lisa Genova's debut novel, Still Alice, is a moving story of a professor stricken with early onset Alzheimer's. What made the experience more vivid was the author's narration style. It was very straight forward and not emotional. Which made it seem as though it were possible in anyone's life - very realistic. I would highly recommend this book.

~ Submitted by Linore

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Hope in a Jar by Beth Harbison

I was excited to find this book as I thoroughly enjoyed Beth Harbison's earlier works, Shoe Addicts Anonymous and Secrets of a Shoe Addict. They were great light reading - perfect for the beach or pool and I highly recommend them! When I discovered Hope in a Jar held references to commercials and beauty products from the 80s, the era of my youth, I was even more excited. Unfortunately, I found this book disappointing. I felt no connection to the characters and found the story to be choppy and disjointed. Finally, the 80s references, while nostalgic, weren't incorporated into the writing at all and they were often distracting. I wouldn't recommend Hope in a Jar but definitely pick up Beth Harbison's other books.

~Submitted by Lisa

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Skinny Dip by Carl Hiassen


Do you enjoy a quick summer read? A book that makes you snicker? One that doesn't make you think TOO much? Then you may want to consider checking out the book Skinny Dip by Carl Hiassen. Joey Perrone is on an anniversary cruise with her husband, next thing she knows he has pushed her into the water. Her husband Chaz, believing her dead, plays the saddened widower. Little does he know that Joey survives the fall from the ship & is out to seek revenge against her husband! Skinny Dip introduces many interesting characters and you'll root for Joey all the way to the end, while Chaz is delectably hateful & you'll love watching him squirm. One downside to the story however, is Hiassen's portrayal of the male & female characters. The female characters were overly sexualized, meanwhile the men were all womanizers. That bit of the story just didn't sit well with me once I finished the book & gave it a bit of thought as a whole. However, without taking that into consideration, the story makes for an odd mix of crime fiction & light humor - a fun & quick read for those hot summer days!

~Submitted by Samantha C.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Cool off this summer with a Good Read!

Our Annual Fun in The Sun Adult Summer Reading Program kicks-off today! Stop by the Library to register & pick up your goody bag. Guess what? There's no required reading list - just read whatever you want & enjoy most. Just read or listen to books & submit short reviews online or in person. Review forms can be found in your goody bags, at laglib.org or in the Library. Remember - your book reviews are your raffle entries for fabulous prizes every 2 weeks and for the grand prize drawing on September 7th! Don't forget to check your goody bag for a lucky flip-flop!

Check back here as we'll be posting the submitted reviews so you can see which books others have enjoyed. We hope you'll add your comments to the postings too. Who knows, you just may help someone discover a new favorite author or even find one for yourself!

Happy Reading!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

The Boleyn Inheritance by Philipa Gregory

This is a long, masterfully written tale about the era and person of King Henry VIII and his last two wives, Anne of Cleaves and Kitty Howard. I listened to the book on CD and enjoyed the use of four voices telling the story from the perspective of four different characters. My daughter, however, read the book; and found the use of a four-party narrative confusing. If, as I assume, Gregory painstakingly researched the time period and its events – then I learned an enormous amount of an era in which I had previously known very little. I now view this historical period with color, depth, and a profound interest. Of course, much of what is portrayed is based on Gregory’s speculation; but I think she does a very credible job. Under her pen the characters come alive to leave a lasting impression on the reader/listener. Her character development of Henry’s two wives is nothing short of amazing. They both mature very differently, but in an extremely appealing (though not entirely happy) fashion. If you read their story on Google, you will find black and white words on paper. Once you read Gregory’s book, the characters are ‘fleshed’ out into living breathing (and sometimes dying) people. I unreservedly recommend this book.

~Submitted by Elaine