Diane says: Set in postwar Germany, The Reader is a provocative, morally challenging, and deeply moving novel about a young boy's erotic awakening in a clandestine love affair with a mysterious older woman. Falling ill on his way home from school, 15-year-old Michael Berg is rescued by Hanna, a woman twice his age. For a time, the two become passionate lovers. Then, one day, Hanna disappears without a word. Years later, as a law student observing a trial in Germany, Michael recognizes his former lover on the stand, accused of a hideous crime. And as he watches Hanna refuse to defend herself against the charges, Michael gradually realizes that she may be guarding a secret more shameful than murder.

Hunter says: The life of Oscar Wao is colorfully written for the word-lover and armchair traveler. We follow three generations of a poor Dominican Republic family that makes it to New Jersey for a better life. The author weaves, with great deftness, the complicated lives of multiple family members and two disparate countries. It is filled with pathos, mystery and a new look at Spanglish, word coinage, and cross-cultural intrigue. It's a challenging read, but for anyone that loves language, a must!

Linda says: I really loved this book.  The story grabs
you from the first page. It has the feel of a classic Gothic novel. Margaret Lea is hired to write the memoir of Vita Winter, the famous author of many best selling books. Her most popular is called Thirteen Tales; in fact it has only twelve.

Margaret finds that the missing story is that of Miss Winter herself. There is an abandoned house,a crazy woman confined to her rooms and possibly a little ghost. This book does not disappoint. Vida Winter's story is riveting. In the process of writing it,
Margaret comes to understand her own life more clearly. A memorable read!  And a great book club choice.
 

Teresa says: When the circus comes to town, an elderly gentleman living in a retirement home, remembers a time in his youth when he dropped out of college and joined the circus.   His circus career is short but adventurous. The excitement includes circus help disappearing from the train, to an elephant that doesn't understand English. Flashing from past to present, this story holds your interest all the way to the wonderful end.

Linda says: This thriller has a group of scientists working on a study of global warming at a base above the Arctic Circle. The discovery of a prehistoric creature frozen in ice results in control of the project shifting to the TV network sponsoring the research. And as for nature, she also adds her fury to the non-stop action as those in this remote area battle for their lives. This one kept me up late reading!

Andy says:  "A writer never forgets the first time he accepted a few coins or a word of praise in exchange for a story... because from then on he is doomed and his soul has a price..."
 
David Martin is a writer of pulp fiction, unlucky in love and life, who accepts a commission from a mysterious patron. As he progresses with the writing, Martin's life  improves dramatically -- until he begins to question just who it is he's working for. Set in Barcelona in the 1920's, this novel is a whirlwind of gothic intrigue, a captivating page-turner in the style of Anne Rice's best work, written in flowing, lyric prose. It is the kind of story you fall into, in turns genuinely frightening and sweetly sentimental. I loved every word of it.

Diane adds:  Fans of Shadow of the Wind will revisit the Cemetery of Lost Books but this is a very different story- a bit darker than the first.   I liked it a lot and so did Linda.

Lori says:  These writers live up to all the hype I’ve been hearing.  Preston and Child are a winning combination who take you on a heart stopping, dare devil ride.  A detective novel like no other, The Cabinet will keep you guessing and just when you think you know the answer they throw you a wild curve ball of an ending!

This series is not to be missed- it is a winner!

Rana says: If you enjoy historical novels with a twist, this is your book. It is about an up and coming artist, Jean-Luc Beauchamp, who is an apprentice of Joan Miro and working for Henri Matisse. This is set in 1944 Paris during the Nazi invasion. It shows how the Resistance may have helped save many famous works of Art before the Nazi’s destroyed them. This book also shows the courage many people showed to save their loved ones. I found the story both disturbing and filled with hope. Be prepared with tissues when reading!

Diane says: I enjoyed this book and the opportunity to meet the characters who divided up Mesopotamia into Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Israel. Through the eyes of Agnes Shanklin, a naive spinster schoolteacher, we meet Winston Churchill, Gertrude Bell, and T. E. Lawrence, otherwise known as Lawrence of Arabia. The author has made up interesting portraits of each of these participants in the Cairo Peace Conference and a colorful travelogue for the area. The characters were well researched by the author but it did lead me to Wikipedia to learn more. Isn't that what novels are about- teaching you something or leading you to learn more on your own?

Linda says: Family secrets and the consequences they cause drive the plot of Maggie O'Farrell's novel.  Iris Lockhart did not know her grandmother has a sister until she received a phone call from the institution where Esme has spent the last sixty-one
years.  Her release into Iris' care unleashes an avalanche of long buried truths that make this story one that stays with the reader long after the end of the book.

Lori says:  A spine tingling thriller with more twists and turns than a maze.  With an ending that will shock and stun yo

Lori says:  My absolute favorite King novel.  Unlike most, this one is a little easier on the “horror”.  To me this is a story of being careful what you ask for, and make sure you’re willing to pay the price.  The devil has opened a shop in town that carries something everyone wants, but he doesn’t want your money.  He wants you to play a prank on your neighbor.  Soon neighbors are turned against each other and only one man can save them all.

Lori says:  A fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller.   Baldacci weaves a new and terrifying story of conspiracy that will so intrigue you, you can’t stop reading until the end.