I'm reading Kind of Blue by Miles Corwin on my Kindle.
I'm also re-reading Tortilla Flat by Steinbeck.

I am reading Old Filth by Jane Gardham. Filth stands for failed in London try Hong Kong. The central character is a retired British judge from Hong Kong now in Britain, widowed early in the story. The narrative goes back and forth in time, but is not confusing. He and his wife are what are known as orphans or children of the Raj: parents in one of the colonies sent children back to England to live with foster parents (not necessarily good ones) so their ideas of family, etc are skewed.

I am reading Around Again by Suzanne Strempek Shea. This is the third one of hers I have read. She lives in and writes about small communities in Western Massachusetts not far from where I live. Like the author, her characters are usually of Polish descent as are my husband's relatives, who landed in the same area of the state after emigrating from Poland.

On the fourth book of Harry Potter, Goblet of Fire. I've read all the books years back but we recently watched all of the videos and I realized just how much is left out of the movies so I'm going back and rereading all the books. I think they are great stories.

I'm reading Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. About the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. Fascinating!

Here is a link that might be useful: Devil in the White City

I am reading the new Janet Evanovich Love in a Nutshell, just started it.

Joel Osteen
Every Day A Friday

Just finished "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan," a novel about 19th-century Chinese women. The description of foot-binding was harrowing, though I've read about it in detail before.

"Blood is the Sky" by Steve Hamilton.
His main character is Alex McKnight, a retired Detroit police officer who now lives in Paradise, Michigan,in the U.P. He is living in one of 6 cabins his father built years ago and works as a private eye when he can't get out of it. Good light reads and he has won several awards, like the "Edgars".
His books are hard to find, looks like I'll have to buy new to continue the series. The first one is "A Cold Day in Paradise".

Here is a link that might be useful: Steve Hamiltom

"Caravans", by James Michener. Set in 1946 Afghanistan, it's a great description of the Afghan people and their culture, and of the "ferengi", the foreigners who live among them. Michener is such a good writer, with his beautiful use of English!

Kathyg - I also meant to thank you for mentioning Steve Hamilton. Never had heard of him, but we lived in Michigan's Upper Peninsula for a few years, and I'd love to read a good mystery set up there. So went to Amazon and ordered A Cold Day in Paradise. Thanks again!

I just finished a hilarious book called The Sex Lives of Cannibals. If you ever dreamed of living the life on a far off island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, read this book. It will free your mind and make room for new dreams. :-)

Our January book club selection was different and interesting. One that most club members didn't think too highly of ... until they actually read it. It was The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures by Caroline Preston

My frequent travel friend Marilyn, the most vocal of the dissidents, ended up liking it the most, if for no other reason than the fact that her own mother created a very similar book back in the 20s and 30s. Marilyn brought her mother's book to the meeting for all of us to browse through. Fascinating.

Every time I see someone mention Devil in the White City, I want to go reread it. And I never want to reread a book, there are simply too many other books out there waiting in my 'to be read' pile. But it certainly is an interesting story on so many levels.

I am currently reading two books. Mary Ann in Autumn by Armistead Maupin and The Fate's Song by Marianne Belis.

Mary Ann in Autumn is a continuation some 20 years or so down the road from a wonderful series about San Francisco characters Maupin created in the 70's called Tales of the City. I had forgotten how much I loved the characters in the original series.

The Fate's Song was chosen by a gal in our book club from Romania and the story itself takes place in Romania. Can't really comment further because I am only on page 18 but so far it's got my attention.

Jodi-

I just finished THE JOURNEY WEST by Elaine Schulte. Now I'm readng WITH WINGS AS EAGLES. I am missing the other two books in this series. I will have to look for them. I dont have an Ereader. They are really good easy reading and about 250 pages.

I haven't read anything terrific lately, but my most recent terrific read was The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. I loved every single word that she wrote in that story, I just hated for it to end. I will now read another of her books, not decided which one yet.

Has anyone read Barbara Kingsolver and would like to recommend one for my next?

My most recent read was The 9th Judgment by James Patterson and I was so disappointed in the ending, it just left me flat and cold. I felt it was a "non" ending. What a let down. I am a Patterson fan, but not this one.

woodie: I really enjoyed Barbara Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer.

Woodie, I've read several Kingsolver books and The Poisonwood Bible is at the top of the list of her best books. Also read The Bean Trees, Pigs in Heaven, and Animal Dreams. Liked all but Pigs in Heaven which is a sequel to The Bean Trees. I thought Pigs in Heaven rode the fence between ridiculous and hokey.

My least favorite of the Kingsolver books is probably Prodigal Summer. I found it slow and boring.

Didn't care for any of her 'essay' books like High Tide in Tucson but then, I just really don't care for non-fiction. Your mileage may vary.

Jodi-

Thanks so very much, Tobygirl. I appreciate your recommendation, I'll look for it!

Tobygirl, just so you don't think my comment on Prodigal Summer was a slam on your comment. I had already started writing my review when I got called away from my desk. When I got back I finished up and sent the post not knowing you had made your comment.

Jodi-

Thank you for your comments, Jodi. I'm also not a non-fiction fan. And I hope no one would be offended that you have a different opinion of a book! I love to read and I love to see movies and if there's anything I've learned its that we all have different opinions LOL and that goes for recipes as well :) I've been on both ends at one time or another - either the one who recommended something that someone disliked or else I've read something that someone else has loved and I can't even get through it at all.

And you'll never believe what I'm going to start to read in bed tonight - The Five Little Peppers And How They Grew! A favorite childhood book that I found again in a thrift shop! Good Night.

I've always got a book going...just finished Explosive Eighteen by Evanovich and Black Hills by Nora Roberts...

Just read "Run". By Blake crouch, if you like Koontz and Stephen King, Nd don't mind a lot of blood and suspense, this is a GREAT book!

I am about 3 chapters deep with Into the Wild, by Jon Krakour.
It is a true story recounting the life and death of an ill-prepared young man consumed with leading a nomadic life in Alaska

Just got through reading Brad Meltzer's 'The First Counsel' A really teriffic book, fast paced with lots of dialog to keep things moving. It was hard to put down.

I am reading "Celebrity in Death" the newest J D Robb (Nora Roberts) book. So far it is great. I have read some of the Steve Hamilton books and they are very good. I just finished "The Wedding Gift" by Marlen Suyapa Bodden. It was a very good read, but a terrible heart breaking story at times. It was a story of slavery.

Here's what I've read lately:

"Left Neglected" by Lisa Genova (she wrote "Still Alice"). I really liked it, almost as good as "Still Alice".

"The Almost Moon" by Alice Sebold (she wrote "The Lovely Bones"). I didn't like it although the 2nd half was better than the 1st.

"Deception Point" by Dan Brown, a good read.

"The First Time" by Joy Fielding, pretty good.

"A Secret Kept" by Tatiana De Rosnay (she wrote "Sarah's Key"). It wasn't very good and I skimmed through most of it.

"The Distant Hours" by Kate Morton. This is the 3rd I've read by her and I've enjoyed them all.

"Earthly Possessions" by Anne Tyler. I usually like Anne Tyler's books and this one was not bad. But some people find her books boring, so she's not for everyone.

I am now reading "The Paris Wife" by Paula McLain. I like it so far!

I loved Kate Morton's books.

Just finished Erik Larson's In the Garden Of Beast. About William Dodd ambassador to Hitler's Germany 1933. Very good!

I just finished (again, I forgot I read it) "Miles to go" by Richard Paul Evans. Its the second book to "the Walk" series, Just fantastic, and the 3rd book will come out in June.

Here is a link that might be useful: The walk & others.