I'm almost finished "The Forgotten Garden" by Kate Morton, it's pretty good. Before that I read:

-"Secret Daughter" by Shilpi Somaya Gowda......it was ok, not as good as I thought it was going to be. Good but not excellent.

-"Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides .............not a new book but I loved it.

-"Half Broke Horses" by Jeannette Walls...........not as good as "The Glass Castle" but still good.

-"Like Water for Chocolate" by Laura Esquivel.............pretty good but quirky.

-"Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" by Lisa See..........good

-"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.....a fun book, quick read.

-"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson..........very slow going for the 1st half of the book and I almost gave up several times. But the 2nd half was good.

-"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak...........loved it

-"The Book of Negroes" by Lawrence Hill..........excellent, excellent book.

-"By the Rivers of Brooklyn" by Trudy Morgan-Cole..........by a local author about Newfoundlanders who move to Brooklyn in search of work during the 1950's. Pretty good.

-"The Help" by Kathryn Stockett.........loved it.

-"Shanghai Girls" by Lisa See...........pretty good.

Glad to hear you enjoyed "The Book Thief". I've been trying to get it at the library and it's always checked out. Since I know it's good I'm going to put a "hold" on it. That's interesting b/c I enjoyed "Half Broke Horses" better than "The Glass Castle." Maybe b/c life was harder in the Glass Castle. The Guernesey... was just okay to me, and I did love "The Help." I wasn't sure about "Middlesex" but will check it out now that I know you liked it. I'd heard if you liked "The Help" you'd like "Postmistress" and I did like it, but not as much as "The Help". Our book group read "The Piano Teacher" for this month and it was just okay. Of course, these are all my opinios,, and that's why we have so many authors. I'm reading a Lee Child now and I've always liked his books. Sometimes they get really violent, but that's just the way he writes. Keep those recommendations coming!!

I am reading Autumn Blue by Karen Harter, so far I am liking it.

Sue

Casey - I have read almost everthing on your list and agree with all your assessments. The Book Thief is one of my all time favvorite books. And I think Middlesex ranks right up there in my top 10.

I just finished Secret Daughter and almost gave up on it. It grew on me, but did not make a lasting impression.

I am reading Every Last One by Anna Quindlen now and haven't formed an opinion yet.

In August I read:

The Wives of Henry Oades by Johanna Moran - Really liked it.

The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley- Very disappointed.

The Red Thread by Ann Hood- another book that held such promise but disappointed in the end.

The Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick - Wish I hadn't wasted my time.

The Girl Who Fell From the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow - Loved, loved this book.

Lottery by Patricia Wood - This story made me cry, which means I was emotionally vested in it.

Major PettigrewÂs Last Stand by Helen Simonson - Cute light hearted story set in rural England.

Just about finished with James Patterson's Alex Cross's Trial. It is hard to rea because of the subject matter, but a very, very good book. I was on the waiting list at the library since last November. Worth waiting for.

'eat, pray, love' and 'my formerly hot life..dispatches from just the other side of young' ~ liz

Here's my list of books I've read

Northern Lights by Nora Roberts

Whiplash by Catherine Coulter I find myself buying more of her books and REALLY enjoy them! I can't find very many though darn it!

I am reading the 3rd book of a 4 book series now.
Montana Creeds: Logan
Montana Creeds:Dylan
Montana Creeds:Tyler

I am waiting anxiously for Janet Evanovich's new book!

Marci, thanks for the tip about "Reliable Wife". I had it on my list and will re-consider. Can you tell me a little more about "Middlesex?"

Vannie - I forgot to mention that I read Mudbound last year and really liked it. It was one of those books that stayed with me long after I finished it.

Now for Middlesex - the title gives away the gist of the story. It is Calliope's story and I was hooked from the first chapter. Jeffrey Eugenides is a gifted and talented writer, IMHO. As Calliope gradually discovers why she is not like the other "girls" and becomes Cal, you feel "her" pain. I don't find these kinds of stories depressing, but rather uplifting due to the strength and fortitude that the main characters have to develop in order to cope with life. DS recommended it to me, otherwise I might have passed it by. It isn't just the story line that intrigued me in the end, but the writer's way with words that made the story so memorable.

I hardly read anything anymore just lost my desire I used to always go to lunch with a book in hand Did you all know that Garden Web has a nice readers forum? You might get some new ideas for book there

Here is a link that might be useful: Reader's Paradise Forum

Thank you for posting that, Minnie. I bookmarked it and will certainly check it out.

Oh, just today I went to Chapters to pick up a book by, Lynne Sherry McLean. It's called "Where Mary Went". I can hardly wait to read it!

I like non-fiction most of the time. I'm about half way through the Zoo Story, by Thomas French. It's interesting to read about how 11 elephants are transported from Africa to the Tampa Zoo, I think 5 stay there, and then the rest, go on to the San Dieago Zoo. The author takes us on a behind the scenes look at zoos. (apes are very emotional)
Next, is Peter Jenkins- Along the Edge of America. He's the guy who walked across America, many years ago. Now he's written about his latest adventure of taking a boat across the Gulf of Mexico, around the edge of the Gulf, hence the title. (From the Florida Keys to Texas.) He has an easy way of writing, that feels like you are with him.

foggy - Have you read BabylonÂs Ark: The Incredible Wartime Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo by Lawrence Anthony?

I loved this book! It really is an incredible wartime story of the bravery, initiative, and dedication of one man to try and save the abandoned animals at the Baghdad zoo after the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Lawrence Anthony is a man of courage and his intense devotion to animals comes through in this story. It both amazed me for its bravery and appalled me for its cruelty and I couldnÂt put it down.

I read on the GW Reader's Paradise, but there's just something a little more personal over here--don't know what, but there is!!

I just finished reading "A Dog's Purpose" written by W. Bruce Cameron. It's a novel for humans, written from a dog's perspective. As you read, you follow this dog from one life into the next. In each of his lives he is reincarnated as dog and takes what he has learned from his previous life, into the next. His main goal is to find out what his true purpose in life is. It's depressing at times and a tear jerker, but a must read for animal lovers.

marci-pa, no I haven't seen that book, but I'll look for it! Thanks.

I'd rather spend my time reading about something I may learn from, and people's adventures. Once in awhile I like a good mystery though, and I pay attention to what you guys recommend. Thanks for this starting this thread as you do, vannie. We all like to see what we're reading!

I just finished Testimony by Anita Shreve. I really liked it. It's about a sex scandal that breaks out at a New England boarding school, and how it affects the school and the town. It's about heart-breaking consequences of the actions people take. A very well written book that had me sobbing at times.