I read "The Handmaid's Tale" right when it came out, because I was (and am) a fan of Margaret Atwood. Several years later, a friend who normally read only non-fiction asked me to recommend a novel for him, and I recommended this one. He loved it so much that he gave it for Christmas to all of his friends, many of whom were also my friends. And in the months after Christmas, people kept coming up to me to ask if I'd read this wonderful new book that Hal gave them. It was all I could do to keep from getting a sign that read, "I was the one who recommended it to Hal!"

Socks, this book is the only one I've read in the series. I think it would help to read the first one, get introduced to Skippyjon and why he thinks he should be a chihuahua instead of a cat. ;o) But otherwise, I don't think it would matter. We enjoyed our book very much without having read the first one. Gayle, if I worked at B & N I would spend my paycheck before I left the store! LOL. Otherwise, I would love that job! I would love to work in the children's section and do the storytimes; I love reading aloud to kids. Talley Sue, have your kids read the kids' novels by Carl Hiaasen? "Hoot" and "Flush." I love those books. They are funny, the perfect example of irony, and the language and pace of the plot appeals to middle grade kids. My 5th grader read them this year. He liked them a lot, and he doesn't like to read (whose kid is he?!). I also like the books by Deborah Wiles, for girls. We listend to "Love, Ruby Lavender" on CD while on a road trip. Sad, funny, smart, and cute, a good read. DD read "Every Little Bird that Sings," she is 8, 2nd grade, above-grade reader, but I think it was still a little above her reading level. One of my favorite volunteer duties at the school is to read the new children's novels that come in, they have to be screened for content before hitting the shelves for students. They tell me "just skim them" but I can't! Some of them I've liked recently were "Penny from Heaven" by Jennifer Holm, set post WWII, Italian family, very well developed plot and characters. And "Rules" by Cynthia Lord, narrated by the sister of an autistic boy, deals with accepting disabilities and the people who have them. It comes across very sincere and believable. I did not like the new series that tells of the adventurs of Peter and Pan, "Peter and the Starcatchers" by Dave Barry, et al. They were IMO, very boring, text was forced/dragged out into twice as many pages as they really needed. They are very long books, and I could not force myself to finish it. That one I did just skim. OK. I'm done for now. ;o)

Don't you hate it when you loan books and people swear on their lives they will return them and then you never see the books again??? Have you maybe done an internet search for Happy Harvest or Provo Craft? Maybe you could find some instructions on-line....Guess it's worth a try, huh? Barbara

I tried the Outlander series because the time travel aspect intrigued me, but the brutality and continual peril put me off that series. I think I only made it through the first two. Same here. I didn't even make it through the first book. It seemed like she just totally forgot about her husband in her real time. I felt like I was reading two different books/authors. Rob, have you read any Nick Hornby? Juliet Naked was great. I totally loved Juliet Naked. Especially good if you are of a "certain age". The only romances that I've read in the last few years are Rules of Civility, and One Day. I believe I may have cried while reading both.