The Sixes by Kate White

I enjoyed this book a lot. It is a mystery that takes place in a small private college run by Glenda. Years ago her best friend, Phoebe, was harassed and targeted at school by a group of girls. She left the school with painful memories but she did gain a best friend in Glenda. All grown up, both women have found success. Phoebe has been writing celebrity biographies that have become bestsellers. But the life that Phoebe has been living in Manhattan changes suddenly. Her long-time boyfriend decides it isn't working and leaves her. She could have survived except next she is accused of plagiarizing. She is innocent, but you know how that goes! Glenda offers her an escape to regroup and stay out of the limelight. Shortly after Phoebe begins teaching, the body of a female student is found. Phoebe offers to help Glenda find out some information about a "secret society" called The Sixes because they might have had a hand in the murder. Given her own past history, it is difficult for Phoebe -but she will do anything to help her friend. It was fast-paced and interesting. If you like mysteries, check it out!

A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear

In this continuing story of Maisie Dobbs, our heroine is recruited by the British Secret Service. She is able to take the assignment without hesitation because she has inherited a large amount of money from her mentor. Her assignment is to procure a teaching position at a college in Cambridge. Not the college in Cambridge, but a small one founded by Greville Liddicote who wants his college to be devoted to the goal of peace in Europe. During the war he wrote a book about a group of children who go to the battlefield and ask their fathers to come home. That book led to some soldiers refusing to fight anymore. Maisie gets the job as a philosophy teacher (for which she is well qualified). Her 'real' job gets muddied a bit when there is a murder at the school and she begins sleuthing. For me the joy of a Maisie Dobbs book has little to do with the plot. It has everything to do with the time in history (post WWI) and Winspear's ability to remind us of the emotional results of a war that has been over for years. If this sounds like something that would appeal to you, I would strongly recommend that you begin with the first one of the series. (It is called Maisie Dobbs.

Kindred Spirits by Sarah Strohmeyer

I really liked this book. It is a touching story about friendship. These friends belong to the Ladies Society for the Conservation of Martinis. Loosely translated that just means these four women discovered they had a common bond one night after a PTA meeting - and not just that they liked martinis! (By the way, there are lots of martini recipes given throughout the story.) There is always something special about the way a group of friends can create a safe zone where they can do all of their venting and celebrating. They think they know everything important there is to know about one another. Then the unthinkable happens. Lynn is diagnosed with cancer. She battles bravely for two years and then has had enough. The Ladies Society had a pact that if something happened to one of them, the others would go sort through her belongings. (I smiled at that because I had the same pact with two friends!). What they find will lead them to question if they ever really knew Lynn. And then it leads them on a journey to fulfill Lynn's last request of them. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline.

Next to Love by Ellen Feldman

I listened to the audio book of Next to Love and really enjoyed it. It is a wonderful look at small town America during the Second World War and the way the War affected people for years to come. The story takes place in a small town in Massachusetts where Babe, Millie and Grace grew up. Now America is going to war and things are going to change quickly and forever. I thought Feldman did a great job of describing the atmosphere of the times. Naturally there is love and loss (of innocence and of men). The book continues through the years with these women and their families. America is changing and so are they. If you like to read things with an historical perspective, check out this book. I don't think you will be disappointed.

The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai

When Lucy Hull, the childrens' librarian at the Hannibal Public Library, arrives at work one morning, she is surprised to find her favorite patron camped out there. Ten-year-old Ian Drake has run away from home. Concerned about him and his relationship with his parents, Lucy lets Ian talk her into taking him home - a drive that leads them from Missouri to Chicago to Pittsburgh and, finally, Vermont. Is Lucy a kidnapper? Or has she been kidnapped?

I will admit to misgivings in even ordering this book. Librarians suffer from such a weird stereotype that I wasn't sure I wanted to add "kidnapper" to the common lore. But universally good reviews finally convinced me.

I enjoyed the author's writing style and her description of Ian. I'm not sure that her description of his home life was convincing enough to make Lucy convinced she was in the right to run away with him. But I also think that Lucy knew that and her inner dialogue about what she was doing and how it was going to end (and where she was going to end up - in jail?) was part of what made the book interesting and kept my attention. And, really, what librarian or person who loves books and reading wouldn't enjoy all the literary references?

State of Wonder by Ann Pachett

I read the book jacket of this book and didn't think I would really be interested in it. But I do like Pachett's books so I decided to take a chance. (Did you ever meet anyone braver than I am!). I actually listened to the audiobook and the reader did a great job. The story centers around a pharmaceutical company in Minnesota. They have a researcher, Dr. Swenson, who is studying a tribe in the Amazon jungle. The women in this tribe are having babies in their sixties and beyond. I don't know who would find that appealing but the company thinks there is big, big money for them if they can figure out why. Swenson has been down there for years with very little contact much to the dismay of the greedy company. So the company has sent Anders Eckman to check things out. Before Anders relays any useful information, word is sent that Anders has died of an illness. Now they send Dr. Marina Singh off to check on things for the company and see what she can find out about Ander's death at the request of his widow. I quickly became involved in the novel and enjoyed every minute of it. Complex characters, a geography and culture lesson, a bit of romance and of course......a mystery! What did happen to Anders and why won't Dr. Swenson call home????

Dreams of Joy by Lisa See

I am so hooked on Lisa See's books! If you loved Amy Tan's books but haven't tried See's, you need to rush to the library because you have a treat in store. My history background is lacking when it comes to China so I have been getting an education along with my entertainment. Dreams of Joy is a follow up book to Shanghai Girls. That was the story of Pearl and May two sisters who escaped from China (the Japanese were invading) and came to L.A. Now it is 20 years later and Pearl's daughter Joy has escaped L.A. (no invasion - she is just angry with her family, idealistic and really didn't think this all through) to go to Shanghai. She finds her biological father, a famous artist, and goes with him out in the countryside where he will be teaching people to draw. (Not people with talent, just people - part of Mao's Great Leap Forward.) Joy thinks it is all a wonderful idea, she is with her wonderful father, and falls in love with a wonderful guy. That is the first part of the book - after that it is not so wonderful. Pearl risks everything to return to China and bring her daughter home. It was a terrific book. I have learned more about China from this author than I ever did in school! Highly recommended - but read Shanghai Girls first!

Room by Emma Donoghue

This book is really different! It is told from the voice of a five-year-old boy named Jack. It begins on his fifth birthday. Jack doesn't have a party like most five-year-old kids because his life is different. He has spent all five years of his life in one room. His mother has tried to make his life as normal as she can. From Jack's point of view she has been completely successful because he knows no other way of living. His mom does whatever she can to keep Jack's mind stimulated, his body healthy and his heart full of love. Eventually they are able to escape - but there is no way for Jack to escape the consequences of spending his whole life in one room. It is a fascinating book.

Escape by Barbara Delinsky

I can't imagine that every woman has not thought of escaping her life at one time or another - even if only for a day. That is why it is easy for the reader to understand Emily and her 'escape'. She lives in Manhattan with her husband Tim. Well, 'live' might be a bit overstated. They reside there but as for living, there is not a lot of that. Both she and Tim are lawyers. Tim is hoping to become a partner in his law firm in a few months, so he has been working insane hours. Emily thought she would take her law degree and help victims of corporate greed/abuse. Part of it came true. She spends her days calling victims - but she is doing it to help the corporation, not the victims. And is she at least calling from a comfortable office? No. It's a cubicle. One day she has had it. She walks out of work, packs and drives away (in her husband's car that he is very fond of!). None of this was planned but she soon knows where she is headed. During college she spent a summer in New Hampshire. Before the invention of the cell phone I am sure it was much easier to escape. But Emily has to try and explain to her husband, to her boss and to her parents what she is doing - pretty tough because she doesn't know what she is doing! An entertaining book.

10th Anniversary by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

This is the tenth (in case you missed that reference in the title) book in the Women's Murder Club series. I don't read many of Patterson's anymore but I never miss a book in this series. For those who are not familiar with the members of this club, they are Detective Lindsay (who has just gotten married), Assistant D.A. Yuki Castellano and Cindy, a newswoman (whose last name I can not remember!). Lindsay is investigating the case of a teenager who was left for dead. She has a newborn baby who is missing. Yuki is prosecuting a woman who (alledgedly!) murdered her husband. She is under a lot of pressure to win a convinction. As always, it is fun to read about the interaction between the friends as they try to solve crime.

Night Road by Kristin Hannah

Hannah writes good books and this one is no exception. Like the book I blogged about previously, this is another cautionary tale - this time it is about teens and drinking. The book opens with an introduction about Lexi, the daughter of a drugged-out mother. She has been in and out of foster homes for years. Her life changes when her social worker tells her that she has great news - Lexi does have a living relative even though her mom always said there was no one. It is her great aunt, Eva. Although Eva lives in a trailer with not much money, she welcomes Lexi into her home and gives her the love that Lexi has always craved. Her first day of school (high school) is scary, but she has been in this situation many times before. Feeling the rejection in the lunchroom she heads outside and sees a girl sitting by herself. When she approaches her, the girl (Mia) warns Lexi that to be seen with her is 'social suicide'. Immediately the two bond and Mia takes Lexi home to meet her family. Mia's dad is a doctor, her twin brother Zach is the heart-throb in town and her mom, Jude, is mother-of-the-year material. Over the next few years Lexi becomes an integral part of the family. Until one tragic night. The characters are likable and believable. It is a story of love, despair and forgiveness. It's a good one - don't miss it!

This Beautiful Life by Helen Schulman

The Bergamots are a normal middle-class family in the process of transitioning to a different life. They have left a small college town to move to New York City. It is a great career move for Richard. His wife Liz has given up her academic life to see that the children get settled in. Jake is 15 and although he was nervous about finding friends, he has landed in a group at his private school. Coco is the six-year-old whom they adopted from Chinese. One of her new friends is having a birthday night at the Plaza Hotel (with mothers invited!). Jake is off that night to his own party. It is not chaperoned and things are a bit wild. Daisy, an eighth-grader, finds Jake attractive and makes some advances. Jake tells her she is too young and thinks that is the end of it. But the next morning he receives an email with an attachment from Daisy that is rated XXX. He should have deleted it but instead he forwards it to his friend Henry. Henry calls Jake immediately but it goes to voice mail before he can answer. By the time he retrieves the message from Henry, it has been forwarded on, and on and on. This is the story of how social media can ruin lives in the blink of an eye. It is a horror story if you have kids who have access to computers. I don't, but I still found it to be very scary.

The Pile of Stuff at the Bottom of the Stairs by Christina Hopkinson

If you have ever lived with someone as an adult, whether it be a spouse,a significant other or a roommate, you will identify with this book. Mary Gilmour is going through a rough patch in life - nothing catastrophic, just that she has two young sons and her husband is driving her crazy. You have probably seen these crimes in your own home. Perhaps you have even committed them from time to time! Some examples: Joel leaves used tea bags in the sink instead of tossing them. Joel can't find anything in the fridge by himself. If you reread the title of the book you will learn of another transgression! One night Mary gets the brilliant idea of making a spreadsheet based on her husband's actions for the next six months. He can earn or lose points according to what he has done that day. Of course Joel knows nothing about it! The burning question is - what will happen at the end of that time? A very entertaining book and one that everyone should enjoy!

GUINEA PI(G): Pet Shop Private Eye (Series)

Guinea PI(G): Pet Shop Private Eye graphic novel series is a new on the scene. We currently have books 1-4 in this series (I have read them all) and they were so surprisingly fun to read, that I had to recommend them! The cartoons are fun, cute, and interesting to look at, and the story lines are so funny. Every animal in the shop has such great personalities, you can't help but love every goofy character. The kid in me just adores these books, and I think kids of all ages who are looking for a good laugh will love them too.

Hamster and Cheese: This is the first book in the series where we meet the main characters Sasspants PI(G), a very smart and creative guinea pig, and Hamisher, a wanna-be side kick and hyper hamster. They, and the other animals, live in Mr. Venezi's pet shop. Unfortunately for the pets, Mr. Venezie knows nothing about animals, and is constantly mislabeling them (for example: he labeled the hamsters as 'koalas'), feeding them the wrong food, and putting them in the wrong cagest. That's enough for the pets to deal with already, but now there's a sandwich thief in their midst. Hamisher thinks she is a PI (private investigator) since her cage label says Guinea Pi (but in actuality the G has just fallen off). So, he asks her to investigate, and after some convincing she agrees and together they take on the mystery of the serial Sandwich-Napper

And Then There Were Gnomes: In second book we meet up with Sasspants and Hamisher again. Hamisher is ready for another mystery and is dying to be side kick to Sasspants, but Sasspants has no intention of continuing to be a private eye... one time was enough! But soon enough, Hamisher notices that all the mice are disappearing and the other pets in the shop start to worry. When Sasspants wont help him, Hamisher decides to take on the case himself. Will Hamisher be able to solve this case on his own, or will the case of the missing mice go unsolved?

The Ferret's a Foot: The third book in this series begins with Mr. Venenzi hanging up a help wanted sign. Poor Mr. Venenzi really doesn't know much about the animals, but what if the new person isn't nice? So Sasspants and Hamisher volunteer to help out Mr. Venenzi and make new signs for the animal cages with little pictures of the animals on them. Then Mr. Venenzi won't have to hire any one! Soon, however, something is amiss.... all the signs have been changed! The Lizards were now Blizards and the Chinchillas were Gorillas! Every one suspects the new ferrets, but it's up to Sasspants and Hamisher to discover the truth behind this mystery.

Fish You Were Here: The fourth book begins with Mr. Venenzi interviewing potential employees. He's already turned away so many nice sounding people, the pets are starting to wonder if they will be lucky enough to get some one who actually knows what they're doing! Then Viola comes in, friendly and knowledgeable about the animals. Mr. Venenzi hires her on the spot. She is perfect for the job and is takes over all the care for the pets... so well that Mr. Venenzi becomes depressed and feels like he isn't needed any more. Then, one day, Mr. Venenzi doesn't come in at all! Suddenly, Viola starts neglecting the animals and sits at the desk watching TV all day. They animals panic... what happened to Mr. Venenzi? Will he ever come back? Sasspants is determined to find out what happened to Mr. Venenzi, but even if they find out where he is... will it be too late?

Maine by Courtney Sullivan

Can I just say that I want a beach house in Maine. And then I want to sit there and read the third novel that Ms. Sullivan is certainly working on by now! So you have probably figured out that I really liked this book and that it takes place in a beach house in Maine! A multi-generational group of women who are mothers and daughters are all in this beach house one summer. You can guess that already there will be tension and at least a few fireworks. Alice Kelleher is the matriarch of the family - but she is not the warm fuzzy type. She is not very likable but as the story progressed and I learned about her background, I forgave her......a little anyway. Near the main house where Alice spends several months of the year, is a cottage which is occupied by the families of her three children. The schedule has been set by daughter-in-law Ann Marie who is happiest when she is keeping everything organized and running on her schedule. Her schedule did not include the surprise arrival of her niece, Maggie who has run to the beach to decide her future (before she could tell her boyfriend that she was pregnant they had a fight and he broke up with her). So then Maggie's mom, Kathleen, leaves her partner and worm farm to fly across the country to talk face-to-face with her daughter. There is a lot of drinking and church-going happening - is that a contradiction???? Bottom line is this is a great book!!! Check it out - we have both the book and the audio book.