Riveting and now I know what all the hype is about. This book was an amazing thriller set in Sweden that deftly ties together two characters--Mikael and Lisbeth. They both are "fighting the system" in their own way and seeking justice. Modern day technologies are highlighted and used in spectacular ways. A mystery of a missing person is the nugget of the book. We learn about Sweden and the neo-Nazism that is still present there. This is the first in a trilogy--can't wait to dive into the second one. Tragically, the author died of a heart attack after completion of the third book.

I adored this quick read about thirteen women who purchase a diamond necklace together and treat it as a timeshare. We each come from a different experience and our feelings about materialism & wealth & sharing & communal property differ. Friendship supersedes all that and that becomes the greatest lesson of all for these women. They can be friends despite different belief systems and motivations and even political affiliations! Yippee!! The strength is in our friends!

Discovering Linda Fairstein is just as exciting as discovering Harlan Coben! Set in the New York Public Library (what's not to like?) is a mystery involving the elite of New York and the conservators of rare books. The main character, Alex Cooper, is so likable and so knowledgeable, you can't wait for the mystery to be solved. Tightly written, snappy, short chapters made this a wonderful fast read for a busy person. And I learned so much!

A fast fictional read that was simply excellent. Eilis Lacey moves to Brooklyn, New York from Enniscorthy, Ireland based on the recommendation of a priest. (circa 1950s) Eilis is grappling with social norms on both sides of the ocean. In Brooklyn, she experiences culture shock, weather shock!, and homesickness. She is obedient at school, at work and to her landlady. Then she meets Tony and things begin to change. She appears to be finding her own identity. Suddenly she must return to Ireland and once again her destiny is being determined by others. What road will she choose and why? Which would be better for her--Ireland or Brooklyn? All I could think was there must have been countless women (from all cultures) who were in situations like this--I grieve for them.

George Martin reminisces about his pioneering work as a producer in the record industry in England before, during, and after the reign of The Beatles. A fascinating look at the group dynamics and how Martin, along with Brian Epstein, groomed The Beatles for success.

Jane lives in a California beachside home on the Pacific Ocean with her father and beloved dog. Her grandmother invites her to visit Elvie, the Scottish estate of her early childhood. Jane meets up with Sinclair, her close cousin. Jane discovers that Sinclair is no longer the man she once dreamed of marrying. Even though he is charming she can no longer trust him.

Engross yourself in this detailed account of persistence and bravery which took place during the dark days of the Holocaust. Eva and Martin Deutschkron met, fell in love, endured many hardships together, and eventually sailed to the United States. They opened a tailoring business in Madison, Wisconsin but they were forever scarred by the deaths of numerous family members.

Dr. David Henry, an orthopedic surgeon, delivers his own son when his wife Norah goes into labor in the middle of a blizzard in 1964 and the obstetrician cannot make it to the hospital. David and Caroline, the nurse on duty, keep a secret from Norah for many years. This engrossing story keeps you wondering if the secret will ever be revealed. This is a well-crafted story you won’t want to miss.

Flavia de Luce is eleven years old, one of three motherless sisters, living in 1950s England. When she finds a stranger dying in the manor’s cucumber patch Flavia decides to investigate in order to save her philatelist father, who has been arrested. Her ability to dissemble and keen interest in chemistry allow her to roam the countryside on her bicycle to search for clues and then interpret what she finds.

This book is somewhere between Harriet the Spy and Sherlock Holmes. It is full of period details, delicious humor, and definitely a book to recommend.

Author Alan Bradley is 70 years old, and this debut novel won him the 2007 Dagger Award. He did not plan to write with the main character being a young girl, but Flavia entered his detective story and took it over. Fortunately he plans a series of books about her.

The reader, Jayne Entwhistle, does a great job of portraying Flavia’s enthusiasm and moods, as well as those of the other characters. Such glee at the thought of getting back at her snooty older sister! The soft voice while plotting devious interrogations!

This is my favorite audiobook for 2009.

To me, this author is the queen of short stories. Each short story ends and you find yourself thinking of continuations for that story. Even though the characters are Bengali, they could be the families and relationships in any culture. The dilemmas are very familiar. Beautiful writing--she is able to take the ordinary and express it in high detail with lots of adjectives. I love this book. (I listened to the audio--the readers were engaging.)

I enjoyed this historical novel which focuses on three characters: Danny, Luther, and Babe Ruth. They are products of their cultures and times. Their stories are deftly interwoven. I liked how we see their options (& lack of options). It is interesting how Danny and Luther deal with their class, their race, and their economic conditions. I think Babe Ruth is thrown in so that we can think about stardom in the U.S. as well as a famous person's inability to have full control over their destiny either. Very, very good reading!

Juliet Ashton--a writer in the grim world of London just after World War II ends--is looking for a new idea for her next book.   A chance letter from Dawsey Adams, a resident of the isle of Guernsey, tickles her sense of curiosity and she begins to correspond with members of the Society to learn how the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society came to be.

Written as a series of letters and telegrams between Juliet, her friend Sophie, Sidney (her publisher and friend) and the residents of Guernsey, these brief messages bring the characters alive in all their quirkiness.  Like all humans they have their flaws as well as their good points.   Bits of trivia and carefully researched historical events are interwoven to flesh out the story.

Jamerson has written a novel based on true recollections of a young man coming of age while serving at a Michigan Civilian Conservation Corps camp during the Great Depression. Basic training proved to be trying but the experience made him into a man. Mr. Jamerson is an award-winning PBS filmmaker who visited Appleton Public Library in September of 2008.

Centipede-like, peace-loving parasites have taken over the earth, inserting themselves into and replacing the human minds of the bodies they invade. A few humans survive intact, hiding to escape the fate of their loved ones. Wanderer, one of the most traveled and famous aliens, finds herself in the mind of a strong human named Melanie, who won't give up her mind. Melanie struggles to keep her mind intact and in charge. Her drive to find her younger brother convinces Wanderer to search for him and Melanie's boyfriend Jared.

Human bodies are much stronger in their emotions and needs--leading to something Wanderer has not experienced before--she is immersed in human feelings, including love for Melanie's brother and attraction to Jared. As she meets and learns about humans she wonders about the philosophy of her kind--are they really as altruistic as she had always believed? Certainly the bodies they inhabit will never get sick, there is no more crime or war--but what about the minds that are lost?

A very unusual approach to the Aliens-Invade-Earth scenario. Once I saw Wanderer as an individual rather than an emotionless invader I got caught up in the story. As in the Twilight saga, the characters are memorable, the emotions tangible, and the writing excellent.

Lynne Cox is one brave and or crazy woman. In 1972 she broke the record for swimming the English Channel. The book details her many attempts at record-breaking swims including swimming 1.06 miles in 32 degree water in 25 minutes. Her passion took her to the Catalina Islands in California, the Bering Strait, the Nile River, and other places in the world. Very inspiring!