The Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follet

Average Rating: 7.1
Menu: Pesto Chicken Lasagna, Salad, Bread, Cobbler

Becky: 8.0 Finished! - Loved how much womens' roles were underplayed, but were so important and crucial to the story. You have to give this book a chance to develop the characters in order to appreciate the full length. You are on an epic journey with the builder, monk, and knight. Liked it and couldn't put it down (after the first 50 pages), want to read the next book.

Tina: 7.5 Finished! - Thought it was slow and took a while to get into it. There was no point to the book, and once she realized that, she liked the book more. It gets better as you go, as relationships are built. Too much hype leading up to it.

Rebecca: 7.0 (pg 440) - Slow read and repetitive. Too much architecture when talking about Tom. Could be 1/3 in length. Liked the Tom/Phillip parts and Allina was her favorite. William was disturbing, and she did not appreciate the detail in some of the parts with him in it.

Angie: 7.0 (pg 541) - Reading this book felt like running a marathon that would never end. Wasn't until pg 200-300 before she got into it. Parts about the architecture bothered her a lot. Very disgusted by William; however, she liked Jack's character.

Anne: 6.5 (pg 385) - Took a long time to get into, but now looking forward to seeing what happens to the characters. Liked the good vs. evil between Phillip and William. The parts regarding the architecture dragged the took down. Interested in Ellen's character and liked Allina's character too. She liked how the women took on tougher roles (including killing scenes).

Rachel: 6.5 (pg 156) - Super long chapters. Was hard to read and very slow.....but pleasant thus far. Too long describing things and very drawn out.

Jen: ?? (pg 115) - Bored, then started making Rebe's baby blanket. Liked it, but slow moving with way too high of expectations.

Dana: ?? (beginning - monk found baby part) - Started if before it was chosen and didn't pick it up again. Life in the book seems more simple, and women play a very different role than today. We live such complex lives today and don't have to work so hard to survive.

The House at Riverton, Jane Morton

Average Rating: 8.5
Menu: Pasta with meat and veggie sauce, salad, garlic bread and dark chocolate brownies.

Becky: 6.5. Fun read, but kept waiting to find out what The Game revealed which ended up being more built up than it ended up being. Interested and could relate to the shell shock of coming back from war and the brain dealing with things by numbing itself. Secrets were very important in the book - they can be very self destructive if one has too many. Ended was sad, but good.

Dana: 9.0. Good story. Enjoyed reading about the bond between sisters and how Hannah gives up what she wants and shoots her lover to save Emmeline. Was intrigued by how Grace didn't reveal her story even when walking through the old house years later.

Anne: 8.0. On page 223. Interested by houw Alfred was coping with returning from war. Felt secrets and eavesdropping were prevalent parts of the story. Is interested to see how the love stories pan out.

Rachel: N/A. No time to read!

Angie: 835. Read it really fast to find out the endning. Hated the American banking family, especially the father's point of view on servants and women. Was reminded of the Irishwomen's Table. Felt that the flashbacks were unnecessary to the storytelling.

Jen: 9.0. Quick read. Enjoyed the story. Liked The Game and would have liked to have it to play when growing up. Wanted to know the story behind it and thought Grace should have told it.

Rebecca: 9.5. Loved the book. Thought it was a fun read, interesting and captivating with good storytelling. Did not feel rushed to get to the ending becuase the story was good and kept her involved. Had good relationship building. Felt Grace's late adult life story was unnecessary. Enjoyed reading about historical times and relationships between servants and the aristocrats. Was intrigued by houw 1 choice (marriage) so changed the courses of Hannah and Emmeline's lives despite their opinions on marraige when they were children.

Tina: 9.0. Was truly surprised by the ending, which is rare. Enjoyed the story, the character building and relationships between the characters. Felt like watching "The Notebook" while reading the book due to the similarities in presentation with flashbacks to a historical era and different way of life.

The Female Brain, Louanne Brizendine

Average Rating: 7.7
Menu: Stuffed Green Peppers

Rachel: 8 - Didn't feel the author was scientific--much makes sense, but hormone-altering meds should have been discussed. Interesting to read about the differences between male and female.

Becky: 9.3 - Learned alot and found that the book explains alot. Recommended the book to many people, commented on how it's not fair that women has to experience so many ups and downs.

Tina: 7.5 - Certain chapters were interesting to her, although alot of the same points were illustrated throughout the book. Overall it has an "Ah-HA!" factor.

Jennifer: 7 - The book justified some (bad) behavior. The downside was the author repeated topics throughout the book.

Rebecca: 7 - Beginning was the best part because of new info, repetitive later on. The author never gave recommendations for the case studies she mentioned.

Anne: 7 - Emphasis on hormones and the correct balance makes sense. Should be more openly discussed and available. Men should read this book!

Angie: 8 - Middle chapters were interesting.

Dana: 8 - Mommy brain/Baby details are pertinent.

An Irishwoman's Tale, Patti Lacy

Average Rating: 7.1
Menu: Baked Spaghetti, YUM!

Jennifer: 7.5 - Thrown off by ending and how religious it was--on a side note, she has been to Ireland and been to the cliff noted in the book.

Angie: 6.5 - Liked the progression, wanted to know more of Sally's story. Appreciated the closure at the end of the story.

Rebecca: 6 - Thought the story was too melodramatic--it distracted you from the story. Would have preferred it not been told from Mary's perspective.

Tina: 7 - Left feeling unsatisfied, thrown off by the preachiness. Thought it peculiar that Mary becomes more "Irish" towards the end.

Becky: 8 - Related to the book, liked the part when he called her Betsy. Liked the idea of "watching people work".

Dana: 7.5 - Thought Sally was a much more memorable character than Mary. Very timid character.

Anne: 7.5 - Enjoyed the book but became annoyed by Mary and her "longing" to know where she came from.

Can You Keep A Secret, Sophie Kinsella

Average Rating: 7.66
Menu: Make Your Own Salad

Angie: 8 - Hard to get into at the beginning but then it got fast and funny. It was a nice break from the depressing books. Dislike Jemima by the end of the book.

Tina: 7 - First quarter was slow but then started to really pick up. It was a fun quick read and felt like she could really relate to the main character. Felt that it was the same as the book “true Confessions a Shopaholic”.

Anne: 8 - Liked the book but realized that all of the story lines were the same as Kinsella’s other books. It was a good fun chicklet book.

Rebecca: 8 - It was an endearing, laugh-out-loud, fun, easy book. It taught you that you need to face the truth, that the truth should set you free and that honesty is openness. You need to be open to maintain a good relationship.

Dana: 7 - Read 7 of her books and like the author and her characters that she creates. It was a good quirky book.

Jennifer: 8 - It was a good fast summer read. I enjoyed the lightheartedness of the book.

Becky (from email): 7.5 - It was a perfect beach read and exactly what we needed to get out of the winter doldrums (I read it right away, so it’s been awhile). It reminded me a bit of Bridget Jones’s, but better and with a lot more fashion sense.

Her Last Death, Susanna Sonnenberg

Average Rating: 7.46
Menu: spaghetti, salad and cheesecake

Dana: 6 - Mother was quote a character - had children WAY too young, very unfit as a mother. Relationship with professor was creepy.

Rebecca: 7.75 - Compared a lot to "Glass Castle". Easy-ish read, kept interested. Didn't like either the title or the back. Thought mother was crying wolf the whole time. What was the connection betwen her last death and why she didn't go to the funeral?

Jennifer: 8.5 - Made it seem like her childhood was easy - made it seem like it wasn't a big deal. Very non-chalant. Kept imagining her grandmother's house.

Anne: 8 - Only made 1/4 of the way through. Surprised by the casual tone of the book. Interested to see how the relationship pans out. Why does the daughter feel the way she does. Likes it so far.

Angie: 8 - Felt like the tone was more casual than expected. WAnted to know more about the sister and who the grandparents were. There were more hints that they were famous. Read very quickly.

Becky: 7 - Started off thinking here mom's not that bad - but realized later that she was. Feel similar to relationship with dad. Seems strange that someone wouldn't go to a parent's death bed. This is what it would be like if Mary had kids. Wanted more from the Father's point of view - was frustrated by him. Such a messed up childhood and then suddenly she's "normal." Fascinating how mom could manipulate so well.

Rachel: 8 - Read the whole thing on the plane. Very disturbing. Can't imagine having a mother so inappropriate. So much more about the author instead of the mother but not everything tied back to her mother. Professor was creepy. Interesting when her and her husband chose to have an abortion. Struggled with the though that she thought because they had the abortion they were better parents later.

Tina (@ home with Ayden): 7 - Thought it was a good read and engaging story. Read it very quickly. Thought it was such an apalling story and would find it fantastic if it were fiction. Expected it to be more about her mom but found it was more about sex. Also made me think about how much your parents can and will impact you. No matter how crazy they are, you want their approval and love and how destructive that can be if you have the wrong parents.

The Innocent Man, John Grisham

Average Rating: 5.85
Menu: Pizza Luce, cookies, and cupcakes

Dana: 6.0. - Read like facts, good learning about death row, could tell what was going to happen. Mental problems poorly dealt with given how recent it took place.

Anne: n/a - Didn't open book... but agrees with Dana! Was distracted by Twilight series (New Moon)

Angie: 6.0. - More than halfway through. Read very fact like. Very frustrating to read, with justice system and poor treatment of mental health.

Becky: 8.0 - Sean read in 3 days. Wanted to read a Grisham. Pictures too distracting. Changed a lot since HS picture. Coming out of prison- smelling air, etc. parallel with coming back from Iraq, adjusting back to life outside. Shared w/soldiers.

Jennifer: 5.0 - Book on tape- boring at times. Could've been 30 page story. Frustrated- too slow, too much detail.

Rebecca: 4.0 - Basis of story disheartening. Wanted to read a Grisham. Rambled. Skipped around too much- lose concentration. Random tidbits not relevant/interesting. Could've been told better.

Tina: 5.0 (p. 122) - Couldn't get into, repetitive- maybe because of knowing what happens. Poor representation of Grisham vs. fiction. Tried to stay true to facts but too many uninteresting facts.

Rachel: 7.0 (100 pages left) - Very disappointed in justice system- eye opening. Psychology very interesting.

Peace Like a River, by Leif Enger

Average Rating: 7.4

Menu: Spring Rolls, Shrimp Curry, Edamame, Brownies

Tina: 7.5 - Hard to say...Really good but didn't like it that much. Didn't connect with book, can't explain why not. Didn't think the miracle theme was actually important to the book.

Dana: 7.0 - Male version of The Glass Castle. Like love story as a touch. Like ending, even though it was sad.

Angie: 8.0 - Like character development and love story. Courting was cute.

Anne: 6.5 (p.265) - Didn't not like the book. It took a lot of increments to finish; kind of slow. Liked Rueben's childish perspective.

Becky: 8.0 (p.200) - Weirded out that the miracles don't mean anything. They build up...then nothing. Thought it was based a long time ago, like 1850's.

Rachel: 7.0 - Well written, well done, but not drawn in. Quick, easy to follow, but not great.

Jennifer: 7.5 - Got into it and then got distracted. Loved the last part. Great ending.

Rebecca: 7.5 - Good book. Interesting story, good plot, fun characters, but just didn't connect with it. Wanted to be wow'd but wasn't and not sure why not.