The Late, Lamented Molly Marx, Sally Koslow

Average Rating: 7.5
Menu: Pasta!

Becky:  Cool it starts out with funeral and glad its humorous--has to finish the book, though!

Anne (8.5): Read it fairly quickly, neat that it was from above. Interested to see what happened at the end (unveiling of person involved in Molly's death). 

Tina (7): Entertaining, but not memorable. Character of Molly's was relatable and Delfine's character reminded her of "The Help". Anti-climactic ending.

Jennifer (8): Light summer read, petrified of scary mysteries, though! Disliked Stephanie character.

Rebecca (7): Expected more, not excited to read it, though.

Dana (8): Thought cheating storyline was too commonplace.  Molly's view from above was interesting, but she had an abrupt dettachment to watching the lives below, though. 

Bossypants, Tina Fey

Average Rating: 7.5
Menu: Baked zucchini, risotto, brownies

Rebecca: 7.5 - Very Tina Fey. Very entertaining (8.5), parts made me laugh out loud. Writing was funny but not well done, no plot or story line just pieces put together. Loves Tina Fey so liked it but was expecting a bit more. Could have put pieces together better to make a better story.

Anne: 7.0 - Did not read the book, but I like Tina Fey. She gets a 7 as a person.

Sara: 8.0 - Read it in four days. Hilarious. 9.5 for entertainment, but no plot and not actually a good book. The ending is a fart, no story. Enjoyed the "working women" part, was able to connect with it and the guilt, could have written it better.

Angie: 7.0 - Read it almost a year ago, does not remember it. Read it on a night flight and was laughing out loud. The beginning was really fully, middle ok, ending was great.

Jennifer: 8.0 - Not actually a good book. Do not really remember it but remember laughing until my stomachs hurt.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer

Average Rating: 7

Becky – 5.5 He is an interesting kid, but I am not finding his adventure as intriguing as he does. The picture aren’t adding as much as I thought they would. I am only though ½ done
Rebecca – 8.5 The story kept me interested, I liked the kid. At times you couldn’t tell who was talking. I am not sure why the mother was not more involved in his life, but the kid was endearing and heart breaking.
Dana – Was busy so didn’t have time to read. The kids are in swimming lessons now
Anne – 6.0 I found the story very annoying, I wanted to connect but couldn’t’ sympathize with them. Hard to head on the kindle with all of the pictures and writing. It brought me back to 9/11, tragedy
Tina – 7.0 – When reading it was interesting but doesn’t stick with you. It made you reflective on 9/11 and hot it effects other vs just myself
Jennifer – 7.5 – It could have been heartbreaking but it was not. The pictures do not anything to the book. It was hard to get into the book but it got much better in the 2nd 1/2 .

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 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.

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.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, by John Berendt

Average Rating: 7.3
Menu:Loaded Baked Potatoes, yummy salad, cupcakes and ice cream

Rebecca: 8.0 Interesting storyline, kept captivated. Had a hard time sitting down to read and fell asleep easily. Liked that it was non-fiction. Good character development, but some were unnecessary.

Jennifer Erlich: 7.0 Didn't like Part I. Too many mini-stories and had to push through Part II. Enjoyed the last 100 pages--would have liked it better without the first part.

Becky: 7.0 Enjoyed the essence of Savannah, wanted to be there! Didn't remember anything about reading the book 10 years ago. Too many characters. Favorite character was Chablis, the Drag Queen with lots of spunk and personality. Enjoyed when she attended the Debutante Ball...

Dana: 8.0 Liked the character Minerva, the witchcraft specialist. Minerva had a great connection with the dead and it reminds us how close the dead are to us living folks~some people just have a more keen sense to their "existence" than others.

Anne: 7.5 On page 193--finally at the murder part. Character development was long--felt like it was slow-moving. Found Southern-living very interesting.

Rachel: 7.0 On page 95--having a hard time getting into the book, it seems jumpy.

Angie: 7.0 Struggled to get into the book, it felt like a bunch of short stories. Lots of unnecessary details.

Tina: 7.5 Thought the beginning was slow and had too much character development, but appreciated it alot more once realizing the story was based on true events and the lives of real people. Felt the murder was an anti-climactic point to build up to--

Going on in the world right now: Upcoming Presidential election (Obama v. McCain).
Going on with us right now: Tina finds out Boy or Girl soon!

The Bell, by Iris Murdoch

Average Rating: 7.5
Noteworthy: Sara's last book club

Tina: 8.5 - Slow beginning but necessary for rest of book. Good story and a "coming to peace". Left some characters open-ended. Michael/Nick store quite unsatisfying. She copped out at the end. The end somewhat anticlimactic. (At 6 week of quitting and kicking ass.)

Anne: n/a - (pg. 68) Love the characters. Dora is hilarious. Excited to see where the story goes. (Went to Cafe Ena. Adjusting to not working. Will is now sleeping through the night.)

Dana: 7.5 - Similar to Crossing to Safety. Late 1950s wives but didn't get to see Dora's "wife" dutier. I liked the description of the characters. Things didn't happen until the very end. (Planning Vito's 1st birthday, pirate themed. Finished 2nd year of grad school.)

Sara: 9.0 - Couldn't put it down. Beginning slow. Wondered what would happen. Ending didn't have closure that I wanted. Irked me that Nick and Michael never ended. Religion interested me. The impossibility of high standards makes it harder to hold standards. (Moving to Chicago. I'm a doctor, life is crazy. I'm excited for shopping in Chicago, nervous too.)

Rebecca: 8.5 - Reminded me of Crossing to Safety. Love the beginning. Thought it ended in limbo. Bothered me you didn't get to know other characters, but if you did, it would have been too much. Dora's ability to take ideas from another intrigued me. (Rotating jobs again. Looking forward to summer. Got a hookah.)

Marley and Me, by John Grogan

Average Rating: 7.2
Menu: Stingers
Noteworthy: Erin's last book club

Erin: 9.99 - All you ask for in a book, laughed, cried, good message about family.

Erika: 8.5 - Didn't want to put down. Cry, laugh, enjoyed reading it.

Dana: 6.5 - Animal lover but would have been a better short story. Not enough substance, wanted more.

Rebecca: 6.75 - Got emotionally involved, laughed, cried, but not really into story. Author was conceited. Family/Dog focus was conflicting.

Sara: 4.5 - Not in good mood when read. Didn't like author, talked about himself, not good writing. Could have been shorter. Like a slapstick comedy.

Anne: 6.5 - Easy to read. Liked emotional involvement. Liked idea of young family and Marley being a constant in their life. Events were not exciting, wanted more depth.

Rachel: 7.75 - Wants to get a dog, have been researching. Could have been deeper, but liked story.

Tina: 7.0 - Thought it was surfacy, not too deep. Easy to read, good stories. Laughed, cried but didn't think about thte book after reading.

Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson

Average Rating: 7.35
(Verify Date)

Rebecca: 6.0 - Hated history in HS. Wanted the book to focus on one story, not both. Wasn't engaged or excited to read, but loved parts of it - the historical tidbits about AC/DC electric current, the Ferris Wheel, etc.

Tina: 7.5 - (pg. 230) Enjoyed both stories - liked the murder story better, but was enthralled by the shaping of history, Ferris, Marshall Field. Had to wait for action and closure, was not motivated to read.

Rachel: 8.0 - Liked both stories. Did not like that they were not connected. Like the historical references, was interested in Chicago.

Erin: 7.0 - Like the book and history, but had no climax. Comparing Burnham/White City to Holmes/Dark Hotel was like comparing heaven and hell. Would have liked more Holmes development.

Dana: 7.0 - Liked the book, but there was no emotion. All written in 3rd person, heartless killings, details of the fair dragged on, did not feel she grasped all the concepts.

Sara: 5.0 - Did not love it. Forced herself to read it. Didn't think the stories were intertwined, no emotion, Holmes did not intrigue her.

Anne: 8.25 - Hates history, but loved the book because it brought people and events together. It was easy to make connections, liked the World Fair story better than Holmes' story, thought Holmes was arrogant.

Erika: 8.0 - Liked both parts of the book. Enjoyed the part of the start of the Pledge of Allegiance the best and all the historical references.

Broken for You, by Stephanie Kallos

Average Rating: 7.6

Dija: 6.0 - The book was hard to read, but got better as she read.

Sara: 9.0 - Was one of her favorites, characters grew together and independently; was a feel-good read, but had mediocre writing.

Erin: 8.5 - Loved it, loved the characters and the 'mystery" element of the story. Saw lots of irony in the book, would recommend to others.

Tina: 8.0 - Liked the book, thought the story of the book was the character development, looked forward to reading it and finding out what happened.

Rebecca: 9.0 - Noted that this was a very high rating for Rebe. Stopped reading Harry Potter 6 for this book. Thought the amount of valuables that Margaret had was unfathomable.

Anne: 9.0 - Like how the story brough meaning to the characters' lives and how they each helped each other find meaning. Was confused about Wanda's obsessions with Peter and how the record store incident was upsetting because it was built up so much by Wanda. Why did she put him on such a pedestal?

Dana: 6.0 - Liked the reinvention of the valuables, but thought it was a waste and the "enter and break something" ritual by the end of the book was weird. Wondered about the logistics of breaking all the things and the clean up? Thought the book was depressing.

Erika: 7.0 - Loved reading about the developing relationships between Margaret and all of her new house mates, especially Wanda. Thought there were too many small world coincidences. Enjoyed reading about Wanda's art with the pieces, as if she's putting her life back together with all the broken antique pieces.

One Thousand White Woman, by Jim Fergus

Average Rating: 7.8
Menu: Thai Chicken Curry and Lemon Chicken. Yum!

Last night Anne hosted a lovely book club at her house. She had the house decorated for Christmas and served. In addition to rating the book, Anne asked each of us to state what the English-version of our Cheyenne name would be. Here are all of our comments on "1,000 White Women":

Rebecca: 6.0 - "Tidy One" Wasn't excited to start reading the book, liked the history, but thought the storyline was too fictional.

Sara: 7.0 - "Woman who Runs Alone" The book exceeded her expectations, would have liked more historical references.

Dana: 9.0 -"Pale Dog-Lover" Became very engrossed in the book, liked how May Dodd was a leader; disappointed that Captain Bourke turned out to be so cruel by killing Horse Boy.

Erin: 8.5 - "Woman with White Hair" Liked the history of the book and the bullet hole on the front and back cover.

Erika: 8.0 - "Woman who Trips Over her Own Feet" Enjoyed how the relationship with May Dodd and Little Foot developed and deepened; she also liked the format of the book--she paid attention to the dates and how much time passed between each entry.

Tina: 8.0 - "Little Sleepy One" Liked the format, thought the ending was unrealistic. Would have liked a more realistic ending.

Becky: 6.5 - "Warrior Woman" We concluded that the character Euphemia reminded us of Becky.

Anne: 8.5 - "Shy One" Loved the story-enjoyed how the real names of the women matched their personality. Found the book to be an easy read.

Love in the Time of Cholera, by Garcia Marquez

Average Rating: 7.8

Sara hosted a wonderful book club last night- we chatted about "Love in the Time of Cholera" and watched Desperate Housewives.

Here are the ratings and comments:

Sara: 8.5- Good book but didn't like America. Thought Florentino and America's relationship was gross. It made it difficult to like Florentino.

Rebecca: 8 - (on chapter 5)Thought the book was well written but difficult to read. The names were confusing, but it was a good story and a pretty story to read- would recommend it.

Erika: 8.0 - Liked the first part when the story was about their courtship. The middle part was difficult to get through- wished there was more of a plot in the middle part- would recommend it.

Tina: 8.0 - (on chapter 1) The book would be best read if a person had a few long sessions of reading instead of short reading sessions. The book requires a commitment from the reader.

Anne: 7.5 - Loved the first 150 pages. Loved the story of the courtship, but found the middle part quite slow. Was annoyed that the whole letter thing started up again towards the end. Well written book.

Dana: 6.0 - Liked the beginning and the story about Dr. Urbino and his life. Did not like Florentino and his compulsions- slow book. Also thought it was strange that there were so many parts in the book that were about animals dying.

Erin: 7.0 - Beginning was great- but the book was a very intense book to read. Some of the important plot ideas were not covered like what did Florentino do to get to the top of his company? Florentino was very pathetic.

Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides

Average Rating: 7.9

Erin: 9.0 - Great characterization.

Rachel: 8.5 - Characters really were laid out. Great exposure to view things. Very tasteful.

Erika: 8.0 - Story development. Knew store from beginning. Could have gone quicker.

Tina: 6.0 - "Waiting for the crocus". History was interesting.

Dana: n/a - it was really good.

Anne: 8.0 - Liked family history. Dragged on. Wanted to know more about Callie.

Sara: 9.5 - Character development. Amazed a man wrote that. Best book club ever! Awesome sentences.

Rebecca: 6.5 - Well-written but didn't capture me. Story developed too slow. Like a greek myth, very interesting.

Wicked, by Gregory Maguire

Average Rating: 7.2
Menu: Grilled chicken salad

Rebecca: 7.5 - Overall thought it was fun. Parts were confusing and not enough Oz related.

Erika: 8.0 - (1/2 way) Love it so far. Disturbed/confused by goat murder.

Erin: 8.0 - Liked it. Slow read at times. Characters struggled and had themes.

Tina: 8.0 -Not enough Oz or consistency. Liked absolute truths and good versus evil.

Rochelle: 5.0 - Overly ambitious. Lots of interesting topics, too many.

Dana: 6.5 - Couldn't relate to characters. More about Elphie & Nessie's relationship.

Anne: 7.0 - Loved first two sections. Got lost in parts. Good thoughts - guilt you put upon yourself. Poor ending.

Becky: 9.0 - Issues with disconnect of Oz. Liked having so many unanswered questions. That defines good and evil.

Rachel: 6.0 - Have issues with non-human characters that talk. Too little about Oz/Dorothy. Too much in college years, but liked Elphie overall. She was MISUNDERSTOOD!

The Dogs of Babel, by Carolyn Parkhurst

Average Rating: 7.0

Erika: 8.0 - Great character development.

Dana: 6.5 - Surprised written by woman. Surprised by his love for her. Liked overall.

Anne: 7.0 - Unresolved, doubtful by ending, unsatisfying.

Rachel: 7.5 - Liked character development, liked love story development, satisfied by conclusion.

Rebecca: 5.5 - Uncomfortable with dog mutilation. Didn't like pregnancy storyline.

Molly: 7.5 - Strange. Books saying odd. Dog mutilation and kidnapping bothersome. Taken too far.

Becky: 7.0 - Similar to last book. Search for the truth, baby, etc. Liked to read it because of Bailey. Didn't like mutilation, book titles. Wanted to know more about wife.

Erin: 7.0 - Liked the theme of wife struggling with identity - masks, girl at the pool in New Orleans. Liked the theme of acceptance -wife and dog.

Tina: 7.0 - Disappointed that the dog did not talk. Felt that the wife committed suicide. New Orleans situation, unsettling.

The Tortilla Curtain, By T.C Boyle

Average Rating: 7.5

Jess: 9 - liked the way important themes were explored; some characters weren't always believable
Tina: 7 - likes it; thinks ending is anticlimactic
Rebecca: 6.5 - upset that they didn't meet sooner; why did Delaney hate Candido so much? Why not more contact at ending?
Dana: 9 - didn't like the ending; disliked Kyra - like Annette Bening character in "American Beauty" - conflicting feelings
Anne: 7.5 - ("I like halves") - difficult to figure out Delaney; liked class structure/hierarchy
Molly: 7 - liked beginning and portrayal of Delaney's hypocrisy; didn't like ending of the book - contrived
Becky: 6.5 - liked different sides, luck and choices - you don't do anything unless you really want to