As you hopefully know, we've recently launched a 5 Star Reads category and page. I was recently thinking about some of the books that I put on the list and why I designated them as my best of the best. What makes a 5 Star Read for me? It holds my attention. Whether or not I'm able to sit and read it straight through, a 5 Star Read is a book that I am always wanting to carve out time to read. It's memorable. While I'm reading it, I'm thinking about it, and the plot or characters or information stays with me long after I've read it. It causes a response. I might laugh, or cry, or fear, or think. But it generally evokes something. I can't stop talking about it. This is perhaps the crucial difference ...
Category Archives: 5 Star Reads
Stealing With Style
Looking for a clean mystery series that you can relax and enjoy? I have the most WONDERFUL treat for you! Author Emyl Jenkins has begun writing a fabulous mystery series surrounding a lady by the name of Sterling Glass who is an antiques appraiser. Can antiques be mysterious and intriguing? Thanks to Jenkins, yes they can be! There are two books in the series so far. The first is Stealing with Style and gives you a good introduction to who Sterling is, as well as some of the key players in her world. However, I actually started by reading the second book, The Big Steal and did not feel lost by the activities in the book. Either title stands alone, in ...
When You Reach Me
Is there anything better than discovering a new author? One who writes a novel so enjoyable that you can't wait to read her next offering? Well, Amanda and I have found one: Rebecca Stead. The back of this book describes it as "a remarkable novel (that) takes place in the real world, but holds a fantastic puzzle at its heart. When You Reach Me is original and a brilliant and profound delight." Wow -- how can a book live up to that kind of hype?? I don't know, but this one did. It's a perfect description -- this is the real world. Twelve-year-old Miranda lives in NYC in the late 70's, and Stead's characterizations are spot on, with such observations as what the birthright of a latchkey kid is (watching TV and eating junk ...
Finding An Unseen God
I’ve attempted on a couple of occasions to write a review of Alicia Britt Chole’s book Finding an Unseen God: Reflections of a Former Atheist without much success. Though I finished the book a couple of weeks ago, it has languished here beside my laptop awaiting my summary evaluation. As I’ve told you several times, reviewing a book I really like, a book as beautifully written and thought provoking as Finding an Unseen God, well, it’s not so easy. Perhaps this will say it best: I read it in one sitting. No, I take that back. I devoured it in one sitting. The girl’s got writing skillz, no two ways about it. But it wasn’t just the sheer pleasure of reading her writing her that kept me glued to the pages. Finding an Unseen God is Chole’s ...
Free-Range Kids
Do you remember that story from just over a year ago about the newspaper columnist who wrote about letting her 9-year-old ride the NYC subway all alone? She was soon all over the news and internet, retelling her story, and the public was divided in their opinions. Was she a voice of sanity in an ever-increasing crazy world, or did she truly deserve the moniker "America's Worst Mom?" Wherever you may stand on the divide, credit is due to Skenazy who did not go into a parental protection program, but instead, stood by her message and wrote Free-Range Kids: Giving Our Children the Freedom We Had Without Going Nuts with Worry to continue to share her mindset. Having school-aged children, the premise of this book was interesting to both Jennifer and Dawn. In the spirit of open discussion, ...
The Count of Monte Cristo
I love the classics. Though I must admit, as I stand in front of the classics display at the bookstore, I am a little ashamed at how few I've actually read. Thus I've made it an unofficial goal of mine to read more classic literature, a goal which doesn't feel so much like a goal as it does a pleasure. With the exception of only one or two (just ask Carrie about Wives and Daughters, ahem), I have never regretted the time spent in the pages of a classic novel. Speaking of pages, my copy of The Count of Monte Cristo numbers at over 1200 of them which is pretty intimidating to say the least. I ordered the unabridged version based on the reviews I had read but I was a little daunted by the sheer size of ...
Coop
I cannot say enough nice things about Coop: A Year of Poultry, Pigs, and Parenting. I suppose I could try, but this review would be really long and mostly redundant as I'd just be saying how great the book is over and over again. This book falls into my "top favorites" category. Honestly, I never thought a memoir would fall into favorites with me, but this one did. I. loved. it. ('Nough said? Hmm. I'll keep trying.) Michael Perry takes us on a home journey. This is memoir of a man who loves his family, loves the land he lives on, loves to write and does a fantastic job doing so. His vocabulary is outstanding. His respect for his wife is second to none. The way he loves his children, even on ...
-
-
Jennifer Donovan
Managing Editor -
Most recent recommendations:
-
