Impulse by Frederick Ramsey

Frank Smith left Scott Academy fifty years ago and he never looked back. He became an author who writes mysteries but the biggest mystery in his life is the disappearance of his wife four years before. The police aren’t looking for her or her possible killer because their only suspect is Frank and they’re just waiting for him to make one false move. With that hanging over his head, he returns to Scott Academy for his class reunion. At the reunion, Frank is approached by some of the men there wanting him to solve the mystery of four boys from the school who disappeared one sunny afternoon over 25 years ago. Frank accepts the challenge mostly because he suspects the men think he’s too old to be of any help. the book examines family dynamics, old age and solves a couple of cold cases. All in all a satisfying read.

Karen – Fort Mill                                                                   ISBN 1590582837

The Andersonville Diary by John L. Ransom

John Ransom was a young union soldier who was captured and eventually sent to Andersonville, the worst prison camp in the entire Confederacy.   This non-fiction account of the conditions at Andersonville is sometimes tough to take, but powerful nonetheless.  Ransom’s upbeat attitude through the ordeal makes it easy to read and the insight he provides turns a spotlight on a dark time in our history.

Laura W. – Fort Mill

Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl

This book was too funny! Ruth Reichl became loved and hated at the New York Times as a food critic for her famous double review. As an ordinary unrecognized individual her food and service remained at best to be adequate. As the heavily touted new food critic she found her raspberries to be three times as big, her food faster and hotter, and the service impeccable. When she wanted to give the restaurant 1 star as an ordinary citizen and 4 stars as the critic people went wild. She quickly learned that eating in disguise gave her a more authentic experience. I loved reading her evolve each new character. Like a good actress, she did not just dress up but also developed a background story, a new voice, and a fresh demeanor for each new creation. And the descriptions of the food! One minute I was salivating and the next gagging. This was a very fun vicarious experience since I know I will personally never be able to afford to eat at such establishments. I highly recommend the read.

Riana – York                                                               ISBN 1594200319

Conspiracy Game by Christine Feehan

This book has many of what I think of as Ms. Feehan’s “distinguishing” elements. Jack Norton is an alpha male, a powerful, confident control freak who’s genetically programmed to respond to one specific female. Briony Jenkins is a strong, independent woman who’s uncomfortable both with his domination and the sense that their attraction to each other is pre-ordained. Their emotional and sexual connection is strong and intense. Christine Feehan at her best does this very, very, very well, and this book has it in spades. I enjoyed Jack and Briony’s romance very much.

Considerably less involving are the lengthy voids disguised as conversations. Some contain background information, however, in one bizarre instance the reader is treated to a six page description how Dr. Whitney gained access to the GhostWalker’s computer system to spy on them.

All in all I think this book will likely please Christine Feehan’s fans, and would also be an okay place to start for those interested in trying the series, GhostWalkers. Other books in this series include Shadow Game, Mind Game, and Night Game.

Jennifer S. – York

Forever Fifty and other negotiations by Judith Viorst

Judith Viorst writes about the trials and tribulations of turning fifty and beyond. Her poems are short and funny and will make you smile, especially if you’re approaching the traumatic age of fifty.

She addresses fading memory, “The fact that you’ve known a person for thirty-five years Doesn’t mean, when you go to introduce him, that you can count on remembering his name.” family “Our last child was gone for a month when we started receiving bad news from the eldest. Her marriage was through. She was leaving. And soon she moved back to her room to do yoga and weatving” and finally death “Before I go, I’d like to make things better. I’d like to be told I’ve been more of a joy than a pain. And I’d like those I love to know that they are the ones, if I could do it again, I’d do it with.” It’s lines such as these that makes you love these poems and identify with Viorst’s writings.

Karen – Fort Mill                                                    ISBN 0684832372

Annie Freeman’s Fabulous Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish

Annie Freeman was beloved by many for her love of life and her passion for her work, her family and her friends. When she died she was especially missed by five women, women who had known her for years, shared her joys and her sorrows, her triumphs and her final illness. She planned a traveling funeral for her friends to come to terms with her death. She made the reservations, rented cars, bought planes tickets and sent a letter several weeks after her death so that they would go and not procrastinate due to other obligations. The women visited places important in Annie’s life, learning more about their friend but infinately more about themselves and each other. The idea of a traveling funeral will strike a chord in a lot of people. The idea that you can reach back from the grave and comfort those you love most is tempting, but the thought that you can show people the parts of you that they don’t know might make people tuck this idea away for the future.

Karen – Fort Mill                                       ISBN 0553382640

The Dew Breaker by Edwidge Danticat

I found “The Dew Breaker” to be a haunting and powerful story. The main character was a torturer in Haiti during the dictatorial 1960s. A torturer, or “dew breaker,” often came for his victims in the early morning hours, disturbing the dew on the grass. Now an American businessman, husband and father in Brooklyn, no one has any idea about the terrible deeds of the “dew breaker’s” past. This former torturer must eventually face the past and make some sacrifices that shape the future. I appreciated the variety of characters that we get to know throughout the book. Ranging from 1967 Haiti to present-day Florida, we move from story to story about the effect of the torturer’s actions upon his family, neighbors and even his victims.

I especially enjoyed this book on audio, because the narrator is excellent and really “nails” the creole dialect.

 

Jennifer L – York                                                                           ISBN 1400041147

Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

Augusten Burroughs packed more quirkyness into his life between the ages of 12 and 17 than most of us will experience in a lifetime! Many people will be interested to read this book since the recent release of the movie, but be forewarned, it is very graphic and explicit. I listened to the audio version read by the author which added to the wild first-hand accounts. Augusten has never fit in with other kids, and the fact that his father is an alcoholic and his mother psychotic, does not help. Upon his parents divorce, his mother becomes heavily dependent on her eccentric Freudian psychologist. So much so, that Augusten begins to spend the majority of his time living with the crazy Doctor and his even crazier family. The only rule in this house is that there are no rules. The results are sometimes funny, sometimes shocking, and often both.

Riana -York                                                  ISBN 0312283709

The Journeyer by Gary Jennings

What an exciting read! I loved this tale about the travels and adventures of Marco Polo. The story begins on the back streets of medieval Venice. A journey along the Silk Road eventually leads to the court of the great Khan Kubilai and the ancient word of China. I’m not big on history, but this book made me want to buff up on not only the history, but the geography of this time period. I kept checking the map on the the front cover to see where Marco would end up next. When I told my good friend Beth about it, she was so intrigued that she immediately requested a copy for her husband, who loves this type of read. Caution…some parts are X-rated…exploration of a variety of sexual practices, Oriental torture, and other sensual and bizarre topics and situations. I understand that author Gary Jennings’ Aztec novels are just as good. I can’t wait!

Jennifer L. – York                                                 ISBN 0689114036