Category: Fiction

The Widower’s Tale by Julia Glass

Seventy-year-old Percy Darling is an affable curmudgeon who enjoys swimming in his pond and cheerfully criticizing the neighbors in his well-to-do Massachusetts town.  When he allows a high-end preschool to move into his barn, Percy finds his quiet routine shaken–in a way, he realizes, that is not altogether unwelcome.  Glass gracefully weaves Percy’s story with those of others in his circle: Sarah — Percy’s new love interest, Percy’s daughters Clover and Trudy and environmentalist grandson Robert, Celestino —  an immigrant worker with connections to a prominent academic family, and Ira, a preschool teacher longing for acceptance.  The result is a compelling, memorable read.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss’s skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister’s place.

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey have run away from their small Ohio town and are determined to make it big in New York City.  Letty is sure that she will be a star, if only she can get the chance to audition for a role, and Cordelia plans on tracking down the man she believes to be her father — infamous bootlegger Darius Grey.  Full of larger-than-life characters and jam-packed with action, this story begs to be read in one sitting.  Now, if only I knew when the next book was supposed to come out… (I’ll be keeping an eye out on http://www.bytseries.com)

Ash by Malinda Lo

Aisling’s father did his best to care for her after her mother died, but his protection ended when he died, and her jealous stepmother did her best to make up for lost time.  Horrible living conditions?  Check.  Too much hard labor for one person to complete?  Check.  A dream that she will some day escape this hellish existence?  Check.  Sure, this is a Cinderella story . . .  but it’s not your mama’s Cinderella story!  More than just a coming of age story and a fairy tale with a twist, this is a beautifully written tale about what it truly means to live and love.

The Man from Beijing by Henning Mankell

Swedish judge Birgitta Roslin is shocked to find out that her mother’s adoptive parents were among those massacred one night in the tiny, snowy town of Hesjovallen.  The police charge a lone lunatic with the crime, but Roslin has reason to believe that a mysterious Chinese man may be responsible.  Her tips dismissed by the police, Roslin takes it upon herself to unravel the truth about the Hesjovallen murders, even as it brings her face to face with danger in the teeming city of Beijing.  Fans of Stieg Larsson’s Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy will enjoy Henning’s sweeping tale of suspense.

Cat O’Nine Tales: And Other Stories by Jeffrey Archer

Archer put his time in prison to fine literary use, as evidenced by the 12 stellar entries in his fifth story collection, nine of which are based on tales he heard from fellow inmates while incarcerated.  The stories are delightful with a hint of O. Henry.

The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity by William Paul Young

This captivating novel will make you both  laugh and cry. When  a young girl is mysteriously abducted during a family vacation, there is evidence that she may have been brutally murdered in the Oregon wilderness. After four years go by, her father receives a note inviting him back to the shack for a weekend. Could that note have come from God?  You will be thinking about this book and its spiritual impact long after you put it down.

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

The women of Lucy’s family have been cursed for generations to bear a child by the age of eighteen and then go mad.  Can Lucy escape this fate?  Only if she can complete the three impossible tasks named in the song “Scarborough Fair.”  Using some clues left by her mother, and aided by family and friends, Lucy races the clock to do the impossible and save herself.  A captivating fairy tale for young and not so young adults.

Under the Dome by Stephen King

Using a recipe that never gets old, King takes an unassuming small town, adds a pinch of the supernatural, and cooks up some chaos!  When a mysterious, impenetrable dome comes down over Chester’s Mill, isolation and deteriorating conditions bring out both the best and worst in the town’s residents.

Feed by M.T. Anderson (audiobook)

In the future, corporations rule the world.  Each child has a chip implanted in the brain at birth, which allows instant access to the “feed.”  Tasks that used to require computers, such as internet browsing, email and chat, can now be performed using thoughts and the feed.  Of course, since corporations sponsor the feed, the user is constantly bombarded with commercials and purchasing suggestions based on thoughts he or she is having at the moment. This ease of access to information comes at an extremely high price, though few seem to realize it.

Dies the Fire by S. M. Stirling

What would you do if all technology suddenly stopped working?  How would you survive?  In this first of a series, everyone in the world has to find the answers to those questions.  Set in the Washington/Oregon area, this engrossing book follows several widely differing groups who find that, by banding together, they can survive.  Apocalyptic literature at its best.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

Edward Tulane is a proud, self-centered china rabbit owned by Abilene.  When fortune takes him away from her and casts him alone into the world, Edward begins a long, hard journey, meeting many diverse people and finally learning what is really important.   A children’s book highly recommended to readers of every age.  It will touch your heart.

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

When beautiful music reaches Earth from outer space, the Jesuits send a team to explore and make contact with the new world.  They mean no harm.  At first their interactions with the indigenous populations are positive and rewarding, but then it all goes horribly wrong.  A powerful novel of how cultural differences can lead to indescribable tragedy.  You will meet unforgettable characters who will touch your heart.  A profoundly moving novel that has crossover appeal for those who normally wouldn’t touch science fiction.