Jonathan Franzen “The Corrections”

The Corrections is a great American novel for our time. It is the rare book that engages the heart and the head.
Jonathan Franzen tells the story of the Lamberts: Alfred and Enid, retired in their hometown, and their kids. Alfred, in particular, is having difficulties, mentally and physically. Their three grown children live on the East Coast: Denise is a chef, Gary a banker, Chip is between jobs. Gary is married and has three children.
Enid wants to bring together the family for at least one final Christmas. The story moves between present and pasts, from child to child and the story of each of the five Lamberts is told. The novel leaves the reader with both a family portrait and a portrait of America in the late 1990's.
The Corrections is a very fine read.
Highly recommended.
Ann.

Jhumpa Lahiri “Interpreter of maladies”

Interpreter of Maladies is truly a masterpiece. It is a book collection of nine short stories by Indian American author Jhumpa Lahiri published in 1999. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award in the year 2000. Rich with culture, Interpreter of Maladies shows characters that are simple, human, and very relatable. They are mostly gentle, believable, foolish or strong – they’re a pleasure to be with. Lahiri is a storyteller who shows beauty in simplicity, exploring Indians and Americans, the immigrant experience. Each story is unique.
I loved her style of writing and really enjoyed this author and I plan on reading more by her.
Olga

Dean Koontz “The Good Guy”

Timothy Carrier is a man who keeps to himself and tries to live as simple a life as possible. Until one day when a man sits beside Timothy at a bar and passes him an envelope with ten thousand dollars and a picture of a beautiful woman named Linda Paquette.
Tim decides that he's going to save the woman who's been targeted by an unknown to be killed. But what Tim doesn't expect is how he will feel about that woman. As they run and hide from the killer, Tim realizes that he loves her…
Good book, worth your time to read.
Lili

Pam Houston “Sight Hound”

This is the story of a woman, Rae, and her dog, Dante, a wolfhound who teaches Rae that love is stronger than fear. He teaches her about the relationship between love and loss. That you can’t ever have one without the possibility of the other, and that it is worth it never the less. Rae’s had a hard life: abusive parents, a string of failed romances, and now a dog with a terminal illness. It is Dante, along with a cast of friends, coworkers, and exes, who pushes her to maintain her faith in love and, more importantly, not to give up on life.
Good read!
Ira.

Anita Shreve “THE LAST TIME THEY MET”

“THE LAST TIME THEY MET” is truly a compelling novel. Shreve lets readers into the lives of Thomas and Linda as they examine their past and explore the present. The story begins, so it seems, at the end, when star-crossed lovers Thomas and Linda meet, after 26 years apart, at a writer's conference.
The ending was so shocking, it still brings tears to my eye. I highly recommend this novel and will be reading it again and again in years to come.
Powerful love story, and although the first book by Shreve that I have read, it will not be the last!
Ann.

Anna Sewell “Black Beauty”

Black Beauty is Anna Sewell’s first and only novel. This story is told by a horse, in his own words. This book is almost a collection of short stories, as each chapter relates a different episode in the life of Black Beauty and other horses who he meets along the way, from his carefree days as a foal on an English farm, to his difficult life pulling cabs in London, to his happy retirement in the country.
Black Beauty is a very understanding and forgiving horse, and it does all end happily ever after.

A beautiful, compassionate story!
Olga

F.H.Burnett “A Little Princess”

It is absolutely wonderful story and I enjoyed it. ...this book is one of those books that touches the little child in all of us. It is not a happy fairytale. There are some real moments of sadness. I love this book because it tells that no matter who you are, or where you come from, you are who you want to be, no matter what anyone might say to you. I always admired Sara’s imagination and courage, her inner integrity and strength of will. Sara maintains the inner nobility and generous spirit of a "real" princess.
Loved this book!!!!
Lili

Emily Bronte "Wuthering Heights "

"Wuthering Heights" is the only novel of Emily Bronte. She died at the age of thirty, a year after publication of her novel. She describes the life of Heathcliff, a mysterious gypsy-like person, from childhood (about seven years old) to his death in his late thirties. Heathcliff rises in his adopted family and then is reduced to the status of a servant, running away when the young woman he loves decides to marry another. He returns late r, rich and educated and sets about gaining his revenge on the two families that he believed ruined his life.
Unique, mystical novel, which has become a classic of English literature!
An absolutely must-read novel!
Lena.

Daphne DuMaurier "Rebecca"

"Rebecca" is definitely on my list of best written books. I believe there is a book for all times...
"Rebecca" is a masterpiece of the genre, and my favorite of Du Maurier's fiction. I also liked the story a lot -A naive young woman meets and marries a wealthy widower, Maxim de Winter, who owns an old English estate called Manderley.
The young bride has a difficult time adjusting to life at Manderley. She began her search for the real fate of the first Mrs. de Winter, the beautiful Rebecca, whose presence is still felt strongly by the characters in the novel.
DuMaurier has written a dark, gripping tale with atmosphere of suspicion, fear and secrets.
Great writing and reading!
Kate.

Troon Harrison "Tales of Terre:The Separated"

"The Separated " is a wonderful fantasy adventure. Harrison has created a fantastic world full of creatures of all kinds, from Mara Folk to Sea Horses and Sea Witches. Thet all are here to be discovered by readers.
Three sixteen-year-olds must discover their own strength and their magical abilities in time to win the battle for their land.
"The Separated" is an exciting story for fans of fantasy tales. I'm looking forward to any future story of the series "Tales of Terre."
Olga.