Ayn Rand "Anthem"

I consider "Anthem" to be one of the most interesting and provocative novels of the 20th century. "Anthem" is written as the diary of Equality 7-2521, a young man living in a future in which people have lost all knowledge of individualism. He is born into a collectivist society in which everyone's life is controlled by various Councils. He has no words for love or self, and being alone is a crime.
This is a book to make you think. This is a book to make you want to be selfish.
This book was actually really interesting.
Ann.

Marianne Fredriksson "Hanna's Daughters"

I liked this book from the very first page and i could not put it down. "Hanna's Daughters" is a story of three generations of Swedish women. They try to find out who they are in a world that never seems to fit them completely. Hanna, Johanna and Anna - grandmother, mother and daughter, their lives go through one hundred years of Swedish history: war and famine, great love and great loss.
I loved this book for its history.
Well told and beautifully written.
Ann.

J.M.Barrie "Peter Pan"

I really enjoyed this book; much more than I expected. It was a quick read and very enjoyable.
Peter Pan is the boy who wants never to grow old. This is the story of some of his adventures while on the island of Neverland, this wonderful island of imagination and adventure.
He and his friends have many adventures involving pirates, Indians and mermaids. They fight pirates, they can fly, they magically have food to eat and they get to run around with real swords and weapons! There are no rules, no chores to do, there is time for everything in a life free of cares and hardships.
Natalka.

Bel Kaufman "Up the down staircase"

Here are the wonderful adventures of a teacher who started the career in teaching of high school kids. It was hard and she thought the kids were just bad, but time passed, she was able to looked into the kid's outside life and the reason why they were like that. She was able to change the life of many kids especially their feeling towards English. This book is one that will make any day better by taking you through the daily struggles and triumphs over every obstacles. The book is a collection of the main characters' letters, notes, and memos and such that could be found in any high school.
This book is an optimistic book. A wonderful read which kept my interest.
Lily.

Anne Tyler "A Patchwork Planet"

Anne Tyler creates a lovable character of Barnaby Gaitlin. He's almost 30, lives in a run-down basement, is divorced, with a young daughter who he seldom sees, works and tries to find his place in the world. He has habit of breaking into other people's houses, not so much to steal things, but because he likes to read other people's mail and sees photo albums. He learns that his family and friends really don't trust him, and his world falls apart...
This is a wonderful novel - don't miss it!!!
Lili.

Penny Vincenzi "No Angel", "Something Dangerous", "Into Temptation"

When I finished these books I was so disappointed. Not disappointed in the ending, but sad that it ended at all. The story goes through three generations of the Lytton Family, it's wonderful family saga.
The characters you first met as children are all grown up, have children and grandchildren of their own, and each is given their own drama. The development of each character was brilliantly done. I felt like I knew the family personally.
These books are a wonderful read.
Sveta.

Carol Shields "The Stone Diaries"

The Stone Diaries is the story of one woman's life, Daisy Goodwill, which is followed from her birth through to her death. We learn of her childhood, marriage, widowhood, remarriage, motherhood, old age and death. Shields tells the thoroughly human story of Daisy Goodwill who tryed to understand her place in her own life. I found this book sad because Daisy is so alone most of her life, especially at the end.
It is a thoughtful book and i like it!!!
Iren.

David Guterson "Snow falling on cedars"

This is a story about a murder, but it is also a story about life in a small fishing island in America, about political, social and interpersonal racism between different cultures and about love that cannot be. David Guterson tells us a history lesson too : the story of the Japanese immigrants in the USA during the World War II. The characters are realistic, well presented and the relationships between characters are brilliantly and deeply developed throughout the novel, especially the relationship between Hatsue and Ishmael and you feel as if you know them.
This book is excellent. Highly recommended.
Olga.

Rafi Zabor "The Bear Comes Home"

Rafi Zabor writes his first novel, about a bear who performs jazz on the saxophone, and wins the PEN/Faulkner Award.
What really impresses about the book is jazz, magical world of improvisation and creation. The most great aspect of this book is the historical picture of the jazz scene. Rafi Zabor, a longtime jazz journalist and drummer, writes about music with a passion and inspiration.If you play jazz, or love jazz, or know a jazzer read this book!!!
Lili.

Marilynne Robinson "Gilead"

This is one of my new favorite books, a very simple, beautiful novel, winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 2005.. It is written as letters to an old man's son. John Ames is dying. He has lived seventy six years in the small town. He is married quite late in life and has one son, whom he never thought he would have and realizes he will never see him grow up. Ames is a great character, he knew himself, his feelings so very well. Ames lived through some very hard times and a long period of loneliness.
This is a powerful, thought-provoking novel about life, history, love and belief.
Olga.