Okay, I think I'm all caught up with what I've read...

44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith -- really liked this one -- Tam, did I already tell you that I thought you should read it? by the author of the No. 1 Detective Agency series, of which I'm not that a big a fan.325 pages

T is for Trespass by Sue Grafton -- the latest in her alphabet mysteries. I'm always a bit sheepish about reading them, but I do like her stuff -- it's what I read for fluff. 387 pages

The Ghost by Robert Harris -- more fluff... a thriller-ish book. The title refers to the ghost writer for an "auto"biography of a former prime minister -- political intrigue abounds. 335 pages

Rules by Cynthia Lord -- Michelle, you may want to check this one out... A Newbery Honor book, really excellent. About a 12 yo girl whose brother is autistic. The author's son is autistic. 200 pages

Bird Lake Moon by Kevin Henkes -- another late grade school/middle school book -- an advance reader's copy, not to be published for a few more months. Main character's parents are getting divorced. 179 pages

Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope by Brian D. McLaren
Quote from the book flap:
...invites us to imagine what would happen
if people of faith moved beyond political polarization and a few hot-button issues to the deeper questions nobody is asking.
if the world's leading nations spent less on weapons and more on peace-making, poverty-alleviation, and creation-care.
if a renewed understanding of Jesus and his message sparked a profound spiritual awakening in a global movement of faith, hope, and love.
if we believed that God's will really could be done on earth and not just in heaven.

Good stuff. In some ways, it's all so obvious, but it's really not being said in many circles... 256 pages.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt In 1001 Books to Read Before You Die. About six college students in New England, an elite group studying Greek. Secrets abound and much drama and tension.. I liked it. A sort of a mystery -- though you know what happened from almost the first page, you don't know why or very many of the details...559 pages

The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields Won the 1995 Pulitzer Prize. story of a woman's life from birth (1905) til death (mid-90's.) One of those books where there are certain paragraphs that you just want to copy down cause they are so cool. Other times I felt like I was just plodding through... 361 pages

The Luxe by Anna GodbersenYA historical fiction set in Manhattan in 1899. I think I read this in one day. about NYC's "elite", focusing on several families/teenagers. I liked it. There is a sequel, maybe a third... 433 pages

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey EugenidesOkay -- I think I was supposed to love it, but didn't necessarily. Haven't seen the movie. 5 sisters commit suicide throughout the course of the book, to the fascination of the neighbors (especially the young male neighbors.) 249 pages

Living in a Foreign Language: A Memoir of Food, Wine, and Love in Italy by Michael Tucker (non-fiction) Man, this was great. This is the guy from L.A. Law, the one whose wife played his wife in the show. He's hysterical -- it was a really fun book. It was also just nice to read about a really pleasant relationship, you know. Good stuff. Though you might not be able to get through without some major cravings of different foods he's talking about, not to mention a glass or two of wine (and I'm not even a drinker!) 255 pages

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon Second in the Outlander series 752 pages

Note -- I can not promise that my page number count to the left will be accurate -- that's what comes of a 52nd percentile on the SAT in math and 99th in verbal.... :)

Buffy in Denver