To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Can you believe that this is the first time I've ever read this book? Not even in school! Amazing, I know.

I liked it. I can see why it is a classic. And it's easy to read and understand. I will definitely read this again when my children have to in school.

100% appropriate for everyone over the age of 12!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

I really liked this book. I would give it 4 1/2 stars for sure! I thought I wouldn't enjoy it since it is written in a series of letters from one character to the next, so I wasn't sure how I would be able to see the whole picture. But it works beautifully.

It's a story of a journalist in London just after WWII, and how she meets up with a book club who lives in the Channel Islands, which had previously been occupied by the Germans. It's funny and romantic, and it has you routing for all the right people.

It does have some mention of one of the supporting characters being homosexual, it was not at all distastefully done, however.

Very, very good. Will probably read it again at some future date.

Enna Burning, by Shannon Hale

I really like Shannon Hale. I did read this series a bit out of order. It is supposed to go: Goose Girl, Enna Burning, and River Secret. I read River Secret first, but having done that, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of these books.

As is in the style that Hale uses, it's very clean, a little romantic, and has a good deal of adventure. I would certainly let any of my children read it when they are older, and do not hesitate to recommend it to friends.

Persian Pickle Club, by Sandra Dallas

Very good, light book. I think it would be great for book club, a lot of fun things to discusss.

It was a fast read, only took about 2 days of sporadic reading, and I enjoyed it. It had 3 or 4 swear words, and attempted rape, so it would probably rate PG if it were a movie. It explores the relationships of women in small town dust-bowl-era Kansas. They belong to a quilting club and it's fun to see the different personalities of the characters. It's a bit of a who-done-it, and I like those.

4 Stars.

Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale

This is another good one. I've found that reading from the teen section at the library can be very rewarding as far as finding stories which are appropriate for all ages. I would have no problem letting my teenage children read this, and would not hesitate to recommend this to a friend.

It is very whimsical, a little bit science fictiony, but not overwhelmingly so. It is based on a folk-tale that I have never heard of before, but enjoyed it anyway.

5-stars, for sure!

The Lady Elizabeth, by Alison Weir

As mentioned in my Henry the VIII review, I love English history, so I really enjoyed this book. Alison Weir is a very gifted author who spins her novel on historic records. It is fascinating. Enjoyable, a fast read.

The Six Wives of Henry the VIII, by Alison Weir

I have to admit, I'm a bit of an Anglo-phile, so I was greatly intrigued. The book is a hybrid of textbook and novel. Ms. Weir wrote this book using historical records to piece together the astounding life of arguably the most famous British King. I had no idea that Anne Boleyn was hated, or that he was married to his first wife for more than 20 years.

It really is a fascinating book. (It is long).

The Shell Seekers, by Rosamunde Pilcher

I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't finish it. The story so how sucks you in, but there was too much immorality, so I had to put it down, unfinished. The author writes about how people who would look down on others who have extra-marital affairs, or get pregnant out of wedlock, or live with someone while not being married, are close minded, and just don't truly understand love. I say--fooey!

It's too bad, because I wanted to find out what happened.

River Secrets by Shannon Hale

I read this one out of order. It's the 3rd in the Goose Girl 'series', so a lot of it, I wasn't sure of the history on. I've since read the Goose Girl, and have Enna Burning on hold (thank you, Phoenix Public Library system, love the holds system!).

It's a very good book, easy to read, but definitely, start with Goose Girl, it will be worth it.

At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

It's good, simple, clean, easy. Just the kind of read that can be hugely refreshing.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

The copy of this that I read was 1006 pages long. It is a very long book! I have mixed feelings about this one, it was entertaining enough, but by the time I was done, I was really, really done. She does an excellent job of making you hate the bad guy, but the way they get rid of him is a bit anti-climactic. It is also filled with 'footnotes' to reference what she is talking about, these take up about 1/3 of the book. Their purpose is to explain the history of English magic. Without them it would have been a hugely confusing book, but at the same time, they were a bit boring.
I can't say that I would recommend this to anyone, but if you're brave enough, have at it!