Books

have read

• Nineteen Minutes

  Nineteen Minutes

  Jodi Picoult

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  This book "riffs" on the Columbine massacre. It is quite well written and engages the reader from beginning to end. There is quite a twist at the end which comes out of left field. (Actually, 2!)

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• Sister Wife

  Sister Wife

  Shelley Hrdlitschka

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  Not up to the author's usual standards

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• Templar Trilogy #2: Standard Of Honor

  Templar Trilogy #2: Standard Of Honor

  Jack Whyte

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  Not up to the author's usual standards. While the subject is fascinating, the book was slower than normal.

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• Knights Of The Black And White: Templar Trilogy 1

  Knights Of The Black And White: Templar Trilogy 1

  Jack Whyte

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  Jack Whyte is a bit of an "acquired taste" I have read very many of his books and while they are large, they are elegantly written and generally interesting. This book was quite good and the subject was interesting.

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• The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette: A Novel

  The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette: A Novel

  CAROLLY ERICKSON

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  This is such a bit of fluff. Please read it in that vein. The characterization of Marie Antoinette is quite sympathetic and this really is something to read just to pass the time and if you don't want anything particularly strenuous

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• Absolute Honour

  Absolute Honour

  C C Humphreys

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  Another thoroughly enjoyable book by this author. Finally finishes the "Absolute" series. And Canadian history to boot!

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• Slumdog Millionaire

  Slumdog Millionaire

  Vikas Swarup

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  this book was quite good. Really enjoyed it. Haven't seen the movie and probably won't after what I've heard and how it differs from the book. Loved the chapter format and shows how a little but of luck can lead to wonderful things.

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• Breaking Dawn

  Breaking Dawn

  Stephenie Meyer

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  If this were a TV show, she'd have "jumped the shark" the show would be cancelled. Too many plot twists, too much weirdness going on.

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• New Moon

  New Moon

  Stephenie Meyer

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  Have to continue the saga of Edward and Bella! The students at my school are absolutely impressed that a teacher has read the same things they're reading.

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• Beasts Of No Nation: A Novel: A Novel

  Beasts Of No Nation: A Novel: A Novel

  Uzodinma Iweala

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  This book is written by a young American who has never been to Africa, or through war -- but you'd never know it. This small, powerful book details the horrors of war and its effect. This poor young boy who is the main character lives through such horrible things, yet manages to maintain his humanity. An excellent read

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• The Swallows Of Kabul

  The Swallows Of Kabul

  Yasmina Khadra

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  The lives of 4 people are intertwined here. At first, they seem disparate, but they are all brought together in the end. Yet another book that explores the horrors of Afghanistan, but also delves into much more -- group mentality, despair, oppression. A good book to read if you've read The Kite Runner

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• Not Wanted On The Voyage

  Not Wanted On The Voyage

  Timothy Findley

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  Just read this for a grade 12 english class I'm teaching. Supposedly about inclusion & exclusion, but can't really see it.Retells the Noah story, but not religious.Funny in some places (intentional?) it will probably offend the really religious. But, it's got food for thought.I'm looking forward to lively discussions.

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• Eclipse

  Eclipse

  Stephenie Meyer

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  The third installment of the "Twilight" series. It's starting to get a little too far-fetched to be sustained. However, it's made lots of young people (the boys are just coming around to it now) read very looooong books, and that's a good thing. Easy to steer them to Eragon and other fantasy books after this.

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• Middlesex

  Middlesex

  Jeffrey Eugenides

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  What a beautifully written book. The story traces the life of a family from Asia Minor to Detroit, approximately 60 years or so. The book is full of family secrets and the devastation those secrets can have on others.

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• Twilight

  Twilight

  Stephenie Meyer

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  This book has been flying off the library shelves at my school. Had to see what all the fuss was about. An original spin on vampire stories, but a little too much emphasis on eyes. However, generally well written.

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• Darkest Child: A Novel

  Darkest Child: A Novel

  Delores Phillips

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  This story makes you wonder about the kernel of truth that inspired it. The mother is unbelievable!!

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• The Juliet Club

  The Juliet Club

  Suzanne Harper

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  Reading this to review for HarperCollins. however, I also read quite a bit of YA because I'm a teacher and librarian in high school

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• Their Eyes Were Watching God Lp

  Their Eyes Were Watching God Lp

  Zora N Hurston

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  I was reading this for school and for suitability for the grade I teach. What a powerful book!

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• The Kite Runner

  The Kite Runner

  Khaled Hosseini

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  Loved this book. Oh, the guilt and how it eats us!!! Raises the question of "if only...." and also shows how far we will go to atone for our actions.

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• The End of the World As We Know It

  The End of the World As We Know It

  Lesley Choyce

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  A White Pine book and read for my teaching. The characters get a little too much placed on them, but the modern teen's life is very similar. Too bad it was set in the U.S. Why when the author is Canadian?

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• Bifocal

  Bifocal

  Deborah Ellis

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  As a high school English teacher, I had to read this book for my book circles unit.Actually, you'll probably see a lot of YA fiction on my shelf. The book is based on the terrorism arrests made a couple of years ago. Characters are quite believeable and the school is too.

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• Infidel

  Infidel

  Ayaan Hirsi Ali

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  I have seriously tried to read this book all the way through. It's a true story and it should move me, but it doesn't. I've decided to give up and move on to something else.

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• Annette Vallon

  Annette Vallon

  James Tipton

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  A fictionalized version of the romance of Annette Vallon and English poet William Wordsworth.A fascinating story.I only hope that half of Annette's exploits are true. Incredibly well written

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plan to read

• A Breath Of Snow And Ashes

  A Breath Of Snow And Ashes

  GABALDON DIANA

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  Had to give this up, not enough time in the school year. Will come back to it.

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• The Coffee Trader: A Novel

  The Coffee Trader: A Novel

  David Liss

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