The Summit peaked my curiosity (yes, pun intended) because it featured mountain climbing, a sport I had been interested in. The main character, Autumn Sommers has recurring dreams of a kidnapped child, Molly, believed to be dead. It's up to Autumn to convince the girl's father, Ben McKenzie, that she is still alive and to resume searching for her. A divorced Ben finds the petite Autumn to be both delicate and strong and is attracted to her; although Autumn is also attracted to Ben, she has commitment phobia because of her past bad relationships. Will they find Molly alive and well as Autumn's dreams suggest? Is there a future for Ben and Autumn? These two questions and more made it difficult for me to put the book down for very long. I enjoyed reading this book and hope you will too.

Ellen Dempsey-Graham, a New York photographer, is 100 days old married to Andy. One rainy day Ellen sees Leo an ex-boyfriend from ten years ago on a street corner. They talk and exchange phone numbers. She thinks it is harmless and talks herself into just being friends with Leo. Old feelings of love resurface when they talk on the phone and Leo plans a photo shoot she can not resist in Los Angeles. She is torn between her husband and her ex-love. She remains faithful and moves to Georgia to prove to herself that she loves her husband more. When she is six months into living in Georgia, she realizes how much she misses Leo and how unhappy she is with her husband. Emotional drama is at its peak here and Ellen has to decide which man to chose in her life. Giffin has a fluid and compelling way of writing. You will want to read the whole book in one sitting because you will want to know who Ellen chooses.   Reviewed by Ana 7/11/08

Through this detail-oriented novel, Anita Amirrezvani captures the struggles of a fourteen year old girl living in Iran. The protagonist must survive in a business that is dominated by the opposite gender without the help of any outside sources. She has only herself to rely on and must overcome not only barriers in the real world, but many personal barriers and achieve her dreams. Anita utilizes the text in a precise fashion and brings out the beauty of the Persian culture through its rich text.    Reviewed by Haleh 7/10/08

San Francisco author Eggers delivers Deng's account of growing up as a Sudanese "Lost Boy". Deng’s perilous childhood journey from his native village in southern Sudan to refugee camps of Ethiopia and Kenya will astound you; his young adult journey to America--and the subsequent triumphs and tragedies he faces in his new home of Atlanta--will break your heart and make you smile.  Reviewed by Erica 7/10/08

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

This book is a collection of letters written right after World War II. They tell the story of a group of people who lived on Guernsey (in the Channel Islands) during the Nazi occupation.  Character driven, I promise that  you will laugh, cry and be surprised by how their lives unfold. Quick and easy to read, this book is a real treat. Susan Lynn 7/10/08

Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold

Welcome to Barrayar, a planet ruled by a military aristocracy and a fear of everything mutant.  Miles Vorkosigan is a true son of his world in all ways except  . . . he’s  less than five feet tall and has brittle bones.  When Miles fails the physical test that would admit

him into the planet’s elite Imperial Military Academy, he’s sent to his mother’s home world and the fun begins.  This is the first in a series, which features Miles, a unique character trying to overcome his physical disabilities and prove himself to his mutant hating planet and the whole galaxy.  Think space opera with a touch of Jane Austen and you have the Miles Vorkosigan adventures.  Reviewed by Marcia 07/09/08

Atomic Lobster by Tim Dorsey

Atomic Lobster is one of the few books I've read that has made me laugh out loud. The main character, Serge, has a unique thought process.  He obsesses on Florida history along with quirky and bizarre facts and tangents that come together in the end. Oh, and he's also consider a serial killer, but only of those that he feels deserve it, such as other killers.  He is also the master of being in the right place at the right time with his buddy Coleman.  After a few chapters Dorsey's writing style becomes predictable, but the dialog between the characters is the real treasure in this book.  It's a fun read which has made me eager to get through the other nine Dorsey novels featuring Serge.    Reviewed by Edie 07/09/08 

Murder Alfresco by Nadia Gordon

Leave it to Sunny McCoskey,chef and owner of a popular restaurant in the Napa Valley,to be in the wrong,dark place at the wrong, creepy time of night.  Only she would come upon the body of a beautiful young woman hanging from a tree outside of a well-known winery.  And, only Sunny would wind up unintentionally becoming privy to knowledge of some unusual sexual practices of several suspects putting herself in harm's way.  Be sure to have a glass of wine in hand as you're served up an entertaining who done it!     Reviewed by Marian 07/09/08 

Gonzo: the life of Hunter S. Thompson : an oral biography by Jann S. Wenner & Corey Seymour; introduction by Johnny Depp

"Gonzo: The Life of Hunter S. Thompson", the massive 500 page bio-remberance compiled by Rolling Stone editor Jann Werner is a straight shooting look at one of the more colorful literary figures in the past few decades, the renowned and notorious Hunter S. Thompson. An impressive cast of luminaries ranging from journalists, public figures, bikers, and politicos offer their observations on their meetings with the explosive, sometimes hilarious, painfully observant, oft-tortured, and substanced-abused writer. I just keep wondering while reading this book: how did someone like Thompson fit all of his hard living into one life?     Reviewed by Stephen 07/09/08 

For Women Only: What You Need to Know About the Inner Lives of Men by Shaunti Feldhahn

This book, as the title suggests, is written for the female audience and attempts to break down a man's composition.

Having started as a character research project for her novel The Lights of Tenth Street, Feldhahn gathers her information through surveying men across the board in order to find what makes men tick and how this affects the women they are in relationships with, primarily romantically.  Written through a Biblical, Christian lens, and primarily written to the married, this book seeks to enlighten women to work towards understanding the men they are committed to and to seek out their part in preserving and/or strengthening a healthy relationship.  I appreciated this book because there is already too much material out there that seek to bash the opposite sex, while there are too few written on how to respect and appreciate one another.  Personally, I found it a good read, one that can be enjoyed not only by women, but by men as well.   Reviewed by Abigail 07/08/08 

Encyclopedia Of The Horse by Elwyn Hartley Edwards

The horse is one of our noblest creatures and this book proves it. The horse in history, in art and at work are featured. The 115 breeds highlighted all have beautiful photographs and information. Some of the breeds are rare and not in the United States. Reviewed by Lynn 7/08/08

Desperate Remedies by Thomas Hardy

This book is Thomas Hardy's first published novel.  It was published anonymously because it was considered too sensational at the time.  It is a blend of romance, mystery and Victorian melodrama which will make you smile.  You will also smile at the equisite English and beautiful writing--and hold the prozac--there is an un-Hardy like happy ending.  Reviewed by Mary 07/08/08 

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

This little charmer is one of my favorites. It's similar to Jane Austen or The Enchanted April. Seventeen-year-old Cassandra lives in a ruined castle with her eccentric family in the 1930s. The family is broke but making the best of it. Two handsome and wealthy brothers from America move in next door. Wit and romance abound. It will make you want to invent your own Midsummer's Eve Ceremony. A great summer read. Reviewed by Patti 7/07/08

Triangle: the fire that changed America by David Von Drehle

"Triangle" is social history at its best. Harrowing yet compulsively readable, "Triangle" is the story of the 1911 fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory that trapped workers behind locked exit doors and on fire escapes that led to nowhere, and killed 146, most of them young women in their teens or early twenties.

It is both a chronicle of the fire and a vibrant portrait of an entire age. Waves of Jewish and Italian immigrants inundated New York in the early years of the century, filling its slums and supplying its garment factories with cheap, mostly female labor. Von Drehle orchestrates events into a drama rich in suspense and filled with memorable characters. He describes in riveting detail the raging fire, the workers attempts to escape, the spit-second quirks of fate that saved some and doomed others. Most powerfully, he puts a human face on those who died. 

Reviewed by Linda 07/06/08

Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr

This nonfiction account of the 1990s discovery of the long lost Caravaggio masterpiece "The Taking of Christ" reads like a suspense novel.  It also reveals fascinating behind-the-scenes insight into the worlds of art restoration and art historians.  Included in the narrative are vignettes about the life of the artist, a man who would be fodder for the tabloids if he were alive today.  A fast read suitable for art and mystery lovers.  Reviewed by Paula 7/05/08

Fixing Climate by Wallac S. Broecker

This was a surprisingly interesting book.

It read like a novel and offered some hopeful solutions to the climate crisis.

Reviewed by Kerry 07/05/08

Astrid & Veronika  by Linda Olsson

This story about the developing friendship between two women; one older, one younger, alternates  between the two and between their present and past lives.  They tell each other about their loves, losses, and families.  The setting and atmosphere is what is memorable.  It is all very stereotypically Swedish  - full of silences, secrets, wild strawberries, suicides, and snow.  This is all in contrast to a short section of the book set in sunny New Zealand.  This is a serious tale with no wasted words.  It is beautifully written and contains a universal message.

Reviewed by Evelyn 07/05/08

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson

Incidental Findings: Lessons From My Patients in the Art of Medicine by Danielle Ofri

Discovering Natural Horsemanship : A Beginner's Odyssey by Tom Moates

Art Journals & Creative Healing: Restoring the Spirit Through Self-Expression by Sharon Soneff

If you are already a faithful journal keeper or if you have thought about becoming one, this book will help, especially if there is a particular issue in your life that you would like to address.  The journal examples are very creative, with tips on making altered books, painting and stamping, and should inspire you to create your own.  There are also sidebars by the artists describing how and why they chose to create a journal.  To give you an idea, Section One is:” Health and Healing for the Emotions: Finding Peace in the Midst of Emotional Turmoil” and Section Two is: “Health and Healing for the Body: Finding Comfort in the Midst of Physical Challenges.”  My best recommendation is that I want to buy the book!  Reviewed by Margot Victoria 7/3/08

Girls like us : Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Carly Simon--and the journey of a generation by Sheila Weller

This book is a triple biography of pioneer singer-songwriters Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Carly Simon. Although the book is 584 pages, it reads quickly and is very enjoyable. The author moves between her subjects throughout the chapters, telling each woman's story. The book is well written, intertwining musical and social history along with good old-fashioned gossip. This is a must read for fans of these women. So start your Joni-Carole-Carly playlist, grab your favorite beverage, and enjoy this great summer read. Reviewed by PatJ 7/03/08

Crossed by Nicole Galland

N by E by Rockwell Kent

This book, a Literary Guild selection in 1930, has weathered the intervening years very well. A personal "diary" of a trip from Nova Scotia to Greenland in a small sailboat, subsequent shipwreck and time spent in Greenland, it draws the reader into the squalls and  tempests of nature and personalities. Kent's writing style is much like his woodcut chapter illustrations: stark, isolated and perfectly evocative of the places and times. The text, an amalgam of Jack London, Ernest Shackleton and F. Scott Fitzgerald, is fleshed out and enhanced by the drawings. This is an easy way to catch a glimpse of Greenland and its people. It is the only way to suffer through miserable days at sea and shipwreck. Reviewed by Judy 7/3/2008

The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler

The Oakley Library Book Club recently read The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler. Everyone enjoyed the book, especially the hard-boiled writing style. Philip Marlowe, who appears in several Chandler novels, is a tough P.I. with a conscience and a high moral standard. I'm usually not too crazy about crime novels written by men, but this book changed my outlook. It sounded just like a Dragnet episode in my head, reporting "just the facts, ma'am, just the facts". I would highly recommend this book.  Reviewed by Liz 7/3/2008

The Whole Truth by David Baldachi

Nicholas Creel, the trillionaire owner of Ares, a very successful defense contracting company has hired Dick Pender who is an expert at perception management.  The two as a team are very scarey.  They create what all the world will see as "The Whole Truth".   By using the internet and blogs they create for the world the "Red Menace" which can pit two Super Powers against each other to cause World War III.  Special Operative A.Shaw, his fiance Anna Fischer and a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Kate James don't believe what's being said and team up to find "The Whole Truth".  The action is non-stop and kept me turning the pages to see where this very realistic story would go.  Reviewed by Robi 7/2/2008

Naughty Neighbor by Janet Evanovich

Louisa Brannigan and Pete Streeter are neighbors who don’t get along but are drawn together by a missing pig in this light-hearted romance/mystery from Janet Evanovich.  Published prior to her best-selling Stephanie Plum series, this re-release of a 1992 Loveswept romance title contains many of the much-loved elements of Evanovich’s more recent books - humorous characters, snappy banter and quirky relatives - but without as much polish.  Still, this quick read will keep fans of Evanovich turning pages to solve the mystery of the disappearing pig.  Reviewed by Carol 7/2/2008

Free For All by Don Borchert

This book ought to be required reading for library school students.  As a library assistant, Borchert comes across all kinds of interesting situations and colorful people at his workplace.  Weird things in the bookdrop?  Check!  Disgruntled janitorial staff?  Check!  Patrons with multiple library cards?  Check!  Free For All is an excellent representation of what it's REALLY like to work in a busy library.  His stories are often hysterical, sometimes shocking, and always a good read.  Reviewed by Dayni 7/2/2008

The Tale of Murasaki by Liza Crihfield Dalby

Tale of Murasaki is a vivid fictional account of Murasaki Shibuku, a maid of honor of the imperial court during the Heian period.  She wrote one of the first novels, The Tale of Genji.  I was skeptical that an occidental could capture the nuances of Japanese culture and tradition, but Liza Dalby's novel is written with the subtlety and refinement inherent to Japanese.  One of my favorite things about reading this book were the descriptions of the characters, their clothing, and mannerisms.  The descriptions were so clear, you could almost smell the incense, feel the texture of the fabrics, and see the rich color of the landscape.  Tale of Murasaki is a story so lush, the title character comes alive in your mind.  An excellent read! Reviewed by Cia 7/01/2008

My Antonia by Willa Cather

You don't have to be a lover of old fashioned classics to love My Antonia by Willa Cather.  To read My Antonia is to be swept up in Cather's wind blown Nebraska prairie, the desolate landscape where characters struggle to survive the hardships of 19th Century life. What lingers is the human condition in all its strength and intensity...friendships, loyalty, loss, and memory. Mostly what resonates is the timelessness of the piece. In spite of the differences in period and lifestyle, My Antonia remains a rich and wonderful perspective on human relations and how they shape our lives.  Reviewed by Vickie 6/30/08