Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks

Geraldine Brooks, a Pulitzer-Prize winning author has carved out quite a name for herself in the realm of historical fiction. With Caleb's Crossing, she solidifies her reputation for bringing historical events to vivid life.

Caleb Cheeshahteaumauck, the first Native American to graduate from Harvard (in 1665,) grew up on the island of Martha's Vineyard, off the coast of Massachusetts. That is the fact that Brooks bases her story on, imagining the world in great detail during the 1660's Puritanical era. The story is narrated by Bethia, a lively and smart young woman who resides with her father, brother and baby sister following the deaths of her mother and twin brother.

Bethia, enjoying her brief moments of freedom while she can first encounters Caleb in the woods at the age of 12. They form a tentative if forbidden friendship, sharing the same inquisitive nature and love of learning. Eventually, Caleb comes to fall under the tutelage of Bethia's minister father, where he excels in preparation for his admission to Harvard.

Brooks does a masterful job of creating the world of the Puritans in the 1660's, and unfolds a rich and intelligent story of friendship, culture clash and honor. The research done for this book is self-evident, as Brooks even utilizes vocabulary of the day to lend an air of authenticity. As with most stories involving natives and their interactions with their white brethren, the book has a heartbreaking ending...but one worth the reading nonetheless.

Blood Brothers by Nora Roberts

Cal, Fox and Gage are childhood friends who share the same birthday. To commemorate their 10th birthdays, the boys sneak off to the woods, where they swear a blood oath to one another, unwittingly releasing a centuries-old demon. Every seven years for one week, all hell breaks loose on their small town, resulting in a horrific crime wave. Now, 21 years later, the demon's strength is growing and the 3 men know this might be their final chance to end the reign of terror.

Quinn Black is an author who specializes in the macabre, and has come to town to research her book on the phenomena that take place in Hawkins Hollow. She and Cal not only share an instant attraction to one another, but also the ability to experience things that happened in the past. When Layla inexplicable finds herself drawn to Hawkins Hollow, Quinn recognizes a connection to the demonic events, and summons her friend Cybil to complete the group.

This is the first book in the "Sign of Seven" trilogy, and focuses mostly on Cal and Quinn. While it is traditional Nora Roberts fare, it is an entertaining and quick read. Fans of paranormal romance will enjoy this book, and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy!

The Illumination by Kevin Brockmeier

One Friday evening, the Illumination happened. People's wounds, injuries or pain began emitting a light - from the slightest dull twinge to the bright blinding light of life slipping away - no one was immune.

The book follows several very different people, who, on the surface, have nothing in common, but all share both the pain that seems to be the constant human condition as well as the desire for connection, no matter how fleeting. The story centers around a diary in which a wife recorded the little love notes she received daily from her husband. The book travels from person to person, affecting each one in a slightly different way.

This is a quiet little book that can be difficult to read, as each character struggles with their own very personal pain. Underneath it all, however, is that pull to reach out to others, resulting in an ultimately hopeful story.

The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian

Chip Linton had a good life - a successful airline pilot at a northeastern airline with a loving, successful wife and happy 10-year old twin daughters. One day a flock of unlucky geese change all that. As his plane's engines die as they suck in a flock of geese, he is calm, focused, and chooses to emergency land the plane on nearby Lake Champlain, fully anticipating a Sully Sullenberg moment. Luck, however, is not on his side, and his plane's wing catches a wave, causing the initially-smooth landing to morph into a careening, plane-breaking disaster in which 39 passengers are killed.

Suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Chip and his family relocate to a small, quiet New Hampshire town to aid in his recovery. While he and his family, wife Emily and daughters Hallie and Garnet settle in, many of the townspeople seem to take an unnatural interest in the girls. As Chip deals with some ghosts of his own from his crash, Emily attempts to keep a hold on working, the girls, their strange new home with a creepy history, and Chip's apparent downward spiral into insanity.

Bohjalian does a masterful job of creating a sense of dread with this story. As Emily struggles between needing the support of her new friends and a growing feeling of unease with their ways, she also remains unaware of Chip's close calls with causing physical pain to her and their children as the paranormal forces sink their claws deeper and deeper into him. As the group of herbalists surrounding Emily and the girls seem to grow more and more bizarre and malevolent with their rituals, Emily's maternal instincts kick in...but is it too late? Creepy mulit-dimensional novel with a dark, harsh ending.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Liesel Meminger has just watched her little brother death and burial in a strange town when her mother deposits her with her new foster parents in the small town of Molching, Germany and disappears. Needless to say, Liesel has some trouble adjusting to all the changes in her 9-year-old life, waking up every night in her new home with a nightmare. Luckily, her new Papa, Hans Hubermann, is a gentle, kind man, who takes Liesel under his wing, sitting up with her every night when she has her nightmares, eventually using this time to teach the illiterate child to read. His wife, Rosa, is rough around the edges, and while Liesel grows to love her as well, she is closest to her Papa.

Liesel, the Book Thief, stole her first book at her brother's burial - The Gravedigger's Handbook - when it fell out of the grave digger's pocket. Hans teaches her to read with this book and doesn't ask too many questions when she comes home with other books, but reads them along with her. Words become of utmost importance and comfort in Liesel's life.

Growing up in wartime Germany, Liesel is witness to many acts of cruelty, but also acts of great courage and kindness. Her neighbor, best friend, and co-conspirator, Rudy, is her loyal companion and continuously demonstrates his willingness to to anything for her. Zusak shines the light on the other side of Nazi Germany - not everyone was a goose-stepping idiot, there were plenty of good-hearted folks living within the regime.

The tale is narrated by Death himself, who is quite taken by Liesel the first time he meets her, when he collects her brother's soul. Through his telling, occasional asides and foreshadowing, we get to know and love Liesel (and sort of get a kick out of Death.) The writing in this book is absolutely lovely in its imagery, language, and style. Zusak has written an unforgettable book about the Holocaust, about life, about love and friendship, and also about death. Who could resist a book where books are so crucial to the story line? This book is actually marketed towards Young Adults; however, it is a wonderful read for adults and older teens alike. Do yourself a favor, stick with the beginning which can be a little daunting to get into, have the tissues handy, and dive right in to this book. You'll be glad you did.

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin

Silas "32" Jones and Larry Ott were friends once upon a time, growing up in rural Mississippi. Larry was a quiet, nerdy white kid who loved to read; Silas, an African American was a star baseball player at the local high school. One night, both of their lives changed forever when a girl that Larry had taken on a date disappeared, never to be seen or heard from again. Although Larry was never charged with a crime, he was ostracized by his community, where he lived a solitary life with only one friend - the strange and troublesome Wallace Stringfellow. Although Silas escaped the area for several years following the girl's disappearance, he ends up back in town as the constable.

When another young woman goes missing, Larry is immediately under suspicion, and when he is almost fatally attacked, everyone (but Silas) assumes he had it coming. Silas does a little investigating on his own, knowing that Larry is not a murderer, as Silas has a little secret from that night long ago...

This is a quiet novel with memorable characters and enough intrigue to keep me interested. Overall, there were more questions left unanswered than answered - the author did offer some quick and dirty explanations behind some of the mysteries; however the final result, although satisfying, felt a little rough around the edges.

Long Drive Home by Will Allison

Will Allison's second book, after his debut What You Have Left details the catastrophic effects one small split-second decision can have on life.

Written in part as a letter to the main character's daughter, the book centers around Glen, an accountant who works from home and serves as his six year-old daughter's primary caregiver while his wife, Liz commutes to the city for her job as a banker. During a routine drive home from school, Glen, with daughter Sara in the backseat, pretends that he is going to turn in front of a reckless driver, causing an accident with fatal results. When he realizes no one else witnessed the accident, he quickly fashions a version of the truth that absolved him from all guilt.

Things quickly spiral out of control as Glen perpetuates the lie with his wife, his daughter, a police detective, even the victim's mother leading to unintended consequences that Glen never imagined.

This psychological drama builds tension effectively, demonstrating how such a simple act can lead to devastating results, causing the reader to ponder the significance of other small acts - how close have we all been to being in Glen's shoes? This is a short, but definitely thought-provoking novel. If you are looking for an uplifting story, however, this one is not for you!

The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen

This story of whimsy, friendship and secrets is a perfect read to cozy up to this fall. Set in Walls of Water, North Carolina, the book is based around the seemingly different lives of Willa Jackson and Paxton Osgood. Willa was the quiet prankster in high school, who only returned to her hometown following the death of her father and after the demise of her marriage; Paxton, of the prominent Osgood family, is a community leader who still lives with her parents and is spearheading the renovation of an old, decrepit mansion that at one time belonged to Willa's ancestors.

When a skeleton is unearthed under the peach tree on the renovation site, Paxton and Willa unwillingly come together to solve a mystery that involves both of their grandmothers, who, were the best of friends at one time until a change in fortune that saw Willa's grandmother going to work for the Osgoods as a maid. While both grandmothers are still living, Willa's suffers from dementia and Paxton's from sassiness that make it difficult for the women to string together the events that led to the mysterious skeleton.

Sarah Addison Allen writes an enchanting tale that has a little something for everyone - romance, intrigue, humor, history, murder - even ghosts. Small town history and secrets are always a hit with me...and, as always, if you are a sucker for a happy ending, you will enjoy this latest offering from Allen.

The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon

Retired teacher Martha lives a solitary, yet she believes, fulfilling life on the farm that she shared with her now-deceased husband. One night, during a wicked storm, her life is altered forever when an odd couple show up on her porch, looking for shelter not only from the storm - but also from the "school" officials from where they had escaped from.

Lynnie and Homan are not only running to hide themselves - but also to hide a newborn baby to which Lynnie had given birth. When the couple is discovered, Buddy escapes into the storm, but Lynnie is taken back into custody, but not before hiding her baby in Martha's attic, hoping that Martha will shelter and care for her until they can be reunited. As Lynnie, who is developmentally disabled, is returned to the School for the Incurable and Feebleminded and Homan, who is hearing impaired, fends for himself in the world, Martha takes little Julia under her wing, becoming a refugee herself as she keeps her promise to Lynnie to hide her baby from the authorities.

This is a story of love, hope and loyalty that spans the ages. It is lovingly written and one of those books I just did not want to put down! Lynnie, Homan and Martha, among others, are such lovable and wonderful characters, you will root for them until the very satisfying conclusion.

Daughters of the Revolution by Carolyn Cooke

This slim novel takes place during a pivotal time in American history for women's rights and equality - the late 1960's through the 1980's. While the novel jumps around quite a bit, it centers on an exclusive yet struggling New England boys-only prep school and its old-school headmaster.

The headmaster, Goddard Byrd, (who likes to be called "God,")has repeatedly stated that females will be admitted to his school over his dead body, something that anticlimactically comes to pass when a clerical error makes way for Carole Faust to enter the school. Rather than attempting to assimilate to the school and its expectations, Carole challenges God and the rules as often as she can. As EV Hellman and her mother struggle following the untimely death of their dad/husband, a Goode School alumnus, they find themselves also uniquely tied to both the school and its headmaster, not to mention Carole Faust.

This book is not only an interesting microcosm of what went on in the larger world during the unrest of the 60's and 70's, it can easily be applied to the economic conditions in our country today. It is a witty, well-written and thought-provoking story, and one that we can all relate to on one level or another.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter: Kim Edwards

The Memory Keeper's Daughter begins in 1964 with two of the main characters, David and Norah Henry, having their first child. Caused by a combination of inclement weather and an unavailable doctor, David, an orthopedic surgeon, is forced to deliver his own, healthy son. However, when his wife unexpectantly delivers a second baby, David immediately recognizes that his son's twin has Down's Syndrome and makes a difficult decision that changes the course of his, Norah's, and their son's lives. Feeling he is saving his wife the heartache of raising, and quite possibly burying a child with Down's Syndrome, he tells his nurse, Caroline, to take the baby to a home. He tells his wife that their daughter died. Upon seeing the home, Caroline is unable to leave the child. She keeps and raises her as her own daughter, partly out of the desire to finally start her own family and partly out of her secret love for David.

The story spans from 1964 to 1988 and readers watch as the two children grow up separately and experience the damage that lies, loss, and anger to do to the two separate famililes, so silently bound together. At the end, the readers see both the healing power and the realities of redemptive love and forgiveness.

The concept of the book is what drew me to it. This is a plot different from any I have read before. The presentation, however, is not entirely impressive. Although the characters and relationships are very well-developed, the story drags between long sections divided among the two families. The characters almost seem too well-developed, the familial issues being drilled over and over into readers' heads. Long story short (no pun intended), the story is compelling and well-told, but the author probably could have made her point and a more succinct book in about 75 less pages.

Audio Book Review by Jennifer

Deeper Than the Dead by Tami Hoag: Audio-CD

While running away from the class bully and his toady, 5th graders Tommy Crane & Wendy Morgan stumble literally into a dead body, a half-buried woman, with her eyes and mouth glued shut. Their teacher, Anne Navarre, is also pulled into the series of frightening events as she tries to help her students deal with finding a body, the escalating bullying from Dennis Farman, who happens to be the son of a police officer, the possibility of a serial killer hunting young women in the small town, her relationship with her father and a new romance on the horizon. Tony Mendez, one of the local detectives, calls in FBI agent Vince Leone, a pioneer in profiling which is still a newer technique in 1985.

After another woman goes missing and everyone circles around and around the small group of local suspects, mostly including the parents of the children who discovered the first body. As a thriller, this book really does pull you in. As I listened, I could not decide for sure who the killer was. Red herrings are thrown out every time you decide on a definite suspect. I was intrigued by most of the main characters, with few exceptions, even the suspects are likeable. A few of the characters feel as if they are just there to ‘be there’, but most of them are filled out enough to be believable. One of the most interesting things about this book is the point of view from the children’s eyes, the inner workings of their families from the inside, rather than the public face, the ‘perfect family’.

I often found myself sitting in my car in my driveway, listening to the last bit of chapter, only to find the next part just as exciting and then having to force myself to stop listening. This is not a read for everyone, though. There are some graphic descriptions and foul language. A few of the loose ends are not wrapped up as neatly as I would have liked, but on the plus side, there is a sequel, so perhaps they will be wrapped up there! The next book in this series is Secrets to the Grave.