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The circus comes to town right next door to 93 year old Jacob Jankowski’s nursing home setting off a string of memories.  When Jacob was 21 his parents were killed in a car accident and he ended up running off and joining the circus.  Jacob’s memories give the readers a behind-the-scenes peek at the greatest show on earth.  Like any workplace the circus Jacob works for is full of politics, a pecking order, backstabbing and fighting.  When Jacob falls in love with his boss’s wife, he learns that the circus he joins has dark secrets.

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This is the first book I’ve ever read that involves the circus.  It is not the circus I remember going to.  Gruen does a great job researching the circuses that travelled the country on trains back in the 1920’s and 1930’s.  This story has great twists and turns and chracters to root for.  Guren does a great job describing the acts, I was able to picture the acts in my mind easily.  Although the story has some dark parts, it is a fun book to read.

Water for Elephants

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There are currently 9 books in this delightful series set in the African country of Botswana. In the first book, The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Precious Ramotswe inherited a large sum of money when her father passes away. Mma Ramotswe using her inheritance and armed with a book on private detection, she opens The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. Each book in the series is filled with intriguing mysteries Mma Ramotswe is hired to solve. Along the way we see her personal life grow as her business prospers. And each book offers a uniquie look at the culture and way of life in Botswana.

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This is a fun series. it is great to have a woman as the lead character, and she’s a detective as well. Mr. Smith was born in Africa and lived in Botswana so he has first hand knowledge of the culture he incorporates into the story. The stories are fun, the other characters are great and every book will give you something to chuckle about and something to think about.

The No. 1 Ladies Detective

Tears of the Giraffe

Morality for Beautiful Girls

The Kalahari Typing School for Men

The Full Cupboard of Life

In the Company of Cheerful Ladies

Blue Shoes and Happiness

The Good Husband of Zebra Drive

The Miracle at Speedy Motors

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The Spy Who Came in From the Cold is one of the books listed in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. It is not a book I would have ever picked up on my own but now I can cross it off my list and continue on with my quest.

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The main character, Alec Leamas is an agent for the British version of the CIA. In the book they refer to it as the Circus. He was in charge of agents in East Berlin spying on the Praesidium during the cold war. It is now the early 1960s and Leamas’ entire team has been killed by the enemy. After years of service he is tired of the job and ready to call it quits, when he is offered one last job. It’s a job he cannot refuse and so he sets out to accomplish what, for him, will be his crowning achievement without blowing his cover.

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I like suspense, but I’ve never really been into spy novels. The writing in this is kind of dry, but the plot is superb. It has everything I would expect from a spy novel, and keeps you guessing until the very end. It also seems very real life; I could almost believe I was reading a true account and not fiction. I highly recommend this book.

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The story begins when self-described plus size woman, Cannie Shapiro discovers her ex-boyfriend (they are on a break) has gotten a job writing the column “Good In Bed” in a woman’s magazine. His first article is entitled “Loving a Larger Woman” where he describes his relationship with Cannie. This article sends Cannie on a journey that will bring her some of the best, and worst, experiences. With humor and wit, Cannie reflects on her past and present to find herself and try to find happiness.

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Cannie is a smart and funny character which makes this really fun to read. The story really is about self-acceptance. Cannie is such a real character that you can relate to what she is going through. I often felt like I was seeing myself in Cannie. I was completely engrossed in the story and had to force myself to put the book down and do other things. This is a light easy read and will have you laughing out loud in spots and reaching for the Kleenex in others. Snuggle up in a comfy chair and enjoy the ride with Cannie.

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In a small California town children have begun to disappear in the night. Christopher Snow begins to investigate the disappearances when the son of his childhood sweetheart goes missing. Christopher has a rare genetic disorder which makes him sensitive to light so he is in his element in the darkness. He heads to a nearby military base, Fort Wyvern, which he believes is the cause of not only the disappearances, but of other strange events that have begun to occur around town. Christopher is familiar with Fort Wyvern and aware it houses deep secrets due to the research conducted there. As he sets out to find the children he discovers that saving them is not enough; he has to save the town as well.

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This was the first ever Dean Koontz book I read and I have been hooked on him ever since. Seize the Night is a major page turner; I could barely put the book down. The plot is so unique and takes twists I never saw coming. I would not recommend reading it late at night for two reasons: First it’s scary. Not in that classic horror movie way but in that the minute you close your eyes you will start to wonder… and then your imagination will take over. Second, you won’t want to put it down and go to sleep, which can be a problem for some. Just make sure that when you start reading it you carve out plenty of time because you won’t want to put it down.

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Nineteen Minutes is all it took to turn the small New Hampshire town of Sterling upside down. When one of the local high school students, Peter, walks into the school and opens fire, the whole town is forced to take a closer look at themselves as they all search to answer the most important question…Why? Josie, the main character, witnessed the tragedy but cannot remember what happened. Her mother Alex, a local judge, tries to balance her personal and professional life, while trying to understand the world her daughter lives in. Peter’s parents try to understand how their son could have done this. The story is full of complex characters and issues where nothing is black and white but everything is in a shade of gray.

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I encourage everyone to read this book because it does bring up real life issues we should all think about. Reading this book made me feel sad and angry. I felt sad for the victims of the shooting, the main character, the parents and even the shooter himself. And I was angry at all of them, too. One thing I have found with Jodi Picoult is that she has a way of capturing the essence of real life. Unfortunately life is all to often unfair and ugly and it will leave you feeling sad and angry. This is not a light read and unless you are a robot, the story will have you wrestling with your emotions, but it is a good book regardless.

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Angels & Demons is actually the prequel to The Da Vinci Code, but you do not need to read it in order to understand The Da Vinci Code. Harvard symbolist Robert Langdon is called in when a well known physicist, Leonard Vetra, is found dead with an ancient symbol branded on his chest. It is the symbol of an ancient, secretive, and once thought extinct, society. Langdon, along with Vetra’s daughter, set out to find this society, and the person who murdered Vetra. The trail leads them to Vatican City, where the election of a new pope is underway, as they attempt to put the pieces together in time to discover what is going on before anyone else is hurt.

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I LOVED THIS BOOK. I think Angels & Demons is better than The Da Vinci Code. I could not put Angels & Demons down; I read it in two days. I had it stashed under my desk at work. I like the plot better and there was more suspense in this book. The twists and turns Dan Brown weaves into the story line will keep you hooked. READ THIS BOOK!!!! I promise you will thank me later.

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I’ve finished another book on my Ultimate Reading Quest. I have a confession…this is the first time I have read Wuthering Heights. I know it’s classic literature and I even bought a copy of the book years ago, but it seemed that every time I picked it up and tried to read it, I just couldn’t get into the book. It took me awhile, but I finally did it and have been able to cross it off the list of 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.

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A young and orphaned Heathcliff finds himself brought to live at Wuthering Heights by its owner, Mr. Earnshaw. The young boy befriends his benefactor’s daughter, Catherine. As they grow older that friendship develops into love, but Catherine forsakes true love and marries Edgar Linton, a man of equal social status. Rejected by Catherine, Heathcliff disappears for a few years and returns bent on reclaiming his love and seeking revenge on those who sought to keep them apart.

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Wuthering Heights has often been heralded as one of the greatest love stories ever written. But this is more than a love story; It is also a story of hatred and revenge. The story really highlights the best and worst in people. The characters in Wuthering Heights are extremely complex and changed from villain to victim and back again on the same page. It was a little hard to follow the dialog at times, especially when the farm hand Joseph talked. Some of the phrases were just outdated. And honestly, it was a slow read. I am not a huge fan of love stories, but this is not your typical love story. What is truly amazing is how relevant the story is, even today. Take out the time and setting and you have a complex love triangle filled with passion, jealousy and revenge. I guess some things never change.

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Christopher is a 15 year old autistic boy who gives us a narrative of his adventures when he discovers something curious. The story begins with Christopher finding his neighbor’s dog dead. She comes upon Christopher and her dearly departed dog and, thinking he killed the dog, has him arrested. Christopher decides to uncover the truth about what really happened to the dog. As Christopher searches to learn the truth, he discovers what really happened to his mother. Through his journey, we get to view the world through Christopher’s eyes, a world where logic, the cornerstone of Christopher’s world, is often swept under the rug.

THE SCOOP:

I loved this book and recommend it to everyone. The story is deliciously funny and Christopher is truly a character you can understand and relate to. What makes this story stand out, is the author’s brilliant way of writing from the viewpoint of an autistic boy. I felt as though I had a new appreciation for how a person with autism sees the world, and how hard it can be for them to relate to the way the rest of us act. One of the most fascinating part of his tale is when Christopher describes how he “feels” emotion. I am still amazed by the insight this author has. This book also made me realize how complicated (unnecessarily so) we can make things.

This book is funny and insightful all at the same time. It’s one of those books I just couldn’t put down and hated to see end. As an added incentive (as if you should need one) this book is listed in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. Grab a copy of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and settle in for some fun.

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Amir is a young boy growing up the only child of a single, wealthy business man in Afghanistan before the Russians invaded. Amir desperately wants the approval of his father. The story begins with Amir and his father’s servant’s son enjoying their childhood’s together as friends and comrades. The boys are happy and carefree until they become involved in a horrible crime. When faced with a major decision during the crime, Amir makes the choice he thinks will gain him his father’s approval, and it does, but that decision has dire consequence which impacts the rest of his life.

Shortly after the incident, Amir’s father’s servant and his son leave. The Russian invasion forces Amir and his father to leave Afghanistan and head to the United States. Amir grows into a man thousands of miles from his homeland. After the Taliban come into power, Amir returns to Afghanistan. On his journey home Amir uncovers truths he never knew, and is given a chance to make things right for his childhood friend.

THE SCOOP:

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the plus side the author does a great job of using his words to paint the images from the book. Even though it’s been awhile since I read the book, I can still close my eyes and see the scenes from the book. Also on the plus, the characters are all human and suffer from the same flaws we all do. On the negative, for me, the story served as a reminder of the horrible things that people do to each other which often leaves me irritated.

This is book that will make you think and will make you wrestle with the horrible things that happen all too often in this world. If you are just looking for a happy little story, this isn’t the book for you. But if you are looking for a great story, one that offers a few life lessons, grab a copy of The Kite Runner today.

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