M. P. Barker

Special Guests & Special WritersThis first group of books is particularly special to us, not only because they're by fabulous writers, but also because their authors honored us with a guest appearance at our meeting. Thanks, Judy, Suzanne, Anna, Karen, and Michael! Come back any time!
The Secret Thief by Judith Jaeger
Shelf life : romance, mystery, drama, and other page-turning adventures from a year in a bookstore by Suzanne Strempek Shea
Sundays in America : a yearlong road trip in search of Christian faith by Suzanne Strempek Shea
My Outcast Heart by Anna C. Bowling
Soul Catcher by Michael C. White
The Garden of Martyrs by Michael C. White
Don't I Know You? by Karen Shepard
The Best of the Best
The following books appealed to nearly everyone in my book group, earning an average score of 8 (out of a possible 10) or higher:
Harry Potter and the deathly hallows by J.K. Rowling:
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Animal, vegetable, miracle : a year of food life by Barbara Kingsolver
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling:
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Agatha Raisin and the quiche of death by M.C. Beaton
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
Blackberry Wine by Joanne Harris
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Sea Glass by Anita Shreve

The Midlist
The following books scored an average of 7.0 to 7.99. Although they weren't for everyone's taste, most of us did enjoy them quite a bit--and you might, too!:
SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS Ann Bashares
Barefoot Contessa Family Style Cookbook by Ina Gerton
MOUNTAINS BEYOND MOUNTAINS Tracy Kidder 7.75
Ahab's Wife by Sena Jeter Naslund
The Map of Love by Ahdaf Souief
1776 by David McCullough
Naked in Death by J. D. Robb
Gibbon's Rise and Fall by Sherri Tepper
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE Jane Austin
MY SISTERS KEEPER Jodi Picoult
KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL Anthony Bourdain
LET ME GO Helga Schneider
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS Sara Gruen
Truth by Jacqueline Sheehan
Always Outnumbered Always Outgunned by Walter Moseley
Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
BRICK LANE Monica Ali
THIRTEEN MOONS Charles Frazer
Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry
Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell
Killing Time by Caleb Carr
Fast Women by Jennifer Crusie
Smoke Jumper by Nicholas Evans
The Crimson Petal and the White by Michael Farber
West with the Night by Beryl Markham
Revere in Those Days by Roland Merullo
The Mummy by Anne Rice

BiographyMr. and Mrs. Prince by Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina: A wonderfully detailed biography of Lucy Terry Prince (America's first African-American poet) and her husband Abijah that brings Lucy and Abijah and their world to life. Equally fascinating is the parallel story of the author and her husband's quest to document Lucy and Abijah's lives, which reads like a detective story. Beautifully told--this book will make readers completely re-think their pre-conceptions about blacks in New England.
Order from your local independent bookseller

Contemporary fictionThe Secret Thief by Judith Jaeger: What would you do if you found out that everything you thought you knew about your family was a lie? While helping her grandmother clear out her house, Connie Gray discovers that her family's history isn't quite as she's been lead to believe. A great read from a terrific new author!!Order from your local independent bookseller.

Historical FictionSoul Catcher by Michael C. White: My favorite book of 2007. A complex and wonderfully told story of a slave catcher and the runaway who challenges his path in life. Multifaceted, rich in historic detail, and emotionally gripping--I could not put this book down. The characters are complex and fascinating, and none of their choices are pat or easy. White somehow creates a sympathetic protagonist out of a character you feel you ought to hate. I really wanted to see Cain redeem himself. Very cinematic in tone--this would make a terrific movie!Order from your local independent bookseller.

Historical romanceMy Outcast Heart (E-book: Amazon Kindle edition or download from Awe-struck E-books) by Anna C. Bowling: Left alone after the sudden death of her grandfather, Tabetha Small finds she must rely on a mysterious stranger if she wants to keep her home.
Never Too Late (E-book: Amazon Kindle edition or download from Uncial Press.) by Anna C. Bowling: After the death of her husband, Amelia Sinclair gets a second chance at love.
Queen of the Ocean (E-book: Amazon Kindle edition or download from Uncial Press.) by Anna C. Bowling: The daughter of wreckers (land-based pirates who lure ships to destruction on Cornwall's rocky coast), Frances Carter longs for a better life--and to escape an impending marriage to a man she doesn't love.

HumorA Walk on the Wide Side: Pride and Plumpness by Melva Michaelian and Lorene Morin: A humorous celebration of diva-sized women and a wry commentary on America's obsession with thin-ness.MysteryDon't I Know You? by Karen Shepard: Much more than a murder mystery. A young single mother is killed, her body discovered by her 12-year-old son. The story is told from the point of view of three different characters, and each one gives you a different twist on the story and a different possible suspect. But it's not so much a whodunit as a how-this-event-changed-their-lives kind of story. It brings up lots of questions about how well you can ever really know someone and how your own needs, ambitions, desires, might color your perspective or keep you from doing the right thing. Very thought-provoking!Order from your local independent bookseller.NonfictionRusty and Bob Clark's Stories Carved in Stone series features information on New England gravestone carvers in West Springfield, Agawam, and Holyoke, Massachusetts, and Enfield, Connecticut. More than just an inventory of gravestones and epitaphs, these wonderful little field guides provide capsule histories of the towns and their prominent residents, biographical information on gravestone carvers, help with identifying particular carvers by their work, and interesting information on funeral and burial customs and other social history from the 17th, 18th, and early 19th century in the Connecticut River Valley.Short FictionE. Catherine Tobler has published fantasy, science fiction, and weird tales in print magazines and online journals. Check out her website to find some great short fiction.