Songs of the Humpback Whale by Jodi Picoult

Another great novel by Jodi! I wouldn't rate it as one of her best, but it was good.

A woman takes off with her daughter leaving her husband. They travel cross country to her brother's place while the husband tries to search for them.

It was a great book, just not as great as most of hers. To say it was probably my least favorite of hers, but no means takes anything away from the book. It was still an excellent book.

Grade: B

In Search of Rhett Butler by Sharron Haynes

Okay I expected it to be more Gone With the Wind. It was a basic story of a woman looking for Mr. Perfect. Her name was Scarlett and she fell in love with the movie and spends her life looking for someone like Rhett. The problem was he was a fictional character.

It was a good book, but just not quite what I thought it would be.

Grade: C+

The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty

A REALLY good book. This basically loser guy loses his parents in an accident and just picks up his old bike and starts riding. He ends up riding across the country. In the process he finds himself. It was an excellent book!!!

Grade: A

Big Love by Sarah Dunn

Cute book, typical what I would call "chick lit". It starts when her live in boyfriend leaves her right before a dinner party. He leaves to go get mustard and doesn't come back. The rest was pretty predictable. Girl is suddenly single and starts dating.

Grade: C

The Sixth Wife by Suzannah Dunn

This book was about Katherine Parr, the sixth and final wife of Henry VIII. She was the one he was married to when he died. She did not have an easy life. The story takes place after he has died and after she married Thomas Seymour. He was a cad and ended up dying a traitorous death, being beheaded. Of course, this is after she dies after giving birth.

It was a good book, I love books from this time frame.

Grade: B

Mayada, Daughter of Iraq by Jean Sasson

This is a true story of a woman who comes from a prominent family in Iraq. She starts out a life of good fortune, but as Saddam's regime continues, her position changed. It tells the story of many people who were tortured and killed while he was in power.

The most heartbreaking to me where the neighbor boys who were around 14 and playing football in the street and were arrested because they "stared" at the police officers. Their mother asked Mayada to find them for her, she does but they are dead having been tortured. Eventually she was imprisoned and witnessed the torture first hand as a victim and witnessing her cell mates.

I tell you there have been times I have been conflicted about the war, but no matter we did the people of Iraq a huge favor by ousting Saddam. He was an evil, evil man as where the people that he was surrounded by.

Grade: A

Behaving Like Adults by Anna Maxted

A really cute book. Not earthshaking or anything, but it is good. The main character runs a dating agency that is supposed to be ultra exclusive, but she has a soft heart and has a hard time saying No to the desperate people. After going on a date with a man who applied to her agency she is date raped and her belief in relationships is tested. It was a really good book. I would say it is "chic lit" but I think its above that by a bit. It had more depth to it.

Grade: B

A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

Who thought a book on suicide could be funny! This book is about 4 people who meet on top of a building in London and form a sort of bond. They are up there to kill themselves. Needless to say they meet each other and don't jump. I have to say the 18 year old girl Jess is hysterical! She had me laughing out loud. Her first introduction to the first two up there were so funny, everytime I think of it, I laugh. She just wanted acceptance but would come out with some whacky things!

This was a book club book and I really enjoyed it. Although the ending wasn't much of an ending.

Grade: B

Cracks In My Foundation by Marian Keyes

I only got through the first part of this book it SUCKED!!! I have liked her books in the past, but this one was awful. It says a lot if I don't even get through it.

Basically its just her thoughts on crap. She comes across like a spoiled b**ch.

Grade: F

The Washingtonienne by Jessica Cutler

This book was funny. The main character was not very likable and a total slut.

Basically after losing her job and boyfriend in NY she moves to DC to live with a friend. While their she gets a job as an intern for a senator and proceeds to have sex with lots of men and even gets paid for it by one guy who gets her an apartment. She ends up keeping a blog about it and gets found out and becomes the talk about town. It was a typical "chic lit" kind of book which I do enjoy.

Not a serious thought provoking book, but fun.

Grade: B

The Good Mother by Sue Miller

Wow it was a good book I guess but kind of strange. It's about a woman who gets divorced then gets into another relationship and the struggles that result from that relationship. I was shocked as a mother she would behave the way she did.

This is a hard book to judge, it was good writing, but the story was kind of weird and the mother's reactions were strange.

So for me -

Grade: C

Losing It by Valerie Bertinelli

As a fan of hers I had to get this book, especially after seeing her on Oprah. I was shocked by the life she led. I will say I think even more of her for being so honest and coming through so strong. When I first heard about the book I wasn't sure about it. I thought it would be more of a weight loss book. It really was more her life story.

She is such a beautiful amazing woman. And I will say even heavy she is gorgeous! I'm so glad she is finding such happiness now.

Grade: A

She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb

I actually bought this book sometime ago, but after reading a few of Oprah's selections and not enjoying them I put it away. It was mentioned in another book so I thought I would give a try and am glad I did. It was really good. I once heard how Wally Lamb had a knack for getting inside a woman's head while writing. I will say it was true.

It follows a damaged young girl through her life. It was an excellent read. I can say luckily the character was not someone I could relate too. However that in no way took away from the book. I really enjoyed it!!!

Grade: A

Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

Absolutely loved this book. Jodi Picoult has such a knack for writing books from all sides, it really does make you question things you believe strongly in. As my hot topic is abortion I would love to see her tackle a book on that.

This book is about the death penalty. A man who is on death row for killing this woman's husband and child wants to donate his heart to her other daughter who needs a transplant. He has to face legal battles in order to do so. It really makes you question the whole process. It was an excellent book, hard to put down. I will admit the beginning and the end had me crying.

I recommend any book of hers! Everyone I have read has been excellent. Although after this book which I think was my favorite of hers was Nineteen Minutes about school shootings.

Grade: A++