The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty

10/10 - This is the kind of book that inspires me to read. A perfect story about imperfect characters, real people. I loved Smithy! The story reminded me a lot of She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb, which is another one of my favorites. When I read the reviews, it seemed a lot of people had a hard time with the chronology. But I felt the book flowed really wonderfully. It was so warm too, you really got to know Smithy's family and care about them. This is another one I can't wait to loan out!

Watermelon by Marian Keyes

9/10 - Very fun, light read. A bit on the predictable side, but then again I like a bit of that now and then. Desperately wanting things to turn out a certain way, and then it actually happening. A novel idea. I really liked the main character and thought she was very believable. Great humorous banter the whole way through.

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

9/10 - I was so happy to get back to this genre. Back in the day, all I used to read was Anne Rice novels ;-) This book had the added bonus of making me feel like a world traveler, or desperately wanting to be one. I found myself looking up Hagia Sophia and other sights from the book on the internet. I really enjoyed the author's writing style and the letter format was very effective in telling the story. The suspense was just enought to keep you moving through all 700 pages. And the historical perspective was very interesting, and sometimes horrorifying (please no more mention of babes being impaled while still at their mother's breast!). I would recommend it, although it definitely takes a patient reader. It's not a fast read, but meant to be lingered over.