The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, By Annie Barrows and Mary Anne Shaffer
(Reviewed by Jane)

I loved this book!  It’s set in post-WWII, London, where writer, Juliet is searching for something to write about, when she stumbles into a correspendence with first one, then numerous inhabitants of the small island of Guernsey.  Guernsey is off the British coast and was occupied by the Germans, during the war. 

Juliet is delightful and a smart-aleck, which is probably why I enjoyed her so much.  The whole book is a series of letters between her and the various characters in her life, but most importantly, the colorful members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, who formed, when some of the folks on the island were caught outside, after curfew, buy the occupying German soldiers.

I have to admit that my knowledge of the history of WWII, is limited, other than the obvious stuff about D-Day, the Holocaust, etc., but the horror that people in Great Britain (and other countries) suffered, with the bombings, occupation, rationing, etc. was really what this book is all about, but it’s not a sad, horrible story.  In fact, it does deal with that awful time in history, but in a very human way, and that is with humor. … (more…)

A Christmas Carol, By Charles Dickens
(Reviewed by Jane)

So, like most of you, I’ve seen various movies based on the Dickens classic; in fact, I’d guess that no other work of literature has been made into more movies, than this one.

However, I started thinking and realized that I’m not quite sure that I every actually READ the Dickens’ story.  Well, now I have and most of the movies are pretty accurate, in following the story, mostly because it’s not very long and shorter works are so much easier to make into decent movies.

A Christmas Carol (not to be confused with “A Christmas Story”, which we’ve all seen a few hundred times) is the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, the miserly business owner who finds no joy in the Christmas season, or in being with family.  Actually Mr. Scrooge is a rather cranky, awful man; he treats his employee, Bob Cratchett horribly, he spurns his one remaining family member, his nephew, and is just generally no fun to be around. … (more…)

Travels, By Michael Crichton
(Reviewed by Dom)

I’ve made it no secret that Michael Crichton was an inspiration for me as a teenager. His eerie science/medical-thriller, The Andromeda Strain, captivated me in 7th grade, and from that moment on I was hooked.

Through the years he has delivered blockbuster novels, many of which inspired hit movies (Jurassic Park, Disclosure, Rising Sun), as well as a dominating television series that he created (ER). He passed away in 2008.

This book, originally published in the late 80s, works as a combination autobiography/travelogue. The early chapters detail his experiences in medical school and the subsequent rotations in various hospitals, where he learned that - surprise! - he really didn’t want to be a doctor; he wanted to write.

The rest of the book is a series of travel adventures that he took over the years, stretching from Kilimanjaro to Asia to the jungles of South America. Along the way he impresses upon us that we experience more than one type of journey in this world: we journey to places, and we journey within ourselves. … (more…)

The Shining, By Stephen King
(Reviewed by Dom)

Redrum!! Redrum!!

Thirty years after it was written, and after it has been made into a movie (more than once), and after all of the hype here in Colorado…this book will still scare the crap out of you.

I first read The Shining while living in my first apartment, and I made the mistake of reading it late at night. I’ll tell you this: Looking down the hallway into my bathroom, at about midnight, while reading the infamous “bathroom scene” in this book, is a BIG mistake. I swear that shower curtain moved!

I’m not concerned about losing my man license here; the scene, and the book in general, are that powerful. … (more…)

Bird by Bird, By Anne Lamott
Reviewed by Dom

I usually receive a handful of emails each month from Dom and Jane listeners who have a burning desire to write. The questions usually deal with the publishing end of the business, but let’s face it: you gotta write it before someone will buy it.

There are a handful of books about the writing process that I can sincerely recommend. One of those is Stephen King’s “On Writing,” and another is this month’s Dom and Jane Book Club selection.

Anne Lamott has a pretty loyal following, many from her autobiographical essays (and believe me, she’s had a life that could fill several volumes), many from her novels (which are among the most poignant that you’ll read), as well as her columns in magazines and newspapers.

But it’s this volume, her thoughts on the art of writing, that I believe really stands out. In fact, the subtitle tells it all: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. … (more…)

The Alchemist, By Paulo Coelho
(Reviewed by Dom)

Paulo Coelho makes no bones about the fact that he was a 60s hippie and seeker. Born and raised in Brazil, he wound up working in theatre and the music industry, but always carried a deep desire to write. This month’s book club selection is his most famous work, originally published in the late 80s. Twenty years later it has sold tens of millions of copies.

The Alchemist is a fable, an enchanting story of Santiago, a shepherd boy in Spain who has a dream about discovering his treasure at the Pyramids (yes, Coelho capitalizes this throughout the book) of Egypt. He sets out on a long journey, the first of multiple metaphors throughout the book.

Along the way he encounters several characters who not only aid him in the quest for his Personal Legend, but who impart wisdom and lessons that help Santiago grow. It’s not all good, however, for the shepherd boy meets danger and disaster more than once. … (more…)

Five Quarters of the Orange , By Joanne Harris
(Reviewed by Jane)

Many of you may have read some of Joanne Harris’ work before, or at least saw the movie based on her best-selling novel, “Chocolat”.  Really, all these two books have in common is that they’re both set in France and they weave food and recipes into the storyline.

“Five Quarters of the Orange” is set in a small village in France, during World War II, when France was occupied by the Germans.  Not a very happy time in history and a very unhappy time for the French, in particular, meaning that this isn’t a light-hearted book.  It’s told from the perspective of 9 year-old Framboise, who lives with her mother and older brother and sister, on a family farm.  Her father was killed in the war and her mother, who is quite cold and stern, suffers from debilitating migraines.  The migraine episodes are at the center of the family mystery that is the storyline of the book.  Some sort of scandal or tragedy happened to Framboise’s family and the book is her re-telling of that story, as an old woman.

I often will choose good writing, over the story or the subject matter and when I started this book, I had the feeling that this might be one of those cases.  Harris’ writing is not flowery, overblown or, what I can only refer to as ‘romancy’.  I can’t stand authors that write ‘down’ to a more adolescent level, or try to manipulate with overly emotional, cheesy settings.  But, as I got into the first chapter and into the next, although I still was drawn by her writing, I had to find out what happened to force her family to flee and abandon their farm. … (more…)

Angels & Demons, By Dan Brown
(Reviewed by Tizzy)

When I heard this movie was coming out in May, I wanted to read the book first.  I was familiar with Dan Brown’s other hit novel The Da Vinci Code, but I was interested to dive into Robert Langdon’s first adventure.  Packed with suspense, twists, passion and smarts, Angels & Demons is not only a fun, quick read but also better than the movie.

This book tells the story of how a secret brotherhood called the Illuminati wants to destroy the Catholic Church in one night.  They send the Vatican a bomb threat, and they capture four of the Cardinals from conclave to murder.  It’s the perfect recipe for disaster, and the perfect puzzle for Langdon to solve. … (more…)

A Thousand Splendid Suns, By Khaled Hosseini
(Reviewed by Dom)

I remember crowing a few years ago about an unknown book by an unknown author, trying to get everyone to notice a book called The Kite Runner. Now, after several million copies sold, Hosseini doesn’t need some radio nerd in Denver to sing his praises. He’s a genuine talent.

His follow-up novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, leaves no doubt. As with The Kite Runner, this will be a book that is so disturbing to some people that they won’t be able to finish it. I understand that, and would warn you that if you’re sensitive to brutality and stark, grim depictions of life in war-torn countries, then this might not be for you. I thought it was terrific.

The story centers on two generations of women in Afghanistan, brought together in a most unfortunate manner. Mariam and Laila are both forced to marry Rasheed, and the story of their lives might possibly bring you to tears. So…why would anyone recommend this book? Because Hosseini does a masterful job of painting characters who become so complex – and so real – that you become completely absorbed in the tale. … (more…)

A Prayer For Owen Meany, By John Irving
(Reviewed by Dom)

What if I recommended a book where the title character – completely unforgettable, by the way – is a dwarfish young man whose dialogue throughout the entire book is rendered IN ALL CAPS?

And what if I told you that the book would keep you up late at night, keep you from getting work done, and quite possibly change the way you look at faith, fate, and friendship?

That book is John Irving’s “A Prayer For Owen Meany.” True, you’ll find plenty of detractors who just can’t wrap their minds around this bizarre, complex novel, and that’s fine; no book scores with everyone. But you’ll also find legions of readers who swear it’s one of the best American novels ever written. I was mesmerized by it. … (more…)