Readers Going Nuts About Reviews!

In my blog of February 17 I mentioned that Winter Reading 2009 registration had topped the 5,000 mark. Completion of the book logs is also beating all records. I have also noticed that the proportion of completers who have gone that little extra step to use the back of the log to write a brief review is higher this year than others.

What a pleasure it is to reflect on what you have just read and to share your opinion with others! The high volume of responses makes it impossible for me to publish every review, but I am taking them at random and putting them up as I can. Your opinions are clearly of importance to you. I hope to publish as many of them as possible.

Here is an assortment of some of the briefer comments, both favorable and unfavorable. I hope that you enjoy reading what other people think, and that this gives you some ideas for your own reading:

• "I highly recommend ALL of Anne perry's works."


• "Baldacci should be a political analyst and an economic advisor to our President."


• Dark Summer by Iris Johansen - "Not one of her best. Loose plot - Kept expecting aliens to land."


• Next by Michael Crichton - "Humorous but thought provoking. Highly recommended."


• The Bevelved Mirror by Wanda Willis - "Reflections of an Appalachian family written by the author who lived it."


• Safe by James Patterson and Smoke Screen by Sandra Brown - " ...greta for anyone who loves mystery and suspense stories."


• Doris Day - "a long read but very informative!"


• Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity by Bill O'Reilly - "a great book and advice American youth could take!"


• Step On A Crack by James Patterson - " Domestic terrorist attack mystery at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. Easy reading with anticipation for answer of who terrorists are. It kept me reading it, but I've read other more interesting stories."

Winter Reading 2007 is winding down now. It's probably a bit late for anyone but the most voracious reader to sign up and read 5 books before March 3, but it could be done!

Many people by now have completed the program and are looking forward to the Winter Reading receptions at Bel Air, Edgewood, Fallston, Jarrettsville, and Joppa. (See "Library Programs and Events" on our webpage for details).

When completing the program, participants have the option of turning in their reading logs and starring their favorite book. Librarians at the branches are going to make lists and displays of some of the favorite books for all to see and check out.

I thought here would be another place where we could all share some of the recommended reads from Winter Reading. It's always fun to see what other people have liked, and you might be inspired to try something new!

For a start, here is a list 0f starred books from some of the book logs of readers at the Joppa Branch:

• these books can be checked out from any branch of the Harford County Public Library system
• look out for other lists very soon
• leave a comment about your own favorite book this winter

"READERS RECOMMEND"

ALL THAT AND A BAG OF CHIPS BY Darien Lee (African American fiction/Love story)

ANGRY HOUSEWIVES EATING BON BONS BY Lorna Landvik (Book clubs – fiction)

AUDACITY OF HOPE BY Barack Obama (Biography/United States – politics – philosophy)

BOOKWOMAN’S LAST FLING BY John Dunning (Mystery/ Bookselling and booksellers – fiction)

BOUNDARY BY Eric Flint (Science fiction)

THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS By John Boyne (Concentration camps – juvenile fiction)
THE BRETHREN BY John Grisham (Legal story)

COOKING UP MURDER BY Miranda Bliss (Mystery)

COVENANT WITH BLACK AMERICA BY Tavis Smiley (Nonfiction)

CROSS BY James Patterson (Psychological fiction)

DEATH OF A SCRIPWRITER BY M. C. Beaton (Mystery)

FOREVER YOUNG: MY FRIENDSHIP WITH JOHN F. KENNEDY, JR. BY William Noonan (Biography)

FREEFALL BY Kristen Heitzmann (Inspirational reading/love story)

HUNTERS BY W. E. B. Griffin (Suspense fiction)

JUDE BY Kate Morgenroth (Young adult crime fiction)

LADY OF FORTUNE BY Mary Jo Putney (Large print Regency romance)

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE THUNDERBOLT KID BY Bill Bryson (Memoir)

MAMA, I’M IN LOVE WITH A GANGSTA BY Joy (Urban fiction)

SNIPPED IN THE BUD BY Kate Collins (Mystery)

UNLIKELY ANGEL BY Ashley Smith (Nonfiction/hostages)

PROMISE ME BY Harlan Coben (Detective and mystery story)

QUIET GAME BY Greg Iles (Legal story)

A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS Series by Lemony Snicket (Youth fiction)

SHADOW DANCE BY Julie Garwood (Romantic suspense)

SIDETRACKED HOME EXECUTIVES BY Pam Young (Nonfiction/time management)

STRENGTH TO LOVE BY Martin Luther King (Sermons)

THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY BY Donna Leon (Mystery/Venice)

VENDETTA BY Fern Michaels (Suspense fiction)