The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

What a beautifully subtle book this is! It is told from the point of view of an English butler who devotes every bit of himself to doing the perfect job. As he takes a trip across the countryside, he thinks back over his years of service, and truths about the man that he served begin to surface in his memories. I love the way that the author blends humor and heartbreak into the story. The main character, Stevens, has an internal struggle with his inability to banter with his employer which is hilarious. The way that this continued to pop up throughout the story was so funny. At the same time this is a story about regrets that really touched me. I am so glad that I finally pulled this one off the shelf. I loved it. 5/5

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

I recently finished People of the Book, which has been sitting on my shelf since it came out on hardcover. I remember grabbing it up immediately because I loved Year of Wonders, but then I heard several bad reviews and ended up putting it off. I should have ignored the reviews and given it a shot then because it turned out to be just the kind of book I enjoy.
It is the story of a rare book expert who is hired to conserve a Hebrew manuscript written in the fifteenth century. As she studies the book she finds mysterious clues about where it has been.  The story then follows the book's journey from person to person who took care of it.  I enjoyed each time period and the characters that were created for each story. The contemporary story about Hanna, the book expert, wasn't quite as good. This book is full of history and gives interesting background on the relationships of the Jewish and Muslim people. Very good-4.5/5

Book Club Anniversary night out

Thank you to my wonderful club for our first year! And thanks to our fabulous waiters who made our night out very special. I'm lucky to have you ladies in my life!

The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing by Tarquin Hall

Vish Puri, India’s Most Private Investigator, is back in his second mystery, The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing.  In this one a prominent Indian scientist and well-known critic of religious gurus and their miracles is murdered in public (during his laughing group) by the Goddess Kali.  Vish Puri is out to prove that this is not a 
supernatural occurrence with the help of his team of undercover operatives.
I love these books! They are light, funny, and full of colorful characters. I hope that Tarquin Hall continues to write this series as they are my favorite choice for comfort reading. 5/5

I'm ready to pick my best for 2010

Although the year isn't over yet, I know my reading time will be limited in the next few weeks. I am sure that my favorites for the year will be the same by then. I've read so many good books this year, but the ones that stood out continue to do so. So from the 90 books that I have read so far, these are my clear favorites.
The best book for me in 2010 has been Under Fishbone Clouds by Sam Meekings.  This is being released in the United States this week, and I hope that it finds a lot of success.  My other favorites are The Wasted Vigil  by Nadeem Aslam,  Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri, The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli, Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok, Still Alice by Lisa Genova, A Golden Age by Tahmima Anam, and The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart.  The Julia Stewart book is a great treat for anyone looking for an entertaining and funny read.
I am currently reading Tarquin Hall's book, which is the second in a wonderful series. They are definitely worth checking out.   Happy Reading!