If you see the movie "42", you quickly realize that without Branch Rickey (portrayed wonderfully by Harrison Ford), there might not have been a Jackie Robinson breaking the racial barrier in major league baseball. This book provides excellent back story on the courageous, progessive-minded owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers. And, who better to write this book than legendary writer Jimmy Breslin.   posted Apr 19, 2013 at 3:58PM

A strong tip of the cowboy hat to the author for carrying on Parker's western series in fine fashion. Knott weaves an exciting story with sharpshooting lawmen Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch, with plenty of 19th century railroad details that make it all the more interesting.   posted Apr 13, 2013 at 3:48PM

Another great novel set in Holt, Colorado from Kent Haruf. Very well written in a no-frills style. Great story, great characters.   posted Mar 27, 2013 at 3:13PM

You don't have to be a baseball fan to enjoy the story of this promotional genius, crusader for racial integration in baseball, and one of the most funniest, generous and anti-establishment team owners ever.   posted Mar 12, 2013 at 7:34PM

Oftentimes a children's book makes good reading for kids and adults alike...and this is one them! A great mix of history, humor, lore and gore regarding the demise of such famous people as Julius Ceasar, George Washington, Mozart, etc.   posted Feb 27, 2013 at 4:17PM

The story of a young woman, her mother, and her grandmother, who, along with two of her brother's friends, are caring for her brother as he is dying of AIDS. A very emotional book about character and family dynamics. One of my top four in 2012.   posted Dec 29, 2012 at 4:22PM

The life of Mary, the mother of Jesus, told from her perspective. A work of great imagination. Written in the first person, Mary comes to life in ways quite different from what you may have learned in catechism class. A short and very intense book. Colm Toibin is a master. One of my four favorites for 2012.   posted Dec 17, 2012 at 7:12AM

How wonderful to see a first novel as strong as this! No surprise it is a National Book Award Finalist or that the author is a Michener Poetry Fellow.   posted Nov 1, 2012 at 12:19PM

This is an enjoyable read, with plenty of circa 1950 nostalgia set in St. Paul. A good story, too, that keeps you turning the pages until the very end.   posted Aug 18, 2012 at 2:56PM

This is a superb autobiography by one of America's finest sports journalists and commentators (National Public Radio). Deford, a long-time writer for Sports Illustrated, is insightful, humorous and a highly literate observer of America and its sporting life.   posted Jul 21, 2012 at 3:56PM

This cleverly titled book examines the impact of a fatal accident on a group of people. A character-driven novel full of humor and crisp dialogue.   posted Jun 4, 2012 at 7:27AM

A beautifully written story of family and loss told in flashbacks. Graham Swift does an incredible job of conveying the minds and hearts of his characters. one of the best new fiction works I've read this year and one of my four favorites for 2012.   posted May 19, 2012 at 9:00PM

Inspired by an actual event, a powerful story told though the lives of three disparate characters. Excellent storytelling.   posted May 19, 2012 at 8:57PM

The author takes an event from her own life and writes a story imagining a different direction for her life from that event. As always, Liuvely's prose is very engaging and her characters and dialogue are wonderful. One of my favorite authors.   posted Apr 30, 2012 at 2:59PM

If you enjoy presidential history, spiced with a story of hard-nosed journalistic investigation of a super secretive surgery, this book is for you.   posted Apr 3, 2012 at 7:36PM

As she lays dying, an old woman remembers her life, her experiences as a war correspondent and as a writer of popular history. Her memories revolve around her complex and sometimes contentious relations with her brother and with the man who is the father of her daughter. Most significantly, she remembers the man she with whom she had a brief but intense affair in Egypt during World War II. Her description of that relationship is a thing of beauty. All-in-all, a remarkable character study and a wonderfully written novel. Small wonder this won the Booker Prize. One of my four favorites in 2012.   posted Feb 24, 2012 at 7:37PM

This book opens with a mugging and traces the lives that are affected. Wonderful character development. Penelope Lively is a master.   posted Feb 3, 2012 at 6:14AM

One of my three favorites for fiction in 2011.   posted Jan 1, 2012 at 2:54PM

Sequel to "Wish You Were Here"   posted Oct 28, 2011 at 3:06PM

Recalling the icons and trends of the 1970s and 1980s, with lots of laughs in this cleverly written book of nostalgia.   posted Oct 8, 2011 at 4:21PM

A wonderful insight into newspaper journalism in the 1970s and 1980s, when women were breaking into a male-dominated profession. Great touches of humor, too. (Hertzel now is the books editor for the StarTribune.)   posted Aug 12, 2011 at 4:28PM

Glorious b&w photographs of baseball greats (Ruth, Cobb, etc.) and lesser known major leaguers from the late 1800s and early 1900s.   posted Aug 12, 2011 at 4:24PM

A new twist on an old theme. Beautifully written. One of my three favorites for fiction in 2011.   posted May 11, 2011 at 4:52PM

Written in a very clear and straightforward style. A very powerful story.   posted Apr 29, 2011 at 9:19PM

Quite a story and well written.   posted Mar 30, 2011 at 7:37PM

An interesting graphic novel exploring an alternate history in which medieval Japan suffers from a plague only effecting young men. What happens to a country governed by men, when the male population drops to 1/4th that of the female?   posted Feb 7, 2011 at 7:56PM

A complex novel connecting a series of very well developed characters. Beautifully written and very powerful in parts. One of my three favorites for fiction in 2011.   posted Jan 27, 2011 at 1:54PM

For those who are afraid of non-fiction sending them spiraling into bits of snoring embarrassment this book is the cure. As the pages fly by one doesn't even realize the amount of information packed into this witty adventure.   posted Jan 11, 2011 at 9:47AM

I haven't read a book this good in a while. The writing was superb, the story excellent and characters so realistic that I had to glance at the back a couple times just to make sure what I was reading was, in fact, fictional.   posted Jan 11, 2011 at 9:45AM

A very interesting and heart rending memoir in comic style. I found the art beautiful and haunting, the story even more so. Full of tragedy and drops of dark humor, this memoir gives one pause.   posted Jan 11, 2011 at 9:43AM

I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of adventure, revenge seeking, raiding, trickery, friendship, and yes even a small dose of romance. The characters are well developed and the story draws one in completely in the space of the first chapter, "On Discord Arising from the Excessive Love of a Hat," the accompanying illustrations by Hal Foster, of Prince Valiant fame, are an added bonus to this wonderful read.   posted Jan 11, 2011 at 9:39AM

A wonderful and engrossing non-fiction account of a medical examiner and a toxicologist creating the field now popularized by such shows as CSI. The book not only discusses poisons but also Prohibition, industrial negligence, and the courageous, heroic and totally awesome lives of Charles Norris and Alexander Gettler.   posted Jan 11, 2011 at 9:32AM

This is the story of the death of the author's daughter and he and his wife's subsequent move to the home of his son-in-law to help raise three young children. Beautifully written and very touching.   posted Dec 28, 2010 at 6:35AM

Charles Bowden describes the horrific violence in Juarez which topped 200 murders a month in 2009. The sheer scale makes this surreal as does the quality and style of Bowden's writing.   posted Dec 11, 2010 at 7:44AM

One of my all-time favorites.   posted Nov 29, 2010 at 6:40AM

By telling the story of a few unique individuals who saw the crash coming, Lewis tells the story of the great market crash of 2008. A great story and an education.   posted Nov 24, 2010 at 4:03PM

This is a great story and wonderful in audio.   posted Oct 29, 2010 at 6:24AM

Part Two of he Border Trilogy.   posted Oct 13, 2010 at 7:59PM

A beautifully written character study with a twist.   posted Sep 1, 2010 at 8:28PM

The story of a young Irish woman who emigrates to New York circa 1950. What a writer!   posted Sep 1, 2010 at 8:25PM

Rick Russo writes dialogue better than most, and this is a terrific example.   posted Aug 26, 2010 at 7:12PM

An excellent writer who deals primarily with interpersonal relationships.   posted Jul 29, 2010 at 9:40AM

Part Three of the Border Trilogy. Ties the protagonists of the first two books together.   posted Jul 9, 2010 at 2:11PM

This book is very powerfully written and the reader is excellent.   posted Jun 27, 2010 at 7:39PM

Absolutely fascinating....love this book about Pearl Buck.   posted May 21, 2010 at 11:28AM

The evidence....gotta read.   posted May 21, 2010 at 11:27AM

This book relates the memories of six children, their parents, and their au pair during the years the children were growing up. The differences as well as the similarities are remarkable as are the characters, the dialogue, and the humor.   posted Mar 7, 2010 at 4:35PM

The stories here are told by many people, some of whom will be familiar. Their "moments of clarity", and tales of addiction and recovery will touch you in ways you never expected.   posted Feb 20, 2010 at 11:12AM

Loved this!!!!   posted Feb 15, 2010 at 6:59PM

Comfort and hope and peace.   posted Feb 15, 2010 at 6:58PM

If you like Little House on the Praire, this is for you!   posted Feb 15, 2010 at 6:57PM

What a writer!!! Amazing!   posted Feb 15, 2010 at 6:56PM

Love these books by Harry Bernstein.....very very interesting!   posted Feb 15, 2010 at 6:55PM

Historical fiction worth reading!   posted Feb 15, 2010 at 6:54PM

A funny and heartwarming story....recommend.   posted Feb 15, 2010 at 6:54PM

Comforting.   posted Feb 15, 2010 at 6:49PM

Depressing but good....   posted Feb 15, 2010 at 6:49PM

Children's book....but interesting.....   posted Feb 15, 2010 at 6:48PM

Penelope Lively's books center on character development, and some of those characters are absolutely magic.   posted Feb 1, 2010 at 4:53PM

Narrated by a ghost stuck in place after committing suicide.   posted Jan 23, 2010 at 2:43PM

Tobias Wolff is best known for his short stories. The ending of this novel is out of this world.   posted Jan 23, 2010 at 2:41PM

The companion piece to the Pulitzer Prize-winning Gilead. My favorite of the works of fiction I read in 2008.   posted Jan 23, 2010 at 2:39PM

A beautifully written story of a mother trying to cope with her son's drug addiction.   posted Jan 18, 2010 at 7:17PM

Part One of the Border Trilogy. Like other works by McCarthy, the writing is so strong as to be irresistible.   posted Jan 18, 2010 at 7:15PM

My favorite of the works of fiction I read in 2007.   posted Jan 18, 2010 at 7:12PM

Captures the aimless drift of late adolescence perfectly.   posted Jan 18, 2010 at 7:10PM

"Then in the arctic half-light of the canyon, all existence fades to a being with my soul..."   posted Dec 14, 2009 at 4:02PM

The other great book about the Vietnam war and its effects.   posted Dec 3, 2009 at 9:37PM

A simple story beautifully written. Along with its companion piece, Home, one of my all-time favorites.   posted Dec 3, 2009 at 9:36PM

No one can read this book and still believe that one man can't make a difference.   posted Dec 3, 2009 at 9:34PM

A complete, compelling, and enlightening history of the "forgotten war".   posted Dec 3, 2009 at 9:33PM

Sissy Spacek's narration will transport you to another time and place.   posted Dec 3, 2009 at 9:32PM

One mark of a great book is that it's just as good or better the second time. This was not only my favorite work of fiction in 2009, it may be the favorite again in 2010.   posted Dec 3, 2009 at 9:31PM

Arguably the best book written about the Vietnam war.   posted Dec 3, 2009 at 9:30PM

If someone had told me these events occurred in the U.S., I would not have believed it.   posted Dec 3, 2009 at 9:29PM

A wonderful story about a boy growing up under the influence of his mother and his uncles. One of my all-time favorites.   posted Dec 3, 2009 at 9:28PM

One of a handful of the best books about the Vietnam war and its effects.   posted Dec 3, 2009 at 9:28PM

A good book made great by the reader.   posted Dec 3, 2009 at 9:27PM

Great author...recommend.   posted Apr 16, 2009 at 6:12PM

Loved it!   posted Apr 16, 2009 at 6:11PM

A super series...highly recommend.   posted Apr 16, 2009 at 6:06PM

Amazing and Awesome!!!! Please read!!!!   posted Apr 16, 2009 at 5:25PM

Amazing and Awesome!!!!   posted Apr 16, 2009 at 5:22PM

A+++   posted Apr 13, 2009 at 3:30PM

Very interesting read.   posted Apr 13, 2009 at 3:29PM

Wow...a touching read, but tough.   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:44PM

A great story for kids and adults.   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:44PM

A pretty good book....if your catholic...may like it more.   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:43PM

Fascinating read about what emigrants went through.   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:43PM

Good....but crazy ending.   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:42PM

Interesting but tragic.   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:41PM

Loved it!   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:41PM

Completely interesting Asian history.   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:33PM

Nice relaxing read.   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:30PM

Amazing new writer...great book.   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:29PM

A must, must, must read.   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:28PM

Loved this book...high adventure.   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:28PM

Marcia...Marcia...Marcia....   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:27PM

These Diary of a wimpy kid books rock....I enjoyed them as an adult!   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:26PM

A great read.   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:26PM

Interesting history.   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:25PM

Touching and inspiring!   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:25PM

Loved it!!!   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:24PM

A+ Book   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:24PM

Choppy...not an easy read. ok.   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:24PM

Incredible and touching!   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:23PM

A must read!   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:23PM

Fascinating!   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:22PM

Awesome Book! One of my favorite books ever!   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:22PM

Awesome Book!   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:22PM

Great book!   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 4:19PM

Beautiful, painful and thought provoking.   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 2:51PM

Without a doubt, one of the best books ever written.   posted Apr 11, 2009 at 2:44PM