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This astonishing novel traces the history of an ancient Jewish text, the Sarajevo Haggadah. It is one of those books the reader can hardly bear to put down. Before reading this book, told through the eyes of an expert conservator of rare texts, I had some idea of the work a conservator does. However, I did not realize that forensic science is sometimes applied to old texts; for example, to find the age of a hair or an insect that might be found in the binding. History, romance, suspense, and art are beautifully woven together in this intense story of a stunning illuminated manuscript, and how it was repeatedly rescued and hidden from a succession of invading infidels.

From the author of Zombie Spaceship Wasteland, this book tells the story of Oswalt's four years obsessively attending movies, mostly at the New Beverly Cinema in L.A., although other locations are included. Oswalt, probably most famous for his role in TV's "King of Queens," likens his movie habit to drug addiction. Part autobiography, part gossip sheet, part psychological study, the reader is treated to a journey through the dark underworld of a mind that makes constant, razor-sharp connections among all the hot-button names and titles in the global culture of entertainment.

This tenth novel in the Three Pines series is different from the others, in that it does not begin with a dead body. Rather, it begins with a group of old friends searching for one of their own who has failed to show up on a pre-appointed date. A far-flung road trip ensues, with intriguing characters and breathtaking landscapes along the way. If you are a fan of Inspector Gamache, you will be a fan of this book. I also enjoy the way Penny weaves in a lot of Canadian history and cultural tidbits along the way to solving the mystery.

Although I don't usually get over-emotional while reading, I started to cry at four places in this book -- and yet I did not feel that Hillenbrand was trying to manipulate the reader. If you are not a believer in miracles, you will be after reading this survival story of Louie Zamperini and his horrific adventures during World War II. Plane crash, adrift on the Pacific, shark attacks, death of a mate, imprisonment by the cruel Japanese, starvation and madness -- it's all here, and told with an unblinking eye.

I would not be the first reader to express frustration at the ambiguous ending of this classic novel. Nevertheless, once the reader accustoms to James' convoluted language and endless paragraphs, the writing and the story take on lives of their own in a most compelling fashion. Follow the adventures of Isabel Archer as she attempts to make her way in the world of European society, with its understated conversations, manipulation and intrigue.

This story follows two weeks in the lives of the Post family and some of their friends, as they vacation together in a house on the island of Mallorca. Presented in a form with each day as a chapter, the story slowly unfolds to the reader all the personal problems and interpersonal tensions at play among these characters. I started out disliking almost all of them, especially Franny, but there was something compelling that kept me reading until the very end.

Having read the first two mysteries in Louise Penny's series, I was a bit disappointed by this third one, "The Cruelest Month." The murder seemed not as dramatic, and the denouement rather anti-climactic. Still, I enjoyed the usual cast of characters and the descriptions of all the mouth-watering foods consumed in Three Pines. If you are a Penny fan, you will enjoy this. If not -- try the first or second book instead.

McLain's book is presented as fiction, but based on what I have read elsewhere, it stays very true to the known facts about the lives of Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley Richardson. Courtship, marriage, the move to Paris, and birth of their son "Bumby" are all rendered in exquisite period details through the eyes of Hadley. What began as a story of true love deteriorates into a tale of nightlife, alcohol excess, and infidelity as the young Hemingways are surrounded by the Paris celebrities of the Twenties. Fitzgerald, Stein, Pound and other luminaries of the time all make their memorable appearances. It was interesting to me that the downhill course of Hadley's marriage coincided with the rising fame and success of Ernest. The story is told with restraint and respect. I felt my heart breaking for both of them, but especially Hadley. A must-read for any fan of Hemingway, the Jazz Age, Twenties literature, or Paris in general.

Although set in Sweden, this novel has global scope in its consideration of the issue of illegal immigrants. The book gives an engrossing portrayal of some of the most marginalized members of society. By turns poignant, humorous, and heartbreaking, Mankell does not offer up any tidy solutions or endings, but instead leaves the reader in a thought-provoking quandary.