Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

by JK Rowling

Really enjoyed much more on its own merits instead of just setting up book 4. V. good.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

by JK Rowling

Another excellent read. Introducing us to scarier things to come.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

by JK Rowling

Easy and fun and foreshadows so much.

Where the wild things are

by Maurice Sendak

Andrew is Max. If ever you want to make Andrew smile read him this book. He loves it and feels so clearly Max's plight in life.

The Tales of the Beedle Bard

by JK Rowling

Just makes me happy to believe for the 20 minutes it takes to read that magic is real.

Nights of Rain and Stars

by Maeve Binchy

Very good. But I prefer the stories that take place in Ireland.

The Whip

by Catherine Cookson

Don't think many characters suffer so much as those in this story. Excellent book, but painful. Really.

The Boleyn Inheritance

by Philippa Gregory

About Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Jane Boleyn. Crazy times -- terrifying. Like can't go to sleep at night. That Henry VIII was evil. Pure and simple, evil.

The Constant Princess

by Philippa Gregory

I have a hard time with books about real people i.e. Katherine of Aragon. All the factual points are there but the story is about the romances and her thoughts, etc. And we just can't know those things. Its not like a diary or a fictitious character whose thoughts are those the author gives them....

I like it so long as I read it with a grain of salt.

Shopgirl

by Steve Martin

I found this book a little depressing, I chose it specifically to read after Heart and Soul for some light reading. It was very good. But not what I expected.

Heart and Soul

by Maeve Binchy

All about the people who run a heart clinic in Dublin. Do not read chapter 3 without a box of tissue. Excellent as all her books are. Thank you Ms. Binchy for telling stories.

Tea Time for the Traditionally Built

by Alexander McCall Smith

Another excellent installment. Mr. Smith can't write a bad book! I loved it.

Love and Marriage

by Bill Cosby

I actually laughed out loud! Hilarious. Sweet.

Time Flies

by Bill Cosby

Very funny taking on getting older.

Fatherhood

by Bill Cosby

Bill Cosby is one of my all time favorite entertainers (perhaps from my childhood and watching the Cosby Show). We recently watched, "Bill Cosby: Himself" on demand - funny! As I was getting a book at the library, I noticed 3 of his titles. Picked them up immediately.

Its a very touching and funny book. One thing though, knowing the history of his son's shortened life, makes the love and stories about his son all the more poignant.

Read with a tissue box handy.

The Black Candle

by Catherine Cookson

Very complicated and reveals the true motives of a number of main characters. Couldn't put it down.

Outbreak

by Robin Cook

Ebola everywhere!

Fever

by Robin Cook

What to do when you are a cancer researcher who may have developed a cure, your daughter has cancer, and nobody will listen to you?!

Invasion

by Robin Cook

What if aliens take over your lover, friends, and others? What do you do?

Chromosone 6

by Robin Cook

Medical Sci-Fi. Messing around with DNA and bonobos....

The Miracle at Speedy Motors

by Alexander McCall Smith

I felt a heaviness to this story and was delighted with the ending.

The Good Husband of Zebra Drive

by Alexander McCall Smith

Fabulous.

Blue Shoes and Happiness

by Alexander McCall Smith

More delightful tales about the lady detectives in Africa.

In the Company of Cheerful Ladies

by Alexander McCall Smith

More brilliance! I love his books.

The Full Cupboard of Life

by Alexander McCall Smith

You just have to love these books. They show us a side of Africa the media never does. A charming tale, with delightful characters.

The Kalahari Typing School for Men

by Alexander McCall Smith

In the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series, another wonderful trip to Africa. Funny, touching, and just a pleasure to read.

Harmful Intent

by Robin Cook

A malpractice suit leads the doctor accused to investigate... Very exciting.

Abduction

by Robin Cook

A entire civilization under the sea? What happens when the kidnap some oceanographers and divers? And why?

Sphinx

by Robin Cook

A young Egyptologist goes to Egypt where murder and adventure are hot on her heels. Excitement abounds!

Toxin

by Robin Cook

You'll never be able to eat a hamburger again. Learn how and what is in them and how disgusting individuals who care only about cash allow e. coli to happen.

Coma

by Robin Cook

A whacko is putting people into comas and only a med student figured it out. Very exciting.

The Cultured Handmaiden

by Catherine Cookson

Ms. Cookson is always brilliant. One of the greatest storytellers of the 20th century with character that are real people making not always the right choice and knowing it.

Acceptable Risk

by Robin Cook

Salem witch trial -- a new spin. V. exciting.

Foreign Body

by Robin Cook

Nothing like murdering nurses to keep one's heart pounding.

The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday

by Alexander McCall Smith

What's not to like -- Scotland and Isabel at it again. I love his writing.

An Irish Country Doctor

by Patrick Taylor

Hilarious. Second time I've read it, because I needed to laugh at the signal light scene. Funniest written description I've ever laid eyes on.

Playing with Boys

by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez

A sort of Sex and the City (similar but not quite the same feel) featuring Latina women. Very entertaining. Its was fun to read about people in a whole different world. But didn't like all the disapproval of stay at home moms (for obvious reasons).

She's an entertaining writer, not appropriate for the prudish though too much sex and fantasy sex.

The Calvin and Hobbes 10th Anniversary Book

by Bill Watterson

Its Calvin and Hobbes. Need I say more? Hilarious. Makes me miss finding them in the paper.

Frangipani

by Celestine Vaite

Sequel to Breadfruit. This one focuses more on the mother daughter dynamic. Excellent again. Lovely. Wonderful.

Breadfruit

by Celestine Vaite

Excellent. About a Tahitian woman (told in a similar way to the No. 1 Ladies Detective Series book) and the people in her life. Wonderful, charming. A definite keeper.

Scandal of the Season

by Sophia Gee

Takes place in early 18th Century London about the characters in the Alexander Pope poem "The Rape of the Lock." Liked a lot, for one thing I've read a lot about the French during that time and it was interesting to read how the English lived then.

The Great Dog Wash

by Shellie Braeuner

The dogs in the neighborhood get bathed by the kids in town. Fun for the dog loving kids out there.

Charlie Cook Reads a Book

Charlie reads a book about a pirate, who reads a book about a dragon, who reads a book about a ...

Very clever. Andrew loves it and pretends to read it by himself. The rhymes make it easier for him to remember what comes next.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw

by Jeff Kinney

The third installment, this book is worth reading JUST for the robe story. That may have been the funniest story within a story I've read in my entire adulthood. If you ever been a kid you should read these. Looking forward to #4.

And Alex is still working on his do-it-yourself book.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

by Jeff Kinney

Continues the story of Greg. He's not always the most likable kid -- his antics are not always nice, but they are hilarious. I had to reread the last 5 pages 3 times I laughed so hard.

A novel in cartoons -- v. cool.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

by Jeff Kinney

For anyone whose every been in middle school. V. funny. And for anyone with boys, they'll love it!

The Last Lecture

by Randy Pausch

Excellent. I had watched quite a lot of The Last Lecture on You Tube after seeing the Diane Sawyer interview. Everyone should read the book. He talked about living life to the fullest, he certainly did. The great tragedy is that he died before his kids could really know him. The great triumph is that he found ways to tell who he was and that he loved them.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard

By JK Rowling

The greatest writer of our times, shared some wizard tales (aka fairy tales but for the wizarding world). Excellent. Very fun and it was nice to hear from Dumbledore.

Baby's 1st Animals Book

Sean loves this book. Giant horse makes an appearance as well as a donkey. He calls it a 'orse, not a dommmkey."

5 Silly Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

Each one boinks its head.

Cute for the pre-k crowd.

I will never not ever eat a tomato

By Lauren Child (I think, will check)

Andrew's favorite book -- the pickiest of all picky eaters found his soul mate in Lola. Lola's brother Charlie renames the foods and make it a game. Yet Andrew still won't eat cloud fluff, green drops, or moon squirters...