Drawing comparisons to our own issues with immigrants, race and immigrant labor, Leon's infamous detective Guido Brunetti is on the case again. He must fight the racism and corruption that runs rampant in the police and judicial system in Venice as he solves the murder of a vu cumpra, an illegal immigrant from Senegal.  Donna Leon has given us an intelligent mystery novel that offers us glimpses into another culture. We not only enjoy the story, we also see the ways in which human frailties and failings are universal.  Marianne's Book Group, August 2008

“For anyone who has ever had a family summer home, or been a frequent guest at a summer home, this book will surely bring back memories. It doesn't matter whether the house is on Cape Cod, New Hampshire, or elsewhere, there is something that will resonate with everyone.” This Amazon quote reflects the warmth of the nostalgic feelings you get reading Colt’s book.  Marianne's Book Group, July 2008

 “A child of ‘white trash’ America tells of how he escaped his dirt-poor Alabama upbringing to become a Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent for The New York Times, a journey made possible in large part by the sacrifice and suffering of his formidable mother.”  New York Times reviewer, Anthony Walton, called this a ''sad, beautiful, funny and moving memoir.''  New York Times review   Marianne's Book Group, June 2008

Psychological thriller, crime novel and “what-if” sequel to The Great Gatsby—with significant twists.. Bohjalian’s novel is difficult to describe because at every turn there is the risk of spoiling the story by revealing its surprise ending. However, the author powerfully explores the haunting world of the homeless and the mentally ill, and he skillfully draws us into the lonely world of those unfortunate people whom society fears and rejects.  Marianne's Book Group, May 2008

In The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald presents the rise and fall of Jay Gatsby.  His romantic illusions about the power of money to buy respectability and the love of Daisy—the "golden girl" of his dreams—are skillfully and ironically interwoven with episodes that depict what Fitzgerald viewed as the callousness and moral irresponsibility of the affluent American society of the 1920s.  Marianne's Book Group, April 2008

Recounting one of the worst man made ecological disasters to hit America (maybe even the world), Timothy Egan traces the history of the Dust Bowl before and during the Great Depression. This important book tells about the unbelievable austerity of the Dust Bowl era. Its message of human suffering and tenacity, of lessons learned too late about land use and conservation, about the price and sometimes the rewards of "sticking it out", are written here with the spirit of a somber thriller.  Marianne's Book Group, March 2008

Sitting down at a restaurant in Lahore, Pakistan, with a mysterious man who appears to be an American military operative, Changez, a young Pakistani, educated at Princeton with a promising career in New York Ciry, tells the story of how he came to renounce the U.S. Beautifully nuanced with fragile immigrant hopes and the tragic annihilation of a promising future, the author paints a provocative picture of post-9/11 reality. This novel will make you think about our prejudices and preconceived ideas and it will prompt you to look deep within yourself also, and to ponder about our world which has changed so drastically, almost overnight.  Marianne's Book Group, February 2008

This is a soulful journey of self-discovery written as a travelogue. Suffering from despair after a difficult divorce, Gilbert over the course of a year visits three different countries. She goes from the physical pleasures of Italy to the search for the transcendent in the ashrams of India. In Bali, her experiences encompass both the physical and spiritual realms. The author has recorded a series of serious personal insights and written them in a personable, lighthearted, and endearing tone.   Marianne's Book Group, January 2008

“How do we recover from terrible loss and redeem guilt? And how do we live the life we've been given? In this beautiful sophomore novel, Elizabeth Strout (Amy and Isabelle) carefully constructs Abide with Me, which explores faith, community, numbing loss, the tremendous power of words used carelessly, and redemption,” an Amazon reviewer.  Marianne's Book Group, December 2007

In the words of one reviewer this book is “an enchanting, charming, flowing narrative of the man Ike. In a sense, we might call it "I Like Ike" for indeed, Korda likes Ike and expresses why millions of Americans did also.” Though not ground-breaking, the more human dimensions of Ike from child, to military hero, to world leader is what makes this work stand out. Crisp, fast-paced, filled with human interest, captivating story-telling--it's all here in Korda's telling of Ike's life.  Marianne's Book Group, November 2007