Miracle at Speedy Motors by Alexander McCall Smith

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I loved this book as much as I have love all the others in the series.

As usual we get a glimpse of Mma Ramotswe's gentle life in Botswana as she sets out to do what she does best--help people with their problems and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Mma Ramotswe must find a family for a woman who just found out that she was adopted. She found this out when her adoptive mother died so she doesn't know her real name of whether any members of her family are now living. Mma Makutsi's fiance, Phuti Radiphuti, buys her a beautiful new bed. Unfortunately, she is a bit careless and causes herself trouble. The name of the story comes from the business owned by Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, Mma Ramotswe's husband. He swindled by a doctor who promised a miracle cure for his daughter, who can not walk. Mma Ramotswe finds this hard to believe. One more problem is that some one leaves threatning letters. But she deals with these difficulties with her usual grace and good humor, and in the end the miracles that occur at Speedy Motors are small but heart warming ones.

If you haven't read this series I think you would love it!

5

Moving Pictures by Terry Pratchett

I love reading Terry Pratchett's Discworld books because they are funny. In this book Something, magic that is not of wizards, is influencing the area known as Holy Wood and drawing people there. A group of alchemists, drawn there, have invented clicks or moving pictures. It is soon apparent to Victor and Ginger, the most popular actors in Holy Wood, thanks to Gaspode the talking dog, that dark forces are behind this over night popularity of clicks and want to take over the Discworld. The fight to save Discworld is dramatic and funny. Hollywood references abound.

This, like all the Discworld books, is a parody and a fantasy. It was not my favorite book in the series but I enjoyed it all the same. If you have not read any of these books I suggest you start with The Color of Magic, The Truth or Guards! Guards!

3

Over the Moon at the Big Lizard Diner By Lisa Wingate

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Chick Lit at it's best. I loved Lisa Wingate's "Lone Star Cafe" so I had to give this one a try. I didn't like it quite as much but still liked it a lot.

Lindsey, the twin sister of Laura (main character of "Lone Star Cafe") Is set adrift when her daughter goes to Mexico for a summer visit with her father. Lindsey joins her sister in Texas on an undercover mission to find stolen dinosaur tracks. Laura has talked her into taking a horse-psychology classes as a cover. She saves a big white dog from being killed by a rancher. Then she meets Zach Truitt, the rancher/owner of the place. Through serious and funny situations, Lindsey and her daughter find home.

4

The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon

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This book was very well written but I feel that I missed out on a lot not being Jewish or being familiar with Yiddish. I had to stop a lot and look up references and words through out the story.

I found it interesting that Chabon created this alternate history setting for his characters. One one hand this was a detective story with the good guys investigating a murder at a flea bag hotel. On the other hand it was an alternative history story of a people fighting for a homeland.

As serious as the story was I really enjoyed the play on words and funny phrases the author included.

Go here for a plot summary. I'm afraid I can't do it without giving too much away, so the choice is yours!

3

The Bonesetter's Daughter

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I love this book, it was wonderful. I'm going to give it a great big 5.

The story is divided into two parts with the daughter's story bracketing the mother's.

In the beginning Ruth is struggling with the relationships in her life. She is feeling lost in her relationship with Art and doesn't understand what is happening with her mother, LuLing. When she finally decides to have her mother's writing translated to English she learns about her mother, many things she didn't know. Not reading this mirrors that same action by her mother concerning Precious Auntie's writing. The middle of the book tells LuLing's story. The end of this book returns to Ruth, who now has a greater understanding of her mother. Please read this!