The Last Man Standing by David Balducci

Very exciting book about the workings of our CIA and FBI and government. Lots about guns. working together and not trusting orders and rouge agents, Then not trusting your friends, If you like to learn about the psyche of these elite squads and all the info on the newest guns and equipment this for you.It involved gangs,drugs and a whole diferent life style for many in thWashington D.C> area. He really is a good writer and it's no just a murder story. I couldn't put it down so many tangled stories and they all meshed.

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

This is a must read as it is so current in world affairs. This incredible story is educational and inspiring. Amazing what one honest man can do to improve the world but disheartening to know oThis author was in Cleveland this summer and 2000 peur congress is so ineffective and doing nothing to make any difference anywhere.
This author was in Cleveland this summer and a crowd of 2000 went to hear him and LL I talked to -not 2000 -but he was very impreesive
I learned so much about Pakistan and Afghanistan and the real people there -not the terrorists and fanatics that we read about Also the press coverage and our governments interest in all of the war situation.
It also was a geography lesson.

and the Ladies of the Club by Helen H Santmyer

My daughter gave me this 25 yrs ago but since it has 1500 pages I set it aside Now that I have time on my hands I got it out and absolutely adored it. I had trouble putting it down. I don't think Iwill ever forget the characters. It is set in a small southern Ohio town from around the Civil war times til the 1930's and follows the history being made-many references to prominent Clevelanders-and how the town grows. The families involved in the changing economy of the times made me realize there were troubles at every age and stage of life. It was thoughly engrossing.

Big Cherry Holler by Adriana Trigiani

Just a pleasant book for light reading. A charming story about a southern town in the coal mining hills. The quirky people and activites that are sort of old fashioned. Just a comfy read by an authorthat tells a good story.

The Longest Trip Home by John Grogan

This is a memoir and well written by the author of Marley and Me. It is humerus and sad in a way. I found it a good read , partly as it takes place kind of in my neck of the wood-southern Michigan. It is especially interesting to Catholics and their understanding the changes in their religion.

The March by Doctorow

Naturally I loved this book about the Civil War and Sherman's march-family history again but it is so well written. It reminded me of the controversy about the bombing of Dresden and the dropping of the A bomb. Should we have -wreaked so much devastation to win the war? I do have letters from my Uncle Walt as he was on the march and had gone into the war at 18 and had fought all the way. I knew Uncle Walt-he lived to be in his nineties in 1935 . Sorry at age 10 I didn't know to ask about his war experiences. This is the author of Ragtime as you know.

Interpreter of Maladys &Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

These are great stories of Indian people getting accustomed to America and I found her writing very poignant. She is the author of the best seller "Namesakes". Ive always been interested in India since my cousin was a missionary there and she was inspiring when she told of her adventures there before Ghandi and ww11

Summer of 1787 by David Stesart

Back to American history. The men who wrote the Constitution were very diverse and many of our national problems stemmwed from the writing of this document-like the Civil War-the South ansd the plantation owners against the North 's business and manufacturing and banking. I paved the way for a string of Virginia born presidents and an insight into politics of the times

Unaccustomed Earthby Jhumpa Lahiri

This a lovely book and so well written. This author wrot "Namesake" a best seller and a movie. I am excited to know she will be coming to Cleveland in the spring for a lecture. Reading this helps me understand my grand daughter in law and her family and I have always been very intersted in India. It is easy to read as there are different stories so you can read one and wait to read another.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

This was a change for me to read about China in the last century though the customs were from the 18th century. It's touching story but I learned a lot about old China. I find I like to learn something new once in awhile and appreciate people [these are fictional woven into real times and events. It got me scurrying to my encyclopedia to check on binding of feet a miserable thing to do and I hope no still going on.

All The Shah's Men by Stephen Kinzer

This makes me feel stupid as I should have known a little of what was going on in the Middle East but I didn't pay attention then. Not that it would have changed anything except why things are so mixed up now. This was written by a journalist again and from the New York Times so I have to think of their leftist angle on things and of course that there was a Republican in the White House -but our foreign policies have not been the wisest for some time. It is worth the read if you are interested in this kind of history

Imperial Life in the Emerald City [Inside Iraq's Green Zone

This was written by Rajiv Chandrasekaran-a former Washington Post Baghdad bureau chief in 2003. really makes you wonder about all the politicians and world leaders and their terrible handling of the war and the whole middle East situation. It is a view from an Arab side that I had not known. So sad that our youung country -though remarkable in it's growth does not know about these countries that have been great civilizations for thousands of years. This is not a pleasant reading but maybe we should know what is going on in the world -not just what we see on TV or read in the paper.

My Latest Book--American Bloomsbury.

I found this quite fascinating as I really like biographies and these American authors were very interesting as they lived at a time that my great grandparents were living. The mores of the time so restricting and for these writers to succeed was astonishing. How could these icons all be in Concord massachusetts at the same time. If you have read the book by Cheever I would like any comments. Mary
I also enjoyed Arthur and George-any comments on this book?