Patron Reviews

Reviews of books, movies, CDs and audiobooks written by ELPL Patrons. Post your own review here.

Caper

Review written by: Harriet Garcia
5

This is a very funny book. Stanley Hastings is a well-intentioned but bumbling private investigator who failed at many other professions before falling into his current one as a detective. As a result, he really doesn't know what he is doing and gets himself into trouble time after time, even against his own better judgment and the advice of his friends. Some of the funniest aspects of this book include Stanley's internal thought processes ("Gay perfume as a cover story? What would an analyst do with that?") and the odd mix of support and criticism offered by his wife, his employer (a lawyer) and his friend (a cop). In this book, Stanley is asked to follow a woman's teenager daughter who may be skipping school and getting into trouble. But it turns out that nothing is what it seems at first, and Stanley makes mistake after mistake, finds several dead bodies, and seems to be the fall guy for the murders. Of course, he ends up on top, but seems to do so in spite of himself.

By Author/Artist: Parnell Hall
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781605981048

Three Cups of Tea

Review written by: Janelle Maxson
5

One of the best non-fiction books I've ever read! Anyone interested in education should read this. It is now required reading for all military entering Afghanistan.

By Author/Artist: Greg Mortenson
Format: paperback
ISBN: 9780670034826

Sizzling Sixteen

Review written by: Harriet Garcia
4

As the name suggests, this is the 16th book in the popular series featuring Stephanie Plum as a bounty hunter in New Jersey. In this book, Vinnie, Stephanie's boss and owner of the Bail Bonds office, is kidnapped. The price for his return is the payment of his gambling debt. Stephanie and friends work to find and free Vinnie as well as raise money to pay his ransom. This book delivers the usual fun and witty banter and won't disappoint fans. I will admit that I prefer when Stephanie is attached to one of her love interests, rather than between them as she is in this book. Otherwise, a good read.

By Author/Artist: Janet Evanovich
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780312383305

Twilight

Review written by: Kate
5

Twilight is a love story between a vampire named Edward and a human girl named Bella. This first book in the saga is full of romance, action and adventure. However, this story is very predictable. But, it is still a great read. I would recommend this story to any teen who likes a good love story with some action

By Author/Artist: Stephanie Meyer
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780316160179

Vows, vendettas, & a Little Black Dress

Review written by: Harriet Garcia
5

This is the 5th book in a series starring Sophie Katz, a writer who seems to fall over murders and dead bodies. In this book, her best friend is shot and may never walk again. Sophie challenges her anger into trying to find out who shot her friend. To complicate matters, it is not clear whether her friend was the target. Sophie gets help from her family of friends, including her Russian private-investigator boyfriend, the cousin of Sophie's best friend, and Sophie's hairdresser. This book is full of unconventional characters who appreciate each other because of, and sometimes in spite of, their differences.

By Author/Artist: Kyra Davis
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780778327899

Loon Lake

Review written by: Susan
2

Set in 1930's America, this is the story of a young drifter whose primary desire in life is to avoid the tedious and dull existence of his parents. One day, while Joe is running from a sickening experience at his latest job, he sees a private train carrying a wealthy group of people into the Adirondack woods; his obsession with finding the beautiful young woman on the train, leads him to the estate of a wealthy businessman, where his life becomes entangled with the tycoon, the woman, a poet, and a mobster. The book was written both in first and third person narratives, with periodic out-of time-sequence changes, and interspersed with poetry. Not only did the writing style make the story confusing, but the characters' overwhelming self-absorption made them rather unlikable. This is my first Doctorow novel, and I am not compelled to read another.

By Author/Artist: E.L. Doctorow
Format: paperback
ISBN: 0449216039

the last apprentice: revenge of the witch

Review written by: Daniel
5

If you are looking for a scary book, or are bored, try this collection of magic, witches, and ghosts. Starting this book me pulled into the county, as Tom became an apprentice and learned about witches and boggarts. Then as he fed Mother Malkin, I thought, "nice foresight, Tom.". Sure enough, Tom unleashed the witch, and then killed her. Tom came home and waited. Soon, a possessed butcher came. Tom drove out the witch and the pigs ate her. I also liked the"Tom`s diary" at the End. it was good.

By Author/Artist: Joseph Delany
Format: hardcover
ISBN: 9780060766184

Ham bones

Review written by: Hattie Garcia
5

This is the 7th book in a series featuring Sarah Booth Delaney, a southern belle in the Delta region of Mississippi. Sarah Booth is not your typical southern belle, however, and started a private detective agency with her friend Tinkie. In this book, the cast of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof heads to Zinnia (Sarah Booth's hometown) and Sarah Booth is asked to be the understudy to the lead. When the lead dies, Sarah Booth is suspected of killing her, especially as Sarah Booth now has the lead role! Sarah Booth must act her best nightly, while also work with her best friends to figure out who is framing her for murder. Oh, and there are two men with their eyes on her: Sheriff Coleman (but he is married) and actor Graf (who she dated previously in New York). Who will she choose? Read and find out!

By Author/Artist: Carolyn Haines
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780758210920

Wishbones

Review written by: Hattie Garcia
5

This is the 8th book in a series featuring Sarah Booth Delaney, a southern belle in the Delta region of Mississippi. Sarah Booth is not your typical southern belle, however, and started a private detective agency with her friend Tinkie. In this book, Sarah Booth heads to Hollywood to pursue her dream as an actress. However, trouble follows her, in the form of murder, accidents on her movie set, and ghosts. Sarah Booth and Tinkie figure out what is behind the fact that someone seems to be sabotaging the movie. One of the things I enjoy about books in this series are the varied friends Sarah Booth has, her resident family ghost, and her revolving love interests. This book has all of the above!

By Author/Artist: Carolyn Haines
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780312377083

Final Exam

Review written by: Hattie Garcia
4
This is the 4th book in the Murder 101 series featuring Alison Bergeron, an English professor at a small college in New York State. She dates a NY city police officer and her adventures often involve him and her two quirky best friends. In this book, Prof Bergeron is asked to be resident director of a dorm when the previous RD goes missing. Of course, she gets to the bottom of his disappearance and other strange happenings. This 4th book was my favorite in the series. I think the characters have gotten more three dimensional and this book made me laugh out loud more often than the others. I look forward to the next book in the series.
By Author/Artist: Maggie Barbieri
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 978-0-312-37677-2

The Hunger Games

Review written by: Shiwani
5

This book completely took me by surprise! I had heard about it from many of my friends, and when I finally got hold of a copy, I couldn't put it down. It's about Katniss Everdeen, who lives in poverty with her family, until one day, she finds herself mixed up in the Hunger Games, put on by the government every year to show their merciless power over the land. All the events and scenery in this book are so detailed that I could even imagine them occurring in my head! This is definitely a must read for the summer.

By Author/Artist: Suzanne Collins
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780439023481

Fancy Nancy

Review written by: Sofie Johnson
5

Fancy Nancy and the Bonjour, Butterfly Nancy loves butterflies she is invited to a party and it is the same day as her Grandparents anniversary. Her mother forgot that it was the same day and her Mom says “Sorry but you can’t go to Bree’s Butterfly Birthday. Nancy get really mad and she is mad for two days When she got off the train she perked up a little. Her mom told her that there was a butterfly garden. She is very excited. After that she dances and she says to her mom “I’m sorry for the way I act” The End. Sofie Anna Johnson age 7

By Author/Artist: Written by Jane O'Connor, Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780061235894

miles to go

Review written by: kiersten
5

this book is all about Miley Cyrus.she always wanted to be a singer and a actor when she was in sixth grade she got a call about auditioning for a actress and a actor it was always her dream to do that so they flew to L.A. and auditioned there were many other girls ahead of her. I think you will like this book.

By Author/Artist: Miley Cyrus
Format: hardcovor
ISBN: 9781423119920

Geronimo Stilton cat and mouse in the haunted house

Review written by: anna
5

this is a book about a mouse who finds a castle and it was haunted. he finds a real ghost that was a cat. and once he got caught in a mouse trap. i think you will like the book.

By Author/Artist: Geronimo Stilton
Format: paperback
ISBN: 9780545021340

harry potter and the goblet of fire

Review written by: veronica marr
5

Harry potter and the goblet of fire is a great book because two schools come to harry's school to have names picked out of the goblet and there's one name for each school to compete in three tasks and one person will win the tri wizord turnamint cup. Harry was shosen to be in the tourment. The first task was to get a golden egg from a dragon. harry got the egg by useing his fire bolt broomstick. The second task was to go under water and rescue what mattered most to you. Harry used gilleyweed to be able to bheath underwater and ruscue his best friend ron weasley. The third task was to go through a mase and tuch the cup before anyone eals. harry and this other guy from his school deside to tuch the cup at the same time beacuse they have healped each other throught the holething. They start spinning around and they end up in the middle of nowhare an they here the killing curse and harry's friend laies dead. ther loard voldmort tied to kill harry. Voldmort went to kill harry and his family. He killed harry's parents but he couldn't kill harry because of the love from his painnts. Read harry potter and the goble of fire to find out what happens next.

By Author/Artist: j.k.rowling
Format: hardcover
ISBN: 0439139597

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