Solstice Wood by Patricia A. McKillip, Ace Books, 2006

Bookstore owner Sylvia Lynn is content with her current life and has cut the ties to her past. However, her grandfather's passing forces Sylvia to return to her childhood home, which lies on the border of a fantasy otherworld, and face head-on the forces she has been running from.

When this book was set in the "real" world I found it enjoyable but the fantasy aspects of changelings, fairies, witches and wood nymphs often confused and bored me. McKillip is a well respected writer and fantasy fans will likely receive this book in a better light.

Readers who enjoy this book may also like these fiction titles: Broken Sword by Paul Anderson, Ballantine Books, 1971 is a classic fantasy work that also features a changeling from a land of fairies. Children of Magic, DAW Books, 2006 is a collection of fantasy stories written by well-respected fantasy authors and regarding children with a variety of magical powers.

Readers who enjoy this book may also like these non-fiction titles: The Complete Guide to Faeries and Magical Beings: Explore the Mystical Realm of the Little People by Cassandra Eason, Red Wheel, 2002. This book includes testimonials from people who have claimed to see magical creatures and even includes tips on how to attract them. Spellbound: from Ancient Gods to Modern Merlins: a Time Tour of Myth and Magic by Alexander Dominic, Readers Digest, 2002 takes a historical look at the interweaved relationships of science, religion and magic.

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman, Morrow, 2005

This tells the story of Fat Charlie (who isn't fat anymore) and how his life changes after his father dies-a father who long ago left him and always embarrased him. Fat Charlie learns that he has a "brother", who wreaks havoc on Charlie's dull life, and that his father was actually Anansi, the trickster spider god. This story alternates between London and Florida, proving that quirky, humorous, and well-written characters can be found on both sides of the pond.

I was pleasantly surprised at the contemporary setting and absence of too many fantastical creatures. This book was also funny, captured my attention, and even throws in a scene reminiscent of the serial killer from Silence of the Lambs. I would be open to reading more by Neil Gaiman.

Readers who enjoy this book may also enjoy these fiction titles: Divine by Blood by P.C. Cast, Luna, 2007 is the story of a girl who is raised "normally" in Oklahoma,only to discover that she is actually the daughter of a goddess from an otherworld. The Dark Half by Stephen King, Viking, 1989 leans a bit more toward horror, but King's writing generally contains fantastic elements. The parallels of "good twin not knowing bad twin exists" and WHY are eerily similar.

Readers who enjoy this book may also enjoy these non-fiction titles: Anansi, the Spider Man: Jamaican Folk Tales by Philip Manderson Sherlock, Crowell, 1954 should expand on the trickster tales touched on by Gaiman. Secret London: Exploring the Hidden City, with Original Walks and Unusual Places to Visit by Andrew Duncan, Interlink Books, 2006 is filled with tidbits about the London most people never see and the physical "secrets" that exist.

F5: Devastation, Survival, and the Most Violent Tornado Outbreak of the Twentieth Century by Mark Levine, Hyperion, 2007

On April 3, 1974 the forces of nature combined to produce 148 tornadoes in 13 states that altered the landscapes and lives of those in their paths. Author Mark Levine attempts to parallel the deadly storms with the political and social unrest of the time, and also educates readers on the natural forces behind tornadoes and the scientific advances designed to rank and track such storms. This book is most successful when it concentrates of the lives of the victims, and provides a satisfactory look at where these major characters are today and how that one day affected the rest of their lives.

I found this book enjoyable and somewhat educational but felt the author missed the mark with his tornado vs. the 70's analogy.

Readers who enjoyed this book may also like these fiction titles: Sing them Home by Stephanie Kallos, Grove, 2009. Siblings vs. nature; mom is taken by a tornado and Dad by a lightning strike 25 years later. This novel focuses on the devestating effects of natural disasters on a small town and the siblings struggles with both grief and the changes brought on by their losses. Heavy Weather by Bruce Sterling, Bantam, 1994 is a futuristic thriller about storm chasers pursuing a potential F6 with the potential to destroy the world.

Readers who enjoyed this book may also like these non-fiction titles: Storm Warning: the Story of a Killer Tornado by Nancy Mathis, Simon & Schuster, 2007 which relates the killer F5 tornado that devestated parts of Oklahoma in May of 1999.
Devastation! The World's Worst Natural Disasters by Lesley Newson, Dorling Kindersley, 1998 offers dates, details, illustrations, and explanations of more than 500 historical natural disasters.

Izzy & Lenore: Two Dogs, an Unexpected Journey, and Me by Jon Katz, Villard, 2008

Writer, photographer, and farm owner Jon Katz has written a delightful tale that chronicles his two newest dogs, Izzy, an abandoned border collie, and Lenore, a black lab puppy. Jon and Izzy become an admired pair of hospice volunteers due to Izzy's uncanny gift to calm, soothe, and in one case, heal patients. Lenore evolves into a treasured companion who helps Jon with his own personal healing from depression. Although the book contains a disclaimer that "no dogs die in this book" even the most steadfast reader may shed a tear or two while reading about the hospice patients. Katz skillfully and subtly emphasizes the wondrous healing capabilities of dogs on the soul.

This book instantly appealed to me on a personal level as I have a dog named Izzy and used to own a border collie. I found this book extremely enjoyable and well written and look forward to reading more of Katz.

Readers who enjoyed this book may like these fiction titles: Dog: a Novella by Michelle Herman, MacAdam/Cage, 2005 which features Jill,an unhappy and lonely woman that adopts a puppy who guards its own emotions. Once they connect,mutual healing is quick to follow. The New Yorkers by Cathleen Schine, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007 reinforces the fact that dogs improve owners lives, in this case helping them to make friends and even to fall in love.

Readers who enjoyed this book may like these non-fiction titles: James Herriot's Dog Stories by James Herriot, St. Martin's Press, 1986. I have long viewed Herriott as the original and authoritative writer of animal stories and this book shares stories about 50 dogs and their relationships with their owners. A Puppy is Better than Prozac: the True Story of a Man and the Dog who Saved his Life by Bruce Goldstein, DaCapo, 2008. Goldstein shares certain traits with Jon Katz; depression, a black lab puppy with the power to heal, and a gift for writing a moving story.

The Outsider by Ann H. Gabhart, Revell, 2008

Gabrielle was happy living her life in a Shaker community and was steadfast in her faith until an accident brought an outsider, a handsome doctor, into her life. Her interaction with the doctor, as well as a series of events that occur within the Shaker community, result in Gabrielle having doubts as to which type of life she was really meant to live.

The insights into the now extinct Shaker faith and War of 1812 references may appeal to fans of historical fiction. This book may also attract the attention of readers drawn to gentle romances. I was alternately bored and shocked by this book and while unlikely to visit this genre again, I am now interested in learning more about the War of 1812.

Readers who like this book may also like these fiction titles: Walk by Faith by Roseanne Bittner, Steeple Hill, 2008 also is set in the 1800's and incorporates new beginnings, dangerous situations, historical themes, and romance. The Believers by Janice Holt Giles, Houghton, 1957 offers an insight into the Shaker religion by a young woman who follows her husband to a Shaker community in Kentucky in the 1800's but is forced to leave upon failing to become a believer.

Readers who like this book may also like these non-fiction titles: Union 1812: The Americans who Fought the Second War of Independence by A.J. Langguth, Simon & Schuster, 2007 is a comprehensive overview that serves perfectly as a brush-up for that information we may have forgotten since history class. God Among the Shakers: a Search for Stillness and Faith and Sabbathday Lake by Suzanne Skees, Hyperion, 1999. Author Skees spent a month at the last surviving Shaker community, which is located in Maine, and shares her observations here.

One Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury, Zondervan, 2003

On September 11, 2001, Jake Bryan and Eric Michaels both entered the World Trade Center, but only one of them made it out alive. On the surface, both men seem to have a lot in common. Both have wives that love them, a young child, and even look eerily alike. However, Jake is a NYC firefighter following in his father's footsteps, and is as devoted to God as he is to his family. Eric is a workoholic who has left God and his family by the wayside in a misguided attempt to provide them with what he thinks they really need, wealth. In a case of mistaken identity complicated by amnesia, Eric is believed to be Jake and assumes Jake's role as father to Sierra and husband to Jamie, who lost her faith as a teenager. In reading Jake's diaries, Eric regains his faith, as does Jamie. This realization that God and religion are necessary and good comes in handy for the ultimate reality that Jake has perished and Eric has survived.

One Tuesday Morning is a quick and not an unpleasant read. However, the writing is shoddy, lackluster, and often sappy. Descriptions of the events of 9/11 seem to be quick, plagarized summaries of true accounts and in no way come off as a tribute to all that lost their lives that day. Kingsbury should be applauded for writing a novel that incorporates God and stays far away from gratuitous sex and foul language. However, if she is indeed the author of 30 bestselling books as the cover states, it seems the Christian Fiction genre is ripe for an influx of any truly talented writers.

Readers who enjoy this book may also like these fiction titles: Good Hope Road by Lisa Wingate, NAL, 2003. In this work, a tornado is the tragedy that brings strangers together to mutually search for hope. The Writing on the Wall: a Novel by Lynne Sharon Schwartz, Counterpoint, 2005 addresses the emotional trauma, survivor's guilt, and the effects 9/11 on a woman already dealing with personal tragedies.

Readers who enjoy this book may also like these non-fiction titles: The Book of Mychal: The Surprising Life and Heroic Death of Father Mychal Judge by Michael Daly, St. Martins, 2002 details the personal struggles and triumphs of a remarkable man, and beloved Chaplain, who was unfortunately the first recorded casualty of 9/11. Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope by Don & Susie VanRyn and Colleen & Whitney Cerak, Howard Books, 2008 tells of the 2006 car accident where one college friend dies and the other survives. However, when Laura VanRyn comes to, it is discovered that she is actually Whitney Cerak, formerly believed deceased. The strong faith of the two families is apparent in this work.

Life Among the Dead by Lisa Williams, Simon Spotlight Entertainment, 2008

Lisa Williams sees dead people. A medium and clairvoyant, Lisa became aware of her gift at the age of four, and believes she inherited it from her grandmother, a respected psychic of her own time. After years of unfulfilling jobs and disappointing relationships (one which resulted in her becoming a single mom), the author finds her true love and her true calling as a professional seer, thanks in part to Merv Griffin, Hollywood, and the Lifetime channel. This is an interesting read about a likeable woman. Filled with instance after instance of her eerily correct visions, after reading this book, even skeptics may find themselves believers.

Psychic abilities have always fascinated me, and I do believe that certain people have the gift of ESP, including Lisa Williams. Althought the book is not a literary giant, it was an enjoyable and informative way to spend a few hours.

Readers who like this book may also like these fiction titles: After Life by Rhian Ellis, Viking, 2000 revolves around a mother and daughter, both with psychic abilities. The mother uses her talents as showmanship and to make money, but the daughter tries to come to grips with how to best use the gift she has. Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz, Bantam, 2006 introduces readers to a fry cook with the ability to communicate with dead people in this novel that alternates humor with darkness.

Readers who like this book may also like these non-fiction titles: Uri Geller: My Story by Uri Geller, Henry Holt & Co., 1975. Uri Geller was one of the earlier psychics to gain worldwide renown and did so in an age where special effects weren't truly a consideration, adding credibility to his abilities. Psychic Connections by Lois Duncan, Delacorte, 1995. Lois Duncan wrote numerous books for young adults, and this is also aimed at that level. However, it provides a nice overview of what parapsychology really is. Additionally, although Duncan often incorporated extrasensory aspects in her novels, she was a skeptic until her daughter was murdered and the case was aided by psychics.