"No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting."Mary Woreley Montagu
This is a summary of the adult winter reading club, Cozy Up With a Good Book. Almost 60 people signed up for the club with 40 of you turning in your reader cards! When I totaled up the readers cards, there were close to 400 books read! The top ten most read authors were:James Patterson
Nora Roberts
David Baldacci
Daniel Silva
Janet Evanovich
John Grisham
Robert B. Parker
Olen Steinhauer
James McBride
Christopher Moore
It is nice to see three different authors crack into the top ten, and I think all three are terrific!
Olen Steinhauer grew up in Virginia and now lives in Budapest with his family. Steinhauer usually writes mysteries set in a fictional Eastern European country but in his latest one, The Tourist, he begins a new trilogy with main character, Milo Weaver. For those of you who like to begin a series at the beginner...and we know who you are...here is one to begin. Steinhauer shares a blog with three other authors, http://www.contemporary-nomad.com/ which I highly recommend y
ou check out. Looking for a new mystery author who will take you half way around the w
orld, keep you on the edge of your seat and fill with tension? Here you go. I have had great feed-back from those who have read his latest book, and it is even better when they come and ask me for more of his books! Love that. ( Little info: The Tourist has been optioned to be made into a film with George Clooney starring. Make sure to read the book.) Steinhauser is one of my (new) authors of note that I have been suggesting to everyone to read. I highly recommend Olen Steinhauer.
James McBride became known for his wonderful classic, Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to his White Mother. McBride is a true, modern Renaissance man-author; he plays a saxophone
in a 
six piece jazz/r&b band; song writer; his book, Miracle at St. Anna, was made into a movie directed by Spike Lee; he can do it all! Plus, McBride just happens to have the coolest website I have ever seen! Crank up the sound and check it out: http://www.jamesmcbride.com/ . McBride is one of my favorite authors and I was glad to see others enjoying him as well. When I find an author that I want to read over again, I buy the book. James McBride has joined my personal bookshelf. An author that can touch your heart, make you laugh, get teary, think and just feel good....this is James McBride. 
Christopher Moore has very different viewpoints on things and is an author for those of you that like a trip on the unusual side. Moore latest, Fool, is his 
take on England in 1288. (The Other Boleyn Girl it is is not.) Loosely based (very loosely based) on Shakespeare's King Lear-this would be called a bawdy tale-to put it mildly. Think Mel Brooks with Blazing Saddles. You've been warned, for a wickedly, good time, give Chris Moore a try. I would suggest visiting his website so you have an idea of what you will be getting into, http://www.chrismoore.com/.
Here you have three very (very) different authors to give a try.
The top read books read for this winter were:
The Associate by John Grisham
Night & Day by Robert B. Parker
Silent Man by Alex Berenson
**A Salty Piece of Land by Jimmy Buffet
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich
Wildfire by Nelson DeMille
Mounting Fears by Stuart Woods
The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
Cross Country by James Patterson
The Brass Verdict by Michael Connolly
**Salty Piece of Land was our book discussion book and it seems everybody read it.
I will say that just because the book was on the most read list does not mean it was well liked by everyone. I always find that interesting, the different reviews.
I hope everyone enjoyed the reading club and it helped the winter pass quickly. I enjoy listening, reading and sharing all your book reviews. Thank you!
The summer reading club begins July 7, 2009 so check your emails!
Enjoy the nice weather and of course, read a good book.
9) Growing Up Laughing by Marlo Thomas
2) James Patterson
