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The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory
Three women-- Katherine Howard, Anne of Cleves, and Jane Boleyn—tell their versions of two very dangerous years during the reign of Henry VIII. Of the three, Jane Boleyn is the least well-known (the other two being wives of the English king) and perhaps the most interesting. She gave testimony that sent Anne Boleyn and her own husband to the scaffold. Now, again she becomes involved in the secret machinations of court.
Anyone But You by Jennifer Cruisie
What forty-year–old and divorced Nina Askew wants is an energetic young dog to cheer her up. She cannot stop herself, however, from rescuing the sad-eyed, flop-eared, dumpy and apparently depressed hound scheduled for execution. Soon named Fred, the dog promptly introduces Nina to the handsome but much younger emergency room doctor in the apartment underneath hers. Nina is convinced she is too old for Alex, though her friends and hormones tell her otherwise. Its refusal to take itself seriously and the endearing Fred make this light-hearted romance a treat.
After This by Alice McDermott
This novel depicts an Irish-American family in mid-century America . It spans the era from just after WWII through the seventies, covering the impact of the sexual revolution and the Vietnam War. With the help of a spinster aunt, John and Mary Keane raise their four children through events, both joyous and tragic, that affect all members of the family: the meeting of John and Mary, an outing at sea, the death of a son at war, an unwanted pregnancy. Everyone can, on some level, relate to the story of the Keane family. A resonant and poignant book.
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
19 minutes . . . that’s all it took for an alienated teen to shoot 29 people at his high school one day. Ten lost their lives. What could have caused this boy so much anguish? Peter Houghton has been bullied by kids since his first day in kindergarten. In those early years little Josie Cormier was his best friend, but as Josie grew older, she began to spend more time with the “popular” kids. In fact, these are the same kids who continually victimize Peter. Thus, Peter brings guns to school and begins the rampage. Josie is in the center of many who are shot, but remains unharmed. After the shooting, she can’t remember anything about the incident. Complicating the situation, Josie’s mom is the judge assigned the case. Can she render a just decision? Picoult’s characters and events reflect real life and her insight into teens is nothing less than awesome. A compelling read.

BIOG/Bryson The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson
The always funny Bryson is in top form in his latest book, the story of his youth in the fifties. Growing up middle class in the Midwest, Bryson lived in a sheltered time and place, with a few notable exceptions, such as the Cuban missile crisis. Despite the innocence of the times, Bryson got into plenty of mischief, some of which should have landed him in jail. Boomers are most likely to enjoy the book’s humor and the chance to learn what has made Bryson’s generation the way it is.
BIOG/Godwin When a Crocodile Eats the Sun by Peter Godwin
Journalist Peter Godwin grew up in Zimbabwe and returned to his native country when his father suffered a serious heart attack. His country’s decline during the previous ten years is juxtaposed with his parents’ decline, both physical and economic (due to the policies of dictator Robert Mugabe). This is a moving story that will appeal to fans of Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight.