Linda Brown is the owner of Milestone Books.

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Pillars of the Earth     Ken Follett

I love this book because it teaches me so much about the history of the middle ages and the class wars and religious hypocrisy of that time without having to read an actual history book.  Follett does such extensive research on his books that you always learn so much about whatever he’s writing about.  The sequel to this book, World Without End, is coming out this Fall 2007.  I absolutely cannot wait.  I’m trying to get Follett to come on over during his America tour.  Maybe on his way to New York?  I even offered to take him to a Bama game.  Who knows?

Update:  Success!  I convinced him to come by and sign copies of the long awaited sequel ... World Without End.  If you’ve enjoyed his other work, you’ll love the follow up to his best work yet.  Available on a first come, first serve basis. 

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter      Kim Edwards

I love this book because Kim Edwards pulls you into the emotions of the characters.  You actually feel the regret of David, the emptiness of Norah, and the unconditional love of Caroline.   Since I have twins, a boy and a girl, I empathize with Norah because I can’t imagine having one without the other.  Plus, this book makes me feel like my own family isn’t really so dysfunctional.  That always makes me feel better.  Great Read!

Pride and Prejudice     Jane Austen

I love this book because Mr. Darcy is just so darn adorable, and this stuff is so much better than modern romance, it’s not even funny.  Austen does such a wonderful job creating the “atmosphere” of the day….and even though I couldn’t handle living back then, I love the way they talk and yearn and treat one another.  As compared to how fast life is today, this book is not only a classic, but somewhat a fantasy…..and I just let it “take me away!”

Stargirl     Jerry Spinelli

I love this book because it inspires the reader to embrace nonconformity, because conformity comes with a much higher price…not being true to oneself.  For young adolescent girls, being who you really are is a daily challenge.  Stargirl encompasses all that I want for my daughter, as well as for myself.  Even today, it’s hard to remember in our culture that I’m just me, not what so many people think I am.  Jerry Spinelli captures this so well…and I really don’t know how because he’s, you know, a guy.

Water for Elephants     Sara Gruen

I love this book because it took me by surprise.  When the rep came to sell it to me, I thought…circus, 1930’s…BORING.  But boy was I wrong!  The story is well written, and once again, the reader learns about the history of the circus, the competition between the small companies and the the Big guys, and the relationships between the “performers” and the “workers”.  The heroine is an elephant…and she gets hers at the end…  Gruen writes with eloquence and style, and leaves you wanting more pages.