the third five

11. The Moonflower Vine by Jetta Carleton

This is a lost classic that is back in print after its original publication in the 1960s. It follows the story of the Soames family of Western Missouri during the first half of the 20th century. It's divided into sections, each one devoted to the point of view of a specific family member, that build on each other as the story's timeline progresses. Though it took me a little while to get into it and used to Carleton's writing style, by the middle I was hooked. The end, with its twist that left a few particularly heated issues up in the air, was fabulous. It is rare, I think, to read about seemingly ordinary people with absolutely fascinating lives, but The Moonflower Vine does just that.

12. Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson

This book, which delves into the intricacies of a life of transience, was very interesting. It's the story of two girls who, after their mother kills herself, are raised first by their grandmother, and ultimately by their eccentric aunt who makes an attempt to leave behind her hobo ways to take care of her nieces. She's not, however, incredibly successful at settling down, and it was interesting to watch how one of the girls follows her aunt, while the other opts for a more "normal" lifestyle. It's a pretty philosophical read, but so beautifully written.

13. The Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

My mom has been telling me for some time now that I really needed to just jump on board with this series, so I was glad when my friend and I decided to read it for our little book club. After reading (and absolutely loving) McCall Smith's Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, I had a feeling I'd enjoy this bestseller, and by only a few pages into it, I realized why everyone who reads this falls in love with Mma Ramotswe and her Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency -- the only one of its kind in all of Botswana. The characters are endearing, the humor is subtle, and the issues it raises are tenderly dealt with. I've already read the second book in the series (which will be discussed in a future book report), and I plan to continue on with the rest.

14. 44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith

This is another series by McCall Smith that is also full of interesting characters and subtle humor. It was originally written and published as a serial novel in a Scottish newspaper; consequently the chapters are very short and, until you get more into the stories of the different characters (who all live in the same apartment building), it has a rather choppy feel to it. Don't let that deter you, though -- it's definitely worth reading and finishing. The storyline of Bertie, the 5-year-old boy genius and his nutty mother, Irene, is probably the best one, though I also came away a big fan of Domenica. At any rate, I'm currently reading the second in this series and, like with the Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books, plan to continue on with the rest. Alexander McCall Smith is addicting like that.

15. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

If you pay any attention at all to what's making the book club circuit these days, you've probably heard of this book. The story, about the Nazi occupation of the Channel Island of Guernsey, is told entirely through letters -- an element which had me hooked before I even started. It always amazes me how well you can learn about and grow to love a handful of characters simply by reading their mail. If you have not already joined the "I've Read This Book" club (I myself was late to hop on this bandwagon), then you really need to drop everything and get your hands on a copy. You won't be sorry.