Summer just seems the time to sit back, relax, and read a good book. All the books recommended in this issue are written by women, about women.

These books focus on the bonds formed between women, whether they be bonds of friendship or of family. The relationships between women and men are also investigated but are not generally the main focus of these stories.

by Patricia Gaffney

"The Saving Graces", Isabel, Emma, Lee and Rudy, have been friends for over nine years. Meeting twice a month to share a meal and their lives with each other. They have learned much through the years about their friends and themselves. They will soon face the ultimate test of their friendship and the strength of their own spirit.

by Patricia Gaffney

Carrie's family had recently returned to her small home town in Virginia. When she suddenly becomes a widow, she struggles to make sense of her situation and get on with her life. Her journey is complicated by a teenage daughter who idolized her self-involved father, a mother who is overly possessive, and the sparks of a former romance that was never really exstinguished. Can these three generations of women come to terms with themselves and each other? Will they come to view their lives as they really are rather than as a vision of what might have been? Read "Circle Of Three" and find out.

by Mary Alice Monroe

The monthly book club is more than it appears to be on the surface. This group of five women are firm friends who treat each other with love, compassion, and acceptance. Using the forum of a book discussion as their base, they feel free to explore their thoughts and feelings, and eventually their problems with each other. Through the myriad of changes and challenges in all of their lives, they remain true to the friendships formed through "The Book Club".

by Mary Alice Monroe

The Season sisters: Jillian, Beatrice, and Rose are about to have a long-avoided reunion. They are reuniting to bury their youngest, perpetually innocent sister, Meredith. It is time to face the ghosts and the mistakes of the past. Because of Meredith's dying wish, they will journey back to face the day when their lives changed forever. And because of their journey they will all experience peace and happiness in a measure they never before thought possible.

"Shrek" is a Disney movie that spoofs fairy tales. Instead of the handsome prince going out to save the beautiful princess, we have Shrek, an ogre, going out to save a wise-cracking,   judo-chopping princess intent on marrying the Duke who sent Shrek to save her.

In the company of his buddy, Donkey, this loner tries to save the princess, finds true love and learns the value of friendship. A great movie for all ages with something for everyone. Rating: ****

And two more thumbs up on this film:

• Talk about 'Enchanting' we took the young fella to see 'Shrek' tonight and it was ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE!! Even Honey Bear said 'It was the BEST movie he has seen in AGES'!! WOW!! Not bad comin from an Aussie Bloke! It was SO refreshing to enjoy a CLEAN, FUN FILLED flick the WHOLE family could enjoy!! It's a MUST see girls!! I would probably go as far as saying: I'm gonna BUY the video!!! ~ Tracey

• I saw 'Shrek', too! So funny! I agree, it's a must-see movie! ~ Aksa

Released around November of 2000, this isn't a "new" release, however, I personally like this CD so much that I felt it deserved a wee bit of the promotion it sadly lacked when it did come out...

In addition to this package being an "enhanced CD", meaning that if you play it in your Windows PC, you will have the added bonus of seeing 2 complete, full videos from the album, the energetic "Holler" and the sweet soulful ballad "Let Love Lead The Way"

The Girls are definitely back! This CD has a more mature sound than their "Wannabe" days, or their "Spice World" days, and it is clear that they are hoping to pick up a wider audience than just the pre-teen set. The production is tight, the harmonies are heavenly, and the tunes are completely catchy.

The general feel of the whole CD is upbeat, positive and rather Dance Club oriented, with a few awesome ballads thrown in for good measure.

My personal favorite tracks are "If You Wanna Have Some Fun" "Get Down With Me" "Weekend Love" and "Goodbye", but I must say, there isn't single track on this cd that I don't like! (and I am 30-something!) I liked every track on the cd, from the first time I played it through.

Check it out, you might just be pleasantly surprised. - (Editors rating: 5 Stars.)

The British-born Brothers Gibb have returned to the charts with a brand new CD and a hit single. Both entitled "This Is Where I Came In", this release is the first one of the new millenium for the trio (who have had at least one Top Ten Hit record in each of the last 5 decades... makes you wonder how many of the new young artists will have the talent and perseverance to endure a lasting successful career of this caliber...

Following up on the group's highly successful 1997 studio album "Still Waters" (which was their best selling studio album since 1979's "Spirits Having Flown") and their 1998 "One Night Only" live CD, "This Is Where I Came In" boasts a fresh and completely different sound for the Bee Gees. There is no falsetto, for starters, only the rich, melodic, dulcet tones of 3 mature men.

The Bee Gees have described this album as them "going back to their roots, musically" and indeed, there is a distinctive flavour of the early Bee Gees, coupled with influences from the artists that they have admired over the years, such as The Beatles, and The Beach Boys, present in some of these new tracks.

The US issue of the CD is also an Enhanced CD, and features the video clip and a photo gallery if you play it on your computer. It's a very classy package.

If you have ever been promised that a CD has "something for everyone" only to discover that what they really meant was "something for everyone who likes this group" you are in for a surprise. This CD has the most ecclectic batch of songs they have ever put together on a disc, and there are tracks on it which will please everyone from the head-banging hard rocker next door ("Voice In The Wilderness") to your dear old granny who is still secretly in love with Tommy Dorsey... ("Technicolor Dreams")

Teenagers seem to go for tracks such as "This Is Where I Came In", "Embrace", "Deja Vu", "Walking On Air" and "Sacred Trust" (which was actually written for the Backstreet Boys, who did record it, however their management chose to leave it off their last cd... Their loss, as the brothers do it much more justice than BSB ever could anyways) "Promise The Earth" (on the overseas issue only) is also another very strong, fresh-sounding track.

Add to that, the fact that the album debuted on Billboard's Hot 100 Albums at #16, and that the first single has rushed up the charts worldwide, I think it's safe to say that The Bee Gees are hotter than ever!

It's an excellent CD, and you can purchase it from your favorite local or online music retailer. - (Editors rating: 5 Stars.)

"Sterling Moon is my favorite specialty coffee!" David E. Brown,
[Billy Joel's former lead guitarist for 11 years] Gloucester, MA

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