Rich (6/26): Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson.

Ten years after the conclusion of World War II, a Japanese man is on trial for the murder of a fellow fisherman in a small coastal Washington town. Racism, war, love, sex, murder, a sherlock holmes mystery and the ensuing trial -- this book has it all. It starts out promising, too. The backdrop is laid out well, and I felt attached to this small fishing community. Each character is introduced with complete family history and dental records. But, once the cast is set and the story gets going, the plot isn't terribly intriguing, and the characters aren't as rich and complex as we'd expect from their elaborate introduction. And like spending a summer night with good friends, watching a movie starring the in-celebrity of the month, reading this book is a pleasant way to spend the evening, but altogether pretty ordinary.