What I'm Reading

Range of Motion (Elizabeth Berg)

2011-04-28T19:35:00.001-07:00

Really, really liked it.

Off Season (Anne Rivers Siddons)

2011-04-23T21:38:00.001-07:00

I would have rated this higher expect that I detested the ending, well really the last half of the book. I also do not like talking animals, at all. For what it's worth, I actually quite enjoy endings of this type, but this one was too rushed to be believable and I don't feel like the conclusion was dealt with appropriately.

Beyond Reach (Karin Slaughter)

2011-04-22T12:22:00.001-07:00

So I really just cannot believe how this one ended. And I can't write anymore than that without giving it away. Shocked.

Faithless (Karin Slaughter)

2011-04-17T20:30:00.001-07:00

So this one I really enjoyed because (like the fourth) it broke up the monotony a bit. I also am really beginning to dig the way Slaughter works social commentary into her books. I know that some find the focus on DV and rape to be a bit much, but I do think these are real issues that are symptomatic of some of the least appealing parts of our culture, so I like that she takes it head on.

That said, still can't stand Lena. Feel no connection to her character whatsoever (and not just because of the obvious, DV issues).

Indelible (Karin Slaughter)

2011-04-17T20:24:00.001-07:00

At first, I thought I would hate this book. The idea of flashbacks to trace the development of the two main characters turned me off. But I felt like they were well done and the addition of another murder mystery within the main action was interesting. Well done.

Still am really not digging Lena. Which isn't good because the book that started me reading these so quickly is focused on here (book 6).

Indelible (Karin Slaughter)

2011-04-17T20:24:00.000-07:00

A Faint Cold Fear (Karin Slaughter)

2011-04-11T19:10:00.000-07:00

Just ok. Perhaps a little worse than the first one but I didn't call the killer, which is always a bonus with suspense. Lena is *really* annoying me though. Her character just doesn't make sense... she's like a ball of cliches.

Kisscut (Karin Slaughter)

2011-04-05T13:25:00.001-07:00

I actually liked this better than the first Grant County book because I was totally surprised at the ending. Can't really reveal why without spoiling the end, but suffice it to say that Karin Slaughter does a great job of weaving together seemingly unrelated events and tweaking our stereotypes to surprise us.

From my TBR list.

Pemberley By the Sea ( Abigail Reynolds)

2011-04-02T19:29:00.000-07:00

So I expected to love this book but I really didn't. It was fine, but the dialogue was super stilted, the relationship between the two main characters was annoying and not Austen-esque in my opinion. Meh at best, and the ending seemed totally unbelievable and far too quick.

Room (Emma Donaghue)

2011-04-01T19:21:00.000-07:00

This was a fantastic read. Hard to get through at times, certainly, but not as much as I expected honestly. Telling the story from the point of view of the five year old was genius, I think, and am amazed at how well the author seemed to be able to put us right in the story. The book was sparse and felt claustrophobic at times, which I'm sure was intended. Anthropomorphizing the objects in the room was a stroke of genius. Fascinating book, and I blew through it. I guess I will have to check out some other Booker Prize short list members.

Blindsighted (Karin Slaughter)

2011-03-28T18:53:00.000-07:00

This is the first read by this author. Awesome suspense, though the violence is a bit brutal. And I'm not sure how the rest of this series will play, but I liked the discussion of women as victims and how that might impact their interpersonal relationships.

As a heads up: If you intend to read this series start with this book. I inadvertently picked up the fourth book - for whatever reason I had it down as the first book and in the first chapter it discussed a TON of plotlines in this book. So read them in order.

Holly's Inbox (Holly Denham)

2011-03-24T19:37:00.000-07:00

V. funny, very quick, a modern novel of letters. I enjoyed the humor and I also liked the ending. Holly and her friends are vibrant characters and I found it oddly compelling. Good chick lit!!

The First Wife (Diana Diamond)

2011-03-22T15:31:00.000-07:00

I have no idea how this made it on to my TBR list but it's terrible. I think this is one of the worst books I've ever read. The writing is stilted, the voices are robotic and the female lead is literally one of the dumbest characters I've ever read. Would not recommend.

Easy Prey (John Sandford)

2011-03-19T18:53:00.000-07:00

So the first Lucas Davenport book I've read in a while. I think I am over being too immersed in them but I found the predictability of this one a little too much - not in that I had any idea who DID do it at the end, but just that I knew that all the people that Lucas thought might do it differently didn't because, well, that's just how the books work. That said, Weather was back (briefly) and the end of the book hints that she might be back more so I will definitely be picking up the next one.

House Rules (Jodi Piccoult)

2011-03-16T16:08:00.000-07:00

I feel like I say this every time I read a Piccoult book : I think I'm kind of disillusioned by her. Yet, I keep coming back.

****SPOILERS AHEAD******

This book was particularly promising. As per usual she chose a contemporary topic (autism) and tossed it into a legal setting. The characters while familiar (a distressed family) were unique enough that I was excited to be reading it. Additionally, I honestly had never thought about the difficulties that autistic children (or adults) might face in a legal setting. The many accommodations that allow them to survive in other environments would be largely absent.

And yet? There were so many moments that felt too contrived to be real - the convenient history of violence displayed by Jacob, despite the repeated assurances throughout the book that autistic people in general are not violent. This was especially troubling because the attempted assault on a classmate (which seemed pretty violent, honestly) was not reconciled with the remainder of what Jacob's family and attorney thought of him. And as per usual, too many wild consequences to be believable.

I also really did not understand the role of the father here. The scene where we determine that he has autistic traits and the hint that it could be genetic was fine. But I really did not understand his presence at the end of the book at all. I also thought the ending was rushed, even more so than usual.

In the end the discussions of autism were interesting, and as per usual, I enjoyed the shifting perspectives. I also enjoyed the courtroom drama and as usual, I was strangely sucked in and read the book very quickly. Or as Jacob might say, "She had me at hello."

B-

Heartbreak Hotel (Anne Rivers Siddons)

2011-03-05T18:25:00.000-08:00

These is something reassuring about these novels, despite my lack of ability to feel nostalgia for the timeperiod, I almost do. I love the portraits she paints of whites trying to come to terms with the Civil Rights movement.

I had not previously read this novel, so I enjoyed it even more than the others that I have been rereading.

I, Mona Lisa (Jeanne Kalogridis)

2011-02-23T10:18:00.000-08:00

I am ignorant of Italian history, but I found this novel to be entertaining, albeit in a campy way. A few too many coincidences and interesting turns of events for it to be believable, but it is fiction, right?

An interview with the author suggests that she is fastidious about attention to historical detail, which is admirable. I enjoyed it and it was thick enough to be satisfying.

Homeplace (Anne Rivers Siddons)

2011-02-21T10:14:00.000-08:00

Another in my recently rediscovered zest for Siddons. The place is familiar but the time is actually more modern and this book deals with the fallout of the Civil Rights movement for one family (and their acquaintenances). Interesting central characters with a variety of odd relationships among them. Gothic and entertaining, just like I like my Southern novels. Has a great resolution and the sense of place is fantastic.

The Good Daughters (Joyce Maynard)

2011-01-31T17:37:00.000-08:00

I actually accidentally purchased this on my kindle. I intended to download a sample and instead but the whole thing. Don't regret it at all.

I really enjoyed this book, though admittedly it took a bit to get into it. And while I picked up on the foreshadowing, I definitely didn't call the ending, though I did find it a bit unbelievable. It's a great saga of the parallel and sometimes intersecting stories of two families.

A

Nora, Nora (Anne Rivers Siddons)

2011-01-25T20:42:00.000-08:00

Just a really great coming of age book, tinged with the southern charm that Siddons is so famous for. It's so interesting the sense of nostalgia we hold for that time and place, despite the horrid inequalities present.

Nora is a wonderful example of a person who drifts through life unattached. Normally I think of these people as unfulfilled, but I don't think she is. Troubled, yes, but I think she sees the world's beauty in a way that few people do. Certainty not me :)

A

Hill Towns (Anne Rivers Siddons)

2011-01-12T19:55:00.000-08:00

So I'm a little suprised at how much I adored this book. It's not what I think of as "high fiction" which (I think is my own made up word, but might be real. Who knows).

Anyway, I am becoming quite taken with the south, despite the fact that I abhor its politics and don't ever really want to live there. Books about the south have cropped up several times for me this year.

This book is more about Southerners than the south. I loved the main character, and in a rare turn of events was really rooting for her to have an affair. You'll have to read it to find out if she did.

A

Dashing through the snow (Carol and Mary Higgins Clark)

2010-12-29T05:55:00.000-08:00

So, I haven't read a Mary Higgins Clark book since I was probably in eighth grade. I got this one for Christmas two years ago and only just picked it up, but I figured 'Tis the season. Read it VERY quickly - it's a little over 200 very small pages with fairly large type - and it was a fun read.

I either didn't realize or forgot how stilted the dialogue is in these books. That said, I liked the lottery winner characters and might have to revisit them. Just wish the authors wrote with a bit more subtlety.

C

Rescue (Anita Shreve)

2010-12-28T05:46:00.000-08:00

Not her finest effort, but a good book. I've come to expect a lot from her and this didn't live up to it. But it was an interesting take on the challenges faced by a single dad who works as a paramedic, as well as the impact of alcoholism on a family.

Also, the second book read on the kindle app for my phone :)

B

The Debutante Divorcee (Plum Sykes)

2010-12-26T18:12:00.000-08:00

So not literature, but a good distraction from some crappy stuff happening with my husband (hopefully nothing serious). This book was exactly what I needed to get lost in - it chronicles of the lives of several uber rich divorcees in a witty and fun way. Irresistible if you like this kind of stuff.

Last Song (Nicholas Sparks)

2010-12-21T18:05:00.000-08:00

Am embarrassed to admit I read this. My mom left it at my house when I had my surgery and I was sucked right in. Have not seen the movie, but the book is pretty emotional. At its heart it is a coming of age novel that includes a lot of drama.

C

Home Safe (Elizabeth Berg)

2010-12-14T18:08:00.000-08:00

This book I really enjoyed. It was also the first book I read on the kindle app for my phone. While I thought I would not enjoy that experience, it turns out that I really have. It's great for travelling except for not being able to read at takeoff and landing.

This particular novel is set mostly in Chicago, one of my favorite cities, and I read part of it while I was travelling to Chicago for business. A good read in great circumstances.

A

The Time Traveler's Wife (Audrey Niffenegger)

2010-12-03T19:13:00.000-08:00

Glad I *finally* finished this one - I discovered it in the bottom of my traveling bag during my last trip and it was so good once I got into it. Man, was it a challenge to get there though. But the idea, of meeting the love of your life when your tiny, and visiting with him over the years, is intense.

And the end was amazing.

A

Mommy Tracked (Whitney Gaskell)

2010-12-01T19:10:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed this book, as I do most of her stuff. Light, for sure, but interesting. I totally related to one character (although not the very worst parts of her, thankfully). Basically this is the story of four very different women, with very different concerns and fears, making their way through motherhood. I could totally imagine meeting any of these women in real life.

B

The Fireman's Wife (Jack Riggs)

2010-11-15T19:07:00.000-08:00

Felt very cliche. Didn't sympathize or connect with the main character at all. Did like the descriptions of the scenery and really liked the actual fireman.

C

Best Friends Forever (Jennifer Weiner)

2010-11-01T17:16:00.000-07:00

Well, it may be just a contrast with the last book I read, but this was definitely a massive improvement. I really enjoyed this book, as I do most of Weiner's books but you've got to embrace it for what it is - fiction that is just heavier than simple chic lit. SHe features strong women characters who act in ways that some people probably wish they could - they often end up taking big chances.

In this book we follow a woman who has found it within herself to slim down and finds her life not much changed. This is refreshing to me personally because everyone knows that as soon as the weight comes off we are supposed to find true love. She does have a brief fling and lose her virginity, which is a bit annoying, but not terribly.

Her memories of her mom really hit home in that they are NOT what I want to be to my kids. Better get to work on that.

Overall: B

Cum Laude (von Ziegasar)

2010-10-25T18:35:00.001-07:00

I'm not really sure why I kept reading this book. Sometimes it's a compulsion. I have a hard time ditching a book. But I won't pick up any more of her adult fiction.

D.

The Sound of Us (Sarah Willis)

2010-10-19T18:37:00.000-07:00

Wow. A great book about foster care and the experience of loving other people's children. Oddly enough, the mother in this book shares Jerzee's moms name and I can see some similarity in their cases. Willis does a great job of describing how quickly you can fall for a kid, and what that can do to your perceptions of biological parents, for better and worse. Loved it and read it very quickly.

The Girl Who Played with Fire (Stieg Larsson)

2010-10-09T18:01:00.000-07:00

A phenomenol read. I'm not quite sure how I feel about the very end, but don't want to read more in case anyone stumbles across this and doesn't want to read any spoilers. Lisbeth and Mikael do not disappoint in the second book of the Larssen trilogy. It's really a shame this guy isn't around to both relish in the popularity of his books and keep producing more novels for his aduience. Despire the fac that I think some wrodsmithing is lost in transaltion and I find it the Scandanavian cities and people straight, I really enjoy these books.

You Know You Love Me and All I Want is Everything. (Cecily Von Ziegesar)

2010-09-28T20:22:00.000-07:00

Yeah, another one.

Make that two more. I think that I like the TV characters better, but the book storylines better. It's sad that I just typed that sentence about a Gossip Girl book. LOL.

The Wedding Girl (Madelaine Wickham)

2010-09-27T20:06:00.000-07:00

Not bad at all. A more serious novel than she usually writes, thought the main them (be who you are, not who you think others want you to be) is a bit obvious. Thought that the conclusion was rushed.

Overall, a B.

My Fair Lazy (Jen Lancaster)

2010-09-19T20:16:00.000-07:00

So, I think all of Jen's books (like her blog) are hysterical. Additionally, we have far more in common than I would have suspected given our different life positions and political stances.

That said, Bitter is the New Black is still my favorite. The wit was so biting. It was awesome. This one felt like a lot of the dialogue was manufactured, "So did you know that, Fletch, that XX vintage wine was originally" blah, blah, blah.

The parallels with My Fair Lady were interesting and some of the situations were truly hysterical. So worth the time and amusing.

B

It had to be you (Cecily von Ziegasar)

2010-09-05T07:50:00.000-07:00

Gossip Girl prequel. Yes I'm still reading them.

Gossip Girl (Cecily von Ziegesar)

2010-09-02T08:55:00.000-07:00

Yes. I'm ashamed. But I am reading these YA books because I got addicted to the show.

You know you love me.
XOXO

Restless Virgins: Love, Sex, and Survival at a New England Prep School (Jones & Miley)

2010-08-24T19:43:00.001-07:00

Hmmm... so I read this because the fictionalized account was interesting. This was just sort of trashy and depressing. It makes me sad that my daughters might grow up in an environment where this kind of crazy hyper sexualization is real.

I mean, I'm not a prude. I don't worry about premarital sex per se, though of course I'd like my kids to be adults before they have a partner. It's the lack of self worth and repeatedly stressed assumption that girls somehow owe something to men... no really, boys.

Anyway, I felt kind of dirty reading it, though I did finish it. There is some controversy regarding the book as well, in terms of the confidentiality that was or was not promised to the girls who were featured. It does seem as if they would be pretty identifiable if you knew them in real life.

The 19th Wife (David Ebershoff)

2010-08-03T15:13:00.000-07:00

Loved, loved, loved this book. Polygamy is fascinating, as is the way this story is told. A

Son of a Witch (Geoffrey Maguire)

2010-08-03T14:17:00.000-07:00

This book is, of course, the sequel to Wicked, which (apparently) it's been much too long since I've read. I enjoyed the novel like I enjoy any of this sort - I love it when authors attempt to extend / recreate / retell a classic story.

I'm going to be honest - I had a bit of a hard time following this one. I'm not sure why - the predominance of made up cities and names might have a lot to do with it, combined with the fact that this story takes place totally out of my frame of reference - the events of Wicked ended at roughly the end of the Wizard of Oz.

Interesting themes here regarding masks and hiding who we are. Didn't really get them all, but such is life. I blame the pain killers from my ankle surgery.

Testimony (Anita Shreve)

2010-07-26T09:27:00.000-07:00

Didn't love it, didn't hate it. It was a quick read. I kinda wish I didn't know that it was based on true events (even if loosely) because I kept wondering which parts were fiction and which were not.

Definitely not her best work. Probably not her worst either though.

B-

The Host (Stephenie Meyer)

2010-07-25T20:40:00.001-07:00

Sense a theme? I've finally struck Meyer gold, though. I actually liked this one. It had interesting themes of free will and socialism and the conditions under which each can work. It was about aliens but not too out there. And in general, it just didn't suck.

Whoo-hoo.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner (Stephenie Meyer)

2010-07-14T21:03:00.000-07:00

Ironically, I think this is my favorite book of the series. It's more raw, less over the top dysfunctionally romantic, and provides a really nice insight into a newborn vampire. It also enriches Bella's story, I think - I loved the dovetailing of this story with Eclipse - and helps understand the terror the newbies inspired.

It's very short. I read it the same night I (finally) got in on reserve at the library.
Would love to see "The Long First Life of Bree Tanner" to give us more insight into her backstory.

Stephenie Meyer (The Unauthorized Biography of the Creator of the Twilight Saga (Marc Shapiro)

2010-07-04T20:12:00.000-07:00

It must be nice to be Marc Sapiro. He apparently makes his living primarily by researching a celebrity on the internet and then writing a short book / long term paper about them. I could get used to that.

This book doesn't really give much insight into Meyer, since it is based mostly on online "interviews" and research. Some primary research was conducted I guess - I think that a few people who peripherally knew her - like a college writing professor and a member of a band she liked were interviewed.

The chapter on Forks was kind of interesting and since I am not a huge Twilight fanatic (contrary to the theme you've seen in my current posts, eh?) I didn't know a lot of what was summarized here. That said, I don't really feel like I know that much more about Meyer than I did before.

The really ironic thing was that the author kept pointing out that the media just spent their time asking her questions about the book's inspiration (a dream she had, which I did know before reading this) and about her plans to continue the Twilight saga, but he does the same thing.

Wouldn't recommend except for the biggest fan geeks :-) D

Vamped (David Sosnowski)

2010-06-29T19:27:00.000-07:00

Damn. I am reading like crazy this month! Probably the freaking ankle injury. Not a lot of other stuff to do.

Anyway... really enjoyed this book. It was humorous and managed to poke fun at the vampire, coming of age and romance genres all at the same time. And it was a gentle poking fun - nothing too harsh.

The story is also cute. Though I found the disjointed timeline a bit difficult to follow. Would recommend to anyone who reads Twilight but doesn't really know why they do. I think they would enjoy this book.

Quiverfull (Kathryn Joyce)

2010-06-27T11:20:00.000-07:00

Holy crap, this is the scariest book I've read in quite some time! Steven King's got nothing on this stuff because it's actually true and happening to real people.

This book details the rise of the Christian Patriarchy movement, who at its most conservative advocates a return to an agrarian lifestyle, with families being the main unit of economic output and villages of families being ruled by local churches. But not just any churches - rigidly conservative, far right, Christian churches. In some ways, far-right isn't *really* the right word because ultimately these sects see no use for the state.

Or for women like me and all other women I know. I supposed I am the ultimate Jezebel, having not only adapted feminist ways but also having usurped my husband's role as provider.

The book is thoughtfully written - Joyce tackles the phenomenon seriously, tracing its roots through history and catologing its resurgence as largely a backlash against modern society. The women in the book are portrayed intelligently - and with as many facets as the men in their life will allow them to have (or show).

I really think this should be required reading for any woman who is not part of the movement. And maybe even those that are.

Breaking Dawn (Stephenie Meyer)

2010-06-19T19:51:00.000-07:00

Hmm... so the first half of the book was terrible. Bella's desire to protect her baby at all costs despite the very real evidence that it might be killing her felt like a bad pro-life afterschool special. No, really.

The novel did wake back up in Part III as the imminent conflict with the Volturi commences. But the non climax at the end was really bad, IMHO.

PB and I disagree about the probability of a fourth book. I saw of course, he says no way. I guess we'll just see.

Eclipse (Stephenie Meyer)

2010-06-09T18:53:00.000-07:00

Third book in the twilight series was definitely my favorite so far. Of course, since I found the second book basically PAINFUL to read, it wasn't too hard to top that one.

That said, I think the writing is better in this book. It's not as horrible to slog through, and the plot is OK too. After reading this book I am definitely looking forward to the final book in the series more than I initially thought I would.

That said, I am SO team Jacob. And I don't really even like Jacob (though I do like him more now that he stopped being so damn whiny). The fursplosions in this book were not as oppressive.

Edward? Still an annoying bastard who is psychologically abuse, IMHO. It's kinda sad that so many people are attracted to this character. I mean, I really see no redeeming feature in him.

Ah well, I can tell where the series is heading and I'm probably not going to like it, but I will (of course!) read it.

Shopaholic and Baby (Sophie Kinsella)

2010-05-31T07:19:00.000-07:00

What's not to love about a new Becky Bloomwood nay Brandon book? I mean really. This is one of my most favorite light literature series of all time. It helps that I listened to the last book and the reader had the BEST voice (in terms of match to character). Now when I read this book, I heard it in that voice which enhanced the experience.

The book was adorable and everything I've come to expect from the series.

Body Surfing (Anita Shreve)

2010-05-29T20:28:00.001-07:00

An interesting read with a twist ending almost worthy of Piccoult. I love that Anita Shreve writes about the same area in New Hampshire in each book and loves that she reveals that several books were set in the same beach house as this. I'd recommend this book, I even liked the choppy narrative style.

A-

Trouble (Kate Christensen)

2010-05-24T19:26:00.000-07:00

I've never read any of her books before and didn't seek this one out - I just saw it on a display shelf at the library and grabbed it to read.

I thought the book was OK. I loved the descriptions of Mexico City, save the bullfight which just grossed me out, but the main character was a little too, blase, for my tastes. For instance, at said bullfight, she totally dismissed whatever squeamishness she has about the event with the rationalization that it would have happened whether she was there or not.

Beyond that though, the novel is interesting. It had a shocking opening, with the main character looking at herself in the mirror and realizing that she needed to leave her loveless marriage. Interesting, but bizarre.

The other thing that seemed weird was how easily everything was resolved. The book isn't neat by any means, but Josie finds is simple to step out of her marriage, simple to deal with the entanglements and ultimately tragedy that is her trip to Mexico and even deals with her massive estrangement from her daughter in a relatively simplistic manner. But maybe this is just an extension of the blase remark above.

In any event, it's a quick read and the lot is interesting. I just didn't love the characters.

World Without End (Ken Follett)

2010-05-19T07:04:00.000-07:00

So this book should count as at least three reads. Really. It's the sequel to Pillars of the Earth which I read two years ago during a weeklong vacation. Couldn't put down the first one and the same was true for this one, which was set 200 years after the first book and spans a generation and a half.

I love these books, for the sheer scope and plot. The dialogue and writing is not that tight - Follett normally (or at least used to) write thrillers and the language is pretty much what you'd expect from them. However, I wonder if his background in that genre is what makes these books a compelling read.

Whatever it is, I recommend them. A!

Hotel New Hampshire (John Irving)

2010-04-28T18:55:00.000-07:00

It took me a looooonnnnngggg time to get into this book. I started it and stopped it several times before I finally got into it.

And once I did, I really liked it. This is the first John Irving I've successfully finished. I could not deal with The Prayer for Owen Meany (though maybe it's the same thing, that if I kept picking it up, I would eventually like it).

Anyway, despite the craziness, the weirdness, and yes, even the incest, I loved this book.

Tell No One (Harlan Coben)

2010-04-05T18:04:00.000-07:00

I bought this book months ago, when Brooklyn's mom was still visiting (sporadically). I planned to sit through the two hour visit and read the book. It was one she never showed up for, and me being me, I just found the book on the floor of the car.

Turns out it Coben did not disappoint (as is always the case)! I love him... at least all of his books OTHER than the Myron Bolitar series. I love the way he has recurring characters (Hester Crimstein) is in this one even in non series books. I like how his last minute switch endings aren't totally anticipated. I like pretty much everything about him.

Alas, it's hard to write about his books because you give away the story. Suffice it to say this is a portrait of a man 8 years after his beloved childhood friend cum adult bride is murdered and the web of deceipt that led to those long ago events (and the ones happening in the present).

Just read it. It's good.

The Blind Side

2010-03-31T18:00:00.000-07:00

Not a bad book. A lot of football description (very technical) which I surprised myself by liking. I also, of course, love the idea of the kid with no support and a spotty background making it in the big time... Michael Oher's story is definitely one that I would love to see happen to more inner-city kids.

Maybe it's because I am a foster parent, but I didn't see what the Touhy's did as a big sacrifice, and I couldn't help but wonder if some of the doubters (who thought they mentored Michael so he could play football for Ole Miss) were on to something. I don't REALLY believe that, but it is an interesting angle.

Will probably watch the movie now. If I can suffer through what previews suggest is a VERY annoying accent on the part of Sandra Bullock.

Spa Vacation (Theresa Alan)

2010-03-31T17:56:00.000-07:00

Did not love this book. It was fine, but even as chick lit goes, it disappointed. Boring (for the most part) one dimensional characters. Very stilted dialog. I felt like it was more a senior project than a professionally authored book.

On the bright side, books like this make me think I may someday realize my vision of authoring a light hearted book.

A Gate At the Stairs (Lorrie Moore)

2010-02-19T20:50:00.000-08:00

This is the first of her books I've read, and honestly I'm not sure if I like it or not. It certainly is an interesting exploration of adoption, and transracial adoption to be exact, but it's also at times pretty bizarre and I felt like it went totally off the rails at the end. I do have to admit the last scene had a lot of punch and the last sentence was stellar.

The characters were all interesting though I felt bonded with none of them (perhaps with the exception of Mary Emma. The conduct of her adoptive parents is pretty gross, before, during and after the events in the plot that involve her.

I also felt like the plot was a little fractured. I'd like to think that was a meta-comment about the post 9/11 world we live in, but I doubt it.

I did find some good quotes in here, and I pulled at least two of them:

I had nothing against prayer. Those who felt it was wishful muttering perhaps had less to wish for. Religion, I could now see, without a single college course helping me out, was designed for those enduring the death of their sweet children. And when children grow stronger and died less, and were in fact less sweet, religion faded away. When children began to sweeten and die again, it returned.

... Mary Emma, whom, I realized, I had never stopped unconsciously to seek, riveted by little girls who would be her age in stores ad malls and parks... I would get close and look, which is what I realized Sarah somewhere must surely be doing. And Bonnie. If she was alive. And even Lynnette McKowen. Emmie! A little girl with four women wondering after her, looking for her, sort of, without her even knowing. That was love of the most useless kind...

Note that in the second quote, Mary Emma is the baby, Susan is the failed adoptive mother, Bonnie is the baby's first mother and Lynnette McKowen is the teenage daughter of the baby's foster mother who served as her caregiver for most of the first two years of her life.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Stieg Larsson)

2010-02-16T09:08:00.000-08:00

So, I really would have given up on this book WELL before it got interesting if not for PB. He was the book's champion.

I don't know if something is lost in translation, or what, but I really did not enjoy the first... oh... 500 pages of this book. One issue I know I had is that he kept mentioning things that I feel like Swedes would understand and might add to the story.

That said, the ending was phenomenal. And, I think the meta evaluation of the book (due to the fact that it was written by a financial muckraker journalist who died of a massive heart attack at age 50. The novel were all printed post-humously.

Little Altars Everywhere (Rebecca Wells)

2010-01-12T18:49:00.000-08:00

I liked it. Not surprised I did. I kind of am obsessed with all things Louisiana and I really liked Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Was almost ruined by Sandra Bullock's portrayal of Sidda, but I guess that's forgivable.

Not great literature but entertaining.

Overall: B

Welcome to 2010

2010-01-04T09:47:00.000-08:00

So, I beat the number of books I read last year, and I think that I will make this my goal again this year. It looks like I increased my book count by nearly 20%! I think I will aim for 10% more in the next year, since this is 2010, making my goal 41 books.

Books I read in December but didn't write about

2009-12-31T09:42:00.000-08:00

The Pact (Jodi Piccoult)
Homecoming (Cynthia Voight)
The Pilot's Wife (Anita Shreve)

Really enjoyed all of them, but Homecoming and the Pilot's Wife more than the Pact. I can't believe I waited so long to read The Pilot's Wife, what an amazing book.

Also liked rediscovering Homecoming and plan to read the rest of the Tillerman books soon.

The Year of the Flood (Margaret Atwood)

2009-11-23T18:28:00.000-08:00

She is, as always a genius. I think this novel was not my favorite, but I don't think anything will top the handmaiden's tale for me... though I did enjoy surfacing in a weird way.

This was another plane read and i was absolutely enthralled. This was a bit harder to read because I feel like it was more raw than she typically is - that the horrors and indignities were portrayed in more detail.

but I liked it. I'd give it an A-

The Help (Kathryn Stockett)

2009-11-23T18:01:00.000-08:00

Such a great book. I had to keep it two weeks past the due date which I know makes me a terrible library patron, but there were 600-some people on the list after me and I didn't want to have to wait to get the book again.

Loved it - definitely one of the best books I've read all year, despite it's annoying each chapter is a different voice shtick.

It's hard to believe that the book is really only one generation ago... my mom could have been the one raised by The Help, if her parents had been more Southern and more wealthy.

Highly recommend - A!!

The Hour I First Believed (Wally Lamb)

2009-10-29T11:56:00.000-07:00

Wow. What a book!

Surfacing (Margaret Atwood)

2009-10-26T11:12:00.000-07:00

Why, oh why, did it take me this long to discover Atwood? Her books are amazing, if sometimes very hard to read. This one reminds me of The Bell Jar, and there is an obvious parallel of a woman struggling with a mental breakdown.

But, as with all of her novels, it’s more than that. She covers many themes of patriarchy and oppression, weaving hints of them through the story in subtle (and very obvious) ways. I love the way the story spirals to a conclusion such that only as the main character breaks with reality do we see what’s really happened. Clarity through insanity? Or is she implying that the reality we live in the modern world is really insane?

The big themes are here - abortion, rape, adultery, man’s inhumanity to animals, why Americans suck. Atwood leaves me wondering though – what happened to her parents? Did they die on the island? Were they trying to escape modernity? Did they go insane the same way she did? And what of her brother? Why was the man child the one caged in (literally)? Did he drown? She seems to say no, but we hear nothing of what happened to him.

Anyway, loved this book. Didn’t last long enough. Much like the other Atwood novels I’ve read.

A Million Little Pieces (James Frey)

2009-10-25T11:24:00.000-07:00

I resisted reading this book for a *very* long time, due to the controversy about its miscategorization as a memoir. I also refused to buy the book on the primary market, but waited several years and bought it on sale at Half Price Books. I wish I hadn’t.

This book was *so* interesting, both stylistically and in terms of content. Although it took me a while to understand Frey’s flow, in the end I appreciated his attempt to let us inside the mind of an addict who was struggling with recovery. In fact, I think this book is one of the best pure voices I’ve ever read. I feel like I know Frey (or at last know the Frey he was portraying in the book) in a way that I don’t normally know a character – because I do feel that I truly got a glimpse into his innermost thoughts.

The repetitive phrases and the pure raw rage and other emotions portrayed in the book are very powerful. Oftentimes I felt frustrated, which I would guess that Frey probably felt with himself too. To some extent, the book made ME feel like an addict – my thoughts were jumbled, I couldn’t make the story coherent and it, frankly, pissed me off at times.

I also appreciate Frey’s critique of the “12 steps is the only way” mentality of many drug and alcohol abuse counselors. I don’t know if it’s completely true that that is pretty much the only system they push, but if it is, I think it’s kind of gross. I mean, clearly relapse is nearly inevitable. And sure the 12 Steps might be the only way that is effective, anecdotally, but I’d love to read more research on other techniques used in rehab. It certainly seems to pose a problem if the only “system” available requires a belief in a higher power. Magical thinking, anyone?

I am super curious as to how much of the details of the story are actually true. We’ve all heard about the now-infamous dental scene. I have to admit that I skipped most of the details as I don’t need to add any more ammunition to my dental phobia. But I also have to say that reading the book, I felt that the incidences portrayed were being filtered through the lens of addiction – in this sense, it seems, the dental scenes (and other scenes in book) are necessarily meant to be taken as literal interpretations, but more as a sense of how things were.

I also wonder how much Frey had to do with the misclassification of the book. I would assume that editors and publishers make most of those decisions – it seems like a largely technical distinction… I doubt that he took many more liberties than the average Lifetime move that is “based on a true story”.

Admittedly this analysis is occurring without a real effort to research the case – based only what I recall of Oprah-gate and the ensuing publicity. In any case, this book is worth a read, particularly for anyone struggling to understand addiction in a loved one. It gave me a new perspective, for sure.

New Moon (Stephanie Meyer)

2009-09-15T11:47:00.000-07:00

So, another twilight. Not as good as the first, but not as bad as I was expecting. Fursploding was really annoying. Am NOT team Edward or Team Jacob. Maybe Team Alice.

Blue Moon (Alyson Noel)

2009-09-07T09:50:00.000-07:00

I devoured this book in like 6 hours, so I must have liked it, right?

I don't know what it is about this YA fantasy series that I like so much, but I just do. The characters are interesting, as well as the plotlines.

Like a lot of YA, I have a problem with the stilted dialogue and obvious exposition via character's words and phrases. But then, when I read grown up books, I sometimes feel like I don't "get" everything. Guess I am still searching for that happy medium.

At any rate, for this genre and age category, I give it an A-.

Digging to America (Anne Tyler)

2009-09-05T17:38:00.000-07:00

I'm ashamed to admit this is the first Anne Tyler I've read. So I'm not sure if I don't love Anne Tyler or I just didn't love this book. Right now, for me, they are one in the same, but I've heard such good things about the author in the past that it's hard to believe.

Anyway, the idea of the book. Two couples, one quintisentially American and one not, who have a chance meeting in an airport while both are waiting for their daughters - adoptive placements from Korea. I was so excited to read a good novel about adoption and this one just left me flat.

For one thing, though I thought the girl, and their entry into their respective families would be the axis on which the story turned, I was mistaken. Turns out they are mostly window dressing. Adorable window dressing, but mostly just props.

I think the novel is supposed to be about what it means to be (or become) an American. But I didn't see much more than stereotypes of both Americans and immigrants. That, combined with the stilted dialogue, when characters actually gave voice to some key aspects of the plot, were annoying for me.

Clearly, Tyler can write a character though. I did feel like I knew all of them. I think I would have liked the book better if we didn't get the weird love story detour with Maryam, and rather learned more about an immigrant's experience, or more about the idea of adopting a child from another culture - beyond Susan's family mostly ignoring it and Jin-Ho's family putting it on a pedastol.

Overall, B-

Eat, Pray, Love

2009-09-04T11:53:00.001-07:00

There is A LOT I could say about this book. Overall, I really enjoyed it. It made me think and has almost convinced me to start meditating. That said, the author's tone veers from LOL-funny-and-i'd-like-to-hang-out-with-her to seriously-could-she-be-more-self-referential-and-annoying.

Would recommend to any midlifers who are agnostic :-)

Overall: A-

Ceremonial Violence (Jonathon Fast)

2009-08-24T07:36:00.000-07:00

Better than Brooks, but not as good as Cullen, IMO.

I have to admit that I held this guy to a higher standard, because he's an academic. That said, I think the book lacked a compelling thesis. The case histories are interesting, and very detailed. I learned more about the shootings other than Columbine, but reading the Harris / Klebold chapter didn't really teach me anything new, beyond that fact that Fast believes that Harris' unusual check structure may have made him a target for ridicule and been a compelling factor in his development.

Ceremonial violence is present in the intro, but no attempts is made to circle back to this thesis in the conclusion. Instead, Fast uses the final chapter to rally support for stricter gun control. Even though I agree with him in principle, the ending feels forced, and is not what one expects from a book purporting to talk about "ceremonial violence".

Maybe it's just a poorly chosen title. Maybe I expected too much. I did enjoy his exposition of why school shootings and gun violence in general has really only increased in the last half century and thinks it makes a nice counterpoint to claims of societal decay as causal factors. Other than that, nothing here was incredibly compelling for me.

Payback (Margaret Atwood)

2009-08-13T08:32:00.000-07:00

An interesting volume on the nature and social construction of debt. She made some great points about socializing young adults into assuming debt as a way to provide structure and meaning to their lives.

Interesting history of debt as a construct, though a little dry at times. I don't fully understand how Atwood chose WHICH incantations of debt to include, but that's why she's the author and I'm not.

Made for a nice plane read and I will pretty much pick up anything she's ever written.

No Easy Answers: The Truth Behind Death at Columbine (Brooks Brown and Rob Merritt)

2009-07-27T18:40:00.000-07:00

So I don't know if this book suffered unnecessarily because I read it right after Dave Cullen's or if I would have disliked it either way, but regardles I did. Dislike it I mean.

I didn't hate it. In fact I'd go so far as to say I'd recommend it, if only for the the indepth discussion of Dylan Klebold (who was kind of typecase as the depressed loser sidekick in Cullen's book IMHO). But Brooks' (and Merrit's - did he have much to do with this?) tone was grating. At several points in the book he deliberately tells parts of the story in such self-serving ways. I mean, lying to protet Fusselier's son? Am I really supposed to believe that happened?

The thing is, it's an easy read with a conversational (if annoying) style, and it's a nice counterweight to Cullen's book. The two definitely paint a portrait of a wildly incompetent police department, not surprising given the small town-ish nature of Jeffco.

I find Cullen's account (a sociopath and his hanger on) a little more plausible - I simply refuse to believe that Columbine was such a terrible place so full of bullies that these two were driven to murder. The real truth probably lies in between the two.

Am super curious about the principal... he was painted very generously in Cullen's book but almost villified in this one. Hard to know which is true, but I thought it was interesting nonetheless.

I will probably try to read one more Columbine book for good measure. See where the majority lies.

Overall, C+

Testing Kate (Whitney Gaskell)

2009-07-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

A fun, quick, chit lit read. About a woman who has terrible luck and her experience at law school.

What I liked:

The setting: New Orleans (and Tulane University)

The group of law students (though stereotypical, each one was well painted, I thought)

The tangential historian that Kate works for

What I didn't like:

The caricature of an evil law professor

The weird focus on her "bad luck"

Both of Kate's relationships.

Overall C

Say When (Elizabeth Berg)

2009-07-21T08:01:00.000-07:00

An OK book. I feel a little about Berg like I do about Piccoult. In her case she takes a domestic situation (usually a divorce or other problem) and tells a LONG story about it. I guess I am beginning to need something wtih more action? I don't know.

I did like the idea of the main character being male - interesting perspective on divorce, certainly. I didn't reallly like the portrayal of the wife. It seems like she was characterized as a little crazy or immature because she wanted more than monotony.

A little research reveals it was made into a TV movies, which I can totally see. Like the idea of the main character playing Santa, though it didn't really gel as an action he would take.

Overall: C.

Columbine (Dave Cullen)

2009-07-20T07:23:00.000-07:00

I'm not a big non-fiction fan, but I really enjoyed this book. It's a factual account framed within a journalist's own account of telling the story of Columbine. It's an interesting take on how the media both reported and influenced the creation of the "story" of Columbine, with great accounts of how the individuals in the community experienced the shooting and its aftermath.

I was really surprised by how "wrong" I was about Columbine - that is how many of the myths I'd taken for granted as true. I remember watching it unfold on live TV - it's one of those "flashbulb" memories that I'm not entirely certain are accurate but that I hold just the same. I was babysitting at my early morning gig while a college student at OWU. Bizarrely, though that's the only moment I can remember. Weird. Plus I think it's incorrect because they would be EARLIER than us on time and I was only babysitting from like 6 - 9 am or something.

Anyway, the book is good and left me wanting more. I have reserved a few other books on the tragedy. Not sure what my fascination with it was.

Plain Truth (Jodi Piccoult)

2009-07-05T13:42:00.000-07:00

Was OK. Not sure if I'm over Piccoult or audio books or both. Plus this was already made into a Lifetime movie that I saw years ago. More just recording this one than anything else.

Perfect Match (Jodi Piccoult)

2009-06-29T17:29:00.001-07:00

Read this one on the plane on the way to Baton Rouge. Pretty good. Interesting, but again, mostly dislikable, main character. Overall, B+

Handle with Care (Jodi Piccoult)

2009-06-17T18:09:00.000-07:00

So, I had a *really* hard time with the main character of this book. Not necessarily because of her decision to pursue a controversial lawsuit. More because there was just no realistic understanding of what would actually happen when said lawsuit was filed and came to court. It was strange... I mean, I could imagine doing a similar thing, in similar circumstances. But then again, I can't imagine doing it if my child could understand.

I really loved the first couple of Piccoult books I read, but it's starting to feel formulaic. Controversial issue. Somewhat incomplete moral picture of said issue and somewhere along the line, at least in all the books I've read, a kid dies. And, while I initially liked some of the pithy quotes in her books, it seems like this book was loaded with lines like that, just for the sake of them.

Still better than average book I pick up, but I think I need a Piccoult break... Overall grade C / C-

Elements of Style (Wendy Wasserstein)

2009-06-09T07:36:00.000-07:00

This is the first Wendy Wasserstein I've read and I have to admit that I really enjoyed it. Yet another audiobook where I wish I had read the book, I thought that Wasserstein was so wonderfully, delicately, and hysteriously scathing in this book.... Thoroughly enjoyed most of it and really thought it was an interesting portrait of what happens when people who are VERY used to being in control of their lives suddenly come upon something they can't control.

Also, the first fiction I've read that really tackles New York's reaction to September 11.

I will definitely be checking out some of her plays.

Overall: A

Good Luck (Whitney Gaskell)

2009-06-09T07:32:00.000-07:00

Was just OK. May be burning out on the chick lit genre. We'll see. This book was just so cliche. Woman wins lottery on a really crappy day - probably crappier than many of us will ever have. Escapes, becomes a palm beach princess. Then finds out that her financial advisor's warning to "Be Careful Who You Trust" is actually a good one.

I don't know. Just blah. What I like about most chick lit is the wittiness and the feeling that they are partially poking fun at themselves. Didn't get that with this one.

Overall C-/D.

The Likeness (Tana French)

2009-06-04T06:28:00.000-07:00

Wow. I had a hard time getting into this book because I loved The Woods and was expecting a more traditional sequel / series set up. But the character who told the first story is almost entirely absent from this story, which instead focuses on the experience of his partner, working another, unrelated case.

Again, the writing is tight and the level of suspense is great. V. well written with an unusual voice that I don't hear in a lot of modern fiction. Had some interesting things to say about modern society and where it's headed, but equally interesting things to say about one messed up way to try to fight that tide.

The end of this book, like the first I read was not clean and tied up. French constantly forces us to think about our usual good / bad dichotomy, but in a subtle way.

Loved it. Overall grade: A

American Wife (Curtis Sittenfield)

2009-05-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

I really, really liked this book. There were parts of it I didn't love - it was none too subtle and the Laura Bush doppelganger was consistent almost to a fault. But overall, it was a great read.

I have to admit to being curious about what parts of it were made up and which were true. Am especially interested in her relationship with the Bush clan and how the family really feels about W.

I liked Prep as well, so I am not suprised I dug this author. I am surprised that I actually felt MORE positive about W after reading it and that I have now become interested enough in Lora Bush to actually read a biography of her now...

Overall rating: 3.5

Disquiet (Julia Leigh)

2009-05-15T20:06:00.000-07:00

I don't think I'm smart enough for this book. It was weird and creepy and I just didn't get it.

Maybe I'm thinking too much about what the novel has to say and not enough about the novel as a form. The length is short and the lanuage is *amazing*. It's just that I need some sort of plot or story to make a book feel like a book. This seemed more like an exercise in creative writing class than a novella I wanted to read.

But lots of other folks seem to really love it, so maybe I really don't get.

Jesus Land (Julia Scheeres)

2009-05-14T20:00:00.000-07:00

A great memoir written by a woman who's incredibly dysfuntional family adopted two black children and proceeded to totally fuck them over. Including physical abuse, exile and sending them to a boarding school in the Dominican Republic (where the author finally ends up as well).

Really, it's a tragic story that I had a hard time reading. But it was worth it. And it finally answers the question of whether or not it's worse to prohibit racisists from specifying what race they will raise or to force foster parents to accept all races. Definitely the latter. I firmly believe that David, who longed for a family that would love him, would have been better off in institutional care than being adopted by these wing nuts.

i read this one straight through on my trip to florida. Overall, an A.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Jean-Dominique Bauby)

2009-05-08T13:25:00.000-07:00

Well, how can you not appreciate this work? An amazing triumph for a person who was mentally aware but completely paralyzed. I can't imagine having the will or wherewithall to express myself at all, let along to express myself this well.

In case you're not aware, it's about former editor of French Elle who has a massive stroke and then suffers from "Locked In" syndrome. Of course, it's an A. Loved it and read it in one night.

Dead to me.

2009-05-06T11:32:00.000-07:00

A book I abandoned last month, Smart Girls Like Me. Just could NOT get into it. So I chucked it. I used to have a really hard time doing that, but now that reading time is at a premium, not so much.

Certain Prey (John Sandford)

2009-05-06T11:30:00.000-07:00

Another Lucas Davenport book, and I think, one of the better ones. I really think it would have been cheaper to buy this book, probably in hardcover because it was *so* overdue at the library but I finally finished it up in the bathtub this morning - I know, more than you needed to know.

I thought some of the foreshadowing in this book was a little heavy handed, but maybe I am just v. used to the rhythm of these books. Overall, a 3-4, which I'll take any day.

Evermore (Alyson Noel)

2009-04-30T12:43:00.000-07:00

Typical teen romance fiction with an edgy goth twist.I liked this book better than Twilight, and I hope the rest of the series continues in this vein. I think it might be because the female lead seems slightly more agentic. But the story is strikingly similar. Instead of being vampires they are "immortals" and they have really cool powers. The second book isn't out until this summer, but I am looking way more forward to it than reading the rest of the twilight series.

Overall: B / C (just average)

April Books

2009-04-27T06:57:00.000-07:00

The Birthday Present: Liked it. Interesting voice / pov switches to the story. Was shocked to read the author jacket at the end and discover the author was in the House of Commons, writing under a pseudonym. Made me wonder if it was possibly a scandal she was basing this after. B

In The Woods (Tana French): Really liked it. Great story, with a good twist ending that I didn't see coming. Nice explorations of the psyches of the main characters. Interesting take on how (some) investigators might really think. Would recommend. A

Change of Heart (Jodi Piccoult)

2009-03-25T06:15:00.000-07:00

I liked this book, though there was a lot of God in it for me. It also seemed like a partial retelling of Shawshank Redemption, which I loved, but which kind of tainted the book for me. As much as I adore Jodi Piccoult, I think Steven King is one of the greatest modern soft fiction writers, so he's pretty hard to directly compete with, I think.

The story centers around a death row inmate who might (or might not) have divine properties. He also might (or might not) have murdered the daughter and second husband of a woman who was widowed previously. And he might (or might not) get to donate his heart to the daughter of the murdered police officer and his surviving wife, once his sentence is carried out.

There were three big themes in this book, from my perspective. The first was grief and what it does, or has the potential to do, to people. Grief is everywhere, most obviously in June's character, who lost two husband's and has a daughter that needs a heart transplant.

The second theme revolved around faith and religion. Basically, the end message for me was that faith is what you need it to be, and so are the things you believe in. There is no one way to faith and no one way to feeling redeemed.

The third theme kind of involved the brokenness of people, and how they can be fixed. We see this with Maggie, June, literally with June's daughter and of course with Shay. I think this theme was the most interesting to me.

Those most of her books center of bizarre coincidences, or strange turns of events, I felt like this one did that more than the others, to the point that no slim change of them actually happening remained.

I also kind of felt like she was phoning this one in... the writing didn't feel as, I don't know, tight? as her previous books. Or maybe there just seemed to be more depth in the others. I don't know. Not my favorite of her books, for sure. Overall, B-

New to me... graphic novels

2009-03-12T21:22:00.000-07:00

So, I've never read any graphic novels before... honestly I found it a little hard to take them seriously as a real narrative form, but I've been reading / hearing a lot about them, so I thought I would give it a try.

I read "The Trial", which is an adaptation of Kafka and "I am Legend" which is (I think) not originally a graphic novel, but a regular novel, then a movie, then a graphic novel. I picked up the trial because I thought it looked interesting. I picked up I am Legend because PB and I saw the movie and I remember him telling me how different the book was than the movie.

At any rate, I did like both of them OK. I wasn't blown away, but I think it was because I was having a hard time processing words and images simultaneously. You would think it would be easier, but I found myself so drawn to the words that I kind of skipped over the images most of the time. I think that a lot of the story in the Trial was in the pictures so I think I missed out a lot there.

I am definitely going to try The Watchmen as well - I forgot to mention that reading about that movie is what inspired me to check out graphic novels in the first place.

The Queen of Babble Gets Hitched (Meg Cabot)

2009-03-10T21:03:00.000-07:00

The third of the Queen of Babble books, this one picks up the instant the second book left off. It was good, light reading. It was interesting to read this book, because for whatever reason I kept hearing it in the English voice that narrated a different chit lit book I listened to on tape.

The book basically takes us through her the Queen's failed engagement and eventual reunification with the best friend from the first book. This one was just good, not the best of the series ( I think that was the second one).

Overall B.

Secret Daughter: A Mixed-Race Daughter and the Mother Who Gave Her Away (June Cross)

2009-02-28T18:01:00.000-08:00

Great book. I don't read a lot of memoirs, but J. kindly left this at my house and I picked it up.

An interesting portrait of a woman who was subject to the particular pressures of her day, very similar to The Girls Who Went Away, in that it helps us understand why a woman would make a choice that many of us think impossible.

I was amazed at Cross' empathy for her mom, her ability to still revel in her love for the woman who essentially told her that if she were lighter skin she would have raised her but since she wasn't she left her to be "kept" by a family friend.

Interesting too, the number of informal relationships where children stayed with adults who were not their parents with no real legal relationship in place... reminds me of Dr. Mark's idea that perhaps a more limited government in the child welfare arena would be prudent. I don't know about that, but it made me wonder.

Anway, definitely an A. She really delivers an unflinching portrait of her life.

Nineteen Minutes (Jodi Piccoult)

2009-02-08T19:02:00.000-08:00

So hard to write about Jodi Piccoult's books... they are all so good but they are also so well written that I don't want to give away any details. This is an amazing exploration of high school life and parental reaction to tragedy. I love the Piccoult's parents are always so believable - never perfect, always realistic with flaws and all.

This book also contains some interesting-to-me discussions of research in psychology and behavioral economics and some great insights into group dynamics, especially adolescent peer groups.

Anyway, really enjoyed and pulled some quotes I liked - Overall A.

Great quotes from this book:

Children didn't make their own mistakes. They plunged into the pits they'd been led to by their parents.
You could lose track of someone when you blinked...
Peope were happiest when they were very young and very old. The trough came, roughly, when you hit your forties.
Somehow Alex had assumed that time was infinite, that Jose would always be there waiting. She never guessed that she herself would one day be left behind.

Secret Prey (John Sandford)

2009-02-02T06:16:00.000-08:00

Just in time - a Davenport that makes me want to keep reading the series.

They reintroduced Weather - and they were broken up as I kind of thought they should be at the end of the last book. I don't think we've seen the end of Weather and Lucas but I do think that they need more time before plunging back in.

Also, Lucas finally gets to have a fling with Marcy, which is good.

Finally, the predator in this book was AWESOME. First female "bad guy", I think, and she was CRAZY bad. Loved it.

One of my favorite in the series.

Twilight (Stephanie Meyer)

2009-01-27T18:25:00.000-08:00

There's been enough written about this book. It is exactly what one would expect from a book about teenage vampires. It's not bad, but it's not fabulous. It was an enjoyable read and I did think she did a great job of giving voice to her characters. I am looking forward to both the movie and the next book in the series. B

Are We Rome? (Cullen Murphy)

2009-01-27T18:16:00.000-08:00

So this book took me a ridiculously long time - I don't know why. It's well written and fairly short... but I guess I've been distracted by fiction - I really have to force myself to read non-fiction, even engaging and light non-fiction like this.

Anyway, the author points out some interesting points of similarity between Rome and the U.S., including dire predictions of how the sky is falling. But, he's also careful to point out the similarities, and he does so in a pretty optimistic way. He points to America's continued ability to reinvent, our creative and perseverance and the progress we've already made with regard to race relations.

The big similarities that struck me had to do with the difficulties of managing an ever expanding empire and how the introduction of money into the political system corrupts. Additionally, while America has terrible levels of social inequality, we do at least seem to be concerned about it. Apparently, in Rome the inequality was even more dramatic, and people really didn't seem to care.

I also thought it was interesting that basically all of the documentation and history in Rome could fit in a 40 X 40 container, which is the same as what is required to store the documents created during three years of (I think) the Kennedy administration.

All in all, I enjoyed it. I'd say probably a B.

A Wedding in December (Anita Shreve)

2009-01-22T08:39:00.000-08:00

I liked this book. Not my favorite of her books (which is definitely Fortune's Rocks) but still good reading - especially for the plane.

It's about a group of high school friends, reuniting at the inn of one friend to celebrate the wedding of tow of their own who were high school sweethearts, reconnected at their 25 reunion.

This book tackles heavy themes - underage drinking, breast cancer, infidelity, artistic license, 9/11, etc... but it does so in a gentle way. Made me think a lot about my own life, especially when PB and I started dating in high school. Interesting characters and interesting take on what love really is.

Better than some, worse than some - overall a B.