The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

A fabulous book with an unlikely name. It was so fun to read…written almost entirely in the unique perspective of a reading the characters' written correspondence. It was an interesting way to follow a story, but still compelling. I had never heard of the island of Guernsey, and the history of the German occupation in WWII on a British Isle was interesting. But the characters are really what make this book…they are truly delightful. I wanted to be Juliet, have a boss like Sydney, and be friends with all of the islanders. Most of all, it made me really wish we still wrote letters like that!

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

At the last minute, I grabbed this book to take with me on a trip I took alone. I am so glad I did - I couldn't put it down! I have to say I was skeptical and hesitant to jump on the bandwagon given at how popular this series is, but I found that it was deserved. A warning to more sensitive readers - there are definitely several disturbing scenes in it, but I found it worthy nonetheless. It does have a slow start, but once you're hooked he keeps you hooked all the way until the end. I can't wait to read the next one.

Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil

I really wanted to like this book. I like the idea of it being set in Savannah, I vaguely remember seeing the movie with Kevin Spacey in it, and...it fell short for me. Of course it might have helped if I'd known that it was a non-fiction novel the whole time I was reading it...but somehow I missed that bit of info until the very end when the author's note mentioned that every character was a real person. There were a few really interesting, eccentric characters, including the city of Savannah itself - also unique and eccentric (and I admit I'd like to see it). But I often felt bored, like I was just constantly waiting for something to happen - it was more like a day-in-the-life type story. When something did finally happen, it still seemed lacking somehow. But again, that might have been because I was coming to it from the wrong perspective...though now it's too late and I'll never know. Though I have to say...the voodoo bits were really fun and fascinating. And there were definitely other good parts, but all in all I'm kind of glad I'm finished.

East of Eden

This book has always looked overwhelming to me. It's not small, not short, and a literary classic (which may or may not mean it's cryptic and difficult to read). After I got through the first couple of overly descriptive chapters, I was hooked. I liked his characters and the way they were portrayed very much. He is able to let you get to know his characters so deeply - both what they are thinking, and how others perceive and deal with them. I think the thing that really got me the most was his exploration of the human character - it was so thoughtful and I think right on. I loved what I perceived to be one of his main themes - the nature of humans to have varying levels of light and dark in them, how that light or darkness may be created and inflamed, or may just exist - and ultimately how man's own free agency weaves through all of that. I really enjoyed his portrayal of what life might look like to people of all varying shades. He was not afraid to explore the darkest of the dark - a sociopathic character in whom the evil seemed to just exist, but also exploring those with mostly light in them - innocent and naive, and not entirely suited to the real world in all of its complexities. The rest of his characters were more in the middle, and easier to like and relate to. It covers a lot of life and a lot of history, and of course I love the 1890s as a time period generally (though of course it ends past the turn of the century). Some of the other themes and topics he discusses in his book seemed really weird or random, but by the end I could see the masterpiece he wove using some of those seemingly random discussions or themes as a later way to bring home the point. I just loved it, and found it worthy. And to any of you thinking you might to read it...timshel...but I think you should.

The Hunger Games Trilogy

I was lucky enough read these only once the whole trilogy was released. I devoured all three in about 2 weeks. I'd had friends try to explain the premise (as I have since), and it always comes out confusing and paltry compared to the actual story. Suzanne Collins does a wonderful job sucking you into this post-apocalyptic world with it's wilting dystopian society. The story of Hunger Games about knocked me over with its innovation...it is very clever and imaginative. Though it did made me think a wee bit of a kid version of The Running Man. I was also impressed at how Ms. Collins did not shy away from the violence and awfulness given the age of her target readers, but instead made them matter-of-fact, a tool for pulling you along. I also of course LOVED her main character - a very strong, smart, totally kick-ass girl, and yet one with significant faults. She is so unlike other leading love-sick female characters of recent fame, it was almost refreshing. Though that in itself makes it more ironic that she ends up in an entertaining love-triangle, another aspect of what keeps pulling you along.

The first two books were definitely the best, in my opinion. Her descriptions of the societies, the mix of just surviving with the futuristic aspects woven in was well done. Everything leading up to the Hunger Games was absolutely fascinating, then the Games themselves were enthralling - totally messed up of course, with the whole kids killing kids thing - but I think that's partly why it was so captivatin. Not to mention the other characters of the book you couldn't help but get attached to. You were just pulling for Katniss to win, and yet somehow figure out how to save everyone else you cared about. So well done.

The third book was very different...since I was able to read all three together in such a short amount of time I think it helped me see more of the continuity of the story, and I think maybe it had to be quite different by nature. And there were definitely things I loved (the parts in the Capital for instance), but it mostly seemed so sterile compared to the others. And it was missing characters that kind of helped make the first two a hit. I also thought the ending came pretty fast and wrapped up a little too neatly, but I still didn't mind it too much, it would be difficult to find a perfect ending to such a story. All in all, I still highly recommend!

Freckles

This is such a sweet and lovely book. My mother introduced it to us kids when we were young and I hadn't read it since. I remember now why I loved it. Written in 1904, it has beautiful language, a sweet story, and more than anything, engaging characters. You fall in love with all of them, especially little Irish Freckles, and also in love with the Limberlost - the swamp forest she lived near and a main character in the book. Gene Stratton Porter was considered kind of a precursor to environmental writing, her love of that forest comes through the pages and you practically want to pack up and move there (and time travel to when it was like the way she wrote). It was like reading an old friend. Her other book - The Girl of the Limberlost was also one of my favorites growing up...a sort of sequel, but one that captured my imagination more, so I will be rereading that anon.

Three Cups of Tea

After hearing a million wonderful things about it, this took me a while to get into. It's very slow starting and I really struggled with (and didn't love) the odd perspective that was created out of having two authors that way. Eventually I got used to the writing style, the story picked up and I ended up really, really liking it! I was impressed with Greg Mortensen's tenacity and single-mindedness, not to mention empathy. It was inspiring and really did make me feel like anyone can do anything. I also very much enjoyed getting to know Pakistan, its people, and its main religion - I have a new deep appreciation of all three.

The Walking Dead

I believe a true bibliophile loves all forms of books and writing...and I have always loved comics and graphic novels in addition to traditional novels. This is different than what I normally read - a graphic novel series specifically about zombies (if you couldn't guess from the title). But it really is about the people going through it, and the characters are really well developed. It paints a grim portrayal of human nature during times of crisis, and it is really well done - though not for the faint of heart. It actually reminded me several times of Cormac McCarthy's The Road. It's not over yet, and I look forward to finishing the series. It is also going to be a show on AMC this fall, which I'm looking forward to. Thanks to my friend Aaron for recommending it!

A Game of Thrones

A Game of Thrones is SUCH a good read. Different than your typical fantasy books - while there are fantastic elements, they are more of a background component than the main subject matter (though I suspect that will change a little in the next 3 books). There are lots of characters to keep track of, but really if you focus on the main players, you can't help but really have a vested interest in what happens to them - even the ones you love to hate. His ability to tell stories from such different points of views is extremely impressive. It's full of political intrigue and while I was initially skeptical of the plot, it sucked me in. It's mind boggling that authors such as he can create whole worlds like they do. Thanks to my brother for recommending it.

The Lost Symbol

Really enjoyed this one. Had to get past a serious sense of deja vu, as Dan Brown is a little more formulaic than I prefer. That said...I got over it. While the adventure pulls you along, it is his ability to weave his historical mix of fact and fiction that turns it into a thoroughly entertaining read. It was a really fun topic to read about, and will probably spend some time researching what was real and what wasn't. I also found a fantastic blog containing images of most of the places and buildings in Washington D.C. that are described in the book. I wish I had found it earlier while I was still reading it to fuel my imagination.

I also started doing a teeny bit of research on the Scottish Rite - certainly not quite as exciting as the book...but good to know.

Mythology

I've been reading this book off and on for some time now, and finally did a push to finish it. I really enjoyed it, probably my favorite mythology book. Edith Hamilton does an incredible job pulling from all the ancient poets and putting together the mythological stories so they are readable, digestible, and really fun. She explains where she gets each of the stories, and if from multiple poets/authors, then she explains which one she pulled from most and why. For a lover of mythology, this book is a must.

Pillars of the Earth

I have had this book on my shelf for a while, after my Grandmother told me it was one of her favorites. I decided to pick it up after her passing because it made me feel a little closer to her. I loved it. It is a behemoth book, but it reads faster than it looks like it might. I have never really read anything about the middle ages that didn't seem dim and dark, but this was vibrant and full of life, drama, fantastic characters, and of course, a cathedral. Fascinating historical novel, and a great read.

A Thousand Acres

It's a known fact different books can affect you differently based on your own current life experiences. I don't know if it was the right time for me to read this book...it deserved the Pulitzer (her writing is phenomenal and beautiful), but the story is not exactly...uplifting. The family in this book lives and runs a farm in the late 70s, early 80s, and follows what happens to them over the years. How one decision ended up being extremely momentous. She delves deep, deep into the characters, their motives, and their interactions with each other. All of which I liked, but also found stressful. After thinking about it for a while, I am glad I read it...if only to serve as a warning and reminder to myself of what I do not want. Which is probably one of her points.

The Lovely Bones

This book starts with a horrible, very descriptive bang and doesn't really stop. I read this right on the tail of The Alienist, and so had already been up to my eyeballs in crime and violence - and yet this one was of a totally different nature and feeling. So much of it was about the effect it had on the poor family, the neighborhood, and her friends. I appreciated her ability to tell this story...and I did like it. I loved her creative and rather beautiful viewpoint on the afterlife. Though the topic is harsh and some parts are difficult to read about, it was definitely worth reading. It's so easy to forget such things happen all the time...all around.

The Alienist

It's turning out to be that one of my favorite historical times to read about in this country was in the late 1800s, and this book fits right in with Devil in the White city (which I adored), though as genius historical fiction written of that time. It was fascinating to read how psychology and mental disease were viewed in that time, not to mention the crime solving techniques just coming out, and how one in particular used his skills to create a profile (the first of its kind) for a serial killer. The main characters of course use this radical concept and go after him, making the story extremely gripping - I couldn't put it down. Well written and historically relevant and accurate - I really, really liked it and thank my husband for the recommend. Caleb Carr is an author I intend to read to the exhaustion of his works.

The Road

Oh...this book. I had so many mixed feelings reading this book. It is so bleak and dark...even the way he writes just envelopes you in this dark world. But I couldn't help but love it...I loved the light inside these two characters - father and son. I loved the inherent goodness in the child, and the heartbreaking desperateness of the father to protect and save him. It's hard to read at times, but I felt totally worth it. The message McCarthy sends about human nature made an impact on me - how we can be awful, evil, and inhuman, or virtuous, beautiful, and pure, or...for most of us...somewhere in between.

March

This was a story that was very original and one that I am glad was finally told. It is an interesting portrayal of the father of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women in his life while he was at war as a Yankee in the South. It was a perfect tie in as he read their letters, and yet still told quite the story of a Civil War experience that made it very real. I hadn't read anything on the Civil War in a long time, and it was refreshing to read the tragic story under such an artful literary guise. It reminded me why I love historical fiction so much and I plan to read more in the future.

The First King of Shannara

A prequel to one of my favorite series....though it was weird reading a story whose ending I already knew (I don't read too many prequels). But still fun, and good to get to know some of the archetypes from the original series.