9. The Witches of Eastwick

The Witches of Eastwick John Updike
May 2010

I really enjoyed this book. At first it was hard to get into Updike's style of writing and I was a bit worried at the beginning. But as the story developed and I began to get to know each of the 3 main characters (witches), it became easier to read.

This is the first Updike book that I have read, and I'm glad that I finally got around to it. I will definitely end up reading The Widows of Eastwick, the more recent sequel to this book.

If you've never read Updike, this is a great place to start!

8. The Help

The Help Kathryn Stockett
May 2010

I absolutely loved this book. I saw so many women reading this while I was on vacation in December. I was going to hold out until it came out in paperback, but my mom was reading it for a book club, so I borrowed it when she was done.

The more I read the more I appreciate unique story lines. The Help is one of those books that is slightly different than anything else you've read before. It reads very easily even though she uses strong southern accents throughout. Maybe even those accents are what made the book fun to read at times. You feel totally immersed in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s. Well written and well worth the read!