Wow!

So my goal this year was to read 20 books, and I've done so by August. I recognize for many this is not that large of an accomplishment, however for someone who only gets about an hour a day to read, I couldn't be happier. No worries, I'm already almost done with my next book. Lets see if I can get to 30!

20. The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones Alice Sebold
August 2009

Sometimes it seems like I'm a little behind the curve with the "must reads," but I'm really glad that I finally got around to reading this. I think because I just recently read To Kill a Mockingbird, the similarities were glaringly obvious to me.

Sebold was daring in the perspective that she chose to write the book from. Rarely has a story like this been written from the view of the deceased, which made this book different than so many others like it. At times the story line became a little strange, but overall a great book and excellent read.

19. The Time Traveler's Wife

The Time Traveler's Wife Audrey Niffenegger
August 2009

I just went to the beach so finally I grabbed all those love story/beach reads that I've been meaning to get around to reading. My friends have been hounding me to read this and as expected it was very good.

I loved the twist on a traditional love story. Niffenegger did a great job with the large task of organizing a novel that jumps around in time and perspective.

18. Unaccustomed Earth

Unaccustomed Earth Jhumpa Lahiri
August 2009

Lahiri is most noted for authoring The Namesake, however she has received immense recognition over the past year for Unaccustomed Earth. In fact, several publications rated this as the book of 2008.

This book is broken down into eight different stories. All of which revolve around first or second generation Indian Americans. What I found most interesting was the way she carried certain characteristics from one character to the next in the different stories. It made it interesting but also slight confusing, such as when two characters were avid photographers.

I enjoyed the book, it was a quick read. However, I struggle to understand why it was praised so highly. It seems highly unlikely that there was not a better book released in 2008.

17. Glen Beck's Common Sense

Glen Beck's Common Sense

July 2009

I felt it was time to go back to some non-fiction reading. I am a fan of Glen Beck, which is why I picked up his book. It is a modern approach to Thomas Paine's Common Sense pamphlet. I wish that, like Paine did, Beck would have released it anonymously. Although Beck is on FoxNews and regarded as a conservative reporter, this essay is written from the stance that today's political parties are both equally at fault. In fact, he often takes the stance that the way our government currently operates is not in our best interest.

Its very short, and quite to the point. If you aren't tired of reading and hearing about everything that's wrong today in America, or perhaps especially if you are, I would grab this and give it a quick read. I wouldn't be surprised if it is nothing that you haven't all ready heard or thought before, but its nice to know that those who have a much louder voice than we do are feeling some of the same things that we are. It's definitely worth the three/four hours it would take to read it.

16. Uncle Tom's Cabin

Uncle Tom's Cabin Harriet Beecher Stowe

July 2009

Wow! What a great novel! I remember learning about the influence that Uncle Tom's Cabin had in the minds of people at the start of the Civil War. However, I definitely underestimated how good of a book it actually is. It really is a shame that it is not studied more in American literature classes. From what I gathered in the background information, it has lost a significant part of its appeal due to "Tom plays" that were common in the 1920s. These plays depicted the characters in a largely negative and often degrading fashion. Which is in no way similar to those characters in the book.

All in all, I am really glad that I decided to read this and have suggested to all my friends that they read it too. The book is written so that you meet a core group of characters at the beginning and follow each one of their stories as they separate and eventually come back together. Each story captivates you and holds your attention throughout the entirety of the novel.

15. My Sister's Keeper

My Sister's Keeper Jodi Picoult

July 2009

So all my girlfriends have been saying that I must read this since I am close to my sister. So I bought the book. She read it while I was finishing up a previous one and now I finally got my hands on it. We also wanted to both read it before the movie came out. Even though everyone always says "the movie is never as good as the book." I still think its fun to see how someone else interprets a book.

I think I may have had unreal expectations for it because of all the hype surrounding the movie. I definitely enjoyed it, but because I kept hearing about how "saddd" it was, nothing that was sad really came as a surprise to me. Honestly, the most interesting story line, which in my opinion could have been a great book of its own, was the story about their brother. I found him, by far, the most interesting character in the book.

Regardless of the hype and the movie, the book is so easy to read and so talked about, that all women, especially those with sisters, should just give it a go. You'll finish it in a snap... and you'll be able to join in on all the conversations about it.