Book Nook Cafe discussion

Share with us what you read in December 2014

Please provide:

~ A GoodRead link
~ A few sentences telling us how you felt about the book.
~ How would you rate the book

I only finished 2 books in December.

The Joffrey Ballet School's Book of Ballet-Fit
Nonfiction
Rate 3/5

Ballet for Dummies
nonfiction
rate4/5

I've been taking beginner adult ballet at the YMCA. That's the reason for these two reads. :)

Wow. Have fun with ballet AR. An ambitious undertaking. Don't pull or tear anything, will you?? And Happy New Year to everyone.

In December, I re-read Norwegian by Night for book club that I was leading. Loved it more if possible. 4+ stars. It's written by a very smart young man about a Jewish-American curmudgeon, Sheldon, and his journey to Norway to live with his granddaughter after his wife dies and the adventures he has there. Also about that generation of Jewish Americans and their particular culture and patriotic feelings. It's about aging, too, and war and so many other things. A brilliant first novel.

I also read some YA books, which I do every year.
We Were Liars 4 stars. A good story with a weird twist, improbable at best, not the greatest ending either, but I liked it. About a girl named Cadence, member of a very wealthy old Democratic family (say the Kennedys maybe) with a private island near Edgartown where the family gathers each summer in their various homes and enjoys what people enjoy in such circumstances. And then things change, of course.

Althea & Oliver This is the story of an inseparable couple of kids who find each other at age 6 and grow up closer than siblings until Oliver becomes ill and ----suprise! everything changes. Loved the relationship, thought it a little muddy in places, but I liked it a lot. 4 stars

Sweetness #9 This book got a rave review on The Colbert Report and came to my notice via a good friend who shares my love of dystopian fiction. This one not quite as dystopian as advertised. It is about a flavorist who begins work after college in a lab testing the effects of an artificial sweetener, Sweetener #9. When all the rats and monkeys die, he ignores his initial good impulses and covers it all up, until years and years later, his daughter forces him to come to grips with it all. I didn't love this one, though it had some amusing parts. 3 stars

Florence Gordon A book about an aging activist and author who is suddenly recognized for her pioneering work. She is supposed to be an interesting character, but I thought the whole story depressing and not worth the time. I gave it 3 stars, but I'm inclined to think it's not even that good.

The Book of Strange New Things Very original. I am still thinking about the ending. An English minister and former drug addict and petty criminal reformed by a good woman, leaves with her blessing to join a multinational (and interplanetary) corporation as a Christian minister to the local alien population on a planet they call Oasis. When he gets there, he finds himself more affected by the locals (Oasans) than he ever expected, and increasingly unable to emotionally support his frightened and lonely - and now pregnant- wife at home, with whom he can only communicate in writing which is heavily censored. Earth is undergoing a series of tragedies. First, wife Bea is unable to find her favorite chocolate bar at the local convenience store. Then there are strange weather events, natural disasters and more shortages. Garbage piles up in the street. Civlization struggles to survive, and it is not long before Bea is forced to leave her home and join a band of wanderers looking for food and safety. The project on Oasis assumes a different importance in light of what is happening on Earth. Meanwhile, the Oasans are devoted to the word of Jesus. By the simple device of changing every 't' to a 'p' and capitalizing every S in English to represent their difficulty with sibilants, the author had me falling on the floor laughing, but it is also a very moving book when you discover what the issue is and what the Oasans are seeking in the Bible, which is, of course, The Book of Strange New Things. Five stars all day long.

The Paying Guests A pretty bad book. A spinster and her elderly mother discover their faith in the financial security provided by their late father/husband is misplaced. They decide to take in boarders. A murder follows, and a trial. Really it's a non-traditional bodice-ripper involving a lesbian relationship. 2 stars

I'll Give You the Sun Another YA book. Great big talented characters, art, young love, older love, parental secrets, and so on. 4 stars.

Can't wait to hear what all of you are reading.
Michele

Thank you, Michele. It a pretty basic class but a lot of fun.

You sure had a wonderful reading month !

I like the idea of YA book at the end of the year. You still get your reading in but it's not too demanding. I have to remember this next December.

My reads for December:

Seven for a Secret by Lyndsay Faye: The second in a series about a "copper star" (police officer) on the newly created police force in New York City in 1846. In this one, police officer Timothy Wilde delves into the seedy underworld of human trafficking where slave traders kidnap free Northerners of color from their homes, change their names and sell them South to toil as plantation slaves. Interesting and fast-paced, and I love the author's facility with the vernacular of the time. 3.5/5 stars

Faith by Jennifer Haigh: About a family who must deal with the fact that one of their own -- their brother and son, who is a priest in the Boston diocese-- has been accused of molesting a young boy. Well written and poses good questions about when -- or if-- it's appropriate to have faith in a loved one. 3/5 stars

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand: Finally got around to reading this one so I could see the movie. But now that I have read it, I no longer want to see the movie --- there's no way it could do this man's life justice. Breath-taking, heart-wrenching, awe-inspiring, and unbelievable -- yet it all really happened. 4/5 stars

A Deadly Wandering: A Tale of Tragedy and Redemption in the Age of Attention by Matt Richtel: I would have given this a higher rating if not for the meandering narrative that includes extraneous details that distract from the story (honestly, how many times did we need to read about the victim advocate's kids' history projects?). However, the science about attention and technology was informative and enlightening. I will be locking my cell phone in the trunk when I drive from now on. 3/5 stars

Things I Want My Daughters to Know by Elizabeth Noble: I really should just stop picking up anything that falls under the genre of "chick lit" -- I just don't have patience for it any more. The story of a mother who is dying of cancer and wants to leave "instructions" and explanations for her four daughters. Predictable outcomes. 2/5 stars

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty: Now THIS is the kind of writing I get a kick out of. You think it's going to be a fluffy chick lit book, but the author has a sly, sardonic wit that tickles my funny bone. This takes place at an elementary school which has more than its fair share of annoying, back-stabbing helicopter parents. You know from the first page that someone has died, but you don't know who -- or how, or why. What transpires reminds you why parents should stay out of their children's quarrels. 4/5 stars

Michele, I'm happy to see that you enjoyed "The Book of Strange New Things." I've been contemplating reading it, but I didn't care for the author's previous novel, The Crimson Petal and the White. I might have to give this one a go, however.

It's an odd book, no doubt, but I did love it. If you can stick till the end (there are definitely some slow spots) I hope you will find it worthwhile.

December became a bit busier than I thought, with a family funeral and unexpected travel. So, I didn't get through quite as much as I hoped.

Things Fall Apart - 4/5 stars
An interesting story about colonizing Africa and the clash of cultures. The story focuses on an important member of the community (Okonkwo) who has to try to reconcile traditional African values and those of the British missionaries and military. The story works on three levels - personal/family, community and national. Okonkwo has to deal with sons becoming men, a village that is trying to deal with significant changes, the neighboring villages vying for power and a influx of new challenges, particularly a religion that threatens old beliefs.

Arrow of God - 4/5 stars
Follows Things Fall Apart to another village and its spiritual leader who further tries to deal with the occupation not only of the British military but a church that is growing in influence. This book, too, works on several levels, as the chief priest in the village tried to help his sons, daughters, wives, friends and neighbors through an uncertain time - his actions, though, may have led to a different outcome than intended.

Jude the Obscure - 4/5 stars
A fascinating book about a young man who grew up in sad circumstances and lived through a series of crises to a sad end. Jude was a smart child who had dreams of becoming an intellectual. He studied on his own and wanted to attend college. Instead, he got married and was distracted with earning a living. He and his cousin Sue fell in love and thwarted convention to be together, but tragedy led both to make dramatic and devastating changes. A wonderful book, though so very sad.

War and Peace - not finished yet
By the end of the day December 31, 17% done with this tome. So far, it is a terrific read - very smooth and engaging. To those who are looking to read this, a few hints.
1. There are a lot of characters introduced in the early chapters - if you don't have a list of characters, make or find one! I kept going back to the list provided in my edition.
2. If you are not familiar with Russian names (use of patronymic names and standard nicknames), you might want to look up some notes online. It becomes much easier once it is apparent that one character may be referred to in multiple ways.

Amy wrote: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty: Now THIS is the kind of writing I get a kick out of. You think it's going to be a fluffy chick lit book, but the author has a sly, sardonic wit that tickles my funny bone. This takes place at an elementary school which has more than its fair share of annoying, back-stabbing helicopter parents. You know from the first page that someone has died, but you don't know who -- or how, or why. What transpires reminds you why parents should stay out of their children's quarrels. 4/5 stars ..."
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:) So glad to read your review. I have it on my list to read. I haven't read this author yet but I have a feeling I am going to enjoy it a lot.

Susan from MD wrote: "December became a bit busier than I thought, with a family funeral and unexpected travel. So, I didn't get through quite as much as I hoped.

Things Fall Apart - 4/5 stars
An interesti..."

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Sorry to hear of your loss, Susan.

As always, I enjoyed reading your reviews. :)

This hasn't been my best reading year. Determined to do better in 2015.

I finished 2 books in December.

John GrishamSycamore Row
This was recommended to me by a friend and I really enjoyed it.

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
This was tough going in spots but I am really glad I read it. A lot to learn about Afghanistan.

My last two books for 2014 were Redshirts, a satire of 1960s Star Trek which turned out to be far more meta than I expected, and Still Alice.

That last one is now a movie (might still be playing at Angelika in NYC). An excellent depiction of Alzheimer's, though a bit depressing as a novel. Especially if you know somebody who has Alzheimer's.

Few December books but i'll share here, particularly as one was a title i learned from this board.

The Sons of Kai by Henry Beeson was really a retelling of a Navaho tale. The book was written in the 1920s, i think. I liked the art by Don Dickerman. (Actually, not positive this is the same artist, but will keep the link.)

Last Winter We Parted by Fuminori Nakamura was a Very Good Mystery. A photographer in Japan is convicted of setting two women on fire, taking photos as they died. The story begins with him in prison, prepared for execution. This is a rather short novel but full of intrigue, mystery and the new-to-me concept of Doll Makers. Apparently (unless this was part of the fiction) there has long been a market for human size dolls usually made for those who have lost loved ones but still want their continued "presence" in their lives. Odd but interesting. There were references to In Cold Blood & Truman Capote's life after writing the book, as well as references to two old Japanese stories. I really liked this.

Trying to catch up with my Claire Malloy mysteries, written by Joan Hess, i read
Deader Homes and Gardens and Murder as a Second Language. The character has always been a busy body but i have long liked her. These last two were too much of a stretch. Didn't "catch up" but am glad to wait longer.

Finally, the book i read about on BNC. Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail by Ben Montgomery. At age 67 Emma Gatewood became the first woman to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. In the process she practically invented Ultra Light hiking, not taking much food with her, nor a sleeping bag. It was a good story and she was inspiring, having escaped a very abusive marriage, after having 11 children, i must add. The children were grown by the time she made her FIRST AT hike. Yes, i wrote "first". She completed it a total of 3 times, the last in segments, not the thru-hikes (without breaking it up over a longer span of time).

I got through more than I thought I would in December, but not as much as I would have liked.

Elsewhere 3.5/5. My first audio book, read by Russo himself. Very easy to listen to his voice and very obvious where his novels are driven from. He (and his wife) are eligible for sainthood for caring for his mother.

Yes Please 3.5/5 I'm not familiar with as much of Poehler's work as I am with Tina Fey's, but I found this to be an interesting and entertaining read. It's a collection of scattered anecdotes from Poehler's years in comedy. I always find it interesting to read the perspective of someone who has grown up knowing exactly what they wanted to do and grows up to do it.

Rooms 3/5 I liked this overall - solid characters with their own tragedies which are revealed throughout the book. It is told from the perspective of seven different characters, though, which makes the flow of the story very choppy from chapter to chapter.

We Were Liars 2.5/5 - Sad story to end the year on, but a quick read. The marketing bills this as having a huge plot twist, however, the actual twist is pretty obvious from very early on, and the suspense is waiting for the details to come out.

I also started The Goldfinch, which I borrowed from the library for kindle, renewed once, and still didn't finish, so I'll likely need to try this one again later since I can't renew again and there's a waiting list.

Bobbie57 wrote: "This hasn't been my best reading year. Determined to do better in 2015.

I finished 2 books in December.

John GrishamSycamore Row
This was recommended to me by a frien..."
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I with you on that, Barbara. I am hoping to do better in 2015.

Glad to see you enjoyed the Grisham. I still love The Firm most.

Mkfs wrote: "My last two books for 2014 were Redshirts, a satire of 1960s Star Trek which turned out to be far more meta than I expected, and Still Alice. ..."

Thanks for the comments on Still Alice. I've been toying with putting it on my TBR list.

madrano wrote: Finally, the book i read about on BNC. Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail by Ben Montgomery. At age 67 Emma Gatewood became the first woman to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. In the process she practically invented Ultra Light hiking, not taking much food with her, nor a sleeping bag. It was a good story and she was inspiring, having escaped a very abusive marriage, after having 11 children, i must add. The children were grown by the time she made her FIRST AT hike. Yes, i wrote "first". She completed it a total of 3 times, the last in segments, not the thru-hikes (without breaking it up over a longer span of time).
..."

Glad you enjoyed this one, deb. My neighbor, who loves to walk, read it and recommended it to me. Amazon had it on sale, so I purchased it for my kindle. I haven't read it yet.

Emma wrote: "Elsewhere 3.5/5. My first audio book, read by Russo himself. Very easy to listen to his voice and very obvious where his novels are driven from. He (and his wife) are eligible for sainthood for caring for his mother.
."

I LOVE Russo's voice. I look forward to hearing him on other audio books.

I agree 100% the man and his wife are saints. His mom is sure lucky to have him as a son.

Oh, Alias--definitely read "Still Alice." It's really good. Incredibly sad, but also fascinating as it's told from the point of view of a woman who is slowly losing her battle with Alzheimer's. So it reads like you are inside a mind that is deteriorating.

Okay.... I'll put it on my list. :)

Alias Reader wrote: "Okay.... I'll put it on my list. :)"

Very much worth it. The author is a neuroscientist, and really captures the degeneration of the brain in a frighteningly plausible way.

Has anyone seen the movie? I'd like to, but I'm a bit worried that Julianne Moore will overact all the nuance out of the title role.

Mkfs wrote: "Has anyone seen the movie? I'd like to, but I'm a bit worried that Julianne Moore will overact all the nuance out of the title role. .."

I haven't yet, but I want to. Don't know how Julianne Moore will do, but she was terrific as Sarah Palin in "Game Change."

Three for me this month, two short and one HUGE!

The Day of the Locust by Nathaneal West - I really expected to like this one as I love things about Old Hollywood and the underbelly of pretty much anything. However, even though the writing was good, I wasn't interested in any of the characters and found some of the plot points distasteful. The protagonist's preoccupation with sexual assault was one (and the author not slamming him for it either) and the graphic cock fight were two such unnecessary aspects that left a bad taste in my mouth. On top of that, the story really didn't say anything at all. TWO STARS

Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky - this one was interesting (even though I rushed through it to make my 40 books GR challenge). I am familiar with existentialist nihilism and found this book very accurate and sometimes recognisable, despite the darkness and hopelessness of the narrator. He was a very clarified version of certain aspects of human nature that are accurate and true sometimes. Even though it should have felt over-the-top, Dostoevsky is such a skilled writer of human frailty it took me on that awful rollercoaster with him and it was realistic. Not a fun read but it would be very good to study. 3.5 STARS

A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel - I decided to read this book because of a video game I'd played that was set in the French Revolution but somewhat light on information. This book certainly filled in those gaps - it was 872 pages of information, names, murder, Terror, politics, government, war, poverty, ideals and corruption. The book is a novelisation of the French Revolution and follows three of the architects of the Republic - Georges-Jacques Danton, Camille Demoulins and Maximillien Robespierre. I never realised what a mess it was and although necessary, what awful things happened. Sometimes my head was spinning through the sheer amount of information and the speed of what was going on. Keeping all the people's names straight was a feat in itself. It was a challenge to read but worth it. I became attached to the characters, then detached when they fell from grace, then attached again, and I really felt like I was there amongst them. Not perfect, but definitely an enjoyable, worthy book that made me feel much smarter for having read it. FOUR STARS

Good job reading in December, Soph. December usually is a slow reading month for many. So you did real well.

I own a book that has two stories in it. Day of the locust and Miss Lonelyhearts

I had to read it in school. I think we read lonely hearts but to be honest I can't recall a thing. I did keep it in my apartment move and do plan on reading it at some point.

Soph wrote: "Not perfect, but definitely an enjoyable, worthy book that made me feel much smarter for having read it. FOUR STARS "

Sold! Chucked it on the to-read.

Bobbie57 wrote: "This hasn't been my best reading year. Determined to do better in 2015.

I finished 2 books in December.

John GrishamSycamore Row
This was recommended to me by a frien..."

You perfectly sum up my feelings about I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, Bobbie.

I'm behind with my reviews. So only a few words about my December reads:

The Professor by Charlotte Brontë narrated by James Wilby - 3 stars
Haven't read so much English classics - so rather difficult to review. I liked it well enough to keep on listening. In the beginning I found it a bit odd with William being treated so badly by his own brother; but this seems to me, to be typical for stories set in the Victorian age. It gave a nice insight in Victorian society and especially on relationships between men and women.

The Explorer by James Smythe- two stars.
It's only very recently that I care to try science fiction novels. So again, not very easy to review. Started of promising and I kept on reading as I wanted to know the end, but the end was very tough to get through. It lasted too long for me.

Maigret and the Enigmatic Lett by Georges Simenon; listened to the German audio version - 3 stars.
I like Maigret. It's short and I like the way it is written. This was, together with A Man's Head one of the better Maigrets I heard.

I had a Maigret period, and have been meaning to reread some of these charming police procedurals that reflect the pace of life in France in the middle of the last century. I will be reading them in English, though.

I never heard of that Bronte. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, Danielle.

This thread is always a favorite of mine but I've been remiss in leaving my own readings over the past 3 months or so. Mainly because I've not read nearly enough. I'm enjoying sleep more than my reading I think. I never thought it would come to that. Well, this is what I've been up to with my reading:

Plain Truth This earned 3 stars by me. I really did enjoy the different take on the Amish ways of life. The problem was that I figured out the whodunit pretty early on.

Sommerset Abbey -- another 3 stars for me. This had been recommended as a bit like Downton Abbey. How many times will I go for that? This was pretty good but the characters were pretty one dimensional and the writing only kind of good. It is the 1st of a series of 3 books but I'm not sure I'll look up the other 2. This was hard enough to come by.

When Will There Be Good News?. I continue with my admiration of Kate Atkinson. I'm stretching out her Jackson Brodie books and this was the last that I've seen of the televised versions. I remember enjoying the televised version more but as always, the further into the book the better it gets. Always recommendable. 4 stars solid.

Funeral Music. This was found here on Good Reads somewhere. I spend some of my reading time looking for books that others will enjoy. My aunt is about the only family member that is a reader and she & I love to compare reads. She reads almost exclusively mysteries and she is a music lover with children who play various instruments. This book had all of what she loves and I enjoyed it too. I gave it 3 stars since I think the series will get better as it moves along. This is the introductory book and it takes place in Bath, England. Really good.

The House Girl. I finished this recently and enjoyed it very much. 4 stars. The story takes place between contemporary New York City with the character of a young lawyer with family issues -- a mother who disappeared when she was a young girl and the father wrapped up in his artistic career. The other part of the story takes place in the southern part of Virginia in the 1850s with the life of an artistic young slave "house girl" who is determined to run away to the freedom of the north. The story of the slave girl is told in an interesting way. I did enjoy this different take on the outrages and find that there are haunting visions that stay with me.

That is it for now. I'm currently reading Roses and I'm really enjoying it. Just in the beginning stages of a big read. Happy New Year to all!

I really enjoyed reading your post, Lori. Thanks for sharing with us.

I agree with you about Plain Truth. I didn't care for it at all.

Here are my notes on my December reads.

Last Light Over Carolina a marriage struggles against the backdrop of difficulties in the prawn industry on the coastline of South Carolina. Stereotypes and unrealistic dialogue, predictable too. 2 stars.

Incendiary A woman who lost her family in a London stadium bombing writes a fictitious letter to Osama Bin Laden to let him know her thoughts, while obviously suffering PTSD. Loved the gimmick and found the commentary of London class etc terrific. 4 stars.

Northanger Abbey Young Catherine, with her over-active imagination and love of gothic novels, makes her debut in Bath society where her innocence leads to confusion in her lovelife. A bit of a comedy of errors which makes for entertainment but I found it a bit tedious. 3 stars.

The Little Prince A child's story that I don't get as an adult. 2 stars.

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald a fictitious account of Zelda Sayre's life, focusing on her tumultuous marriage to Scott F Fitzgerald, but also her Alabama childhood. Fascinating, sad and credible. 4 stars.

Hard Choices Hillary details her decisions as USA Secretary of State for 4 years. I found it very interesting from a non-American point of view. 4 stars.

The Bell Jar I have been wanting to read this for years but was a bit disappointed really. It mirrors the early adult life of the author as she suffers depression and is treated in the manner of the time. 3 stars.

Decent Obsessions: Why it's okay to sweat the stuff The author is probably Australia's leading demographer who is often in the media discussing current societal trends. Funny in places, and interesting. 3 stars.

Thanks for posting Lori. The House Girl sounds like my cup of tea. Of course I always like good books that have NYC as a backdrop and it sounds as if the subject would also interest me. So another book for my list.

Thanks for posting Lesley and reminding me about Z:A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald. I've been meaning to read that.

Lesley wrote: Incendiary A woman who lost her family in a London stadium bombing writes a fictitious letter to Osama Bin Laden to let him know her thoughts, while obviously suffering PTSD. Loved the gimmick and found the commentary of London class etc terrific. 4 stars..."
----------------

Glad to see you enjoyed this one. I thought it was quite good and I gave it extra points for being something I've never read before.
Incendiary

I absolutely loved his other book Little Bee

Bobbie57 wrote: "Thanks for posting Lesley and reminding me about Z:A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald. I've been meaning to read that."

Same here -- I'd forgotten about that one too.

The Little Prince: I too encountered that as an adult, not as a child. I read it after enough people said it was a must-read, and eh, I didn't care for it either. Yes, the adult world is complicated and stressful, blah blah. Deal with it. ;)

I read three books in December.

Yes, My Darling Daughter
2/5
This book had a very abrupt ending, and I felt like it had no resolution. I enjoyed the story for the most part, but really had to make an effort to pick it up again once I had lain it down.

Along Came a Spider
4/5
This was a fast-moving book, and had me guessing right up to the end. I really liked the short chapters. It gave a sense of urgency to the plot that helped the story along.

The Perils of Pursuing a Prince
3/5
This book was much easier to read than the first one in this trilogy. I liked the characters more, and really enjoyed the mystery element.

Thanks for sharing, Maggie.

I have a friend who loves James Patterson's books. She is not a big reader but when she does pick a book up it's one of his.

Alias Reader wrote: "Mkfs wrote: "My last two books for 2014 were Redshirts, a satire of 1960s Star Trek which turned out to be far more meta than I expected, and Still Alice. ..."

Thank..."

My book group read STILL ALICE a couple of years ago. I thought it was very good, as well as a worthwhile read.

Mkfs wrote: "Bobbie57 wrote: "Thanks for posting Lesley and reminding me about Z:A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald. I've been meaning to read that."

Same here -- I'd forgotten about that one too.

The Little Prince:..."

I think the same about The Little Prince, Mkfs.

I finished The Age of Innocence a couple of days ago and loved it. A great book to start the year.

Lesley wrote:
I finished The Age of Innocence a couple of days ago and loved it. A great book to start the year. ..."

I really loved Wharton's Ethan Frome
It's a quiet read but one that really moved me.

I only read 2 books in December

The InterestingsbyMeg Wolitzer
Rate3/5 It got a 3 because it was well-written, but the story dragged on and I did not enjoy it and it took me a month to read it

Cross My Heart by James Patterson
Rating 4/5

I enjoy Patterson's Alex Cross novels. I needed a quick read after The Interestings. This one was vry good an d had a cliff hanging ending

Thanks, Meredith ! One of my friends is a Patterson fan. I'll pass along the title to her.

I work on a college campus and had most of December off so I was able to get some reading in:

High Fidelity by Nick Hornby 3/5. A book about love, relationships, and music that I could really relate to. There were plenty of moments that reminded me of past relationships that I would often laugh and cringe at the same time.

Redeployment by Phil Klay 4/5. A collection of short stories by an Iraq War veteran that is one of the best books I've read in awhile. Some of the stories were moving, some were satirical, some were definitely not pc, all were a powerful testiment to the cost of war.

The Flame Alphabet by Ben Marcus 3/5. A brilliant premise that's weakened by bizarre and surreal plot points. In the book, the sound of children's voices becomes toxic and parents are slowly being poisoned by their offspring. There's plenty of scenes that any parent of those angst filled bundles of hormones called teenagers can relate to.

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leche 4/5. A sci-fi novle that's a good, old fashioned space opera.


Stoner by John Williams 4/5. Well written, but somewhat depressing. The book follows the title character as a freshman in college through a life that's filled with disappointments. He's trapped in a loveless marriage and has a stagnant career, yet he faces every set back with stoicism

Nice selection of books, Jon. Stoner was on my top 10 book read the year i read it. Frankly, it surprised me that i hadn't even heard of the author previously.

Thanks for the comment on Redeployment. I've read a number of positive comments on it. And thanks for sharing in general.

Jon wrote: "\The Flame Alphabet by Ben Marcus "

That's on my more immediate to-read list. Quite a few mixed reviews on it, but I feel compelled to give it a go regardless.

Mkfs wrote: "Jon wrote: "\The Flame Alphabet by Ben Marcus "

That's on my more immediate to-read list. Quite a few mixed reviews on it, but I feel compelled to give it a go regardless."

There's more than a few heartbreaking moments involving the parents and their daughter that any parent of a teen can relate to. Just be aware that there are other parts that are surreal, grotesque. and play out like out takes from a Cronenberg movie (think "Videodrome" or "Naked Lunch")

Jon wrote: "I work on a college campus and had most of December off so I was able to get some reading in:

High Fidelity..."

Thank you for sharing your reads with us, Jon! I read Stoner and thought it was a good but quiet read. Also as you say a bit depressing.

Jon wrote: "I work on a college campus and had most of December off so I was able to get some reading in:

High Fidelity..."

Jon, I guess we have some similar tastes. I also enjoyed HIGH FIDELITY (although I see I haven't yet recorded it on 카지노싸이트). I think I was pretty aggravated with the hero. I thought STONER was a terrific book. And from what I've seen so far, I would like to read DEPLOYMENT. It makes me think of THE THINGS THEY CARRIED by Tim O'Brien; have you read it? Excellent.

Carolyn (in SC) C234D wrote: "Jon wrote: "I work on a college campus and had most of December off so I was able to get some reading in:

H..."

THE THINGS THEY CARRIED is one of my favorite books. The opening story "On The Rainy River" is such a powerful piece of writing. Some of the best books I've read in the last couple of years have been about the Iraq War: Kevin Powers' THE YELLOW BIRDS is often poetic and Ben Fountain's BILLY LYNN'S LONG HALF-TIME WALK is satirical black humour at it's best.