What I'm Reading

Liar is highly recommended.  I will be thinking about this book for a long time.  Can't wait to discuss it with someone who has read it -- I'm going to start recommending it to my teens!

Now I've chosen The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown.  Lots written about this book -- no need I say more.  The reason I'm reading it NOW is because I made it to the top of the list at the library -- there are over 300 holds on this book, so I need to read FAST.

The Next read . . .

The Summer I Turned Pretty was good.  I think teens would like it better than I did.  I was confused by how it keeps jumping back in time (you have to notice the chapter headings) but that might just be me. Some of the characters (Taylor) were not very well developed.  The ending is somewhat predictable, but satisfying.

Now I'm reading Liar by Justine Larbalestier, which is about a compulsive liar (duh.)  I love the cover.  Just recently learned that she's married to Scott Westerfeld.  What a team!  I'll keep you posted . . .

Time for a new book .. .

The Knife of Never Letting Go gets a mixed review.  First of all, it took me about 150 pages to really get interested.  Secondly, it is the first in a series, and it's one of those series that require to you read all the books.  This story doesn't end.  There is no resolution of conflict.  Fortunately the second book is already out, but I'm so mad that I might not read it JUST FOR SPITE!  The book becomes very exciting, with the main characters narrowly escaping death over and over again.  Great for those reluctant readers, but a bit unbelievable for me.  So, yes it was exciting and eventually kept me captivated.  But more appropriate for the younger crowd.

Next on the list is The Summer I Turned Pretty, by Jenny Han.  She also wrote Shug, which I haven't read but heard is good.  Sounds like a heartwarming, feel-good read, and I'm looking forward to that.

Latest read

Little Brother  was the best book I've read recently.  It was a little bit far-fetched, but the technology and security discussed and the history of those issues kept me rapt.  I would highly recommend this book to any gamers or geek kids out there.  The book will keep me thinking for a while, and I like that in a book.  There are two afterwords that add to the sinister feeling.  Very "Orwellian."  I need someone to read this so we can talk about it.  I gave it to my husband; I think he will like it.

Next on my list is The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness.  Might be a good complement to Little Brother, since it's about a society where everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts.  No privacy whatsoever.

The latest novel . . .

Burn My Heart  was a really good book about a period of history I knew nothing about.  It was somewhat painful to read about the oppression of the people of Kenya in the 50s and 60s.

I've begun Little Brother, by Cory Doctorow.  It's a book about a teenager's fight to conquer a government out of control after a terrorist attack.  I think it is sort of a modern-day 1984.