by Lisa See.
Quickie recap: Sun Flower and Lily are from vastly different backgrounds but drawn together to be the best of friends - they recount how it was to grow up in 19th century China, through foot binding, and war, seclusion, nu shu (women's writing), motherhood, and above all - friendship.
Quick review: Raw, honest, and simply beautiful.
Quick recommendation: Must read, hands down, get this and love it.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
His Dark Materials
by Philip Pullman.
Note: His Dark Materials is a trilogy consisting of: The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass.
Quick recap: Lyra, a young girl, is fated to save the world(s). Her father is waging war against the heavens themselves, her mother is guilty of the most sickening of atrocities, her friend is trapped in the world of the dead, and another is causing the world's demise while trying to save it...and you guessed it: they're all somehow connected.
Quick review: These books surprised me by how easy they were to read (for a sci-fi amateur), and how completely they sucked me in. They are well-written, and though the second one doesn't really stand on its own, they're a really great trilogy.
Quick recommendation: I struggle with science fiction, obviously, but after I got over my daemon revulsion, I really, really enjoyed these books.
Note: His Dark Materials is a trilogy consisting of: The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass.
Quick recap: Lyra, a young girl, is fated to save the world(s). Her father is waging war against the heavens themselves, her mother is guilty of the most sickening of atrocities, her friend is trapped in the world of the dead, and another is causing the world's demise while trying to save it...and you guessed it: they're all somehow connected.
Quick review: These books surprised me by how easy they were to read (for a sci-fi amateur), and how completely they sucked me in. They are well-written, and though the second one doesn't really stand on its own, they're a really great trilogy.
Quick recommendation: I struggle with science fiction, obviously, but after I got over my daemon revulsion, I really, really enjoyed these books.
Six Bad Things
by Charlie Huston.
Quick recap: Henry is having a bad week. He has to dig up his millions of dollars, leave his hiding spot in Mexico, and start running for his life, pausing only to take some (lives, I mean).
Quick review: Fast-paced, heart-quickening, testosterone-ladden from beginning to end.
Quick recommendation: Guy-friendly; if blood doesn't bother you, then bombs away.
Quick recap: Henry is having a bad week. He has to dig up his millions of dollars, leave his hiding spot in Mexico, and start running for his life, pausing only to take some (lives, I mean).
Quick review: Fast-paced, heart-quickening, testosterone-ladden from beginning to end.
Quick recommendation: Guy-friendly; if blood doesn't bother you, then bombs away.
The Ice Queen
by Alice Hoffman.
Quick recap: A smalltown librarian is hit by lightning...but amazingly, this is not the craziest thing that's happened to her.
Quick review: Instantly captivating and absorbing.
Quick recommendation: Yes sir, pick this one up.
Quick recap: A smalltown librarian is hit by lightning...but amazingly, this is not the craziest thing that's happened to her.
Quick review: Instantly captivating and absorbing.
Quick recommendation: Yes sir, pick this one up.
A Spot of Bother
by Mark Haddon
Quick recap: George suspects he is going crazy, and there is nothing on earth like a family wedding to test that theory to the max!
Quick review: Tender and bittersweet, this family becomes your family - you love them, you hate them, either way you're in it for the long haul.
Quick recommendation: Invite the madness in.
Quick recap: George suspects he is going crazy, and there is nothing on earth like a family wedding to test that theory to the max!
Quick review: Tender and bittersweet, this family becomes your family - you love them, you hate them, either way you're in it for the long haul.
Quick recommendation: Invite the madness in.
Water for Elephants
by Sara Gruen.
Quick recap: Jacob literally runs away to the circus, and falls in love twice: first with an elephant named Rosie, and second with a married but wounded performer. Life with the circus turns out to be not nearly so carefree as he'd thought.
Quick review: Sweeping and majestic, I admired the style from the first. The characters are endearing, the story quietly emotional.
Quick recommendation: Don't you dare pass this one up.
Quick recap: Jacob literally runs away to the circus, and falls in love twice: first with an elephant named Rosie, and second with a married but wounded performer. Life with the circus turns out to be not nearly so carefree as he'd thought.
Quick review: Sweeping and majestic, I admired the style from the first. The characters are endearing, the story quietly emotional.
Quick recommendation: Don't you dare pass this one up.
The World is Flat: A Short History of the 21st Century
by Thomas Friedman
Quick recap: Basically, the world's economy is changing, and if you even pause to blink, you'll be left behind.
Quick review: Hold on to your chair, this sucker will open up your eyes.
Quick recommendation: If you're brave, and have an extra $50 000 hanging around to go back to school with, go ahead and read it. Really, it's good.
Quick recap: Basically, the world's economy is changing, and if you even pause to blink, you'll be left behind.
Quick review: Hold on to your chair, this sucker will open up your eyes.
Quick recommendation: If you're brave, and have an extra $50 000 hanging around to go back to school with, go ahead and read it. Really, it's good.
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