The Map of Time

If you want a book that has adventure, romance, escapism and some turn of the century charm, this is a good selection.  It is a pretty hefty book with 600+ pages, but reads very easily (in my opinion).  The author does tend to go off on tangents frequently, but the story ties together very nicely.  The novel is divided into three sections.  The first section is about a young man named Andrew Harrington and how he lost the love of his life, but is offered a chance to go back in time to change the outcome.  The second section follows a man named Tom Blunt and his attempt to live and love in the present by pretending to be someone from the future.  The third section focuses on a fictionalized H.G. Wells (who appears in the previous sections as well) and his own experience with time travel.  The end went on a bit long, but by then you only have about 20 pages left and if you've already read the previous 580 then you may as well settle in and finish it. There are a multitude of characters and subplots woven into the tome, and one feels as though Palma is writing for a reader from that long gone era when books were a primary form of entertainment.  This is a book for people who don't want to watch television because they know the imagination provides a more fantastic escape.

Mockingjay

Well, in all honesty, I read this book because I often feel compelled to complete trilogies.  I didn't quite care for book two in the trilogy, but I pressed on so I could give an honest opinion of the entire trilogy. Now that I've read all three books, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I'm disappointed.  The protagonist is yet another weak, indecisive young woman (see Twilight series).  I'm so tired of these series portraying young women as victims.  Most of the action that takes place in this book only superficially involves the main character.  Usually she ends up having some kind of mental meltdown and someone else has to either talk her off the ledge or complete the action for her.  I get that it's a series for young readers, but why can't young women read about other young women who kick-ass and get over the mental blocks? Why can't we see a female character who is not crippled with "boy trouble"?  The first book was great, the second was repetitive and the third just dragged.  When I first began this series, I envisioned it going in a more political thriller/espionage direction, but it seems as if the author is either incapable of good plot and character development or just disinterested.  In the end it's a tepid teenage love story encased in the disguise of a (weak) political thriller.

The Phantom of the Opera

This is another book that I began prior to my trip to Paris and completed the day after my return.  It is a very easy read, but I was spending most of my time absorbing the city and reading Paris to the Moon in the evenings.  I did, prior to my arrival in Paris, read over half of the story. So on my first day in the city I made a special trip to the Garnier Opera to see the Phantom's box.  The story is told extremely well and the actual Garnier Opera is stunning in appearance.  If you read the book prior to entering the grand opera house, you will definitely get a feeling that a story such as that of Erik, Raoul, Chistine Daae, and the Persian could have taken place here.  It is a curious love story after all is said and done, but what better setting to have a curious love story than a grand, opulent opera house that seems capable of holding many mysteries and secrets.

Paris to the Moon

This book was recommended to me by a fellow RN when he found out I was going to be traveling to Paris.  I read half of the book prior to my trip and completed it while on my trip.  It was such a different experience for me to be reading a book about a city while I was actually exploring and experiencing said city.  I loved it!  It was almost uncanny how I would spend the day at the Jardin du Luxembourg only to curl up with this book later that evening in my hotel room, remove the bookmark, start reading, and realize that the next chapter was an essay about the exact same garden.  I really enjoyed the book and truly felt that it helped me experience Paris from a more observant perspective.  I recommend the book for anyone traveling to Paris or anyone who considers themselves a Francophile.  It is a book of essays, thoughts and considerations about Parisian life as lived by an expatriate.  The essays are somewhat linear, though, and the prose is easy to follow.  The descriptions are phenomenal and true to reality.  Even if you cannot make it to Paris any time soon, you can easily get lost and travel there through this work.

The Sun Also Rises

Everyone in this book drinks to excess and has no qualms about it.  That pretty much sums up the book.  This is pretty much about a group of people who drink a lot in Paris and then decide to go drink a lot in Spain.  Jake Barnes is the main character and he is in love with Lady Ashley (a.k.a. Brett).  He, however, can't be with her because due to some war injuries he's impotent.  She, on the other hand, gets with just about every other man in the book, but occasionally tells Jake that she loves him too (of course she does....she loves every man).  So Brett spends the majority of the book sleeping around, Jake spends the majority of the book lamenting things, and they all spend the entire book drinking.  I think there are drinks on every page!  When I was reading another review of this book, the reviewer jokingly said that he got contact drunk......I think that's an appropriate statement! The writing is brief and nothing really happens in the book.  It's pretty much plotless and the characters are flat, but for some reason it's considered a classic.  Also, I should mention, the n-word is freely used in this book.  It was written in 1926 so I guess at the time that was acceptable.  It was still a bit of a shock when I came across it, though.

Protecting Your Parents' Money

This book has a lot of good information.  The author is very clear on the point that this book is a starter book on the subject matter.  There is a LOT of information out there when it comes to Eldercare/Medicaid/Medicare/Long Term Care insurance and more.  It could never be fully covered in any one book.  However, if you are lost about where to begin gathering some information about these topics, this book is very accessible and is a nice starting point.  I actually took notes!

The Novice: A Story of True Love

I have been interested in what I call "Zen" reading for a few months now.  Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the authors I always enjoy.  He is very clear, concise, and compassionate in his writing.  This parable follows in that same tradition of simplicity.  A woman disguises herself as a man and becomes a novice monk during a time when women were not allowed to enter into monastic training.  A local girl claims that she has been impregnated by the young monk (obviously not knowing "he" is a "she").  The story of compassion that develops is one that will cause you to take a look at yourself and ask "Can I one day possess the compassion of this novice?"  Perhaps, it is a goal we should all be striving to achieve.

The Book of Awesome

From the moment I started reading this book I found myself saying "YES! THAT *IS* AWESOME!!" and laughing out loud just from reading the topic of certain blurbs (I see you 3-paycheck month!).  I think everyone should read this book because humor and laughter should be a part of everybody's life.  Everyone can relate to the subjects in the book that make life AWESOME!  If you are feeling down or you need a break from the rat race.....pick this book up and start laughing. You will improve your day 1000%.  This one definitely goes on my "best of" list.

Unbroken

This book is phenomenal.  I am finding it hard to describe how I felt while reading it because at any given time I felt several feelings at once. Joy, despair, hope, fear, disgust, and other emotions all swelled up in me  fighting for dominance. In the end, what I felt most was an immense gratitude and humility.  In no way could I ever fathom going through what the men in this book went through. There were nights I couldn't put the book down.  Whenever I did put the book down I was worried for the men, distraught over what they endured, and frantic to see what happened.  It is a true account of one man's particular horror, but throughout the story you get glimpses of the darkest hour of several men's lives as POWs during WWII.  It is haunting, inspiring, and impressive. One of the best I've read this year.

Aleph

I saw Aleph was on the shelves and rushed to the library thinking I would surely be placed on a waiting list. Surprisingly, it was right there on the shelf.  Should that have been a warning?  I really tried to enjoy the story, get absorbed by it, and gain insight from it.  Paulo Coelho is known for his, often profound, spiritual perception of what we believe to be the basic ennui of life.  As I was reading Aleph, I did come across some spiritual gems, but by page 123 I was dozing off.  Also, I should note that it took me several days to get to page 123 because I kept putting it down.  If I'm putting a book down often, I have clearly not become engrossed enough in the story to allow it to take me away to a place where time and pages completed don't matter.

The long and short of the plot is that the main character takes an inspirational journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway and the journey is a metaphor for the journey we take in life.  He also is trying to figure out why he is so restless and unfulfilled in this life (as most people are) and journeys to past lives to find the answer. His main partner who helps him during this voyage is a young woman who is about thirty years his junior, but apparently knows his soul.  They have an affair of sorts (which turned me off because he is married) and teach each other about forgiveness.  I think this book was "just ok".  If you really want to great book by the author I will continue to recommend "The Alchemist".  It is always relevant.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

I can't quite put my finger on why it took me a little while to become interested in this book, but it wasn't until around page 120 that things started to move along quickly enough for me. When it did start moving, I couldn't put the book down.  However, for the first 120 pages I was only mildly interested.  The basic premise is that a young boy learns that his grandfather was a "peculiar child" who spent some time at a home for "peculiar children".  After the grandfather dies, the boy is thrown into a bit of a mystery. He must find these children if they are still alive.  What he discovers includes an adventure surrounding children with X-men mutant-type talents, time travel, and supernatural bad guys.  Vintage photos are interspersed within the chapters, and I found those to be very interesting. However, at times I felt the author was trying too hard to incorporate the photos into the story. There is also room at the end for a sequel, but when I finished the book, I specifically had the thought "I will not be reading the sequel to this".  The concept was unique and it was a quick read once you got into it, but the problem was actually getting into it.

Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror

Perfect book for Halloween!  It is written for children and contains some cautionary tales about children who misbehave and the unfortunate events that befall them.  I actually really enjoyed reading the stories.  This is essentially a group of short stories encompassed within a larger story that is equally as frightening if you are afraid of dark, scary woods at dusk/nightfall or things that go bump in the night.  This is a great book to read under the covers with a flashlight for a scary effect for kids.  Then again, I'm not sure you want to scare kids before they go to bed. You may never sleep alone again if you do!

The Girl Who Fell From the Sky

This book was a bit melancholy but sweetly written.  It's unassuming and sort of slowly walks you through the story.  You wonder in the back of your mind what really happened to the main character. The author shows you in pieces what is the truth behind the tragedy.  However, when you find out, you realize that you already knew.  Even with out the tragedy, this is a story of a bi-racial girl who is growing up confused about where she belongs in a 1980s-1990s race-conscious America.  The tragedy that befalls her family could have been omitted and a solid story could have still been written more like a character study.  I did enjoy it as a coming of age story. I found that I was pacing myself while reading it so I could take my time and enjoy it.  As a side note though, I still have to say the best "bi-racial coming-of-age" book I ever read (thus far in my short life) was Caucasia by Danzy Senna.  Hey, I'm all about reading so I suggest reading both and coming to your own conclusion.

The Mill River Recluse

If you enjoy stories with a Hallmark/Lifetime movie feel to them, then this is the book for you.  I could easily see this as a holiday movie.  It is also a book about how we treat others and how we want to be treated.  The brief premise is that an older woman with social anxiety disorder has become a recluse in her small town.  The book vacillates between the past and the present to tell the story of how this reclusive lifestyle was started and how it affects the town today.  I enjoyed it because of its simplicity.  If you are looking for deep plots and multiple twists and turns, this book will not help you. However, if you are looking for a simple book with a lesson about kindness, pick it up and enjoy.  I don't know if it is available in traditional print, but the e-book was only a dollar or so.

The Night Circus

This book was truly magical! There really are no other words to describe it.  I did think about Water for Elephants a few times while reading this, but it really is a different type of circus book.  It is much more about the magic in our world that we fail to see on a daily basis.  It's about that childhood belief that life can still have elements of awe.  The very basic premise is that two illusionists are pitted against each other in a competition that is played out in a circus for all the world to see.  But does the world see it or is your illusion a solitary pursuit? I completely expect this will be made into a movie (there is a fabulous opportunity for whomever designs the fashion and the set of the circus), but nothing can compare to the world you envision in your own mind.  Yes there is also romance in this book, but it is both a romance of the carnal kind as well as the romantic feeling you get when you fantasize about something that was wonderful, yet ephemeral.  This is one of the better books I've read this year. Highly recommended!

Is It Just Me?

If you have some common sense then this book is preaching to the choir.  Whoopi basically discusses (in short quick chapters) how civilization is not really civil anymore.  So if people who talk on their cell phones in the movie theater, don't give their kids boundaries, don't know how to act in public, gossip about everything that's NOT their business, clip their nails in public, or are just plain rude to others get on your nerves, then this book will have you nodding your head and saying "so true, so true".

Heart of the Matter

First, I must admit I couldn't put it down. It is 4am and I just finished it. I had to find out what was going to happen next.  The author does know how to snare you! That's a good thing.  With that being said these characters were so infuriating! There wasn't one character I truly liked (except Charlie, a 6 year old boy. He was sweet.). All the housewives are cookie-cutter 'burbs and none of them seem to share an independent brain cell between the whole lot of them.  I was so frustrated reading this! I liked the movie "Something Borrowed" and decided to give Emily Giffin a try, but I found myself secretly yelling at most of the characters.  Especially the two main female characters. If the author could maintain her current writing style, but add some STRONG female characters instead of weak, needy ones I'd be happy.

The Slap

If everyone in Australia is as miserable as the people in this book, then I never want to travel there.  This is one of those books where everyone has issues.  They are either depressed/angry/anxious/disillusioned/self-medicated/frustrated/disappointed or full of regret.  There really is not one likable character in the story except maybe Richie, but that's because he's a teenager and his angst is the genuine angst of youth.  Everyone else in the story is in their 40s and seems to have angst because their life sucks.  Too much sex and drugs and expletives for me to really connect with any of the characters. I just felt sorry for most of them.

The Sweet Relief of Missing Children

Skip this book!  For the first 200 pages I really hung in there hoping that the stories would somehow connect and make sense, but then for the last 159 pages I was just speed reading.  Then I got to the end and was pissed!  There is no closure, no real connection to the big picture at all and no questions answered!  The entire book, as indicated by the title, is a little disconcerting because it deals with topics such as rape, abortion, abduction, suicide and so on.  Everyone's life in this book is sad and pathetic.  If I look through my literature review glass I can come up with some grandiose philosophical ideals I'm sure the author is trying to convey (i.e. the loneliness of parenting, what makes a good parent, sacrifice of your life goals for your child's, etc...) However, I just wanted the book to end because it was depressing as hell.

The Baby Planner

5 things about this book
1) It was definitely written with the hopes that movie rights will be bought...probably a cute little rom-com with Katherine Heigl
2) I only picked this up because Jackie Collins has a quote on the cover (and she is the queen of quick trashy reads and I <3 her)
3) That being said....Josie Brown is NO Jackie Collins
4) This is a very quick read....perfect if you have one more beach trip coming up this summer
5) It's a very predictable book and the main character is quite clueless.  You, as the reader, will catch on by page 20 and she's still clueless until page 200-something.

Miss Minimalist

As you may or may not know, I am trying to scale back on my clutter and the amount of random "things" I own.  It's been a really good process so far and this book offers further motivation to continue to cut back on consumerism.  It is a short, quick read (as it should be if it is about minimalism right??) and offers a lot of GREAT ideas that can be implemented in anyone's daily life.  Don't feel like you need to do a lot to simplify your life.  You can choose just one idea and start from there and see where the journey takes you.  (FYI:  this book was only $1 on Amazon for the Kindle version)

Robopocalypse

I have to say at first I didn't think I would get into this book, but I heard a little rumor that Spielberg will be directing the movie so I had to read it.  LOVED IT!  I was more into this book than I thought I would be, but you do have to enjoy a little science fiction to even think about picking this up.

If Sons Then Heirs

I really wanted to like this book because I heard good things about it.  In the end though, I had to force myself to finish it.  It was "just ok".  I couldn't bring myself to truly care about any of the characters.  There were some side stories that were unnecessary.  Then there were great side stories that weren't developed well enough.  It's also a book that vacillates between present day and the past.  I think the author did that to show that the two are always connected, but it didn't really work for me here.

Master your Metabolism

Recommended to me by my friend Aubrey. I literally took out a notebook and jotted notes while reading this book.  I was already in the process of organizing and cleaning my life up.  Now it's time to do the same for my body.  Great information in here like how to tell if the produce you are buying has been genetically modified or not and what brands of food are sustainable and organic.

Born to Run

Hands down, one of the best books I've read this year!!  As I was reading it, I felt genuine awe and inspiration.  You don't have to be a runner or a sports fanatic to appreciate the book.  I only run around my block every once in a while and I could still glean life lessons from just about every chapter. I highly recommend this book.

Focus

Very short ebook (approx 120pages) available on Kindle (maybe Nook too, but I'm not sure).  I really need to apply some of the tips to my life....I'll let you know how that goes. Seriously, if you want to lessen the distractions of constantly being bombarded with information in day to day life, this may be worth a glance. I think everyone can apply something from here to their life.

The Fall

This is another book that took me forever because I made the grave mistake of starting it at the beginning of LAST semester.  This is the sequel to The Strain, which I finished back in March.  I liked the first one better because it was all new.  Part 2 of this trilogy was good as well, but I wasn't as scared as I was while reading the first one.  Probably because I already got the idea.  There are some twists, but Del Toro takes his time getting you there.  Most of the main action is in the last 100 pages.

One Day

I don't know where to begin.  It took me a long time to get through this book because in the beginning I kept thinking "What is the point?". It's about 400+ pages and I honestly didn't really get into the story until about page 244.  BUT.....the last 120+ pages left me stunned, teary-eyed and philosophical about life, love and the path of our lives.  I finished the book around midnight and I lay in bed just thinking about it for another hour.  I think it's because I really identified with the character Emma. Then I read some reviews and the one that most closely said what I was feeling was that it is a book that is quiet in it's profoundness and "it melts as you read it so that you don't notice all the hard work that it's doing".

Bossypants

I literally did laugh out loud while reading this.  I am already a fan of hers anyway.  Perfect light summer reading.  She actually makes some really good points about life in between the laughs and among the laughs.  If you can laugh *and* learn a little something at the same time, it's a win-win.  I really enjoyed this.

The Strawberry Letter

If you listen to Steve Harvey in the AM, you are well acquainted with the crazy "Strawberry Letter" portion of the show.  Well here Shirley addresses some of the main reasons we (as women) can be our own worst enemy.  If you listen to the show you will recognize most of what she's saying.  (Same thing with Steve Harvey's book).  However, there are some gems in here that may hit home for some women.  I think if you are the parent of a teenage girl, there are some gems for her as well.....so seek them out and start a conversation with your daughter about how to get some standards in life.

So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore

I read this book because Pastor Waller mentioned it in one of his sermons a few weeks back.  Anyway, it was sloooow to get through for two reasons. 1 - The main point was repeated quite often so when the author went on and on I dozed off.  2- When the author did make a salient point I took the time to pause and think about it.  Overall, though, I think this is a book that could have been a 20 page booklet/brochure.  I'm just saying.

Gone with a Handsomer Man

This book was just plain old FUN summer reading. It was fun to read, and a quick read at that. I would recommend it as an escapism summer/beach/vacation read. It's a love story and murder mystery rolled into a storyline ripe with Southern hospitality and food (including recipes in the back of the book). The author did a decent job of making the journey enjoyable. Just what a nice escape should be. I laughed out loud at a few scenes (if you are familiar with Southerners and "their ways" you will laugh too). In my mind I'm already secretly casting the movie :-)

Orange is the New Black

This is yet another book I've been trying to finish for over a month.  School gets in the way!  Ugh! Anyway, I enjoyed this book because of the unique perspective given about our prison system and the women in it.  There were times when it dragged (much like I'm assuming the time in prison drags), but there were also moments of insightfulness that the author experienced that made it a pretty solid read.

Empire State of Mind

Worst.Biography.Ever.  Basically if you are a fan of Jay-Z and already know his songs and his story, this book is a huge waste of time.  The author basically just quotes some lyrics on just about every page and talks to some has-beens who are probably just talking about Jay-Z so they can see their name in print.  Only upside to this book is that you can read it in a day and a half....or less, but I would say don't even waste your time.

Two Kisses for Maddy

DEPRESSING!  True story about a guy whose wife dies within 27hours of having their first baby.  He wrote the book and talks about his grief and misadventures raising their daughter. Some of the misadventures are funny, but overall he mostly describes how much he cries.....A LOT.  So sad.  It is a testament about the power of family and friends to help get you through life's challenges.  It also makes you count every moment with your loved ones as a blessing.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

It only took me FOREVER to finish this wonderful book because school gets in the way of my REAL education.  Anyway, this book was very well written and really interesting to read.  I can see why it's a bestseller!

Disintegration

I started this book before I left for San Diego, but just finished it today and it is really thought provoking (plus I love Eugene Robinson anyway and think he is brilliant!).  Basically this is a discussion about how there is no longer just one "black america" but now four.  How these four interact with each other, and society at large, is dissected in a palatable and concise manner.

Marry Him

Pretty freakin' hilarious (to me). She talks about how women hold out for the perfect guy and don't realize that he doesn't exist so you better scoop up a guy who's good enough and go with it or you'll be old and alone.  Sound depressing, but it was funny.

These Things Hidden

If you like Jodi Picoult give this one a try. Has a couple twists and turns that may keep you interested.

Heaven is for Real

Quick read.  Pretty much read half last night and the other half on my flight to Cali.  Interesting and thought-provoking.  I think it was even more thought-provoking because I was reading most of it as I was flying over the beautiful landscape of America and it does make you think about God.

The Strain

First I have to give props to my girl Diva for recommending this book to me.  Second I will give you all the same warning she gave me:  DO NOT TRY AND READ THIS BOOK RIGHT BEFORE YOU GO TO BED.  I'm not gonna lie, I was a little scared of the dark while reading this. There would be nights I would read a little bit of it and then try and go to bed, and I couldn't.  I was like a 6 year old afraid of the boogeyman.  Real talk.  But I loved it and will definitely be finishing this trilogy.

The Ditchdigger's Daughters

This dude was strict with his daughters.  I think since he had 5 biological kids and 1 adopted one, it's a good look at how discipline really depends on the CHILD'S personality. He didn't really tailor the discipline to fit the individual.  Sometimes I thought the dad was a jerk and sometimes I thought he had some good points.  Either way, it was a pretty inspiring story told from the middle child's perspective.  If you ever think you can't do something in life, read this book.  You will realize you can. I enjoyed it.

Faking It

I got this book because the Amazon reviews averaged 4 out of 5 stars; and it was just $3 on the Kindle.  By the middle of the book I had to start munching on some crackers to go with all the cheese I was digesting! When I read a romance book I need it to have parts where I close the book and smile at the beauty of the love developing. This had me closing the book and rolling my eyes because it was so cheesy. Some parts were okay and others dragged. To make matters worse there is a sequel......I read the synopsis of that and rolled my eyes too.  I could only revisit this character and storyline as a beach read.

Switched

So I feel a little crappy today.  I'm PMSing and I'm snotty.  What better way to spend the day than to shun all schoolwork and finish this book I got for $1 on my Kindle.  It is just like Twilight but instead of the vampire/werewolf angle, it's about trolls and humans.  I kid you not.  It reads like it was written by a teenager but the author is really like 27 y.o. and uses the word "foxy"....as in "He looked really foxy."  If anything, this book has inspired me even more to get cracking on writing my own tome.

Water for Elephants

This book has been sitting on my shelf for YEARS!  I finally read it and loved everything about it!  Today was a great snow day to finish it (I had to read the last few pages with a flashlight since my power is out...but I digress).  It was so good I had to finish it.  If you want to read it, do so before the movie comes out, because your imagination is probably much better than Hollywood's.

In The Woods

Finally!  I feel like I've been reading this book forever.  It opened really well, dragged in some parts, but overall was a good mystery.  It kind of reads like an episode of SVU: Special Victims (but based in Ireland)

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter

SO GOOD!!!!  You begin by thinking you're reading about a crime (several crimes) but really this story ends up being about redemption and they way we judge/treat people in this world.  Some have been comparing it to "To Kill a Mockingbird".  I can see the resemblance.

The King's Mistress

First book of 2011. Historical fiction, based in Britain.  It was pretty good, but dragged in some parts. Also, I couldn't really get over the naiveté of the main character.