Thirsty - M.T. Anderson

Seriously, not much to it. Guys might like it a bit more than girls would.

Frostbitten (Women of the Otherworld, #10) - Kelley Armstrong

I took my time with this book and just let myself enjoy it. I love the series, but Elaina and Clay are my favorite characters so I was excited to get back into their world. By book 10 most series have started to fall short, but after book 9 and 10 I think Kelley Armstrong is doing a wonderful job at keeping her stories fresh and exciting. It was well written.. (I know a lot of these supernatural books are cheesy and light, but Armstrong has the ability to put together a well written novel instead of just a fun fluff read.

Tempted (House of Night #6) - P.C. Cast
I luv me some P.C. Cast. (Awe, look, the twins have rubbed off on me.)

The Van Allen Legacy (Blue Bloods, #4) - Melissa de la Cruz

I liked this one better than the others. She's continuing to become a better writer with each book as I've said in the past. This one did a much better job at working up to a climax and then actually having something big happen (that didn't end in a page). I'm sure she'll continue to get better, but it's nice to see her progressing.

Undead and Unwed (Undead, #1) - MaryJanice Davidson

I was laughing most of the time. It was hilarious. It's absolute fluff and there's no reason to read it other than to have a good laugh. Most males will probably fail to find it funny, but if you're looking to de-stress and just enjoy something trivial this will do wonders for you.

Undead and Unemployed (Undead, #2) - MaryJanice Davidson

Undead and Unappreciated (Undead, #3) - MaryJanice Davidson

Hehe. Conversations with Satan at Orange Julius. I should have known there was something wrong with that place.

Undead and Unreturnable (Undead, #4) -MaryJanice Davidson

Undead and Unpopular (Undead, #5) - MaryJanice Davidson

Undead and Uneasy (Undead, #6) - MaryJanice Davidson

Undead and Unworthy (Undead, #7) - MaryJanice Davidson

Undead and Unwelcome (Undead, # 8) - MaryJanice Davidson

Sleeping with the Fishes (Fred the Mermaid, #1) - MaryJanice Davidson

Swimming Without a Net (Fred the Mermaid, #2) - MaryJanice Davidson

Fish Out of Water (Fred the Mermaid, #3) - MaryJanice Davidson

Derik's Bane - MaryJanice Davidson

The Royal Treatment (Alaskan Royal Family, #1) - MaryJanice Davidson

I enjoy MJD, but all her characters are exactly the same. Betsy, Fred, Christina... all the same girls, with very minor differences. I'd like to see her try something new.

The Royal Pain (Alaskan Royal Family, #2) - MaryJanice Davidson

Just a tinsy bit better than book !. The chemistry is better between the main characters.

The Royal Mess (Alaskan Royal Family, #3) - MaryJanice Davidson

This is my favorite of the series.

Dead Over Heels - MaryJanice Davidson

A collection of 3 short stories that go along with the Undead and Fred the Mermaid series. They were all cute.

Drop Dead, Gorgeous! (Gorgeous, #2) - MaryJanice Davidson

Not very good.

Really Unusual Bad Boys -MaryJanice Davidson

Valentine's Day Is Killing Me - MaryJanice Davidson, Leslie Esdaile, and Susanna Carr

Dark Prince (Carpathians, #1) - Christine Feehan

If there had been more to the plot it could have had potential. I liked the last Carpathians book I read (#14), but I wasn't thrilled with this one. It seemed like it dragged a bit (what plot there was between romance scenes). I'll keep trying some in hopes that the plot sections get better. Plus, I've already checked most of the series out and I feel like I have to read them because of that.

Dark Desires (Carpathians, #2) - Christine Feehan

Dark Magic (Carpathians, #4) - Christine Feehan

Ya, I know, I read them out of order. I started reading book 4 and then realized it wasn't book 3. Oh well. I figured I should just keep reading since I was already 50 pages in.
I'm starting to find a pattern with these books. It's almost like the girl is getting rapped in each one. Ya, so she's found her lifemate, her other half in the context of the book, and the guy always just has to have her. Well, the girl always says no the first time even though part of her feels some connection to the guy (duh, it's her other half...i get it...) but the guy has his way with her anyway. I'm sorry! She said no! To continue constitutes rape. And this lady got awards for her romantic stories. I'm sorry, but rape isn't romance. Now, in the later ones I happened to have read this wasn't the case, but in books 1,2, and 4 it is. (I'm sure I'll see it in the third one too). So, afterward the girl is always pissed off and I would be too, but by the end of the story all is well. In the context of the story one half can't survive without the other, but if they're truly that connected the guy should stop and control his "animal instincts." Can authors avoid having their main characters be raped by someone that loves them and then have everything be okay? It seems like people could get the idea that it's okay as long as the person who did it is their "soul mate". If they're your soul mate they'd back off and let you go at your own pace.

Evernight (Evernight, #1) - Claudia Gray

Odd twist to the vampire story. I enjoyed it.

Stargazer (Evernight, #2) - Claudia Gray

Red Rose and Snow White: A Grimms Fairytale - Grimm Brothers

Read to the class. Better than Halloween, but still not a good book.

Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #1) - Laurell K. Hamilton

A Touch of Dead - Charlaine Harris

A compilation of short stories from the Sookie Stackhouse series. The books are much better.

Grave Secret (Harper Connelly, #4) - Charlaine Harris

Harper can sense dead people. She can feel where bodies are and is able to "see" the last few moments before someone's death and/or what they died of. In this book, Harper finally figures out what happened to her sister who has been missing since high school. It's no better or worst than the previous Harper books. You get exactly what you expected.

Chocolate - Joanne Harris

Cute. I had a hard time getting the movie characters out of my head and just letting the book take over. Because of that, I never managed to become fully consumed by the book.

Beauty (A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast) - Robin McKinley

It was beautiful. If you like the story of Beauty and the Beast you should like this.

The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

I loved it and thought it was amazingly well written. It's absolutely beautiful and it made me cry more than once.

Evermore (The Immortals, #1) - Alyson Noel

LOVED it! It's cute and interesting. I didn't want to put it down.

Blue Moon (The Immortals, #2) - Alyson Noel

Tall, Dark, and Fangsome (Immortality Bites, #5) - Michelle Rowen

I'm sorry to hear that this is the last book in the series. I liked Thierry and Quinn.

The Alchemyst (Nicholas Flammel, #1) - Michael Scott

I wasn't really pulled in by the book. I'll see if book #2 gets any better because I'm the type of person that just has to finish a series, but I labored through this one.

Halloween - Jerry Seinfeld

It's a kids book. The kids liked it. I hated it.

Secret Vampire (Night World, #1) - L.J. Smith

I liked James' character. It makes a better short story than a book, but it's cute. The climax is not exactly a big deal. However, the series looks really interesting.

Daughters of Darkness (Night World, #2) - L.J. Smith

Spellbinder (Night World, #3) - L.J. Smith

Storm Glass (Glass, #1) - Maria V. Snyder

Really interesting. I liked the technical explanations of glass making mixed with the fantasy storyline. The main character is a girl who can instill magic into glass. In the beginning of the book she's able to create animal pieces that can be used for communication (like a phone). As the story continues and the drama unfolds, she discovers that she can do a lot more than she ever would have imagined. I think that both males (probably) and females could get interested in this one.

Kitty Raises Hell (Kitty Norville, #6) - Carrie Vaughn

It was a lot of fun

Fanged & Fabulous (Immortality Bites, #2) - Michelle Rowan

Lady & the Vamp (Immortality Bites, #3) - Michelle Rowan

Stakes & Stilettos (Immortality Bites, #4) - Michelle Rowan

The Immortality Bites series is light reading, but I really like the main character for some reason. Maybe it's just that she seems so to be such an average person. The series is really cute and I'll keep reading future books.

Angel with Attitude - Michelle Rowan

I liked it, but for some reason I didn't get into it. I don't know if that's because of my personal schedule or if it was something about the book. Let me know what you thought about it if you've read it. It had a lot of good drama in it. Maybe I was just missing the main character from the Immortality Bites series. Who knows...

Succubus on Top (Georgina Kincaid, #2) - Richelle Mead

Succubus Dreams (Georgina Kincaid, #3) - Richelle Mead

Succubus Heat (Georgina Kincaid, #4) - Richelle Mead

I loved this series. The first one was my favorite, but I can't wait for the next book. Book 4 had me freaking out a bit. I can't believe some of the stuff that happened! Yeah for Richelle Mead! She's able to keep me entertained. (Unlike Vampire Academy, this is not a young adult series.)

Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand ( Kitty Norville, #5) - Carrie Vaughn

Cute. Ben and Kitty confuse me at times. They aren't uber romantic as a couple. I don't see them together, nor do I really fell it from the books. but I still like the characters so I'll keep reading.

Murder With Puffins (Meg Langslow, #2) - Donna Andrews

Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos (Meg Langslow, #3) - Donna Andrews

Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon (Meg Langslow, #4) - Donna Andrews

We'll Always Have Parrots (Meg Langslow, #5) - Donna Andrews

Owls Well That Ends Well (Meg Langslow, #6) - Donna Andrews

No Nest for the Wicket (Meg Langslow, #7) - Donna Andrews

The Penguin Who Knew Too Much (Meg Langslow, #8) - Donna Andrews

The Meg Langslow series was also light and carefree. I loved Meg and Micheal in the beginning, but her and Micheal's relationship seems like it's been suffering since the reenactment. They seem almost like siblings rather than a couple. He's just along for the ride as an extra character. The books don't have to turn all romantic, but their relationship is definitely lacking. I feel sorry for the guy. The family antics, while meant to be odd, get to be just a little too much. Book four was my favorite, but towards the end of the series the situations just became more and more unrealistic. Not that the previous books weren't bizarre, but I started to roll my eyes a bit more frequently during book 6 and from there onward I just shook my head a lot.

Master of the Night (Mageverse, #2) - Angela Knight

I like the premise, but there's a lot of sex. A lot! I like the whole Aurthurian legends thing so I'd like to keep seeing what happens in the Mageverse, but I'm not sure if I can handle another book with that many "scenes". I'm sure the fact that once I start a series I feel the need to finish them will win out despite my fears, but I think I'll have to space these out if I do keep reading. Plus, it was just plain cheesy.

The Lost Symbol (Robert Langdon, #3) - Dan Brown

It took me about 120-140 pages to actually get sucked into The Lost Symbol. Maybe it's the fact that I didn't have the Louvre, or the Vatican to engage my mind in the beginning. I felt like the book picks up after they leave the library and everything starts to get more interesting. Despite the fact that I got interested in it, and enjoyed it, I still didn't feel as consumed with the characters as I have in the past. Maybe it's because I kept picturing Nicholas Cage in National Treasure, rather than Langdon in some of the scenes. Also, it almost seemed as if there was no need for them to go exploring in D.C. since the clues where all in one location. I think I like the idea of one clue leading to the next - with said clue being in a different location/on a different object.

What I did like about this book is the same thing I've loved about the other Robert Langdon books, the symbolism and the integration of art and architecture. I got a lot of new information that I can research and then hopefully use in the classroom, along with some really great quotes. Brown has a way of making art and symbolism fun and exciting and that's always something one needs when describing it to high school students. I never included the Washington Monument or the National Cathedral before, but I think I will now. Even if it's just a mini-lesson on the art and arch of D.C.

Goddess of Spring (Goddess Summoning, #2) - P.C. Cast

Goddess of Light (Goddess Summoning, #3) - P.C. Cast

Goddess of the Rose (Goddess Summoning, #4) - P.C. Cast

Goddess of Love (Goddess Summoning, #5) - P.C. Cast

Warrior Rising (Goddess Summoning, #6) - P.C. Cast

I loved them. The first one was odd in the beginning, but I'm glad I kept reading. (The main character in the first book talks to herself and inanimate objects a little too frequently at the beginning.) I loved Hades in the second book. He made me want to go to the underworld to search for my very own Batman ;). I loved Apollo in the 3rd book and Vulcan in book 5. The fact that P.C. Cast made a Wilbur Smith reference in book 4 proves beyond a doubt that she has good taste. I love Wilbur and it made my day.

My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding (Dark-Hunter, #7; Sookie Stackhouse, #6.1; Dresden Files, #7.5) - P.N. Elrod

I read threw this as fast as I could because nothing seemed to be interesting at all. It was a waste of my day.

Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely, #1) - Melissa Marr

Ink Exchange (Wicked Lovely, #2) - Melissa Marr

Fragile Eternity (Wicked Lovely, #3) - Melissa Marr

I was pleasantly surprised. For some reason I didn't expect much out of these, but I thought Melissa Marr did a wonderful job. The stories were great. I hope they turn these into a movie. I see some great potential.

Usual Suspects: Stories of Mystery and Fantasy (Sookie Stackhouse, #8.1) - Dana Stabenow

I wasted my time.

Bite (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #8.5; Sookie Stackhouse, #5.1; Mageverse, #3) - Laurell K. Hamilton

Some of these were really good. I liked most of the stories.

Many Bloody Returns (The Dresden Files, #9.1; Sookie Stackhouse, #7.1) - Charlaine Harris

I was indifferent to it. Nothing amazing, but some of you might enjoy it.

Hot Blooded (Carpathians, #14; Mageverse, #1) - Christine Feehan

I liked the Carpathians story. This was a little too "hot" for my preferences.

Blood Lite (Dark Hunter, #9; The Dresden Files #10) - Kevin J. Anderson

Not worth reading at all.

Kitty and the Midnight Hour (Kitty Norville, #1) - Carrie Vaughn

Kitty Goes to Washington (Kitty Norville, #2) - Carrie Vaughn

Kitty Takes a Holiday (Kitty Norville, #3) - Carrie Vaughn

Kitty and the Silver Bullet (Kitty Norville, #4) - Carrie Vaughn

The series is light easy reading, but I really enjoy it. It's good to just relax with and have a fun read. Some of you might find it a little cheesy, but there's something about it I enjoyed and I'll keep reading them.

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1) - Richelle Mead

Frosbite (Vampire Academy, #2) - Richelle Mead

Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, #3) - Richelle Mead

Blood Promise (Vampire Academy, #4) - Richelle Mead

I just picked up the series on a whim not expecting it to be anything but cheesy, but I've fallen in love with it. I'm already waiting for the next one impatiently. Book 3 was my favorite.

Succubus Blues (Georgina Kincaid, #1) - Richelle Mead

Absolutely loved it. Read it! Enough said...

Marked (House of Night, #1) - P.C. Cast

Betrayed (House of Night, #2) - P.C. Cast

Chosen (House of Night, #3) - P.C. Cast

Untamed (House of Night, #4) - P.C. Cast

Hunted (House of Night, #5) - P.C. Cast

I really liked this series. They end a little oddly, but that's because the next book picks up right were the last one left off so the transition straight from one to the next. I'm not sure what it is about the series that has grabbed me, but I really got behind Zoey. I'm also loving Eric, but I feel sorry for the poor guy. The next book is out at the end of October and I plan to go to a signing in November. I'm looking forward to meeting the author.

Goddess of the Sea (Goddess Summoning, #1) - P.C. Cast

I was tentative with this one when I started, but the author managed to pull me in. I thought it was fun. And it got me interested in the rest of the series.

Site Unseen: An Emma Fielding Mystery - Dana Cameron

It was okay. I might read more, but I'm not sure yet.

Mysteria - Mary Janice Davidson

Mysteria Lane - Mary Janice Davidson

These were fun. I like the witch sisters.

Blue Bloods ( Blue Bloods, #1) - Melissa de la Cruz

Masquerade (Blue Bloods, #2) - Melissa de la Cruz

Revelations ( Blue Bloods, #3) - Melissa de la Cruz

I like the idea behind the books, but the author is still learning. Each book gets a little better, but she's not there yet. In the first book there's this big build and then you find out that the climax was the big build up. Each book after that, there's a bit more of a distinctive "climax" to the book, but I don't feel like she's there just yet. The stories are interesting enough that I'll keep reading to see how she progresses, but I wouldn't reread them.

Murder With Peacocks (Meg Langslow, #1) - Donna Andrews

Bitten & Smitten (Immortality Bites, #1) - Michelle Rowan

So adorable!

I started some really good series this month. The Charlaine Harris books were still light and fun, but it was the Women of the Other World and the Mortal Instrument series that really captured my attention. Kelley Armstrong and Cassandra Clare did a wonderful job. The Mortal Instrument series is for young adults. It got slow once or twice, but it sucked me in and I had to keep reading. The Women of the Other World series was amazing! I got sucked in and couldn't put them down. Armstrong is a good writer and you really get behind her characters. Bitten and Industrial Magic stand out as my two favorites.


The Summoning (Darkest Powers, #1) - Kelley Armstrong

The Awakening (Darkest Powers, #2) - Kelley Armstrong

Shakespear's Christmas (Lily Bard Mystery, #3) - Charlaine Harris

Shakespear's Trollop (Lily Bard Mystery, #4) - Charlaine Harris

Shakespear's Counselor (Lily Bard Mystery, #5) - Charlaine Harris

Real Murders (Aurora Teagarden Mystery, #1) - Charlaine Harris

A Bone to Pick (Aurora Teagarden Mystery, #2) - Charlaine Harris

Three Bedrooms, One Corpse (Aurora Teagarden Mystery, #3) - Charlaine Harris

The Julius House (Aurora Teagarden Mystery, #4) - Charlaine Harris

Dead Over Heels (Aurora Teagarden Mystery, #5) - Charlaine Harris

A Fool and His Honey (Aurora Teagarden Mystery, #6) - Charlaine Harris

Last Scene Alive (Aurora Teagarden Mystery, #7) - Charlaine Harris

Poppy Done to Death (Aurora Teagarden Mystery, #8) - Charlaine Harris

Sweet and Deadly - Charlaine Harris

A Secret Rage - Charlaine Harris

Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (Sookie Stackhouse, #8.2; Kitty Norville, #2.2) - Charlaine Harris

Bitten (Women of the Otherworld, #1) - Kelley Armstrong

Stolen (Women of the Otherworld, #2) - Kelley Armstrong

Dime Store Magic (Women of the Otherworld, #3) - Kelley Armstrong

Industrial Magic (Women of the Otherworld, #4) - Kelley Armstrong

Haunted (Women of the Otherworld, #5) - Kelley Armstrong

Broken (Women of the Otherworld, #6) - Kelley Armstrong

No Humans Involved (Women of the Otherworld, #7) - Kelley Armstrong

Personal Demon (Women of the Otherworld, #8) - Kelley Armstrong

Living with the Dead ( Women of the Otherworld, #9) - Kelley Armstrong

Men of the Otherworld - Kelley Armstrong

City of Bones ( Mortal Instruments, #1) - Cassandra Clare

City of Ashes ( Mortal Instruments, #2) - Cassandra Clare

City of Glass (Mortal Instruments, #3) - Cassandra Clare

The Bellini Madonna: A Novel - Elizabeth Lowry

The World Greatest Book of Useless Information: If You Thought You Knew All the Things You Didn't Need to Know - Think Again - Noel Botham

I enjoyed all of Charlaine Harris' books. They're a little cheesy, but they keep you entertained and that's what matters. They are great for reading over the summer or on a vacation. My favorite this month was Dead to the World. I got so sucked in. And, Eric....swoon! It was just really cute. I was also really excited for the new Wilbur Smith book.


Assegai - Wilbur Smith

Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse, #1) - Charlaine Harris

Living Dead in Dallas (Sookie Stackhouse, #2) - Charlaine Harris

Club Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, #3) - Charlaine Harris

Dead to the World (Sookie Stackhouse, #4) - Charlaine Harris

Dead as a Doornail (Sookie Stackhouse, #5) - Charlaine Harris

Definitely Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, #6) - Charlaine Harris

All Together Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, #7) - Charlaine Harris

From Dead to Worse ( Sookie Stackhouse, #8) - Charlaine Harris

Dead and Gone ( Sookie Stackhouse, #9) - Charlaine Harris

Grave Sight ( Harper Connelly Mystery, #1) - Charlaine Harris

Grave Surprise ( Harper Connelly Mystery, #2) - Charlaine Harris

An Ice Cold Grave ( Harper Connelly Mystery, #3) - Charlaine Harris

Shakespear's Landlord (Lily Bard Mystery, #1) - Charlaine Harris

Shakespear's Champion (Lily Bard Mystery, #2) - Charlaine Harris

Blue Horizon - Wilbur Smith

The Angels Weep - Wilbur Smith

The Leopard Hunts in Darkness - Wilbur Smith

The Triumph of the Sun - Wilbur Smith

A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling

Men of Men - Wilbur Smith

Monsoon - Wilbur Smith

The Host - Stephanie Meyer

Twilight: The Complete Illustrated Movie Companion - Mark Cotta Vaz

Interview with the Vampire ( The Vampire Chronicles, #1) - Anne Rice

Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

Rage - Wilbur Smith

A Time to Die - Wilbur Smith

Golden Fox - Wilbur Smith

Birds of Prey - Wilbur Smith

A Falcon Flies - Wilbur Smith

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling

The Wide Window ( A Series of Unfortunate Events, #3) - Lemony Snicket

The Miserable Mill ( A Series of Unfortunate Events, #4) - Lemony Snicket

*Midnight Sun (partial draft) - Stephanie Meyers

*Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea - Jules Verne

*The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1) - Lemony Snicket

*Caesar - Christian Meier

*The Reptile Room (A Series of Unfortunate Events #2) - Lemony Snicket

*Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte

Okay, I really haven't read very much recently. I've been watching movies like crazy, but I just haven't been reading because of work and ... honestly, I hadn't found much to interest me. I need suggestions.


Breaking Dawn - Stephanie Meyer



This better not be it! I want more! There's a whole eternity left for Bella to get into trouble!

Eclipse - Stephanie Meyer



Still hooked! Much better.

New Moon - Stephanie Meyer



This is probably the worst of the series. It was a fun read and I really liked it, but it's a bit torn up plot wise because of the circumstances. I think she did the best she could but it feels like the book is a little jumbled. If I hadn't already been sucked in by Twilight I wouldn't have been as willing to read on.


Twilight - Stephanie Meyer



I can't believe I got addicted to this, but I did. It's worth reading. I got sucked in by her ability to develop the characters (something the movie was horrible at). It made me miss Washington and the beautiful scenery, but it also made me more aware of things around me. It reminded me to pay attention to every second I have with my husband and to take everything in about him. I know him really well, but it made want to learn even more.
Besides all that, it was entertertaining. She misuses the word decimate several times, but I'll get over it. It's the relationships in the book that will suck you in and make you want to read the whole series. Meyer juxtaposes her stories with those of other well known novels - book 2 being very Romeo and Julietish - the most obvious of the comparisons. I think this is something I'l reread.


War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy



Good story. Move doesn't do it justice. I loved it, but most of you probably won't.\\


The Best Book of Useless Infomation Ever



Not so useless. ;)


Journey to the Center of the Earth - Jules Verne



First time I ever thought a movie was better than a book. Kind of sad, but I probably would have liked it more if I had read it as a kid.

Medici Money: Banking, Metaphysics, and Art in Fifteenth Century Florence - Tim Parks



Worth reading if you have any interest in the Medici or the time period. I really enjoyed it.


The President's Lady: A Novel About Rachel and Andrew Jackson - Irving Stone



Same as all the other one's I've read by him. It's sweet, entertaining, and worth reading. Read the new one on Jackson afterward because it picks up where this one ends. It's convenient.

I haven't posted since Feb so here's what I've read since then:

I've been incredibly busy recently and have not had the time to post. Nor have I had the time to read many books. Here's what I've managed to find time for:

American Shaolin: Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of Iron Crotch: An Odyssey in the New China - Matthew Polly

This was a really interesting book. It's an autobiography about an average guy who decides that he's going to fly to China and learn how to fight like the Shaolin monks. He drops out of Yale, angers his family, and flys to China in the 80's. I really enjoyed it because it not only discribes a lot of different aspects of Chinese culture, but Matt is not afraid to tell you about the stupid mistakes he's made and the embarrassing moments that I would never have the curage to discuss with even my closest friends. I've never been interested in any type of martial arts in my life, but he made me actually consider it for a few moments. Although, give me an opportunity to live in another country and participate in its customs and I'm generally more than willing, as long as I can handle the food. (I hate being a picky eater!)

River God: A Novel of Ancient Egypt - Wilbur Smith

I loved this book. I really got behind the characters and loved the heroins and hated the vilians. I was fully engaged in the book while reading. There was a bit of a love story envolved, but it was interesting because it was told from the perspective of a slave rather than a pharoh or warrior. Now, of course, this slave is supposidly the most talented person to have ever lived in Egypt, but at least that provides an opportunity for Smith to bring in art, architecture, advances in warfare, and technology. If you're interested in Egypt you might enjoy it. If you're an Egyptologist, you'll probably find an error or two.

The Book of Useless Information - Noel Botham

Hehe. Fun. Cute to keep you entertained on a long car ride.

The Book of Merlin - T.H. White

You know, I get it, but I still didn't like it. I tried reading this in high school and I got stuck on the communist ants. Again, I couldn't really get past it. I guess after The Once and Future King I was expecting a little more. I can just imagine how much trouble this book caused when it came out. If you love debates over which governmental system is best, here's a book for you.

The Aeneid - Virgil

This book reminded me a lot of The Illiad without the major listing of people. I loved the first part of the book, but my interests kind of tapered a bit after Dido's death. I had been wondering why schools don't make kids read this book over The Illiad since it was more entertaining, but after Dido's death, I stopped questioning the choice. I spent most of my time compairing the styles between Virgil and Homer and how writing had changed from Ancient Greek to Anciet Rome. It's an interesting comparison.

• The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

Most people applaud this book as being amazing, as do I. The Kite Runner gives you a brief glimpse at the Russian and Taliban occupation of Afghanistan. (It's not the primary theme of the book, but a significant part of the book). I think it's so important because it shows people that not ever Afghan is pro Taliban, anti-America, etc. Not that I haven't understood that since the beginning, but I can't believe the amount of people out there that don't believe that Afghans are capable of independent thought and that they're all out to get "us." Well, they can think for themselves, and not everyone is pro violence. They've grown up in an era of violence and that's negatively influenced a lot of people, some just failed to cope with it properly.

Anyway, the basic plot is one that a lot of people can understand and I think it's both gut-wrenching and heart-warming at the same time. If you're not up for the read, watch the movie. I hear it's good too. Maybe I'll watch it someday. =)

• Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School At Home - Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

I wish everyone would read this book. It was an amazing story that really inspires one to do something for the good of others. Greg Mortenson stays with a Pakistan village after a failed attempt at K2 and realizes that something as simple as a school would make a tremendous difference in their daily lives. He returns to the states and works hard to find money to fund the school he promised. His success leads to the creation of the Central Asia Institute (CAI) and many more schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Greg's story is inspiring and his work has had an amazing effect on the students in these poor villages. Check out his web site or donate a few pennies to Pennies for Peace. If you buy the book on Amazon, some of the money will go to the organization. It's worth it. This is one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read.

• Life of Pi - Yann Martell

I've contemplated this book for years. Every time I walked past it I'd stop and stare at the cover, wondering if it were worth my time. I'd pick it up, flip it over, and read the summary on the back. "I don't know," I'd say. I would flip it forward and backward wondering if it were worth my time. Every time I would put it down and think maybe I'd get it next time. I repeated this process, especially so in the last two years. I finally asked a few people about it in e-mails, but they seemed to respond to every question I had asked except for the one about the book. Apparently it wasn't memorable enough for them to praise it, or tell me it was horrific. Finally, I asked a friend over the phone and she said she liked it. I had this feeling that there would be something good within the pages of the book, but that summary was making me doubt myself. So, with some form of confirmation I finally purchased the book.

I loved it. The discussions on the nature of the beast and religion, this crazy boy who thought it was okay to be Christian, Muslim and Hindu, and of course, this elaborate story of one's life adrift. There were moments reading when I would relate to the character, but more often then not, I just felt like I understood him and his struggle. It was like no other book I've read. (Which is ironic seeing how there were questions about whether or not the author had plagiarized the book from a less successful version of a boy and a jaguar stuck on a boat.) It's worth a read.

"...a tie is a noose, and inverted though it is, it will hang a man nonetheless if he's not careful." - p. 6

• Paper Money - Ken Follett

This was the last Ken Follett book left for me to read. I understand why it's one of his most successful, unsuccessful novels. It was entertaining and worth reading, but you can also see why it wasn't a worldwide hit. It's different from his other books in that there are tons of characters, some of which are good and others are bad, but in this book there is no real hero. No one stands up and saves the day. Events just happen. It seems much more realistic without someone willing to risk everything, maybe they'll put up a fight here or there, but they never fully throw themselves out there and risk it all. Well, maybe one character puts himself out there in the end, but there's nothing heroic about his deeds.

• Unnatural Exposure - Patricia Cornwell

Unnatural Exposure wasn't exceptionally well written, but it was entertaining. Not much more to say about it...

• Two Lives of Charlemagne - Einhard and Notker the Stammerer

This was a good book to read. Einhard takes a historical approach to his writing and gives a background of the Frank, his likes and dislikes, a list of his marriages and children, as well as his will. Notker the Stammerer, a monk, tells multiple stories or anecdotes. He tells stories that emphasize Charlemagne's intrests in religion, education, etc. Unlike Procopius, these two had nothing negative to say about Charlemagne, which means one should question the validity of the stories without further studies. Despite that, they're worth reading.

• Velazquez - Javier Portus

Portus gives a brief overview of the important artistic and personal influences on Velazquez. He doesn't spend much time analysing Velazquez's art outside of the context of who or what influenced the painter. However, he does discuss his royal patronage and the significance of his portraits in relation to that position. It's a quick read, but it's something to start with. I would not recommend using this as your only source on Velazquez though. It doesn't give you a complete understanding of the artist's works.

• The Secret History - Procopius

Talk about someone unhappy with their current government... Procopius assaults Justinian, Theodora, and Belisarius. It reads almost like an E! True Hollywood Story with a little soap opera thrown in. Without a decent knowledge of Justinians' reign it's hard to separate fact from fiction and the over exaggerations.

I find it rather frightening to see how competent government never seems to survive. There's always someone that will come along later and manage things inefficiently. Off course, that's not a suprise to anyone seeing how it seems to be a historically proven process that we will continue to cycle through.

• Roman Society - Henry C. Boren

I really enjoyed this book. It may not be perfect, but it does exactly what it set out to do, provide a history of Roman society. There's a lot of good information in the text, as it provides Roman society within the context of the development and decline of Rome.

• Belly Laughs - Jenny McCarthy

This was a really cute book about the whole pregnancy process. It's not a book that an expecting mother should live by, but it's deffinately something that will entertain you while giving you information about a few things you'll be looking forward to, and hoping to avoid. She's honest about her pregnancy and puts even the most untalked about subjects out there. It might scare some people, but it might help someone realize that they're not alone in all those bodily changes. It's an easy read for someone not looking for anything comprehensive.

• Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West - Gregory Maguire

I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. I guess it just wasn't for me. Part of it could also be that I'm still stuck on John Adams and I haven't really been inspired to move on to other books yet. It took me a lot of time to get through it since I wasn't motivated. Interesting concepts. Enjoyed the political discussions, but it didn't capture me.

• John Adams - David McCullough

So, I finished this one at the end of October and just never got around to posting. McCullough wrote an amazing book that I'm still mulling over in my mind. There was so much information and so many examples of the spirit of 1776 that it was impossible for me to read without really considering the changes in our government and begin to worry about how far we've strayed from the essential tenants of our founders. Not that I didn't worry before, but now it has really gotten under my skin. Whether you agreed with Adams' position on events, you have to admit that he's an amazing real life character. He struggled throughout his life to do what he felt would help America as a nation. I see people who feel like the events of today don't affect them, or at least not enough to put down the remote and do something of significance. As a nation we expect to be handed an easy life in return for mediocrity. Politicians will compromise their morality, but they wont meet in the middle to help the poor, deal with Medicaid, social security, or education. It's an all or nothing attitude and not much of significance has come from it.

"...the eyes of the world are upon you." - 402

"Our obligations to our country never cease but with out lives." - 387

"Popularity was never my mistress, nor was I ever, or shall I ever be a popular man. But on thing I know, a man must be sensible of the errors of the people, and upon his guard against them, and must run the risk of their displeasure sometimes, or he will never do them any good in the long run." -373

• World Without End - Ken Follett

I absolutely loved this book. It's one that you wish would never end. World Without End lives up to the expectations of those who read The Pillars of the Earth. I had to force myself to slow my reading in order to really spend time with the book since it was so wonderful that I wanted to read it in one sitting. As you've read time and time again, Follett does a wonderful job developing his characters and you really get behind the heros and hate the villians. I loved Caris, Merthin, Thomas... Follett truely understands the importance of imagery and how to get the most out of each scene. The book won't disappoint!

"But humans are fallible, so the truth might be different." - p.284

• Whiteout - Ken Follett

I finished reading this earlier in the week, but I've been incredibly sick and busy on top of that so I haven't gotten to the computer in a bit. Sorry you had to wait for my insomnia to come back (almost 5 am and I haven't slept). Anyway...

I loved this book. I held off on it for a while since it has to do with viruses and germ warfare just freaks me out. Follett did a wonderful job of making the book suspensful, but not overly tramatic. It's a wonderful read. The characters are amazingly strong and Follett finally succeeds at utilizing a large group of characters without underwritting them (one of his own goals from his early days). Everything comes together rather nicely dispite the multiple story lines. Plus, it seems like the climax just continues to build as the book moves on, rather than just waiting till the end for the big scene.

• Art History's History - Vernon Hyde Minor

It's a nice background to the changes in the study of art over the years. There's a lot of good excerpts or articles to give to students. Plus, quite a few future essay questions were inspired by the text. My future students will whimper. =)