Fiction Vaccation

This summer I took a trip to Colorado to visit relatives and I went on several camping trips, but for the most part my vaccationing happened in my own mind. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day I read 30 books. Or more accurately, I read two paper books, and read six books on my Kindle, and I listened to 22 audio books. Here is a quick review of all 30 books.

The Hitchkier’s Guild to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams – SciFi – I found this book entertaining enough, but don’t feel the need to join its cult following.

Persuasion by Jane Austin – Classic – Got to love 200 year old chick-lit.

Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte – Classic – This book is very slow moving and it had little pay off at the end. I don’t recomend it.

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown – Thriller – Fast pased and gripping, but almost identical plot and layout as Deviti Code. Unless your a huge Dan Brown fan, there is no reason to read more than one of his books.

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson – Non-Fiction – A must read for every nerd or people who wants to sound smart at coctail parties. A cliff notes of all scientific disaplines.

Avalon High by Meg Cabot – Young Adult – I really enjoyed this modern remake of King Aurtor. It made me think about a classic tale in a new way.

Sleepaway Girls by Jen Calonita – Young Adult – Not nearly as good as the YA book set at a summer camp that I just wrote. This book is very G rated and the characters are all very one dementional, but I’m sure I would have loved it when I was a tween.

Moonlight Becomes You by Mary Higgins Clark – Mystery – I guessed the right killerJ The story has enough twists and turns to keep it entertaining.

When it Happens by Susane Colasanti – Young Adult – The duel 1st person POV works well. The characters are properly complex and the story progresses nicely, though predicably.

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen – Young Adult – I loved this book and look forward to reading the rest of Sarah Dessen’s books. The characters are all complex and believable and deal with real issues faced by teens. I highly recomend this book for children and adults alike.

The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans – Drama – A good story, but at times slow moving. Good but not great.

White Oleander by Janet Fitch – Drama – Very thought provoking, and protrayed difficult situations in an honest manner. Could have been shorter, overly literary with extranious descriptions.

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell – Non-Fiction – Typical Gladwell doctrine, makes you think and clearly well reserched, but I didn’t really come away learning anything new.

Playing for Pizza by John Grisham – Drama – Interesting characters and premis, but I would have preferred more conflict.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini – Memoir – Extreamly depressing, this book gave me nightmeres. Tragically it is non-fictions. I’m glad that I know about reality, I just wish it wasn’t real.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley – SciFi – Deserves to be a classic, still a poinent protrale of human nature and possibility. If you weren’t assigned to read his in HS English class, you should read it now.

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux – Drama – An entertaining story with a nice ballance of mystery, intreage, and complex characters. Entertaining even if when not performed on Broadway.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer – Young Adult/Paranormal – A best seller for a reason, very gripping. Entertaining for wemon 13-40 (as opposed to the strict 13-18) but still not for everyone.

New Moon by Stephanie Meyer – Young Adult/Paranormal – Not quite as good as Twilight, but the story is so gripping it is still impossible to put down.

Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer – Young Adult/Paranormal – A good final battle (was originally meant to be final installment), continues to grip the readers.

Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer – Young Adult/Paranormal – If you loved the first three books, you will love this one too, but it contains vertually no real conflict and is basically just a 750 page happy ending.

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin – Non-Fiction – Fasinating story. I’m glad Greg Mortenson exists and I hope that his work continues to florish. An honost protral of middle eastern culture and politics.

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov – Drama – This book is extreamly well written and deserves all the literary praise it has recieved, but it is still a bit difficult to stomach a novel told from the POV of a pedifile.

Evermore by Alyson Noel – Young Adult/Paranormal – Clearly trying to ride in Twilights wake, but I found Ever’s character more likable that Bella’s. So if you love YA Paranormal, this book is worth reading.

Blue Moon by Alyson Noel – Young Adult/Paranormal – A major step down from the first book in the series. I liked Evermore enough that I still plan on reading the 3rd book when it comes out in November, but the protagonist became extreamly stupid in this book and I started hating her.

My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult – Drama – Interesting characters and a unique premiss. I loved the first 90% of the book. Unfortunately the ending is HORRIBLE.

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan – Children’s/Fantasy – The final installment in the Percy Jackson series. I highly recomend reading all 5 books. A fun adventure story based in Greek Mythology but set in moddern NYC.

Othello by William Shakespeare – Classic – It’s Shakespeare, how much more do I need to say. Interesting look at race and deseption. I hope to believe that we have evolved enough that this tragety couldn’t happen today.

Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet – Memoir – Very interesting life story of an Autistic Savant. This is a “comp title” to the memoir I’m currently writing. But I will never teach myself Icelandic in a week.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – Young Adult/Historical Fiction – Interesting look at WW2, told from the POV of death. Every thoughtful teen/tween should read this book.