This page is a place where I will list and rate the books I have read. I am not going to write reviews for all of them, although I will comment. The rating system is from one star (you might as well watch reality television) to five stars (drop what you are doing and read this book now), feel free to comment if you have read any of the books or to suggest books that you enjoyed. Check back often and bug me if I forget to update it.

My most recent reads are on top.

The House of Lanyon by Valerie Anand (***) This was an entertaining story. If you like historical fiction, you’ll probably like this book. Set against the War of the Roses, Anand tells the stories of merchant class families looking to advance their positions in a changing society. A good summer read.

Ellington Boulevard by Adam Langer (*****) This was a great book. Hip, clever, funny, relevant without being preachy, and so much New York that I could smell it. If anyone is interested in doing this for a book club this summer, let me know. I’d be willing to give it a shot.

Making All Things New by Henri J.M. Nouwen (****) This short book is a great introduction to Nouwen if you haven’t read him before. You could probably read it in an afternoon and I guarantee it will give you something to think about. I only gave it four stars because it is so small and simple compared with some of Nouwen’s other books. I read a bunch of Nouwen’s books when I first met Justin because Justin loves him and I had never heard of him before. It is really interesting to read them again, years later. Nouwen is one of those people that I would have loved to sit down and have coffee with, just to talk. I’m hoping we’ll have time for that in heaven. Until then, I’ll re-read his books every few years and glean something new every time.

Trash by Dorothy Allison (*****) Somewhere in the midst of those who have mastered the written word, you will find Dorothy Allison. She is a writer who understands how to use language to create an emotion and move a reader. She is a writer who pulls no punches. She will not allow you to turn your head or avert your eyes, instead she will guide you through the horror and mess of life and bring you out on the other side. This collection of short stories is not for the faint of heart. They are painful and graphic, and above all, they are real, which is what makes them important.

The Emotionally Healthy Church by Peter Scazzaro (*****) I approach these sorts of books (psychology, self-help, mental illness, etc) with a degree of fear. There are so many nutjobs out there - in and out of the church - and I am wary of anyone who thinks they can de-construct a problem and present a viable solution in 13 short chapters. Too many of these books leave me feeling helpless or hopeless to change. The good ones, and this is one of the few, understand that I may never change - not fully anyway. They understand that the key is not Five Days to Total Transformation or Two Months to Complete Healing, the key is learning how to play with the hand you have been dealt.

I am an introvert. How do I work to make and keep meaningful connections and relationships in light of that fact? I am anxious and fearful. How do I draw boundaries to protect myself while still stretching and strengthening my ability to trust people and situations? I fear pain and change. How do I face and deal with grief and loss in my life or in my world? There are traits, habits and patterns in my life that I want to change. How do I set realistic expectations for change while remaining true to the person I am? I want to love and help people, but they keep messing up. How do I enter their lives without losing myself?

Scazzaro deals with all of these issues and more. He is a man who writes not from some theoretical knowledge but from real, painful experience. He gets it, and more importantly he gets how hard it is to change it. He is not blind to the faults of the Church, but instead of turning his back he is working for change, both personally and corporately. Highly recommended.

Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick (****) A balanced and personal telling of the great American legend. Readable, informative and interesting non-fiction, it works for me every time!

Eat This, Not That! by David Zinczenko (***) This was an interesting book. The best parts of it exposed some “healthy” choices for what they are - horribly unhealthy (see: Multigrain bagel with light cream cheese at Dunkin’ Donuts - 500 cal and 15g fat - geh.) It was encouraging to see that many of the things I was eating already were included in the healthy choices. This book was definitely geared toward men who eat out. Since I fit neither of those demographics, it wasn’t as helpful as I had hoped. I started out skeptical of the authors no-diet, weight-loss claims, but I think that was a perspective issue. As someone who eats out maybe one meal a week (and usually that is Subway or a Chipotle salad with no cheese, sour cream or dressing) I look at even the good foods and think weight gain, but, if you were eating the ‘not that’ foods and made all the changes in the book, I can see that you might lose some weight. This one is worth getting from the library, you just might learn something.

London by Edward Rutherfurd (***) This book was good, I think. I read the whole thing - and it is very long - so that must mean that I liked it more than not, but there was something about his style that really annoyed me. He traced certain family groups throughout the whole story. I realize that this allowed him to cover a millennium in one book while telling a somewhat coherent story but, to me, it made it more confusing. I would have preferred to read each chapter (they were divided by time period) as it’s own story, rather than trying to figure out how the people in the chapter were related to the people in the previous chapter. It just didn’t make for a very clean story. The thing that I liked about this book was the way he made the setting, the city, the main character. I will read other books by him, simply to find out about other places. I would recommend this book, to the right person.

Marathoning For Mortals by John “The Penguin” Bingham and Coach Jenny Hadfield (*****) I’m going to write a whole post about why I love this book. For now, let it suffice to say that if you have ever wanted to do something with your body that you thought was impossible, these two will give you all the encouragement, and common sense, you need. This is a great book!

Runner’s World: Complete Book of Woman’s Running by Dagney Scott (*****) Also a good running book. As the title suggests, this deals specifically with women runners. Major sections of the book are devoted to body image, nutrition/weight, woman-specific issues such as childcare, menstruation/pregnancy and safety concerns. These topics, and more, make this a highly recommended read for female runners - especially new ones!

Marathon Training for Dummies by Tere Stouffer Drenth (**) In true For Dummies fashion, this book covers the basics really well. The reason I gave it a lower rating than the other two running books is simple: reading it made me feel nervous and stressed about my running, reading the other two made me feel inspired. I don’t need any more stress.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (*****) Wow. This book kept popping up, on recommended reading lists, on staff picks, on the cart at the library, and I, foolishly, kept reading the back and putting it aside. I’m not in the mood for a mystery. I don’t like fiction set in modern times. I’ve never heard of her before. Well, that will teach me. This book was entirely captivating. I stayed up late reading. I neglected tasks and people. I tried to sneak a few extra pages while I was cooking dinner, or brushing my teeth. Not only was the story well-crafted, the twist was completely surprising while still plausible. I was slightly annoyed when it seemed the the narrator was missing the obvious answer, and then I realized that the obvious answer had very little to do with the point of the story. Highly recommended!

Rivals For The Crown by Kathleen Givens (***) This was a fun book. Interesting view of a familiar history from a slightly different perspective and certainly a page turner. I’m glad I read it before On A Highland Shore.

On A Highland Shore by Kathleen Givens (**) When I read Rivals For A Crown, I didn’t really understand why Givens was classified as a romance author. Now I do. Although the story was incredibly interesting and compelling, there were a few too many heaving bosoms and swelling codpieces for my taste. Don’t get me wrong, I like a little romance in my story, but this was too much. It’s unfortunate, because I know that she writes about the same family in other books and I want to know what happens to them. I guess I will just have to wait until I am in the right mood.

The View From Castle Rock by Alice Munro (***) I know Alice Munro is one of those authors that you should read, I just never managed to get around to it. I’m glad I started with this book though, I really liked the memoir/fiction blend and the ties to Scotland and the immigration experience were great tools to keep me interested. I’m not sure what to think about her writing style. This book was not a page turner, it was one that I could read for a while and then I had to do something else. I’m still not sure if that means it is really good writing that I am not smart enough to understand immediately, or if she just takes some getting used to. I am convinced that I will read more of her books, at some point.

Fragile Things: Short Stories and Wonders by Neil Gaiman (****) Short stories are a difficult medium. An author has to know what they are doing to make them work. Gaiman knows what he is doing. This collection of fairy tales, poems, spine-tingling ghost stories and fables is filled with complete works of art. Sure, I liked some stories better than others, and one poem more than most, but what I like best is the care that Gaiman takes with every story. He knows that stories are important, and his understanding of the fundamental importance of stories in the human experience comes across in his writing. Here’s what he says in the introduction:

“As I write this now, it occurs to me that the peculiarity of most things we think of as fragile is how tough they truly are. … Hearts may break, but hearts are the toughest of muscles, able to pump for a lifetime, seventy times a minute, and scarcely falter along the way. Even dreams, the most delicate and intangible of things, can prove remarkably difficult to kill.
Stories, like people and butterflies and songbirds’ eggs and human hearts and dreams, are also fragile things, made up of nothing stronger or more lasting than twenty-six letters and a handful of punctuation marks. Or they are words on the air, composed of sounds and ideas - abstract, invisible, gone once they’ve been spoken - and what could be more frail than that? But some stories, small, simple ones about setting out on adventures or people doing wonders, tales of miracles and monsters, have outlasted all the people who told them, and some of them have outlasted the lands in which they were created.”

The Observations by Jane Harris (*) I started this book and didn’t finish it. That almost never happens. But it was wasting my time, and that annoys me. I was so enticed by the description of the narrator, “saucy, ambitious, profane”, that I ignored the fact that the summary on the book jacket failed to arouse my interest. I figured that a book set in 19-century Scotland with such a narrator couldn’t be all bad. It was. I made it about 3/4 of the way through, and had yet to really care about any of the characters or the attempt at a mystery. Grrr. Why can’t all books be good?

The Secret History of Moscow by Ekaterina Sedia (****) As I said, when Neil Gaiman recommends a book, I listen. I’m glad I did! Fascinating juxtaposition of modern (1990s) Moscow and the history of Russian myth and folklore. I really didn’t understand some of it, but I think that was due more to my ignorance of Russian mythology than any fault in the writing. Some critics said that the writing was terse and unfeeling, I disagree. The whole book was tense and fast, well-suited for the tale of people trying to solve a mystery.

Presidential Courage - Michael Beschloss (***) I think the best parts of this book can be summed up in this quote from Harry S. Truman, “There’s nothing new in human nature … the only thing new in the world is the history you don’t know.” Learning about the difficult and courageous decisions that these leaders faced provides perspective when looking at America’s leaders both currently and in the near future. The book was very interesting and informative, but a disjointed writing style and a heavy reliance on trivial anecdotes made it hard to follow. A better review than I will write can be found in this NY Times article.

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott (****) At first, I was incredibly annoyed by his deliberate use of so many present-day gimmicks and gadgets, (i.e. “She pulled out her ipod shuffle and adjusted her bluetooth headset.” “He quickly looked it up in Google and Wikipedia.”). Ok, I get it. They’re savvy and connected. I mean, if you want to write a book that might last a few years, why not give the characters a chance to be timeless? I forgot my griping as the story progressed though. Working off the premise that all myths have some basis in fact (a great starting place, in my world), Scott re-creates the Elder Days and produces a very enjoyable read. It wasn’t Harry, Middle Earth or Narnia, but it was close.

Books from 2007

Anne of Green Gables (*****) I re-read all eight books in the Anne series over the holidays this year, the perfect time to read such a great tribute to family and love and the good things of life. Maybe you have to be a hopeless romantic to really love these books, but if, like me, you keep a bit of romance alive in your bitter, cynical heart, Anne will never let you down!

The White Masai by Corinne Hofmann (*) I hated this book. I tried to find a better way to say that, but I don’t think one exists. If I give her the benefit of the doubt and assume that something was lost in the translation from colloquial German to American English, I might be able to say that I really didn’t care for this book. While some might see this as a love story or an adventure, I saw it as a stupid tragedy. Maybe that says something about my perfectionism that doesn’t allow me to learn from my mistakes or some such psychobabble nonsense. So be it.
The basic story is that she goes to Kenya as a tourist, sees “her Masai”, falls in love with him before they exchange one word, leaves her whole life behind to go and live in the bush with him and then is surprised when things don’t work out and their cultural differences prove insurmountable. I’m not saying that I don’t enjoy a good love-at-first-sight story, but most of them are just stories. I know that they are fiction and I assume that they would never work in real life. Having the audacity to believe that initial attraction is strong enough to overcome any number of other foreseeable problems takes an extreme combination of foolishness and arrogance - Hofmann, in my opinion, has both. She was shocked when her rash decisions came with unforeseen consequences. She paraded her husband around like the trophy that he was and then didn’t understand when he refused to perform on command. Much of her tone in the book echoes that of wealthy big game hunters, home from their once in a lifetime safari, having bagged a particularly fine lion or elephant. While I, as a woman, can support her desire to remain independent and leave an abusive relationship, I cannot support the way that she used her “one true love” and tried to make him in to something that he was not, assuming that having more money and making their lives more westernized would improve the situation. Throughout the book she comes across, first and foremost, as a business-woman, and apparently she is continuing that trend. She has written two more books about her experience and turned this one in to a movie. So I guess, for her at least, it wasn’t a total loss.

Strivers Row by Kevin Baker (*****) The streak continues! I’m surrounded by good books! All these exclamation points are making me euphoric! (Okay, I’m done now.) This was a damn good book. Historical fiction, at its best, takes you to another place and lets you understand what it was really like to live there, in the midst of those circumstances. This book transported me to WWII Harlem and helped me understand race relations and parts of The Civil Rights movement as never before. More than anything, it made me want to go back in time to see what was really happening, and that is the sign of a really good read.

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson (*****) The five star streak continues! When I was little my dad would read Patrick McManus to me as a bedtime story. We would be howling with laughter as my mom shook her head and muttered something about “not seeming like we were calming down to go to sleep.” I judge all funny books by The McManus standard. This one gave even the funniest, most poignant McManus a run for its money. The day I finished it, I lent it to my dad. Now, whenever we see each other, we yell out funny parts, wiping away tears of mirth while my mom shakes her head.

The Birth House by Ami McKay (*****) Oh. My. Lord. This book was so great. Beautiful story, lovely characters, interesting history - this one had it all. For some reason (and as much as I think about it, I can’t quite put my finger on what it is) this book was exactly what I needed right now. Maybe it was the fact that it was emotionally gripping without being sappy, maybe it was the way the author made the characters real that allowed me to participate in their lives - rather than just observing them, maybe it was my unspoken need for some good, reasonable, female voices. Whatever the reason, I loved this book and would highly recommend it.

The Dead Guy Interviews by Michael Stusser (***) Clever, very clever. I chuckled throughout this book. Nothing earth-shattering here, but a good review of some of history’s more colorful characters. I appreciated Stusser’s snarky questions and managed to learn a thing or two from the dead guy’s answers. The short, readable interviews made this book perfect for reading while Andrew was playing or when I just had a few minutes of free time. Probably also good for bathroom reading, but, of course, I know nothing about that. (What? Too much information? Here? Never.)

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai (**) Wow. What a disappointment. This book made me rethink my plan to judge every book by its cover. The cover of this book was beautiful and the reviews on the cover were very good. I thought it was a sure thing. But, it wasn’t. The flat-out quality of the the writing almost redeemed the whole thing for me. Desai used the words to paint amazing pictures and bring places to life, but the story lacked anything to really draw the reader in. I didn’t really care about the characters and I felt apathetic about the social issues she tried to address. Because of the beautiful words I wanted to care, I just couldn’t.

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov (*****) My friend Olga, who grew up in the Soviet Union, lent me this book. I read it, enjoyed it, and returned it to her without really stopping to consider the ramifications of what I had just experienced. After talking with Olga about the book I am determined to read it again. My first reading showed that it was a dark satire, a harsh and provocative criticism of Stalin’s regime. I was amazed that it was published, even that it was published decades after it was written. But I still didn’t understand how rebellious Bulgakov was. This book is an amazing act of literary courage. I am excited to read it again. Book club, anyone?

Spaceman Blues: A Love Song by Brian Francis Slattery (*****) Brilliantly insane. Spaceman Blues braids the various meanings of Alien, and plays on the hopes and fears of everyone who loves the history of immigration in this country and fears what the future may hold for those who have not yet come. Under the Sci-Fi exterior is a social and political commentary, a love story (as the title says), a tragic hero and a view of New York that will change the way you see the city forever. This book made me laugh, cry and think - I can give it no greater praise than that.

Rumspringa: To Be Or Not To Be Amish by Tom Shachtman (****) Incredibly interesting sociological study on the choice to be Amish, as well as the place of adolescence in modern society. Like many documentaries, the book didn’t flow well. But, if you can plow through the glut of information, you will come out seeing the Amish, and many other groups of faith, in a different light.

Now Is The Hour by Tom Spanbauer (****) The sadness and loneliness of the characters seeps through the pages. A beautifully written story, tragic, hopeful, and honest, almost Winterson-esque in the voice development of the characters, except from a boy it didn’t resonate nearly as much.

Bitter Is The New Black by Jen Lancaster (***) HA! What a great summer read. Lancaster is so outrageously funny and horrible, I might have hated her at one point, but I think we could be friends now.

Smonk by Tom Franklin (**) Geh. This book gave me nightmares. I don’t know why I would be surprised when a book described by one reviewer as a horror story with humor scares me, but I wasn’t expecting it. This is one of those stories where there are no heroes, only likable villains.

The Temple Dancer by John Speed (*) I don’t know who writes reviews for some of these books, but I disagree with the one that said, “an exciting new voice in historical fiction.” In one of my only creative writing classes in college, the professor wrote, “Oh! I’m so surprised. (read: sarcasm)” all over my first story. (It’s true. She did. That was a bit harsh, but I am a really bad creative writer.) I felt like doing the same to this book.

Iran Awakening: A Memoir of Revolution and Hope - Shirin Ebadi with Azadeh Moaveni (*****) Ms Ebadi’s memoir is an especially good read because of the way it deals with the experience of a woman whose rights were taken away by the revolution that she supported. Her love for Iran, as a nation, convicted my apathetic heart and, in a way, made me wish that I was a better lover of my own country. Recommended for anyone who wants a glimpse of Iran’s humanity and hope beyond the warmongering of our, and their, current leaders.

The Greatest Knight - Elizabeth Chadwick (****) It’s not quite Sharon Kay Penman, but as historical fiction goes, it is the closest I have ever come. I will certainly be checking out more books by this author.

The Underdogs: A Novel of the Mexican Revolution - Mariano Azuela (**) I’m sure that, if pressed by the necessity of a college class requirement, I could write an excellent paper about how the pointlessness of this story illustrates the ultimate pointlessness of the proletarian struggle worldwide… yada, yada, yada. But I don’t have to write a paper on this book. So I will say that I found it rather pointless. Some of the writing was lovely and illuminating, but the story did not grab me and I was happy to put it down.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling (*****) Wow! I’ll keep this short and spare you any spoilers. Finishing the series is bittersweet, like the day after Christmas. Part of me wants more Potter books, or at least more Hogwarts books, but I know that they could never be as good as the original. I can’t believe it is really over.

The Book of Longing - Leonard Cohen (*****) Oh, I love poetry. If you don’t, you will probably not agree with my rating. The quintessential troubadour, Cohen writes about the realities of a life spent searching, but never finding, of disappointments and triumphs, or sadness and joy. The man is a brilliant writer.

Strong Women Stay Slim - Miriam Nelson (****) This was a great beginners introduction to the importance of strength training as well as a good beginning, at home, strength program. I skimmed a lot of the nutrition info, but I read enough to see that it was balanced and healthy. This is a good book to read if you are beginning a strength training program and need to learn the basics. I do feel like I need to find another resource for more advanced instruction - but while I get stronger, these exercises will work just fine.

Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think We Do - Brian Wansink, PhD (*****) Incredibly informative, not too boring - now that’s a good combination! I hate thinking about food, I would rather just eat it. But I am now convinced (even more than I was before) that I need to think about every bite. The good thing is that that proposition doesn’t seem so overwhelming after reading this book.

Queen Isabella - Alison Weir (?) I actually didn’t finish this book. I love Alison Weir, I have read her books on Eleanor of Aquitaine and The Princes in the Tower, but I just couldn’t get in to this one. Her books are one small step away from a history text and I think that I need to read Sharon Kay Penman’s rendition of a story before I can be interested enough to tackle one of Weir’s books.

Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening - Louise Riotte (*****) Oh, happy gardening! One only has to look at nature to realize that plants must work together to prevent disease and produce healthier yields, this book explains how that whole system works and how to make it work in your own garden. It was also really easy to read and well-organized which is incredibly important for a reference.

ChiRunning - Danny Dreyer (****) This book is full of tips to be a more efficient runner. The attitude of the book also made me want to go out and run - it just sounded like such a great way to spend time - which is a huge plus. If you are interested in being a better runner or in preventing injury while running, this is a great resource.

Wizards: Magical Tales from the Masters of Modern Fantasy (***) Okay, I admit it. I only read the Neil Gaiman story in here. I tried some of the other ones but I couldn’t get in to them. I guess I am not as much of a fantasy nerd as I thought. The Gaiman story was good, but a little spooky for my taste.

Infidel - Ayaan Hirsi Ali (*****) Interesting and terrifying reading. One of her main points is that what the West thinks it knows about Islam is wrong. If she is right, then I am far more scared than I realize. The beauty of this story, regardless of your opinion on world religions, is the attention it draws to the way women are treated around the world and the understanding that just because a woman lives in a “free” or “liberal” society does not mean that she is free or liberated. It appeals to the fundamental idea of feminism, not as a militant call to arms but as a reminder that we are all human beings and that there is still so far to go in the fight for equality and justice. Her platform is above partisan politics - a welcome relief in these divided times.

Captivating - John and Stasi Eldredge (***) I was going to rate this book five-stars and one-star, but I figured I would just settle on a nice three. It alternates between life-changing, revolutionary, greatness and mini-throw-up, greeting card, patronization. There are parts of this message that will be with me forever, that have healed broken parts of my heart and will fundamentally change the way that I live, but something in it just doesn’t sit right with me. I don’t know if it is presentation (which I can ignore) or the message that God needs us and is somehow lacking or incomplete without us (which I have serious theological issues with). I will probably read it again to try and sort that out and I hope to do a book club on it, which will shed some light on the issues in question. For now, I’m sticking with my mixed review.

Good Omens - Neil Gaiman (*****) Mayhem and insanity! If there is another author as kooky, creative and smart as Gaiman around, I haven’t found him. This book had me interrupting Justin’s reading time in order to read passages aloud to him - always the sign of a good read.

Sophie’s World - Jostein Gaarder (*****) WOW! I haven’t thought that hard about a book in a long time. I never really got in to philosophy, one quarter in college (much of which was spent trying to get Jason to notice me), a deceptively informative comic book about Kierkegaard from Nick on my birthday and some enthusiastic head nodding when people discuss philosophic ideas and sound really smart. But this book taught me more, directly and indirectly, about philosophical thought and history than all those combined. My head is spinning. I feel smart and invigorated - and just a little bit lost. Isn’t that the point?

Wickett’s Remedy - Myla Goldberg (****) I feel like I need to start this book over, after having read the end, in order to understand all the different stories that are being told. One reviewer said that, in a way, it seemed like the flu was a character in and of itself. I agree. Having never personally experienced an epidemic, I can not understand the fear that accompanies it, but I felt some of that fear reading this book. I am glad I read it in the spring, once cold and flu season had passed.

Anything by Sharon Kay Penman - Okay, maybe not anything. I don’t like her medieval mysteries very much, but that is due more to my aversion to mysteries than her writing. In the past few months I have re-read all of her other books, Here Be Dragons, Falls The Shadow, The Reckoning, When Christ And His Saints Slept, Time and Chance, and The Sunne In Splendour. They are all amazing. If you like British history you should be reading them right now.

An Assembly Such As This - Pamela Aiden (**) Hear that loud crash? It’s the sound of my expectations falling off their high ledge. It just wasn’t very good. There’s not much more I can say.

Grace (Eventually) - Anne Lamott (*****) You know when you wake up and you are all warm and safe? In the moments when your body is completely rested and your mind is at ease? That’s how Anne Lamott makes me feel.

Love Is A Mix Tape - Rob Sheffield (*****) So good I dedicated an entire page to the idea. I laughed and cried and allowed the music to work its magic.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone - J.K. Rowling (****) Escape. Pure escape. I want to go to Hogwarts. I want to get a letter in the mail that tells me I can have another life. I want to do magic.

Full Woman, Fleshy Apple, Hot Moon - Pablo Neruda (****) Lovely, graceful poetry covering the eccentricities and commonalities of everyday life. Ode To My Socks is my new winter anthem.

When Christ and His Saints Slept - Sharon Kay Penman (*****) I love this book. This is probably the sixth or seventh time I have read it and it captivates me every time. Penman transports her readers to another time and place in a way that very few other authors can. Reading her books is like a vacation for me.

Art and Lies: A Piece For Three Voices And A Bawd - Jeanette Winterson (*****) Here’s what Winterson says in response to the comment that this book is too difficult:

“Why should literature be easy? Sometimes you can do what you want to do in a simple, direct way that is absolutely right. Sometimes you can’t. Reading is not a passive act. Books are not TV. Art of all kinds is an interactive challenge. The person who makes the work and the person who comes to the work both have a job to do. I am never willfully obscure, but I do ask for some effort. Certainly Art and Lies is my most closed piece of work. Perhaps it is hermeneutic, though no more so than plenty of books by plenty of guys. It was written at a time when I was looking inwards not outwards. It is thickly layered, concentrated and often dark. But it’s a book not a crime. If you don’t like it, don’t read it.”

Bloody brilliant writing.

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter - Kim Edwards (***) I remember why I don’t read many novels set in the modern day, they are too intense. I like to escape in my books - to another time, another life. I like to escape. This book was too real, to present. I couldn’t escape. I read quickly, trying to silence the panic and the incessant what ifs. Scary. Too scary for me.

The Audacity of Hope - Barack Obama (*****) The cynic in me wants to yell something about this country being past hope, but I can’t. I want something better. I want to think that there is still good in people and that we can use that good to improve the world. I want to hope.

Sexing the Cherry - Jeanette Winterson (****) I told you I would read more of her books soon. If I had never read Weight, I could have given this book five stars. But I liked Weight better, so four it is. It is still well worth your time to read though, beautiful and thought provoking. I know that some of the themes from this book will occupy my thoughts for the foreseeable future.

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell - Susanna Clarke (****) This book has been taunting me from the library shelves for almost a year. I finally picked it up after Christmas and, actually, read all of the above books while I was struggling through the first half of this book. If you hate reading seemingly pointless details, put this book down and walk away. But, if you are willing to wade through the details, following the promise of entering another world, you will be well rewarded for your persistence. The first 300 pages took me three months, the rest of the book (at least another 300 pages) took me four days. Hell, yeah! I love being a nerd.

Stardust - Neil Giaman (*****) Similar style to Jonathan Strange, but with a much faster pace. I love the idea of alternate worlds that exist just out of our reach.

The Ladies of Grace Adieu & Other Stories - Susanna Clarke (*****) OK, I know I’m stuck in a Faerie rut, but dammit, it’s fun! This book came out of an obscure footnote in Jonathan Strange. I dig that.

Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette - Sena Jeter Naslund (***) Fluff, beautiful, engaging, but fluff all the same. A good book to read with hot buttered rum and a blanket.

Weight: The Myth of Atlas and Heracles - Jeanette Winterson (*****) After hearing about this author from a friend, I saw this book at the library and picked it up. The writing, oh the writing! It’s enough to make me look to the sky and thank God that I can read the English language. I will read more of Winterson’s books and I will read them now.

Thirteen Moons - Charles Fraizer (**) Beautiful writing, uninspiring story.

Monique and the Mango Rains - Kris Holloway (*****) I read it in one afternoon, crying and laughing the whole time.