While the book’s story certainly is a journey through heartache and the effects of tragedy, it is not without its flaws. Instead of following just Oskar’s story, it tends to meander a bit, touching on three tragedies instead of just 9/11. It might have been the author’s intent to distance the reader a little from the very personal events of 9/11. However, doing so interrupted the overall flow of the story as some of the elements were forced into it.

The other seriously distracting thing was some of the photographs. It is also the reason why you really shouldn’t purchase this book on the Kindle or other reading device that isn’t as graphically accommodating. You kind of have to flip back and forth through the book to understand exactly what  photograph is referred to. It is more difficult to do this on the Kindle than with the hard copy of the book.

Despite its flaws, the book is still a heart-warming story and there are certainly some interesting characters along the way. You might get a few laughs and a few tears. For those who have lost loved ones in 9/11, it can be a very hard book to read just because of the emotional connection.

However, this book might not appeal to those who prefer a little more realism with their fiction. There is always the question of what mom would allow a 9-year-old to roam the streets of New York and meet all these strangers without supervision. It is these types of details that will turn some people off.

I would suggest going to the library or borrowing the hard copy if you want to read it. Stay away from the download version due to formatting and graphic issues with the photographs.

The Giver is the story of Jonas, a young boy living in what is originally presented as a utopian society. Everyone coexists harmoniously, spends the day going about their routines as expected, and even shares their feelings with their family at the dinner table. There is no violence, no pain, and no dissent within the community. As per tradition, when Jonas turns twelve, he and the other twelve-year-olds are assigned a job in the community that they will spend the next several years preparing for and the rest of their life fulfilling. While others receive typical jobs in the community such as Caretaker of the Old, Jonas is given a job that causes an unusual stir in the community, as it is one that is rarely given: Receiver.

Jonas’ training is done by the titular character, the Giver, who reveals a new world to Jonas. He begins transferring long-ago memories to Jonas, letting him in on secrets and knowledge: things like color, emotion, climate – all the things that are regulated and unknown to everyone else. Jonas begins to experience the things the community is kept from (true family, the feeling of a warm summer day), as well as the things the community is protected from (loss, and pain in the form of a blistering sunburn). Eventually, Jonas comes to the realization that the benefit of protecting citizens from the negative things in life does not weigh out the drawback of keeping them from the joys life has to offer.

The Giver has received a lot of praise, but also a lot of criticism because of some of the themes being explored in a children’s book. I’ll admit it’s probably a little advanced for most fifth-graders – I read it on my own when I was about that age, but it was done as a unit when I was in middle school. (Amazon.com describes its reading level as ages twelve and up, which puts a potential reader at the same age as Jonas.)

Towards the end of the novel, Jonas needs to decide: stay and remain oppressed, or leave and live free? What does he decide? What happens to him? The ending is ambiguous, so read it and decide for yourself!

As Singh travels off into the wilderness, she is forced to confront a great deal of her past, her choice to switch from obstetrics to pharmaceuticals, and her decision, at forty, to not have any children. Things are complicated by the fact that Dr. Singh’s lover is Dr. Fox, the deep pockets behind the on-going research, but also someone who the researchers hope to keep in the dark for as long as possible.

Patchett managed to keep me on the edge of my seat over and over again as she interspersed jungle survival stories of snakes and seventy year old women giving birth with limited medical supplies with Marina’s very personal search for self.

Despite the jungle setting, the main characters in Patchett’s book are strong women – Dr. Singh, who spends most of the book questioning her decisions, and Dr. Swenson, the 73-year-old woman leading the jungle research. Dr. Swenson is a tough character who has the upper hand in the jungle and manages to instill fear in the hearts of pretty much everyone she meets.The two women are strong contrasts to each other, but also play against each other well to illustrate very effectively their strengths and weaknesses.

While there were times I had to hold my breath because the scene was so exciting, there were also times when the book seemed slightly over constructed. Everything in the book seems to illustrate a very important point the author is trying to make, so much so that it sometimes gets a little bit much. Many characters seem to be constructions to fulfill a point, rather than solidly developed characters.

Overall though, I would give A State of Wonder 4/5 stars. It is well worth a read, and it really is strong writing and a fascinating story. Patchett is a gifted writer and one who is well worth giving a test drive.

In Alice in Wonderland, Alice is bored and ends up following a rabbit and falling down a rabbit hole into an alternate universe.  As she runs through Wonderland, she encounters several different obstacles, from a mad tea party, to a game of croquet with the evil queen.

In Through the Looking Glass, Alice is playing with her cats and is curious about what happens on the other side of mirrors.  So she goes to look in one and practically falls through it.  Where she lands is a total opposite universe; before, it was winter and snowing outside, and now it is a gorgeous summer day in a garden.  She eventually comes upon a giant game of chess, and that is what most of the book is about, her playing her way through the giant, life sized chess game.  When she finally grabs the Red Queen, she unknowingly puts the Red King into “checkmate” and is allowed to wake up.

Now, you may be thinking, “This isn’t Alice in Wonderland, I saw the movie and it was nothing like this.”  Well, the newest movie (which came out in 2010) is almost like a third part to the series.  In the movie, Alice is 19 and well,  it is fairly similar to Alice in Wonderland, but in the movie Alice slays the Jabberwocky.  Which didn’t happen in either book.  In Through the Looking Glass,  Alice reads a poem about the Jabberwocky and someone killing it, but never does herself.

Both these fabulous books are by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, most commonly know by his pseudonym Lewis Carroll.  Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was written in 1865, as one book.

I read A Long Way Down one summer while working at a golf course. I’d be sitting by the snack shack, ready to give golfers fuel in the form of hot dogs and beer, and they’d inevitably ask me what I was reading. When they questioned the plot, I always hesitated slightly: “It’s a story about four strangers who meet when they all decide to commit suicide on the same night,” sounds a little deranged, but it’s true. The novel is told in alternating viewpoints of the characters – an 18-year-old girl with a penchant for drama, a single mother of a disabled adult son, a struggling American musician, and a former morning show host shamed by a sex scandal – as they decide to put off their suicides and meet three months later to reconsider.

My first introduction to Hornby was through How to Be Good, a novel I read as an assignment in my introductory literature class freshman year of college. Since I had spent high school being forced to read books I didn’t particularly like (with a few exceptions), I was blown away to be reading material I actually enjoyed for an academic class. How to Be Good explores what it means… to be good. Go figure, huh? It focuses on a family of four’s reaction to the father suddenly enlisting the help of a spiritual leader and renovating his life to reflect “good.” This means giving away his children’s toys, inviting homeless strangers into the home, and other extreme behavior. His wife, a physician, struggles with understanding the actions of her “new” husband and tries to decide for herself what “being good” really is.

Hornby’s books tend to be quick reads with a lot of dialogue – not surprising, considering he writes a lot of screenplays and that his books are frequently adapted into movies. Despite addressing bizarre or extreme behavior some of the time, the characters are given backgrounds that make them feel familiar. When I get a chance (or an e-reader for my upcoming birthday… hint, hint!), I’m going to track down some other Hornby novels to give those a try too!

Patterson just might be the world’s best-selling author. His books have sold more than 180 million copies to date. Recently, his novels have sold more copies that those of Dan Brown, Stephen King, and John Grisham, combined! He holds the Guinness World record for the most bestselling hardcover fiction titles (63), which includes 19 consecutive #1 New York Times bestselling novels. His newest novel, Private, currently rounds out the top 10 bestsellers at Barnes & Nobles. (The Hunger Game Series currently dominates that list.)

We all probably have a few questions for someone like Patterson. Luckily, at least 10 questions have already been answered in an interview conducted by Time in July 2010. I found one of his most interesting responses to be the one that answered the question, “What do you say to critics like author Stephen King who say you are not a great prose stylist?” It must be tough to have Stephen King question your legitimacy as an author. Luckily, Patterson took the question in stride, agreeing that he simply is not a great prose stylist. “I’m a storyteller,” he explained. And that’s what the majority of the population is looking for, so it all works out quite nicely for Patterson in the end.

One of his major goals is to simply ignite a lifelong passion for reading across the population. This is evident from his Web site ReadKiddoRead, which makes some fantastic suggestions for young readers. You’ll see titles of some really fun books, such as The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles. Of course, Patterson has the right to include some of his own hits such as the Maximum Ride series. Patterson is perhaps best known for his series geared towards adults, particularly the Alex Cross series, but has made quite a successful crossover to young adult literature. This is partly due to the fact that he has his own young teenage son to inspire in reading; what better motivation can there be?

Smokin’ Seventeen

Far from anything new, what you find is the same old rehashed stuff that you find in basically every Stephanie Plum novel. The big difference is that the author no longer seems to care one iota about her characters. At this point, you almost want to completely give up reading the series. The book really is that bad.

This time Stephanie comes under the delusion that she is under a curse from the evil eye. As a result, she sleeps with both Morelli and Ranger. But instead of the typically jealous Morelli, you get a meek and compliant cop who has apparently lost all of his obsession with Stephanie and no longer cares who she is sleeping with.

Ranger has also lost a lot of his charm in this book as well. It is almost as if his bad guy image has been softened so much, he has turned into another placeholder character.

Forget the character quirks that have abounded with Grandma and Lola. They simply are no longer there. Both characters have dwindled remarkably since their introduction. In fact, they are boring and lifeless.

Aside from the character problems, the plot is dismissively absent and makes very little sense. Before, you never quite knew who was responsible. But in this installment was as obvious as a flashing neon sign. The ending isn’t much of a surprise, as there are similar endings in other books in this series.

I hate to say this, but the Stephanie Plum series is on the verge of becoming extinct. This book isn’t helping it at all. If you really want to read it, pick it up in a library or borrow it from someone. Don’t buy it on the Kindle or in paperback. It costs way too much for a book that only brings  disappointment.

For a speed reader like myself, I appreciate Lamb because he forces me to slow down and pay attention to what I’m reading. I often find myself skimming pages and jumping ahead, eager to find out what’s next, but Lamb puts so much detail into his text that I often have to go back and re-read paragraphs, pages,and  even chapters to make sense of all his references and call-backs. I’ve read several of his books to date, and they’re all very long — but so worth it.

She’s Come Undone is the life story of Dolores Price, who has had some pretty awful things happen to her. I don’t want to give too much away, or tell you what kind of ending to expect, but when one of my roommates returned the book to me and asked why on earth I would want her to read something so sad, I couldn’t give an answer. Maybe it’s because something so unfamiliar reminds me to be thankful for the life I live? I can’t be entirely sure.

What I do find remarkable about this book, though, is that it contains such insight to the mind of a female but that it is written by a male. Another favorite Lamb book of mine, I Know This Much Is True, has a male protagonist, and while the the writing style is definitely similar, I just think the ability to so fully develop such different characters is pretty incredible. In both, Lamb explores how one’s past has a lasting impact on who they are later in life. It’s pretty fascinating, and definitely makes you think.

She’s Come Undone is not recent — it was published in 1992 and one of Oprah’s Book Club picks in 1996. I read it probably about ten years after that, and am thinking about giving it another go again when we get a good, snowy day. This is no light, beach read — though I have read Lamb on the beach, but I’m just weird like that, I guess! — but one that you can certainly lose yourself in.

Do I like everything he writes? No. But with his characters and his Maine, I always enjoy the ride.

I picked up Full Dark, No Stars from the local library this week and was glad to see that it was not only Stephen King, but it was Stephen King short stories.

Even if you aren’t someone who reads a lot of short stories, Stephen King is a great place to start, and this book is a good example of that. King is masterful at weaving a tight, character-driven story that doesn’t disappoint.

Full Dark, No Stars is a collection of four short stories. And while they all contain a hint of King’s traditional horror writing, the meat of the story is really the human condition.

Take “A Good Marriage” – the fourth story in the collection and one of the strongest. We meet Darcy Anderson, a woman who has been in a rather happy marriage for decades when she discovers her husband is in fact capable of some of the most horrific crimes. While the reader gets a sampling of King’s gift for the gore, this story is really about how you can live with someone and never really know them. This story is really all about marriage and relationships. King’s construction of Darcy and her situation is so fluid and believable, I was sad to find this was the last story in the book.

In “Big Driver”, again, King’s main character is female, but this time she is seeking revenge. King takes a unique perspective on a rape victim with a well-known name, and how she tries to seek justice without getting media exposure for the attack she suffered. While there were certain points in this story where I wondered who in their right mind would act in this way, King structures the story in a way to make it almost believable.

The other short stories in this collection, “1922″ and “Fair Extension” are also well worth the read.

I find King to be at his best when writing short stories. They really emphasize his strengths as a writer, his characterizations, dialogues and world building, while not getting bogged down with some of the “fat” of some of his longer works. If you haven’t read any of his short stories, Full Dark, No Stars is a great place to start.

Ginny receives a package from her dead aunt containing 13 envelopes,  all of them numbered 1-13.  So as most people would, she opens the one labeled #1.  Inside is a list of rules and instructions.

• Rule #1: You may bring only what fits in your backpack. Don’t try to fake it out with a purse or a carry-on.
• Rule #2: You may not bring guidebooks, phrase books, or any kind of foreign language aid. And no journals.
• Rule #3: You cannot bring extra money or credit/debit cards, traveler’s checks, etc. I’ll take care of all that.
• Rule #4: No electronic crutches. This means no laptop, no cell phone, no music, and no camera. You can’t call home or communicate with people in the U.S. by Internet or telephone. Postcards and letters are acceptable and encouraged.

After this she is told that she will be traveling to many different foreign places, meeting quite a few people, and that she will be gone for a few weeks.  She is also given $1,000 and instructions to buy a plane ticket.  In the second envelope she’s told to go to a specific London flat and ask a certain person what he sold to the queen.  I know, odd, right!  The third tells her to find a starving artist.  And in envelope four, she and her artist have to go to Scotland.  Which, if I may tell you, results in a couple very disastrous things, although it also creates a bit of romance.  Unfortunately for Ginny, she doesn’t know if she will ever be able to see her artist ever again.

And due to envelopes six and eight, Paris and Rome are in Ginny’s future. And as we found out in the first envelope, Ginny may NOT open the envelopes out of order — that is, if she manages not to lose any of them — or nothing will go according to plan.