Since we've moved I've actually been reading quite a bit. I'm not going to lie to you, I'm not a big reader. I certainly don't hate reading, I just don't really know what I like. I feel lost and overwhelmed when looking for a book to read. I mean, I love Harry Potter, but I feel silly scoping out the children's section at the library/bookstore all the time. I think I like mysteries, but it depends on what kind, and I haven't found an author that is fantastic. Michael Crighton is also a favorite, but I don't know if I'd like other scifi genre type books. I realize that borrowing a book shouldn't be such an ordeal, but I don't want to feel obligated to read an awful book. Anyhow, I thought I'd share books I've read with a short synopsis just in case anyone else feels the same way.
Timeline by Michael Crichton
Unlike Jurassic Park, this book takes a while to get into. It's about a group of historians and archaeologists that are excavating an ancient city. But of course it's not just as normal as that, there is a company that is developing a time machine (that is of course still in it's experimental phase) that takes a group back to the medieval times. Once the group gets back in time, the story really picks up and lives up to Crichton's literary capabilities.
Next by Michael Crichton
This book was quite different from his normal stuff, in my opinion. That's not to say it was bad, but it wasn't what I was expecting. It discusses the hypothetical possibility that large corporations and hospitals may soon be able to buy our dna and use as they see fit. There are a lot of story lines, that can become a little confusing, as far as keeping people straight. Some of the stories intertwine (which I really like) but some didn't at all. Some story lines felt like they just stopped and got ignored. I certainly don't regret this book, but I won't be reading it again.
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
If you enjoyed "howl-a-day inn" as a kid, you may enjoy this now. It's written completely from the dog's perspective. Being a dog person, I loved it! The personality and inner workings of a dog's mind were captured perfectly! It's not necessarily a light hearted read, keep a box of tissues on hand. However the hope and spirit of Enzo (the dog) makes it a beautiful story of the unfailing love that dogs offer their people.
The Curious Incident of the Dog at Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Another book written from a different perspective, this one is from the view of a mentally handicapped boy. He discoverers the neighbor's dog dead in her front yard, and tries to figure out who-done-it. Along the way he meets his neighbors and discovers things about his life, that change everything for him. I'm afraid if I go too far I'd ruin some of the plot, and I don't want to do that. It's a pretty short read, but was well written, so I'd recommend it.
Lost and Found by Jaqueline Sheehan
Another dog book, although, not narrated by the dog. The lead character, Rocky, loses her husband and moves across the country to escape from the bad memories. She starts a new life and rescues/fosters a dog that had been shot with an arrow. Understandably upset by this act, she takes it upon herself to solve the mystery of what happened to the dog, all the while the dog worms his way into her heart and the hearts of her newly made friends, so she begins to move on with her life and discover a new kind of love. The last few chapters make the book next to impossible to put down! This book would be a great one to take to the beach/vacation, or somewhere you're wanting to read something that does a lot of the thinking for you.
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Alrighty, I went into the kids section, but I'm glad I did! This is the first book in a series of three (so far...) about a group of gifted children, recruited as spies to save the world from the brain washing Ledroptha Curtain. It's almost like Harry Potter for GT kids. I certainly won't boast that it's nearly as well written as HP, but it's still pretty good. Each kid has a different gift, which when they combine them all, they are pretty much unstoppable. You get to experience the story along with the children, solving puzzles as they do, which makes the read more enjoyable in my opinion. I don't like waiting for the characters to finally figure out what I've known the whole time.
Right now, I'm working on
Wicked by Gregory Maguire. It is indeed the book that the Broadway play is based on. If you have any other suggestions for me, I'd love to hear them! Hopefully, if you're looking for a good read, something here will appeal to you.
