Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy

Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy

266 pages

This is a powerful story set in modern day Afghanistan, about a young woman with a cleft lip. It is unheard of here to go without medical treatment, but in Afghanistan, there are few doctors, and one must travel far to get treatment. This novel is based on some of the author's actual events while stationed with the Army. It is saddening, yet filled with so much hope. It would be very hard to read this, and not have the girl, Zulaikha, change your life forever.

Geek Fantasy Novel by E. Archer

Geek Fantasy Novel by E. Archer

320 pages

This book made me feel super stupid. Hard to read, kept getting confused. I feel like the storyline was great, but maybe written for a much older crowd.

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
458 pages

I've been rereading this trilogy and blogging it on Facebook. It's been great fun. God, I love these books endlessly.

The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice

The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
560 pages

I'm rereading this series because I haven't read it since I was like fifteen or something. I have mixed feelings about it. But it's fun to lose myself in the decadence of it.

Saturday by Ian McEwan

Saturday by Ian McEwan
289 pages

This book was very, very British. So British that I was often surprised by how much I related to the protagonist--who is as different from me as he is from his daughter. But it was interesting to examine how often his abstract thoughts coincided with ones that I've had from time to time, and how often his observations carried a ring of truth for me. The book could have been horribly dull, but instead it was fascinating.

The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve

The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve
288 pages

This story took me a little while to get into, but by the end I was totally hooked. The big reveal was satisfying and terrible, and proved a worthy climax to some of the boring bits I had to slog through. I mostly enjoyed the diary of Maren--I found Jean to be inarticulate, although emotionally interesting.

Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys by Francesca Lia Block

Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys by Francesca Lia Block
128 pages

There are not enough words in the world to describe my adoration for Block's books. I need to devour far more of them.