BOOK 100: The Book of Mormon

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture. It is a record of God's dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains, as does the Bible, the fulness of the everlasting gospel.

Being a member of the Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have, of course, read the Book of Mormon before. But in the past, it's always been a piecemeal goal. Read a chapter here and there, and eventually I'd make it to the end. This time, I read it as if it were any other book on my shelf. I'd sit down and read it for an hour or two at a time.

Naturally, nibbling is better than nothing, but I discovered that feasting on the word of God was a much more satisfying experience. The story made so much more sense to me. I could keep the different peoples and civilizations straight in my head much easier. Oftentimes, I would stop reading not because I ran out of time or because I was tired -- but because I had read such soul-enriching material that I needed time to digest it.

Reading the Book of Mormon is always an enlightening experience that strengthens my testimony of Christ. But I feel that this reading was the best I've ever had. Can't wait to get started on a re-read!

BOOK 99: The Ersatz Elevator (Series of Unfortunate Events #6), by Lemony Snicket

Rating: 4 stars

Cover synopsis: Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire encounter a darkened staircase, a red herring, some friends in a dire situation, three mysterious initials, a liar with an evil scheme, a secret passageway, and parsley soda.

This was yet another clever tome in the Series of Unfortunate Events. The Baudelaires are taken in by a guardian who seems to have known the children's parents. His wife is hilarious with all her concern over what's "in." She's over the top, but I can see so much of people I know in her...

Snicket keeps teasing us with the promise of more information to the overarching plot. But he doesn't really give us ANYTHING to go on. Just an aside here or there. Esme knows Beatrice? And Olaf? And Jerome knows the Baudelaires? What gives?

On the plus side, having this book lying around my living room prompted my daughter's curiosity. She's probably the only first grader who knows what "ersatz" means.

BOOK 98: The Austere Academy (Series of Unfortunate Events #5), by Lemony Snicket

Rating: 4 stars

Cover synopsis: The Baudelaires go to boarding school, which turns out to be another miserable episode in their unlucky lives. Truth be told, the children will face snapping crabs, strict punishments, dripping fungus, comprehensive exams, violin recitals, S.O.R.E. and the metric system.

This book was a bit better than The Miserable Mill. It was still outlandish, but perhaps a tad more believable? But the main reason I gave it an extra star back was because I enjoyed the fact that the Baudelaires actually made friends their own age. So, although this book follows the same predictable formula, it was different in the company the kids keep, and also in the end something actually HAPPENS as Count Olaf is getting away. No, he isn't caught, but it will make for an interesting next book, nonetheless.

I also mused after the last book if we would ever get answers to an overarching plot. I'm thinking the answer is: someday. There were allusions to a bigger scheme, and Snicket also tantalizes us with some info about his lost love, Beatrice. So I hope my questions will be answered before the series is finished.

Wait a minute. Did I just say "hope?" I should know better than that. This is, after all, a series of unfortunate events.

BOOK 97: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson

Rating: 3 stars

Cover synopsis: The Herdman kids lie and steal and smoke cigars. They talk dirty, hit little kids, cuss their teachers, set fires and take the name of the Lord in vain. No one is prepared when they invade church one Sunday -- and decide to take over the annual Christmas pageant.

I remember reading this book when I was in elementary school, and thought I'd pick it up again. It's a nice reminder that Christmas -- and Christ -- is for everyone, no matter what.

BOOK 96: The Miserable Mill (Series of Unfortunate Events #4), by Lemony Snicket

Rating: 3 stars

Cover synopsis: Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire are sent to Paltryville to work in a lumbermill, and they find disaster and misfortune lurking behind every log.

This book had its moments of wit and dark humor, but it seemed much more forced and contrived than in the first three books. The situations that the Baudelaires find themselves in were always outlandish -- yet believable. The Miserable Mill was TOO outlandish to believe. Plus, Snicket simply followed the same formula as the previous books. Kids get shunted to an obscure guardian, Count Olaf is lurking and tries to snatch the kids -- and their fortune.

I keep waiting for the books to drop some hints into the larger picture. For instance, why did their parents' house burn down? What is the significance of the eye? Why do the Baudelaires not have any close relatives to care for them? Is this series simply going to be 13 books about Count Olaf trying to kidnap the kids? Or are we going to get some clues to a larger overarching plot?

BOOK 95: A Catered Thanksgiving, by Isis Crawford

Rating: 3 stars

Cover synopsis: Bernie and Libby are catering Thanksgiving for the super-dysfunctional Field family. But the turkey goes goes boom right in Monty Field's face, sending him to that great dining room in the sky. Snowed in and with every member of the Field family harboring secrets, Bernie and Libby are going to have to convince the Fields that they aren't to blame -- and find out who really is, fast.

This was a fun little mystery. And I love anything that has to do with food. :)

The author did a good job of demonstrating everyone's motive for the murder, and she's very good at character development. Perhaps too good...it drove me crazy reading all the bickering and backstabbing dialogue among the Field family.

BOOK 94: The Wide Window (Series of Unfortunate Events #3), by Lemony Snicket

Rating: 5 stars



Cover synopsis: If you haven't got a stomach for a story that includes a hurricane, a signaling device, hungry leeches, cold cucumber soup, a horrible villain, and a doll named Pretty Penny, then this book will probably fill you with despair.


It's an interesting experience reading a story in which the narrator bluntly tells you again and again that it will not have a happy ending. Despite these warnings, I find myself holding out hope that something good will happen -- even though I know it won't. Even when Snicket tells you exactly the bad thing that is going to happen early in the book, so you know it's coming, you still hold out hope that it all turns out OK in some way.

It's also an interesting experience to read a book about other people's misery in which I find myself laughing out loud. I never thought of myself as someone with a dark sense of humor, but Snicket is a very talented story teller, with the right mix of suspense, desperation, comedy, wit and truth. His asides about grammar, appropriate behavior and life lessons are a delight.

This book, of course, has the orphans staying with Aunt Josephine, a woman who is deathly afraid of everything, and is therefore a terrible guardian and not much fun to boot. Still, she's better than Count Olaf. Or should I say "Captain Sham?"

BOOK 93: The Reptile Room (Series of Unfortunate Events #2), by Lemony Snicket

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: Within these pages, the Baudelaire children endure a car accident, a terrible odor, a deadly serpent, a long knife, a large brass reading lamp and the reappearance of a person they'd hoped never to see again.

Who knew that reading about others' misfortunes could be so fun? Lemony Snicket is a delightful narrator, especially in the face of, well, unfortunate events. The wit and humor just ooze off the page (ooze as it's used here means...oh, wait. Sorry...)

In this tome, the orphans go to live with their Uncle Monty, who is a wonderful, fun, caring person who also happens to be an expert on snakes. The children enjoy their time with Uncle Monty until his new assistant shows up, of course. "Stephano" is as evil as ever, Mr. Poe as clueless as ever, and the Baudelaires as resourceful as ever.

BOOK 92: The Autobiography of Santa Claus, by Jeff Guinn

Rating: 3 stars

Cover synopsis: Santa shares his story with readers for the first time. Nicholas was born in the Middle East, and as a child share his wealth with those in need. His generosity and gift-giving spread, with the help of a little magic.

I like the premise of this book more than the execution. Santa takes us on a journey through history, back to the beginnings of the real Saint Nicholas. The book boils down to a history of Christianity and the celebration of Christmas -- which is fascinating. And it had me hooked until about halway through the book. Then the writing got repetative, and I felt more like I was reading a history book than a story.

It got to be the same old tale -- Santa and his companions made and delivered gifts, they found many influential person in history to share their story with, and they joined us in our mission. The storytelling got duller and duller as the book dragged on. I also didn't like the characters very much -- even Santa himself. The dialogue between characters seemed to consist of snide remarks and grumbles. And Santa seems really sensitive about his weight. Really? Come on. He's supposed to be jolly!

Still, it's Christmas, and I appreciated the logical approach to Santa, the myths, the legends, and the celebration of the holiday through time. The imagination in the story was believable and magical at the same time.

November Status Report

91 down, 9 to go! I just may actually reach my goal. Of course I always hoped I would, but now it's looking more and more like a sure thing. Still it'll be tight...9 books to read in one busy month.

I had a lot of make-up reading to do this month, but a handfull of good young adult fiction and some Christmas books did the trick. Many of my reads this month may have been short, but they were long on insight and enjoyment.

On to the finish line!

BOOK 91: The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events), by Lemony Snicket

Rating: 4 stars

Cover synopsis: In this short book, the three Baudelaire siblings encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast.

This is a clever book to read. My only major beef was that it was too short. But the series has 13 books in it, so I'm sure I can get my fill.

From the deliciously evil villain to 3 clever and brave children to the smart-but-clueless adults, this was a fine first book in a series of what I'm sure will be unfortunate events. But hopefully they'll culminate is some sort of happy ending? Though, to be honest, I'm not sure I can trust the author to give me that... Should be an interesting ride.

BOOK 90: 39 Clues: Beyond the Grave, by Jude Watson

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: Amy & Dan rush off to Egypt, but when they arrive, they get something completely unexpected -- a message from their dead grandmother, Grace. Did Grace set out to help the two orphans...or are Amy and Dan heading for the most devastating betrayal of them all?

This was a fun read for several reasons: First, Egypt is awesome. Two, it delves deeper into the relationship between Amy & Dan and Grace. And Three, it didn't feel compelled to trot out every competing Cahill family. It just stuck with the ones crucial to the story. (And showed us a compelling side of Irinia that I can't wait to see what becomes of her.)

I enjoyed the parallel between the search of Egyptian tombs and the clues Grace left Amy and Dan from "beyond the grave." A well-written and enjoyable book. Much better than book 3 was! (Thank goodness.)

BOOK 89: A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: "Bah!" said Scrooge. "Humbug!" With those famous words unfolds a tale that renews the joy and caring that are Christmas.

When I was a kid, my grandma gave me a nice copy of this book -- bound in red leather with gold trim, beautiful illustrations on the crisp pages, published in 1938. And after reading the Dickens biography "The Man Who Invented Christmas," I felt compelled to pull this volume off the shelf.

And I'm glad I did. I've read this book perhaps 5 times before, but it meant so much more to me now that I have a family of my own. Christmas has always held a special grip on my heart. I love the sounds, the sights, the smells...and reading Dicken's rendition of Christmas always gets me excited. I can hear, I can see, I can smell the celebrations leaping off the page, whether it's Fezziwig's ball, Scrooge's nephew's dinner party, or the humble gathering at the Cratchit home.

This book IS Christmas.

BOOK 88: The Christmas Box, by Richard Paul Evans

Rating: 4 stars

Cover synopsis: The touching story of a widow and the young family who moves in with her. Together they discover the first gift of Christmas and learn what Christmas is really all about.

This is a sweet little story about a father coming to learn what it means to be a parent and understand the love of his child. It's a nice tie in to what the book calse the first gift of Christmas: love. God loved us so much he sent his Son to die for us.

A bit sentimental and predictable, but it was a nice read to kick off the Christmas season.

BOOK 87: Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakauer

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: Reeling from the brain-altering effects of oxygen depletion, Jon Krakauer reached teh summit of Mt. Everest on May 10, 1996. This is the terrifying story of what happened that fateful day at the top of the world, during what would be the deadliest season in the history of Everest.

This was a fascinating first-hand account of what it's like climbing Mount Everest, as well as what it's like when things go wrong on top of Mount Everest. I appreciated that Krakauer approached this story as a journalist, interviewing everyone he could, because he wasn't sure he could trust his own version of things, due to the brain-altering affects of oxygen depletion and extreme exhaustion.

The book is very detailed -- but I didn't feel bogged down by the details. My only gripe is that Krakauer would switch between calling people by their first or last names, so I had difficulty keeping the wide range of characters straight.

It's an interesting experience reading a story when you know how it ends -- especially a tragedy. But Krakauer wrote the tale so deftly, that I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen anyway! And there were a few surprises along the way -- especially the tale of Beck Weathers -- that made me gasp out loud. Extremely well-written, introspective and suspensful. An incredible book.

BOOK 86: Holes, by Louis Sachar

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: Stanley Yelnats's family has a history of bad luck. A miscarriage of justice sends him to a boys' juvenile detention center where he must dig a hole a day, five feet deep, five feet across, in a dried-up lake bed. The warden claims this labor builds character, but that's a lie. Stanley must try to dig up the truth.

This is a fun, well-written tale about the hand of fate at work in the lives of a couple of teenage boys -- as well as their ancestors. The characters are fleshed out nicely, and although there are some dark sides to the tale, it is light and often humorous.

I love the way Sachar weaves several stories and legends into one. Even though they go back more than 100 years, they all fit together like a puzzle.

I also love a good happy ending. :)

BOOK 85: The Man Who Invented Christmas, by Les Standiford

Rating: 3 stars

Cover synopsis: Just before Christmas in 1843, a debt-ridden and dispirited Charles Dickens wrote a small book he hoped would keep his creditors at bay. The book imediately caused a sensation and it breathed new life into a holiday that had fallen into disfavor.

The synopsis for this book sounded incredibly interesting. Unfortunately, the book was incredibly dull. I often felt that I was reading a history text book, or even a graduate student's thesis.

I also felt like the title and synopsis were misleading. This isn't a book about A Christmas Carol and how it revitalized the Christmas season. There is, I think, a chapter or two about that. But the rest of the book is a general biography of Dickens -- his writings, his business dealings, his debts... Which may be interesting, but it wasn't what I thought I signed on for.

I gave the book 3 stars because it is thorough, and I learned some things about both Dickens and Christmas that I had never known before. But I was so disappointed in this read, I probably should have given it 2 stars.

BOOK 84: Girl in Blue, by Ann Rinaldi

Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis: When Sarah's father promises her hand in marriage to their despicable neighbor, she disguises herself as a man and joins the Army during the Civil War. When she is found to be a woman, Allan Pinkerton offers her a position as a female spy.

I give this book 4 stars for the story, but Rinaldi's bland writing style would get perhaps 2 or 3 stars. Still, the plot was enough to redeem the book. Sarah's adventures in running away from home, joining the Army, working in a military hospital, crossing enemy lines in the middle of night, going off to battle, experiencing the shock of killing someone, getting discovered, becoming a spy, falling in love and getting her heart broken...these were fantastic. And when she goes home in disguise to check on her family, I didn't know what to expect.

But, alas, Rinaldi's writing style left much to be desired. This story in the hands of a different author could have had so much more punch. I know it's young adult fiction, so she may have just been writing for a younger audience. But I don't think you should have to write or talk down to kids. You should write a good book so that kids -- and adults -- can enjoy it.

BOOK 83: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: The seventh and final installment in the epic tale of Harry Potter.

The good news: I've finished Harry Potter. The bad news: I've finished Harry Potter.

Let me explain.

When I read Harry Potter, nothing else matters. My house is a disaster, my kids spend more time in front of the TV so I can use that time to devour "just one more chapter..." I pretty much let things slide because the narrative consumes me and I can focus on nothing else. So on the one hand, I'm glad I'm finished because I can go back to being a good parent and wife.

On the other hand, it's always hard to get attached to a set of characters and have them consume so much of my imagination for the past few weeks only to let them go and move on. Not to mention that reading such a well-written, engrossing tale ruins other books for me for a while. It takes a while for my high standards to come back down to earth while reading other books.

Either way, I've finished, and it was a much different experience reading the series this time, knowing how it ends. But somehow, I don't think it diminished the suspense at all! I was still gripping the arm of the couch, heart racing, mind racing, feeling that if I put it down to make dinner I would miss something and the action would pass me by.

Thankfully, it didn't, and I did, eventually, get my family fed. :)

BOOK 82: In The Dark Streets Shineth, by David McCullough

Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Cover synopsis: A compelling story about the spirit of Christmas and the power of light to shine in difficult, dangerous times. Also sharing the stories behind the songs "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas."

This is a tricky book to rate, because if I were rating the book, I probably would have given it only 3 stars. Don't get me wrong, it's wonderfully well-written. But as a book, it's a bit too brief. I was left wanting more. It's more like a magazine article. I finished the entire book in 10 minutes. I was hoping to get a little more info on the Christmas in 1941 (right after Pearl Harbor was bombed).

However, the DVD that comes with it deserves 4 stars. The book, it turns out, is just the text of the DVD. But it includes the music of the Tabernacle choir, plus the sights and sounds of the Christmas season. It's a much richer experience. A nice way to get in the Christmas spirit.

BOOK 81: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: The war against Voldemort is not going well. And yet, life goes on at Hogwarts. Under Dumbledore's guidance, Harry will search for the full and complex story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort -- and thereby find what may be his only vulnerability.

It was after seeing the movie for this book last year that I finally felt compelled to read the Harry Potter series. And I've been hooked ever since. Though, it's worth noting, the movie for this book is probably the most different from the text than any of the other 5 movies before it.

Book 6 takes us on a fascinating exploration of Tom Riddle's transformation into Lord Voldemort. It also takes us deeper into the dark arts, the meaning of the prophesy, and the character of Severus Snape. The last few chapters are nothing short of gripping (and heart-wrenching).

Yet, as always, Rowling weaves a tale of adolescent life -- friendships, humor, school stress, first love...

Now on to the last book!

October Status Report

October was tough, scheduling-wise. I had family in town for the first two weeks of the month. Which meant I was entertaining in my spare time, instead of reading.

But I scrambled in the second half of the month and got 7 books in. Just one short of what I wanted. It wasn't too difficult a task, though, because most of them were Harry Potter books. I'm really enjoying re-reading these (and forcing my husband to read them too).

Although, I think they've spoiled other books for me...I started reading a book this month that I know I really want to read, but I just couldn't get into it because all I could think about was getting back to Harry Potter!

BOOK 80: The Sword Thief (39 Clues #3); by Peter Lerangis

Rating: 2 stars

Cover synopsis: When the hunt for the 39 Clues leads Amy and Dan to Japan, their only chance to find the third Clue seems to lie with their unreliable uncle, Alistair Oh. Will they be foolish enough to make an alliance? In the Cahill family, trusting your relatives can get you killed...

This was the weakest 39 Clues book so far. I don't know if it was just because I'm not terribly interested in Japanese history, but I had a hard time following this one. The action sequences left me baffled, and I found myself having to re-read what should have been key passages, wondering why it wasn't sinking in. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mindframe when I read it...Or maybe I'm just spoiled from reading so much Harry Potter lately, I'm setting the bar unusually high.

But, oh, then there are the plot lines. Why, all of a sudden, are Amy and Dan relying on relatives that tried to kill them? The reasoning didn't make a whole lot of sense. And the coolest part -- the Yakuza -- were not played up enough. And don't even get me started on the weak attempt at a love interest. Gag me. Awful.

I'm not giving up on the series yet -- a different author writes each book, so this is no indication of the other books' quality. And although I finished the book in a couple hours, I felt like I wasted my time.

BOOK 79: The Giver, by Lois Lowry

Rating: 4 stars

Cover synopsis: Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. When Jonas turns 12, he is singled out to receive special training from the Giver. It's time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

What an interesting exploration of agency -- that we cannot truly understand joy and love until we've experienced opposition. The world crafted in this book reminds me of what life might have been like if Satan had won in the war in heaven.

This book is set in a homogonized future, where everything is riddled with "samenes:" There is no color, no music, no art, no hills, no sunshine, etc. Everything is bland and controlled. Completely and utterly equal. There is also no choice. Your spouse, children and career are all chosen for you. You are also not allowed to make mistakes.

But we soon find out that, of course, that this controlled environment doesn't make life better. In fact, it makes the experience of living there hardly a life at all.

BOOK 78: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: There is a door at the end of a silent corridor. And it's haunting Harry Potter's dreams. Plus, Harry is faced with the unreliability of the very government of the magical world and the impotence of the authorities at Hogwarts.

This is probably one of the most angst-ridden Harry Potter installments. In almost every scene, Harry is frustrated, angry, or yelling at someone. Which is understandable considering the pressure he's under, the ever-present threat of death and the fact that no one believes him about Lord Voldemort returning -- not to mention a girlfriend who is an emotional basketcase.

Still, I admire Rowling's gift for weaving humor into a book whose themes are growing ever darker, and still igniting the flames of imagination in the reader.

The author seems to try to flesh out some of the action sequences in this novel, and I'm not sure I'm wild about it esffect in the climax here -- there were too many odd chambers with too many odd goings-on to keep track of in my opinion. But this is a minor nit-pick in an otherwise oustanding read.

This has always been one of my favorites in the series because the struggle of good vs. evil doesn't come down to just one major event at the end, but it has infiltrated every aspect of Harry's life, right down to his dreams, his family, and his physical well-being. (I'm also wild about Neville, and we get to see more of him in this book.)

BOOK 77: Here Lies the Librarian, by Richard Peck

Rating: 3 stars

Cover synopsis: Peewee idolizes Jake, a big brother with dreams of auto mechanic glory. And motoring down the road come Irene Ridpath, a young librarian with plans to astonish them all and turn Peewee's life upside down.

I wasn't thrilled with this book. It wasn't half as interesting as Peck's other offerings I've read so far. So I had to ask myself was I disappointed because it really wasn't good, or was I disappointed because I expected so much more from Peck?

In the end, I decided the book itself is OK, but I was disappointed in the author. The storyline had a lot of potential, but Peck didn't carry it to the heights it could have attained. And there are two underlying problems that keeps nagging me: Why on earth would four rich librarians take on this small town? Peck never really answers as to their motivation. I can't be entirely because one of them was interested in the poor orphaned mechanic? The whole set-up didn't make sense. And why on earth would a girl who is perfectly happy in the grease pit and who doesn't care what people think of her all of a sudden want to be a lady? Peewee's actions didn't fall in accordance with the character and personality she was crafted in the book.

But beside those points, the book is decently written and has its moments (such as the early scene of the twister in the graveyard, and the play-by-play of the dirt track race at the end). So I award it, tentatively, 3 stars.

BOOK 76: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: A mysterious event is supposed to take place at Hogwarts this year, involving two other rival schools of magic, and a competition that hasn't happened for a hundred years.

This is the pivotal novel in the Harry Potter series. Things get darker and more dangerous for Harry and the rest of the wizarding world as Lord Voldemort returns. And it's getting harder to descern friend from foe.

That's not to say the novel is all seriousness and no fun. I love the way Rowling effortlessly weaves humor in. The Weasley's picking up Harry from the Dursley's Fred and George's antics, Rita Skeeter and the oblivious love triangle between Ron, Hermione and Viktor Krum kept the mood balanced nicely.

The final chapter in this book is appropriately titled "The Beginning." Now to begin on the next...

BOOK 75: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: For 12 long years, the fortress of Azkaban held an infamous prisoner named Sirius Black. Now he has escaped, and is thought to be after Harry. Harry Potter isn't safe, not even within the walls of Hogwarts. Because on top of it all, there may be a traitor in their midst.

These books just get better and better. They're funny, imaginative, action-packed and cerebral, all at the same time. I love piecing together the mystery that is Harry's life, and following along on his adventures.

In this book, we see what choices Harry makes when he is overwhelmed with revengeful feelings. We feel he would be justified in letting anger rule his actions, yet are relieved and respectful of his humane nature. I really felt as if I was feeling the emotions he was feeling. These books are incredibly well-written.

On to the next!

BOOK 74: To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: Through the eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with rich humor and unswerving honesty the irrationality of adult attitudes toward race and class in the Deep South of the 1930s.

I haven't read this book since middle school, and I enjoyed it even more as an adult. It's interesting to me re-reading some books from my youth to notice how my age and extra life experience now add such a richer dimension to the texts. These books truly do get better with age.

Reading To Kill a Mockingbird opens up a window into how children view the world through pure and simple eyes, but many adults let prejudice and pride rule their thoughts, actions and creeds.

September Status Report

September was a good month full of good books. I'm making excellent progress. I've got my books mapped out for the rest of the year and the remainder of this project. Can't believe I'm actually on target to complete a New Year's resolution. Go me!

BOOK 73: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis: Harry Potter is back at Hogwarts, where a mysterious beast is attacking students. It's up to Harry to solve the dangerous mystery, and to find a missing friend.

I love the themes in this book: Friendship, love, loyalty and courage. Then there's Dumbledore's sage words near the end about how it's not our abilities that make us who we are, but our choices. What wonderful sentiments for any child, whether age 10 or 1o0.

I also appreciate how Rowling doesn't dwell on the gruesome. The scene where Harry battles the basalisk is less than a page long, and doesn't go into too much gory detail. It's nice when an author leaves some of the action sequences to the reader's imagination instead of spelling everything out.

BOOK 72: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility. But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger.

This is such an imaginative book, and whenever I read it, I feel the wonder of being a kid again. Rowling has crafted a magical world, full of lively characters who are memorable yet realistic. It's every kid's dream to find a place they really belong...and to find out that you have secret magical powers doesn't hurt the dream either.

I've read this before, but I find myself coming back to Harry, Hermione and Ron time and again in my mind. It was time to return to them on the page. I've actually convinced my husband to read them along with me. He has refused to read them in the past, dismissing them as "children's books" and unsuitable for his adult life. He's in for a wonderful surprise.

BOOK 71: 39 Clues: One False Note, by Gordon Korman

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: The search for the 39 Clues finds Amy and Dan in Vienna, and they hold a coded piece of Mozart's sheet music that's key to finding the next Clue. But tailed by a pack of power-hungry relatives, Amy and Dan can't see if they are sailing toward victory -- or straight into a deadly trap.

Book 2 in the 39 Clues series is educational, funny and action-packed. What's not to love? And this book is all about Mozart, music and Venice. More love.

BOOK 70: The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak

Rating: 4 stars

Cover synopsis: Narrated by Death, this is the story of Liesel Meminger, a young foster girl living outside of Munich in Nazi Germany. Liesel scratches out an existence for herself when she discovers something she can't resist -- books. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book burnings, the mayor's library and more.

This book came highly recommended to me, and I'm glad I read it. It was an interesting tale about a young girl growing up in Nazi Germany and the unexpected places she finds love. But most of all, it was about the power of the written word. -- from Hitler's use of words for evil to Liesel's use of words for good.

So why only 4 stars? I had to dock it for vulgarity! This is a young adult novel, yet practically every-other page had a swear word or derrogotory term, or it took the Lord's name in vain. So frustrating. I also wasn't wild about the author's device of having Death narrate the story. It seemed contrived in many instances, and impeded the flow of the story in others. Still, it was an interesting tale.

BOOK 69: Interpreter of Maladies, by Jhumpa Lahiri

Rating: 4 stars

Cover synopsis: Winner of the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for fictuion, this collection unerringly charts the emotional journeys of characters seeking love beyond the barriers of nations and generations.

This is an interesting collection of short stories written about Indian immigrants to America, or second-generation Indian-Americans. But I wouldn't say that the stories were much about immigrants, or Indians, or anything cultural. Rather, they were about universal feelings, emotions, relationships...with a bit of culture mixed in for context.

All of the stories were incredibly well-written and a literary pleasure to read. But some of the tales themselves were hit-and-miss. For instance, I didn't particularly care for the title story, "Interpreter of Maladies" (a disappointment because I love that title!). But most of the others were poignant and insightful looks into every-day relationships. Among my favorite tales were "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine," "This Blessed House" and "The Third and Final Continent." These weren't sensational, gripping tales. But quiet truths plainly illustrated.

BOOK 68: The Mouse and the Motorcycle, by Beverly Cleary

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: Ralph the mouse ventures out of the wall of his hotel-room home and climbs aboard the toy motorcycle left there by a young guest. He and the motorcycle take a terrible fall. Luckily, Keith, the owner of the motorcycle rescues Ralph and teaches him how to ride the bike. Thus begins a great friendship and many awesome adventures.

This is such a fun book. I read it to my 6-year-old daughter and she was giggling along at the funny parts and chewing her nails nervously at the suspenseful parts. She'd beg me to read more after each chapter -- and even snuck off with it to sneak a peak ahead on her own -- so to me, that's a winner.

I was impressed with the vocabulary in this book. It's recommended for ages 8-12, but there were plenty of big, grown-up words in here. My daughter would frequently stop me to ask what words meant, trying to pronounce them herself, and she really enjoyed the decoding process. The Mouse and the Motorcycle is entertaining and educational. I'm glad it wasn't dumbed down.

I remember reading this book when I was younger and loving it. But then, I loved practically everything by Beverly Cleary. Perhaps I need to get my daughter started on Ramona...

BOOK 67: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: The success of the rebellion hinges on Kantiss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put away her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockinjay -- no matter the personal cost.

This was a heart-pounding conclusion to the Hunger Games series. I started and finished it all in one day because I simply couldn't stand to put it down not knowing how it ended.

I was, of course, saddened by how some things turned out, but others, particularly the love triangle were handled perfectly. Well, not fairy-tale perfectly, but exactly how I thought it should turn out, and I appreciated the way Collins tied it up without resorting to killing one of them off. Though, I'll admit, with the other big characters she killed off, I started to wonder near the end if she would kill Katniss off herself!

Now I'm dying to go back and read them again. But I think I'll have to wait a bit for my blood pressure to come back down. Seriously, these were intense. Good intense.

BOOK 66: The Help, by Kathryn Stockett

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: Seemingly as different from one another as can be, three women will come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

This is a book set in the 1960s in Jackson, Miss. It details the lives and trials of black housekeepers in white houses. Very eye opening. Made me laugh, made me cry, made me feel like I was in the same room with these characters.

The woman essentially raise the children of people who hate them because of their race, and the children in turn grow up to share their parents feelings. Such a sad cycle. But an empowering story about three women who decide it's time to share their story.

I realized yesterday that I had 4 days to read this 450 page book before it was due back at the library. I finished in in 2 days. I just couldn't put it down.

August Status Report

August was a good month! I've discovered two classics worthy of the title of "one of my FAVORITE books." Jane Eyre and The Picture of Dorian Gray were revelations.

After I finished Jane Eyre, I spent the next week watching the two big miniseries done on the book. The oldest one was most faithful to the book, practically walking you through page-by-page (and taking 8 wonderful hours to do it). The newer version from 2006 took a few liberties, but nothing completely out of left field. I think I enjoyed it more, because I enjoyed the actor who played Rochester more. He really made the character come alive and helped me see why Jane loved him.

I also watched the film version of Dorian Gray, which was riveting. It's fun to enjoy these books so much on the page and then see them come to life on the screen. I was talking with a friend the other day who told me she won't allow her son to watch a book-based movie until he's read the book first. I thought that was a nice policy! Let your kid use his own imagination about the characters before subjecting him to someone else's vision.

BOOK 65: The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: The writer finds himself in Hell boarding a bus bound for Heaven. The amazing opportunitiy is that anyone who wants to stay in Heaven, can. Lewis's revolutionary idea is that the gates of Hell are locked from the inside.

I read this book back in February. My book club was reading it for August, though, and I wanted to re-read it. So I'm counting it again!

This book only gets better on the second reading. I didn't spend so much time stumbling around the allegory, but I could dive right into the meat of these conversations between the angels of Heaven and their visitors. It opened my eyes to the vices and characteristics that might keep me from progressing in the eternities. The big, overarching one: Pride. Other obstacles: Unforgiving, selfish, unloving, disdain for truth, nagging, etc... Extremely fascinating. Again.

BOOK 64: Raising Happiness, by Christine Carter

Rating: 3 stars

Cover synopsis: A wide array of scientific studies show that happiness is a learned behavior, a muscle we can help our children build and maintain.

This book didn't tell me much of anything I didn't already know. I was wondering if there was some secret to raising happy kids, but it's about what I thought. They have to have happy parents, be taught optimism, gratefulness and you have to build a nurturing environment around them. Well...duh.

My favorite part was the 10-step solution to resolving a dispute between your two kids, such as they both want to play with the same toy. Have them sit down, take turns discussing how they feel, have them write it down...Oh, come on! This woman claims she has kids, but I can't think of a single child I know who would make it further than 1 or 2 of the steps.

Still, it was nice to see that I'm doing some things right, and to be reassured that my efforts may not have a huge pay off now, but when they're adults looking back on their childhood.

BOOK 63: Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: The passionate love between Jane Eyre, a young girl alone in the world, and the rich, brilliant, domineering Rochester has, ever since its publication in 1847, enthralled readers. It lives as one of the great triumphs of storytelling and as a moving affirmation of the perogatives of the heart in the face of disappointment and misfortune.

I vaguely remember reading this in high school, but apparently it didn't make much of an impression on me. I'm so glad I tried it again. I've been completely absorbed in it all week, hardly able to think of anything else, hiding away so I can read a few pages and, yes, I admit, putting movies on for the kids so I could read a lot of pages!

I'd say this novel rivals -- or exceeds -- some of Jane Austen's work. It's action packed, crammed with emotion, moral dilemmas, secret identities, long lost relatives, fortune, poverty, mysteries in the attic, supernatural voices, and more. Now I'll have to put some of the screen adaptations in my Netflix clue to continue my Jane Eyre fix.

BOOK 62: The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones, by Rick Riordan

Rating: 4 stars

Cover synopsis: What would happen if you discovered that your family was one of the most powerful in human history, and that the source of the family's power was hidden around the world? What if you were given a choice -- take a million dollars and walk away or get the first clue? Amy and Dan Cahill take the Clue -- and begin a very dangerous race.

This is a fun new series. It reminds me a lot of the movie National Treasure: The characters have to comb the world -- and history -- to track down clues on a scavenger hunt that will, apparently, save the world. Lots of action, lots of education, lots of mystery.

I only give it 4 stars, though, because a lot of the characters are pretty unbelievable. And the plot was fairly predictable. But still, I enjoyed it, and can't wait to pick up the next clue -- er, I mean, book.

BOOK 61: A Season of Gifts, by Richard Peck

Rating: 4 stars

Cover synopsis: It is 1958 and a new family has moved in next door to Mrs. Dowdel -- a family in desperate need of her help.

This is the third book in Peck's "A Long Way From Chicago" series that stars Grandma Dowdel. This time, the story is told by her 12-year-old neighbor Bob. Dowdel is in her 90s now, but just as fiesty as ever.

I love a good holiday-themed book. And "A Season of Gifts" was an entertaining read. Peck has a penchant for great anecdotes -- especially the story about Mrs. Dowdel recruiting Bob to go cut down a Christmas tree (and "borrow" his father's car to do it despite the fact that he doesn't know how to drive). But I didn't feel it was quite of the calibur of the first two books in the series. Bob is more of an observer -- I don't feel like he grew or learned much over the period of the book, whereas in the other two books the narrators gain some interesting insights.

Still, Peck hasn't lost his talent for story telling. But I must say, by book 3, I'm starting to wonder how anyone in that town could doubt that despite her crusty exterior, Mrs. Dowdel has a heart of gold. Isn't it common knowledge by now?

BOOK 60: The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde

Rating: 2 stars

Cover synopsis: Welcome to a surreal version of Great Britain, circa 1985, where time travel is routine, cloning is a reality, and literature is taken very, very seriously. When someone begins kidnapping characters from works of literature, it's up to Special Operative Thursday Next to track down the villain and enter a novel herself to avert a heinous act of literary homicide.

The synopsis of this book sounds pretty silly. But it got rave reviews and was a New York Times Bestseller. The Wall Street Journal calls it "Monty Python, Harry Potter, Stephen Hawking and Buffy the Vampire Slayer" rolled into one. How could I resist?

Turns out, it is as silly as the synopsis. It was really unbelievable. People are time traveling, cloning and popping in and out of books for no apparent reason. Then Fforde throws in vampires, werewolves, bullet-proof villains and mad scientists. Really? With each turn of the page my eye-rolling got bigger. I'm all for creativity, but this was downright outlandish.

I did, however, enjoy the storyline of Thursday's lost love, and how she helps reconcile Jane Eyre. Though, it's worth noting that the book may be called "The Eyre Affair," but Bronte's novel doesn't even come into play until chapter 27 -- page 264. Sigh.

BOOK 59: The Nanny Diaries, by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus

Rating: 3 stars

Cover synopsis: Struggling to graduate from NYU, Nanny takes a position caring for the only son of the wealthy X family. She rapidly learns the insane amount of juggling involved to ensure that a Park Avenue wife, who doesn't work, cook, clean, or raise her own child, has a smooth day.

As a funny satire of the uber-rich NYC set, this book had it moments. I found myself rooting for Nanny and Grayer, her charge.

Though, even as a mom, I wondered if I would have the fortitude to withstand some of the situations Nanny found herself in. The humiliation, degredation and utter lack of respect was maddening -- no, it wasn't from the 4-year-old child as you would expect. It was at the hands of the child's parents, particularly his mother.

The book did a good job of describing the feeling of being torn in two directions. On the one hand, wanting to quit because the mother is so hard to work for. But on the other hand, not wanting to leave the child alone with such inconsiderate, petty and distant parents. At the end I'm relieved Nanny got out of there, but heartsick that the child is left behind.

BOOK 58: The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: A young man sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty. The dandy remains forever unchanged -- petulant, hedonistic, vain and amoral -- while a painting of him ages and grows increasingly hideous with the years.

Wow. This was an incredible examination of the human mind and soul, good and evil, choice and destiny. I'm sure I will be mulling over it for weeks to come. The Picture of Dorian Gray was an interesting look at the influences that corrupt -- and how one under corrupt influences can in turn influence others.

It shows us how vanity, selfishness and weakness of mind can be not only one's moral downfall, but the means to one's physical end as well. Fascinating.

July Status Report

Eight books last month = right on target. I'm surprised I was able to read so many. I've been working on a freelance project, as well as hosted a couple parties and had a family "staycation." But the books were too good to put down, no matter how busy I was!

Now, I need to set up my queue for August. Time to hit my ever-growing "to read" list!

BOOK 57: The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: Set in 1964, Lily's life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When her black "stand-in-mother," Rosaleen, insults three of the deepest racists in town, Lily springs them both free. They escape to a town that holds the secret to her mother's past and are taken in by a trio of black beekeeping sisters.

This was a beautiful story about family and where you can find it. Sometimes it's not who lives under your roof, but somewhere else entirely.

I appreciated that the author didn't take the easy way out and say that Lily wasn't actually responsible for her mother's death. This made her character much deeper, and made for much more interesting first-person monologue. I really enjoyed the characters in here, especially May, the eccentric beekeeping sister who feels everything everyone else feels as if it is happening to her.

This story was heartbreaking and liberating at the same time. Enjoyed it thoroughly.

BOOK 56: Funny in Farsi, by Firoozeh Dumas

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: In 1972, when she was 7, the author and her family moved from Iran to Southern California, arriving with no firsthand knowledge of this country.

This was a funny, engaging look at life as an immigrant in America. The author shares poignant and hilarious stories about her family growing up, from her engineer father's dreams of striking it rich in Las Vegas, to her mother's unwillingness to master the English language, to her own trials as a teenager with a whole new level of awkwardness (imagine being the only Iranian in Newport Beach).

Funny in Farsi was well-written and humorous without condescending or belittling her subjects. I really enjoyed it!

BOOK 55: 100 Essential American Poems, Edited by Leslie M. Pockell

Rating: 3 stars

Cover synopsis: The way we view our nation -- its history, its traditions, even our distinctly American voice -- is largely determined by our literature. The immortal poems and songs included here will remind every reader of the richness and variety of the poetry of America and its people.

I know I'm supposed to like poetry. And I do like some of it. But even though I know the poems in this book were essential to the making of America, I felt like I had to slog through a good portion of them (Walt Whitman, Vachel Lindsay and others) to get to the good stuff.

Poetry is best read aloud, so I sat on the couch mumbling the words to myself. As I did, I fell in love with several works in this book: Edgar Allen Poe (wow, I loved The Bells!), Emily Dickensen and Hugh Antoine D'Arcy (Face on the Barroom Floor), Robert W. Service (Cremation of Sam McGee) and Allen Ginsberg (A Supermarket in California), among others.

BOOK 54: All About Sam, by Lowis Lowry

Rating: 4 stars

Cover synopsis: Sam Krupnik is Anastasia's pesky but lovable younger brother. He has his own ideas about hair cuts, nursery school, getting shots, and not eating broccoli.

I picked up this book from the library to read with my 6-year-old. She giggled and laughed her way through Sam's adventures. It was fun for her to read a book from a toddler's perspective. In fact, we only read the first 50 pages together. Then she snuck off with it and finished reading it on her own. That's a winner!

I had to sneak it off her bookshelf to finish it myself. :)

BOOK 53: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, by Stephenie Meyer

Rating: 3 stars

Cover synopsis: Bree can barely remember her life before she became a vampire. Living with her fellow newborns has few certainties and even fewer rules: watch your back, don't draw attention to yourself, and above all, make it home by sunrise or die. What she doesn't know: Her time as an immortal is quickly running out.

This is the story of a minor character we meet in Eclipse, the third book in the Twilight series. She's a newborn vampire who surrenders during battle with the Cullens -- who are willing to teach her the ways of the world -- but that the Volturi eliminate anyway.

It was interesting seeing the story from Bree's perspective. But there was a lot of overlap with what we already read in Eclipse. I was hoping for something a little more revealing. The gist: Newborns fight a lot, they don't trust their maker, and they don't form friendships easily (except, of course for Bree -- I felt Meyer took the easy road and wrote about her as another potentially moral vampire instead of trying to write about a different kind of character).

The only revealing thing we learn -- which is something we suspect after reading Eclipse -- is that the Volturi are in cahoots with Victoria, asking her to take out the Cullens.

Still, it was entertaining enough, so I give it 3 stars.

BOOK 52: Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, by Helen Simonson

Rating: 4 stars

Cover synopsis: The Major leads a quiet life of valuing the proper things that Englishmen have lived by for generations: honor, duty, decorum, and a properly brewed cup of tea. But then he sparks an unexpected friendship with Mrs. Ali, the Pakistani shopkeeper from the village. Can their relationship survive the risks one takes when pursuing happiness in teh face of culture and tradition?

This was a refreshing change of pace from the action-packed books I've read recently. This is a book about a romance blossoming between two older people -- one in his 60s and the other in her late 50s. It's also an examination not only of the clash of cultures between Brits and foreigners, but also between the young and elderly and the rich and less-priviledged.

My only complaint is that this insightful, slowly simmering tale ended in a blaze of dramatic events, disrupting the pace. In the last 50 pages or so, there is a dramatic runaway, an attempted murder, a suicide attempt, a called-off wedding and a dangling cliff-hanging rescue. Seemed like a desperate attempt on the part of the author to spice things up at the last minute -- which was quite unnecessary. The witty dialogue and examination of relationships and social norms were quite adequate by themselves.

BOOK 51: These is My Words, by Nancy E. Turner

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: The adventure of one courageous woman's life and struggles in the Arizona Territories in the last ninetheenth century.

This is a fairly substantial book, but once I started it I couldn't put it down. I was deeply moved by what I read. It's written in a diary format, by Sarah Prine. It begins when she's a 17-year-old girl details the adventures that molded her into the strong, driven and loving woman she is.

Her story is full of tragedy and triumph, sadness and joy. I can't imagine going through half the things she has -- and with the humor and wit she carries off. And her relationship with cavalry officer Captian Jack Elliot is stuff of legend. Enough said.