The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Mark Haddon

ER: 8.5/10
MR: 13-122 yrs.

A person is defined by what, and the way in which, they think. As far as we can tell, no two humans think about the same situation in the same exact way. Theoretically, this makes sense. Each person involved in a situation is viewing the situation through a series of "filters," their past experiences. As no two people live the same life, have the same memories and programmed emotional responses... Well, we must all be different. Part of the magic of reading is that it allows us to step outside ourselves for a few hours and live in another's mind: feel what they feel, hear what they hear, see what they see. In essence we jump onto a train of thought and lose ourselves in another life. No story has allowed me to do this as completely as my most recent read, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Christopher John Francis Boone is not a normal 15 year old. His condition is never explicitly described, but  his actions and are akin to those of a six or seven year old in most respects. He hates yellow and brown and counts cars on the way to school to determine what kind of a day it will be. One of his most defining characteristics (and important ones, in the case of this novel) is his almost compulsive recording of events. This novel is his journal in which he enumerates every event, thought, and seemingly insignificant detail of his life. It begins with a mystery (who killed the neighbor's dog?), but soon evolves into a universal story about learning, adventure, and self-discovery. And if this sounds like an infomercial, I apologize. It's just that Christopher's story made a profound impression on me. In fact, it's hard to believe that this book was written by Mark Haddon and not by young Christopher himself.

Of course, the brilliance of this novel is also its only flaw. As it is "written" by Christopher, the writing is hardly brilliant. Most sentences are choppy, only a few words in length, and the vocabulary is limited to that of an eight or nine year old. I found it difficult to lose myself in the story; the style of writing was not conducive to a pleasant reading experience. The style is true to the content, though, and highlights the strong plot and character development. Basically, it is technically "poorly written," but well written in context. To most, the writing will be just a minor annoyance. But if you are a part of the elite group of die hard grammarians, you have been warned.

This novel is available on Amazon in audio, hardcover, paperback, and electronic versions. Of course, check you local independent bookstores first. If you still haven't located the one nearest you, you can find it here. Unique and inspiring, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a must read. And it's a quick read too, so you have no excuse for not picking it up today!

Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen

ER: 9.5/10
MR: 15-122 yrs.

If you're one of the few people who hasn't yet read this New York Times Bestseller, I pity you. You honestly don't know what you're missing; you can't, or you would already have this book in your lap. It is truly a masterpiece of historical fiction that you can't afford to miss.

Ninety-three-year-old Jacob Jankowski lives in a nursing home. His biggest challenges each day include standing up, sitting down, and buttoning his shirt. He seems weak, a shadow of someone who used to exist, and it is evident that his time is running out. His body is failing him, but his mind still remembers, and it is through those memories that our story is told. Flashback to the depression. Jacob, a veterinary student at Cornell, is preparing to take his final exams when he is told that both his parents died in a car crash. Unable to face the exams, he flees. That night, he hops a train car, and finds himself onboard the train of The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. He has veterinary experience, and they have animals. He's got the job.

The rest of the book is an account of his days in the circus. Not a romantic, glossed-over account, but a realistic one. No one has any money, no one has any alcohol (Prohibition), and if the boss doesn't like you, you may find yourself chucked off the train in the middle of the night. That's the circus, for you. But Jacob has no where else to go, and even if he did, he couldn't leave. He's fallen in love with the circus: the animals, the people, and especially with one of the performers, Marlene. As the plot thickens, Jacob finds himself fighting for his very survival and the lives of the people (and elephant) he's come to love.

It's hard to find anything bad to say about this book, actually. It drew me in so completely that I feel as if I had actually been on that train with Jacob, traveling across the United States. Perhaps the only part that I didn't enjoy was the overly detailed account of one of the female "performers" (prostitutes) that accompanied the circus. I could have done without it; it didn't add anything to the story and if anything, took away from the action. That's a minor detail though. When I start critiquing a chapter at a time, you know I don't have any major complaints.

So, please, for your own sake, read this book. It's the best book that I've read in a long time, and you're only hurting yourself if you let it slip through your fingers. It is available on Amazon in electronic, paperback, hardcover, and audio editions. Of course, check your local independent bookstore first. Click here to find a mom and pop store near you!

First Family, David Baldacci

ER: 8.5/10
MR: 15-122 yrs.

Bruce Willis picking off terrorists one by one in Die Hard. Arnold Schwarzenegger rescuing his daughter as she dangles, one handed, from the top of a crane in True Lies. Sarah Connor firing round after round of ammunition under the looming threat of Judgement Day in The Terminator. All of the above qualify as great action thrillers, but none of them were as gripping as my latest read, First Family. I was glued to this story; it is solely responsible for the level of sleep deprivation I have suffered over the last few days. Filled with moments of terror, rising levels of adrenaline, and the thrill of the unknown, First Family is a must read for any fan of the genre.

The stakes could not be higher. The niece of the president has been kidnapped, her mother killed, and the rest of her family drugged or rendered unconscious. Immediately, the crime scene is awash with FBI, Secret Service, reporters... and the upcoming election looms ahead for the President and the First Lady. Untrusting of the federal agents, the First Lady calls in her own team, two former SS agents turned private investigators, Sean and Michelle. For Sean and Michelle, all that matters is the life of the kidnapped, but for everyone else, it seems, there are ulterior motives. One cannot jeopardize their public office for anything.

My favorite aspect of this novel was the way it was told. It jumped around, narrating each chapter from a different character's point of view. Because of this, the mystery was not who kidnapped the girl or how, but why they did it. As the story progresses, the reader faces a dilemma: to side with the kidnapper or the kidnapped? The choice is not as cut and dry as we would like it to be. As most public officials, the President had a life before he assumed the title and that life wasn't blemish-free.

My one problem with this book was it's subplot regarding the death of Michele's mother. I felt that it wasn't relevant to the rest of the story, and it frustrated me to have to endure long funeral scenes as the kidnapping plot was put on hold. In my opinion, both plot and subplot would have been better served had the author divided them into separate books, perhaps having the subplot as a companion novella to First Family. However, that is just my personal taste, and another reader might not find any problem with the juxtaposition of the two different stories.

Overall, First Family was an exciting, engaging read, and true to life and American politics. You can find it on Amazon in electronic, paperback, audio, and hardcover editions. As always, check your local independent bookstore first. You can find a bookstore near you here. And I apologize in advance for the sleep deprivation ahead.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

ER: 7.5/10

MR: 15-25 yrs. (Not really an "adult" novel, but if it sounds interesting to you, by all means, read away!)

Because of its recent movie adaptation starring Michael Cera (aka the guy from Juno), the general public seems to agree that this book has served its purpose. It has attained the highest level of fame and acclaim: a movie. Now, there is no reason to read the book. It's so much more efficient to just get it on instant play from Netflix, and really-- who would waste their time reading something when Michael Cera awaits, just a click away? Well, sorry, but the general public is wrong. I've seen the movie, and while it wasn't bad, I feel perfectly confident in saying that the original book deserves your attention. 

It all begins with a guy, Nick. Nick just got dumped by girl-of-his-dreams Tris. Feeling pretty broken up, Nick is reluctantly dragged to a gig at a club by his two gay bandmates. Tris walks in, draped over another guy, and Nick turns to the girl next to him and asks the obvious question: Will you be my girlfriend for the next 5 minutes? After a 5 minute makeout session, the two realize there is more going on between them than a fake relationship. The ensuing night proves both chaotic and wonderful as Nick and Norah wander the streets of Manhattan. This book is the story of that single, defining night. 

What I loved most about this book was its (often hilarious) honesty. It didn't follow the pattern of a typical love story, and neither of the characters is without flaws. Instead of a cliched teen romance, it was a window into the indie culture of nighttime New York and a portrait of young love, real young love. The music and bands ("Where's Fluffy?") interested me, and I welcomed the chance to be a part of this industry that I am so far removed from. 

While it is on the short side, the book is able to amply cover its timeframe, not surprising as the timeframe is rather short: just one night. It was a quick read, fun, exciting, and entertaining. It was definitely enjoyable, but it served a specific purpose: simple entertainment. There was nothing profound about the book, it wasn't the source of any great epiphany, and I wasn't left with something to mull over. No new ideas were spawned. It was fun, yes, but not brilliant literature. Still, in my opinion, it was more than worth the read. 

If Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist sounds interesting, it is available on Amazon in electronic, paperback, hardcover, and audio editions. As always, check your local independent bookstores first. If you still aren't familiar with your local retailers, you can click here to discover stores in your area. Happy reading!

Hush, Hush, Becca Fitzpatrick

ER: 4/10
MR: 13-16 yrs.

To be perfectly honest, I would never have opened this book if it hadn't been given to me this Christmas as a gift. Why? Because everything about it screams trashy teen romance. If a few key words were changed, the plot synopsis on the back could have been talking about almost any teen novel written in the last decade. Change the name Patch to Edward and you have Twilight. Change 'fallen angel' to 'werewolf' and you have Blood and Chocolate. On sight, I morally objected to the seemingly formulaic structure of this novel, and loathed the idea of wasting precious hours reading it. Still, it was given to me as a gift, jokingly entitled 'blog fodder.' I considered myself obligated, and resigned to the worst, settled in to read, my expectations exceedingly low.

The premise of Hush, Hush is simple, and it's one that you've heard over and over again. Boy meets girl. Boy is attractive, but dangerous. Boy could hurt girl, but falls for her instead. Girl, idiot that she is, falls for him too. Trumpets sound and boy and girl trot off to their happy ending. In Hush, Hush, the boy is a fallen angel, Patch Cipriani, who shows up in high school biology one day and finds the love of his life. Well, not exactly life. Her name is Nora, and from the moment she meets Patch, strange things begin to occur. Convinced he's stalking her, she pops a few iron pills (she's anemic), takes out her cell phone, and calls the police. Now if that's not a recipe for romance, I don't know what is.

This book may be based on a contrived plot, underdeveloped, and poorly written, but it does have a few redeeming qualities. Length, for one. If you want a fun, quick read for a Saturday evening, this is it. Also, trite as it is, the storyline is one that will always appeal to a certain echelon of reader, not for it's quality, but for the thrill of a dangerous romance. Once or twice, I found myself caught up in the intensity of it all and forgot my many misgivings. This could be the perfect book for someone looking for a little fun, as long as they don't focus too much on quality of writing. That, to me, makes it a 4 on the 1 to 10 scale. In the right circumstances, it could be entertaining, but it is in no way great literature.

If the bad-boy romance of Hush, Hush is your cup of tea, don't hesitate to order it from Amazon, where it is available in ebook, paperback, and hardcover editions. Of course, check your local independent bookstore first. You can find a list of independent bookstores in your area here. If, upon reading Hush, Hush, you dub it a work of genius, please disregard the above commentary and comment your own below. Nothing I write should have any bearing upon your final verdict. If, however, you agree with my analysis, know that you are not alone. Someone off in the blogosphere invested the same amount of time in this novel and reached the same conclusion. I can commiserate.

Daughter of Fortune, Isabel Allende

ER: 7/10
MR: 15-122 yrs.

This is a beautifully crafted, educational piece of literature. It may not be a page-turner, and the language may be a little dense, but if you're willing to give it some effort, I believe you'll enjoy it. It is a modern classic, written in 1999, but with a lilting tone reminiscent of Anne of Green Gables or A Little Princess. It's quite a bit racier, though...

Eliza Sommers literally arrived on the doorstep in Valparaiso, Chile at only a few months old. She was taken in by a wealthy English family, though her class background and parentage was unknown. Tao Chi'en was born in the province of Kwangtung in China, to a family so poor that they simply referred to their children by number. Tao was Fourth Son. Against the backdrop of the California Gold Rush, these two very different people meet and their lives inexplicably intertwine. Their independent stories are interwoven skillfully throughout the novel, sometimes through direct contact and, in other times, only through letters. Their blossoming relationship is a elegant microcosm in which all class discrepancies and interracial issues can be seen and examined.

Now, the California Gold Rush wasn't exactly rated G, no matter what your fourth grade teacher tried to tell you. This novel deals particularly well with the harsh realities of this time. They are present without being obnoxiously thrust in your face. Still, if your moral compass cannot handle accounts of prostitution, rape, and drunken violence, you may want to avoid this book. In my opinion, none of it is too disturbing to handle, but everyone has a different threshold for this sort of thing.

If you enjoy historical fiction, and are willing to put in the extra bit of effort, you will find yourself pleasantly surprised at this novel. It is witty, informative, and well written. It's a book to be appreciated, if not full out adored. It is available in paperback, audio, and library binding from Amazon, but remember, check those independent retailers first! As per usual, you can find independent bookstores near you here. Happy reading!

First Review: The Host, Stephenie Meyer

ER: 8.5/10
MR: 14-122 yrs.

Stephenie Meyer. A name that brings squeals of joy to a small subset of the population and groans to the rest of us. Before you judge, any of you, know that this book isn't at all a Twilight novel. Not only is it geared towards young adults rather than hyper pre-teens, but it demonstrates a complexity of plot and character development not seen in this author's other works. Yes, character development. The protagonist is more than a mindless drone, and the love interest has more depth than a Ken doll. But before this turns into a rant against the Twilight Saga, let me introduce the premise.

The story begins as Wanderer, a "soul", or parasite, wakes up in the body of a young woman, formerly known as Melanie. In this Earth of the future, all free humans have more or less disappeared. The planet is populated by gentle, peace-loving parasites living in human hosts. Their goal is to restore the planet to it's natural state and end all wars and conflict. It seems they have succeeded. When Wanderer wakes up inside of Melanie, though, she knows something isn't right. In all other documented cases, the host submits immediately to the rule of its new master. This isn't the case with Melanie.

Melanie is aware, awake, and makes her presence known. This interesting conundrum, two completely different beings sharing one body, is the backdrop of a story that aptly addresses the questions that plague us in our daily life. What does it mean to be human? How far can kindness extend before it becomes weakness? And just where does love come from? As these two well-developed characters struggle to come to terms with their respective existences, Stephenie Meyer spins a tale that will keep you entertained, interested, and most importantly, leaves you with something to think on.

The only downside to this book is its length, which is overly generous. In my humble opinion, the story would have been more effective had it been a hundred pages shorter. The extra detail was nice, but a good editor could have pared it down without any sacrifice to story or character. Slow readers may find this book too long to be enjoyable. If, like myself, you don't so much read as devour, it shouldn't be a problem.

So, fellow readers, please suspend your disbelief that Stephenie Meyer could write something worthy of this kind of praise, and buy the book. It is available in hardcover, paperback, kindle, and audio editions at Amazon or your local independent bookseller. Please, treat Amazon as a last resort and keep those mom and pop stores alive! Click here to find an independent bookstore near you!