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!