A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers (#24, Nonfiction)

When I saw that this was our bookclub pick I got pretty excited. I have been meaning to read Dave Eggers for some time now, and I have heard from more than one person that this book is great--maybe even their favorite book of all time.

I immediately loved his random banter-type writing. You feel like he is talking to you, not writing a book. I really enjoyed his story-telling and style for the first 200 pages, but then it turned a little too random and stream of consciousness for my liking towards the end.

Dave Eggers is definitely a unique writer and story teller, I don't think he is for everyone, but he is definitely worth checking out. Even though I may not have loved his style throughout, his story is certainly out there and one worth telling.

He is one of those writers that you want to meet in person. He has had a crazy life, and yet he comes off as so normal in the book--no addictions, a good role model to his younger brother... but you wonder, is he a little quirky or totally messed up?

Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon (#23, Fiction)

Book #4 of the Outlander series. I can't believe I have made it this far. Although, I feel quite content with my place in the world of Jamie and Claire.

In the past I have either been vehemently against continuing the series, or almost Twilight-esque sure of reading the next book. At this point I feel quite apathetic about it--I may, I may not. Right now I'm leaning towards no, but who knows, I could be at the book store or library in search of that easy, absorbing book where you know EXACTLY what to expect. And that is when Outlander #5 could come into play. (yeah, I don't even know the title of the next one)

Side Note: I introduced this series to my old roommate Liz. I felt that I gave her the appropriate warnings and had been exposed to enough of her reading habits, and her open mind to books, that there was a chance she could enjoy it. Apparently, her sister saw her reading it, and said, "You are reading Dirty Diana!" Yes, apparently she had been accosted on the beach for reading a book by the author known as: Dirty Diana.

Echo Park by Michael Connelly (#22, Fiction)

Can you imagine how many books I would read in a year if all I read was murder/mystery series? Seriously. Even though the book is over 400 pages, I can still breeze though it in three days max. I could read over 100 books in a year!

But alas, quality over quantity. I really haven't got much to say about this book. For it's genre it fits the bill and didn't make me feel like I was slumming it. (I just came up with that--book slumming it. Steph-- it's our new phrase! I love it!)

The main character is likeable and the writing is not terrible. The story was interesting with a nice little twist at the end.

It passes my guilty pleasure standards.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (#21, Fiction)

Normally I am hesitant about bestsellers. I will read a bestseller but I will go into it with low expectations. I had heard so many positive reviews about Water for Elephants from people I trusted that my expectations were way higher than normal.

Happily, it was a success! I think Sara Gruen can write a lovely story--it was simple, but well done. She also did her homework. Although the book is fiction she takes many factual accounts and stories and weaves them into a story of her own.

My two favorite parts about the book are the twist that works out so well, and the love of animals that many of the main characters have.

I am entirely satisfied with this as a bestseller and will happily read Gruen in the future.

Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction by David Sheff (#20, Nonfiction)

Truth really is stranger than fiction. Or maybe just sadder and more heartbreaking. Beautiful Boy is a tale that all parents hope to never call their own.

Nic Sheff grows up in a fairly typical fashion, loved by two parents who end up getting divorced when he is young. He is happy, athletic, smart, friendly, curious, and a great big brother until drugs take over his life.

David Sheff, his father, shares the story of Nic's addiction to drugs and alcohol--mainly methamphetamine--from high school through his mid-20s.

The worst part about the book is that it doesn't end. There is no magical cure. Even after two to three year stints at a time of being clean, Nic always returns to drugs. Just when you think he finally has his life in order and has overcome his addiction, he relapses. No low seems low enough to stop him from going back. David candidly shares his thoughts, frustrations, and the blame he places on himself for his son's path, as well as the toll it has taken on his personal and professional life.

Nic, also a talented writer, has published the story of his addiction--Tweak. As someone who never exceeds recommended dosages, dislikes prescriptions, and would rather have terrible allergies than take a daily pill, I am interested to read from Nic's perspective. I just hope that someday I will find out that he is still clean and has been for years, but after reading disappointment after disappointment in Beautiful Boy, I know the odds of that are not good.

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks (#12, Contemporary Fiction)

What is my deal? I have been reading books and then promptly forgetting that I have read them. Why I completely spaced out and didn't blog about Geraldine Brooks' People of the Book is beyond me. I actually really liked it and would definitely recommend it to friends--in a non Prep-like way.

The main character is Hanna Heath, an Australian manuscript conservator and the story basically arcs around her restoration of the Haggadah, a Jewish illustrated prayer book. Every time Hannah uncovers some detail or odd thing about the ancient book, we are thrown back in time and we get to find out what really happens. I found myself skimming Hanna's parts just so I could get to the neatly crafted historical chapters. I really liked the piecemeal way Brooks tells the story of the Haggadah. Definitely worth reading!

The Last Town on Earth by Thomas Mullen (#19, Fiction)

I brought this book back with me from my Mom's house in Florida a couple of months ago. I must have quickly skimmed the back and felt that it met my standards. When I finished the last book I was at home and no longer have my library card, so I had to choose from a book on my shelf. I grabbed The Last Town on Earth to check out the back cover, and I couldn't believe that it is a historical fiction novel about the Spanish Influenza outbreak of 1918.

Quite apropos, right? After the recent outbreak of swine flu it seemed like the book was just waiting for me to read it. With my job, one would think I have had an overload of epidemics, emergency preparedness, and reminders of the shortcomings of our health system, but I'm a glutton for punishment. So of course I decided to read a book about people dying from the flu-- and to be expected it has re-intensified my fear of people sneezing and coughing in public!

Apparently, the author found an article about how many towns in the Northwest quarantined themselves in an effort to keep the flu out in 1918. He ran with that and concocted a story about the idyllic and peaceful town of Commonwealth unraveling after making the decision to not let anyone in or out until the flu passed.

One of my major critiques of the novel is that it seems like he weaved in too many themes. Of course there is the fear of the flu, but then there is also the war going on and the town is mostly anti-war. Many of the men in town either did not register for the draft or have been spared as necessary workers. They are living and working happily secluded until they make the decision to quarantine themselves.

The author highlights the fact that when people are scared and backed into a corner they will do things you could never imagine. Commonwealth, a town built upon communal values and nonviolent resolutions becomes a free-for-all, each man for himself, and suspicious and blame filled place after the flu enters.