Her Fearful Symmetry

Audrey Niffenegger

I was so excited to read this, The Time Traveler's Wife is one of my all-time favorite books, so I couldn't wait to read another of this author's books. I think she does a great job of developing characters without beating you down by it, and this book is very different than the other book I read of hers so I can't accuse her of being formulaic. I think that this was an interesting read, but pretty wierd for sure. But, I thought that this was a good book and a different read than my usual so I am glad that I read it. I did like TTW better, but I would encourage this for a read outside of the usual chick flick books I sometimes get bored with.

The Lost Symbol

Dan Brown

I thought this was a fun read. It was very typical Dan Brown. I am not sure if I am more used to his style or more jaded, but some parts seemed pretty far fetched... But, it was still a fun, well-written suspense book with good twists and turns. I was wishing I had been more attentive on my visit to Washington D.C. as the sights and symbols were described. Oh well, I guess we will have to go back. It was also fun to watch the Dateline special about it afterwards to see more about the fact vs. fiction of the book.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog

Muriel Barbery

I read this for book club, very late by the way. I feel so bad, I always read the book before we meet this is only the 2nd book I haven't finished and the last one I had read before...
Anyway, I love book club because you read books other people pick that you might not pick yourself. I would not have chosen this book. It was cool that it was translated from French, I think I said with The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo that I think it makes me feel smarter even though it really doesn't mean anything. I thought the book was okay. Pretty slow, I think it took 3/4 for me to really get interested and then I thought it ended rather abruptly. So, I didn't think it was great, but I am not sorry I read it.

Never Tell a Lie

Hallie Ephron

This was a good cheesy murder/mystery. It was an interesting twist that one of the main characters was pregnant. I can only imagine the tricks your mind plays on you while you are pregnant falling while something so crazy was happening in your life. I thought it was a fun book club choice for this month, their is something fun about reading a good mystery in the fall!

The Englisher and The Brethren

Beverly Lewis

These were the following two books in the series I started called Annie's People. I loved these easy fun reads. Even though I knew what I wanted and was probably going to happen I couldn't wait to finish them and make sure. I think these would be a great vacation read and were a really nice escape for me during a very busy fall.

My Lobotomy

Howard Dully and Charles Fleming

Wow! I am shocked by this book. It is amazing the life that this gentleman has lead considering all he has been through. I am shocked at how easy it was to decide to do such a life altering procedure on a 12 year old boy. Our system failed this man in so many ways and so did his family. VERY interesting, but quite disturbing. I hope we have better checks and balances in place today. However, when I deal with CPS it makes me wonder.

The Preacher's Daughter

Beverly Lewis

I knew I forgot one of my Chicago reads. My friend Annalee recommended this as a great vacation read and she was so right. I totally reminds me of good books we have shared before like the Christy Miller series. While Christian fiction can often be a little too cheesy for me, the twist of getting to learn about the Amish, or Plain as I am learning to say, community is fun. I really liked this book and I am about 50% through the next in the series. It would be a perfect read for a teenage reader or anyone else, too.