The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio by Terry Ryan

10/10 - I read a lot. And because people see me reading all the time, I get lent a lot of books. I'm always grateful that people want to share there favorite books with me, but sometimes I look at the book thinking "Oh boy, here we go again." That's kind of what I thought when Claudia lent me this book. It didn't really look like my kind of thing, although I don't think I could be specific about what my kind of thing is. However, I ended up reading this book in 3 days. I didn't want to put it down. It is so entertaining! Not to mention inspiring. I just love characters that you would just die to meet. Evelyn Ryan is one of those characters. I was overcome that one person could be so clever and infinitely optimistic. Just the thought of having 10 children alone makes me cringe (to be honest), but to also have to deal with poverty and alcoholism. I don't know how I'd manage. I don't know that I could. I raise my Shirley Temple to you, Evelyn! You were one class act.

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

6/10 - I think I'm missing the point of this book. I felt like the narrators were trying to tell me something and it either went over my head or there really was no point. We didn't really get to know any of the characters, and although there were some great plot twists, I feel like it really left me hanging. No pun intended.

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

10/10 - I was blown away by this book. It was by no means an easy read, and sometimes not a pleasant one either. This book encompassed so many of the emotions and experiences of a soldier in the Vietnam war. What if feels like to be drafted. What it was like coming home. What it feels like to kill a man. The camaraderie, the horror, the death. Each story had a mood all it's own. A real tangible feeling to it. Can't wait to lend this out and see what other people think.

The Color of Water by James McBride

10/10 - This is one of those books that I think everyone should read. It's not preachy, it just lays down the facts and lets you draw you own conclusion. I loved the way the authors story and his mother's were interwoven so effortlessly. And it blows my mind that racists and bigots can co-exist in the same world as people like the McBride Jordan family.

The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman

7/10 - After perusing the first few pages of this book in B&N, I was anxious to read it. I enjoy books with a bit of supernatural flare. The beginning was great, the ending wonderful and heartfelt, but I could have easily done without the middle. The narrator (and main character) spends the majority of the book wallowing in self pity and flowery language. Her self destructive behavior is cliche and tedious, and her focus is always self centered. She has the personality of a 15 year old goth kid who thinks they're sooooooooo deep, but really have no clue about the real world. And believe me, I know, I was one. ;-)

Little Children by Tom Perrotta

9/10 - Being a 30 something parent, this book really spoke to me. I was blown away by how accurate Perrotta's portrayal of contemporary suburbia was. Although there were a few somewhat stereotypical characters in there, who cares!, we know there are always people who fit stereotypes to a tee. And no where is that more true than suburbia. I really identified with Sarah, and her constant struggle to fit in with the other mothers and neighbors. I only took off a point because the book sort of felt like it was written with the intention of being made into a movie. I thought this before I even found out it had been made into a movie. The chapters read a little too much like scenes, and the dialog like lines. Overall, a really enjoyable read. I would highly recommend it. Hope you like it Michou!