The World According to Garp by John Irving

I hesitate to say I liked this book. I do think I liked it, but I've come to realize that I am a terrible sucker for a happy ending. I just feel so incomplete without the dessert after the main course. I really like John Irving's writing style, but when I get so involved in characters and then you kill them off all the time, I find it hard to come away from the experience feeling satisfied. I realize that this is personal preference thing, and I don't want to say that I enjoy the book. There were parts I enjoyed immensely. I loved the term the "Under Toad" because this is just the sort of term my husband and I would pick up from our daughter and use for eternity. It's just not my kind of book, but it's good to get out of your comfort zone every now and then. Now I'm off to read something really sweet and sappy!!

Body of Evidence by Patricia Cornwell

This book was loaned to me by Colleen, a co-worker. It would probably make a good plane or vacation book. It was enjoyable, just not the kind of book I'm into. I'm not usually a big mystery reader. I especially don't like courtroom drama. This book avoided the courtroom, and focused on the forensic aspect of crime solving. Still, I'd rather just watch Law and Order.

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

Phenomenal book!! It was fascinating and laugh out loud funny in some places. It is written from the perspective of an 15 year old autistic boy named Christopher. In the beginning, he is blamed for killing a neighbors dog, and then decides to do some "detecting" and find the real killer. I'm just astounded at how convincingly the author wrote as an autistic person. The way Christopher sees things is so concrete. He doesn't understand facial expressions, body language, or anything subjective like that, yet he is exceptionally intelligent. Really great character development. I loved the whole thing.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

A very enjoyable book. Probably wouldn't be in the top ten, but very good nonetheless. I think my main problem was that I liked all of the other characters better than the main character. If I had liked her more, it would have been a list topper for sure. The story is really beautiful though.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Ugh. Did not like this book. Although somehow it escaped my 100 page rule. The beginning was very interesting. The way the character explored his own spirituality by participating in three different faiths. I also liked hearing about growing up in India. From then on it's 15 chapters of fish killing and tiger maintenance, then a couple chapters of "What the hell?", and then it wraps up with confusion and dissappointment. Pissed I didn't quit in the fish killing stage.

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

I had to wait a while for all the hype to die down, before I could read this book. I hate reading books when there's a lot of hype surrounding them. Now that I've read it, I'm confused about all the controversy. I don't think Dan Brown was trying to challenge our religious convictions with this book. I think he was just trying to write some interesting fiction, which he succeeded at. Sure parts of the book made me want to look pictures up on the internet for comparison, but never was I thinking "Gasp! He's uncovered the conspiracy of the ages!!" I enjoyed it. Not a top tenner, but a fun, quick easy read.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

I aboslutely loved this book. I would loan it to anyone. It was amazing. I read it in 3 days. I cried at the end. I really expected it to be somewhat predictable. It was not. This one will for sure make the top five of 2006. Took my breath away.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Siebold

Kind of bummed about this one. It really had the makings of something great, but kind of tanked at the end. I really needed her to wrap this up with a nice little bow, and the story just kind of ended. I realize some authors do this intentionally to keep you thinking, but this felt more like she just ran out of steam or something. I really liked how this book depicted family life and how people deal with grief. I was just really hoping for a killer ending, no pun intended.

Oh My Stars! by Lorna Landvik

I loved Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons so much that I had to read another Landvik book. I didn't like it quite as well, but I think I just identified more with the characters in AHEBB more. I still really love her story telling style and her characters. It was a very good book nonetheless.

Once Upon a Day by Lisa Tucker

I'm not really sure what to write about this book. I really enjoyed it. Good storytelling, interesting characters. It was just missing something, and I can't put my finger on what. Still, I would recommend it.

Eventide by Kent Haruf

I just had to read this book because I simply LOVED the first novel Plainsong. And as unbelievable as it was to me, I think I liked this one even better. Kent singled out 3 of my absolute favorite characters and continued their story. What a wonderful story it was. I am so in love with his characters. I find myself wanting to call them up on the phone just to see how they are doing. Incredibly touching. I wish all my reading experiences were like this.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

I really enjoyed this book on so many levels. It had everything friendship, love, family, oppression, heroism, faith. I feel like I really got to know Afghanistan too. Not like some authors do, describing the terrain, the weather, but what it was really like to live there. My only complaint was with the ending. I can't really say why though, don't want to ruin it.

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers

This book further confirmed my belief that I was not meant for the "classics". The only classic I've ever felt lived up to it's name was The Catcher in the Rye. I found this book tedious, and I didn't like most of the characters. I found them irritating. Sometimes it seems to me that authors try so hard to make their characters real that they end up even more cliche. The drunk, the black man, the ignored child, Yadda, Yadda. I'm not saying that all the characters have to be just like me, but I would prefer a few characters that would make at least pleasant company. Anyway, I didn't find it completely unredeeming. The author surely wrapped things up beautfully at the end, and wouldn't say I'm totally dissappointed I spent my time reading it. But it will be a long time before I try another "classic" that's for sure.

Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik

Definitely will be a top read for this year. In fact, I immediately sent out an email to all my friends imploring them to read this book. Okay, so it's not pulitzer prize winning literature, but I wouldn't dare call it fluff either. Wonderful truly real feeling characters and adding to their appeal, they're all Mom's like me! I so wanted to be part of this group of friends. The perfect summer read!

Kid Cooperation by Elizabeth Pantley

The subtitle for this book was How to stop yelling, nagging, and pleading and get kids to cooperate. This book is a must have for any parent who has found themselves saying, "I mean it!" and getting no response. My Dad is an elementary principal (and an exceptional father) and I couldn't help feeling like he must have wrote this book. If everyone followed these principals, then society would be a much more peaceful place. Best parenting book I've read.

Plainsong by Kent Haruf

What a perfect name for a perfect book!! I simply fell in love with these characters. I never wanted the story to stop. I felt sad and left behind when it was over. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author. Please read this, it's just beautiful. You can't help but love the characters.

I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb

Both my father and sister loved this book, and I loved She's Come Undone, so I had to read it. I'm glad I did, but man it was not an easy read. I like my books to have a sort of even balance between misery and joy. This book was about 95% misery and 5% joy. I really could have used a little more reward for all the heartache, but the characters definitely stay with you.

Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Fun read, reminescent of my Chronicles of Narnia days. I hope to pass this one on to Elise when she gets older. My favorite part of this book, how it seems to inspired so many children and parents alike to read again! What a gift that is. It makes me sad to see the movie come out.

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Every couple should read this book! Not only is it extremely helpful, but it is very entertaining to read! The premise of the book is that every person demonstrates love in one of five "love languages". They are Acts of Service, Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, Quality Time, and Gifts. If you show love as Physical Touch, but your spouse is all about Words of Affirmation, then neither of you is feeling loved. Just read and see. I really enjoyed it, and felt it helped me see my relationship with my husband in a new light. Now if I could only get him to read it too!!

The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp

The best "baby" book I read. It was immensely helpful during Elise's first 7 months because she was so colicky!! I found his theory of colic very interesting as well, made sense to me. I'd highly recommend this to anyone expecting a baby. It would make a great baby shower gift.