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The Scarlet Pimpernel is a daring and romantic adventure — shy on literary merit, heavy in plot — and well worth reading. How is this not even more of a classic? It should be read out loud at nighttime to a group of anxious children in footed pajamas. It should rest alongside Treasure Island and Alexandre Dumas. Major kudos too for the fact that it is written by a woman. Who said men get to write all the fun high-adventure stuff? I was riveted by this swashbuckling tale, following each twist and turn with baited breath. It took me roughly fifty pages to get a good feel for the pacing, but about 1/4 of the way through, the story took a sudden leap and I LOVED it. Marguerite St. Just is your stereotypical woman in distress and her decision to help the evil Chauvelin in order to save her brother Armand from the guillotine is equal parts heroic and stupid. If she wants to save Armand, she has to help Chauvelin capture the Scarlet Pimpernel. However, as she works with the corrupt Frenchman, she soon starts to realize that she’s in love with the man in disguise. He is everything her whimpy, goofy, annoying husband is not. But THEN…oh well, I won’t spoil it for you…but let me tell you: It’s just one fun thing after another. What I love most is Chauvelin’s true villainy. He is the embodiment of corruption and evil. Unrelenting and sadistic. He always has a sly smile or he’s rubbing his hands together — spinning his French moustache between his horrible little fingers. This book has clearly defined who you are rooting for and who you are rooting against. And I find that refreshing among today’s contemporary literature that wants to throw any idea of a “hero/heroine” out the window. I get tired of reading books with unlikable characters. Who am I supposed to care about? The pedophile? The shoplifter? The kid who kills animals? Oh…all of them? Ugh. Sometimes I just want a dashing Englishman to save the day and make an evil Frenchman look stupid. The Scarlet Pimpernel requires some suspension of disbelief, but it’s totally a fun book. I’m glad I read it.

What if I told you there was a way to make Einstein’s theory of relativity accessible? I know, right? But this book provides the non-physicist a way to conceptualize those theories of time that have long eluded people like me who have taken their notions of time and the space-time continuum from “Back to the Future” and LOST. Lightman is a physicist and an instructor of Humanities at MIT. And he has written a book that operates on the premise that while Einstein was working on his theory of relativity in Switzerland, he would dream up a new concept of time every night. Those “dreams” are then recorded into these poetic vignettes — and woven between the dreams are small interludes into Einstein’s life. The book reads quickly — if you have a few hours (on a plane, sitting in a coffee shop) you could devour the whole book in one sitting. I think the book then begs to be read again — it is so ridiculously quotable. I found myself itching to grab a pencil and mark the whole thing up…but it wasn’t my book — and post-its weren’t going to cut it this time. I’ll buy my own copy. It’s worth keeping around on a shelf — to flip through, to ponder. I was fully drawn into the dreams; I was pondering time in new ways. And since I carried this book around with me all during conferences on Thursday and through staff-development on Friday, I had half-a-dozen people say, “I LOVE that book. It’s fantastic!” Yes, it really is fantastic. Not in a plot-driven way. Not in a development of character way. But in a way that has staying power. In a way that will effect the way you view time forever. Read it. It’s worth it.

I’ll admit I wasn’t looking forward to this book. Post World-War-I Austria? Dark and despairing? Written and left unfinished by Zweig — discovered after his suicide in a pile of papers? I couldn’t imagine that all those glowing reviews would mean that I would like it — I mean, that hasn’t been a good indication before. But I love this book. I’m in love with this small book from Austria. It has classic written all over it — it’s quotable and powerful; Zweig had his pulse on the human condition and Christine is a fantastic tragic character. In some ways the story seems cliche: Your basic rags to riches plot. But it’s rags to riches to rags again — and therein lies the emotional foundation where Zweig builds his narrative. It’s fascinating to me that he wrote this in the 1930s, it wasn’t published until the 1980s, and it wasn’t translated into English until 2008. He has been virtually impossible to read in the United States until the last few years — non-existent to American readers. It totally makes me wonder what else is out there waiting to be discovered. The Post-Office Girl is just as poignant today as it could have been in the 1930s. The themes are universal, timeless. I’ve read so much about the horrors of communism, this book makes one thing clear: Capitalism isn’t a picnic either. Christine takes care of her dying mother in an impoverished Austria; then she lives the dream in Switzerland with her aunt and uncle; then she is discarded like garbage; after that she finds solace in Ferdinand, a rebel from the war. It is with Ferdinand where the book ends — a striking ending, with absolute uncertainty – that buries itself deep within your brain. Is Christine really out of options? Is this ending her only hope? I’m so sad for Stefan Zweig — who committed to a suicide pact with his wife while living in total fear of a Nazi/Communist world. A Jewish man living in exile of his home country, his deep sadness for the future of the world is evident in this particular book. His legacy as a writer was buried for years, but I hope that a new generation discovers his works and brings his man into the recognition he deserves. Yes, I stumbled across this book…but I’m so glad I did. Pick this up. It will remind you of The Great Gatsby, it will ring with truth and sadness; it begs teaching. Maybe I’m over-selling it a bit, but I hope not. Tonight, when I finished it, I was totally sad it was over.

This book is like molasses. Or like a Miramax film vying for an Academy Award for Best Picture — beautiful and evocative, but slow-moving toward its riveting denouement. The book is rich on atmosphere and the characters are fully-formed, the story is sweeping. But it doesn’t have the break-neck speed of your average mystery novel. I think describing it as a mystery is misleading. It’s a multi-faceted piece of literature, with layers upon layers of story and history: Passion, guilt, cover-ups, Communism, redemption.

Michener is a pro — there is no doubt about that. When it comes to history, the man knew how to suck you in. There is so much to talk about with this book — so much that moved me and disturbed me. I can picture the brutality of a communist Hungary, the bloodshed during the revolution, and the panic-stricken refugees as they crossed a tiny foot bridge to freedom. I read the final pages of this book bleary-eyed: Stories of parents drugging their children so they could carry them silently past Soviet border guards and a dad who swam three times across an icy river taking his kids in turn to Austria — knowing that if he delayed even for a second, he would be a witness to the Russians gunning them down. Michener’s account of the refugees fleeing Hungary was firsthand. Communist guards who were sympathetic to the Hungarians solicited his help to carry children across the border. He interviewed these young men and women mere moments after they acquired freedom from a government that oppressed them, lied to them, and killed the spirit of their country. This whole story is engaging. Read it.

Let me state up-front: There are aspects of this book that are flawed. While the writing was good, it seemed to drag in places. The ending left me wanting. While the characters were believable and I became invested in their lives, there wasn’t enough of a difference between the two men (Kenan and Dragan) out there on the street — without the chapter headings, I doubt I would have been able to tell their stories apart. And the novel is extraordinarily heavy-handed: War sucks. I heard it loud and clear. (Although, there was an attempt to humanize both sides and blur the line between the good guys and the bad guys…which I appreciate — as war is hardly ever as black and white as it appears on the evening news). However, even with all of those negatives, I would still recommend this book. When one of the characters relays his disappointment toward the international community for leaving them abandoned, realizing that no one is coming to help them, I hurt for Bosnia. While reading I was able to place myself into that city, during that time, and imagine my life — waking up and strapping water jugs on my back to endure a gauntlet of snipers so my children can drink? The fear of stepping into an intersection? Hoping that the person who just stepped out into the street, that stranger, will die so that you may get to live? I found that Galloway kept me wrapped up in Sarajevo and these character’s plights — I finished the book in a day. (I know, even if it has taken me longer to blog about it.) Sure, there are plenty of powerful books out there that wax philosophical about war; since Galloway is Canadian and (to the best of my knowledge) didn’t actually spend time in Sarajevo during the siege, his book is more of a universal tale of loss and wartime emotions instead of an attempt to historically depict the city. That is evident in his attempt to clear the novel of any real statements about the cause of the siege or discuss the differences between those in the city and those in the hills. Nevertheless, his book resonated with me and I think it’s worth picking up sometime.

I suppose what makes me drawn to this book is that the subject matter was pretty interesting. And even when the book meandered away into its “counter-chapters”, I felt like I understood how everything was connected. The story of the girl who marries a snake is actually quite touching. The blood-feuds reemerging after the fall of Communism is fascinating — the idea of the Kanun resurfacing in Albania kept me interested and I wanted to know more. Again, we are dealing with a country that was occupied, ripped apart, then left to pick up the pieces. When you read the book with this in mind, you realize how much these countries are defined by pre/during/post communism. Ultimately, at the end of the book, I felt connected to this surreal version of Albania.

ll things considered, Natural Novel was pretty readable and occasionally funny; but in its attempt to reign as a postmodern experiment, the book seems like it is trying just a little too hard sometimes. The book is small — 130 pages — and it has 40 chapters. It reads quickly and you can set it down after a chapter and call it a night. Then in the morning, you don’t have to think real hard about where you left off — the next page and a half aren’t entirely connected. I actually found some of the vignettes entertaining and well-written; also easy to understand. The dissolution of the marriage between our “fictional” author and his wife is poignant in its retelling — there is an honesty to the insight that probably stems from a real-life loss. I liked the book as a whole.

While I respect this book (and I do respect it tremendously), it took a lot out of me to try to follow what was happening and what it was about. I mean there are cannibals, a man trying to write a novel, 1o pages dedicated to holography, stream-of-consciousness mushroom hunting, cognitive cacti. The thread that ties the whole thing together is electricity — a metaphor for power that creates and destroys. Within the book, however, if you can read it like I tried to read it, is a clear image of the real beauty and deep despair in the Estonian people. And that’s what resonates with me the most — there is deep and fascinating insight in this book.

hen a book just makes me break down and cry, I know that it is powerful. This book did that to me. As a matter of fact, I’m unsure if I will ever be the same after reading this book. My friend Debbi loaned me her copy nearly 10 years ago; I started to read it and then put it down and forgot about it. Then I got a copy for my birthday this year and devoured it. This book is about God — it’s about faith — it’s about children — it’s about the ethics of invading unknown lands (socially, ecologically, spiritually); it’s about science and religion. And it’s about love. But more than that, it’s an engaging story [the second half more so than the first half] that will totally invade your life and make you crave for someone to talk to after you’re finished.

I love finding out what writers are reading. David Sedaris collected and edited these short stories and compiled them to raise money for an after school tutoring organization that helps kids discover their voices in writing. This is one of the best short story collections out there. It brings both contemporary and classic authors together, has both heart-breaking and laugh-out-loud moments, and truly brings amazing short stories (an often neglected artform) into your life. They can be read all at once or over time and each story will affect you in powerful ways. Embrace the short story and support a good cause to boot!

Craig Ferguson surprised me -- I was prepared to find his novel another example of a Hollywood star capitalizing on fame and writing garbage. What a shocker!! I was entralled and read this book in 24 hours -- devoured it and wrapped myself up in the story and the characters. There is certainly some parody here, but it is ultimately about a spiritual journey and awakening, but it is both touching and fraught with the humor: not an easy feat. It's great because it's so unexpected.

There is so much more to this book than just the basic idea of "gender confusion". While Cal's story is ultimately dictated by being a hermaphrodite, it goes beyond that and discusses love, families, immigration and passion. The book takes patience; it has a slow start and the pace slows down in the middle. But the pay-off is a rewarding connection to this family and all of the history their genes created.

I read this book in 3 hours. Devoured it. Yes, it is very popular among the high school crowd because it gives a voice to a demographic of kids who are struggling with real issues with drugs. Was it really written by a teenage girl? Probably not. But certainly that does not take away the influence it can have in a reader's life. While many students read this book, the content is pretty graphic. The scenes of drug use and the narrator's experiences with sex are harsh and real. Since it is such a quick read, it is worth experiencing.

This is required reading for every 9th grader at the school I teach at. It's engaging and well-written, with focus and attention dedicated to issues that accurately affect today's teens. While billed as young-adult fiction, I think that every adult can enjoy and appreciate the narrator's voice.

Any writer must read this book. It is a must. Buy it, read it, highlight it, love it, keep it again: read it in the tub, on a plane, while driving your car. Buy two copies and put one by your computer and one on your nightstand. That way you can use the one by your computer to guide you and the one by your bed to inspire you. This book inspired me to write again and her tone and voice and humor makes this incredible. She is funny and real -- like a next door neighbor who sits with you on a patio on a summer night and drinks margaritas while helping you discover your talent. It is not pretentious at all -- which you find often in other writing books. It's amazing. Incredible. She is so accessible to all.

So, here's the deal: the prose isn't all that well-written, Grogan's not a really "funny" writer (and there were so many places for funny moments to shine -- he failed here), and there are moments where I lost interest in the story of the family, because I just wanted to read about the dog. There is very little literary merit here. BUT anyone who has ever had a dog will really get wrapped up in the love story between man and dog and family. I just loved Marley. I read the book at night with my own dog sitting near my lap and it really made me appreciate how wonderful a dog can be in the life of a family. I did cry, because when you're done (and you know how this story will end...come on) you suffer the pain of losing a beloved pet right along with Grogan. Read it if you're a dog owner. You can read it quickly and devour the love in 24 hours.

Wow. Morrison's first novel is fueled by amazing themes that give readers a glimpse into a world of hatred, ugliness, and hope. It is a hard novel to read because it really moves you to feel...you are horrific, you are sad, you are thoughtful. Of course, everyone can relate to wanting to change an aspect of themselves in order to be loved more or better. Pecola wants blue eyes and the idea that changing her eye color could change her life is a profound comment to our "beauty-centric" society. I think that people of all backgrounds and races can appreciate the quality of Morrison's writing and the stunning power of the narrative. It is harsh and gritty, but we should not ignore that this is a reality for many people in our world. Please read this book. It will change you.

I really liked the concept of this book and I really wanted to love it. While the story was captivating, I'm not a fan of Picoult's writing style. It just seemed contrived at times (the ending especially seemed lazy -- a writer who doesn't know how to get out of the story she has created) and her dialogue isn't rich with nuance. This may sound snobby, but the woman cranks out books like nobody's business and I think it shows. She may have great ideas, but there doesn't seem to be any care taken in making the book a perfect piece of literature. I just hope Picoult understands her place in the world of authors and doesn't try to pretend that she's creating masterpieces here. WHICH is probably why this book is a great, quick, summer-on-the-beach read. There are enough interesting moments and the basic premise is engaging, so you can sit and read it quickly and just enjoy it for what it is. Even if it isn't challening, the narrative does read well and the device of hearing the story from different characters is a good addition. Everyone seems to really love this book and so there is a time and a place to just sit back and fly through fast-food literature.

I would preface this by saying that this book is not for every reader, nor is it for the faint of heart. To say it is merely a revisioning of the Oedipus story is not a satisfying way to describe the complicated narrative that unfolds. It is certainly postmodern in design and tone and I think it was Updike that said it was a "metaphysical mind-bended" and that is pretty well stated. There are a lot of unanswered questions and riddles, but I think that is just part of the Murakami experience. What makes it beautiful is the power of his use of language and the imbedded philosophy that drifts off the page and into your mind. I read this book with a highligher the second time around; there was so much I wanted to capture. It is important to note that the translation is impeccable. There are many puns and play-on-words that are captured in the English translation and not lost from the Japanese version. This is a hard task and it is one of the best I have ever read.

This was my first experience with Murakami and it prompted me to read every single book he has ever written. I thought at first that I would be turned-off by his love for the absurd, but I fell in love with his ability to tell these amazing stories, oftentimes with crazy happenings, and make them real, powerful, and poetic. (My ultimate favorite is "Sleep" -- that story has haunted me for years.) He is a master! These are stories you will read, hold on your shelf, read again later and love them more. It is a necessary purchase for anyone who loves reading amazing writing.

I very rarely read a book and marvel at how sensationally it was written. Where I read and my heart does this flip and I think, "My God, that is near perfect." I read Feast of Love over the period of one day. I couldn't put it down and I kept interrupting my husband to read him pieces that made me want to laugh, cry, or ponder. This is the best book I have read in years and it will remain on my list of all time best books I have EVER read. This was my first experience with Baxter and if all of his books are written with this much care and quality, I'll buy them all right now.