BestBooks

Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure by Matthew Algeo

2012-01-21T08:56:00.000-09:00

I loved this book. I loved it because I love Harry Truman, but also because Algeo is one of my very favorite historical writers because he has a great eye for interesting details. Recommended.

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

2012-01-19T05:12:00.002-09:00

I read this as a part of my Downton Abbey fixation. I loved it. It is a book you have to be in the mood for (hint: if you want action and suspense, this is not for you), but it is truly lovely. It would be great for book groups.

Monsters & Mormons ed by Wm Morris

2012-01-15T18:02:00.002-09:00

Great fun.

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Zafon

2012-01-15T18:01:00.002-09:00

I only read this because I had to for book group--I didn't like it at all.

Destiny of the Republic by Candace Millard

2012-01-13T15:26:00.000-09:00

Fascinating.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

2012-01-08T16:28:00.002-09:00

meh (But this is the best book cover ever.)

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee

2012-01-08T08:01:00.001-09:00

This is a very good introduction; I'm glad to have something to recommend to people.

How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas Foster

2012-01-06T15:02:00.000-09:00

A thorough and lively introduction. Recommended for all high school students and anyone who wants to be a better reader.

Lectures in Old Testament Theology by Dennis Kinlaw

2012-01-06T15:00:00.000-09:00

More devotional than academic, but with plenty of interesting insights.

Note: The publisher provided me with a digital review copy of this book.

Zone One by Colson Whitehead

2012-01-06T14:58:00.000-09:00

meh

Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman

2012-01-05T15:39:00.000-09:00

Loved it. This is one of the few books that I ever plan on reading again.

The Ruins of Us by Keija Parssinen

2012-01-01T04:44:00.002-09:00

Unusual and compelling. Recommended.

Note: The publisher provided me a digital review copy of this book.

Catherine the Great by Robert K. Massie

2011-12-30T11:55:00.000-09:00

Very interesting.

Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes

2011-12-29T18:20:00.001-09:00

Mildly interesting.

The Dead and the Gone by Susan Pfeffer

2011-12-27T18:28:00.000-09:00

Decent, but there's a major hole in the plot.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

2011-12-26T14:54:00.002-09:00

Great fun!

11/22/63 by Stephen King

2011-12-21T16:44:00.000-09:00

Loved it.

The Children's Homer by Padraic Colum

2011-12-21T08:00:00.000-09:00

I read this to N and T. I modernized the language a little. They liked it. (And I love the cover.)

This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

2011-12-15T15:15:00.000-09:00

Engaging but ultimately unsatisfying.

God Is in the Manger by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

2011-12-14T13:03:00.000-09:00

This is a nice little devotional for Advent through Epiphany. Reading it would be a great way to stay grounded through the holiday season.

Note: The publisher provided me with a digital review copy of this book.

365 Thank Yous by John Kralik

2011-12-14T13:01:00.002-09:00

Blech. No way on earth I would have read this if it hadn't been for book group.

Ghost in the Wires by Kevin Mitnick

2011-12-14T13:00:00.001-09:00

Very interesting. Had to read some parts out loud to the fam.

Good Tidings of Great Joy by Eric D. Huntsman

2011-12-10T11:28:00.001-09:00

During World War I, in Ypres and in a few other places, British and German soldiers engaged in a spontaneous “Christmas truce” complete with caroling and even the exchange of small presents. Cast as enemies and surrounded by the weapons of war, they chose to celebrate together the birth of Jesus Christ.

I thought about that truce as I read BYU Religious Education professor Eric D. Huntsman’s Good Tidings of Great Joy. There are landmines a plenty in any serious consideration of Christmas, but Huntsman manages to avoid them and focus on celebrating the Christ child. I think he did get at least one flesh wound--more on that in a minute--but he’s done an amazing job of standing up in heavy fire, not the least of which comes from trying to combine devotional, academic, artistic, and personal writings. But somehow, he manages to pull it off.

The book consists of chapters on Matthew 1, Luke 1, Luke 2, Matthew 2, and the Book of Mormon materials concerning Jesus’ birth. The appendices include a more technical analysis of Luke and Matthew, materials for daily devotionals in December, and a personal narrative about addressing special needs at Christmas.

So on to the first landmine: as I said in my review of the companion book God So Loved the World,

He deals delicately but directly with situations where LDS authorities have staked out positions on various interpretive issues as a result of, we might suppose, their exposure to 19th century biblical scholarship instead of direct revelation. He does this with such finesse that most readers probably won’t even realize what is happening, but those of us familiar with the interpretive history will thank him for blazing a clear and gracious path.

He does the same in this book with the date and year of Jesus’ birth, Matthew’s (and our) interpretation of Isaiah 7:14, and the nature of Jesus’ conception. The debates behind these issues may be new to the average reader and Huntsman provides a gentle but rigorous introduction. The material won’t be new to biblical studies geeks, but they will still learn from his deft handling of the controversies.

Next landmine: no one likes to admit it, but the holiday season just stinks for a lot of people. His sidebar on sadness at Christmastime, as well as a longer section on the challenges (and blessings) of having a child with autism at Christmas, are marvelous guides for those who face any manner of trial and are sick of people telling them to be merry and bright.

Another landmine: sometimes when we do “real” biblical scholarship, we lose the devotional use of the text in a flurry of Greek verb forms and bloodless historical data. Huntsman excels at presenting background material that actually enhances the reader's appreciation of the text. For example, I love his handling of the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew. That’s material most readers skim since a long list of “begats” isn't exactly inviting. And many scholars who do cover the genealogy go all Grinch on us and are content to merely point out that Matthew’s genealogy can’t possibly be accurate and, even if it were, it can’t be reconciled with Luke’s genealogy. But Huntsman points out that literal accuracy probably wasn’t ever the point. He explores the structure of the genealogy and what it can teach us about who Jesus was. He also handles the differences between Matthew and Luke’s genealogies very well, offering a few suggestions for reconciliation but ultimately leaving the question open. And he doesn’t neglect the women in the genealogy, either; I can’t tell you how happy it makes me (especially given my kvetching here) when an LDS biblical scholar writes something like this:

“Luke presents his characters in the Infancy Narrative in gender pairs, with a female character matching each central male figure. . . . Simeon and Anna are prophetic figures reflecting Old Testament figures such as Isaiah and Huldah.” (p49)

He also does an excellent job of teasing out the contrasts between characters in Luke’s story and of pointing out allusions to Old Testament texts. If you pick up this book and think "this is another one of those content-free coffee table books," you are sorely mistaken. There are all sorts of great insights into the texts here.

One more landmine: many families struggle with the secular/commercial/materialistic/traditional aspects of Christmas juxtaposed with the holiness of the event. I think the author does a fabulous job suggesting ways to celebrate the spiritual aspects of the season. These include music, daily devotional ideas, and the artwork within the book itself. I particularly appreciated the art that departs from the Mormon norm, such as Giotto di Bondone’s The Nativity. There’s plenty here to help an individual or family craft meaningful Christmas traditions.

Which brings us to our next landmine: you know that something is askew in Mormonism when the Ensign can print a personal essay implying that the Christmas celebrations of non-members lack “genuine compassion and service” (link here, scroll down to “Who Will Be the Present?”) while a member of the First Presidency can describe his family’s celebration of Advent in glowing terms. This raises a huge issue: When do we need to abandon family Christmas traditions because they aren’t part of LDS culture? Can we adopt the traditions of other cultures/faiths if we find them useful? This isn’t a “how many angels can dance on a pinhead” question, either, if you are a new convert and Nana asks where your Advent wreath is or Uncle Joe implies that anyone who stays at his house should attend Midnight Mass with the family. Mix in recently-wed couples trying to determine which holiday traditions to establish in their new little families and more established families trying to counter the mad materialism of the season and you have yet one more source of holiday stress. Huntsman gives the reader theological permission to celebrate Advent, along with practical guidance as to how to do so. That said, I couldn’t help wondering, as I read his history of Christmas from pagan ritual to Christian centerpiece, why it is kosher for us to adopt these practices/beliefs/traditions from the time of the “apostasy.” In this light, I can understand the confusion of a new member who thinks that non-LDS Christmas traditions are lacking, even though reading that statement in the Ensign made me wince. Huntsman doesn’t really grapple with the larger issue of why we can adopt Christmas traditions/practices from “apostate” Christianity when we spend most of our time scorning every other development from that milieu.

Now for another flesh wound. I make the same critique here that I did of his Easter book: while I’m thrilled that he seriously engages scholarship on these issues, he also unwittingly drops a few bombs on the reader who is new to this sort of thing. For example, what are we to conclude from the fact that the first gospel didn’t think any story before Jesus’ baptism was worth including? And what do we do with what he calls the “seeming contradictions” (p11) between Matthew’s and Luke’s accounts? Huntsman admits that these sometimes leave him feeling “deflated” (p13). He finds solace in the Book of Mormon materials that address Jesus’ birth; will that be an adequate solution for all readers?

But these are minor issues and most readers won’t, I think, be bothered by such things. They’ll be too busy being dazzled by the masterful mixing of music, art, real biblical scholarship, personal narrative, and practical guidance.

Note: The publisher provided me with a review copy of this book.

Cross-posted from Times & Seasons.

Covenant and Conversation: A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible Exodus by Jonathan Sacks

2011-12-07T07:39:00.000-09:00

Lots of good insights here.

(Two weird sidenotes: I bought this on the Kindle, but now Amazon does not appear to be selling it on the Kindle. Also, I didn't realize until I finished the book that this is the rabbi that Pres. Monson quoted in General Conference.)

The New American Commentary: Exodus by Douglas K. Stuart

2011-12-07T06:50:00.002-09:00

So not the best commentary I've ever read, but useful and worth reading.

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

2011-12-05T16:54:00.002-09:00

I liked this.

Blackout by Connie Willis

2011-12-04T12:38:00.000-09:00

Loved it.

Flunking Sainthood by Jana Riess

2011-11-30T06:31:00.000-09:00

A quick read, interesting and sometimes funny. I was disappointed by the fact that she seemed to work very hard to avoid letting the reader know that she is Mormon.

Love Wins Companion by Rob Bell

2011-11-27T09:05:00.000-09:00

Some interesting stuff here.

The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance: A Memoir by Elna Baker

2011-11-27T05:57:00.002-09:00

Mildly funny.

Please Pass the Scriptures by John Hilton

2011-11-27T05:54:00.001-09:00

This book is aimed at youth. Even so, there is virtually nothing here that they will not have heard before. The few things that are novel are likely to inculcate undesirable reading habits. Anyone considering reading this should pick up Scripture Study: Tools and Suggestions instead. (That book is aimed at adults, but any young person who could read Hilton's book will be able to understand it.)

Parley P. Pratt by Terryl Givens and Matthew Grow

2011-11-26T12:06:00.000-09:00

This is the placeholder for the review which will appear at Times & Seasons shortly. Short answer: you should read it.

Note: the publisher provided me with a review copy of this book.

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis

2011-11-26T05:24:00.001-09:00

meh

Daisy Petals and Mushroom Clouds by Robert Mann

2011-11-13T16:38:00.000-09:00

An interesting slice of history.

Note: The publisher provided me a digital review copy of this book.

Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson

2011-11-11T18:22:00.002-09:00

This is right up there with The Lovely Bones in being the creepiest book ever.

Bellwether by Connie Willis

2011-11-11T05:43:00.001-09:00

This was so different from Doomsday Book, but still clever and engaging. I am now a confirmed Willis fan.

Doomsday Book by Connie Willis

2011-11-06T15:39:00.001-09:00

If I ever do a "Top 20 Books" list, this would be on it. It was excellent on so many different levels. Highly recommended.

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan

2011-11-02T12:44:00.002-09:00

Not perfect, but I liked it.

One More River by Mary Glickman

2011-11-01T15:34:00.005-09:00

Started slowly but then really grew on me.

The publisher provided me with a digital review copy of this book.

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths by Ingri d'Aulaire

2011-10-31T11:37:00.001-09:00

I read this to N and T. A classic.

Dreams of Joy by Lisa See

2011-10-30T06:45:00.001-09:00

Turns out the fourth time is the charm . . . this is the first Lisa See book that I have actually liked. And that cover--I really like the cover.

Exodus by Leon Uris

2011-10-23T12:37:00.000-09:00

At first, I was totally enthralled by the story. But then the poor writing and one-sided view of history started to get to me.

Note: The publisher provided me a digital review copy of this book.

In CHEAP We Trust by Lauren Weber

2011-10-21T14:04:00.001-09:00

Interesting.

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas

2011-10-17T15:15:00.000-09:00

Loved it.

The Unconquered by Scott Wallace

2011-10-13T04:56:00.000-09:00

Just not that interesting.

Note: The publisher provided me with a digital review copy of this book.

Westmoreland by Lewis Sorley

2011-10-12T16:45:00.006-09:00

Neither hagiography nor hatchet job, but rather a fascinating portrait of a perplexing man.

The publisher provided me with a digital review copy of this book.

My Name Is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira

2011-10-12T12:14:00.000-09:00

meh

Fall of Giants by Ken Follett

2011-10-08T14:57:00.000-09:00

There ought to be a word for "I'm embarrassed at how much I enjoyed reading this pulp."

And a little backstory: I was so excited about this book in the months leading up to its release. And then it was one of the first books to exceed the $9.99 Kindle price--it was $19.99! I was horrified and waited for the price to go down. A year later, the paperback was released and they only lowered the Kindle price by $1.00. I gave up . . . and then when Kindle allowed public library books, it became the first book I checked out.

Cruise Confidential by Brian Bruns

2011-10-06T18:44:00.000-09:00

This was fun because he worked on the same ship we just vacationed on. D and I both read this; we find the behind-the-scenes stuff fascinating.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

2011-09-30T18:07:00.002-09:00

meh

Gilgamesh the Hero by Geraldine McCaughrean

2011-09-27T08:25:00.000-09:00

Read this out loud to N and T. A classic.

Alone by Lisa Gardner

2011-09-26T09:33:00.001-09:00

Meh.

The Aviary Gate by Katie Hickman

2011-09-26T09:32:00.000-09:00

Lame and confusing.

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

2011-09-26T09:30:00.000-09:00

I didn't really like this, but I found the set up for the next book, Dreams of Joy, to be intriguing and I may read that. Although you'd think with my multiple negative experiences with Lisa See, I'd just give up already.

The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly

2011-09-26T09:28:00.001-09:00

Top-notch fluff.

On Agate Hill by Lee Smith

2011-09-17T12:41:00.002-09:00

Why did this book get such rave reviews? I could barely finish it.

Solomon's Oak by Jo-Ann Mapson

2011-09-16T04:03:00.000-09:00

Completely predictable and cheesy but somehow I didn't hate it.

Luminarium by Alex Shakar

2011-09-15T09:53:00.000-09:00

Too weird.

The publisher provided me with a digital review copy of this book.

The Winters in Bloom by Lisa Tucker

2011-09-13T17:42:00.004-09:00

Instantly forgettable.

The publisher provided me with a digital review copy of this book.

The $64 Tomato by William Alexander

2011-09-13T05:17:00.002-09:00

Very funny.

Merchants of Doubt by Erik Conway

2011-09-10T15:03:00.001-09:00

Want to get mad? This is the book for you!

Seriously, this was very interesting.

The Quest for Anna Klein by Thomas H. Cook

2011-09-07T11:42:00.000-09:00

Engaging, clever, and thought-provoking.

Note: The publisher provided me with a digital review copy of this book.

The Great Disruption by Paul Gilding

2011-09-03T11:22:00.001-09:00

Very interesting; very thought-provoking.

The Gospel According to Twilight by Elaine Heath

2011-09-02T12:39:00.002-09:00

So I was pleasantly surprised at her accurate descriptions of LDS beliefs. As far as the book itself, it is an interesting if uneven bit of cultural criticism. I would recommend it to people who work with girls; it can provide ideas for important discussions (materialism, feminism, family structure, etc.) stemming from the Twilight books.

The publisher provided me with a digital review copy of this book.

The Smart Aleck's Guide to American History of Adam Selzer

2011-09-02T06:42:00.002-09:00

I read this (with minor editing) out loud to the boys. We LOVED it.

The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett

2011-08-31T06:06:00.001-09:00

meh

Food Inc,: A Participant Guide

2011-08-30T15:01:00.000-09:00

Uneven.

Conversions by Craig Harline

2011-08-27T18:42:00.001-09:00

Julie M. Smith: “R U there?”

Craig Harline: “Yes. Although I am still getting used to this ‘chat’ feature.”

J: “Can I ask you a teeny favor?”

C: “Sure. What do you need?”

J: “I need a book for my book group. And I know you are a super historian, so . . .”

C: “You want me to recommend a book?”

J: “No, silly. I want you to write one for me.”

C: “You want me to write a book for your book group!?!”

J: “Yes! Thanks! I have something very specific in mind.”

C: “You do?”

J: “Yeah. You know how you discovered that amazing daybook from the early 1600s and then wrote A Bishop’s Tale?”

C: “Yes . . .”

J: “Well, I know how you are always hanging out in archives, so I want you to find something new! Another undiscovered, once-in-a-lifetime find that is so rare other historians will scowl at your back when you stand in front of them in line for lunch at academic conferences. That’s what we need!’

C: “I can’t just . . .”

J: “OK, one thing, though. No offense, friend, but A Bishop’s Tale was a little uneven to me. Maybe that was your co-author’s fault, I dunno, but I didn’t love that book. This book, I want the writing to completely knock my socks off. I mean, really awesomely amazing out-of-this-world prose, like, more engaging than a paperback you pick up in the airport!! Knock it out of the park, man! No dry academic stuff here!”

C: “Julie, that’s . . .”

J: “What would be really awesome is if this 400-year-old lost book that you discover was written in code! And you cracked the code! And really dramatic stuff in it, like maybe about how his young guy sneaks away from home in the middle of the night . . . and his dad is a Reformed preacher . . . and, he’s running away to become Catholic! So his dad chases him down! And I know people in the 1600s didn’t normally do this, but what if he wrote all of his personal stuff down so we can really get a feel for what he was thinking and what he was going through . . . how about that?”

C: “Look, you can’t just . . .”

J: “And you know what else you need to do? We’re going to need a lot of background information because I don’t know beans about Reformation Europe, so you’ll need to put all that in, but don’t let it detract from the pace of the book. Work it in seamlessly, make it fascinating, but give me all of the background I need to put this dude in his context.”

C: “Julie, this is getting . . .”

J: “OOO! I just thought of something! You know what would make it even more awesome? Every other chapter should be about someone else’s conversion story! A Mormon! From modern America! And first he’s Evangelical, but then he joins the Church! And then--go for broke, my friend--then he discovers that he’s gay and leaves the church!”

C: “SRSLY?”

J: “Here’s the thing, though--I don’t want to be hit over the head with parallels between my historical guy and my modern guy. I want them really subtle--that will give us a TON to talk about at book group. And sometimes, not so parallel, so we can think about what things change over history and what stays the same. The kind of thing where I think about the book CONSTANTLY, teasing out the similarities and differences between the two conversion stories.”

C: “I . . .”

J: “And you know what would be the icing on the cake? End with a riff on biblical interpretation, the history and theology of homosexuality, issues of tolerance, and the purpose and uses of history that is simultaneously provocative and faithful!”

C: “Wha . . .”

J: “OK, one final thing. I'd like a story from your own family history--and not some dusty boring archive story, but an Ensign-worthy-tear-jerker, pretty much a miracle, right up front to link everything in the book together.”

C: “Anything else?”

J: “Well, you’ll need to get it published by a major academic press, that’ll make me look good for choosing it for book group. Yale, maybe?”

C: “I’ll see what I can do.”

J: “THX!”

Note: While I have had the pleasure of meeting Craig, this conversation did not technically happen. But the result is the same.

Another note: The publisher provided me with a review copy of this book.

Cross-posted from Times & Seasons.

Elliot and the Goblin Wars by Jennifer Nielsen

2011-08-25T11:51:00.000-09:00

I read this to Truman and Nathan. It is cute and funny, but it isn't going to change your life or anything.

The Great Silence by Juliet Nicolson

2011-08-24T12:35:00.002-09:00

meh.

The Dry Grass of August by Anna Jean Mayhew

2011-08-19T16:08:00.003-09:00

meh.

Physics for Future Presidents by Richard A. Muller

2011-08-17T09:11:00.002-09:00

I read this to the boys and really liked it.

Glittering Images by Susan Howatch

2011-08-16T19:02:00.000-09:00

An oddly compelling combination of theological treatise, psychoanalysis, and wretched soap opera. I look forward to the next volume with a most guilty pleasure.

The American Story by Jennifer Armstrong

2011-08-11T10:33:00.000-09:00

I read this out loud to the boys (over the course of the year) and I really liked it. It's a nice collection of eclectic stories.

When I Lay My Isaac Down by Carol Kent

2011-08-11T04:41:00.000-09:00

Semi-interesting devotional combined with fascinating memoir.

Next to Love by Ellen Feldman

2011-08-10T05:57:00.000-09:00

Very strong start, slightly weaker finish, but overall a good read.

The publisher provided me with a digital review copy of this book.

Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell

2011-08-06T14:46:00.000-09:00

This felt pretty basic, but would probably be a good choice for someone who had never been exposed to liberal Christianity.

The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield

2011-08-06T05:52:00.000-09:00

Immensely satisfying. Highly recommended.

The publisher provided me with a digital review copy of this book.

The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths

2011-08-05T04:32:00.000-09:00

I thoroughly enjoyed this--a great mystery, witty writing, and nice historical detail.

The publisher provided me with a digital review copy of this book.

In A Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson

2011-08-02T16:02:00.000-09:00

Funny and interesting.

NurtureShock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman

2011-07-27T17:20:00.001-09:00

Fascinating; a must-read. Highly recommended.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis

2011-07-25T12:18:00.001-09:00

I read this out loud to the boys; it didn't do anything for me.

Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell

2011-07-24T10:12:00.003-09:00

I really enjoyed this; very thought-provoking.

A Friend of the Family by Lauren Grodstein

2011-07-23T10:13:00.003-09:00

Decent.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

2011-07-21T16:17:00.001-09:00

for/about teenagers : Twilight :: for/about academics : A Discovery of Witches

(And, honestly, this was nothing special.)

The Little Book of Economics by Greg Ip

2011-07-21T09:05:00.004-09:00

Mildly interesting.

Free-Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy

2011-07-18T15:58:00.001-09:00

Funny and interesting.

There Is No Me Without You by Melissa Fay Greene

2011-07-18T05:14:00.000-09:00

Engaging, sobering, and nuanced.

Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley

2011-07-16T04:48:00.001-09:00

An excellent, excellent book.

Goddess of the Market: Ayn Rand and the American Right by Jennifer Burns

2011-07-12T12:01:00.001-09:00

I'm certainly no fan of Rand's, but this was a very interesting book.

Mudbound by Hillary Jordan

2011-07-11T18:04:00.001-09:00

Outstanding. Highly recommended.

A Fierce Radiance by Lauren Belfer

2011-07-09T10:49:00.001-09:00

I enjoyed this. It was a little pulpy, but still.

Deadly Spin by Wendell Potter

2011-07-07T16:32:00.001-09:00

If you want to become spitting mad at the health insurance industry, this is the book for you!

Gilded: How Newport Became America's Richest Resort by Deborah Davis

2011-06-25T08:17:00.000-09:00

Disappointing: I wish it had focused more on the cottages in their heyday and less on gossipy personalities.

The Last Bookstore in America by Amy Stewart

2011-06-22T18:29:00.001-09:00

Brilliant and hilarious.

In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord

2011-06-21T12:30:00.002-09:00

I read this to the boys. Meh.

The President Is a Sick Man by Matthew Algeo

2011-06-20T16:34:00.000-09:00

I imagine a lot of readers will feel put out by what seems like a short tale padded with irrelevant filler, but I found the digressions charming. This is a great slice of history; recommended.

The publisher provided me with a digital review copy of this book.

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

2011-06-18T15:46:00.001-09:00

Lyrical writing, a suspenseful story, and trenchant social commentary. Recommended.

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

2011-06-16T18:55:00.001-09:00

Very moving.

Half-Assed: A Weight-Loss Memoir by Jennette Fulda

2011-06-13T09:53:00.000-09:00

Funny and interesting.