My Brother Sam Is Dead by James Collier

I read this out loud to the boys. I thought the first 90% of this book was slow and dull but the ending was phenomenal in terms of both plot and theme. (We need more books that de-glorify war.)

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

A captivating book with a reasonably satisfying ending. (Although I wanted her to end up with the other boy. But that probably says something--something not good--about me. . .)

The Man Who Made Vermeers by Jonathan Lopez

Mildly interesting.

The Word of God in English by Leland Ryken

Some interesting ideas here, but this might be the most redundantly redundant and poorly organized book I have read in my life.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

A lovely, lovely book. Highly recommended.

My Life in France by Julia Child

Didn't hold my attention. Had this not been for book group, I would not have finished it.

The Story of Science: Einstein Adds a New Dimension by Joy Hakim

A preread for Simon.

I love this series but I have to admit that this book was something of a disappointment. I know Hakim is planning a separate series on life science, but this book had nothing but physics in it--no astronomy (a little astrophysics), no chemistry, no technology/computer science, etc. Did nothing happen in the world of twentieth century science except for physics?

The Last Town on Earth by Thomas Mullen

Nearly perfect in every way; highly recommended.

That's The Way the Cookie Crumbles by Joe Schwarcz

I read this out loud to the boys (with very minor editing for some inappropriate-for-young-ears material) and loved it. I love "living" science books--particularly when they are funny and historically grounded.

Exit Ghost by Philip Roth

meh

Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

I read this to Truman, but really his older brothers got more out of it--I think much of the humor was lost on him. I thought it was OK, not extraordinary.

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Decent fluff.

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell

The first third of this book was brilliant. Then it dragged. Then the ending partially redeemed the middle, but only partially.

Mrs. Woolf and the Servants by Alison Light

I liked this. I've always been fascinated by the history of service in Britain. Why, I do not know.

The Forger by Cioma Schonhaus

meh

One Second After William R. Forstchen

Fascinating concept, mediocre writing, insipid political commentary.

The Kindle

I've only had it for a few hours, but I'm already not clear how I survived without it. (And I'm pretty pleased that I got it brand new for $125--gotta love Craigslist!) Right now, Truman is sitting on the couch, having Aesop's fables read out loud to him.

Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

This will, I'm sure, make for a very interesting book group discussion this week since Ali does a fabulous job situating the personal within the political. My own feelings about the book are quite mixed as, on the one hand, she presents a devastating critique of the usual western view of Islam but, on the other hand, the book sounds a little too much like the "disgruntled former member books" that we all know not to take too seriously. In any case, it was definitely interesting reading.

The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time by Jonathan Weiner

This is one of the very best books I have read in my entire life; it was utterly fascinating. I will save it and have my 9th graders read it as part of their biology curriculum.

By the Great Horn Spoon! by Sid Fleischman

A pre-read for Simon. This would make a great read-aloud to go along with a study of the California gold rush. Good historical detail and lots of clever fun.

Dispensation : Latter Day Fiction by Angela Hallstrom

meh

(But this might be my fault; I don't do short stories.)

The Passage by Justin Cronin

The first 300 pages of this book may be the best fiction I have ever read in my life. Cronin has a gift for characterization: you will find the characters real enough to invite to dinner and you will want to include the death row inmate and the prostitute because he portrays them so sympathetically.

The middle section of the book was muddled and convoluted.

By the last 100 pages, I was rolling my eyes at the stupidity of the plot.

A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller

I find it hard to pick books for book group: I don't want to pick something I've already read (old news! and I probably won't remember it well enough to discuss it!), but there is always the risk that something unread will be a stinker . . . or crazy vulgar . . . or whatever. Anyway, after seeing this title pop up as "the best sci-fi ever," I decided to pick it for my book to review this month. I thought it was a good read (not superb, but good), but with absolutely top-notch material for a book group to discuss: Is history cyclical? Is the inevitable cost of technology the ability to wipe out humanity? Is there a conflict between religion and science? So I'm pleased with the choice and look forward to the discussion.

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Read this to the boys. Can't believe I had never read it before.

The Things We Do for Love : A Novel by Kristin Hannah

Like reading a Lifetime Original Movie. Had I not been sitting on the beach, there is no way I would have finished this.

Straight Man by Richard Russo

Everything you could want in a beach read.