Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof

Horrifying, inspiring, maddening, captivating . . . a must read.

Freedom From Fear by David Kennedy

I loved this. I did skim through the battles (not really my thing), but overall this was wonderful.

Putting Away Childish Things: A Tale of Modern Faith by Marcus Borg

You would have to be a total biblical studies geek with a high tolerance for didacticism in novels in order to be able to tolerate this book. I am, and I did. In fact, I loved it.

The Great Turkey Walk by Kathleen Karr

I read this to the boys. We loved it!

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella

Stupid, but I liked it.

The Widower's Tale by Julia Glass

I liked this a little.

The Cloud of Unknowing by Thomas H. Cook

I loved this--so suspenseful!

The World to Come by Dana Horn

Too weird.

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

I read this to the boys. Lovely.

Perfect Life by Jessica Shattuck

Clumsy.

Hitty: Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field

I read this to the boys. It is one of my all-time favorite read-alouds.

American Lightning by Howard Blum

Decent.

Ape House by Sara Gruen

My expectations were sky-high after Water for Elephants, but this was just OK.

Family Tree by Barbara Delinksy

meh

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

I think this may be the finest book I have ever read.

God's Harvard by Hanna Rosin

Very, very interesting.

The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday: Unexpected Encounters in the Changing Middle East by Neil MacFarquhar

Best title ever; strong beginning; by the end I was just skimming.

The Air We Breathe by Andrea Barrett

A slow start but then a decent finish.

Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

Dear Every Single Book Critic in the Entire Nation,

Why are you fawning over this yuppie whinefest when it is nothing more than third-rate chick lit?

Dear Unsuspecting Kindle Readers,

The first chapter of this book is witty, interesting, and not vulgar. The rest is the opposite.

Dear Me,

Stop buying books just because everyone is raving about them.

What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell

I probably wouldn't have picked this up if it weren't for book group because I catch most of what Gladwell writes in The New Yorker. That said, this book contains several fascinating essays, even the ones that were re-reads for me. Highly recommended.