Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua

Hooboy. I don't even know where to begin. Perhaps it will suffice if I just say that if two mothers read this book and began to discuss it, I don't think they'd ever stop talking. Highly recommended, especially for bookgroups.

Elizabeth Street Laurie Fabiano

OK, so this isn't the best literature ever, but the story (true!) is amazing and it is about my people (=Italian immigrants), so I loved it.

Science Fair Season by Judy Dutton

Science Fair Season: Twelve Kids, a Robot Named Scorch . . . and What It Takes to Win This was such a fun book! I wish I had read it out loud to the kids (although note that I would have had to do some minor editing for f-bombs and one [non-graphic] scene of sexual abuse) because it was this tremendously interesting combination of science and real-life stories of kids from a variety of backgrounds.

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

American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us by Robert Putnam and David Campbell

This is must-reading for anyone interested in the intersection of religion, sociology, demographics, and politics. (I do have to say that I thought their presentation of the LDS ward was a little too perfect.)

At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson

I listened to this. Bill Bryson is very hard to listen to--not an experience I would choose to repeat. There is all sorts of fascinating detail and wit here, however. Recommended.

The Color of Atmosphere by Maggie Kozel

I enjoyed this.

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

To End All Wars by Adam Hochschild

Absolutely fascinating history of the first world war and the people who opposed it. Highly recommended.

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

The Ballad of Lucy Whipple by Karen Cushman

I read this to the boys. They liked it; I thought it was just OK.

Jesus by Marcus Borg

I enjoyed this immensely; very thought-provoking.

This Girl Is Different by JJ Johnson

So, I don't usually do YA books, but the homeschooling angle drew me in. This was much better than I expected it to be--not the pat Hollywood-esque plot that I had anticipated but rather an interesting meditation on anonymity and free speech. (This would be good for YA book groups, although you should be aware that there is a touch of PG-13 sex and language.) The ending did get a little Hollywood, though.

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

The Justice Game by Randy Singer

An interesting book with a lame ending and tacked-on Christianity.

Kindle books are now lendable!

Here's a list of what I have that is lendable if anyone wants to trade:

Elizabeth Street



Between Here and April



So Brave, Young, and Handsome



In the Bleak Midwinter



Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot



Freedom from Fear



Freedom: A Novel



The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday



Mockingjay



Roma



Mrs. Woolf and the Servants: An Intimate History of Domestic Life in Bloomsbury



One Second After

I Am Hutterite by Mary-Ann Kirkby

Very nice.

Between Here and April by Deborah Kogan

I think I liked this.

Plastic by Susan Freinkel

Mildly interesting.

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

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

So between the battles, plane crashes, being lost at sea, and the POW camp, it wasn't exactly a pleasant read, but it was absolutely riveting. And lest you feel that I have given the entire story away, there were a few turns of event at the end that absolutely took my breath away. This is a must-read.

Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink

I read this to the boys. It was decent.

Room by Emma Donoghue

Absolutely stunning. A must read.

Note: Despite rave reviews, I avoided this book because the premise (woman kept in room for years on end by a sicko with her five-year-old as narrator) was not something I wanted to read about. But then I noticed that many reviews said "it's not what you are thinking." And it isn't. It isn't graphic, it isn't dark, it isn't exploitive. It is horrifying, but it is also the most profound meditation on mothering that I have ever read. I want to say a lot more but I don't want to give any plot points away.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

meh

The Wet Nurse's Tale by Erica Eisdorfer

I loved, loved, loved this book.

The Ritual Bath by Faye Kellerman

Lame.

The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Wow. Highly recommended.

SuperFreakonomics by Steven Levitt

Hard to avoid comparing this--unfavorably--with Outliers.

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

I realize this was idiosyncratic and anecdotal, but it was also fascinating.

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

The first third of this book is the most moving piece of literature that I have ever read. After that, it pretty much fell apart. But at the end, I suppose I realized that that was "the point."

(Also, I keep seeing this book on reading lists for 5th-8th grade. I'm really not a prude, but I think the quality and quantity of sexual content makes it more appropriate for high school students.)

Postville, U.S.A. by Mark Grey

Highly recommended for anyone interested in immigration issues, rural America, religious tolerance and/or the food industry.

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

The Rise and Fall of the Bible by Timothy Beal

I really wanted to like this book--it covers one of my favorite topics!--but he just didn't cover any new ground here.

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