Brisingr by Christopher Paolini

Brisinger is the most recent instalment in the Inheritance Cycle. The first two books are Eragon and Eldest. The books tell a familiar story about a peasant boy, Eragon, who discovers there is more to him than meets the eye. He finds a dragon egg, it hatches, and he becomes a Dragon Rider. Thus starts an adventure of self discovery where Eragon and Saphira (his dragon) must battle fantastic creatures, befriend Elves, Dwarves and Men, and find a way to destroy the evil King Galbatorix.
I enjoyed the first 2 books and was excited to read the third. I liked it, but was a little disappointed in the movement of the plot, I felt it was slow. I was also bummed because I was about 3/4 of the way through the book when I realized that it is not the last book. The author originally planned for 3 books, but when writing Brisinger he realized that the story was too long for one book and made the series into a cycle! I'm bummed because I didn't get a conclusion as I was hoping, and I have to wait for the next one to come out.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

Not to be confused with the John Jakes Civil War novel of the same name, this novel is set in Victorian England at the height of the Industrial Revolution. It is a gentle love story between two people from vastly different backgrounds; it reminded me of Pride and Prejudice. If you have a chance to see the BBC adaptation for TV, be sure to check it out.

The Darcy Connection by Elizabeth Aston

I preferred this story to Mr Darcy's Daughters. It is about Mr and Mrs Collins Daughters and their first London season.
These books all seem to follow the same formula, but, I find them to be fun quick reads.

Mr Darcy's Daughters by Elizabeth Aston

This book follows Elizabeth and Mr Darcy's daughters through their first London season. Lizzy and Mr Darcy are abroad and their daughters are staying in London with Mr. Fitzwilliam and his wife.
This is a fun easy read. If you are a fan of Pride and Prejudice you will probably like it. It is not the best writing, but, a fun story.

Label

I have gone through and added my name on my posts in the labels so you can look the book up who recommended it. If others would do it too, that would be great!

Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Patillo Beals

Warriors Don't Cry is the story of the "Little Rock Nine" told by Melba. They were the nine students who volunteered to integrate Little Rock High School in the late 1950's. They are amazing and suffered extreme persecution and ugly racial hatred. It was a war zone and the students really did risk their lives and I'd even say sanity by attempting to defy the segregationists. But what they did was valuable and their sacrifice did eventually bring about positive change for a racist country. I read the abridged version, which wasn't great by literary standards (I read it for book club and my library only carried the abridged version). The courage and sense of purpose these teenagers had was overwhelming. It is a very powerful story.

Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore

Meet Denver, a man raised under plantation-style slavery in Louisiana in the 1960s; a man who escaped, hopping a train to wander, homeless, for eighteen years on the streets of Dallas, Texas. No longer a slave, Denver's life was still hopeless-until God moved. First came a godly woman who prayed, listened, and obeyed. And then came her husband, Ron, an international arts dealer at home in a world of Armani-suited millionaires. And then they all came together.
But slavery takes many forms. Deborah discovers that she has cancer. In the face of possible death, she charges her husband to rescue Denver. Who will be saved, and who will be lost? What is the future for these unlikely three? What is God doing?
Same Kind of Different As Me is the emotional tale of their story: a telling of pain and laughter, doubt and tears, dug out between the bondages of this earth and the free possibility of heaven. No reader or listener will ever forget it. (Barnes and Noble.com)

This is an amazing story! I was continually impressed at how just one person can make a difference in the lives of so many. It was inspiring and moving.

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall begins from and eventually returns to the point of view of gentle Gilbert Markham as he endures what he thinks is an unrequited love of the mysterious and independent Helen Graham. But as the story progresses, a far more interesting tale emerges from the pages of Helen's own journal. In this novel within a novel, we learn of Helen's painful past as the devoted, devout, and often tortured wife of the handsome, alcoholic scoundrel she unwisely chose to marry. ( from http://muruch.blogspot.com/2008/10/anne-bronte-tenant-of-wildfell-hall.html )

It has been a long time since I read this, but, I was thinking about it again and thought it needed a post. I love this book. I thought it was an interesting and well told story! I also love the movie if you get a chance to see it, do!

The Lizard Cage by Karen Connelly

This novel takes place entirely within the confines of a Burmese Prison.  The main character, Teza, is a political prisoner.  He has been sentenced to 20 years of solitary confinement, but finds ways to free his mind and spirit through small and powerful means.  The writing is very well done and one gets such a good sense of the political situation in Burma.  The author does a wonderful job of pointing out beauty in what would seem to be a beauty-free environment.  It is a tribute to the human soul and all that is good about people.  The back cover says, "The Lizard Cage is an urgent, necessary addition to the canon of fiction about political oppression . . . the novel tells the story of the friendship between a Burmese political prisoner and a young orphan boy.  Set entirely in a prison called the Lizard Cage, it is a gripping exploration of how human connection can liberate one's spirit despite unimaginably, cruel circumstances, as seen through the eyes of an idealistic revolutionary who inspires in a child the bravery to escape a life of confinement."  It is a powerful story, and a book I think everyone should read.

(For those that may care, the prisoners speak like prisoners and behave like prisoners, so don't expect it to be a Pollyannaesque story). 

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

Ok, so Oprah just named this her newest book club book, so now I'm feeling all Jonny-come-lately, and I did start this post before her announcement, I just never got around to finishing it.....but whatever. Ok, actually, it deserves the publicity.

It's been a long time since I read a book that caused me to totally neglect my kids and everything else that I was supposed to do around the house in order to read just a few more chapters. So I loved it for that.

The central character is Edgar Sawtelle, a young teenager growing up in mid-century Wisconsin on the farm where his father and mother are raising a fictional breed of dogs, the Sawtelles. Edgar is also born mute and communicates with his parents and also with the dogs through sign. The story itself derives a lot of its elements and characters out of Hamlet, but Edgar himself would choose to identify more with the characters and elements of Kipling's The Jungle Book. Certainly one of the most interesting aspects of the story is the relationship that Edgar has with the dogs, and specifically one dog that he's been especially close to since birth. But this is way more than a boy-and-his-dog story (because I don't even like dogs).

The pace of the story telling is gentle and I felt that it was through this pace that the reader really comes to understand Edgar and his world of silence.

It was one of the most enjoyable and satisfying reads I'd had in a long time.

ps. Anna, it's nice and long (like 555 pages), so I know you'll like it.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

You've probably already heard about this book, even if you haven't read it. It's a kind of memoir/life-affirming lessons/inspirational talk by 47 yr old computer science professor, Randy Pausch, that grew out of the actual "Last Lecture" that he gave upon his retirement from Carnegie Mellon University after learning of his terminal cancer.

The "Last Lecture" is a series that CMU does with each retiring professor, but Randy Pausch turned it into a way to give his very young children a sense of who he was and how to live their lives after his death. The lecture itself became a YouTube phenomenon and because of that, he expanded the lecture into a book. I watched the lecture before I read the book and I really enjoyed it. I came to really like and appreciate him as a person (and feel inspired by him) from even this tiny glimpse into his life.

The book does follow the outline and spirit of the lecture, but it adds a lot of background info about his childhood upbringing with his parents, his relationship with his wife and their dealing with his cancer, and it expands upon many of his lecture's premises.

It was moving but not sentimental. And, frankly, I was relieved that it wasn't heavy-laden with how terminal cancer can bring a person down. Actually, it was just the opposite. Mostly, it was this really upbeat, successful, hard-working and funny guy telling about the things that he'd done in his own life, what he'd learned from doing them, and what he was grateful for that other people taught him along the way.

It's a great read.

A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

I am a huge fan of Nick Hornby.  I loved High Fidelity, and About A Boy.  Hornby writes about below average humans and makes you like unlikeable people.  And sometimes he even gives his characters some redemption.  This book is no different.  It is told from the point of view of four different Londoners.  All  meet up on a rooftop, New Years Eve, where they were all planning to take their lives.  There is an older woman who has been taking care of her son who has been in a vegetative state for twenty odd years, a punk totally messed up teenage girl, a washed up tabloid-fodder talk show host, and a musician who has never been able to get his career going.  Anyway, they decide to help each other want to live instead of killing themselves.  Hornby doesn't go for feel good solutions and keeps things starkly realistic.  It is darkly humorous, and surprisingly touching, just as all his books are. (Hornby also uses the F-word a lot, so if that bugs, don't read this book or any of his others).  

A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich

This book was given to me by my dear friend years and years ago but I just barely got around to reading it. It was written in 1928 and is the classic story of Abbie and Will Deal - pioneers who left everything behind for a new life on American Frontier. This book reminded me a lot of These is My Words - but much shorter. It was a little cliche and somewhat over-sentimental and while I was reading it I wasn't sure I was going to post about it. However, after I finished the book I felt that I really did enjoy it and it was a touching story. There are not many books that evoke tears but I was definitely touched by the story of this woman. I appreciated her perpsective of having kids and watching them grow and become individuals and make their own choices. If you liked These is My Words - I think you will like this book. Good, good story.

Note: This image of the book cover is from an old edition. The newer edition has a more "romance novel" look to it and I didn't want to use it.

Question?

What were some of the books that sucked you in and you could not put down? I am not necessarily asking for the best written books ever just ones you get caught up in quickly?
Some of mine are: the Twilight series, Jane Eyre,
Memoirs of a Geisha, Harry Potter series, most Nicholas Sparks books, I am sure I have a lot more I just cant think of any right now.
I think I must be a shallow reader, but, I seem to have a hard time with some books. I may like them, but, I have a hard time if they don't grab me at the beginning!

North River by Pete Hamill

I really enjoyed this book.  My library has a "readers choice" section and that is where I picked it up.  This is the story of Dr. Delaney,  a WWI veteran who lives in the Village during the depression.  Then, it was an enclave of immigrants and mobsters.  He is a doctor, who has been abandoned by his wife and daughter.  In many ways he is damaged goods, until his daughter abandons her son on his front step bringing life, love, and happiness back into Dr. Delaney's life.  One of my favorite characters in this book is the depresion era New York City Pete Hamill brings to life.  It was a good story.

For those that might care there was some swearing and a few "adult" scenes.

Brunelleschi's Dome by Ross King

Filippo Brunelleschi's design for the dome of the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence remains one of the most towering achievements of Renaissance architecture. Completed in 1436, the dome remains a remarkable feat of design and engineering. Its span of more than 140 feet exceeds St Paul's in London and St Peter's in Rome, and even outdoes the Capitol in Washington, D.C., making it the largest dome ever constructed using bricks and mortar. The story of its creation and its brilliant but "hot-tempered" creator is told in Ross King's delightful Brunelleschi's Dome (amazon.com).

I was hesitant to read this but ended up really enjoying it. I found it fascinating and interesting - and not too long. There were definitely parts that got a little too technical for my understanding but I muddled through. Now I just have to go to Florence, Italy to see the dome in person!!! (By the way - this is the cathedral that Lucy Honeychurch sees out her window in Room With a View).

Peter and the Shadow Thieves by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

The book starts three months after the end of Peter and the Starcatchers.^[3] Slank returns to the island with more of the Others, including a certain Lord Ombra, to reclaim the trunk of starstuff lost in the previous book. When they learn that the Starcatchers have taken the trunk back to England, they set sail for London. Peter follows, fearing for Molly's safety, and with Tinker Bell's help conceals himself on their ship.

Once in London, Peter does not know where to find Molly. After unpleasant encounters with beggars, traders and the police, Peter finally gets directions from J. M. Barrie to Lord Aster's house, and rescues Molly from Lord Ombra in the nick of time. However, Louise Aster -Molly's mother- has been kidnapped by the Others, and the children must find Lord Aster who is guarding the starstuff.

Meanwhile, back on the island, the pirates are hunting the Lost Boys. They capture the boys to use as bait for Peter, not knowing he is not on the island. (from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_and_the_Shadow_Thieves)

I Liked the first book more, but, I really did enjoy this story also. I will be reading the third book in the series soon!

The Princes of Ireland by Edward Rutherfurd

This is the third novel written by Edward Rutherfurd that I have read. I also read Sarum and London. I will be the first to admit that these historically based sagas are not for everyone. These books are historical fiction and are very long (we're talking 800-900 pages!). Often, the book will begin in the early 1st or 2nd centuries and continue following family lines up through modern times. His characters are fictitious (and also very similar from book to book I am learning) but they are based against actual historic events and individuals. I really liked Sarum which is based in the geographical area around Salisbury and Stone Henge and I also enjoyed London. I enjoy a good book that keeps you hooked for a long time! The Princes of Ireland - which ends in 1500 AD (the sequel takes us into modern Ireland) - got a little tedious with some of the military and political events, but I still enjoyed it. If you like historical fiction and interesting tales of romance, mystery, betrayal and war then you would enjoy these books. Rutherfurd's writing is a little predictable and nothing out of the ordinary but I definitely plan on readying the sequel.

People of the Book

Written by the same author as Year of Wonders (which I loved), this story follows the fictional journey of the real Sarajevo Haggadah from 14th century Spain to modern-day Sarajevo through a series of clues found in the ancient book's binding. A hair, a splash of water, the wing of an insect - all spark the curiosity of a book restorer, who attempts to put together the story of how this remarkable book survived 500 years of Jewish exile and persecution. It is a fun book to read! The writing is okay - it bugged me that the author didn't really change the voice through the different eras of history, but it was obviously well-researched. I especially liked the idea that people of Muslim, Jew & Christian faiths all had a hand in the miracle of the book's survival -- "there were people who could see that what united us was more than what divided us."

Little Britches by Ralph Moody

My Grandma recommended I read this book, and now I second her recommendation, and will tell you basically what she told me.  This certainly isn't fine literature, or deep material, but it is a good story and I loved the relationship between the young son, Ralph, and his Father.  It is the story of the authors childhood.  His family, for health reasons, left New England and made a go at a life as ranchers outside of Denver in the early 20th century.  Ralph is in love with his new cowboy life and gets into lots of mischief, but is always guided by his fathers wisdom, love, and goodness.  The writing is somewhat abrupt and not terribly refined, but the story and narration kept me going. I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the sequels.