Reading List

Not that anyone in the world cares, but this is what I have been reading.  I'll list the book title and write an extremely brief review.

The Stench of Honolulu by Jack Handey: Weird, funny and dumb
Never Work Harder Than Your Students by Robyn Jackson:  Helpful book for teachers.
Zealot, The Life and Times of Jesus Christ by Reza Aslan:  VERY interesting
I, Alex Cross by James Patterson: Pretty good, but forgetable
*The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman: well written historical fiction about women in ancient Israel.
Wonder by R.J. Palacio:  Absolutely fantastic.  One of the best books I've read in years.
Rogue Patriot by Gerald Meunier: I suspect was written by a half-witted, jingoist tenth grader.
Exodus by J.F. Penn:  Part III in the thrill a minute, poor man's DaVinci Code.
Prophecy by J.F. Penn:  Part II in the thrill a minute, poor man's DaVinci Code.
Pentacost by J.F. Penn: Thrill a minute, poor man's DaVinci Code.
The Ark by Boyd Harrison: Noah's Ark is found and is magical and sciency.
*Canada by Richard Ford: not good. Slow, disjointed, flat characters. 
11/22/63 by Stephen King: Never read King before.  I like this book.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: Excellent writing.  I felt manipulated by the story.  Didn't like the end.
*Defending Jacob by William Landay: Awesome story and writing.  Can't stop thinking about it.
*The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman: SUPER SAD but really good.
Game of Thrones by J.R.R. Martin: Lord of the Rings with LOTS of sex.
*The Empty Glass by J.I. Baker:  Marilyn Monroeish
Caribbean Moon by Rick Murcer:  Pretty good. Fast paced.
On The Island by Tracey Garvis Graves:  I loved it!  Read it in one day.
Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson: Three words: "Go home, Jenkins!" Hilarious.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte:  Love this book.
Skeletons on the Zahara, a true story of Survival by Dean King:  Nightmare inducing.
*Left Neglected by Lisa Genova:  Interesting story about a woman with a brain injury.
The Seven Wonders by Steven Saylor:  Great book by one of my favorite authors.
Front Burner by Commander Kirk Lippold: About the attack on the USS Cole.  Very detailed and interesting look into the Navy and terrorism.
Bossypants by Tina Fey:  She's funny.
With Malice Toward None; a biography of Abraham Lincoln by Stephen Oates:  Interesting.  Abe was a stubborn nerd.  (That's high praise.)
The River of Doubt by Candice Millard:  Fascinating true story of Teddy Roosevelt in the Amazonian jungle.
Mr. Adam's Last Crusade by Joseph Wheelan: Excellent.  I love John Quincy Adams.  I love all the Adamses.
*Monad by T. Anderson:  Not my favorite but written by a hometown gal.
American Sphinx, the Character of Thomas Jefferson by Joseph Ellis:  Hard book to read.  TJ was a duplicitous, dishonest, unrealistic troublemaker.
George Washington by William Roscoe Thayer:  Written one hundred years ago.  Interesting perspective.
George Washington, Spymaster:  Pretty good.  I learned some stuff I didn't know before.
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown:  I read this before, I like the Washington DC stuff.
The Wave by Susan Casey:  Interesting if you like surfers, which I do.  I guess.
*The White Queen by Phillipa Gregory:  Good book.  Page turner.  Novelized true story.
*Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck:  I loved it.  Funny, introspective.
The Mirage by Matt Ruff:  Not as good as I expected.  Saddam Hussein gets hold of a genie.  I'm not even kidding.
A Single Deadly Truth by John Urban: There is a shark in this book.
35 Miles from Shore by Emilio Corsetti: True story of a plane crash in 1970 and rescue of survivors.  Good story.
Deadliest Sea by Kalee Thompson: True story of the Coast Guard rescue of survivors of a sunken ship.  Very good.
*BoneMan's Daughters by Ted Dekker:  Grim
Mortal Pursuit by Michael Prescott: Fast, interesting, tense.
*Undead and Unwed by Mary Janice Davidson:  HORRIBLE.  Junie B. Jones meets porno vampire camp. Terrible.
*The Circus in Winter by Cathy Day:  Interesting.  A little confusing.
The Tiger by John Vaillant:  Fascinating.  I love/am terrified of tigers.
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins:  The very satisfying ending to the trilogy.
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins:  I'm obsessed with these books.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins:  SOOO GOOOOOD!  Can't wait for the movie!
*The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain:  Twisty.
House Secrets by Mike Lawson:  Also, very good.
House Rules by Mike Lawson:  Very good.
There's Nothing in this Book that I Meant To Say by Paula Poundstone: I really like her.
*I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron:  Hey ladies, don't hate your bodies enough?  Read this book, then you will! Self-loathing is ADORABLE!
All the Donovan Creed books by John Locke:  He's a bit of a misogynist and not a very good writer, but he tells a good story (except for the endings) and it's a series.  I can't stop now.
Saving Rachel by John Locke:  Crazy, silly, entertaining story.
Lethal People by John Locke:  This is the first book in the series.  And it's not John Locke the philosopher.  Just so you know.
Lethal Experiment by John Locke:  About an assassin.  Kind of silly but fun to read.
Vegas Moon by John Locke:  Light reading.  Pretty good.
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett:  Pretty good.  Takes place in the Amazon jungle.
Silent Partner by Jonathan Kellerman:  I got it because it had 4 stars.  It deserves no stars.
Damien: Omen II by Joseph Howard:  Fast and devilly
The Jefferson Key by Steve Berry:  Sucked
John Adams by David McCullough:  Long but excellent.
*The Murderer's Daughters by Randy Susan Meyers:  I'm glad my dad didn't murder my mom. 
Mount Vernon Love Story by Mary Higgins Clark:  Sweet and simple.  I'm a sucker for the topic.
His Excellency George Washington by Joseph Ellis:  Wonderful biography of GW.
Where the Mockingbird Sang by David Wilson Atwood:  Good Civil War story, BADLY in need of an editor.
*Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See:  I'm glad I'm not a Chinese woman 150 years ago.
Packing for Mars by Mary Roach:  I LOVE Mary Roach.  If you ever wanted to know the trials of pooping in zero gravity READ THIS BOOK!
The Narrative of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass:  Sad and beautifully written
The Narrative of Sojourner Truth by Olive Gilbert: Olive Gilbert is (was) weird.
Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum: Holocausty
Roots by Alex Haley: Absolutely fantastic, but also totally depressing.
*One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus:  I want to try the tribal life!
Desperate Passage by Ethan Rarick:  Covered wagons, Donner party, cannibalism, what's not to like?
1776 by David McCullough:  OUTSTANDING!  Everyone should read this book.
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith:  Oh my god I want to go to Botswana!
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe:  Good and depressing
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad:  Not as good as I thought it should be
*The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver:  Beautifully written.  Great story.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte:  LOVED IT!  Oh Mr. Rochester, you lovable weirdo!
The Girl with the Long Green Heart by Lawrence Block:  All about con artists and their grifty ways.
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle:  Oh Sherlock, you're sooooo clever.
Spook by Mary Roach:  Ghosts: Not real. 
Stiff by Mary Roach:  funny, interesting, morbid, wonderful
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown: very Washington D.C.ish.
House of the Vestals by Steven Saylor:  Short stories
Bonk by Mary Roach:  funny and blush-inducing
Empire by Steven Saylor:  Epic
Roman Blood: A Novel of Ancient Rome by Steven Saylor:  TWIST!!!
Medicus: A Novel of the Roman Empire by Ruth Downie:  Meh...
Roma by Steven Saylor:  Fabulous
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen: sweet, well written
I Drink For A Reason by David Cross:  David Cross is smarter/more enlightened/funnier than you and if you don't believe it, just read this book.  He'll tell you. 
Day After Night by Anita Diamant: heartbreaking and beautifully written
Lucky You by Carl Hiasson: funny
Ice Hunt by James Rollins: exhausting
The First Patient by Michael Palmer: corny
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer: enlightening
Body in the Ivy by Katherine Hall Page:  delicious
Second Opinion by Michael Palmer: unmemorable
Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris (all lumped into one category): silly
The Good Son by Michael Gruber:  bad dialogue
Waiver explaining every way I could die while having wisdom teeth surgery: HORRIFYING
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson: satisfying
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne: steampunky
Dracula by Bram Stoker: goth
Emma by Jane Austen: best character ever!
More Information Than You Require by John Hodgeman: hilar
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney: childish
Dark Summit by Nick Heil: dark and summity
Persuasion by Jane Austen: persuasive
A pamphlet on dental sealants: informative
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: dreamy
The Help by Kathryn Stockett: page-turner
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson: brilliant
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson: compelling


*Bookclub book

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