reading list

The Gilded Chamber : A Novel of Queen Esther - Rebecca Kohn

I absolutely adore historical and biographical fiction. The cover art on this novel attracted me from the beginning, and the description on the back cover sucked me in. The story of Queen Esther, which is celebrated in modern times as Purim, fascinated me from the start to the end. I'm looking forward to reading Rebecca Kohn's upcoming work on Zipporah, the wife of Moses.

A Deadly Affair - Tom Henderson

A colleague asked if my home in Hazel Park was near the home of the Fletchers, featured in a tv special as well as this book. I could find little detail online, so I borrowed the true crime book and worked my way through it. Turns out I live about a mile and a half from where Leann and Mick Fletcher lived, and where Leann died. I remember the very high profile case and the coverage that went along with it. The book shed little new light, and I found myself quibbling with some of the factual information about the communities represented by the author, as I had lived and/or worked in them. If you're a true crime fan, this one may be of interest, otherwise, there are better choices out there.

How to... make love like a porn star : A cautionary tale - Jenna Jameson

I learned more about the porn industry than I ever wanted to know, and learned a great deal about Jenna Jameson as well. She's led one helluva life, and while parts of it were pretty crappy, she seems to have come out on top. I don't envy some of her experiences, but I applaud her taking control of her body and her life.

Guilty Pleasures - Laurell K. Hamilton

I'm slowly but surely working my way through the Anita Blake books; sadly I started in the middle, but I'm back at the beginning of the series and moving forward. Guilty Pleasures is the first in the interesting series of books by Laurell K. Hamilton. They're quick reads, and Anita Blake is one tough broad.

Babyji - Abha Dawesar

I was on vacation in Portland, sitting in the cafe at Powell's City of Books, when i read a review of Babyji in either Bitch or Bust magazine. I immediately had to go find the book, and bought it on the spot. And it was well worth the money spent. Anamika is an incredibly engrossing and complex character, and I found myself absorbed in her story. I hope to read more by author Abha Dawesar soon.

On the horizon

Titles I'm trying to get to:

The Art of Mending - Elizabeth Berg
Blackbird House - Alice Hoffman
The Madness of Love - Katharine Davies
The Cult of Mac - Leander Kahney
Little Earthquakes - Jennifer Weiner
Broken for you - Stephanie Kallos
Madness and civilization; a history of insanity in the age of reason - Michael Foucault

Rent Girl - Michelle Tea and Laurenn McCubbin

Rent Girl is a graphic novel, published by Last Gasp; I sometimes have a hard time with this genre, but this was less like a comic book which made it easier for me to follow. Rent Girl is a collection of interesting stories centering around a woman who chooses to work as a call girl and/or drug dealer. This is definitely a side of life I have no experience in, but Michelle Tea's writing along with Laurenn McCubbin's stark illustrations make for a very engrossing read.

Circus of the Damned - Laurell K. Hamilton

My first foray into what some friends are calling "vampire porn." So far, it's chock full of vampires and witty dialogue, but very little porn, which is okay. Circus of the Damned was very interesting to read, and I'm wanting to dive into the other Anita Blake stuff by Laurell K. Hamilton.

Margaux with an X - Ron Koertge

Margaux with an X was a quick read, but absorbing. The characters were well-developed, but I'd still like to know more about them. I want to know more about Danny's aunt, too!

The Life of Pi - Yann Martel

I'm slowly working my way through the novel and this passage really jumped out at me:

I'll be honest about it. It is not atheists who get stuck in my craw, but agnostics. Doubt is useful for a while. We must all pass through the garden of Gethsemane. If Christ played with doubt, so must we. If Christ spent an anguished night in prayer, if He burst out from the Cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" then surely we are also permitted doubt. But we must move on. To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation.

The italics are *my* emphasis, not Yann Martel's (the author).

I stayed up way too late reading The Life of Pi. Once the story moved beyond Pi's religious exploration, it did indeed pick up. I think I preferred the exploration part, though the rest of the story is pretty absorbing as well.

The Fat Girl's Guide to Life - Wendy Shanker

Okay, I have to admit, I'm slightly biased. Wendy is my cousin. Technically 2nd or 3rd cousin, but still, a relative that I'm incredibly proud of. She writes from the heart, and from the brain, about body image and issues. She's real, she's sassy, and she rocks. She is an inspiration, too.

Second Helpings - Megan McCafferty

I want more Jessica Darling and Marcus Flutie. Now! Please!

I absolutely adored Second Helpings. Technically it's a sequel, although it can be read and enjoyed on its own as well. Sloppy Firsts is the first installment, and hopefully there will be a Third and Fourth... Megan McCafferty has totally inspired me to write decent Young Adult fiction. Here's hoping I can actually pull it off!

Tipping the Velvet - Sarah Waters

Set in Victorian England, this novel was totally engrossing. I found myself staying up late to read just one more chapter, and having to re-read passages to make sure I was understanding what was going on. Steamy sex, great story. I'm going to see what the rest of Sarah Waters's stuff is like. Two thumbs up.

Just discovered, too, that Tipping the Velvet has been made into a BBC produced drama, and will be shown on BBC America as well.

When We Die : The Science, Culture and Rituals of Death - Cedric Mims

I grabbed this book after seeing a library patron borrow it. It sounded interesting, but it was very slow moving and dry. I put the book down to something, and never picked it back up. Maybe next time.

In Her Shoes - Jennifer Weiner

I enjoyed this book very much. The characters are interesting, the development moves along pretty well, and the storyline is engaging. I was a little confused about exactly what happened to Rose & Maggie's mom, and why their dad was such a putz. I like the crossover from Jennifer Weiner's first book, too. Nice to see Nifkin again.