2010 Reading Journal


Past journals - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Index of all books since 2004
My book blog

1 Bollywood Nights Bollywood Nights
Shobhaa De
2007
***
(Fiction) Bollywood's newest "it girl" is Aasha, a young woman who has been taken advantage of all her life: family, directors, producers, friends, lovers...everyone wants a piece of her. Now that she is a star, losing her wealth, fame, beauty, and love is a constant danger. Each chapter reveals more of Aasha's life through the people who have made her, those that want her, and those who want to break her.

2 Wake Wake
Lisa McMann
2008
*****
(YA Fiction) Janie can't help being pulled into other people's dreams - she's a helpless witness to everyone's fantasies, memories, and nightmares. If only she could learn to control her power, to help people work through their fears and leave them in privacy when she wants to get away. Just when she thinks she may go mad it seems a neighbor boy with family issues to rival her own has the key for turning her burden to a gift.

3 The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived
Dan Karlan, Allan Lazar, and Jeremy Salter
2006
**
(Nonfiction) Three friends chose 101 fictional characters from Greek gods to Barbie that influence our culture and wrote about their legends and impact. Mostly the essays answer the question "Who?" (You'd think we'd be able to identify characters that are really central to our culture) I am more interested in why they were chosen which is often short-changed in these essays. Choices also show a clear generational bias.

4 Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Seth Grahame-Smith
2009
**
(Fiction) The Bennet sisters, kung fu trained zombie killers, look for love in the increasingly dangerous undead-filled Regency-era English countryside.

5 Going Bovine Going Bovine
Libba Bray
2009
*****
(YA Fiction) Apathetic stoner Cameron begins to see strange things and spaz out. Turns out it's the Mad Cow Disease, but an angel named Dulcie tells him to seek out Dr. X to find a life-saving cure and save the world from a black hole. Cameron sets out on a the road trip of a lifetime with his hypochondriac friend Gonzo where he starts an uprising at a smoothie-loving cult, picks up a lawn gnome/Norse god, jams with dead musicians, visits another dimension-probably, wins on a tv game show, falls in love, and goes to Disney World.

6 Below the Root Below the Root
Zilpha Keatley Snyder
1975
*****
(Juv Fiction) Raamo's peaceful life in utopian Green-sky suddenly changes when he is chosen to become an Ol-zhaan, a leader of his people. Soon Raamo discovers that dangerous secrets are being kept from ordinary Kinder, secrets that will change his society forever.

7 Lucy Lucy
Jamaica Kincaid
1990
****
(Fiction) Lucy, a young woman from the West Indies, moves to a cold, distant city to work as a nanny for a "perfect" blond family. Lucy observes similarities between her employer and her mother - both of whom she loves and hates. From her marginalized vantage point she observes the falseness of her employer's lifestyle and marriage. Although Lucy cut ties upon leaving home, news of her father's death requires her to decide: return home or reject her mother permanently.

8 Emily's Good Nightmares Emily's Good Nightmares
Rob Reger
2005
****
(Art/Graphic Novel) Emily the Strange's lovely subversive dreams illustrated.

9 $20 Per Gallon $20 Per Gallon: How the Inevitable Rise in the Price of Gasoline Will Change Our Lives for the Better
Christopher Steiner
2009
*****
(Nonfiction) Steiner researches what things will be like when gas prices climb to $6, $8, $10, $12, $14, $16, $18, and finally $20. Sooner than we think the increasing demand and decreasing supply of oil will change lifestyles across the globe. In the US our transportation will begin to change radically with the first major price jump. Our diets, work, education, family life, housing, tourism, manufacturing, entertainment and more will also reflect the scarcity of oil. But, the future isn't gloomy; at each new crisis point our losses will be opportunities sparking new innovations.

10 Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Jonathan Safran Foer
2005
*****
(Fiction) Oskar, a precocious boy whose beloved father was killed in the WTC on 9/11, searches NYC for the lock that matches a mysterious key that he found in his dad's closet. During the search Oskar befriends a colorful variety of New Yorkers and learns about his family history. The story is beautiful and sad, so very sad.

11 Katherine Katherine
Anya Seton
1954
****
(Historical Fiction) In 14th century England as the orphaned daughter of a knight without a dowry Katherine de Roet's prospects were uncertain. But, her great beauty and poise secured her a marriage to a knight with a dilapidated estate and no family. Her fortunes increased when widowed Katherine drew the attention of John of Gaunt (Duke of Lancaster), and their love produced the ancestors of the current English royal family.

12 Unwind Unwind
Neal Shusterman
2007
****
(YA Sci-Fi) Unwinds are healthy teenagers whose parents/guardians have decided to give them to the government and have all of their organs harvested. In their dystopic future society a war between Pro-Life and Pro-Choice factions was settled by a "compromise" - abortion is illegal but troubled teens can be divided into organs for others. Trying to escape the cruel system that has damned them, Connor, Risa, and Lev face the daily peril of life as fugitives.

13 Marked Marked
P.C. Cast & Kristen Cast
2007
**
(YA Fiction) Zoey's nasty cold turns out to be the first sign she is turning into a vampire. Since she grew up learning about her Cherokee heritage from her grandmother, Zoey is prepared for vampire magic. Over the first few busy days at her new all-vampire high school Zoey discovers that she is destined for greatness - starting with bringing down a bully sorority queen.

14 Mistress of the Monarchy Mistress of the Monarchy: The Life of Katherine Swynford, Duchess of Lancaster
Alison Weir
2009
****
(Biography) Biography of 14th century English duchess, Katherine Swynford. This is an excellent reference to accompany Katherine.

15 Wall and Piece Wall and Piece
Banksy
2005
*****
(Art) Pictures of Banksy's graffiti art.

16 Creating a World Without Poverty Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism
Muhammad Yunus
2007
*****
(Economics) Nobel prize winner Muhammad Yunus describes the principles of social business and the how it can help stop global poverty.

17 The End of East The End of East
Jen Sookfong Lee
2008
***
(Fiction) A Chinese man immigrates to Canada. Over the years he faces hardship and works hard to earn money for his family. Eventually his wife and son immigrate as well. Years later his granddaughter deals with grief and estrangement. Each generation has their own difficulties as they adapt to Canadian life.

18 Garden Spells Garden Spells
Sarah Addison Allen
2007
****
(Fiction) Claire's ordered life in her family's beautiful Southern home with a magical apple tree in the garden is thrown off balance when her wayward sister returns home with her daughter. As the sisters build the close relationship they never had as children they help each other learn to trust in the love of a good man and embrace the magic that runs through their family tree.

19 The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl
Barry Lyga
2006
****
(YA Fiction) Don lives for the nights he can be alone in his room writing his graphic novel. Only then can he escape the bullies who torment him at school and his unsympathetic parents. Kyra's family is a mess since her mother's death, and she's angry at everyone about everything. Both hate their school passionately for making their lives even more miserable. The outsiders build an unlikely friendship over their misanthropy and love of comic books.

20 Leviathan Leviathan
Scott Westerfeld
2009
*****
(YA Fiction) In the first book of a Steampunk reworking of WWI Alek, son of Archduke Ferdinand, tries to escape to Switzerland to escape the plots against his family. While he and his tutors are running away in a two-legged tank, in England Deryn's adventures are also beginning. Deryn loves flying so much she disguises herself as a boy to join the air force where she lucks into a job on the enormous living dirigible, Leviathan. Their stories intersect as the Great War heats up.

21 Fade Fade
Lisa McMann
2009
*****
(YA Fiction) In the sequel to Wake, Janie and Cabel continue their relationship and undercover work for the police during their last semester of high school. This time they're looking for a teacher who's molesting students. Janie learns more about dream-catching through Miss Stubin's police files. Just when Janie was starting to feel loved and in control for the first time in her life, the case turns out to be more dangerous than she expected and her power may be more horrible than she ever dreamed.

22 Gone Gone
Lisa McMann
2010
***
(YA Fiction) In the final Wake book, Janie worries about the future. It's just a matter of time before she goes blind and loses the use of her hands. When that happens will Cabel still love her, and is it fair of her to let him? Her whole life Janie's alcoholic mother has never talked about Janie's father, but suddenly he is there in the hospital in a coma. Does he know anything about dream-catching, and does Janie even want to know?

23 & 24 The Slave and the Free Walk to the End of the World and Motherlines
Suzy McKee Charnas
1974 & 1978
***
(Sci-Fi) In Walk to the End of the World men are divided young against old, and women are enslaved in a post-apocalyptic dystopia. Food is scarce; power is everything; war is imminent. A few men go on a journey across their land to uncover a mystery. Meanwhile a slave woman takes a chance on a secret mission for the women of the Holdfast. Motherlines, the second book in the series describes the feminist utopia of horse-women Alldera joins when she escapes from the patriarchal Holdfast.

25 Rats Rats: Observations on the History and Habitat of the City's Most Unwanted Inhabitants
Robert Sullivan
2004
***
(Nonfiction) Sullivan goes on a mission to observe and understand NYC's sewer rats. In the course of his year of rat research Sullivan discovers some of the countless ways rats have influenced history - especially in New York. He also compares New Yorkers to rats. Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much.

26 Good Omens Good Omens
Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett
1990
*****
(Fiction) The only accurate prophecies say that the world will end on Saturday. The Anti-Christ is here and the forces of Heaven and Hell are preparing for battle. But, the angel and demon stationed on earth don't want it to end. It's the funniest apocalypse in history.

27 Feed Feed
M. T. Anderson
2002
*****
(YA Fiction) In this allegory about the dangers of consumerism, Titus, a teen of the future doesn't need to think. Nor do his friends. They all have a feed in their head that links them to the net which is controled by corporations. The feed tracks everyone to help them find the games, sales, stories and trends they want to follow. No one has to know anything, because all the information they're allowed to see is right there to search. Everything seems cool, but Titus is bored until he meets Violet who shows him all the things he's never noticed.

28 Jellicoe Road Jellicoe Road
Melina Marchetta
2006
****
(YA Fiction) Taylor's life is complex. She attends a boarding school where the students’ annual war games over territory with town kids and boys in a military camp are all important. Her mother abandoned her years ago, and Hannah, who took her in, has lately disappeared. Reluctantly, Taylor tries to lead the younger students while processing her own issues. While she waits for word from Hannah, Taylor reads a mixed-up manuscript that holds clues to all of her life's mysteries.

29 Deadly Persuasion Deadly Persuasion
Jean Kilbourne
1999
****
(Nonfiction - Media Studies) Documentary filmmaker Jean Kilbourne analyses the impact advertising has on our society, particularly women and girls. Using real advertising campaign examples, Kilbourne shows how the cumulative effect of ad exposure contributes to disconnection, low self-esteem, and addiction. Advertising encourages a disposable culture where everything and everyone is replaceable. Particularly upsetting is the way advertising encourages relationships with products instead of people, insisting that companies are more trustworthy and products more satisfactory than humans.

30 The Adoration of Jenna Fox The Adoration of Jenna Fox
Mary E. Pearson
2008
***
(YA Fiction) 17-year-old Jenna wakes up from a coma to discover she has no memories. As she re-learns how to walk, talk, and relate to her family memories of her old life begin to re-surface. The accident was terrible; she nearly died. What price have her parents paid to keep their beloved daughter alive? Who is Jenna Fox, and is she still the same girl?

31 The Diary of Pelly D The Diary of Pelly D
L. J. Adlington
2005
****
(YA Fiction) On a future colony Toni V, a teenage construction worker, is rebuilding City Five when he comes across a diary. Pelly D's diary shows Toni what life was like before and during the war. Pelly wrote about her carefree life of pools and popularity before the war and the changes that came when genetic discrimination was instituted. When Pelly was tagged with an undesirable gene her privileges disappeared one by one. Eventually, even money couldn't save her from disappearing as well.

32 I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You
Ally Carter
2006
***
(YA Fiction) Cammie attends a spy school, so when she meets Josh, a cute local boy, during a Covert Operations assignment she can't tell him who she is. That doesn't stop them from dating, but it does lead to crazy hijinks when her friends help her check out his background and stealthily meet him for dates.

33 The Carbon Diaries 2015 The Carbon Diaries 2015
Saci Lloyd
2008
*****
(YA Fiction) Laura's diary chronicles the year 2015 when the UK begins carbon rationing. Laura's family has a rough time getting used to the restrictions on their lifestyle. The changing climate means crazy storms, droughts, and weather extremes of all kinds that add to the challenges Laura faces. In spite of the madness around her Laura just wants to finish school, kiss boys, and play cool gigs with her band.

34 Dreamhunter Dreamhunter
Elizabeth Knox
2005
*****
(YA Fiction) Laura & Rose are cousins who come from an unusual family. Laura's father & Rose's mother are Dreamhunters who go into "The Place" to find dreams. They make their fortunes by bringing the dreams back to sell. Now that Laura & Rose are old enough they must try to see if they too can enter the dream world and bring dreams to the people. But, when Laura's father disappears under bizarre circumstances the family is left with mysteries that they must solve to save their country from a sinister person in the government.

35 Songs for a Teenage Nomad Songs for a Teenage Nomad
Kim Culbertson
2010
***
(YA Fiction) Calle and her mom move all the time; music is the only constant in their lives. Starting 9th grade in another new town Calle steels herself behind her headphones, fearing she will be as out of place as always. This time Calle makes friends right away who get her involved in the drama program and, she meets a boy who creates a little drama. For the first time life is a little normal, but Calle is sure it can't last.

36 Museum of Thieves Museum of Thieves
Lian Tanner
2010
*****
(Juv. Fiction) Goldie is a child who lives in Jewel, a city with draconian laws that require that children are chained to guardians for protection. The people are afraid of external threats, their government, and their gods, so it takes unusual courage for Goldie to seek freedom, let alone run away from the guardians. Goldie ends up at the Museum of Dunt where she finds her destiny.

37 Emily the Strange: Stranger and Stranger Emily the Strange: Stranger and Stranger
Rob Reger
2010
**
(YA Fiction) Emily the Strange moves to a new town and clones herself. One Emily seems to be evil and have it in for the other.

38 The Comet's Curse The Comet's Curse
Dom Testa
2009
****
(YA Sci-Fi) When a comet leaves deadly particles on Earth a spaceship with 251 teens is launched to save humankind. The kids discover a stow-away and must figure out what to do on their own now that they can't ask adults for help.

39 For the Win For the Win
Cory Doctorow
2010
*****
(Sci-Fi) Massively multiplayer online games have their own economies - more or less controled by the gamerunners. But every economy has its parasites, in the games goldfarmers are hired to play and bring the rewards to their bosses who sell game currency and valuables on the black market. The goldfarmers often work in sweatshop conditions, so when an international union begins for game workers it soon has thousands of members around the world. The gamesrunners and underworld thugs have no respect for the union until the union makes a plan to take control of the game economies.

40 The Marbury Lens The Marbury Lens
Andrew Smith
2010
****
(Sci-Fi) Jack is kidnapped by a twisted killer and barely escapes with his life. Jack's best friend Connor suggests they go get revenge, but they accidently kill the killer. Fortunately, the boys are going to London to visit a school, and Jack thinks the distance will help him feel better. But it doesn't. Jack thinks he's being followed; he is. Henry gives Jack a pair of glasses that transport him to a hellish world called Marbury. In Marbury Jack is fighting a losing war against a savage army, but somehow Marbury is more compelling than the real world.

41 Boneshaker Boneshaker
Cherie Priest
2009
***
(Steampunk Fiction) In an alternate history the Gold Rush started early, the Civil War lasted decades, and zombies roam the streets of a walled-in Seattle. On a mission to vindicate his notorious father, Zeke goes into the dangerous city. Briar, Zeke's mother, follows her foolhardy son into Seattle when an earthquake cuts off his escape route. Mother and son run around the city seeking allies and each other, avoiding zombies and the organized crime ring.

42 The Diamond Age The Diamond Age
Neal Stephenson
1995
*****
(Sci-Fi) In a highly technological future a powerful man commissions a very smart interactive book for his granddaughter to teach her all the things her privileged upbringing won't. The engineer who designed the book made an illegal copy to educate his own daughter, but when he's mugged it falls into the hands of a poor, abused girl. Ultimately, the book is more subversive, influential, and internationally important than those who conceived it could have ever guessed.

43 Parable of the Talents Parable of the Talents
Octavia E. Butler
1998
*****
(Fiction) In the sequel to Parable of the Sower Lauren Olamina continues to advance her Earthseed philosophy in Post-Apocalyptic California. Through poverty, violence, kidnapping, and slavery Olamina works toward an idealistic future for humanity. Religious extremists promise order in a chaotic time, but that order includes oppression and imprisonment for dissidents like Olamina and her community. Ultimately, Earthseed survives and grows to unite people behind a common dream.

44 The Rock and the River The Rock and the River
Kekla Magoon
2009
*****
(Historical Fiction) Sam has spent his whole life demonstrating for Civil Rights, because his father is leader in the movement. But, Sam isn't sure it's worth the danger and attention; part of him just wants to live quietly. Sam's older brother joins the newly formed Black Panthers, causing a rift in the family. After witnessing police brutality against a friend Sam finds his own motivation to work for equality.

45 Peeps Peeps
Scott Westerfeld
2005
****
(Sci-fi) Cal moved to NYC for college, but on a drunk one-night-stand he caught the parasite that causes vampirism. Fortunately, Cal is just a carrier and not a full-blown cannibal. The Night Watch recruits Cal to hunt vampires, starting with his ex-girlfriends.

46 Her Fearful Symmetry Her Fearful Symmetry
Audrey Niffenegger
2009
****
(Fiction) Julia and Valentina have never met their aunt Elspeth, but she leaves them her London flat in her will on the condition that they live in it for a year and their parents never enter the premises. The twins move into Elspeth's flat overlooking Highgate Cemetery, and meet the other 3 residents of the building: Robert, Elspeth's grieving lover, Martin, a lonely OCD crossword puzzle setter, and Elspeth's ghost. The girls wonder what secret drove their mother and aunt apart, and search for clues to the mysteries that surround them. As the girls who have always done everything together discover new interests in London, their paths diverge.

47 Mockingjay Mockingjay
Suzanne Collins
2010
*****
(YA Fiction) In the final book of The Hunger Games trilogy the war has started, and the rebels want Katniss to be their Mockingbird, the symbol of the rebellion. After surviving two games as a pawn Katniss doesn't want to be used anymore, but the capital is torturing Peeta. The war is like returning to the arena again for the veteran tributes.

48 Half the Sky Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide
Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
2009
*****
(Nonfiction) Journalists make the case for funding women in the developing world. Many women's issues are downplayed or overlooked, but in the poorest parts of the world investing in women makes the greatest difference for whole communities. Keeping girls in school improves their lives and families into the next generation. Primary concerns are fighting human trafficing, violence against women, and maternal mortality.

49 Push Push
Sapphire
1996
***
(Fiction) Precious, pregnant for the second time with her father's child, is kicked out of school. She starts attending an alternative school where she begins to learn to read and write. Her teacher and class care about her, a new experience for Precious whose parents are cruel and abusive. In her new school Precious thrives, finally waking up from the nightmare of her childhood.

50 The Enchantress of Florence The Enchantress of Florence
Salman Rushdie
2008
****
(Fiction) A mysterious visitor to the Indian court tells the king a tale of an enchanting princess who traveled through the Renaissance world. The stories of kings, conquerors, whores, and Florentine friends interweave.

51 Dreamquake Dreamquake
Elizabeth Knox
2007
*****
(YA Fiction) In the sequel to Dreamhunter the Hames/Tiebolds discover a conspiracy among top government officals to control the populace through dreams. As Laura and her family uncover new pieces of the puzzle, they get closer to understanding the nature of the Place and its true message for the people of Southland.

51.5 What Dreams May Come What Dreams May Come
Richard Matheson
1978
*
(Fiction) Through a medium Chris tells his brother what happens after death. He misses his wife, although he is happy to see his dead dog. Disappointing - didn't finish. The movie was so much better.

52 The Road The Road
Cormac McCarthy
2006
****
(Fiction) A man and his son try to survive in the desolate post-apocalyptic future where there is no one they can trust except each other.

53 Wild Seed Wild Seed
Octavia Butler
1980
****
(Sci-fi) Doro is a telepathic immortal. He has to change bodies regularly, but he has lived for millennia and never met another like him. Then, he meets Anyanwu, a shape-shifting healer who has lived in perfect health for 300 years. Doro has established communities around the world to breed humans with paranormal talents. Anyanwu agrees to move to one of Doro's towns in America. As Anyanwu gets to know Doro better, she suspects both his motives and his methods. Doro plots to kill Anyanwu when he finishes using her, but Anyanwu is the one being who can defy Doro.

54 Mistborn Mistborn: The Final Empire
Brandon Sanderson
2006
***
(Fantasy) A group of peasants with metal-based magical powers plot to overthrow the powerful Lord Ruler who rules their land in a harsh feudal system.

55 The Well of Ascension Mistborn: The Well of Ascension
Brandon Sanderson
2007
***
(Fantasy) After overthrowing the Lord Ruler, the usurpers attempt to create a better world. But, despotic kings seek to oust the new government. Meanwhile, the mists are getting more threatening, and Vin is haunted by the cryptic warning in the Lord Ruler's last words.

56 Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
2006
****
(YA Fiction) Nick and Norah are kids from Jersey who meet at a rock concert in NY. Both are getting over relationships, and neither expected to hook-up, but their chemistry is instant. A shared love of music and an undeniable attraction pull the two closer through a fateful night in the city.

57 The Hero of Ages Mistborn: The Hero of Ages
Brandon Sanderson
2008
***
(Fantasy) Releasing Ruin has brought a new set of problems. Chiefly: the mists, bringing sickness and blocking sunlight needed for healthy crops, blanket most of the land for longer periods than ever before. Additionally, Vin and Elend still haven't found atium that would secure the new empire. TenSoon is being held prisoner by the kandra for crimes against his people, and grieving Sazed is disillusioned finding no comfort in any of the hundreds of religions he collected over a lifetime of scholarship.

58 Dawn of the Dreadfuls Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls
Steve Hockensmith
2010
**
(Horror/Comedy) The prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies shows how the Bennets reacted to the re-emergence of zombies. Their neighbors were scandalized when Bennet girls began their martial arts training, but changed their minds when the zombie hordes attacked.

59 The Marriage Bureau for Rich People The Marriage Bureau for Rich People
Farahad Zama
2009
*****
(Fiction) Mr. Ali has time on his hands after retiring, so he starts a match-making service. With his wife's wise recommendations and help from his capable assistant, Aruna, Mr. Ali successfully pairs off a lot of clients. The match that makes everyone most happy is one that develops by itself.