My Sister's Keeper

Although Jodi Picoult is the author of over 15 books and I've seen her name around the likes of Barnes & Noble and Target bookshelves, I'd never given her a chance until My Sister's Keeper. I was surprised at how quickly it drew me in and how layered the story ended up becoming. Each chapter is told by the perspective of a different character. The book begins with Anna who was conceived and born to be a genetic match for her older sister, Kate. Kate was diagnosed at age 3 with a rare form of leukemia. At age 13 Anna decides that she is done being a donor for Kate and seeks out a lawyer to be medically emancipated from her parents. The side story of her lawyer, Campbell, and guardian ad litem, Julia, is as interesting as the main story of Anna and her family. I recommend this book, but if you're a sister, or a parent, or, maybe just a human being....watch out because you may need some kleenex. I didn't, of course. My allergies are just getting to me a little early this year :)

The Kitchen Boy

Told from the perspective of the kitchen boy, this book is about the exile and execution of the last Russian Czar, Nicholas Romanov, and his family. Leonka, the kitchen boy, worked for the royal family for only two weeks before they were captured by "the reds" and sent to exile in Siberia. The last two weeks of their lives are told by Leonka as he remembers the part he had to play in an escape attempt and the mystery of their deaths and burials. If you have any interest in Russian history this is a very good glimpse for you. I will be loaning it to my friend, Marina, who grew up in Soviet Russia. Maybe I'll add an addendum to this post after hearing her perspective.

Hypocrite In A Pouffy White Dress: Tales of Growing Up Groovy and Clueless

Another memoir. Has some really hilarious parts and others a little more dull. Susan Jane Gilman's real life is better than the fiction some authors can come up with. Raised to be an activist and feminist she shares a lot of her parents values in adulthood, but still finds herself attracted to some of the fru fru of life. The book reads a lot like a David Sedaris book.

Jemima J

This is probably the only Jane Green book I would recommend. Well, Babyville was interesting...but Jemima J has more redeeming qualities. I attempted to read Mr. Maybe and it was so awful I couldn't get to the third chapter. If there is another of her books that is worth the time, please let me know because I am officially done with Ms Jane. Back to her book that I actually liked. Jemima is an overweight twentysomething who is pushed around and treated poorly by everyone around her. She decides to get serious about losing weight and creates a new self--at least on the outside. In the meantime she has pretty much given up on her workplace crush, Ben, and has met a guy from L.A. over the internet. She flies to L.A. from London and it is fun to see America through her eyes, and the culture of la la land. Easy to read chick-lit with a protagonist most of us can relate with.

The Bean Trees

This is my favorite Barbara Kingsolver novel, and I really liked the sequel Pigs in Heaven. In The Bean Trees the reader follows Taylor Greer, a young woman who has saved enough money to escape her conditions in rural Kentucky and heads for Phoenix, Arizona. She has an unexpected event along the way which includes "adopting" a young Cherokee girl she names Turtle. The story is sweet and original and difficult as we watch Taylor take on issues that are above her age-but maybe not maturity-level.

Twilight Series

As previously posted, I hadn't heard of Stephenie Meyer until The Host was recommended to me. I liked it so much that I decided to give Twilight a chance. I've spent the month of November reading through the series. It's been a bit of a guilty pleasure for me as I have been slightly embarrassed to tell people what I'm reading--mainly because it has been turned into a movie that's quite popular among teen girls. The truth is that the series develops into a good story. The first book is the most poorly written (get a Thesaurus!) and has a lot more teen ooey gooey romance in it, but there are some really good latent ideas in it that get explored more through the series. Apparently Ms. Meyer is currently writing another book that is the first one, but from Edward's point of view. Much to my chagrin, I will be reading it...