Nineteen Minutes: Keep the Kleenex Handy

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

PLOT

Nineteen Minutes is all it took to turn the small New Hampshire town of Sterling upside down. When one of the local high school students, Peter, walks into the school and opens fire, the whole town is forced to take a closer look at themselves as they all search to answer the most important question…Why? Josie, the main character, witnessed the tragedy but cannot remember what happened. Her mother Alex, a local judge, tries to balance her personal and professional life, while trying to understand the world her daughter lives in. Peter’s parents try to understand how their son could have done this. The story is full of complex characters and issues where nothing is black and white but everything is in a shade of gray.

SCOOP

I encourage everyone to read this book because it does bring up real life issues we should all think about. Reading this book made me feel sad and angry. I felt sad for the victims of the shooting, the main character, the parents and even the shooter himself. And I was angry at all of them, too. One thing I have found with Jodi Picoult is that she has a way of capturing the essence of real life. Unfortunately life is all to often unfair and ugly and it will leave you feeling sad and angry. This is not a light read and unless you are a robot, the story will have you wrestling with your emotions, but it is a good book regardless.

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Angels & Demons: One Roller Coaster of a Story

Angels & Demons by Dan Brown

PLOT

Angels & Demons is actually the prequel to The Da Vinci Code, but you do not need to read it in order to understand The Da Vinci Code. Harvard symbolist Robert Langdon is called in when a well known physicist, Leonard Vetra, is found dead with an ancient symbol branded on his chest. It is the symbol of an ancient, secretive, and once thought extinct, society. Langdon, along with Vetra’s daughter, set out to find this society, and the person who murdered Vetra. The trail leads them to Vatican City, where the election of a new pope is underway, as they attempt to put the pieces together in time to discover what is going on before anyone else is hurt.

SCOOP

I LOVED THIS BOOK. I think Angels & Demons is better than The Da Vinci Code. I could not put Angels & Demons down; I read it in two days. I had it stashed under my desk at work. I like the plot better and there was more suspense in this book. The twists and turns Dan Brown weaves into the story line will keep you hooked. READ THIS BOOK!!!! I promise you will thank me later.

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The Ultimate Reading Quest

I’ve decided to attempt the ultimate reading quest. For Christmas this year was given a copy of 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. Flipping through this book I realized I hadn’t read most of the books listed. A few of them I read back in school, but that was long enough ago (and I no doubt rushed through them to get the assignment over with) that I really didn’t feel like I could check them off the list. So I’ve decided I’m going to try to read all 1001 books. So far, I’ve manage to read 3 of them; a slow start but it is a start none-the-less. The three I’ve managed to read are:

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

I’m currently in the middle of another book on the list and will post updates on my journey to complete this daunting, but exciting task.

The Birth of Venus: A Sexy Book

The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant

THE PLOT:

The story takes place in Florence, Italy during the Renaissance and the reign of the Medici family. Alessandra, the only daughter of a wealthy family, is every bit a child of the Renaissance who finds her life disrupted when her father employs a struggling artist to paint the chapel ceiling in their home. Alessandra is instantly drawn to this young man, but her family is determined to keep them apart. Alessandra is horrified when she learns she is going to be married to a man who is much older. As Alessandra is forced to leave her painter and her family, the city around her is in turmoil. A fundamentalist monk is working to gain control of the city and suppress the Renaissance movement. As the situation in the city continues to grow worse, Alessandra discovers that her marriage was built upon a secret, and she finds her thoughts continually returning to the painter. Just as the chaos around the city erupts, so does her personal life.

THE SCOOP:

This book is amazing to read. I will admit that I am a bit of an Italian Renaissance junkie so stories set in that time period already have a point in their favor. But there is more to this story than just the time period it was set in. The sexual tension between Alessandra and her painter is intense. I found myself reading as fast as I could just to try to find out whether or not they ever got to be together because I could almost feel their longing myself. The book is beautifully written and the descriptions will have your imagination running rampant with vivid images. This is a must read for everyone. I told one of my friends to read it and she dubbed it a “sexy book.” And what a sexy book it is!!!

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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

PLOT:

Christopher is a 15 year old autistic boy who gives us a narrative of his adventures when he discovers something curious. The story begins with Christopher finding his neighbor’s dog dead. She comes upon Christopher and her dearly departed dog and, thinking he killed the dog, has him arrested. Christopher decides to uncover the truth about what really happened to the dog. As Christopher searches to learn the truth, he discovers what really happened to his mother. Through his journey, we get to view the world through Christopher’s eyes, a world where logic, the cornerstone of Christopher’s world, is often swept under the rug.

THE SCOOP:

I loved this book and recommend it to everyone. The story is deliciously funny and Christopher is truly a character you can understand and relate to. What makes this story stand out, is the author’s brilliant way of writing from the viewpoint of an autistic boy. I felt as though I had a new appreciation for how a person with autism sees the world, and how hard it can be for them to relate to the way the rest of us act. One of the most fascinating part of his tale is when Christopher describes how he “feels” emotion. I am still amazed by the insight this author has. This book also made me realize how complicated (unnecessarily so) we can make things.

This book is funny and insightful all at the same time. It’s one of those books I just couldn’t put down and hated to see end. As an added incentive (as if you should need one) this book is listed in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. Grab a copy of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and settle in for some fun.

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