.
ok. so I know I've fallen waaaay behind on these book reviews, but I have a good excuse.
I am rubbish at writing.

I shall remedy that now, albeit in a very abbreviated manner.
detailed, actually helpful reviews are over-rated anyways.

in order of being read:
The Commitment, Dan Savage
Packing for Mars, Mary Roach
Holidays on Ice, David Sedaris
Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, Laurie Viera Rigler
Small Scale, Big Change: New Architectures of Social Engagement, Andres Lepik
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Seth Grahame-Smith
Interpreter of Maladies, Jhumpa Lahiri
In Pursuit of the Common Good, Paul Newman
Paul Newman: A Life, Shawn Levy
Schultz and Peanuts: A Biography, David Michaelis
Atonement, Ian McEwan
The Percy Jackson and The Olympians Series, Rick Riordan (5 books)
The Hound of the Baskervilles, Arthur Conan Doyle

Animal Dreams, Barbara Kingsolver
This being the oldest of the books I have read and not already reviewed, I don't remember much about it. I recall it being interesting enough to keep me reading till the end, but not interesting enough that I can tell you anything about the plot 4 months later...

The Witch of Portobello, Paulo Coelho
Similar to above, though more due to my horrific memory than lack of memorable writing on this one. I do recall this novel has some very compelling characters, and some damn beautiful prose. If you come across it, pick it up and read it.

Rabbit, Run, John Updike
Brilliant and disturbing, all at the same time.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Ocsar Wao, Junot Diaz
Brilliant and brilliant, all at the same time. Effused praise about this book to anybody who would listen (and a few that wouldn't) after I finished it. Highly recommend it.

First Love, Last Rites, Ian McEwan
I seem to love absolutely everything Ian McEwan writes (see Atonement, and the same applies to On Chisel Beach, which I read last year), and this early collection of short stories is no exception. If you want to know the strength of a writer, read his/her short stories. Almost anybody can engage your imagination and capture your emotions over the course of 150 pages. It takes a genius to do it in just 15. (see also: Kurt Vonnegut)

The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
The "must-read" book of early 2011, according to almost everybody I knew who read it. Did not disappoint. It sucks you in. Plus, I'm a sucker for a good dystopia novel.

Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins
Second book of the trilogy. Builds on the storylines set up in the first book, but doesn't repeat them like some trilogies are wont to do. It expands into new territory. Always appreciated.

Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins
My favorite of the three, though I heard common opinion went the other way. Something about 13-year old girls not liking the love triangle story getting pushed to the background of the narration. Screw 'em, I say. That was the best part. The book focused on actual plot development. Was actually bummed to come to the end and realize there was no more to read.

Ground Control: Fear and Happiness in the 21st Century, Anna Minton
Had a Masterclass given by the author of this book while over in London. The study revolves around perception of fear and security and how it affects our socities, the planning and building of thus, and our lives, collectively and singularly. Very compelling stuff. Highly interesting, as well as highly relevant.

The Mercury 13: The True Story of Thirteen Women and the Dream of Space Flight, Martha Ackmann
I'm not a balls to the wall feminist, but I prolly have an above average awareness (read: sensitivity) to injustices due to gender discrimination. (I work in a predominately male field. I can get bitter sometimes) This book made me incredibly frustrated 75% of the time, proud to be a women 93% of the time, determined to prevail against antagonistic misogynistic jerks 68% of the time and inspired to better the world 89% of the time. (yes, I know that adds up to way more than 100%. there were a lot of simultaneous conflicting emotions going on there.)

Freedom, Jonathan Franzen
Franzen peels away the veneer from middle-class living to expose the full-on dysfunctionalness (is that a word? it is now) that goes on in there. hilarious, depressing and thought-provoking.

The Kid: What Happened After My Boyfriend and I Decided to Get Pregnant, Dan Savage
I want to be best friends with this man soooo badly. Not as relevant to my life at the moment as The Commitment was/is, but when Ben and I decide to have kids, you bet I will back to re-read this book. Life lessons and new perspectives all over the place. Infused with a healthy does of humor only two gay guys trying to adopt a child can add.

One More Story: Thirteen Stories in the Time-Honored Mode, Ingo Schulze
Nice. Well written. Forgettable.

Slapstick!, Kurt Vonnegut
This started my Vonnegut-reading kick.
Another dystopia volume.
That prolly helped suck me in.

Welcome to the Monkey House, Kurt Vonnegut
Salvaged from a "FREE" box in the basement of my building, this continued my Vonnegut kick. Adore his writing, and goodness, can the man can write a heart-breaking love story.

Pure Drivel, Steve Martin
I have always enjoyed the writing of Steve Martin. Never anything ground-breaking, but very pleasant reads.

Bossypants, Tina Fey
Read this book. Now.
No, seriously. Right this minute.
Go.

Elenor Rigby, Douglas Coupland
I started reading this book during a particularly lonely period one week. Big mistake. As you can probably derive from the title, this book revolves around loneliness. But I love me some Coupland, so after a few days when I finally snapped out of it, I went back to it. Enjoyed it quite a bit more than I expected to. It does not have the high degree of quirkiness that Coupland's later novels do but, maybe because of that, it has more of a storyline. thankfully, the relationships and characters are still undoubtedly Coupland, which is what makes this book work.

I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence, Amy Sedaris
This woman is freakin hilarious.
I'd read the Yellow Pages if she wrote it.

My Life as a Furry Red Monster: What Being Elmo Has Taught Me About Life, Love and Laughing Out-Loud, Kevin Clash
The man who is the puppeteer for Elmo is a 6 foot tall, 270 lb, 45 year old black man. You should not need to know anything else to make you want to read this book. But if you do, know this. It is wonderful. The man is not what I would call a compelling writer, but he doesn't need to be. Cause his stories are compelling enough. Read this book. You'll be thinking about it for days afterwards.


Sadly enough, there are only 37 books here. I was hoping to be further along by now, it just having turned into May, but I have gotten sidetracked by wedding stuff lately. And I have no more free weekends till after the wedding. And I just recently borrowed a laptop with working wifi from my roommate and have re-discovered hulu.com.

All these things have contributed to the slowing up of my reading pace.
However, being currently in the middle of reading three separate books, I am hoping to get back on track soon.

.