2009 Reading List

Works read this year: 145/100

Works Completed in 2009:
1. Robinson, Ray (ed). Famous Last Words: Fond Farewells, Deathbed Diatribes, and Exclamations Upon Expiration. 177 pages. 1.2.09
2. Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre: The Graphic Novel. 132 pages. 1.10.09
3. Miller, Kathleen E. Last Laughs: Funny Tombstone Quotes and Famous Last Words. 157 pages. 1.12.09
4. Carson, Anne (ed). If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho. 355 pages. 1.13.09
5. Hamilton, Laurell K. A Stroke of Midnight. 385 pages. 1.16.09
6. Hamilton, Laurell K. The Harlequin. 422 pages. 1.23.09.
7. Rand, Ayn. Anthem. 105 pages. 1.26.09
8. Hamilton, Laurell K. Mistral's Kiss. 302 pages. 1.28.09.
9. Armstrong, Kelley. Men of the Otherwold. 369 pages. 1.29.09.
10. Glaspell, Susan. Trifles and "A Jury of her Peers". 48 pages. 1.29.09 +
11. Peacock, Caro. A Dangerous Affair. 303 pages. 2.2.09.
12. Stevenson, Robert Louis. Treasure Island. 303 pages. 2.4.09.*
13. Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. 37 pages. 2.9.09.+
14. Bryson, Bill. The Mother Tongue: English, and How it Got That Way. 245 pages. 2.12.09
15. Poe, Edgar Allan. Complete Poems. 125 pages. 2.12.09.
16. McCarthy, Jenny. Belly Laughs. 165 pages. 2.14.09.
17. De La Cruz, Melissa. Masquerade. 305 pages. 2.14.09.
18. Hamilton, Laurell K. A Lick of Frost. 342 pages. 2.14.09.
19. Sebold, Alice. The Lovely Bones. 328 pages. 2.17.09.
20. Plath, Sylvia. The Bell Jar. 244 pages. 2.20.09.
21. Hamilton, Laruell K. Swallowing Darkness. 365 pages. 2.22.09.
22. Briggs, Patricia. Bone Crossed. 309 pages. 2.27.09.
23. Kesey, Ken. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. 281 pages. 2.28.09. +
24. Harrison, Kim. White Witch, Black Curse. 504 pages. 3.2.09.
25. Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. 284 pages. 3.10.09.
26. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. 189 pages. 3.12.09.
27. Cast, P.C. and Kristin Cast. Hunted. 323 pages. 3.16.09.
28. Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan. The Hound of the Baskervilles. 243 pages. 3.22.09.
29. Vern, Jules. Journey to the Centre of the Earth. 291 pages. 3.24.09. *
30. Lockwood, Cara. Wuthering High. 272 pages. 3.28.09.
31. Arthur, Keri. Dangerous Games. 384 pages. 4.2.09.
32. Kenyon, Sherrilyn. Fantasy Lover. 352 pages. 4.4.09.
33. Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice. 99 pages. 4.5.09.
34. Kenyon, Sherrilyn. Night Pleasures. 336 pages. 4.6.09.
35. Kenyon, Sherrilyn. Night Embrace. 416 pages. 4.12.09.
36. Kenyon, Sherrilyn. Dance with the Devil. 368 pages. 4.14.09.
37. Wilder, Laura Ingalls. Little House on the Prairie. 331 pages. 4.15.09.
38. Wilder, Laura Ingalls. Little House in the Big Woods. 238 pages. 4.17.09.
39. Moore, Christopher. Bloodsucking Fiends. 291 pages. 4.18.09.
40. Moore, Christopher. You Suck: A Love Story. 328 pages. 4.20.09.
41. Twain, Mark. Pudd'nhead Wilson. 196 pages. 4.22.09.
42. Beckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot. 109 pages. 4.28.09. +
43. Hamilton, Laurell K., Green, Alves. The First Death. 128 pages. 5.1.09.
44. Kennedy, X.J. and Dana Gioia, eds. Literature: An Introduction... Vol. 2: Poetry. 38 pages (selection). January - May 2009. +
45. Kennedy, X.J. and Dana Gioia, eds. Literature: An Introduction... Vol. 1: Fiction. 74 pages (selection). January - May 2009. +
46. Sleator, William. House of Stairs. 166 pages. 5.3.09.
47. Hamilton, Laurell K, Lim, Booth. Guilty Pleasures: Volume 2. 144 pages. 5.5.09.
48. Kenyon, Sherrilyn. Kiss of the Night. 382 pages. 5.6.09.
49. Le Fanu, Sheridan. Carmilla. 112 pages. 5.6.09.
50. Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. 184 pages. +
51. Kenyon, Sherrilyn. Seize the Night. 352 pages. 5.9.09.
52. Kenyon, Sherrilyn. Sins of the Night. 384 pages. 5.11.09.
53. Harris, Charlaine. Dead and Gone. 320 pages. 5.17.09.
54. Lovecraft, H.P. "The Call of Cthulhu." 31 pages. 5.18.09.
55. Orwell, George. 1984. 254 pages. 5.19.09.
56. Moore, Alan, et al. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. 176 pages. 5.20.09.
57. Pratchett, Terry. The Truth. 348 pages. 5.23.09.
58. Campbell, Bruce. If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor. 338 pages. 5.25.09.
59. Pratchett, Terry. Going Postal. 377 pages. 5.28.09.
60. Moore, Alan and Dave Gibbons. Watchmen. 416 pages. 5.28.09.
61. Pratchett, Terry. Making Money. 394 pages. 5.29.09.
62. Harris, Charlaine. Grave Sight. 320 pages. 5.31.09.
63. Harris, Charlaine. Grave surprise. 320 pages. 6.1.09.
64. Hamilton, Laurell K. Skin Trade. 486 pages. 6.4.09.
65. Twain, Mark. The Prince and the Pauper. 267 pages. 6.4.09. *
66. Harris, Charlaine. Shakespeare's Landlord. 214 pages. 6.5.09.
67. Harris, Charlaine. An Ice Cold Grave. 288 pages. 6.5.09.
68. Arnold, Catharine. Necropolis: London and Its Dead. 247 pages. 6.8.09.
69. Austen, Jane. Northanger Abbey. 213 pages. 6.10.09.
70. Harris, Charlaine. Shakespeare's Champion. 224 pages. 6.12.09.
71. Harris, Charlaine. Shakespeare's Christmas. 224 pages. 6.12.09.
72. Slater, Maya. The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy. 324 pages. 6.15.09.
73. Pratchett, Terry. Nation. 367 pages. 6.17.09..
74. O'Brien, Robert C. Z for Zachariah. 249 pages. 6.19.09.
75. Harris, Charlaine. Shakespeare's Trollope. 194 pages. 6.22.09.
76. Harris, Charlaine. Shakespeare's Counselor. 243 pages. 6.22.09.
77. Boyne, John. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. 240 pages. 6.23.09.
78. Harris, Charlaine. Real Murders. 304 pages. 6.25.09.
79. Harris, Charlaine. A Bone to Pick. 272 pages. 6.26.09.
80. Harris, Charlaine. Three Bedrooms, One Corpse. 240 pages. 6.29.09.
81. Wilde, Oscar. An Ideal Husband. 96 pages. 6.29.09.
82. Harris, Charlaine. The Julius House. 240 pages. 6.30.09.
83. Yalom, Marilyn. A History of the Breast. 279 pages. 7.2.09.
84. Harris, Charlaine. Dead Over Heels. 272 pages. 7.3.09.
85. Harris, Charlaine. A Fool and His Honey. 272 pages. 7.3.09.
86. Harris, Charlaine. Last Scene Alive. 224 pages. 7.4.09.
87. Hall, Traci. Her Wiccan, Wiccan Ways. 240 pages. 7.5.09.
88. Showalter, Elaine. The Female Malady: Women, Madness and English Culture, 1830-1980. 250 pages. 7.8.09.
89. Adrian, Lara. Kiss of Midnight. 432 pages. 7.10.09.
90. Oakley, Annie (ed). Working Sex: Sex Workers Write about a Changing Industry. 301 pages. 7.12.09.
91. Blumenfeld-Kosinksi, Renate. Not of Woman Born: Representations of Caesarean Birth in Medieval and Renaissance Culture. 153 pages. 7.12.09.
92. Kenyon, Sherrilyn. Unleash the Night. 384 pages. 7.15.09.
93. Kenyon, Sherrilyn. Dark Side of the Moon. 384 pages. 7.16.09.
94. Feynman, Richard P. The Pleasure of Finding Things Out. Ed. Jeffrey Robbins. 257 pages. 7.18.09.
95. Eugenides, Jeffrey. Middlesex. 529 pages. 7.23.09.
96. Harris, Charlaine. Poppy Done to Death. 288 pages. 7.25.09.
97. Kenyon, Sherrilyn. Devil May Cry. 384 pages. 7.28.09.
98. Verne, Jules. Around the World in 80 Days. 297 pages. 8.4.09.*
99. Kenyon, Sherrilyn. Acheron. 816 pages. 8.4.09.
100. Valenti, Jessica. The Purity Myth: How America's Obsession with Virginity is Hurting Young Women. 219 pages. 8.7.09.
101. Colbert, Stephen. I Am America (And So Can You!). 230 pages. 8.9.09.
102. Rowling, J.K. The Tales of Beedle the Bard. 111 pages. 8.10.09.
103. Pratchett, Terry. Men at Arms. 377 pages. 8.11.09.
104. Pratchett, Terry. Feet of Clay. 357 pages. 8.12.09
105. Lowry, Lois. Messenger. 169 pages. 8.13.09.
106. Pratchett, Terry. Night Watch. 338 pages. 8.17.09
107. Pratchett, Terry. Monstrous Regiment. 405 pages. 8.24.09.
108. Adrian, Lara. Kiss of Crimson. 416 pages. 8.28.09.
109. Adrian, Lara. Midnight Awakening. 400 pages. 8.29.09.
110. Adrian, Lara. Midnight Rising. 384 pages. 9.1.09.
111. Briggs, Patricia. Hunting Ground. 286 pages. 9.4.09.
112. Pratchett, Terry. Wyrd Sisters. 265 pages. 9.6.09.
113. Roach, Mary. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. 304 pages. 9.10.09.
114. Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. 118 pages. 9.13.09.
115. Fforde, Jasper. The Eyre Affair. 382 pages. 9.17.09.
116. Twain, Mark. The Mysterious Stranger. 112 pages. 9.19.09.
117. Stoker, Bram. Dracula. 327 pages. 10.3.09.
118. Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard book. 307 pages. 10.3.09.
119. Armstrong, Kelley. Frostbitten. 339 pages. 10.5.09.
120. Verne, Jules. Twenty-Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. 279 pages. 10.8.09.*
121. Moore, Christopher. A Dirty Job. 387 pages. 10.14.09.
122. Pratchett, Terry. Unseen Academicals. 400 pages. 10.20.09.
123. Clare, Cassandra. City of Bones. 512 pages. 10.23.09.
124. Andrews, Donna. Murder with Peacocks. 296 pages. 10.25.09.
125. Roach, Mary. Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex. 303 pages. 10.29.09.
126. Adrian, Lara. Veil of Midnight. 368 pages. 11.6.09.
127. Roach, Mary. Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife. 300 pages. 11.16.09.
128. Andrews, Donna. Murder with Puffins. 290 pages. 11.19.09.
129. Andrews, Donna. Revenge of the Wrought Iron Flamingos. 293 pages. 11.20.09.
130. Andrews, Donna. Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon. 297 pages. 11.23.09.
131. Andrews, Donna. We'll Always Have Parrots. 340 pages. 11.25.09.
132. George, Jean Craighead. My Side of the Mountain. 177 pages. 11.26.09. *
133. Collins, Paul. The Book of William: How Shakespeare's Fist Folio Changed the World. 219 pages. 11.28.09.
134. Adrian, Lara. Ashes of Midnight. 368 pages. 12.3.09.
135. Shakespeare, William. As You Like It. 104 pages. 12.5.09.
136. Andrews, Donna. Owls Well That Ends Well. 326 pages. 12.7.09.
137. Hamilton, Laruell K. Divine Misdemeanors. 333 pages. 12.11.09
138. Shepherd, Jean. In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash. 264 pages. 12.13.09.
139. Andrews, Donna. No Nest for the Wicket. 304 pages. 12.14.09.
140. Armstrong, Kelley. Exit Strategy. 480 pages. 12.15.09.
141. Danielewski, Mark Z. The Whalestoe Letters. 83 pages. 12.16.09. .
142. Gautier, Théophile. The Mummy's Foot. 48 pages. 12.20.09.
143. Dickens, Charles. A Christmas Carol. 156 pages. 12.24.09.*
144. Grafton, Sue. 'A' is for Alibi. 215 pages. 12.27.09
145. Grafton, Sue. 'B' is for Burglar. 211 pages. 12.30.09.

Incomplete Reads:
1. Urrea, Luis Alberto. The Hummingbird's Daughter. 10 chapters (approx. 118 pages). 7.3.09.
2. Grahame-Smith, Seth. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. 25 pages. 10.4.09.

Reading List Color code:
Modern horror/vampire
Pregnancy/Baby Books
Classic Literature
Poetry, Short Stories, and Drama
Fantasy/Science Fiction
Biography/Nonfiction
Fiction, YA, etc
Graphic Novels
* Read to Brooks
+ Read for work

And the last book of the year:


145. Grafton, Sue. 'B' is for Burglar. 211 pages. 12.30.09.

The second novel in Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone series, 'B' is for Burglar is a great improvement over the first book. Kinsey is hired to find the estranged sister of her client, but when the disappearance suggests murder her client balks and stops the investigation. The missing woman's elderly neighbor, however, becomes delightfully involved in the investigation, and rehires Kinsey to find out once and forever what happened to Mrs. Boldt.

The flow of 'B' is for Burglar is more natural than the first book, although Grafton still wanders away from her original story from time to time. The book itself is dated by fashion (and a typewriter!), but in another few years these details will be charming instead of strange.

Not the best book to end the year with, but not a horrible one, either.

144. Grafton, Sue. 'A' is for Alibi. 215 pages. 12.27.09

'A is for Alibi is a shallow beginning to a very enjoyable mystery series. In the first of the Kinsey Millhone mysteries Grafton introduces her female detective through an investigation of a murder case closed eight years before. While the plot is interesting, the brevity of the novel leaves the narrative feeling underdeveloped. The characters are intriguing, but the ease with which Millhone forms relationships with other characters is grossly unbelievable, creating the sensation that the reader has walked in mid-story, missing a great deal of background. While 'A' is for Alibi is not terrible on its own, the Kinsey Millhone series is one that improves greatly as it progresses.

Happy Holidays!

143. Dickens, Charles. A Christmas Carol. 156 pages. 12.24.09.*

This December I set out to read A Christmas Carol to Brooks, with the goal of finishing on December 23 (so we could read Moore's "The Night Before Christmas" on Christmas Eve. It worked out well, and we made it through just in time. Dickens' classic story of holiday hauntings carries a sense of nostalgia before you even crack open the cover, and the short novel itself goes far further than any version translated to other mediums. Scrooge's journey is a delight, and I hope to make a tradition out of reading A Christmas Carol with my boys every holiday season.

142. Gautier, Théophile. The Mummy's Foot. 48 pages. 12.20.09.

The Mummy's Foot by Théophile Gautier is a traditional and charming Gothic tale. Gautier tells the tale of an aristocratic Frenchman who purchases a mummified foot to be used as a paperweight in a curiosity shop. The foot, which is taken from Princess Hermonthis, is more than what it seems, and inspires a fantastic nocturnal journey for its new owner.

141. Danielewski, Mark Z. The Whalestoe Letters. 83 pages. 12.16.09.

The Whalestoe Letters by Mark Z. Danielewski is an extension of his premier novel, House of Leaves. Initially appearing as an appendix to the novel, The Whalestoe Letters (which includes ten additional letters) are those written by Johnny Truant's mother Pelafina H. Lievre during her residence at the insane asylum. Like House of Leaves as a whole, The Whalestoe Letters is to fiction and literature what thought experiments are to physics; Danielewski seems to write and publish to push boundaries and test waters for no other reasons than curiosity. While I would argue that the experiment of House of Leaves is very interesting, his subsequent publications are less successful. The (limited) success of The Whalestoe Letters is that it makes me want to go back and read House of Leaves once again.

Another one for the "Books off the shelf" challenge, which has put me at my revised goal for the year!


140. Armstrong, Kelley. Exit Strategy. 480 pages. 12.15.09.


I don't actually remember purchasing Exit Strategy, but it is likely Amazon pointed the title out when I was ordering another book by Kelley Armstrong. I initially read the first 200 pages, and then put the book down as other things caught my eye. Resolving to finish things from my own shelves gave me a great reason to pick it up again.

Exit Strategy follows Nadia - an ex-cop turned hitwoman - as she and a collection of other hitmen try to hunt down one of their own who has turned serial killer. While each professional has their own personal reason - from personal to simply bad for business - Nadia is fueled by a sense of justice and ultimate desire to protect.

Overall, I found the book to be very entertaining. I like hitmen (fictionally - my sense of self-preservation keeps me from liking real ones), and Armstrong delivers a wide range to chose from. The sense of secrecy between them keeps any characters from feeling too shallow, while preserving the sense of mystery surrounding not only the case, but the "who and why" of how the group comes together.

At 480 pages it's a nice meaty chunk of entertainment that is perfect for a long snow day or lounging by a pool.

139. Andrews, Donna. No Nest for the Wicket. 304 pages. 12.14.09.

Suffering from a chronic inability to say "no" to her friends and family, blacksmith Meg Langslow finds herself sliding down a bank during the eXtreme croquette tournament she was talked into hosting ... and lands on the body of a strange woman. As life goes on for nearly everyone Meg finds herself investigating the mysterious death and daydreaming about which suspect would make her life easiest. No Nest for the Wicket is an enjoyable cozy mystery, and echoes the tone and storyline of the previous books nicely.

The book behind "A Christmas Story"

138. Shepherd, Jean. In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash. 264 pages. 12.13.09.

The image of a fishnet-clad leg glowing in a window and the call of "You'll shoot your eye out, kid!" have become as much a part of American Christmas traditions as stockings and trees. Ralphie and his "Official Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle" were first introduced in Jean Shepherd's In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, published in 1966 (seventeen years before the making of "A Christmas Story"). The iconic tale is only a few chapters of the book that recounts growing up in Indiana during the Depression. After escaping to New York City, narrator Ralph returns to his home town for a business trip and find himself planted on a bar stool with an old friend, reminiscing about their shared adventures.

Taken as a whole, In God We Trust... is a mixed bag. For every entertaining anecdote Shepherd relates he has an equally tedious chapter to follow. While the exaggerated purple prose adds humor as Shepherd describes some rather bleak realities, it can quickly lose its charm. 2.5 stars.

As You Like It at Sidney Harman Hall

Last night my partner and I attended a performance of William Shakespeare's As You Like It by the Shakespeare Theatre Company at Sidney Harman Hall.
Thanks to some confusion over the location of Sidney Harman Hall and parking difficulties (which I'll admit were my fault) we did not make the curtain, but were seated by the end of the first scene.*

Directed by Tony Award-winner Maria Aitken, The Shakespeare Theatre's current production takes a look at Shakespeare's romantic rump in its original role as entertainment. Presented in imitation of classic American historical films, Aitken takes the audience through an evolving trip that emphasizes both the nature of performance itself, and the universality of Shakespeare's play (which was itself borrowed from other sources, like much of his work). On a stage framed with film canisters and lit from the sides by large "cameras", the actors move through scenes beginning with a stark and Puritanical setting, and travel through pilgrims landing in North America, Valley Forge, the Civil War, the roaring 20s, and end with a number worthy of Audrey Hepburn or Marilyn Monroe, tripping through many recognizable and entertaining film styles in between. Complete with camera crews, a director, and on-stage set and costume designers, As You Like It is a theatrical spectacle of the most entertaining sort.

All major roles are well-cast, and Floyd King as Touchstone, Anjali Bhimani as Phebe and Aubrey Deeker as Silvius are especially delightful. There is wonderful chemistry between Francesca Faridany (Rosalind) and Miriam Silverman (Celia), and Andrew Long as Jaques is sure to please. However, I maintain that the best role belonged to that of the costume designer Martin Pakledinaz - with so many costume changes and so much to choose from Pakledinaz makes full use of the creative potential, and really makes each scene with a keen eye and attention to detail.

The run has been extended until December 22, and I highly recommend attending a performance before you miss your chance!

*** Photos by Scott Suchman, and borrowed from shakespearetheatre.org

*If you're ever late to a performance by the Shakespeare Theatre company, don't fret! They mark the time between scenes so they can seat late-comers without disturbing the audience members who actually plan better. As an added bonus we had purchased end-row seats, so we got in with limited fuss. Whew!

137. Hamilton, Laruell K. Divine Misdemeanors. 333 pages. 12.11.09


Divine Misdemeanors is Laurell K. Hamilton's eighth Meredith Gentry novel. In this most recent installment Hamilton takes Merry and her ever-growing household out of faerie and back to LA, where they are forced to adjust to the everyday, while helping police work through a case involving dead fey.

Most evident in this novel are Hamilton's attempts to superimpose the world of fairy tales onto the everyday, and she seems to struggle with her characters as they are forced to consider things like rent and occupation. However, little seems resolved by the end of the book, and much of the plot comes off as underdeveloped. It seems like Hamilton has too many characters and too many stories to tell, and can't really balance everything she wants to do in 350 pages. As a result characters are lost and story lines come off as shallow. However, I did enjoy some of the tidbits revealed by a few of Merry's men, and can see their stories growing in the future.

Divine Misdemeanors is not nearly as enthralling as Swallowing Darkness, and seems to serve as a transition from one storyline to the next. On its own Divine Misdemeanors is entertaining but nothing special; I have confidence that Hamilton will again find her feet with the next book.

136. Andrews, Donna. Owls Well That Ends Well. 326 pages. 12.7.09.

Donna Andrews' Owls Well That Ends Well is a pratfall of a novel. That's not to say that it isn't entertaining - on the contrary, it's very amusing - but the antics of Meg Langslow's suspect pool reached new heights. As part of the buyer's agreement for their new house, Michael and Meg organize a large yard sale to unburden themselves of the previous owner's goods, while generating a small profit for the deceased's family. On the day the 30-family yard sale opens up a local scalawag/antiques dealer is murdered in Meg's barn, and everything goes downhill from there. As a police investigation goes underway on one side, a carnival springs up on Meg and Michael's front lawn, with suspects darting to and fro. In the end it all adds to the charm and chuckles, and the Meg Langslow books continue to be an endearing series.

135. Shakespeare, William. As You Like It. 104 pages. 12.5.09.

When the usurping Duke exiles his niece Rosalind (daughter of the overthrown Duke), she and the present Duke's daughter Celia steal away to the forest of Arden to prevent their separation. Rosalind, newly infatuated with a young wrestling champion named Orlando, disguises herself as Celia's brother, and the two set up household not far from where Rosalind's father holds his Robin Hood-like court in the wilderness. Full of the accidents, cross-dressing, wit and hurried couplings that define so many of Shakespeare's comedies, As You Like It is a delightful play to read.

In 2007 my mother in law gave me a set of Shakespeare that was published in 1901. The original set is actually missing As You Like It, and somewhere along the way someone substituted a Yale publication of the play from 1965. This edition claims to make an effort to get back to the "original" format of the play, and therefore excludes almost all stage directions. This is the first time I've read the play since grad school, and I could still hear some of the lectures echoing in my head. I was personally stuck by the reliance on duality to define identity, not unlike what Becket will do centuries later in his works Waiting for Godot and End Game. It was very interesting to take another look at the play, and I enjoyed reading it on several levels.

134. Adrian, Lara. Ashes of Midnight. 368 pages. 12.3.09.

I did not find Ashes of Midnight to be as entertaining as previous books. The characters have grown increasingly flat as the series continues, and the plot drags from the very beginning. The Midnight Breed series has lots its momentum.

133. Collins, Paul. The Book of William: How Shakespeare's Fist Folio Changed the World. 219 pages. 11.28.09.

The Book of William by Paul Collins is a Shakespearean travel narrative, tracing the unique history of one of the worlds most influential books. From its relatively lackluster beginnings to its current $5 million price tag, the path of Shakespeare's first Folio contains plenty of twists and turns, and Collins likewise pulls his audience from 17th-century London to the bank vault under the Folger Library, and finally to obscure theatres and a large university in Japan. The Book of William is better suited for the enthusiast than the scholar; I believe anyone with a remote interest in the Bard and his published work will find Collins' account entertaining.

132. George, Jean Craighead. My Side of the Mountain. 177 pages. 11.26.09.

My Side of the Mountain is a young adult classic which chronicles a year in the life of Sam Gribbley. Sam leaves his overcrowded home in New York City to seek out the farmland of his ancestors, and learns to survive on the land in the company of a cast of wild creatures. My Side of the Mountain serves as a guidebook at times, as Sam informs his readers what plants are edible, how to make a bed, and how he manages to make leather for his deerskin suit. It is a charming story for young children.

As an adult reading the novel to my toddler I have one problem - comma splices. Oh, the comma splices! I am not a grammarian by any stretch of the imagination, but the errors in George's novel make it very difficult to read out loud.

I finished the last of my current Donna-Andrews-stack this morning.


131. Andrews, Donna. We'll Always Have Parrots. 340 pages. 11.25.09.

When Michael is required to attend a convention for his cult-classic television show Meg tags along to offer support and peddle a few swords. But much to everyone's (not-quite) dismay, the "star" of the show ends up dead in her hotel room with an army of suspects running around.

One of the things I like most about Andrews is her ability to balance character development with plot. She introduces fairly well-rounded characters in each book, but doesn't lose herself in fleshing them out more than necessary. Readers are given just what they need to follow a sometimes-complicated network of interactions, and Andrews has a large pool from which to pick her murderers.

130. Andrews, Donna. Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon. 297 pages. 11.23.09.

Another delightful Meg Langslow mystery. An unfortunate accident with a hammer inspires Meg's brother Ron to enlist her help in figuring out who is sneaking about at his gaming company, Mutant Wizards. After the murder of one of the programmers Meg finds herself tripping over geeks, gamers, and therapists as she tries to keep first one innocent and then another out of jail. The personalities of the programmers match many of the professional geeks I know, which once again added another level to my enjoyment. On to the next!

129. Andrews, Donna. Revenge of the Wrought Iron Flamingos. 293 pages. 11.20.09.

I am really enjoying Donna Andrews' "Meg Langslow Mysteries" because there is something for me to relate to in every one. In Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos Meg tackles the murder of a crooked game developer at a reenactment event in Virginia. While my own interests run to Renaissance Fairs over war reenactment, I was tickled by the emphasis on details such as the difference between corsets and stays, and how difficult it can be to snoop around in petticoats. Reading these books is just plain fun.

128. Andrews, Donna. Murder with Puffins. 290 pages. 11.19.09.

Another charming Meg Langslow mystery. In Murder with Puffins Meg and Michael find their romantic diversion interrupted by a hurricane, the unexpected company of family, an island full of enthusiastic bird watchers, and an inconvenient murder. I really enjoyed Andrew's book for her protagonist - I like Meg for her flaws and realism, and can really relate to the role she plays in terms of family dynamics. My one quibble is that the book is a bit dated; the amazement inspired by and attention focused on digital cameras is a bit much. However, it is ultimately a very small detail, and the book as a whole is very enjoyable.

126. Adrian, Lara. Veil of Midnight. 368 pages. 11.6.09.



127. Roach, Mary. Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife. 300 pages. 11.16.09.
In Spook reporter Mary Roach delves into the world of paranormal research to bring to light modern science's tenuous relationship with the afterlife. Like Stiff and Bonk, Roach's writing is peppered with anecdotes and diverting travel stories, although her own voice is far more aggressive towards her subject than her other two publications (born from Roach's own skepticism, no doubt). While Spook is both interesting and entertaining I believe Roach is at her best when she approaches more quantifiable subjects, leaving Spook at the bottom of the Roach-stack.

125. Roach, Mary. Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex. 303 pages. 10.29.09.

Mary Roach, author of Stiff and Spook, hits the monosyllables once again with her latest publication, Bonk, which journeys through the world of science to see exactly what the field is doing with de Sade's favorite subject. Bonk is a thoroughly enjoyable romp through physiological research; Roach focuses on the scientific over the pornographic, making her work comfortable for wide audiences. Her voice is frank, and she jumps into her research feet-first, even to the point of participating in some of the studies she observes. Through it all her sense of humor shines through, and the entertainment value is high.

124. Andrews, Donna. Murder with Peacocks. 296 pages. 10.25.09.

The first mystery in Donna Andrews' Meg Langslow series, Murder with Peacocks is a laid-back and comfortable book, perfect for slow evenings after a long day. As an author, Andrews doesn't seem to ask much of her readers, and instead lets them drift along as she develops her story at her own pace. Murder with Peacocks doesn't "pop" like many mysteries do, but the style of the writing just adds to the slow enjoyment of the reader. I will certainly be pursuing the series in the future.

123. Clare, Cassandra. City of Bones. 512 pages. 10.23.09.

It's not often I come across a book with a plot as transparent as City of Bones. Clare seems to draw from a traditions of young adult and contemporary fantasy alike, with little altered to speak to her own creativity. While reading City of Bones I found myself waiting for the events and revelations I knew would happen, as opposed to enjoying the "plot twists" as they came along. This is not to say that the novel is entirely lacking in entertainment value, but the best audience for City of Bones is someone just stepping into the genre; the novel serves as a kind of "Cliff's Notes" for contemporary YA fantasy.

122. Pratchett, Terry. Unseen Academicals. 400 pages. 10.20.09.

For the cheeseboard!

Thanks to the "unfortunate" requirements of the trust that supports the university the senior wizards and staff of Unseen University find themselves in a precarious position when they discover that they are required to participate in a game of football at least once every twenty years in order to keep receiving the funds. Under the influence of Vetinari's subliminal suggests and trained by the mysterious candle dribber, Mr. Nutt, the members of the university team enter a world of physical activity and back-street politics as they approach the event that will guarantee the funds needed for their cheeseboard for the next two decades.

Reading Pratchett is like curling up with your favorite blanket on a chilly night; provided, of course, your favorite blanket nudges you in the ribs every once in awhile to make sure you're paying attention. Readings of Pratchett can be as shallow or deep as the individual reader desires, and I myself never tire of Sir Terry's brilliant and witty satire. Nothing comes out of his pages unscathed, and his latest publicat6ion offers not only a cast of brilliantly entertaining new characters, but deeper insight into some of his most beloved - or simply most familiar - Ankh-Morporkians.

I highly recommend Unseen Academicals to old Pratchett fans and new - he is sure to delight you once again!

121. Moore, Christopher. A Dirty Job. 387 pages. 10.14.09.

A friend sent me Moore's "Death Merchant" book to take to the hospital for something light and funny to read. In A Dirty Job, second-hand dealer Charlie finds himself experiencing several life-changes after the birth of his daughter and subsequent death of his wife. He has unexpectedly become a Death Merchant, and is responsible for collecting the souls of the recently departed so they can be passed on to the soul-less - and if he fails there will be hell to pay.

What I found most amusing about Moore's novel were his descriptions of newborns/children and parenting. He captures the complete cluelessness of new parents perfectly, and presents a modern and eclectic style of parenting that is at once charmingly awkward and oddly realistic.

The novel as a whole is enjoyable, if painfully obvious. His presentation of the superstition is the most unimaginative part of the novel, and I found myself glossing over passages about the Morrigan to get back to his modern characters.

A Dirty Job is good for a light read and a chuckle.

Thank you for all the well-wishes, everyone! Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day.


119. Armstrong, Kelley. [Frostbitten]. 339 pages. 10.5.09.

Fairly typical of Armstrong, but no less entertaining for it.


120. Verne, Jules. Twenty-Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. 279 pages. 10.8.09.*

A mysterious creature is haunting the seas, and Professor Aronnax is determined to discover the origins of the beast. However, the encounter brings more than he ever expected, as he is captured by the strange and withdrawn captain of a submarine ship and whirled around the world's oceans. The aquatic wonders he experiences thrill his academic soul, while the actions and motivations of his host leave him questioning both the individual and civilizations at large.

Verne's underwater adventure is the latest novel I have read to my toddler at bedtime, and is far from my favorite. As we finished the third Verne novel we have approached I found myself lamenting a brilliant story bogged down by careless prose; I found that the language was flat and uninspired, and the sentence structure was unbelievably choppy. The failings of the writing itself took away from what would otherwise have been a book full of wonders, and I believe we will leave Verne buried once and for all.

Grahame-Smith, Seth. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. 25 pages. 10.4.09.

I have been resisting the occasional urge to read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies since it first hit shelves, but decided to pick it up recently because I thought it might be a fun work to include in a class on satire. However, within just a few pages I realized that Grahame-Smith's atrocity is never something I would want to introduce in the classroom - not because of the content, which is about what you can expect from the title - but because the writing is so atrocious. While I expected a quirky tongue-and-cheek rewriting of Jane Austen's novel what I found was a dull, repetitive, and obnoxious farce. The writing is so poor that it is impossible to even see the humor that the author supposedly intended; the original material is awkward and tedious, and Grahame-Smith is in desperate need of a decent thesaurus.

I had every intention of seeing the thing through to the end, whether or not I decided to include the work on my syllabus, but I just can't force myself to do it.

117. Stoker, Bram. Dracula. 327 pages. 10.3.09.

Introducing one of English literature’s most infamous characters, Bram Stoker’s Dracula is a feast of a novel that delights both those with a taste for horror, and those without. While modern readers will recognize much of the Count that they have come to know through popular culture, the original novel holds much more than suave aristocrats and women in negligees.

The epistolary form of the novel – which comes into vogue in the 18th-century – allows Stoker to create a sense of suspense and complexity as he navigates several different narratives that prove essential to the successful relation of his vampire story. Although modern films have simplified the narrative to fit their own format, Dracula would not be the novel it is without the myriad of voices that Stoker utilizes to establish his story, and would certainly lose much of its power and seduction if left to a singular narrator.

When reading Dracula for analysis (as oppose to personal pleasure) it is important to remember that Stoker's work is actually a fairly late addition to the evolving body of English vampire literature. Authors such as Keats, Coleridge, Byron, Polidori, and Le Fanu all raise their voices to contribute to the emerging rendition of an ancient figure, and have their influence in Stoker's creation of his iconic Count. What Stoker does is not create the vampire myth - nor the English vampire story - but rather uses it to very 19th-century English ends.

In the wide scope of Gothic monsters, the vampire is one of the more recent members. While witches haunt medieval manuscripts and werewolves stalk Renaissance dramas, the vampire does not appear in English literature until relatively late.* Stoker himself is responsible for many characteristics that have now become standard for the modern vampire figure, and contemporary authors and artists owe much to Stoker’s conception. What I find most interesting, however, is how Stoker himself manipulates the standards of his time to give life to the character that has so permeated public consciousness. Dracula moves beyond the traditions of horror and Gothic and becomes a piece of social commentary and exploration that contains radical examinations of gender, sexuality, and reproduction. Under the guise of Gothic, Stoker is allowed the freedom to challenge traditional roles established by Victorian society, and pushes against traditional institutions under the cloak of "horror".

Dracula has earned its place in the English canon, and remains an important and influential work of literature that is sure to delight readers for centuries to come.


*According to Montague Summers, demonic creatures that possess certain characteristics attributed to vampires by modern audiences can in fact be found in manuscripts as early as the 14th century, but these distinctions and identifications are all made several centuries after their original composition.




118. Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard book. 307 pages. 10.3.09.
A sweet ghost story that delivers on all of its promises.

116. Twain, Mark. The Mysterious Stranger. 112 pages. 9.19.09.

In 1590 three Austrian boys - Nikolaus, Seppi, and Theodor (the narrator) - meet a mysterious stranger in the countryside near their small village. This stranger possesses strange powers, and delights the boys not only with his magic tricks (such as lighting their pipe with a breath or creating a miniature civilization from dust), but with his stories and observations regarding the human race. Though he identifies himself as an angel by the name of Satan he assures the boy that he is merely the nephew of the more famous figure, and gains their trust and their friendship. The boys continue a strange and often taxing relationship with the supernatural individual, and though they are unnaturally sedated by his physical presence his influence on their thoughts and morality creates a kind of lasting damage to their individual psyches.

Mark Twain's narrative views on religion, faith, and humanity can be found in any number of his works, though I myself am only familiar with those presented in The Diaries of Adam and Eve, Helpful Hints for Good Living, and Letters from Earth. However, his critical presentation in The Mysterious Stranger is much darker than any I have read by him before. Although the story is told by Theodor, the narrative itself revolves around Satan and Satan's view of humanity. Much of the narrative itself is occupied with the sermons he delivers to the boys, which are aggressive and critical towards humanity, and often towards the morality the boys themselves are taught to respect. The kinds of ideas presented can leave readers wondering whether the character of Satan is really the nephew or the dominant figure, and allows them to question the motives of the foremost character in the novel. Is he truly a benevolent spiritual figure? Is he an evil entity set on wreaking havoc in the small community? And why, in light of their own doubts and misgivings about him, do the boys continue to associate with - indeed, seek out if possible - Satan?

The Mysterious Stranger is not the Mark Twain of Huck Finn, or even the Mark Twain of Helpful Hints; here is a much darker Twain intent not on amusing his audiences, but on expressing feelings of aggression and anger towards a mass that so often seems to perpetuate its own misery. While I found Satan's frequent aggrandizing sermons to be incredibly tedious I appreciated the glimpse of Twain that I had not seen before.

115. Fforde, Jasper. The Eyre Affair. 382 pages. 9.17.09.

The Eyre Affair is a science fiction novel set in an alternative reality and follows literary detective Thursday next as she tracks the unstable and unpredictable Acheron Hades who is wreaking havoc in both reality and literature alike. Meanwhile, Next struggles with personal emotions and conflicts associated with the Orwellian Crimean War which has been raging for over a century, and ha had disastrous consequences for Thursday's personal and moral sensibilities.

I was challenged to read The Eyre Affair by fellow LibraryThing user inkspot (Lauren) on the basis that I do not read a great deal of science fiction on my own, and likewise avoid literature that attempt to rewrite or borrow plots from classic literature. So from the very first I must say that I know next to nothing about the author, Jasper Fforde, the series that apparently comes from this novel, nor the genre as a whole.

As a cold reader I found it very difficult to become involved in the novel. The first several chapters attempt to introduce a very wide range of plots and ideas without adequately associating them, leaving me confused as to what is actually pertinent in the novel and what is more likely to turn out to be "filler" (of which it seems there is a great deal). The setting itself gave me pause, as the author at once creates a world drenched in literature (including automated Shakespeare characters on the streets and whole government departments dedicated to hunting down plagiarizers and false editions of classic works, for example), and seems to show a great deal of disdain for literary enthusiasts (as exemplified by the Milton convention, or the trend in name-changing).

Likewise, while the literary material offers Fforde a wide range of possibilities in terms of building his own characters, much of the material he focuses on seems extraneous to the text and takes away from the narrative flow built around Thursday and her current tasks. The attention given to the authorship of Shakespeare's plays, for example, provides nothing more than a superfluous distraction for the reader; while the Baconists made me chuckle, the weak narrative thread focusing on a rather large literary issue seemed to just add another level of chaos to an already twisted narrative.

I also found myself getting caught up in little details that just didn't seem to make sense. For example, Bowden's insistence that he had "no idea" that a Dickens character was so popular, and her assertion of the same regarding Jane Eyre. In a world where literature confronts you on the streets, people change their names to those of authors, and others go door-to-door like Jehovah's Witnesses to convince the public of the true authorship of Shakespeare, how could Jane Eyre not be popular?

From my perspective, the novel didn't really come together until approximately 75-80% through, when several different narrative threads were finally pulled together. These late connections left the ending feeling rushed and uncertain and, while satisfactory, out of joint with the rest of the novel. I do not regret the challenge or reading The Eyre Affair, as it certainly gave me an interesting look at a genre I otherwise avoid, but I will not be seeking out any Fforde in the future.

Thank you for the challenge, Lauren! I hope James Hogg is treating you well.

A Reading Challenge

114. Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. 118 pages. 9.13.09.

One of the things I remember most from my public school education is the gross lack of enthusiasm of my teachers. The subject was treated as a necessary evil by my instructors themselves, and I believe much of my own reading prejudices have their root in the dry rote that governed the teaching of "classic" literature.

I have abhorred John Steinbeck for as long as I remember, probably due (at least in part) to the mediocre introduction I received at the hands of a high school English teachers who were less than enthused themselves (not all English teachers or public schools are so disappointing- I just happened to have no luck in my school system). And so it was with a mixture of reluctance and curiosity that I accepted Belva's (aka nannybebette) challenge to read Of Mice and Men as part of an I'll Read Yours if You'll Read Mine partnership. She was kind and challenged me to read a very short work that was gathering dust on my shelf, and I completed my half of the challenge this afternoon.

One of the first things I noticed while reading Of Mice and Men was a sense of comfort on the part of the narration; the descriptions and character development seemed so natural that the sense of realism was undeniable. Although there is much that Steinbeck keeps to himself in terms of his main characters, I found Lennie and George to be well-rounded and honest - simple men trying to keep their heads above their water as they pursue (to different degrees) what qualified as "the good life" for two migratory farm hands.

Much to my surprise, I had no real emotional response to the novel. I tend to be a very emotive reader, and more often than not will respond passionately to what I read. However, Steinbeck has left me feeling completely neutral; I was not particularly invested in the characters or events of the book, and found the conclusion neither satisfying nor disappointing. In the end I'm willing to consider this neutrality a positive result of the trial - I didn't hate the book, so I'm more open to reading something along the lives of Travels with Charlie, but I also didn't love it, so I doubt I'll be tackling The Grapes of Wrath anytime soon.

And now, Belva, the ball is in your court. I hope your reading of Carmilla goes well! Or at least mostly painlessly.

112. Pratchett, Terry. Wyrd Sisters. 265 pages. 9.6.09.


113. Roach, Mary. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. 304 pages. 9.10.09.

The cultural ideas surrounding death and the disposal of bodies are far more transient than modern American funeral rites would lead people to believe. From cremation to mummification, to burial within the floors of churches or seclusion to remote cemeteries, societies are constantly trying to find the "right" answer to the question of how to dispose of their dead. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers examines the recent history of one of those solutions - donation.

As a reporter, Mary Roach is able to offer her audiences a unique perspective on the process and outcomes of various forms of body disposal; while she very clearly supports the idea of body donation, she herself is not involved in the field (as a scientist, doctor, or mortuary professional), which allows her to give her readers a layman's view of what really happens when an individual wills their remains to science - and what could be happening in the future.

Stiff is easy to read, and Roach's lighthearted voice allows readers to chuckle at one of the most difficult emotional decisions individuals will have to make (for themselves or a loved one). While there is a narrative tendency to wander away from the immediate subject, the material presented in the numerous asides is as interesting as the initial subject at hand, and actually serves to give readers an emotional break, the lack of which may be detrimental to the objective and humorous tone that is intended. I highly recommend it.

110. Adrian, Lara. Midnight Rising. 384 pages. 9.1.09.


111. Briggs, Patricia. Hunting Ground. 286 pages. 9.4.09.

Readers who enjoyed Patricia Briggs' first Alpha and Omega book will likely enjoy the second installment, Hunting Ground. Following the introduction of Anna and Charles' relationship, Hunting Ground takes the pair to Seattle where Charles works as his father's spokesperson at a conference called to discuss the consequences of werewolves taking their existence public. Not everyone is pleased with Bran's decision to go public, and a series of extreme events send the werewolves scrambling to find the culprit - for individual reasons.

Like Briggs' Mercy Thompson series, the Alpha and Omega novels are fairly consistent in tone and style, and Hunting Ground allows for further insight and character development while avoiding deep introspection. Hunting Ground is intended to be a popular fiction book, and delivers the entertainment such books promise.

A couple re-reads and a couple romances

106. Pratchett, Terry. Night Watch. 338 pages. 8.17.09


107. Pratchett, Terry. Monstrous Regiment. 405 pages. 8.24.09.


108. Adrian, Lara. Kiss of Crimson. 416 pages. 8.28.09.


109. Adrian, Lara. Midnight Awakening. 400 pages. 8.29.09.

104. Pratchett, Terry. Feet of Clay. 357 pages. 8.12.09


105. Lowry, Lois. Messenger. 169 pages. 8.13.09.

Lois Lowry's Messenger is the third young adult novel in the sequence containing The Giver and Gathering Blue, and follows the character of Matty, who is first introduced in Gathering Blue. The beginning of Messenger introduces a Matty six years after the conclusion of the previous novel, and focuses on his life in Village, a community of escapees living beyond the control of the oppressive societies they fled. Here, Matty is a messenger who risks the perils of Forest to facilitate communication between communities, and he prides himself on being the only one who can make the journeys time and again. However, as the plot develops the reader discovers with Matty that citizens of Village are being negatively impacted by trading, and when these changed neighbors vote to close the village Matty sets out to retrieve Kira, the daughter of the blind man with whom he has lived for the past six years.

Messenger lacks the power of development of The Giver and the compassion of Gathering Blue, leaving me very dissatisfied as a reader. The story itself seems shallow and poorly developed as if Matty's store is a mere after-thought that Lowry thought she should wrap up. While some of the satire and social commentary present in early novels exists, in Messenger they are overshadowed by supernatural themes: Forest is a personified forest that can literally kill citizens, who are essentially trapped by homicidal vegetation, and characters such as Matty, Kira, and "Leader" work through magical gifts (such as "seeing beyond") which allow them to overcome obstacles, as opposed to the strength of human spirit and belief in life, freedom, and humanity as presented in the earlier companion novels. Messenger is a disappointment in both method and, well, message, and is the weakest of the sequence that begins so beautifully with The Giver.

103. Pratchett, Terry. Men at Arms. 377 pages. 8.11.09.

Rereading a Pratchett book is like curling up with a cup of my favorite tea on a cold evening; it's comfortable and familiar and simply delightful. My then-boyfriend-now-husband convinced me to give Pratchett a try when I was in high school, and at this point I believe I have read all of his Discworld novels (and several other novels as well). However, it's been so long now since I first read most of them that I am almost guaranteed to find something new. I had forgotten how much I enjoy the guard books, and I'm glad I went back to Men at Arms instead of one of his more-familiar novels. Next up is Feet of Clay, just because I want more Vimes!

102. Rowling, J.K. The Tales of Beedle the Bard. 111 pages. 8.10.09.

I am incredibly disappointed with The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling. The book, presented as a collection of wizard fairy tales annotated by Albus Dumbledore, lacks the inventiveness of the children's novels that have made Rowling famous. The short tales themselves, which contain all the elements familiar from classic fairy tales, can be quite charming (I myself enjoy reading classic fairy tales, and Rowling's writing varies very little from the style and intent of classic collections). However, the "extensive commentary by Albus Dumbledore" is uninspired and does little to accentuate the collection or the past character of the headmaster of Hogwarts. While I am no Harry Potter fangirl, I did enjoy the original novels, and The Tales of Beedle the Bard does not live up to the imagination Rowling showed in her previous writing.

101. Colbert, Stephen. I Am America (And So Can You!). 230 pages. 8.9.09.

I am really not sure how to describe this book to anyone who doesn't already know Stephen Colbert, or what his book actually includes. I've attempted to begin this review five different ways, and am finding that I just can't adequately describe it. On his show "The Colbert Report" Stephen Colbert satirizes the Conservative Right through his portrayal of an ultra-conservative reporter, and his book I Am America utilizes the same character and force to represent that satire in printed form. Like "The Colbert Report", the bestseller "attacks" everything from education to gay marriage to race in such a way that highlights what Colbert (and writing team) undoubtedly see as the ludicrous agenda of specific political parties.

I have always enjoyed watching Colbert's show on Comedy Central, and have intended to read his book since it was first published. Of course, like many of the books in my "to be read" stack, the reading actually took place long after it first hit my radar. From my perspective, the level of entertainment of Colbert's book is equal to that of his show, but I gained a new appreciation for the 30-minute increments. After reading the first 100+ pages straight through I found the writing style to be a bit tedious. In hindsight, I believe I would have enjoyed the book more if I took it a chapter or two at a time as opposed to plowing through in two sittings.

But I'm a sucker for footnotes and side notes, and that alone makes the book worth reading.

100. Valenti, Jessica. The Purity Myth: How America's Obsession with Virginity is Hurting Young Women. 219 pages. 8.7.09.

Jessica Valenti's The Purity Myth examines America's Puritanical views on female purity in an attempt to reveal the negative consequences of an unbalanced and unrealistic sexual culture. Valenti draws on policy, popular culture, and the materials presented by the Conservative movement for virginity in order to demonstrate the extent to which young people (and the public at large) are outright lied to under the guise of abstinence-only sex education, and presents compelling evidence as to how the push for female virginity and "purity" actually undermines the rights and liberties of young women.

As a whole I found Valenti's book to be enlightening and informative - and sometimes terrifying. While her propensity for snarky footnotes ultimately keeps the text from being what I would consider "academic", The Purity Myth is intended for a large public audience, and Valenti's style of writing adds entertainment value to the information she presents. Given my own negative experiences with self-labeled feminists in academia (for example, a graduate professor recoiling in horror when she discovered I was expecting my first child) I am often hesitant to read "feminist" material. However, I found Valenti to be fairly even-keel, and many of her ideals match my own (equality of the sexes vs. "men are evil"). As with any politically involved author, it is obvious that Valenti has a specific agenda and that she is writing to that agenda, but I do not believe her conviction works to the detriment of the text. I cannot remember which of my fellow LibraryThingers recommended the book, but I am grateful that it was brought to my attention and would certainly recommend it.