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.


I decided to read William Sleator's young adult science fiction novel House of Stairs after reading an interesting description in the LibraryThing Group "Name That Book." However, the individual looking for the title of the book described a far more compelling novel than I found Sleator's book to be. The plot and characters are as static as the environment in which they are thrust, and reading the book through to the end seemed almost as mentally difficult as the "physical challenges" the teenagers faced. So little is actually interesting that the novel is beyond intellectual redemption, and it is a tremendous relief to have finished it. I can't think of a single individual or "type" to whom I would recommend this little disaster.