32.
Author: Lara Adrian
Title: Shades of Midnight
Publication: Kindle Edition
Pages: 420 pages
Genre: Romance
Acquisition: Purchased April 20, 2010
Date Completed: April 24, 2010
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

The frequent use of "female" keeps my right eyebrow hovering near my hairline, but I'd be lying if I tried to suggest that I don't enjoy Adrian's books. Her take on vampire romances isn't something I would usually enjoy, but the Midnight Breed series is like chocolate chip cookies - and my sweet tooth is only getting worse as time goes on.

33.
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Title: Tales of the Otherworld
Publication: Hardcover, April 2010
Pages: 387 pages
Genre: Horror
Acquisition: Purchased April 24, 2010
Date Completed: April 28, 2010
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

While I enjoyed the most recent book in the Otherworld collection, I did not find Tales of the Otherworld to be as entertaining as Armstrong''s previous collection, Men of the Otherworld. Both books present history and background that is entertaining to fans of Armstrong''s series, but would likely confuse readers who have not already been introduced to the principal characters. However, I always enjoy the opportunity to explore the world and characters a little further, and Tales of the Otherworld allows just that.

31.
Author: Shirley Jackson
Title: We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Publication: Paperback, 2006
Pages: 146 pages
Genre: Horror
Acquisition: Purchased April 16, 2010, Recommended by laytonwoman3rd
Date Completed: April 22, 2010
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

We Have Always Lived in the Castle is the story of the reclusive remnants of a wealthy family that died mysteriously before the narrative begins. Mary Katherine, Constance, and their Uncle Julian are all that survive, and Merricat does everything she can to protect her older sister from the world. Shirley Jackson's short novel is haunting and thrilling, and she masterfully creates tension and horror without resorting to trite themes of slash and gore. We Have Always Lived in the Castle is terrifying for its simplicity and honesty, and although the primary mystery is evident from very early the story itself is thoroughly engaging.

I highly highly recommend We Have Always Lived in the Castle, even for those who do not normally enjoy horror novels. Jackson is an exception worth making.

30.
Author: Marilyn Yalom
Title: A History of the Wife
Publication: Paperback, 2002
Pages: 400 pages
Genre: Nonfiction
Acquisition: Purchased March 30, 2010
Date Completed: April 17, 2010
Rating: 4 stars out of 5


Marilyn Yalom's narrative voice is perfectly suited to her chosen subject material. Yalom is no dry historian; she is obviously emotionally invested in what she has to say, and is not shy about presenting her message.

I had hoped for a more global perspective on the role of the wife, but I realize that such a project would be fairly cumbersome for a popular publication. Yalom's focus is the direct history that leads to the contemporary American wife,and she builds a history towards that end. I occasionally found it hard to remain objective in the face of biased prose, but overall I found A History of the Wife to be very interesting.

29.
Author: Patricia Briggs
Title: Silver Borne
Publication: New York: Ace Books, 2010
Pages: 342 pages
Genre: Horror
Acquisition: Purchased April 10, 2010
Date Completed: April 11, 2010
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Silver Borne - the fifth book in the Mercy Thompson series - is thoroughly enjoyable and full of satisfying resolutions.

28.
Author: William Shakespeare
Title: The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice
Publication: Anthology Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama and Writing
Pages: 100 pages
Genre: Drama
Acquisition: Work Text
Date Completed: April 8, 2010
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Othello is one of my favorite plays by Shakespeare. Like many of his plays, the foundation itself is not original (Shakespeare is inspired by an Italian novella published decades before his 1604 play), and the mastery itself comes down to the language and portrayal of the characters. Shakespeare's characters are stock characters - the faithful wife, the jealous husband, the villain - and yet instead of being flat and emotionally vacant they are both endearing and repulsive (usually both at once). One characteristic of the play that I find compelling is how Iago - our stock villain - forces the audience to become conspirators in his plot. The audience is the only other "character" who knows exactly what is going on - Iago's motivations and actions - and yet the audience is completely powerless to prevent the tragedy from unfolding.

I also enjoy the veiled threat that is the conclusion: everyone with the power to fully implicate Iago dies ... except for the audience.