Naked

Title: Naked

Author: David Sedaris

Pages: 3 discs (abridged)

Genre: Autobiographical Essays

Grade: B

Synopsis: This book is a collection of autobiographical essays by comedian David Sedaris. He writes about his strange urges to lick things (light switches, mail boxes, etc.) growing up and when his teachers would stop by to discuss his quirks with his parents, his mother would serve drinks to the teachers as she empathized with their struggles. He also wrote about many other dysfunctions of his family ending with his self-deprecating visit to a nudist colony.

My Review: I didn't realize that this was a collection of essays until I sat down to write this review. Everything seemed to flow well together, but there didn't seem to be a climax or highlight of the book (which I now attribute to it being a collection of essays). The essays were funny without being dirty or mean, although the language is poor.

Disclaimer: As mentioned, swearing in the book is quite prevalent.

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Title: A Thousand Splendid Suns

Author: Khaled Hosseini

Pages: 11 discs

Genre: Fiction

Grade: B+

Synopsis: The book begins with the story of Mariam, who is an illegitimate child of a local businessman. After her mother commits suicide, she is married off to a 40-year-old man who continually abuses her, especially after she has a few miscarriages and fails to deliver the son that Rasheed so desperately wants. The story then shifts to 14-year-old Laila whose parents are killed by stray bombs. Rasheed ends up taking her in as a second wife. The complete story takes place over a 30-year timespan in Afghanistan, when the country was gripped by anti-Soviet jihad, civil war, Taliban cruelty and finally uncertainty after the US invasion in 2001.

My Review: The book is very depressing and violent as it seems that the main characters can never get a break. I love reading about places and countries that I know so little about (Afghanistan), and from what I've gathered, this book is generally true to history. My biggest complaint is that the first half of the book felt very disjointed with the story focusing on Mariam before switching to Laila with no apparent connection between them.

Disclaimer: There is some language, but quite a bit of violence and death that may be disturbing.

The Autobiography of Charles Darwin 1809-1882

Title: The Autobiography of Charles Darwin 1809-1882

Author: Charles Darwin, edited by Nora Barlow

Pages: 243

Genre: Autobiography

Grade: D

Synopsis: Charles Darwin wrote his autobiography throughout the later years of his life. He intended it to be solely for his children, but his son first published the autobiography in 1887 (with most of the personal details omitted - which have now since been included). Darwin writes about his early life, school years and published works, spending very little on information about his family or other personal topics.

My Review: Very few books take me this long to read (4 weeks or so). Alison's had this book from some class at the U and I was interested in reading it but, there was nothing about this book that motivated me to pick it up and continue reading once I had started (and in fact, I skipped the 90+ pages of the appendix). For Darwin enthusiasts, this book is a gem. For the rest of us, I'm sure we can find something else...

On another note, The book is free to anybody who wants it (first come first served)...

Prey

Title: Prey

Author: Michael Crichton

Pages: 11 discs

Genre: Science Fiction

Grade: B

Synopsis: Jack Forman recently lost his job as a computer programmer. He is eventually hired on as a consultant to his wife's company, Xymos Technologies. They've recently invented a way for nano-particles to reproduce themselves using bacterial processes. Unfortunately, some of the particles have gotten loose into the atmosphere and they are now reproducing on their own outside of the lab environment.

My Review: The science behind the book is a little suspect and often unbelievable which is a little unfortunate because it's such a critical portion of the book. It was generally easy to understand what was going on though and the book had plenty of suspense and twists.

Disclaimer: There's a bit of language to watch out for.

Letters for Emily

Title: Letters for Emily

Author: Camron Wright

Pages: 320

Genre: Fiction

Grade: B

Synopsis: Harry Whitney wasn't ever the best father, husband or even grandfather. He suffered from severe Alzheimer's but luckily had a few hours of sanity most days. During his lucid times, he composed a book of poems that he addressed to his granddaughter Emily. The poems each had hidden passwords in them that led the family to more of Harry's advice and brought them together.

My Review: I generally enjoyed this book. I liked the clues in the poems and the linguistic tricks that were often played. The love story underlying the story was a little hokey, but all-in-all not a terrible read.

The Sea of Monsters

Title: The Sea of Monsters

Author: Rick Riordan

Pages: 304

Genre: Fiction

Grade: B

Synopsis: Percy Jackson learns that his good friend Tyson is a cyclops and also his half-brother. Percy also learns that camp Half-Blood has been compromised. Percy, Annabeth and Tyson sneak out on a quest to try and save the camp by obtaining the Golden Fleece by crossing the Sea of Monsters (aka the Bermuda Triangle).

My Review: These books are fairly simple, but I still enjoy how they help bring Greek mythology to modern times. An easy, quick read that wasn't too predictable.