Currently reading
Villette
Unknown Quantity: A Real and Imaginary History of Algebra
A Storm of Swords: Steel and Snow
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena: A Novel
I enjoyed this, because you know what, there's just something comforting about revisiting characters you already know and like. It could have used more Luis, but that's OK. I'm not sure how I feel about Lestat's final actions, but they can always be undone in a future Chronicle. Rice has also significantly cut down on the use of the word "preternatural," and that is a good thing.
Great short stories
I listened to these and found them quite entertaining. As a bonus, they are all read by the author and are free on iTunes. Bennett spins a good tale, and I look forward to reading his "Underwood and Flinch" books.
Madame Bovary (Oxford World's Classics)
This was a real page turner. The whole thing is quite stylized and if you come in expecting Jane Austen-type writing, you'll be disappointed. Though perhaps not everyone's cup of tea, I thought it was a fun, quick read. It kept me up past midnight several nights in a row, which is no small task.
Frankenstein (Penguin Classics)
I avoided this for years, thinking it would be boring. Boy was I wrong; I was highlighting passages like crazy in this book. Now I wish to know more about Mary Shelley and her influences and other writings. And philosophy aside, it's a real page-turner to boot.
1
1
The Math Gene: How Mathematical Thinking Evolved and Why Numbers Are Like Gossip
I learned more about linguistics than about math, per se, but it was worth it. His academic style may not be everyone's cup of tea; however, if you are into either language or math, you should find it quite interesting. As a librarian, I had several "Ah hah!" moments, because structure, type, and representation are, for us, fun things to think about.
Witch Wraith (The Dark Legacy of Shannara, #3)
Terry Brooks has had some hits and some misses. This was a hit. Well done!
 - Terry Brooks)
Thirty Scary Tales
This was a great collection of short tales. I was most impressed with the variety of genres -- fantasy, contemporary, etc. The collection was quite entertaining, and I'd gladly read a second volume. It would be an excellent choice for young readers, too, as there was nothing stronger than PG.
Wards of Faerie: The Dark Legacy of Shannara
Yet another Shannara book...this one was actually pretty good. It felt more "old school" Terry Brooks than some of his other more recent works. What can I say -- I'm a sucker for elves.
Into the Dark Lands (The Sundered, Book 1)
I was looking for some non-medieval fantasy by someone I hadn't yet read and stumbled upon this. I was very impressed; the writing is good and the story is great. West's take on the eternal struggle between good and evil is innovative and difficult to put down. If you enjoy fantasy, give this a try -- especially if most of the fantasy you tend to read contains elves and stand-ins for medieval England. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Night Angel Trilogy: The Way of Shadows / Shadow's Edge / Beyond the Shadows
If you're looking for some new fantasy, this is a good option. It was somewhat hard to follow, but eventually things fall into place. It's not for kids, and it's not A Song of Ice and Fire. But I will say this: although you think you've been to Generic Middle Ages Fantasy Kingdom before, be prepared for fairly unique innovations that make this trilogy 100% worth reading.
The Reservoir
I usually go to bed around 10:30. But for the last two nights, I was up until midnight. I just couldn't put this book down. It was that good--extremely well-written, suspenseful in the "What *really* happened?" kind of way, and did I mention that it's extraordinarily well-written? I did not expect the ending, and the whole experience was the better for it. Plus, it's based on a true story, and since I currently live in the South, that just makes it kind of neat.If you need a good mystery of the Southern Gothic variety, I whole-heartedly recommend this one.
OPEN: A Short Horror Tale
This was short, sweet, and well-written. I definitely look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
Pilate's Cross
This was a fun read, especially since I went to a small college in the Midwest. I just started the next book, "Pilate's Key," and have the feeling that we are at the beginning of a highly entertaining series.
The Confession: A Novel
I didn't mind the book length sermon, but that is just me. Characterization was so-so, but that's ok. I've been reading Grisham for 20 years so I guess I'm feeling a bit indulgent.
Friends Forever: A Novel
I went through a whole Danielle Steel phase in my teens, and honestly, she's written some great, entertaining stories (Palomino, Zoya). 'Friends Forever' was not one of them. The writing was terrible, the characters stunk, and in the end, I'm just glad I borrowed it from the library instead of buying it. It was better than having nothing to read on my recent flight, but it only beat out Skymall by the slimmest of margins.
