The Three Musketeers

Title: The Three Musketeers
Author: Alexandre Dumas (translated by Richard Pevear)
Genre: Classic Adventure
Pages: 673
Rating (out of 5 stars): **** 1/2
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: D'Artagnan goes to Paris to make his fortune and ends up friend with three of the king's musketeers: Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. The four men soon become inseparable as they work together to thwart the plans of Cardinal Richelieu and the treacherous Milady.
Thoughts: It took me about a week to read all 673 pages of this book. Maybe I'm just a kid at heart who wants to swordfight and save the damsel in distress, but I really liked this book a lot! There is quite of a bit of action throughout the plot, as well as plenty of mystery and intrigue that makes it difficult to determine what will happen next. Not only did I like the excellent plot, but I really liked Dumas' writing as well; he used great phrases and perfect dialogue (and I give a tip of the hat to Richard Pevear for excellent translation of the version I read). Anyway, if you've been looking for an exciting, fun read, this is your book. As a sidenote, I enjoyed Dumas' other famous book, The Count of Monte Cristo, even more than The Three Musketeers. Both are great books.
Disclaimer: As you can imagine, there is some blood and gore in this book. Also, several of the men have mistresses, although Dumas is completely modest in his treatment of that aspect of the way things were back then. Lastly, there dialogue is filled with French oaths (sacrebleu!), so if that offends you, you might want to stay away from this one!

P.S. Can anyone tell me how Cervantes' Don Quixote might compare to Dumas' work? I'm thinking of reading that one in the near future...thanks.
P.P.S. Blogger isn't letting me upload any images at the moment, no picture with this one. Sorry! BCI

These is My Words

Title: These is My Words
Author: Nancy Turner
Genre: fictional diary, family, romance
Pages: 384
Rating (out of 5 stars): *****
Reviewed by: Jenn
Description: This book is a novel written in diary format, as Sarah Prine tells her own story of living in the Arizona Territories from 1881-1901. Over this course of time, the rugged, uneducated, vivacious young Sarah grows into an informed, reflective, sincere (and still feisty) woman. The novel shows the dangers, excitement, injustice, hardship, loss, charm, romance, and value of life in the territories.

Thoughts: This is one of my favorite books of the past year . . . I loved every page of it! Somehow when you read 20 years'-worth of a woman's diary, you grow to know her and love her (and the people in her life) so much. I felt myself laughing aloud every couple of pages about either Sarah's stories or her blunt way of expressing herself. And then I couldn't help but cry every few pages either as I mourned with her, loved with her, and lost with her. This book is a very rich, filling book -- perfect for a fall or winter read. I also must mention that it is one of the sweetest and most fun love stories I have ever read.

Disclaimer: This book has quite a bit of violence and trauma with all the fights between the Indians and the settlers. It also includes some remarks about marital intimacy, very tastefully and subtly described.

The Woman Warrior

Title: The Woman Warrior
Author: Maxine Hong Kingston
Genre: Memoir
Pages: 209
Rating (out of 5 stars): ***
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: Memoir of a Chinese-American girl who struggles to rectify her Chinese world at home with the American world around her. As her parents attempt to bring her up as a proper Chinese girl, she is also faced with the peer pressure of becoming American at school. Eventually she is forced to decide which world she is really going to live in.

Thoughts: Each section of The Woman Warrior tells a different story: some of them are fictional Chinese fables, some are from the girl's life. This gives the book a very disjointed feel, and I have to admit that I didn't really enjoy the fictional parts. They were kind of weird with lots of ghosts and dragons and such. On the other hand, I don't claim to know much about Eastern culture, and I'm sure that would have helped me out. However, the parts that were actually real were very enjoyable and well written. I also thought that the book gave an interesting view of the real culture clash that immigrants face when they move to the US. How tightly will they hold to their traditions? How much will the assimilate into America? I can see how this would be extremely difficult for both the parents, who want to hold on to the old ways, and the children who are trying to fit into the new. Overall it was a good book, but a challenging one as well.
Disclaimer: The very first section of the book tells about a girl in China who commits suicide after being ostracized from the community for adultery. There was nothing worse than PG-13 in this section, but it did make me just a little uncomfortable. The rest of the book was very clean.

O Pioneers!

Title: O Pioneers!
Author: Willa Cather
Genre: Classic, set in late 19th century Nebraska
Pages: 161
Rating (out of 5 stars): ****
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: Sorry if you thought this was about Mormon pioneers. This book is about the early settlers on the plains in Nebraska, who were mostly immigrants from Europe. In particular the plot follows a girl named Alexandra, who immigrated with her family when she was small. She grows up, takes over her father's farm, and successfully manages to tame the land, but not without tragedy along the way.
Thoughts: I would say that, more than anything, this is a novel about how different people cope with what life gives them. All of the characters in the book face some sort of tragedy, ranging from death to the loss of crops for a season. But each person deals with their lot in life differently. Some lash out at other people, some fight against it, and others accept their fate and make of it what they can. Cather does an incredible job of winding all of this around a single plot line, and adding in beautiful description of the land at the time. The book is somewhat slow moving at first, but by the end I stayed up late to finish it. Overall, My Antonia (also by Cather) is a better, more moving, story, but O Pioneers! isn't bad at all.
Disclaimer: None.

A Moveable Feast

Title: A Moveable Feast
Author: Ernest Hemingway
Genre: Memoir
Pages: 207
Rating (out of 5 stars): ***
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: A short memoir by Hemingway describing the early years of his career as a writer while living in Paris. It talks about his associations with several other notable authors of the time (James Joyce, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, etc.), who were also living as expatriates in Europe. The memoirs also describe how happy his relationship was with his wife, despite his struggles to keep his head above water financially as he writes his first novels and short stories.
Thoughts: I enjoyed reading this A Moveable Feast because it gave a very interesting view into Hemingway's life. I guess it was particularly poignant knowing that Hemingway committed suicide about many years later, but he seems really quite happy during this period of his life. The very last sentence sums it up quite nicely: "But this is how Paris was in the early days when were very poor and very happy." He actually wrote the book shortly before he died (it was published posthumously), and I think we all have a tendency to look back on times in our life and remember them as better than they actually were, but even so I find it remarkable that Hemingway was happiest before he found success as a writer. The other remarkable thing about his life is the fact that so many really good writers and artists were all congregated in Paris at that one time. It makes me wonder how much they were all able to feed off of each other to create some really revolutionary work. Anyway, it was a nice, short read, and I would really recommend it to anyone interested in Hemingway, Paris, writing, or the "lost generation."
Disclaimer: There is one small section of this book where Hemingway and Scott Fitzgerald discuss some intimate aspects of their marriages. Hemingway leaves out most details, and I didn't find it offensive, but you're forewarned. There also might be a swear word or two, but nothing serious.

Crossing to Safety

Title: Crossing to Safety
Author: Wallace Stegner
Genre: Fiction/Literature
Pages: 341
Rating (out of 5 stars): *****
Reviewed by: Jenn
Description: It's hard for me to describe what this book is "about" without making it sound boring. It's not boring, by any means. My heart and mind were both completely involved throughout the entire read. That said, the book is a story of the friendship between two young couples who meet during the Depression and remain close throughout their lives. As the plot follows their friendship, it opens up questions about marriage, failure/success, relationships, tragedy, wealth, and work in a very compelling way.
Thoughts: This is one of my favorite books. I haven't read it in years, and this time I read it for my book club (my choice because I have been craving the feeling of Crossing to Safety recently). Wallace Stegner blows me away. Somehow, he managed to write a book without some crazy, fanciful plot -- it's just about regular people and their fairly regular lives -- yet it truly wrapped me up as a reader. I found myself laughing, crying, worrying, and most of all -- probing the world as well as my own life for answers throughout the reading. I felt a special connection to the two couples this time, as they start out in the book in roughly the same stage we're in right now: young, poor, parents. I longed for a friendship comparable to what Larry and Sally find in Charity and Sid, and longed for their beautiful days picnicking near Battell Pond or their nights listening to good music and poetry together. I found myself really relating to Charity at the beginning of the book, only later to find myself horrified at how her (my?) jubilant, dominant personality backfired. I believe most people who have any sort of humanness in them could relate to and enjoy this book. Highly recommended.

Disclaimer: A few un-detailed, brief mentions of marital intimacy. Very mild language.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (no spoilers--don't worry!)

Title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Author: J.K. Rowling
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 759
Rating (out of 5 stars): ****1/2
Reviewed by: Ben and Jenn
Description: Follows Harry on his quest to conquer Lord Voldemort in the last book of the series.
Thoughts: We got to read this out loud together while she recovered from surgery, and we had a great time doing it! We actually finished it about a week ago, but didn't get this review up because we were in Utah for a wedding. Anyway, we both thought it was every bit as enchanting and exciting as the first six books of the series. Rowling did a superb job of wrapping everything up and adding in enough twists that no one could have ever guessed how it ends. We really don't have any complaints with the book. So, why not 5 stars? Well, we try to reserve the 5 star rating to books that are both captivating and great literature. HP7 was definitely captivating, but it is still a Young Adult book, so doesn't quite make the cut on our definition of "great literature." Still, it was an amazing book and an amazing series; anyone who enjoyed the first six will love the seventh!
Disclaimer: There actually were a few mild swear words in this one, as well as some magical violence. Nothing major, but parents should be aware of that.

Peace Like a River

Title: Peace Like a River
Author: Leif Enger
Genre: Modern Fiction
Pages: 311
Rating (out of 5 stars): ****
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: Reuben Land, the narrator, is an 11-year-old growing up in the Midwest in the mid-1960s. When his older brother, Davy, commits a serious crime and subsequently breaks out of jail, Reuben, his dad, and his sister do all they can to find and help him. The novel follows the family as they face various trials and upheavals that threaten to completely change their way of life.
Thoughts: The plot of Peace Like a River it is good, but not earth-shattering. However, this book deserves 4 stars simply because of the incredible prose. A critic put it better than I can: "You read it as much for the pure joy it offers on every page as to find out how it ends." (Tom Walker, The Denver Post). I knew basically nothing about this book when I started reading it (we borrowed it from Jenn's mom), so I was completely taken by surprise by the sort of earthy, western feel it has to it. All the way through the story I felt like I was listening to it being told to me at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, and Jenn can vouch for the fact that it literally made me laugh out loud in parts. The book is not all happy, but it has a great message about families and is all around a good read.
Disclaimer: None.

Sidenote: Jenn and I would highly recommend attending the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival! Jenn took me to it just after my mission, and we went every year after that when we were in Provo. It is held in Orem at the Scera Shell, and will be August 30 - September 1. We happen to be in town this year, and we're hoping to be able to go on Sept. 1st in the evening for Laughin' Night if at all possible. Since many of you might not know what a storytelling festival is, here's a quick run-down: Believe it or not, some people's profession is to tell stories. Every August Orem gets a bunch of these professional storytellers together for a festival where they give clinics during the day and tell their stories at night. On Laughin' Night each storytelling gets up and gives a sort of stand-up comedy routine based completely around a single story. The other night is called "My Favorite Stories" and is not as funny but every bit as enjoyable, really. Anyway, any of you that might be around then should consider going, and if you want to come with us, let us know!

The Age of Innocence

Title: The Age of Innocence
Author: Edith Wharton
Genre: Fiction (Classic/Drama/Victorian??)
Pages: 320
Rating (out of 5 stars): ****
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: Newland Archer is a member of New York's high society in the 1870s. While engaged to marry May Welland, he meets and falls in love with Ellen Olenska, who is a bit surrounded by scandal. Newland struggles between following the demands of a pompous society and the true feelings of his heart. The result: a tale of thwarted love, duty, and acceptance.
Thoughts: This book was exactly what I needed after all of the sci-fi I have been reading lately. I admit that I've always liked these classic romantic novels, so if you don't like Dickens or Austen you probably wouldn't enjoy this book much. That being said, there's a reason that The Age of Innocence was the first book written by a woman to win the Pulitzer Prize. There is no clear correct answer to the dilemma that faces Newland as he is caught between two generations. The "old school" that he was brought up in holds fast to tradition, and there is certainly something to be said for that. May, whom Newland is to marry, represents that old society. On the other hand, the upcoming generation willingly accepts changes and openly forgives those who, like Ellen (whom Newland actually loves), have made some serious mistakes, and mercy is something I believe in as well. Whom should Newland choose? I'm still not sure. At any rate, the book is a marvelous commentary on hypocrisy, duty, and ideals.
Disclaimer: None.

Xenocide & Children of the MInd

Titles: Xenocide and Children of the Mind
Author: Orson Scott Card
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 608 and 384
Rating (out of 5 stars): **
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: These are the last two books in the "Ender Quartet." In these two books, Ender has settled down with a family, but serious trials still await him and those he loves. Congress has issued and order to destroy the planet he lives, there is an adaptive virus loose that threatens to destroy all of humanity, and war is threatening to break out between humans and the 3 other sentient species they have discovered. Xenocide and Children of the Mind chronicle Ender's quest to save humanity one last time.
Thoughts: I'm reviewing these two books together because they are really one long book that Card broke up into two because of length. Really there is hardly and ending at all at the end of Xenocide, so you pretty much have to read Children of the Mind if you are going to read book 3. Anyway, I figured that I had already read books 1 & 2, so I might as well finish off the series. Unfortunately, I was somewhat disappointed in these last two books. I'm generally not a big sci-fi reader, so maybe I just lost interest, but I didn't really feel like these two books captured me nearly as much as the first two. My biggest complaint is that both Xenocide and Children of the Mind had far too many insurmountable obstacles that Ender and his gang had to overcome. I felt like in real life there would have been absolutely no chance for anything to work out, and yet Card simply tied up all the loose ends in the last few pages of the last book. I guess I felt like it was all too neat and tidy of a conclusion--there wasn't enough suffering or something was missing. Also, books 3 & 4 got even more science-fictiony (e.g. teleportation, people possessing 3 bodies at once, etc.) which turned out to be a bit much for my taste. However, rating the series overall, I really enjoyed it much more than expected and would recommend it to anyone with a science fiction bent. Speaker for the Dead (book 2) was the best of the quartet, followed by Ender's Game (book 1).
Disclaimer: A few light swear words, nothing more.

The Kite Runner

Title: The Kite Runner
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 371
Rating (out of 5 stars): **** 1/2
Reviewed by: Ben and Jenn (we read it aloud together)
Description: This book tells the story of Amir, a boy who comes of age in Afghanistan in its last few years of peace. Through him we see a stark portrait of the economic, racial, and political struggles facing Afghans. The book focuses on Amir's relationship with Hassan, a boy his same age who comes from a lower caste and worships Amir as a servant. While Hassan is fiercely loyal to Amir, Amir betrays Hassan and struggles with that for the rest of the novel.
Thoughts: First of all, this book is beautifully written. Hosseini, a first-time novelist, writes with distinctive accuracy, avoiding cliché and appealing to all five senses in his descriptions. At one point he describes a certain moment smelling like turnips, dried mulberries, sour oranges, sawdust, and walnuts -- a very unusual but tangible depiction. Despite the beauty of the prose, this book is also devastating and very haunting. Since it is a story about Afghanistan we expected that, but even so the story at times hits you right between the eyes. Although we were always apprehensive to find out what happened next, we still couldn't be kept from reading. The Kite Runner wrapped us up in a world and culture we had both wanted to understand better.
Disclaimer: This book has some pretty graphic violence, and the language gets somewhat harsh, including a few "F" words.

Tess of the d'Urbervilles

Title: Tess of the d'Urbervilles
Author: Thomas Hardy
Genre: Classic/Romance/Tragedy
Pages: 592
Rating (out of 5 stars): *** 1/2
Reviewed by: Jenn
Description: Tess, a girl who grows into a woman through the course of the novel, is a victim of her society and circumstances. After she is taken advantage of by Alec d'Urberville, her life is changed forever. Her rustic and crude parents don't do anything to help her case, and in the 18th century, a woman in her position doesn't stand a chance at having the life she dreams of. Still, Tess is uncommonly pretty, and when she falls in love with Angel Clare, things look promising. Can there be hope for a woman so feebly taken in sin? (I'm leaving this ambiguous, but if you're an idealist, don't forget to notice the genre above).

Thoughts: This novel is considered by some to be one of the greatest works of English literature. Hardy definitely knows what he's doing. He tells a compelling story that couldn't be a more perfect tragedy, complete with symbolism, allusions to all sorts of important texts, irony, and passion. I feel like his writing feels like a combination between Jane Austen and Dickens (although the subject matter is quite different). It is enjoyable and smooth reading, and it really makes the reader question what 18th century England could do to a poor girl, all without having any idea that they were doing anything unjust.

Disclaimer: None.

Notes: I listened to the audio version of this book read by Davina Porter, which I would recommend.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

Title: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
Author: Mark Haddon
Genre: Modern Fiction
Pages: 226
Rating (out of 5 stars): *** 1/2
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: Christopher Boone, a high functioning autistic, knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. The Curious Incident is written from his perspective, and details some traumatic events in his family, giving his perspective and understanding of what is happening.
Thoughts: This is another book that a co-worker sort of pushed on me, but I ended up really enjoying it much more than I expected to. For me, there were two reasons why this book was worth the read: 1) Haddon does an incredible job of writing with an autistic's voice. He is a creative writing professor, and it really shows. The book is interspersed with random facts that only an autistic person would know, along with diagrams of how Christopher works out all of the problems that he faces. I loved that aspect of the book. 2) Autistic people have a hard time understanding and feeling emotion, and so the issues that the book deals with are run through Christopher's autistic filter, putting a really different spin on the main conflicts that book discusses. It almost made the traumatic parts more poignant because they were completely devoid of any feelings. Overall, if you are looking for some good fiction that came out in the past five years, this book would be a good choice.
Disclaimer: The Curious Incident is set in England, where the F-word isn't as strong of a word as it is over here in the States. So that gets in there a fair amount, unfortunately. There are other swear words as well in some of the dialogue. Besides that, this book is clean.

The Great Bridge

Title: The Great Bridge
Author: David McCullough
Genre: Non-fiction history
Pages: 518
Rating (out of 5 stars): ***1/2
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: McCullough tells the epic story of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. The book focuses on three main aspects: 1) The political struggles that took place to get it built; 2) the incredible engineering feats accomplished in the building of the bridge; 3) the tremendous integrity and tenacity of Washington Roebling, the Chief Engineer.
Thoughts: If you ever go to New York and don't walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, you will have missed what would have been the highlight of your trip. In my opinion (and that of many New York natives, I might add), it is simply the most important thing to see in New York. There is just something about the Bridge that is awe-inspiring. That, combined with the fact that I'm a big McCullough fan, made me read this book, and I was not disappointed. It's a long book with small text, but it definitely merits its length. I especially enjoyed the sections about the engineering involved in just getting the thing built, and the lengths that the workers were willing to go to fulfill their duty. Imagine how hard it would be to build a suspension bridge, then imagine doing it during the 1870's. Many of their contraptions were pure genious. So, while the book is not as ubiquitous as 1776 or John Adams, I would definitely recommend it for anyone with an engineering bent. If you don't get around to reading it, I can give you the details on your next trip to NYC. :)
Disclaimer: None.

Blink

Title: Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking
Author: Malcom Gladwell
Genre: Non-fiction phsychology/behavioral science
Pages: 320
Rating (out of 5 stars): ****
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: Gladwell sets out to examine how our brain reacts when there is not time to completely analyze the facts. He finds, counter-intuitively, that decisions made on the spur of the moment, with less than full information, can often be better than deliberate, well-informed choices.
Thoughts: I loved this book. I enjoyed it more than Freakonomics (see review below), and in my opinion his findings are even more surprising than Levitt and Dubner's are. In Blink, we learn about a curator who was able to glance at a sculpture and identify it, correctly, as a fraud, even after all of the scientific testing showed it to be authentic. We also meet a tennis coach who could always tell when a player was about to double-fault (20 times out of 20), but didn't know how he knew it. There are dozens of other examples. Perhaps what I liked most about the book was that it wasn't just a one-sided argument that in-the-blink-of-an-eye decisions are best. In fact, he spends a lot of time telling about people who make the wrong instantaneous decision. Instead of focusing just on his interesting findings, Gladwell tells us when to trust our instincts, and when we should doubt them.
Disclaimer: There is one section of the book that has the transcript of a crime taking place. There are several serious swear words in this part. Other than that, it is clean.

Freakonomics

Title: Freakonomics
Author: Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
Genre: Non-fiction Economics
Pages: 336
Rating (out of 5 stars): ***
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: A self-proclaimed "rogue economist" refuses to accept commonly accepted beliefs, instead using raw data and economic methods to draw surprising conclusions about various aspects of life. For example, he uses a person's name to predict their probability of being successful in life, he shows that drug dealers don't make nearly as much money as we would expect them to, and essentially proves that sumo wrestling matches are often fixed.
Thoughts: I actually listened to this book on CD (thanks, Dan) about a year ago, and I really enjoyed it quite a bit. When I listened to it I was in my senior year of my economics undergrad, so much of what he talked about was familiar to me, which was both a pro and a con. It was good because I could appreciate where he was coming from a bit more, but at the same time I think I was kind of missing the surprise factor that most people get because I'd actually heard of some of his conclusions in a few of my classes. However, there were several sections of the book that were completely fascinating and surprising to me (especially the chapter on parenting). Overall, this book is as enjoyable as economics gets (unless you're an econ nerd like me), so I highly recommend it.
Disclaimer: None.

Speaker for the Dead

Title: Speaker for the Dead
Author: Orson Scott Card
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 416
Rating (out of 5 stars): ***1/2
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: Number two in the "Ender" series, this book tells the story of what happens to Ender following the great battle. It is mostly about Ender's quest to redeem himself for having completely destroyed an entire alien race.
Thoughts: So, my co-worker lent me this one as well, and since I enjoyed Ender's Game I went ahead and read it. Overall, I enjoyed Speaker more than book 1, mostly because I think the characters in this novel are richer and drive the plot more. There is less action, but a lot more mystery, which suits my taste. While there is a heavy dose of sci-fi, this doesn't really drive the plot at all. As with Ender's Game, Speaker for the Dead gets the extra half-star for just being great storytelling.
Disclaimer: None.

Ender's Game

Title: Ender's Game
Author: Orson Scott Card
Genre: Sci-fi
Pages: 324
Rating (out of 5 stars): ***1/2
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: Earth was attacked by aliens 70 years ago, and mankind fears that the aliens will attack again. So they put together a battle school of the brightest youth to prepare for the battle, and Ender emerges as the brightest and most talented. The plot then follows his progress until the big battle with the aliens.
Thoughts: Okay, I'm not much of a science fiction type of person. I can't think of the last sci-fi book I read, to tell you the truth. So I was kind of skeptical when my co-worker lent me this book and insisted that I read it. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. It's not life-changing or anything like that, but it moved very quickly and was a lot of fun to read. There are some deeper themes in the book, but I didn't really find any of them relevant to my life. So, it gets the extra half star for being a really enjoyable read.
Disclaimer: There are a few swear words in this book, but nothing more.

My Name is Asher Lev

Title: My Name is Asher Lev
Author: Chaim Potok
Genre: fiction
Pages: 384
Rating (out of 5 stars): *****
Reviewed by: Jenn
Description: Asher Lev is a Jewish boy in Brooklyn who has an incredible gift for art. Unfortunately, in his culture, artistic talent is viewed as futile at best and a curse from the "other side" at worst. His father is a very observant and dedicated Jew, and he especially finds Asher's "gift" revolting. Asher then has to struggle between his art and his religion, and he feels very strong pulls from both sides of the battle.
Thoughts: This is probably the most compelling book I have read in over a year. I felt helplessly drawn to it, almost like Asher is helplessly drawn to his art. It provides a glimpse into the life of a real artist who honestly can't help but be true to the art that is crying out from within him, despite traditions he might break and people he might hurt. For me, it was an excellent dialogue about the relationship between religion and any sort of passion (I have often wondered about similar conflicts, e.g. Can Mormonism and Thoreau's transcendentalism mesh?). It definitely had me torn. I read, eagerly hoping that Asher would be able to reconcile the dichotomy, not only for his sake but for my own peace of mind as well. The book also provided an interesting perspective on family, Christianity, and friendship.
Disclaimer: This book has some discussion about painting nudes. In my opinion, it was done tastefully enough, but don't say I didn't warn you. Nothing else is offensive.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Title: For Whom the Bell Tolls
Author: Ernest Hemingway
Genre: War/Classic/"Lost Generation"
Pages: 495
Rating (out of 5 stars): ****
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: Robert Jordan is an American expatriate fighting in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) for the Republicans (the rebels attempting to overtake the government). For Whom the Bell Tolls follows Jordan for 4 days behind enemy lines as he works with a guerilla band to blow a bridge. The plot explores the tensions that war creates between loyalty, courage, fear, love, and friendship.
Thoughts: Hemingway is definitely on my list of top 5 writers, so I was bound to like this book from the first. If you are looking for an introduction to Hemingway, I'd suggest A Farewell to Arms over For Whom the Bell Tolls, but that is mostly because A Farewell to Arms is more universal in its appeal. For Whom the Bell Tolls is harsh and frank, which is what I most like about Hemingway in general. I was impressed with how the plot deals with tough issues (such as how loyal a soldier must be to The Cause) through normal conversation and the stream-of-consciousness thoughts running through the character's minds. Another aspect of the book that I thoroughly enjoyed was how Hemingway writes in English but makes the spoken sentences Spanish-sounding. Essentially, he translates the Spanish directly word for word rather than for meaning, adding a realistic foreign flavor to the book.
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, this book deserves a strong caution. It is a war book, and so there is a fair amount of ruthless gore involved. There is also some swearing (more if you know Spanish--Hemingway doesn't translate most of the words). Lastly, there are a few intimate scenes, which, in my opinion, Hemingway deals with delicately enough not to be offensive.

Seedfolks

Title: Seedfolks
Author: Paul Fleischman
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 69
Rating (out of 5 stars): ***1/2
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: This novella tells the story of how a garden in the middle of Cleveland brings together people of all races and ages. Each of the thirteen chapters is written in the voice of a different person who happens upon the garden.
Thoughts: If you ever want a good, short dose of goodness in literature form, pick this book up. I highly recommend it. Jenn read it to her seventh graders, so it is written on their level, but I found the story compelling, moral, and fun all at the same time. You have to admire Fleischman's ability to tell each character's story within the larger story of the garden. I think that it's a great piece of prose.
Disclaimer: Of course, this book is utterly clean. :)

Letters to a Young Poet

Title: Letters to a Young Poet
Author: Rainer Maria Rilke
Genre: Philosophy
Pages: 109
Rating (out of 5 stars): **1/2
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: During 1903, Rilke had some correspondence with a young poet who was attending university and wanted advice on how to be a good poet. The book has ten letters written by Rilke with advice on how to be an artist and find inner truth.
Thoughts: If you know much about poetry, you've probably run across Rilke sometime. If you don't (like me), you might look him up here. Many say he is the greatest German-language poet of the 20th century. This very short book has his advice on how to discover that talent within yourself to write or create other forms of art. I found the book at times too abstract for me to understand, but there were certain parts that certainly resonated with me very much. It was definitely a worthwhile read, although I'm not a deep enough person to understand all of what it was about. The best quote: "The point is, to live everything."
Disclaimer: None.

On the Street Where You Live

Title: On the Street Where You Live
Author: Mary Higgins Clark
Genre: Mystery
Pages: 432
Rating (out of 5 stars): ***
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: Emily Graham justed moved to Spring Lake, NJ from upstate New York where she had been victimized by a stalker. She was looking forward to being able to relax in her new home, which just happened to be her great-great grandmother's. But, no sooner does she arrive than she begins receiving more scary letters and photographs. She soon learns that a murder is about to take place and she must stop it!
Thoughts: While Jenn was teaching a unit on mystery novels to her 7th graders last year I checked this book out on CD mostly because I'd heard of Mary Higgins Clark but had never read any of her novels. I was not at all disappointed in this book, and I think Clark justly has a good reputation. Almost every character in the book had a motive to commit the murder, and I was very drawn into the plot's twists and turns. By the end of the book I was completely engrossed in the mystery, and was sufficiently surprised at the outcome. At times I felt that the plot could have moved a bit faster, but overall I really enjoyed it.
Disclaimer: As with most murder mysteries, there is a bit of gore, but nothing more.

Tending Roses

Title: Tending Roses
Author: Lisa Wingate
Genre: Domestic fiction
Pages: 336
Rating (out of 5 stars): ***
Reviewed by: Jenn
Description: Katie, a new mom on her maternity leave, gets assigned to take her husband and baby to live with her grandmother who has recently had a stroke and is not safe to leave alone. At first Kate dreads the assignment to live with her blunt, seemingly harsh and nit-picky grandmother. She is also stressed out about money, and her marriage is suffering. But as Kate sneaks peeks into her grandmother's journal, she learns subtle lessons and eventually transforms her entire take on life, family, and priorities. The extended family, which was falling apart, is also benefitted and patched together, thanks to Grandma Rose's lessons.
Thoughts: Most of the members of my book club felt that Tending Roses, if nothing else, made them want to be a better person. While reading this book, I found myself avoiding harsh words, worrying less, appreciating what I have, and viewing my family as the most important part of my life. That should be reason alone to read it! Wingate brings out several themes that I agree are crucial in life, most importantly, "maybe you should start wanting less." The characters in this book are well-developed and easy to relate to. The only thing that bothered me was that in her attempt to teach life's great morals and lessons, Wingate gets pretty sentimental, if not preachy. But hey, sometimes it's a lot easier to let someone tell you flat-out what the moral of the story is!
Disclaimer: I personally didn't find this book offensive at all. There are a few "H" and "D" words, and a mention of a married couple's lovemaking, luckily with no details.

The Big Sleep

Title: The Big Sleep
Author: Raymond Chandler
Genre: Crime/Mystery/Detective
Pages: 231
Rating (out of 5 stars): ***1/2
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: The first of the Philip Marlowe stories, The Big Sleep, follows the story of a private detective (Marlowe) on a case involving murder, blackmail, and a millionaire. Set in the late 1930's in the seamy side of Los Angeles.
Thoughts: I've got to rate The Big Sleep pretty high up there on the mystery/detective list of books I've read. Chandler's writing is definitely in the classic detective style: short, spare sentences, attention to detail, and plenty of plot twists. A sample:

"I had a room and half on the seventh floor at the back. The half-room was an office split in two to make reception rooms. Mine had my name on it and nothing else, and that only on the reception room. I always left this unlocked, in case I had a client, and the client cared to sit down and wait.

"I had a client. "

At any rate, this book was very entertaining, fast moving, and had enough twists to get you tied in knots here and there. Marlowe is a bit like an American version of James Bond; less suave, grittier, and just enough luck to stay alive.

If you don't want to take the time to read the book, it was made into a movie with Humphrey Bogart. Jenn and I both think that the book is quite a bit better, though.
Disclaimer: This book is not G-rated. Like Bond, Marlowe has the opportunity to be a little promiscuous, but luckily has high enough morals to say no (unlike Bond). A nude photograph of a woman is used for blackmail. There is some swearing. There is plenty of smoking and drinking.

Suggestions, please?

We would love your recommendations for books to read! Please leave a comment on this post with any suggestions you have. Also, if you have read any of the books reviewed and would like to leave a comment, feel free to do so! Happy reading!

Dead Man's Folly

Title: Dead Man's Folly
Author: Agatha Christie
Genre: Mystery
Pages: 240
Rating (out of 5 stars): ***
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: A Hercule Poirot mystery, Dead Man's Folly is classic Christie. There is a murder at a party, and practically everyone has a possible motive. Only Poirot can sort out all the details and find the murderer!
Thoughts: If you are looking for pure mystery, this is a great book to read. While I don't think it is quite as good as some as Christie's most famous books, it really drew me in and kept me entertained all the way through.
Disclaimer: None.

Brave Companions

Title: Brave Companions: Portaits in History
Author: David McCullough
Genre: Historical Essays
Pages: 232
Rating (out of 5 stars): ****
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: A collection of essays about historical figures that McCullough feels make "brave companions." Included in the collection are essays on Louis Agassiz, Harriet Beacher Stowe, Alexander Von Humboldt, Frederic Remington, Theodore Roosevelt, the Lindbergh's, and the builders of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Thoughts: McCullough is easily my favorite historical author (not that I've read many others, I guess) and this is the third book of his that I've read. The subtitle "Portaits in History" is really the best description of this book, as McCullough does a fine job of painting the lives of these lesser-known figures while adding his own touch to the narrative. Each of the essays was completely intriguing to me and, even better, I came away feeling smarter than I did before at the same time! Really, I would recommend anything by McCullough; he is a master of the discriminating use of detail, which makes the history lesson read like a novel.
Disclaimer: None.

The Pit

Title: The Pit: A Story of Chicago
Author: Frank Norris
Genre: Early 20th Century Muckraker Novel
Pages: 416
Rating (out of 5 stars): ****
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: Follows the life of the protagonist, Laura Dearborne, and her relationship with her husband.
Thoughts: The description is very short because I don't want to give too much away about what happens in the plot. Suffice it to say that this is a book all about how your career can take over your life if you aren't careful. It was especially interesting to me because it is all about "the pit," which is the Chicago Board of Trade (like the game of the same title). There's something very compelling, competitive, and consuming about betting on trades in the market. This book tells the story of how the Pit almost ruined a man and his wife. It made me think about my career choices and what I really want in life.
Disclaimer: None at all.

The Magician's Nephew

Title: The Magician's Nephew
Author: C.S. Lewis
Genre: Children's Fantasy
Pages: 202 quick ones
Rating (out of 5 stars): ***
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: The first in The Chronicles of Narnia series, this book was actually written after all of the others were. It gives the back story behind how Narnia came to be, and how the wardrobe become a portal to it.
Thoughts: Lewis' ideas behind Narnia are extremely creative, and the Christian allegory throughout the Narnia series definitely shows through in this book. I have to say it was highly entertaining, although I didn't find it quite as compelling as The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. A great read if you are looking for something light, fast, and wholesome.
Disclaimer: None.