Freedom by Johnathan Franzen

I so wanted to love this book. I would give this 2 stars out of 5. I really did not like any of the characters and when I finally thought it was going somewhere it was so predictable and disappointing I just didn't care anymore. Sad to say about a book that has been so highly reviewed in the past few months. If you'll recall Franzen created quite a stir about 10 years ago when he demanded that his book "The Corrections" be taken off of Oprah's book club. He didn't want the publicity. Funny how, 10 years later his book is on the Oprah book club and he's relishing in the publicity. I just wasn't a fan.

The Hammer of Eden by Ken Follett

A good thriller about a group of hippies that live in No. California that threaten the governor with causing earthquakes to happen if he doesn't stop the construction of a power plant in their valley. Meanwhile an FBI agent, Judy, is on the hunt for who exactly are the people who call themselves "The Hammer of Eden." True Follett style--loved it!

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Very good! This is a modern story mixed in with the story of a Jewish girl in France who is taken to the Vel d'Hiv in the July 1942 roundup of the Jews in Paris France. She locks her brother in a cabinet right before she leaves. I won't ruin the story, but it was not only educational for me but a great book.

I like books about WWII and the Holocaust. I never learned about this part of the war in school. It wasn't taught. It's mind blowing to know that there were people on Hitler's side in every country. :/

Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love by Larry Levin

What a touching memoir about a rescue doggy. The family thought that this dog was a pit bull but it turns out he is a Dogo. Oogy was used as a bait dog in dog fights when he was a little puppy. It's horrifying that this still happens and Oogy's case is not like many (he was rescued by a family willing to put in the time to rehabilitate him). Many of these dogs are euthanized because they are so aggressive. I will say that reading this book opened my eyes and does point out that pit bulls and other similar dogs have an unfair prejudice against them in many cases. I see that it can be nurture vs. nature now.

I want a puppy!!! :)

Unbearable Lightness by Portia de Rossi

This is Portia de Rossi's autobiography which is largely about her struggles with anorexia and binge eating. It was a quick read, very interesting and at times hard to imagine that she really got down to 85 pounds. There's a very disturbing picture of her with her bones sticking out. Luckily she did get help and managed to overcome this devastating disease.

2010 Book Summary List

I have not kept up with my blogging in the latter half of 2010--New Year's resolution to be more up to date in my blogging. Here is what I read in 2010: My top 10 favorites are in bold.

1. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (Book Club)
2. Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
3. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
4. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
5. The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson (Book Club)
6. Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri (Audio)
7. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
8. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (Audio)
9. The Girl who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
10. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson
11. The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
12. Balzac and the Little Seamstress by Dai Sijie (Audio)
13. La’s Orchestra Saves the World by Alexander McCall Smith (Audio)
14. Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger (Book Club)
15. Emma by Jane Austen
16. 13 ½ by Nevada Barr (Audio)
17. The Help by Katheryn Stockett
18. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (Audio)
19. A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
20. Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris (Audio)
21. Caught by Harlan Coben (Audio)
22. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
23. Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin
24. Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris (Audio)
25. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer
26. Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris (Audio)
27. The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler
28. Scout, Atticus and Boo: A Celebration of 50 years of To Kill a Mockingbird by Mary McDonagh Murphy
29. Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner
30. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley (Audio)
31. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (Book Club)
32. The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag by Alan Bradley (Audio)
33. The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
34. They Poured Fire on us from the Sky by Bensen Deng, Alephonsian Deng, and Benjamin Ajak (Book Club)
35. Gone for Good by Harlan Coben (Audio)
36. Mini-shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
37. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford (Audio)
38. Jackdaws by Ken Follett (Audio)
39. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks (Book Club)
40. An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris (Audio)
41. The Likeness by Tana French
42. Skinny Dip by Carl Hiassen (Audio)
43. Knit Two: A Friday Night Knitting Club book by Kate Jacobs
44. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson (Audio)
45. Room by Emma Donoghue (Audio)
46. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

BOOK CLUB 2010
1. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
2. The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson
3. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
4. Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger
5. Bee Season by Myla Goldberg (I listened to this in 2007.)
6. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
7. They Poured Fire on us from the Sky by Bensen Deng, Alephonsian Deng, and Benjamin Ajak
8. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky by Benson Deng, Alephonsian Deng and Benjamin Ajak

Book club pick for October

This is a non-fiction book about the Lost Boys of Sudan. In the late 80s, the Arabs invaded southern Sudan for religious reasons and for natural resources. The boys had to flee across Sudan into Ethiopia and eventually made their way to Kenya. This is 3 boys stories of their long journey.

We watched the movie "God Grew Tired of Us" to accompany our book club evening. This topic was so sad, but through it all these boys have remained hopeful and cheerful. Many have come to the US as refugees and are trying to build a life for themselves here.

Highly recommended.