What I've been reading lately

[blue_lotus13]

1. THe Girl who stopped swimming by Joshilyn Jackson- In this gothic type novel, a woman is haunted by the ghost of her daughter's dead best friend, and discovers the friend has drowned in the pool. What happens is part thriller, part ghost story, part character study. I really liked this book.

2. Gotcha by Shelley Hrdlitscha- This teen novel about a bead game was a quick read that really sucked me in. Teens started off trying to steal each other's beads, but it ended up being a story about betrayal and friendship.

3. Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler- A sequel to Parable of the Sower. The characters continue to try to create a new society in an apocalyptic world. Not my favourite, but still pretty good.

4. Any Women's Blues by Erica Jong- I like the carnality of Erica's writing, but found this book to be very predictable. As a somewhat obsessive person, I could relate to some of the characters. All of Jong's writing seems to be autobiographical, as well.

5. Tweaked by Katherine Holubitksy- Another teen novel. This one is narrated by the brother of a meth addict. The book was a little "after school special" for my taste, but I did appreciate how the book concentrated on how one person's addiction could cause a family to fall apart. A quick read that kept me up late at night.

6. The Hot Topic- by Sir David King and Gabrielle Walker- A book about the science behind climate change, read for review because I got it for free. Definitely not my favourite book on climate change, and I wouldn't recommend it because there are better ones out there.

7. Personal history by Katharine Graham- I listened to this as a book on tape, read by Katharine Graham. I thought it was excellent, and was quite moved by her autobiography and personal triumphs. I'd easily recommend this one, especially to anyone interested in history or journalism.

8. China Road by Rob Gifford- Rob Gifford, a journalist for NPR, travels Route 312 from Shanghai to Western China. I really liked this book. Gifford delved into the history and character of the Chinese, and shared a lot of interesting tidbits.

9. Dance Naked by Shelley Hrdlitschka- A book about a teen girl struggling with pregnancy and adoption. A quick read, but not particulary remarkable.


I started reading "Cryptonomicon" but couldn't get into it enough. However, I did like Stephenson's writing style. Could anyone recommend one of his books to me? I'd prefer something shorter, and with a more defined plotline.

In non-reading news, I'm watching Season 3 of "Lost" on DVD, and am impressed with the season so far.