Erik Larson: The Devil in the White City

Ready for the book club!!

Be sure to give it past 55 pages. That is when the story kicks in and you forget for a moment that you are reading a non-fiction text.

Fascinating and enjoyable, interesting and educational. Chicago locale, gruesome psychopathic killer....A time in history (Chicago's World Fair--late 1800s) that I didn't know about. It was a girthy text, but flew by once I got past the initial 55 pages.

Cormac McCarthy: The Road

Luckily the ending leaves the reader with a glimmer of hope.

Mette Harrison: Mira, Mirror

Not a Snow White tale. The magic mirror, who is an imprisoned sister to the witch who wanted to be "most beautiful,"is on a quest to end her imprisonment--no matter who gets in her way. Her journey becomes more complex when she meets two girls who embody an ideal sister relationship, and the strength of unconditional love is revealed to her.

Anthony Bourdain: Kitchen Confidential

The raunchier side of cuisine and the art of a chef. One of the coolest chapters is the "day in the life" in which Bourdain in choppy sentences dictates every detail of a day in the life of a chef. Really a fun read.

Remember--no garlic press, and you ONLY NEED ONE GOOD KNIFE!!

Bill Buford: Heat

A high-class account of Buford who was given the opportunity to work under Mario Batali (http://www.mariobatali.com/)--and learn and earn just a taste of what it takes to be a tremendous chef.

Mariah Fredericks: The True Meaning of Cleavage

Totally not what I was expecting. Interesting and unique protagonist, interesting freshmen dilemmas, very unique story of a friendship's path. Glad I read it.

Stephen Chbosky: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Started this this afternoon, and I just finished it.
So. Good. So. Amazing.

Carolyn Mackler: The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things

AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME!!!!!

Finally, a positive and unique teenage feminist!!!

SO GLAD I READ THIS!!!

Gail Carson Levine: Fairest

David Levithan: Boy Meets Boy