2009 Reading List
The Ruins Seems like people would be smarter, even though someone is speaking a different language. Oh well, it was a good fast read and I enjoyed it. (1/09)
The Shack Not to sure about this book. On one hand, it had some extremely emotional sections. On the other hand, as a Catholic, I was completely offended by the heretical spoutings of the author. I think it’ll be made into a “Christian” movie and make a ton. (1/09)
From a Whisper to a Scream Click on the link to read my review. Let’s just say, I didn’t enjoy this book. (2/09)
Night An Oprah book of the month that I didn’t read on her recommendation, but rather on Amazon.com’s recommendation. This book is short, but powerful. The human desire for life is incredible. (2/09)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo This book was originally written in Swedish and then translated to English . I’ve been reading the buzz about this book for a few months now. Not sure what the buzz was all about because unless you know about Sweden’s political/banking/infrastructure, you’ll be bored through quite a bit of this book. (3/09)
The Painted Veil This book was written quite a long time ago. I didn’t realize this when I checked it out from the library. It’s a pretty quick read. I don’t think it’s anything like the movie from what I could tell on the previews. (3/09)
The Long Emergency This book deals with peak oil, climate change, pandemic scenarios, and how each section of the US would fare once the days of “cheap oil” are over. Not for the faint of heart, or those who believe everything they read. 
I did learn quite a bit of information about Saudi Arabia, Greenland’s ice core samples, and the Bubonic Plague, so all in all, not a total waste of time. (3/09)
The Plot Against America This book could have been better written. I’m not happy with the way it ended. (3/09)
Life as We Knew It I really enjoyed this apocalyptic novel about an asteroid colliding with the moon. This book had “food for thought” (pun intended). 4/09
Roar of the Heavens This book had me up with nightmares Sunday night. We had a massive rainfall Saturday and woke up Sunday with flooding. This book recaptures the dramatic events that occured when Hurricane Camille hit the MS Gulf Coast in 1969 and also recaptures the events that happened in Nelson County, VA when Camille moved north east. This book is extremly well written and you feel the anguish and dispair of the survivors of Hurricane Camille. Thank God I didn’t read this as Hurricane Gustav/Ike was aimed at us. I would have had a stroke! (4/09)
The Worst Hard Time This book was pretty good as I had no idea the magnititude of devestation the Dust Bowl wreaked on the homesteaders. I also learned of the Russian/German immigrants to the TX panhandle and just why the Dust Bowl came into being. I’m glad I don’t have to eat salted & canned thistle! (4/09)
20 Minute Gardener: How to have the Garden of Your Dreams in 20 Minutes a Day: I picked this book up at the library. It was pretty lame and didn’t really give any concise information on exactly how you were supposed to have the garden of your dreams in 20 minutes a day, other than classifying weeds as a plant you want to keep, thereby eliminating weeding. At least I didn’t buy it. (5/09)
Better Off: Flipping the Switch of Technology: A young idealist leaves his modern life to willingly choose to live with an Amish like group of people for 18 months. I enjoyed this book, but more antidotes on their “learning things the hard way” would have made the book more enjoyable. While I yearn for simplicity, I find there’s not much yearning for no electricity. Just the thought of trying to sleep in August with no a/c is enough to give me nightmares! (5/09)
Church of Lies: This is the story of a woman who escaped the YFZ Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints. She helps other women escape as well. Some of this book was hard to believe, but, I don’t live in that type of society, so it’s hard to say whether or not she’s embellishing. (6/09)
My Enemy’s Cradle: A young Jewish woman tries to hide her identity under the nose of her enemies (the Nazis). This was a good read, could have been longer and had more details. I’m always amazed by the Nazis and the lenghts they went through to ensure a “pure” race. (6/09)
The Book Thief: Ever wonder what regular Germans were thinking while Hilter waged his war? This book is told through the lens of a young German girl who’s lost her mother and her brother. The foster family hides a Jew in their basement. Even though this is a YA read, it’s well written. I enjoyed it and encouraged Rhys to read it, though he declined. I think the content may have bored him as he is only 9 and doesn’t yet understand history. (6/09-7/09)
The Rising: Zombies, demonic possessions & end of the world together in one book. I read this while on a long weekend @ the coast and was mesmerized. I couldn’t put it down but in the end was seriously disappointed with the ending. Reviewers on Amazon think it’s better the author doesn’t pen a sequel, but I disagree. I’m “hungering” to know what happens! (7/09)
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince: This is a re-read to prepare for the movie. Nothing I like better than to complain that the director left out “my favorite part”. (7/09)
The City of the Dead: Part two of The Rising. Pretty good, another crappy ending. (7/09)
The Rising: Selected Stories from the End of the World: Short stories having to do with The Rising and a prequel story to the 13 book series based on “there are other worlds than these”. How very rude of him to rip off Stephen King. (7/09)
Next: I wonder just how much of this book about genetics and cloning is actually fact and how much is in the author’s imagination? (7/09)
The Keep: I’ve grown weary of zombies and have moved onto vampires. (7/09)
The Devil’s Queen: This is an historical fiction about Catherine de Medici who became Queen of France. I enjoyed this book and plan to do a bit of digging around online to research about her children. (9/09)
