Currently reading
The 5th Wave
14
The Light Between Oceans: A Novel
The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It
Clockwork Princess
The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness
Love Medicine
Love Medicine: Newly Revised Edition
Beat the Reaper: A Novel
I finished listening to Josh Bazell's debut mystery Beat the Reaper. Bazell wrote this medical thriller while he was doing his medical residency at UCSF. If Bazell's description of what happens behind the scenes in a hospital is true, then we all better start taking our vitamins, because you do not want to be admitted to a hospital. Beat the Reaper is a story about Peter Brown, a doctor at a decrepit Manhattan hospital. Only before he was Peter Brown, he was Pietro Brwna, a Mafia hitman. This fast-paced thriller is edgy, suspenseful and comic in some places. I can see why this book has jumped to the bestseller list in just a few months. Can't wait to hear a sequel!
 - Josh Bazell, Robert Petkoff)
Regeneration
This World War I story focuses on a group of shell shocked British soldiers who are all patients at a psychiatric hospital in Scotland. It is an interesting way to portray the horrors of war. The reader gets snippets of some devastating scenes through the dialog between soldier and psychiatrist. Although the writing style is a bit stiff and detached, the impact is still strong. I would include this as another good anti-war book along with The Things They Carried and Catch-22.
The Wish List
Funny, upbeat story about a girl who after dying, is half-way between spending eternity in heaven or hell. She gets another chance on earth to hopefully send her heaven ward. Funny and sweet.
Younger Next Year for Women
Younger Next Year for Women is written by a doctor (Henry Lodge) and his patient (Chris Crowley). I found this book to be an easy read, very informative and I recommend it to anyone who is worried that the second half of our lives might not be as fun and rich as the first half (and guys - there is a version for men if you want to avoid topics like hot flashes). From this book I learned that the gradual decay that our society associates with aging - osteoporosis, stiffness, arthritis, dementia, etc - is NOT inevitable. As hunter/gatherers, our bodies were not designed to sit behind a desk and eat chocolate chip cookies. We need to exercise - ok here is the hard part - at least 6 times a week. Now this isn't new information, but Dr. Lodge presented enough explanation on how our bodies work, and the consequences of not exercising, to convince me to change my habits. I have been recommending this book to my family and friends - don't delay or decay! Read this book!
The Battle for Skandia (Ranger's Apprentice, Book 4)
Another great book in the Ranger's Apprentice series. If you are a fan of young adult fantasy with a medieval setting, you have got to listen to this series. Can't wait until the rest of his books get published in the US!
The Adventures Of Odysseus
Getting ready for that trip to Greece I picked this one up to read to Michael. The story was enjoyable enough that I'm going to listen to The Odyssey.
The Reader
The Reader was a book that I was hesitant to read. I had heard so much about how the plot revolves around the relationship between an adult woman and a 15 year old boy and I thought this would be another 'Lolita' experience - a book that you should read, but will make you uncomfortable. I loved this book! The story is so much more than the romance between Hanna and Michael. It wrestles with guilt and redemption, and the difficult issues of how a generation deals with the sins of its parents. Wow - definitely will leave you thinking. Great story and wonderful audio experience with Campbell Scott as narrator.
The Book of Unholy Mischief: A Novel
This is definitely my kind of book - historic fiction, set in Renaissance Venice, main character is a chef's apprentice, lots of food discussions, what was there not to like? The book also has an exciting plot, centering around a 'book' that tells the secrets of Christianity and what REALLY happened to Jesus. A bit of a Da Vinci code type story, but a bit lighter and less gory. Good for historic fiction buffs.
Poppy (Dimwood Forest Chronicles)
One of my favorite children's authors... Poppy is part of a series of books about the mice in Dimwood forest. The book is exciting and has wonderful characters from a brave field mouse named Poppy to a crabby old porcupine named Ereth. This was our family dinner book but it was so good that we read it whenever we found time to all sit together.
Young Bond: Silverfin - Book #1: A James Bond Adventure
First in the Young James Bond series. Fast action and surprisingly well written!
 - Charles Higson)
If Not Now, When? (Penguin Modern Classics)
Well written story about a group of Jews who band together to continue fighting the war as an outlaw group of partisans as they make their way towards Italy. Interesting that much of the content was so devasatating, yet told in such a dispassionate way. Still had a large impact.
Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives
Sum is a collection of 40 essays about what the Afterlife might look like. For example, in his title story Sum, everyone gets a chance to relive their lives, except with a different order, where similar activities are grouped together. So, you would spend 10 years straight just sleeping, or 5 days brushing your teeth and WAY too many days browsing on goodreads (but it would be fun!). His essays are so quirky and refreshingly creative - definitely food for thought.
Songs Without Words (Vintage Contemporaries)
I so much wanted to like this book. It takes place just a few miles from where I live, deals with daughters in high school, I was completely ready to fall in love with this book. But, I found the characters whiny and could not relate to the emotional swings or depression that swamped both the teenage and adult characters.
A Modest Proposal and Other Satirical Works (Dover Thrift Editions)
Humorous - great satire! Although I admit that I read this one to increase my % to goal on 1001 books to read before you die...
The 13 Clocks
This classic children's book is perfect for children and adults. Thurber's wit and humor will have you laughing out loud at this not-so-conventional fairy tale.
