The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I am so glad that I waited to really enjoy this novel. At first I was a little hesitant to read it and I had a hard time getting into the book, but I stuck with it and I'm so glad that I did. 

You become so attached to the characters in the Death-narrated novel that I actually found myself crying at the end. The story revolves around a young girl named Liesel, and the small German town she lives in during WWII. She is adopted by a family and they turn out to house a Jewish refugee named Max. The relationship between Liesel and Max, as well the one between Liesel and her best friend Rudy are what really make this book for me. The story is so original and poignant that you can't help but be drawn to it. A brilliant novel!

He's Just Not That Into You

He's Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo

Being a fan of Sex and the City, I was already familiar with the overall concept of the phrase "He's Just Not That Into You". After seeing the movie last week (and enjoying it immensely) I was curious to see how they transformed a self-help book into a fictional movie. I found the book to be a little condescending, but their overall theories and advice was fairly reliable. I think that some of their methods were a little repetitive at times, but I think the general message was good. I passed it along to a friend of mine (at least 3 wanted to borrow the book when I finished so I guess they have the right target audience.) 

The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl

The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl by Shauna Reid

This book was great! It was an uplifting, funny memoir, which are VERY hard to find these days. You really start to feel for Shauna and her plight to lose weight.Now I feel like I need to be better about being healthy and keeping myself in better shape. A great motivator for keeping your New Years Resolutions!

My Horizontal Life

My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler

What a hilarious romp of a memoir! Reading Chelsea Handler's collection of her one-night stands feels like a torrid night out with your girlfriends. You laugh, cringe, nod in agreement, and then feel like you need a night off. She is so genuinely frank that you can't help but like her. A fun memoir! 

The Good Thief

The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti

The only negative thing that I can say about this book is that it ended. With characters like Benjamin Nabb (a con-artist with a preference for extravagant tales), Ren (a one-handed orphan with a knack for thievery), and Dolly (a head-hunter who returns to life after Benjamin digs him up from the grave), who wouldn't want to get caught up in this very Dickensian novel?

Inkdeath

Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke

I'm in the middle of the final chapter in this magical series (the first two titles were Inkheart and Inkspell, respectively), and I must say that I am thoroughly enjoying it. The story continues with Meggie, Mo, Resa, and Farid all back in The Inkworld of Ombra, leaving Aunt Elinor back at her manor house with all of her prized books. Mo has taken on the character of The Bluejay, whom the author of Inkheart, Fenoglio, created with Mo in mind. This means that most of Mo's nights are spent helping the poor (think Robin Hood, but not exactly the same band of merry men). Their main goal in this final installment of the series is to resurrect Dustfinger as well as kill the evil king, the Adderhead, who has been made immortal by Mo's design- he has been written into immortality through a bound book. Will they be able to achieve all of this in the final chapters of the book? I hope so...

American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation

American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation by Jon Meacham

I'm reading this for a class I'm taking at school, and it is fascinating to see how the Founders of our nation were influenced by religion while creating our country and our constitution. Meacham is also the editor of /Newsweek/, which was another part of the class- we had to read the magazines each week- and the voice that he has in his book is very different from that of the articles he writes in the magazine.

If anyone is a fan of history, religion, or even the country—this book is a great idea for them.

Good Friday Kiss

Good Friday Kiss by Michelle Bitting

Poetry isn't normally my 'thing', but there was something about this book that made it impossible for me to not read it from cover to cover. The voice is so haunting, the images so vivid, and the flow of the poems is so fluid that you can't help but get drawn into it. A beautiful read!