I'm Looking Through You: Jennifer Finney Boylan

One of those books you don't want to put down even when you have a small kitchen fire. The dry humor is very much like Sedaris, whom I also love and Burroughs. It's a memoir of growing up and being afraid of becoming who you are without being ostracized. The entire time I thought her sister died tragically, but what really happened was much more heartbreaking. At least she is optimistic that her sister will one day wish to see her. I enjoyed how the story wasn't told linearly and bounced between times as memories lead the way. A must read, I am searching for the other books now.

A Stolen Life: Jaycee Dugard

A very sad story about the creeps in the world and how a little girl grew strength after 18 years of physical and mental abuse. It is written so well that you completely understand how she felt and thought. I know interviewers always ask "why didn't you just leave" but she was 11 when she was kidnapped. She wasn't a strong willed woman, she was used to asking permission for everything. Inspiring, yet very very sad.

Death of An Expert Witness: P.D. James

I don't know why Iwas so flabbergasted this was written by a woman, the voice was very manly, I guess. To the point and void of female emotion. A very good read since you can't predict who is responsible for the murders

Perfect: Natasha Friend

Another great, tear jerking read for teens. A girl suffers from bulimia in an attempt to deal with her life after her dad dies and the family falls apart.

The Principles of Uncertainty: Maira Kalman

This was on a book list somewhere and I put a hold on it at the library not knowing what to expect (I find the best things that way) It ended up being a cute little book of musings on life- including pictures, which left me feeling inspired and cheerful. An uplifting little bitty.

Dragonwyck: Anya Seton

A Gone With The Wind sort of book, without the powerful emotion. A farm girl grows up wanting more from life than cows and plows and gets the opportunity to live with wealthy family to care for their little girl. She ends up falling in love with her cousin who then murders his wife and marries her. She realizes she doesn't understand him and figures out the murder. He foils her plans for escape and then does the unlikely. A sad dark novel.

Go With Me: Castle Freeman Jr.

An amusing story in the way that it is written. A young woman is being terrorized by the town thug and decides to fight back, the sheriff claims there is nothing he can do for her since there is no proof it was the thug and sends her to see the old guys in the town. As the unlikely trio go on a wild goose chase to find this man the story is told by a bunch of old men reminiscing, catching the readers up on who the characters are and how things operate. A surprising outcome, though you see it developing. A satisfying read.

Dead Water Zone: Kenneth Oppel

A good quick read for teens about growing up and growing away from your family and finding your own place- in a way. Paul's younger brother does some work for a laboratory testing the water when he discovered its mysterious properties, which he wants to use to better himself. Paul tries to stop him getting himself into trouble in the process.

The Shadow of the Wind: Carlos Ruiz Zafon

I loved this book, one of those true classics you want to read again. I t makes you feel like you have found a mysterious gift, like the Never Ending Story when I was a kid. A little boy stumbles across a book he can't put down and discovers it has a dark past. He decides to track down anything he can about the deceased author after getting a visit from a mysterious man about buying the book. I loved Daniel with his sarcastic wit no one seems to understand. The ending was hinted at as the book progresses, so it is not one of those surprise endings,l but still fulfilling and very enjoyable.

Bounce: Natasha Friend

Another superb book by this author, I hate the way they make me cry though! A 13 yr old's dad remarries suddenly and uproots her and her brother to live with the woman and her six kids. Sad, but realistic as well as uplifting.

The Absolutely true diary of a Part-time Indian: Sherman Alexie

A very good, very heartbreaking read written in a way that you are laughing while reading of one boy's misfortunes. One boy compares life on the rez to a white man's life and breaks out of the cycle to become an amazing writer.

Grave's End: Elaine Mercado

A chillingly good read, makes me remember disturbances in my childhood home. A couple and their two children move into a new house filled with spirits. One thing I didn't understand was when they got the house cleansed the miners were able to travel through the house, but not the addition potions of the house- explained by the addition not being there when the miners were alive. However the house wasn't there when the miners were buried, it was moved by one of the previous owners from around the corner.

Lush: Natasha Friend

An excellent teenage book about growing up in a family that is seemingly perfect from the outsiders prospective, though the father is an alcoholic and the mother is an enabler. The story deals with the typical teenage issues of peer pressure and adolescent friends, but focuses on the destructive parents.

California Angel: Nancy Taylor Rosenberg

Corny

Interest Of Justice: Nancy Taylor Rosenberg

Interesting title, with the double meaning of interest. I enjoyed the book even with the disturbing crime, but the attempts at romance seem unnecessary and awkward. The author was clever on concealing who the pervert was while hinting it could have been several people. A judge is searching for a pedophile among her friends responsible for killing her sister and brother-in-law. She never suspected her own friend.

Love You More: Lisa Gardner

An excellent story with so many twists and turns that you can't predict what is going to happen. I was actually surprised that the little girl was still alive in the end. I also don't know what took so long for the bomb to go off if they walked forever to get to it, but she and the trooper had time to get back to the van and wait? Still a fantastic story and well written with emotion and suspense.

The Almond: Nedjme

An astonishing book about life as a Muslim woman, though I understand the need for it to be written under a pseudonym, I wish there still wasn't that fear, that men can do whatever they want- honor killings. The boldness of anger expressed is surprising, yet uplifting that she hasn't lost her soul, or the person she is hasn't been buried by her experiences. The path she chooses is incredible as it is heartbreaking, a must read.

The Year of Fog: Michelle Richmond

A terribly sad book that kept me crying throughout. The author is able to make you feel the protagonist's pain and guilt, but the way she handles it at the end so understandingly, is uplifting. A woman is at the beach with her fiance's daughter when the little girl disappears. The fiance believes his daughter must have drowned and holds a funeral service, but almost a year later the woman is still searching for her. The book is about not only how love changes, but the depth of love as well. I understand why the man didn't want to see her anymore, due to his guilt of believing his daughter dead, but the woman is left with no one at the end.

Flesh and Bone: Jefferson Bass

Didn't enjoy this book and couldn't get into it. The cheesy attempts at humor and a likable protagonist were too unnatural and force. The characters are criminal investigators and one turns up dead, he has to solve the mystery before he is blamed for the murder.

Highgate Rise: Anne Perry

Another clever book, Charlotte and her sister emily nosey and investigate the murder (arson) of the doctor's wife. I liked that it wasn't predictable.

The Cater Street Hangman: Anne Perry

Another clever mystery by Perry, though I am reading them out of order, I think this is her 1st of the series. A Victorian era daughter gets inquisitive about a series of murders in her town, more precisely on her street. After losing her sister to the murderer at large she get caught up in the web and gets rescued by her fiance/policeman.

Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: Al Franken

Not a book I would normally pick up, I am not into political debates, but this book was hilarious.

Snowbound: Blake Crouch

I am really enjoying this author, he can write about such diverse topics and in a fast paced exciting way. This one is a must read. A mother goes missing one night and after being accused of her murder, the husband and daughter go into hiding. Five years later they get a lead on the possible killer and head off to Alaska...