original post: January 18, 2006 ("Book review #1...memories")

At the request of some loyal readers...well, actually, it was Clark...I am going to include book reviews on my blog so you too might read what I read! Think of it as the yin to Deb's yang (food reviews). I have read hundreds of books over the years, whether it is for school or for my own entertainment, so I'll give you a quick list of some of my favorite books. Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Running With Scissors, Dry, and Magical Thinking, by Augusten Burroughs: these books are extremely funny, but very sad...until you think of it in the perspective of the author---it's the only life he's ever known, so how is it wrong to him when that's how he was raised? Hmmm...food for thought. His fiction book is good too: Sellevision.
2. Me Talk Pretty One Day, Naked, Dress Your Family in corduroy and Denim, by David Sedaris: three words--he is funny. This is one of those books about stories from one person's life/family/job/etc. that will have you laughing out loud. Be prepared for some stares if you read this in a quite place, i.e. the library or a coffee-shop.
3. Any of the books by Bill Bryson: he's from Iowa, lived in England for 20+ years, then came back to the States, and now is back in the U.K. His humor is quietly witty--much like a stoic farmer from the Midwest, or a stoic farmer from Yorkshire. Some of his books are about trips he's taken, some are collections of essays, some are educational. All are excellent!
4. The Namesake, by J. Lahiri (I think)...excellent novel if you like books that address any sort of Indian themes (dot, not feather).
5. White Teeth, by Zadie Smith: set in London, this book is a long read (almost 700 pages!) about cross-cultural issues. Excellent read, but takes a while to get through.

Those are all that I can remember off of the top of my head. Be sure to check back in the future for further book reviews!