Thursday, December 31, 2009

Books Read in 2009

1. The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom
2. Juno: The Shooting Script, Diablo Cody
3. To Own a Dragon, Donald Miller
4. Girl on the Couch, Lorna Martin
5. Reason for Hope, Jane Goodall
6. Find Me, Rosie O'Donnell
7. Jesus: A Story of Enlightenment, Deepak Chopra
8. Breakthrough: Discovering the Kingdom, Derek Morphew
9. Love the One You're With, Emily Giffin
10. Will Work From Home, Tory Johnson
11. Stepping Up, Beth Moore
12. Leaving Microsoft to Change the World, John Wood
13. The Undomestic Goddess, Sophie Kinsella
14. Matilda, Roald Dahl
15. Born Standing Up, Steve Martin
16. The Nonrunner's Marathon Guide for Women, Dawn Dais
17. A Thousand Acres, Jane Smiley
18. Confessions from an Honest Wife, Sarah Zacharias Davis
19. Unspoken, Francine Rivers
20. Finding Stefanie, Susan May Warren
21. Unafraid, Francine Rivers
22. Telegraph Days, Larry McMurtry
23. Redeeming Love, Francine Rivers
24. The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing, Melissa Bank
25. On Becoming Baby Wise, Gary Ezzo
26. Devil in the Details, Jennifer Traig
27. The Time Machine, H. G. Wells
28. So Many Books So Little Time, Sara Nelson
29. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, Gregory Maguire
30. Good Faith, Jane Smiley
31. An Anthropologist on Mars, Oliver Sacks

Monday, December 28, 2009

75. An Anthropologist on Mars

Neurologist Oliver Sacks has a talent for telling an entertaining anecdote based on neurological disorders. I liked this book, and each of the "paradoxical tales" was interesting. However, at times, Sacks was a bit too detailed in his descriptions of the disorders. It was good information, just something more like what you might read in a textbook. Other parts of the book were very entertaining, though. Some of the stories were really sad--the artist whose recent stroke led to brain damage that caused him to see only in black and white--others were more enjoyable. It is amazing all the human brain is capable of, even when seemingly "damaged." I would encourage others to read this book, but be prepared to wade through some information that might leave your brain hurting.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

15. Good Faith

Another Jane Smiley novel, and one I enjoyed immensely. Although I had started this book last winter, I only made it to page 145. Even after having to skim those pages again to remember the somewhat complex plot, I sailed through the rest of the novel in no time. The story is about 1980s real estate, love, and friendship--all of which balance on a concept called trust (i.e., good faith). Without giving away too much of the plot, it was predictable that the main character, Joe, would be undone by trusting too much in his new friend and real estate partner. However I think the overall concept of liking a flawed character resonates even within Joe himself, who is definitely not perfect in his own right (drugs, adultery), yet maintains the status of "average, okay guy" and even gains sympathy from the reader.