"Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls" and "When You Are Engulfed in Flames" by David Sedaris

Dear Readers,
A curious thing happens when people find out that you love reading. They start giving you their favorite books and forcing you to read them. Truth be told I was not forced to read these books as I have never been forced to read anything in my life. I was however give them by a co-worker to read.
Both of the books were written by the interesting and strangely funny David Sedaris. He has taken strange stories from his own life and told them in a manner that makes them comical. Normally there is nothing funny about a worm living in someones leg, buying a human skeleton, or living in a boarding home with a few crazy people but his voice makes them laughable.
It is nice to dive into someone else's life realize that you and your family are not the only crazy people on the planet. His stories actually make me feel a little more normal. That is probably the result of his numerous and different experiences.
I like to think that I have done a lot in my short life, but reading stories like David Sedaris's makes me realize I have done nothing yet. Through his scattered accounts you can piece together his interesting life. He has lived almost everywhere and done almost everything.
In one of his stories he actually talks about how he likes diving into other peoples lives. He received a call from a phone company trying to sell him their newest model, and after saying he was uninterested he began a conversation with the operator. It reminded him of the time he had a pen pal. That is what these stories remind me of. Having a pen pal who tells you numerous interesting stories. The best part is you don't have to think up interesting stories to send back.
They are both wonderful books I would recommend to anyone. Especially those who have tired of monogamous fiction books. These stories are short and refreshing. They jump from country to country and decade to decade. They will surely keep anyone's interest and leave you wanting more.
Lindsey

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquirel

Dear Readers,
Food and reading make up my existence. If I am not cooking or eating then I am surely reading. When I find books that both embody my passion for cooking and reading I get very excited. Like Water for Chocolate is the story of Tita, a women who lives to cook.
From the day of her birth Tita was in the kitchen. She was comforted by the smells of a cooking soup and the warmth of the oven. Her Aunt taught her the magic of cooking and from then on Tita was responsible for most of the cooking in the house.
Each chapter of the book and of Tita's life starts out with a new recipe. These recipe mark important events in her life. Her first love, her sisters wedding, her other sister elopement, many deaths, and many births. Her story is filled with up and downs in the meals that accompany them.
The book was originally written in Spanish and I believe a little of it was lost in translation. It reminds me of the numerous stories I read in high school Spanish class. There is a little disconnect in the English version. The magic the book speaks of reminds me of Mexican or Native American folk tales.
It is a very interesting book that tied together my love or food and reading. Tita's story is one of love for others and for the kitchen. I would highly recommend it!
Read on!
Lindsey

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Dear Readers,
This book had been getting such reviews that I thought I must read it. I liked it, but it was not the best thing since sliced bread. For a young adult book it was okay. It was cute. The characters were kind of interesting and the plot was intriguing enough to keep me reading it. I did not feel a instant attraction to it though. For me it was just okay.
The main characters have cancer. So it is a cancer book although it tried not to be. It's sad. People with cancer die and when you become attached to characters their deaths are sad.
People say they really loved the characters and here is where I mostly get lost. I liked the characters. They were funny at times, but at others they were cliche teenagers. The thing that really turned me off about the main female character was when she said V for Vendetta was a guy movie. Seriously could that me anymore of a stupid teen girl thing to say. I have not read other John Green books so I can not say this for sure but it felt like he did not know teen girls at all. The main girl was just very stereotypical. The main male character was cool, but he was just a teenage boy in love, something I have read many times.
Over all okay. Just like in the book they use okay instead of love or always my reaction to the book is okay.
Lindsey

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

Dear Readers,
Recently I am finding things not intended to be comical, funny. This book is included in that category. In the book store it was under the Horror section, but that is not very accurate. Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter is a wonderful mash up of a historical biography and a horror/fantasy book.
The book starts out with 6 old leather bound journals and various other old documents given to a young store owner in Illinois. These journals turn out to be Abraham Lincoln's account of his vampire hunting days.
When Abe was a young boy he watched his mother die. She was murdered by a vampire when given a small amount of vampire blood. Abe was furious. He was filled with a strong hatred for the creatures that murdered his beloved mother. While Abe grew so did his hatred. He researched, planned, and prepared to kill vampires. He first attempt was not successful. In fact if it had not been for the help of another vampire he would not have survived.
Abe was knocked out in the fight and when he awakes he finds himself in an underground house. Henry Sturges introduces himself. Abe finally puts two and two together and comes to the conclusion that Henry is a vampire he tries to move and escape but it too weak and also is restrained. Once well and in less of a rage Abe is released from his restraints. Henry begins to teach him the proper way to hunt and kill vampires. He sends Abe off with his new skills and promises to send him names of those how need to be visited.
When the first names come he sets off to kill. The names continue to come and Abe continues to hunt.
The book follows Abe through his life. He meets the love of his life, then she meets an untimely death. Again Abe falls in love. He is married. He also begins his study of law and politics.
The book follows Lincolns life very accurately with many events and actions explained by his drive to ride the world of the creatures that take so many loved ones from him. When Lincoln finally becomes president and begins the civil war it is explained that he is doing so to win the war against vampires who intend to take over the U.S. The vampires have allied themselves with the Southern Slave Traders with promises of freedom when they enslave humanity. Of course the book ends with Abe's murder, but it is explained that John Wilkes Both is a vampire.
This mash up of two genres that really should never work together is fantastic. Seth Grahame-Smith writes with such accuracy it makes you almost believe that Abraham Lincoln really could have been a vampire hunter.
Lindsey

My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok

Dear Readers,
This book makes me want to be an artist, a desire that is not common to me. I enjoy life, but normally have no desire to put what I see onto canvas. Painting and drawing can only capture one sense (not even my favorite sense). My Name is Asher Lev made painting more interesting. It made it into something I almost wanted to try. Almost.
I must again say this book was different than what I thought it was going to be. I find that is true about most books, which means I need to stop judging them before reading. In my defense I heard many book review and such high praise about this book that it altered my view before reading. The book lived up to the praise. In many ways it actually exceeded my expectations.
Again I did something with this book that I do with too many. I thought the book was above me and it was going to be hard to read. For some reason when people tell me that books are great and have a deep meaning it translates to difficult and boring. Asher Lev, the narrator of the book, turned out to be very personable and well spoken without be lofty.
Asher Lev was from a Jewish family in New York. His father and mother came from very important Jewish families. Asher was next in line to be very important. Instead of following his father into working for the rebbe he fell in love with art. From a young age he was said to have a gift. He would paint or draw everything he saw. His father did not approve. Many times he was told to stop this silliness and grow up. Asher was told that God did not approve of his drawing and it was a sin to continue on with something so childish. The rebbe however had different ideas.
The rebbe says Asher is to learn to paint. He is to be taught by a prominent Jewish artist. While studying the different types of art Asher learns to turn his passion and raw talent into beauty.
What else can I say but read it?
Enjoy!
Lindsey  

God is Dead by Ron Currie Jr.

Dear Readers,

Ron Currie Jr. is an interesting author. I enjoyed all of the books I read of his. Everything Matters was my favorite. I found meaning and incite in that book. His other books I have read intrigue me and make me think, but I am not exactly sure what to say about them.
God is Dead was good but quite horrifying to me. To some who are not religious and not believe in a God this book may not seem horrifying, but to those who find purpose in religion it might send a shock wave through their beliefs. Thinking about what would happen if something you believed in your whole life suddenly stops being true is a real mind trip.
I was raised in the Christian church. The Missouri Synod Lutheran Church to be more exact. When thinking about my religion it seemed to be a tall tower built off blocks. If one of the foundation blocks was suddenly removed the whole thing then seemed lucrative. Age has helped expand my beliefs and they are no longer restricted to tottering tower of blocks. Still thinking about what would happen if God was entirely removed from the world shook me.
The book is told from many different views; these views help show how all different sorts of people were affected. It unites the world and tears it apart at the same time. Suddenly everyone is in the same boat with no idea what the future holds. This should unify people, but instead violence breaks out. Then things keep going and people realize the they have to keep on living. Somehow the world keeps spinning. The unique stories in this book make you think about what happens to the human race after disasters of all types.
So many different points could be discussed from this book, but I really cannot do them all justice. Read the book and then you will see what I mean. It is a quick read. Short book, but it will provoke more thought than books triple its length.
Lindsey

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkekes

Dear Readers,
Romance and Chick-Lit are the comfort food of books. They are the bowl of chicken noodle soup on a cold day. They are the old baggy pair of sweat pants that you own. You love them because they are so comfortable, but you would never be caught dead in them in pubic. Something about the improbable stories sucks the reader in and even if they want to leave it won't let them. It doesn't matter if you know the end from the first page or if you have no emotional attachment to the characters, it is impossible to stop.
Perfect Chemistry was recommended to me a few years ago. I read a description of the book and thought 'hey that sounds like something I would like to read'. I instantly put it on my to-read book list. It has been on there for a while and I decided I should finally read it.
Perfect Chemistry was predictable and implausible like most teen romance novels. The plot was quick moving, almost to quick moving.The characters were slightly boring. A gang member who has a heart is not the most original character, and having him fall in love with the 'perfect' pretty girl with a hard family life was almost comical. The theme was pretty nonexistent, but I guess that is when you get from romance.
To young teen age girls living far from the big city and all of its bright lights the idea of a Mexican gang member with a soft side is probably very enticing. Just like pirates once where to love hungry ladies no where near the water. People have been gobbling up the same story forever. The bad guy falls for the good girl and she goes against everything she knows and falls for him. They both have secrets and they share them. They finally found someone to understand them and it was the complete opposite of who they thought it would be. Blah Blah Blah. It goes on and on.
Both of the main characters have secrets that they think make them special and set them apart. The pretty girl has a disabled sister and wack-a-doodle mother. She longs for something besides being perfect. The extremely hot bad boy gangbanger wants a quite life with no violence and safety for his family. They find each other thrown together and grudgingly they start to interact. A wall breaks down and they see each other for the first time. Its pretty much down hill from there. A cookie cutter romance novel.
I do give props to the author for actually killing a character. Some real suffering happened. Some people got the shit beaten out of them a few times. The gang violence wasn't all empty threats and missed bullets.
If you are looking for an escape you can find it here. It wasn't a long one for me. Only took me an afternoon to read, and then it was back to thinking about the very real mean Chicago street. Its cute. The ending is cute. I don't want to spoil it because there are so many possibilities.
Lindsey
P.S.
This book makes me happy because it makes me realize we are one step closer to this exciting future.
If gangsters can be love interests then they are on their way to being harmless just like pirates.