The Fountainhead ****

I decided to read this book finally because I'd heard about it from two distinct sources (a good friend and an excellent book on skepticism). A very fascinating view on human nature, and the drives in people. This book is good in the way that 1984 or Lord of the Flies is good -- well written, some good insight into human nature, but most people will probably despise it because it makes them uncomfortable, or calls into question their ideas about selflessness, egotism, social services, religion, etc. I haven't read it as an overt support of capitalism per say... though socialism (or some closely related) philosophy is thoroughly beaten down in the writing. A book I'll definitely have to put on my bookshelf.

An Hour Before Daylight (Jimmy Carter) **

Enjoyable. Exactly what the subtitle says: Memories of a Rural Boyhood. It could have been any boy growing up in Atlanta. And then you stop and think, "this little country boy grew up to be a President of the US. Huh!" Recommended (gifted) by Anna Clare.

Left to Tell (Immaculee Ilibagiza)***

This is a quick read (200 pgs) about a woman's survival through the Rwandan holocast and her experiences during that time. You'll be hooked by page 1. :)

Mistborn Trilogy (Brandon Sanderson)***

These books are so good that I'm annoyed I'm at work because I just want to go home and read more! They are set in a world of brown and black that is cursed by 'mists' that drift across the land (this is fantasy, in case the last sentence didn't make that apparent). There are people who have special gifts to influence the mists and this is the story of their effort to reclaim the world from the mists. Books one and two are out, book three due out in October.

The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini) ***

A novel about a boy named Amir who grows up in Afghanistan with his best friend/servant Hassan. It follows his life, his "escape" to America, his mistakes, how those mistakes catch up with him throughout life, and how he redeems himself. Very enjoyable.

Three Cups of Tea (Greg Mortenson, David Relin)***

Deborah recommended this one to me, and our book group decided to read it. I loved it. About a guy (Greg Mortenson) who built schools in Pakistan, and the challenges and successes he experienced. Motivating.

Gift from the Sea (Anne Morrow Lindbergh) *

The author writes about lessons she learned about life from a vacation on the beach, and uses shells to draw different analogies. Insightful, but kind of fluffy.

Red Badge of Courage (Stephen Crane) *

This is told through the eyes of a young boy and his experience through one battle of the Civil War. He goes through a range of emotions from fear, shame, pride, courage, embarrassment, etc. I'm not a war buff so I had to push through it, even though it's pretty short.

Joseph Smith, Rough Stone Rolling (Richard Lyman Bushman) ***

It took me 2 years to read this book, but I'm glad I read it. I'm sure most of you have heard of it, and maybe already read it. The book is written by a Columbia history professor who is LDS and goes into lots of details on the life of Joseph Smith. Several parts are eyebrow raising, but I liked learning about Joseph Smith's strengths and weaknesses. Joseph Smith was an ordinary person with challenges like any of us, but who did some extraordinary things, all the time completely believing in the cause. Overall I'd say it strengthened my faith in his prophetic calling. I particularly liked the historic parts of the book. Sometimes the author's commentary on the doctrine could be a little long-winded -- hence the 2 years it took me to finish.

Les Miserables (Victor Hugo) ***

400 pages. Oh so good! I read the unabridged version many years ago and wanted to read it again. This was the abridged, abridged version, and I understand there is one in between that I wish I had read instead. But it got most of the storyline, which I won't review since I'm sure everyone's familiar with it. One of my definite favorites!

Aubrey-Maturin Series (Patrick O'Brian)***

I just finished book 9 in this series and continue to enjoy them (I plan on reading all 21). The series revolves around two main characters - Captain Jack Aubrey, an officer in the British Navy, and Stephen Maturin, a naturalist, a surgeon, and an international spy. The richness of the series is the development of these two characters and their comraderie as they work to bring about the downfall of Bonaparte.

They are probably best read in order, although O'Brian writes them so that you could read some as stand alone novels. I think that Treason's Harbor is my favorite of the ones I've read up to this point.

All Things Wise and Wonderful (James Herriott)**

I've enjoyed reading the stories from Herriott. Sometimes the stories are funny, sometimes poignant, and usually enjoyable. This particular book is a short and easy read. Since the stories don't build on each other, it is a book that you can put down and pick up again without any problems.

Jeeves in the Morning (P.G. Wodehouse)***

I picked this book up by complete chance and quite enjoyed it. It is a clever comedy about a good-hearted but not so bright member of British high society. In many ways, the story line is like a good comedy from Shakespeare or Oscar Wilde: the first half of the story describes a series of chance incidents that tangles the characters in a web with the second half of the story focusing on how things are resolved. This book involves the main character stuck in trying to help two pairs of lovers get things worked out while dealing with a difficult uncle and a young boy scout whose desire to live the scout slogan causes more harm than good.

It is light-hearted, enjoyable and an easy read. I'm planning on reading other books by the author.

Nothing Like It in the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad, 1863-69 (by Stephen E. Ambrose)*

The title is a pretty accurate description of the book. It focuses just on the construction of the transcontinental railroad - that's right 432 pages about the details, rich details, of the transcontinental railroad. No discussion about the implications or effects of the railroad, simply a discription, a 432 page description, of building the railroad...

I enjoyed the first few chapters and the chapters about the Church and it's members. However, it is a dense book that in the middle was hard to finish because of the rich detail that it covered. I think I only finished it to say that I did. If you have some reason to care passionately about the railroad this will be interesting - otherwise I think it will be a tough read to finish because of all the detail.

From Beirut to Jerusalem (Thomas L. Friedman) **

570 pages. Hooray! I finished it! This took me a few months to read. It's written by a Jewish journalist who lived and reported from Beirut, Lebanon for a few years, then from Jerusalem. It contains some of his experiences, thoughts, and opinions about the middle east, primarily during the 80s and early 90s. It was interesting and I learned a lot, but I was ready for it to be done long before it actually was.

State of Fear (Michael Crichton) ***

An excellent book with much social commentary on topics including environmentalists, politics, and universities. Crichton wraps some story on what is basically a critique of the envrionmentalist movement -- specifically about global warming and the greenhouse effect. He did a lot of research for this book, and it shows. I even spent time reading the authors notes and annotated bibliography at the end. Highly recommended if for nothing more than to give you food for thought. For sensitive readers, probably rated R for language and adult situations.

Christmas Jars (Jason F. Wright) ***

Very quick read. It's a nice, short, seasonal book, about a family tradition of collecting pocket change throughout the year and giving it to someone in need on Christmas. The book describes how the tradition spreads and the kind of effect it has on people. We're reading it in our Book Group.

The Wednesday Letters (Jason F. Wright) ***

Good book, easy ready. It's about a couple in which the husband wrote a letter to his wife every Wednesday of their marriage, and they are discovered by their children after the couple dies. Uplifting, sentimental, kind of mushy in places, but enjoyable. New York Times bestseller.

Eclipse (Stephenie Meyer) ***

This is the last in the vampire series I read. Twilight was probably my favorite, then Eclipse, then New Moon. It's definitely geared toward young women. But it's an easy read and I enjoyed them.

The Freedom Writers Diary (Erin Gruwell) **

277 pages. Kristen and I read this book together. It is composed of diaries from a group of 150 students living in the hood in LA who wrote about the problems they were experiencing and how they bonded together to graduate from high school, fight intolerance, and make their lives better. At times we got tired of all the "Ms Gruwell is so great" [she's their teacher who helped put the book together, and it's definitely not for little kids (Kendrick) due to the bad words, etc. But overall, it was a good book.