"Guns, Germs, and Steel" by Jared Diamond

Pages: 464
Genre:Non-Fiction

Back Cover Synopsis: "Why did Eurasians conquer, displace, or decimate Native Americans, Australians, and Africans, instead of the reverse? In this groundbreaking book, already a classic of our time, evolutionary biologist Jared Diamond stunningly dismantles racially based theories of human history by revealing the environmental factors actually responsible for history's broadest patterns. Here, at last, is a world history that really is a history of all the world's peoples, a unified narrative of human life."

Review: This was required reading for one of my grad school classes about globalization. The concept is interesting enough, and some of the chapters follow suite, but on the whole, I was unimpressed. I felt Diamond was a broken record. He repeated the same information through the entire book and even into the epilogue. I also do not think he answered all the questions he brought up throughout the book.

Some chapters were very interesting--particularly the one about the Spaniards defeating the Incas...very brutal history there. It may be a good source for learning more about globalization, but it wasn't exactly pulling me in.

"What Would Audrey Do?" by Pamela Keogh

Pages: 248
Genre: Biographical

Back Cover Synopsis: "Audrey Hepburn epitomized grace and style, not only in her appearance, but in her very essence. Whether in fashion, her relationships, her home life, or her work on the screen or for UNICEF, there is no one more worthy of imitation. Yes, she was born with great beauty, enviable bone structure, and a manner that made practically everyone she met fall instantly in love with her. But Audrey's life was also marked by challenges: growing up without a father, surviving the Nazi threat and deprivation of World War II, unfaithful husbands and two divorces, and living under constant scrutiny from the media--all while managing her extraordinary film career, raising two children, and being considered the paragon of chic."

Review: This is the second Audrey Hepburn biography I have read. I thought this one was much easier to read and get into than the first one. Keogh kept it structured, fun, informative, and very entertaining. If you are an Audrey fan--and frankly, who isn't?--this is definitely a must read.

If you've read it, please, tell me what you think!

"InkSpell" By Cornelia Funke

Pages: 635
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Fiction

Back Cover Synopsis: "Although a year has passed, not a day goes by without Meggie thinking of Inkheart, the book whose characters came to life--and changed her life forever.

But for Dustfinger, the fire-eater brought into being from words, the need to return to the original tale has become desperate. When he finds a crooked storyteller with the magical ability to read him back, Dustfinger leaves behind his young apprentice Farid and plunges into the medieval inkscape once more.

Distraught, Farid goes in search of Meggie, and before long both are caught inside the book, too. There they meet Inkheart's author, Fenoglio, now living within his own story. But the tale is much changed, and threatening to evolve in ways none of them could ever have imagined. Will Meggie, Farid, and Fenoglio manage to write the wrongs of a charmed world? Or is their story on the brink of a very bad ending?"

Review: This is the second book of the series--and I adore books of a series. I found it a little harder to get into this one than I did with the first one. But, that might be due to an increased busy life; the end is where I really got into it and couldn't put it down.

All in all, it is a very magical book (for the reader). While I was reading, I was captured in the "what is going to happen next?"--even though it sometimes seemed a little drawn out.

But, I am excited to finish the series with the third book, InkDeath.

The Lovely Blog Award

Callista of SMS Book Reviews has awarded me the Lovely Blog Award.

The rules of accepting this award are to highlight some newly discovered blogs. When I come across one that I find intriguing, I will blog about it. Feel free to submit some of your own book review blogs!

"The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls

Pages: 288
Genre: Memoir, Autobiography, Non-Fiction

Back Cover Synopsis: "The Glass Castle is a remarkable memoir of resilience and redemption, and a revelatory look into a family at once deeply dysfunctional and uniquely vibrant. When sober, Jeannette's brilliant and charismatic father captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and how to embrace life fearlessly. But when he drank, he was dishonest and destructive. Her mother was a free spirit who abhorred the idea of domesticity and didn't want the responsibility of raising a family. The Walls children learned to take care of themselves. They fed, clothed, and protected one another, and eventually found their way to New York. Their parents followed them, choosing to be homeless even as their children prospered."

Review: Two words that would describe this book are "disturbing" and "interesting". This poor lady's life is like a trainwreck. I honestly couldn't look away. I wanted to see exactly what happened next in her life. Her parents and her upbringing horrify me, still. For instance, her mother used to hide and eat covertly a chocolate bar under the covers while her children starved for days on end.

The topics addressed in this memoir are not of the easy sort. They are highly disturbing and depressing. But, on the other hand, there are triumphs, joy, and love--even for such a dysfunctional family unit.

Overall, I really enjoyed (maybe not in the normal sense) this memoir. I felt it was honest and brutal, yet uplifting and depressing--full of extremes. I would say this book is worth a shot if you are looking for something new to read.

"Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo" by Obert Skye

Pages: 339
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Fiction

Back Cover Synopsis: "Fourteen-year-old Leven Thumps lives a wretched life in Burnt Culvert, Oklahoma. But his life is about to change and his destiny be fulfilled as he learns about a secret gateway that bridges two worlds--the real world and Foo, a place created at the beginning of time in the folds of the mind that makes it possible for mankind to dream and hope, aspire and imagine. But Foo is in chaos, and three transplants from the dream-world have been sent to retrieve Leven, who alone has the power to save Foo. Enter Clover, a wise-cracking, fuzzy, foot-high sidekick; Winter, a girl with a spectacular gift of her own; and Geth, the exiled but rightful ruler of Foo. Their mission: to convince Leven Thumps that he has the power to save Foo and help him reach the hidden gateway and destroy it before it is too late..."

Review: They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Well, I don't follow that advice all the time. I saw the cover of this book and was immediately intrigued. And I am glad I did. Not only is it an inventive story, but I could relate to the characters. Also, there is a lot of subtle (and not so subtle) humor throughout the book. I loved it. I found myself laughing out loud. Obert Skye is a very talented writer and can really tell a magical and awe-inspiring story.

The concept of Foo amazes me. Basically, it is the land where the all the dreams of our world live. Because of Foo, we can be hopeful, joyful, and imaginative. Without Foo, there would be nothing to live for, nothing to hope for. At that is exactly what Leven Thumps and his "gang" try to stop.

This is the first book of the series. So, if you like reading a series, this is it. Love it! Let me know what you think!

"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold

Pages: 328
Genre: Fiction

Back Cover Synopsis: "'My name is Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973.' So begins the story of Susie Salmon, who is adjusting to her new home in heaven, a place that is not at all what she expected, even as she is watching life on earth continue without her--her friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her killer trying to cover his tracks, her grief-stricken family unraveling."

Review: This book is sad, uplifting, heart-wrenching, and devastating. I wouldn't recommend it for the weak of heart or spirit. The murder scene could be considered a little detailed for some. So, if you shy away from those types of things, you might want to pick another book. With that said, I thought the book was completely and wholly interesting. I was enthralled. The concept is such a new idea, at least for me. I had never read a book from the point of view of a murder victim in heaven. It was very interesting to see her take on the life that was happening without her.

If you are looking for a well-written work of fiction that is not only interesting, but encourages you to think about your own life and loved ones, pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.