Bill Bryson

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I fell in love with Bill Bryson in this novel. He is so... human. His feelings and emotions when undertaking a feat such as hiking the Appalachian trail are so wonderfully identifiable and that's what makes this book work. Not that he is some extreme adventurer (although he'd beat most of us), but that we know him. He's a friend, neighbor, guide, utterly approachable and supremely funny.

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The book theif

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Although the theme itself might inspire some people to turn away -- the way this book is written is amazing. Loved it. The perspectives given in this novel on the survival of one family in Germany during WWII, hiding a Jewish person in the basement. The 9 year old protagonist and her love of books (stealing them :) is a gem and her relationship to their basement hide-away is heartwarming. The narration by death is perfection... read this book.

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the girl with the dragon tatoo

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I didn't get the hype. A well written thriller/mystery but nothing breaking ground. The best thing about the book was the enigmatic Lisbeth -- a very discussable character.

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The Pillars of the Earth

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Of daunting size and breadth. For those of you who carry your reading from place to place this might be a bicep builder, but not for long, because you'll tear through it. The version I read (pictured) has a new preface that really illuminated why Follett decided on the central theme -- the building of a church. It has always intrigued me that these monstrosities of architecture, time, energy were built. This book delves into the idea of how. With such well thought characterization, fleshed out villains, people you love and hate, then decide to love and hate differently, it does a wonderful job of giving a total view of this process and leaves no space for apathy. Brilliant. Classic.

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American Gods

American Gods by Neil Gaiman


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was delectable. What happens when a God is no longer worshiped? Where does all that human energy go? What does that human energy do to the God? The premise is that they walk among us, gods from all faiths, and they gain in strength according to those who follow them. In this book, the gods as we know them begin to battle with the modern gods of technology. Part sci-fi, part fantasy, part thriller, this book is wonderfully rendered in real life America. I knew many of the settings for the novel, especially the House on the Rock, which also added to my enjoyment of the novel. Highly recommended.

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What I talk about when I talk about running

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
All in all a cool read offering a bit of insight into the man behind such wild, crazy novels. As a person who enjoys the occasional jog, delving into what Murakami thinks about while he runs, his perspectives on running in general, and that body/mind relationship that so fascinates me, I found this to be a decent book. I would have hoped for a bit more detail into Murakami himself, but this is no auto-biography; it is exactly what the title suggests -- what he thinks about when he runs.

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The 19th Wife

The 19th Wife: A Novel by David Ebershoff


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was hot in the states when I left this summer. So, I grabbed it and was interested from page 1. Ebershoff masterfully entwines the stories of the Mormon church origins with a modern sect. I found the historical inter-chapters fascinating and the multi-perspective narration a perfect tool for gaining insight into the struggles of the first Mormons and their "followers". From the female side this book provides a real expose into the lives of women in a polygamous setting, while weaving in the effects of faith and history. Loved this book.

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The Inner Game of Stress

The Inner Game of Stress: Outsmart Life's Challenges and Fulfill Your Potential by W. Timothy Gallwey


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoy Gallway's sports/life balance comparison and found the inner book of tennis to be an invaluable book to deal with body/mind/spirit connections, not just on the court. So I read this one on my kindle in between running round teaching classes. True to his basic premise in all of his inner-game books this one didn't surprise, but I found the tools to be well-delivered and with many positive, inspiring examples of people making changes to their stress levels and benefiting on all levels.If you like "self-help" that adds some smart life connections and isn't corny then this is a good use of reading time.

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