28 Books in 2008
I'm participating in the 28 Books in 2008 Challenge, so that's what this page is for. When I was younger, especially during my middle school years, I used to spend my afternoons reading books. There's nothing like curling up with a good book in a big comfy chair with some delicious hot chocolate and getting lost in a story. I miss having that, so hopefully I can complete this challenge, read some amazing books, and get back into the swing of things like the good old days.
Currently Reading
- Emma by Jane Austen
- Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
- The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
Completed
- A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
I read this book in a day and a half. I couldn't put it down. This book was just as good, if not better, than Hosseini's first (The Kite Runner -- also an amazing book). Hosseini has such a way with prose and imagery; he reminds me why I fell in love with books in the first place. As soon as I finished the book I felt as if I'd grown up in Afghanistan myself and gone through the hardships of war and loss with Mariam and Laila. His characters are powerful and memorable, the events and situations are both heart-breaking and inspirational... there's nothing else to say other than I absolutely loved this novel and I recommend it to anyone.
- Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
I first read this book in my 10th grade English honors class. It tells the story of Okonkwo, a Nigerian man determined to be everything his father wasn't. The way this book is narrated makes you feel like you're in another world. It's a look inside a completely different culture, and I think that's why I enjoyed it so much.
- Pure Sunshine by Brian James
Pure Sunshine tells the story of a boy named Brendon who figures out the "meaning of life" after an acid trip and a long night out with his friends. I wasn't too into this one, it just felt like one guy's long rambling "poetic" account of events that occurred over two days.
- Frida Kahlo: A Spiritual Biography by Jack Rummel
Excellent biography of the amazing artist Frida Kahlo. The author explains in depth her relationship with her husband Diego Rivera and the symbolism found in the paintings she created, as well as excerpts of letters she wrote and her liasons with both men and women. Amazing.
- White Oleander by Janet Fitch
The story of a young girl named Astrid, the strained and strange relationship with her mother Ingrid, and the experiences she had as she grew up in various foster homes. I love Janet Fitch's ability to paint vivid pictures with her words. One of my favorite stories.
- The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery
The story of a man who meets a Little Prince. Tthe narrator's perspective in this book is very interesting, as if from the view of a child, and it's probably why this book was such a hit.
- I Am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert
Comedian Stephen Colbert explains his personal opinions on marriage, family, religion, and everything else. Hilarious and engaging. I absolutely loved it.
Reading List
- In The Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
- The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood