24. To Kill a Mockingbird

For the last 20 days, I switched from book-to-book-to-book! I started reading "The Mermaid Chair" by Sue Monk Kidd but switched to reading "Seeing" by José Saramago, the sequel to "Blindness". I read about 50-70 pages of each book but finally settled on "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. This is what happens when you put a gazllion books on hold at the library!

"To Kill a Mockingbird" was such an incredible book! I've been wanting to read this since forever! I didn't get to read it in high school like everybody else. I wish I got to study this book. It was such an engaging, heart-wrenching and haunting book. The characters were so endearing, especially the Finch's--Atticus, Jem and darling Scout. The case of Tom Robinson's was such a clear portrayal of the horrible injustice that existed. It was also great evidence of Atticus' unwavering honesty and loyalty.

If you didn't get a chance to read this book in high school, I highly recommend that you read it now!

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Books I'm reading:
1. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)

Books I've read:
1. A Million Little Pieces (James Frey)
2. My Friend Leonard (James Frey)
3. A Complicated Kindness (Miriam Toews)
4. The Tales of Beedle the Bard (J.K. Rowling)
5. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Gregory Maguire)
6. Son of a Witch (Gregory Maguire)
7. A Mango-Shaped Space (Wendy Mass)
8. A Lion Among Men (Gregory Maguire)
9. The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien)
10. Terror On the Mountain (Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz)
11. Interview with the Vampire (Anne Rice)
12. The Vampire Lestat (Anne Rice)
13. A Spell for Chameleon (Piers Anthony)
14. The Source of Magic (Piers Anthony)
15. Castle Roogna (Piers Anthony)
16. Centaur Aisle (Piers Anthony)
17. Ogre, Ogre (Piers Anthony)
18. Night Mare (Piers Anthony)
19. Dragon on a Pedestal (Piers Anthony)
20. Crewel Lye (Piers Anthony)
21. Golem in the Gears (Piers Anthony)
22. The Flying Troutmans (Miriam Toews)
23. Blindness (José Saramago)
24. To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)

Books to read:
1. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
2. The Fellowship of the Ring (J.R.R. Tolkien)
3. The Two Towers (J.R.R. Tolkien)
4. The Return of the King (J.R.R. Tolkien)
5. Fall On Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)

23. Blindness

I have no words to describe this book. "Blindness" by José Saramago is the most incredible book. To even fathom such a world is terrifying beyond belief. The book was so horrifying but what was truly appalling was the underlying truth about human nature and animalistic instincts.

The ultimate act of selflessness is that of the Doctor's Wife when she decides to enter a blind world as the only seeing person. What's amazing is her continued altruism and compassion.

I don't want to reveal anymore, I just want everyone to read it!

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Books I'm reading:
1. The Mermaid Chair (Sue Monk Kidd)

Books I've read:
1. A Million Little Pieces (James Frey)
2. My Friend Leonard (James Frey)
3. A Complicated Kindness (Miriam Toews)
4. The Tales of Beedle the Bard (J.K. Rowling)
5. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Gregory Maguire)
6. Son of a Witch (Gregory Maguire)
7. A Mango-Shaped Space (Wendy Mass)
8. A Lion Among Men (Gregory Maguire)
9. The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien)
10. Terror On the Mountain (Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz)
11. Interview with the Vampire (Anne Rice)
12. The Vampire Lestat (Anne Rice)
13. A Spell for Chameleon (Piers Anthony)
14. The Source of Magic (Piers Anthony)
15. Castle Roogna (Piers Anthony)
16. Centaur Aisle (Piers Anthony)
17. Ogre, Ogre (Piers Anthony)
18. Night Mare (Piers Anthony)
19. Dragon on a Pedestal (Piers Anthony)
20. Crewel Lye (Piers Anthony)
21. Golem in the Gears (Piers Anthony)
22. The Flying Troutmans (Miriam Toews)
23. Blindness (José Saramago)

Books to read:
1. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
2. To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
3. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
4. The Fellowship of the Ring (J.R.R. Tolkien)
5. The Two Towers (J.R.R. Tolkien)
6. The Return of the King (J.R.R. Tolkien)
7. Fall On Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)

22. The Flying Troutmans

I was going to read "Fall On Your Knees" but forgot it one day and needed a book to read on the bus. I enjoyed Miriam Toew's "A Complicated Kindness" so I thought I'd choose another one of her books. I really enjoyed "The Flying Troutmans". The characters were endearing! I could definitely identify with Thebes, the younger sister with purple hair and a vibrant personality who loved to create things to make others feel better. Who wouldn't want a giant, fake cheque for one million dollars?

The subject matter itself was dark but the author managed to make it humorous but very real and intense at the same time. You went on this long and amazing journey with this broken yet together family and as you delved into their memories and stories, all you hoped was for each of them to make it.

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Books I'm reading:
1. Blindness (José Saramago)

Books I've read:
1. A Million Little Pieces (James Frey)
2. My Friend Leonard (James Frey)
3. A Complicated Kindness (Miriam Toews)
4. The Tales of Beedle the Bard (J.K. Rowling)
5. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Gregory Maguire)
6. Son of a Witch (Gregory Maguire)
7. A Mango-Shaped Space (Wendy Mass)
8. A Lion Among Men (Gregory Maguire)
9. The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien)
10. Terror On the Mountain (Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz)
11. Interview with the Vampire (Anne Rice)
12. The Vampire Lestat (Anne Rice)
13. A Spell for Chameleon (Piers Anthony)
14. The Source of Magic (Piers Anthony)
15. Castle Roogna (Piers Anthony)
16. Centaur Aisle (Piers Anthony)
17. Ogre, Ogre (Piers Anthony)
18. Night Mare (Piers Anthony)
19. Dragon on a Pedestal (Piers Anthony)
20. Crewel Lye (Piers Anthony)
21. Golem in the Gears (Piers Anthony)
22. The Flying Troutmans (Miriam Toews)

Books to read:
1. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
2. To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
3. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
4. The Fellowship of the Ring (J.R.R. Tolkien)
5. The Two Towers (J.R.R. Tolkien)
6. The Return of the King (J.R.R. Tolkien)
7. Fall On Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)

21. Golem in the Gears

Wow! Finally finished reading the first NINE books of the Xanth series. I think I'll stop for now (well, until I can get my hands on the next book which is not available in the library--gasp!) and move on to more, ahem... "adult" books. I thoroughly enjoyed the series and I love the author's style of writing, especially all his clever puns!! I can't wait to return to the magical and wonderful world of Xanth later.

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Books I'm reading:
1. Fall On Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)

Books I've read:
1. A Million Little Pieces (James Frey)
2. My Friend Leonard (James Frey)
3. A Complicated Kindness (Miriam Toews)
4. The Tales of Beedle the Bard (J.K. Rowling)
5. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Gregory Maguire)
6. Son of a Witch (Gregory Maguire)
7. A Mango-Shaped Space (Wendy Mass)
8. A Lion Among Men (Gregory Maguire)
9. The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien)
10. Terror On the Mountain (Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz)
11. Interview with the Vampire (Anne Rice)
12. The Vampire Lestat (Anne Rice)
13. A Spell for Chameleon (Piers Anthony)
14. The Source of Magic (Piers Anthony)
15. Castle Roogna (Piers Anthony)
16. Centaur Aisle (Piers Anthony)
17. Ogre, Ogre (Piers Anthony)
18. Night Mare (Piers Anthony)
19. Dragon on a Pedestal (Piers Anthony)
20. Crewel Lye (Piers Anthony)
21. Golem in the Gears (Piers Anthony)

Books to read:
1. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
2. To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
3. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
4. The Fellowship of the Ring (J.R.R. Tolkien)
5. The Two Towers (J.R.R. Tolkien)
6. The Return of the King (J.R.R. Tolkien)
7. Blindness (José Saramago)