Need a good book?

As I updated my current list of "Books I am reading" this morning, I looked at my last few books and realized that my list posted right now is one of the best list of books I have had yet. I am on a roll this summer with reading diverse, interesting books. Here is the scoop:

My favorite is the bottom book-- The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. This is not your conventional book; it won the Pulitzer Prize. It is about a boy from the Dominican Republic who doesn't seem to fit in anywhere. Oscar is a well-defined character who you sympathize with. I also enjoyed the inserted history here and there about the Dominican Republic. My knowledge here was scant. The story is told through the eyes of many characters and jumps around in the times as well. Truly, an amazing book! Not an easy read, but a must- read!

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak was also incredible. This is the story of a young German girl during the time of the Holocaust. The narrator is Death, making the perspective of the story unique. The girl is not Jewish, so I enjoyed the different viewpoint of the Holocaust. Caution: This is a tear-jerker. I wept at the end of the book. Swollen, puffy eyes. Wept.

The new Janet Evanovich book was so much fun. If you have never read any of her Stephanie Plum adventures, pick up book one and just take a day to read it. (That is all it takes!) They are hilarious, lusty, and full of mystery. This book was a great day's break.

The "curious incident" book was a unique read. This book's narrator was a 16 year old severally autistic boy who has discovered that his dad had been covering up the true story of what happened to his mom for many years. The book was compelling because of the viewpoint. Great story.

I read two books, "What is the What" and "Memories of a Boy Soldier" about the life of boys in various parts of Africa. There is so much that I don't know about what happens on the other side of the world. These two books allowed me glimpses into the joys and sufferings of these boys. "What is the What" focuses on the Lost Boys of Sudan who wander the desert to Ethiopia. The other looks at how young boys become soldiers. So sad. . .

I just finished a great book this morning that was a young adult fiction book called "The Hunger Games." Very fun! It is kind of "The Most Dangerous Game" with people hunting people meets the Scott Westerfield books about societies after our world ends. It is a page turner and -- as I got to the end-- I found out it is also the first of a series. Lots of fun!

If you have any good books to read, I would love to hear about them. Happy Reading!