Brief Book Reviews

Over the last few months, I've read tons of books. Although none of these might interest you, I figured I'd post a bit about each in case you're looking for a new read.

1. Little Bee by Chris Cleave
     This story is about a Nigerian refugee that finds her way to England on a ship. Little Bee finds the only person she knows in England and in a weird and twisted way, weaves her way into their family. There are some hard-to-read parts, but it's an interesting account of the life of a refugee. Great for anyone who is interested in other cultures and is willing to face some hard facts.

2. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
     I really loved this book. It's written in a unique language that always feels a step ahead of me, but is extremely accessible. Oskar Schell is a young boy that loses his father in 9/11. The story is of him searching through New York City, looking for traces of his father. It is more sad than happy, but well done so you don't mind the sad.

3. Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin
     This book is a fun read for any girl. It's about a girl who gets married, and less than a year later she runs into an old ex-boyfriend, one that she never quite lost feelings for. It reads quickly and has thoughts and sentiments that would appeal to any girl, especially one that has ever had a broken heart, or felt like she lost out on a guy from the past.

4. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
     This book cannot be summed up in 5 pages, let alone 5 sentences. Its essentially about the building of a cathedral in the 1100s in England. There is action, love, lust, murder, arson, etc. Pillars of the Earth is DENSE, but a rewarding read. It is perfect for anyone that loves detailed history and the story of the Church.  If you are willing to press through the length and language of this book, you will come out a more well-rounded and educated reader.

5. Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
     This is by the same author that wrote "Love the One You're With." The premise is that Rachel is the maid of honor in her best friends wedding. But one night she has a little too much to drink and ends up sleeping with her best friend's fiance. This is not necessarily an extremely "wholesome" read, but is quirky and fun. Although somewhat superficial, there is much to be learned about yourself from Giffin's books. They pose hard questions that if you don't have answers for them, they'll settle into your mind until you find answers for them. I've already ordered a third book by her and can't wait to read it!