December: BirdSong

Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks appeared on one of those "100 books every person should read" lists and the description of a "lurid affair between a young man and an older married woman during WWI" did it for me - and so Amazon shipped it to my doorstop and my journey back to early 1910s began. This book ended up being nothing like what I expected. It was a love story during WWI but really, it was about the main character and his time spent in the war. The book is broken up among 7 parts, often skipping between time periods and points of view to create a connection between the past and the present. It is not what I would describe as a "quick read" but instead as something worth reading. Be forewarned: the descriptions of the WWI and the conditions the soldiers lived in will leave you feeling itchy and in need of a shower (think lice / rats...) - a much more realistic description I'm sure.

The love story is there - but the true purpose of the story is so much more. Questioning the effects war has on the young men who fight it and how quickly their stories are then forgotten.

November: Notes from a Small Island

I just finished reading "Notes from a Small Island" by Bill Bryson. Bill is an American living in Britian as a writer for multiple publications. Bill spent the better part of 2 months touring around the UK, visiting the small villages and the nontourist sites unique to the Brits. After a summer spent in the London, I am forever wishing to be a Brit myself. Bill's commentary on all things British offers a comical view on British culture from an American's point of view, complete with explanation of terminology and historical reference points. Not only were the locations discussed fascinating but I truly felt like I was on the journey with him. Not only do I want to go back to the UK but now I want to travel throughout by public transport hitting up the side villages and truly engrossing myself into the culture and nuances found only in the UK.

October: Dracula

What am I currently reading? Well I recently joined a book club and for October we are reading Dracula.

I did not read Dracula in school and so this was my first venture into the original, pre-Twilight world of vampires. I'm always weary of the Classics for fear of being able to finish in a timely manner. While Dracula is dense, it is a very quick read. Told through letters and journal entries we follow the story of Count Dracula, a vampire who terrors the residents of England. Being the nerd that I am, I found many parables to the wonderful world of Harry Potter. (I'm sure you will find many references to HP in future posts). For instance, like Mina with the Count, Harry is connected to Voldermort and able to track where they are. The overall subtext of good vs. evil allows for an interesting interpretation of religion, demons and of course, vampires.

Dracula was very fitting with the coming of a certain holiday - however, be aware that Dracula is not the ideal before bed read.

I just got a new box of books from Amazon to carry me into the holidays. The contents? That is for another post.

What are you reading?

An Introduction

I often find myself at Barnes and Noble or perusing Amazon in search of a new book to read. More often than not I leave the store feeling overwhelmed and bookless. I'm an avid reader and enjoy books across multiple genres.

I hope to use this blog to share what it is I am currently reading as well as a place to share what others are reading.