the last templar (2006)

The Last Templar (Raymond Khoury)

you've got to give some credit to dan brown. all imitators have so far been failures. i mean, sure the copycats sell millions of books but they're not nearly as gripping as brown's book(s). the last templar suffers from a weird structure, lack of intriguing characters, and generally, isn't memorable for much of anything. i just sped through it to get to the "revelation/reveal;" which didn't even end up being that exciting.

the rule of four (2004)

The Rule of Four (Ian Caldwell & Dustin Thomason)

the authors have been friends since childhood and collaborated and wrote this book in six years after they graduated. it's kind of a da vinci code knock-off but i think the writing is actually better, if not as gripping. it sold millions of copies and now i'm a jealous beast. a fun ride through another history lesson (the secret in question here isn't quite as compelling) and an easy to finish thriller.

the historian (2005)

The Historian (Elizabeth Kostova)

i'd be pissed if i were kostova. working ten years on my debut novel and then to have the da vinci code explode right before my tour-de-force was to be released. while kostova still made millions, her book seems like a (much longer) knock-off of dan brown's epic. i found myself flipping through this giant tome just because the set-up was so similar, and despite the subject matter being interesting (the "dracula code"), it was just too much -- or, i guess, not enough.

the virgin suicides (1994)

The Virgin Suicides (Jeffrey Eugenides)

i recall the movie as not being very engaging or interesting. however, reading the book makes me want to re-visit the film. the book is clearly more developed and it seems like eugenides' pulitzer (for middlesex) is well deserved. the story about a group of sisters who eventually all commit suicide is told from the perspective of the boys who admire and are enraptured by them. the book sucks you in from the beginning and eugenides' writing style is a pleasure to experience.

l.a. confidential (1990)

L.A. Confidential (James Ellroy)

i keep telling people to read the book -- which is a hundred times different than the movie -- but nobody listens to me. it's a pretty good movie but a great book. after you read it, you'll really gain an appreciation for the work that went into making the screenplay (oscar for "best adapted screenplay" in 1997). i hope to read all of ellroy's "l.a. quartet" and now's the time, what with black dahlia hitting movie screens.

contact (1997)

Contact (Carl Sagan)

i like to re-read "contact" periodically because it's filled with so many great ideas. it touches on technology, human nature, religion, science, personal relationships, everything. carl sagan was an amazing man (i've read his non-fiction stuff too and loved it, cosmos for example) and his writing ability would have been astonishing by itself, nevermind the expertise in the sciences. a top five book for me, i think.

curious incident of the dog... (2004)

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Mark Haddon)

i'd avoided this book out of habit as it was always featured prominently in bookstores. but many people i know enjoyed it and i got a free copy so i finally read it. it took me a two fifteen-minute work breaks and a lunch to get through about 3/4ths of it. it's a light, breezy, easy read and is charming in its observations and perspective (the story is told from the viewpoint of an autistic boy). well, until he solves the mystery and starts on his "adventure." then it gets boggged down in its charms and perspective. too bad, it all started out so good.

i think i enjoyed helen dewitt's "the last samurai" better, which is similar to this book, and more engaging overall.

moon tiger (1987)

Moon Tiger (Penelope Lively)

there's not much else to say about this book aside from the fact that it's amazing. the story is somewhat "english patient-ish" but the writing is spectacular. engrossing and extremely captivating, this is one of the best books i've read recently. looks like that booker prize was well deserved.

the big love (2004)

The Big Love (Sarah Dunn)

everyone needs to read a few chick lit books in their lifetime right? well, now it's my chance to catch up on the ones i've missed. the big love is about....ah, who cares what it's about. it's chick lit. there are boys, girls, revelations, loves, likes, crushes, whatever. there are many interesting ideas in the book but overall, this is just above-average chick lit. of course, it's not like i could put it down.

i've decided i may not be able to fake it and write chick lit. why? i'm not nearly neurotic enough.