The Audacity of Hope by Barak Obama

Everyone who is planning on voting in the election should read this book. I'm interested in how it compares to McCain's book. Obama explains everything from his policies on education, welfare, etc to his childhood and his family life. His description of his relationship between him and Michelle could describe any married couple. The book really humanized Obama and made him seem like a real person instead of just a politician.

Teacher Man by Frank McCourt

audiobook

This is a book that all teachers should read. It shows that students really haven't changed much over time. McCourt writes in a way that you feel as if you are there with him in the classroom. He really has had an amazing life. His descriptions of his family life and trying to teach and raise a family are dead on. The part where he brings the bag of grading home and keeps finding things to do with his daughter instead of grading was hilarious.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Rating 4/5

Persuasion is, of course a story of romance, love lost and unrequited love. Anne Elliot comes from an aristocratic family and was at one time engaged to Frederick Wen tworth. However, her friend, Lady Russell persuaded her to break off the engagement because she didn't feel that he was wealthy enough for Miss Elliot. Eight and a half years later he returns and has money. During this time, he woos Luisa Mussgrove and Anne is courted by her cousing, Mr. Elliot. Anne is again persuaded by another friend to not pursue him because he is only after her money.


As much as I love Jane Austen's writing, this was not one of my favorite books. Only because I think she could have put more about the interaction between Anne and Wentworth and she didn't play up their feelings for each other very much. For a women's author, Austen usually has weak women protagonists. Anne was described at the beginning of the book as a person who no one really noticed and wasn't much use. She was just there. She seemed to be a sweet, caring girl, but couldn't think on her own. It was only at the end when she finally decided to be with Wentworth that she didn't care what her friend Lady Russell thought about it.

The Life and Times of the Thunderboldt Kid by Bill Bryson

Rating 4/5

Rich and I listened to this book on our way down to North Carolina. It isn't one that I would normally pick for myself, but I really enjoyed it. I laughed out loud many times, when I wasn't nodding off to sleep. Bryson tells of his childhood in the 50's with a sense of humor. He describes the food, the toys and the traditions of the 50s. His description of his friend Milton Milton and his family was the funniest part of the book. Bryson describes each situation as someone looking back on their childhood, but from the eyes of a kid.

The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck

Rating 3/5

John Steinbeck is one of my favorite authors, however, I didn't like this book as much as the others that I read. It apparently is his debut novel, but is so much different from his other books. The style of The Moon is Down mimicked that of Hemingway, I believe. It was vague and the dialogue repetitive. I also am not a fan of war books. The novel takes place in Europe during a war. A small town is taken over by soldiers and slowly they begin to rebel

Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich

Rating 3/5

Everyone says that Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books is like an addiction. You want to stop, but you can't. I think it gets to the point where you can only write so much before all of the books start becoming the same. This is happening with the Plum series. However, that being said, this was one of the better books. It had more action and bounty hunter business and less about Stephanie's life. Although, it is her life that makes the books amusing.

In Twelve Sharp, Stephanie is looking for a man who is posing as Ranger and has kidnapped his daughter. I think what made this book better than some of the others is that it was personal to Stephanie. And, just when you think she has the Ranger/Morelli situation figured out, she still can't make a decision.

The Summons by John Grisham

Rating 3/5

So, John Grisham is supposed to be the master of suspense, but this book just did not do it for me. I haven't read any of his other books, but I do know that they make great movies. I'm sure his other books are good. The problem with this one was that nothing happened. He spent a big chunk of the first part describing the relationship between Judge Atlee and his sons, Ray and Forrest and how the judge died. The next part was Ray finding a huge sum of money in the judge's house and moving it around. He got attacked and followed to give it some action, but really, nothing happened.