Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

I loved this audiobook. I just wished I hadn't listened to the abridged version. It is about a woman who goes back in time to the 18th century Scotland. She gets married to Jamie Frasier in order to protect herself and falls in love. She decides to stay in the 18th century instead of returning to Frank, her current husband. The series is a love story about her and Jamie and also historical fiction about the restoration and the Jacobites trying to restore the Stuarts to the throne. I am currently reading the sequel and am also enjoying it (the unabridged version, this time.)

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

audio book
I believe that this book is a young adult book, but I am not sure. Either way, it was a nice light listen and I really enjoyed it. It told the story of two young girls from a poor familywho meets a rich American family and the richest brother, Simon, falls in love with the older sister, Rose. Although she is not in love with him, she agrees to marry him. Her sister, Cassandra, falls in love with Simon, but his brother Steven is in love with her. To make the love triangle more complicated, the other brother Neil is in love with Rose. The story ends happily with Rose calling off the engagement and marrying Neil.

The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan

As always, I really enjoy Amy Tan's writing. It slowly brings me out of the rut I have been in. The Bonesetter's Daughter is about a Chinese mother and daughter and their relationship. I always enjoy how Tan incorporates the Chinese culture into her books. The story also shows what it is like to move to America from China and what it is like being a Chinese-American citizen. I look forward to my next Amy Tan book, The Kitchen God's Wife.

Casanova in Bolzano by Sandor Marai

This is an audiobook that I picked up on a whim. It was okay. I had expected more action, but it was a lot of dialog and not much happened.

The House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dumas

I was extremely disappointed by this book. It was extremely depressing and unrealistic. The book started with this poor woman who is a recovering drug addict and alcoholic whose husband leaves her and then becomes evicted from her house due to a mistake by the county. The officer who comes to evict her is having marital problems and of course immediately falls in love with the woman, Kathy. A downward spiral to get her house back begins. It just doesn't make sense. How can you meet someone and then put your entire job and livelyhood in jeopardy and throw away years of marriage. Of course the Iranian Family that buys the house refuses to give it up. I then leads to the man holding them hostage and eventually the son getting killed. THen, as if the author didn't know what else to do, has the husband kill his wife and himslef and ry to kill Kathy. Kathy and the officer end up going to jail for kidnapping and no one lives happily ever after.

Four to Score by Janet Evonavich

This audio book had a different reader and I did not like her. As always I enjoy the Stephanie Plum stories, but this reader made it difficult. She lisped and didn't do different voices and was just really flat. Number 5 is read by her too. yuck!

Heat

Yummy! I really enjoyed this audio book. It was the story of a cook who worked in Mario Batali's kitchen and his experiences. I really enjoyed it. It told of how a kitchen rally works, his trips to Italy, and described how to make many dishes. I want to go out and cook pasta!

The Book of Saladin by Tariq Ali

This book is about Saladin's conquest over Jerusalem told by his scribe. I'm not sure how I felt about this book. The first part of it I was pretty distracted, so I don't hink I got the full affect. I was expecting more of an account of Saladin's life, but the book digressed to Ibn Yakub's (the scribe) life. I did not like how the titles of the chapters told about what was going to happen. I'm rally hoping I can beak out of my book rut soon.

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

audio book
This book is about a young man's struggle to overcome drug and alcohol addiction. In general, I liked the book. I felt that it gave a good portrayal of what it is like to overcome these problems, however, I did not like Frey. He was so angry all the time, which is, I guess, why he had these problems to begin with, but I felt that he did not respect the people who were trying to help him. He also put down the AA 12 steps, which many people use and it works for them. Ok, if you don't agree with it, but don't put down what helps other people. Even at the end of the book I did not like him. I know there has been some scandal with the book that it is not 100% true. That doesn't bother me because i feel that he gets the point across well enough. I have to look up what he embellished and what is true.