The Help by Kathryn Stockett

In a Perfect World by Laura Kasischke

I found this book on a display at Borders. I was drawn to it by the cover and it had some great comments by readers. I picked it up and read it in about a week's time. It was a different type of fiction story, but overall I enjoyed it. It is about a woman named Jiselle who marries Mark Dorn who is a single father of three. He is a pilot. The story is set in future years I believe and there is a flu that is spreading called the "Phoenix Flu". It is starting to kill people and the worry and panic is starting to spread throughout the United States. Mark gets stranded in Germany because of this "virus" which leaves Jiselle to raise and take care of his three children. As I read it, some parts to me seemed to be a bit like science fiction, but overall I would say this book is fiction. It was about the survival of people during a national crisis and the relationship that can build between people when then are doing everything they can to survive.

Say Your One of Them by Uwem Akpan

This was another book that I had seen written up in many different places. I wasn't sure I wanted to read it since it was a collection of short stories, but I decided to give it a try. I am glad I did. It really was like nothing else I had read. All of the stories are told from the view points of children in Africa. The first story is called "An Ex-Mas Feast" and is about a family trying to save enough money for Christmas. The second story is called "Fattening for Gabon" and is about two children that are being sold into slavery. The next story is called "What Language is That?" which is about two children from different worlds trying to be friends. "Luxurious Hearses" is about a boy on a bus trying to hide his identity during a crisis. The final story is called "My Parents' Bedroom" and is the powerful story about a girl and her family in Rwandan during an unspeakable time. This book is hard to read sometimes because of the names used, but I think worth it. It isn't easy subject matter to read about, but they are all things that are happening in our world and I think we need to know about them. Give it a try!

The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

You have to love MEA weekend. It is a time to get things done around the house and also to take some extra time and read a great book. I started The Weight of Silence on the Friday of MEA and finished it on Sunday morning. That is a lot of reading! This was a great book and I had a hard time putting it down when life interrupted my reading. The story revolves around two families and the morning that both of their daughters disappear. Martin is a college professor married to Fielda and they have a daughter named Petra. The neighbor family consists of Toni and her two children Ben and Calli. Their father Griff, is not always present and drinks too much which leads to a very mean side of the man. Both girls are in first grade and are best friends. Callie has not spoken since she was in four years old after a family tragedy. The book covers both what happens to the people looking for the two girls and what is happening to the girls in the woods. It is a face paced story and like I said I could not put it down. If you are looking for a great fall book to read, this is it!

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

I, along with the rest of the country, picked up this book on the day it came out. I had read his previous books and had enjoyed them. I was looking forward to reading this new one and I was not disappointed. It is very similar to the first two books by Dan Brown, and just as entertaining. The book is a face paced adventure with Robert Langdon, Katherine Solomon, and Peter Solomon. At the beginning of the story Langdon is summoned to the Capital building by who he thinks is Peter Solomon. Once he arrives at the capital building the story takes off and doesn't stop until the last page. One crazy man with a motive and a mission turns the lives of Robert, Katherine, and Peter upside down. It was quite interesting to read about our Capital city and all the secrets, legends, and myths that surround this city. This book isn't earth shattering, but it sure is a fun and entertaining story.

Blame by Michelle Huneven

As with many of the books I read, if I see it written up with a positive review in more than one place I will go and pick it up. This was a quick and enjoyable read. I read it in about a week. It is just under 300 pages. It is the story of a young college professor named Patsy who is an alcoholic. She is hanging out with a friend named Brice who also has issues with alcohol. She has been in a jail several times and just isn't making much of her life. One morning she awakes in jail only to find out she has hit a mother and daughter with her car and they are dead. She remembers nothing and ends up going to prison for this incredible crime. While in prison she changes her life for the better and learns she needs to get herself together. The story continues as she meets the husband of the woman she killed. Theirs is a story of forgiveness and understanding. Patsy continues her life as she is released from prison. She meets many interesting people and interesting things happen to Patsy. Years after the crimes, she learns a shocking truth about her past. Like I said, I enjoyed the story. I thought some parts in the middle went a bit slow for me, but then things sped up as you head toward the end of the story. Another great read!

Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon...

I had read one other book by this author called "Your Remind Me of Me" and remember liking it and that it was quite different. I would say the same thing about this book. It was good and interesting, but a bit different. The book has three different stories going on at the same time. As I read I wasn't sure how the three stories were connected, but I can guarantee you that they all come together at the end. In a BIG way! One story is about a brother looking for his brother who is ill. The second story is about a young girl that leaves town with her professor only to find out he might not appear to be what she thought. The third story is about a college boy who leaves school and hit the road with his uncle who he just found out was his father. The stories all relate to one's identity and how they fit into the world. Things can get complex at times so read carefully. He is a great writer and certainly has unique ideas.