1 Dead in Attic by Chris Rose

Chris Rose is a journalist living in New Orleans before and after Hurricane Katrina. This book comprises his articles written after the storm in The Times-Picayune. It was a horrible time and you can see the effect it had on him in his writing. This book becomes a bit redundant but is filled with little moments, sentences and stories that will touch you and give insight into what was going on there. I was inspired by the heart and strength of the people who lived and live through this reality still.

Rating: Donate It.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

This book turned out to be quite different than what I expected...it wasn't the sexual nature of the novel that surprised me but for some reason I thought it was going to be a fantasy/sci-fi. Instead it turned out to be a murder mystery taking place in Sweden in the now. The girl with the dragon tattoo is a PI and ends up working for a journalist who has been hired by a billionaire tycoon to solve a murder from 40 years ago. It was a good read. I finished it this morning and it has stuck with me all day. Although I thought the end was a little drawn out I find myself wanting more to go back to.

Rating: Donate It.

The Road Not Taken by Louis Untermeyer

Again, not so much into the poetry but I keep trying! I thought this book would be helpful in having the commentary to go along with the poems to tell me why it matters and what makes these poems a classic part of literary history. I found I only enjoyed a few and ended up skimming through the rest of the book.
Rating: Burn It.

5 days into my trip I ran out of books. Fortunately we were in Missoula Montana for a day and I stopped into a local independant bookstore and picked up a few more...


The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich

This book was a good read with a lot of characters and stories that wind and come together for a satisfying ending. I liked it but did get a bit confused in the middle on who was who and what person belonged to what story. I did manage to get it together though... Make mental notes!
Rating: Donate It.


Shit My Dad Says by Justin Halpern

Very funny but also quite tender as well. The dad is bluntly honest and doesn't express himself in the most eloquent way at times but this book has a beautiful father son relationship that you can't help but enjoy.
Rating: Donate It.


Pretty-Shield by Frank B. Linderman

Memories told by a Crow woman who grew up in the States. It begins with her memories of living with her people and following the bison herds as a way of life. It's a interesting glimpse into different time and a different history.
Rating: Donate It.


Letters From Yellowstone byt Diane Smith

I thought this started out a bit slow but was surprised by how much I fell in love with this book by the end. A book about science, discovery and adventure.
Rating: Donate It.


Beautiful In The Mouth by Keetje Kuipers

I don't usually get poetry and this is one of those times. I didn't find anything new to learn from this author and bored quite quickly with her collection of poems. I will give her the benefit of the doubt that I might not be the best audience for judgement.
Rating: Burn It.

I was recently on a 2 week vacation and brought these with me for some rest and relaxation...

The Truth About Stories by Thomas King

I think this book has a very interesting perspective and is successful in infusing humor and honesty on complicated aboriginal issues.

Rating: Donate It.

Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen

A coming of age story taking place against the backdrop of the intriguing world of the circus in the early 20th century. Great to pass on to your friends.

Rating: Donate It.

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Of course everyone knows of these novels. I chose to bring this one because I wanted a nice easy read. It did the trick and in all honesty I couldn't put it down but unfortunately I found a lot of things to complain about. My biggest complaint was how the author decided to portray the conflict between Bella & Edward in the first half of this novel. I worry that the obsessive & controlling behavior that Edward has towards Bella is condoned by the author and sends the wrong message that it's ok for someone to behave in this way if they do it in the name of "love". No thanks.

Rating: Donate It.

I wanted to start off with a few books from my library at home that I picked as some of my favorites. Check them out!

Evolution by Carl Zimmer, 28 stories of AIDS in africa by Stephanie Nolen, Old Souls by Tom Shroder, a long way gone by Ishmael Beah, Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, Jan Wong's China by Jan Wong, Ishmael by Daniel Quinn, Tom Thomson by David Silcox (Tom Thomson is a favorite artist of mine), Battle Royal by Koushun Takami, The Odyssey & The Iliad by Homer, At Work by Annie Leibovitz, Fall On Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald, Dream of the Walled City by Lisa Huang Fleischman, Our Inner Ape by Frans De Waal, Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, Papillon by Henri Charriere, Nobody Nowhere by Donna Williams, Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood, Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho, The Missing Persons League by Frank Bonham, When you are engulfed in flames by David Sedaris, Zigzag - A life on the move by James Houston, The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, The Human, The Orchid, and The Octopus by Jacques Cousteau, The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein, Touched by Fire by Elliott Leyton, The Way The Crow Flies by Ann-Marie MacDonald, ten poems to set you free by Roger Housden, ten poems to change your life by Roger Housden, The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill, The Cuban Way by Ana Julia Jatar-Hausmann, The Giver by Lois Lowry, Tracks by Robyn Davidson