Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? by Dr. Seuss

Youth Fiction - 5 stars

In honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday...

I absolutely love this book. Much like Oh, The Places You'll Go, this book is a lengthy work of inspirational creative writing. Beyond the inspiration, Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? teaches something very important, perspective. I think this is something kids need in the midst of epidemics of excess and self pity. Nothing brings you out of feeling sorry for yourself faster than thinking of someone who has it worse than you. This book teaches that in a fun way, without the downer that comes with thinking of the starving and destitute ("There are starving kids in Africa that would love to eat that" - ring any bells?)  I highly recommend for the tween and teen crowds, and I've enjoyed it as a reminder into adulthood.

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner

Fiction - 2 stars

I gave this book 2 stars only because I am supposed to appreciate it as a work of fine literature. Never before reading this, and not since I read Love in the Time of Cholera have I experienced such a violent dislike of book or a writer. Now, I am not a huge Hemingway fan, but I would read A Farewell to Arms once a week for a year before I would pick up another Faulkner work. If you are a Faulkner fan, I am sorry if I've offended you. However, "No way, Jose - you can't make me" is what I would say if anyone asked me to read Faulkner again. Can you tell I didn't like it?

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Fiction - 5 stars

If you've never read this book, you absolutely are missing one of the best stories ever told. It is the story of Huck Finn and Jim, the runaway slave that he takes with him down the Mississippi. This sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is truly a classic, and I am glad to have read it. 

The Life and Death of a Druid Prince by Anne Ross and Don Robins

Non-fiction - 4 stars
In August, 1984, a body was discovered in a peat bog in Lindow Moss, near Manchester, England. After further study, it was determined that the 2000-year old remains, known as "Lindow Man", belonged to a 30-year-old druid priest,  sacrificed to the gods in 60 A.D. following a series of disasters. Ross, a Celtic specialist and archaeologist, and Robins, a chemist specializing in archaeology, reconstructed the events around the sacrifice, even going so far as to determine his last meal. This book is for anyone interested in Druid beliefs and practices, history, and archaeology.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Fiction - 5 stars

Not for the faint of heart, this 1500+ page (in small print, I might add) tomme is a masterpiece of storytelling if ever there was one. The story of several characters and timelines, some seemingly insignificant, weaves through the book to culminate into a satisfying and epic conclusion. It only took me two years to read it!

By the way, the movie starring Jim Caviezel is a good adaptation, but nothing beats the book.

Giada at Home by Giada de Laurentiis

Non-Fiction/Cooking - 5 stars

I love this cookbook!!! Every single recipe I've made from it has been delicious and addictive. Giada plays with different flavors, and always comes up with a delectable Italian-American treat. My favorite? The Pomegranate Mint Sorbet. To die for on a hot summer day. My only complaint is an obsession with flat-leaf parsley. Not my favorite flavor, but I either omit or substitute with cilantro.

Note: Because I am reading the third book in the Game of Thrones series (A Storm of Swords), and it is around 1,047 pages, I will be posting other types of books for a while. Maybe a long while at the rate I'm reading it. :)