Pages

Books I Read This Month - March 2012

Here are the books I read in the month of March! And remember I'll be participating in the A-Z blog challenge in April! See you then. :)


A Killer's Essence — Dave Zeltserman

A series of brutal murders and a mentally unstable witness leads a detective to question the existence of supernatural powers. A crime thriller with paranormal elements, this book explores the balance of good and evil in souls. An intriguing and quick read.


To the Lighthouse
— Virginia Woolf

A disabled boy desires to travel to the lighthouse near his home, which he can see out his bedroom window, but his parents are afraid to take him. This may be the only plot line, and a weak one at that, but the philosophy behind the story is worth the read. While the prose can be hard to follow, the characters in this novel are dynamic and interesting. Virginia Woolf is a classic, modernist writer, and I believe everyone should read at least one of her books. This is the only one I've read so far, so I'm not sure if this is the one I'd recommend.


Wise Blood
— Flannery O'Connor

After reading Flannery O'Connor's short fiction, I didn't know she could be funny, and while I was not surprised by this book's wonderfully written prose, I was surprised that I enjoyed the main character's journey more than those of O'Connor's other works. A young man moves to a new town, meets some intriguing and unique characters, and has a crisis of faith, founding The Church Without Christ. I very much liked this book. O'Connor is inching her way up my favorite writers list.


The Mysterious Island
— Jules Verne

This classic is a fun, thrilling adventure story that I just couldn't put down! Even though it's quite long, over 600 pages, it is fast-paced, and the mysteriousness of the mysterious island upon which these five explorers crash is exciting. The occasional deus ex machina may turn some readers off, however.


The Sorrows of an American — Siri Hustvedt

Psychologist Erik Davidsen recalls episodes from his childhood and reads excerpts from his deceased father's writing works and memoirs while contemplating the meaning of freedom and forgiveness. Written in beautiful language, this book has great literary value. I would recommend it, especially to you, my fellow literature lovers.


The Fry Chronicles — Stephen Fry

As a British comedy lover, I absolutely had to read this book. I've already read Stephen Fry's first memoir and his four works of fiction, and this (his second memoir, which documents his college years and the beginning of his comedy acting career) made me love his work even more.