90. Sarah, Marek Halter

Sarah, Marek Halter

I like historical fiction and I remember enjoying The Red Tent by Anita Diamant.

The problem I had with this book is its simplicity. And I mean that in the way that the writing was simple and almost -- almost like something I would have read in an undergrad writing workshop. And of course that bothers me. Because I can't get a book to sell and I'm reading things that are more poorly written than my own novels?

The plot was interesting. I actually went and reread Abraham and Sarah's story in Genesis to compare, and Halter does a good job. He picks up way before Genesis does with them and elaborates on a lot. It's like he took the Bible and filled in the white space. Of course I wouldn't necessarily have told it and invented it the same way, but for the part of the story, it was interesting.

It was just -- it took my too long to get through because I thought the writing wasn't as good as it could have been. And that's horrible to say, but it's true.

89. Tap and Gown, Diana Peterfreund

Tap and Gown, Diana Peterfreund

Oh. My. Gosh.

I feel like I have been kind of eh about a lot of books lately. So it was really nice to rush through this series for one reason: I LOVED IT. In fact, I loved it so much that after reading copies from the library, I bought them all so I have beautiful clean copied to reread over and over again. Which I will. Soon. Ha.

I did mention briefly the plot of the first book a few entries back, but I'll refresh your memory: Ivy League girl gets tap in the first class to accept women into a very prestigious, very elite, very secret society. And of course that means a lot of things can go wrong.

The first book deals with her being tapped. The second book deals with more repercussions. The third is a spring break fiasco. And the fourth has her class tapping the next class. That was in in a nutshell.

In a world of books where I find myself disliking one or more characters, even the narrator sometimes, I was thrilled that I liked everyone in these books. Even though you're probably not supposed to like them all, they didn't rub me as being "wrong" -- they were just REAL. And the boys! Oh, the boys. GUH.

I am fangirly. I know.

But you should read them. Now. No, don't think about it. Instead, log into B&N.com or your local library if you're cheap and GET THEM. NOW. Seriously.

88. Best American Short Stories 2008, Ed. Salman Rushdie

Best American Short Stories 2008, Edited by Salman Rushdie

I guess my problem is that I'm not "literary" enough. But I like to think that I know a good story when I read one. And there were, probably 4 in this collection of 20. Maybe five. So I would have to go with 1/4th of the stories that I enjoyed. Or understood, maybe.

I've been taught maybe things about the art of crafting a short story, and because of that I've had the time to develop my own opinions based on the opinions and teachings of others. One thing that I believe must hold true in a short story is that the main character must change, in some way. It doesn't have to be a big change, or a life-altering change, but I feel that if a character doesn't change -- if he is exactly the same at the end of a story as he was at the start -- then what was the point of wasting my time by writing about it?

A lot of these so-called short stories felt more like character studies. There was, for instance, no story. There was no plot, no action, no change -- it was just a piece of writing about a person who did this or did that or thought about something and interacted with someone and then it ended.

If these are the "best American short stories" then I feel sad. Because there has to be better storytelling out there, clearly untapped. Considering that many of the authors represented here are published over and over again.

Taken from my goodreads profile.

87. Rites of Spring (Break), Diana Peterfreund

Rites of Spring (Break), Diana Peterfreund

Again, will write about the series soon.

86. Under the Rose, Diana Peterfraund

Under the Rose, Diana Peterfreund

I will write about the whole series on the post for the fourth and final book.

85. Angry Conversations With God, Susan E Isaacs

Angry Conversations With God, Susan E. Isaacs

I think I really needed to read this book right now. I might not be in the same place as she is when she wrote it, but I'm pretty darn close at times. In fact, I actually used part of the book as illustration in my confirmation class the other night, when I told the kids that sometimes we might think we have it all planned out, that we know what we want and we're impatient because we're not getting it right now even through all the praying, but the fact is -- that's relying on our time and not on God's time. Because God has His own time, and he doesn't care about our timeline, but rather only about His.

I mentioned Jeremiah 29:11 -- "I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD."
Also the Pslam -- "Be still, and know that I am GOD."

I guess I've always know that, but it's so hard to remember. It's so hard to face the fact that we, while we do have free will, have little control over God's plans for us. He knows what's best and He'll do it when the time's right. Not necessarily when we expect or want it.

Once again, I've managed to find a writer who seems to say everything I wish I could say but didn't know how. And I like that when she felt God had abandoned her, she didn't give up. I've read a fair share of books like that, that aren't Christian inspiration but rather pushing God aside. Isaacs doesn't do that. She finds Him again.

84. Secret Society Girl, Diana Peterfreund

Secret Society Girl, Diana Peterfreund

Okay, seriously, this is quite possibly the best series I've read in a long time.

I wonder why I haven't been excited about secret societies before, but now I am, of course. But it's more than just the fun and mystery of the secret societies, it's also the fact that Diana Peterfreund is a great writer. It's no Great American novel, sure, but it's great escapism. Amy, the narrator, is witty, is fun, is believable (and that's the most important part of it!).

One of the things I use to judge a lot of the novels I read is believability. Now I personally know nothing about secret societies, but I know about college life, and I know about friendships and roommates. And those things she writes very well.

Not to mention, the intrigue and the excitement of the book just made me so happy.

So of course I had to go off and read the rest of the series. And now it's -- over. Four books are all over and that is so sad.

The plot, in a nutshell, is this: girl at an Ivy League school is tapped into the school's most illustrious and mysterious secret society, the one that has never let girls in before. And... go!

I don't want to give anything away. Just -- READ THEM.