Another very dark one by Koppelman. This one had me wondering how much of it is really autobiographical (because she admitted that some of it is, although certainly not the ending). A very sad example of post-partum depression and how it can affect a whole family.

Wow. Dark. You never really figure out what Laney's problem is (though it's definitely hinted at), why she is so self-destructive, or even why her husband loves her so much. She's a despicable person, and she knows it, and she seems to revel in it. Like she doesn't deserve any better, she doesn't deserve to have a good life. She's a self-fulfilling prophecy with serious Daddy issues. I understood her (which I maybe shouldn't admit), but I did wish there had been a little bit more explanation, if not redemption.

First couple of chapters were amazing, sucked me in, had my head tied into knots in a dizzying blissful meta-analysis of reading, books, the act of reading and the joy of it. After that, it just started to feel gimmicky.

I started this book at the beginning of the year, with the intention of reading it throughout this year's presidential campaign. I tried to keep up with about a chapter a month. Maybe I'm imagining it, but it was eerie how much the '72 election mirrored this one. Are they all like that? Anyway, everyone loves HST but some of the political minutia about people I've never heard of bored me to tears. On the other hand, A lot of the strategy involved, particularly involving deliberate leaking of information to the press was fascinating.

My book club read this book a couple of months ago. I'd dug it out of the book sale pile at work, a holdover from an old zoo book club. It's bizarre, but not necessarily in a good way. A neat enough idea, I suppose, but the execution left a lot to be desired. Not a big fan of Self's writing at all, there wasn't a plot to speak of, and I disliked most of the characters. Factor in a completely anti-climactic ending with a large build-up, and it was an overall disappointment.

This was a terrific read for me and was obviously meant to be the beginning of a series so I was devasted when Octavia Butler died just after the book was published.

Not one of Waugh's best, in my opinion, so I don't understand its enduring popularity. I didn't find any of the characters very sympathetic or interesting. Was that the point?

This wasn't... good, per se, but I read it in less than one day. I enjoyed it. I found myself thinking about the characters for a few days afterwards, and I've been talking about vampires more than I ever thought I'd find myself doing. The writing felt a bit stilted though. Some very awkward, unnatural sounding dialog grated on my nerves a bit. Borrowed from a friend, but I keep forgetting to talk to her about it.

Eugene Onegin is the only other Pushkin I've read... I picked this up in a used book store for $3 because I like EO so much, but was a bit disappointed. Some stories were better than others, but it ended with an unfinished short story. Unsatisfying! Overall, a mixed bag, and the 140 page eponymous story wasn't one of the highlights.

The best short story collection I read in 2008. It opens with a quiet but gut-wrenching song (the prose is that beautiful) of loss. Remember this author's name: Manuel Muñoz. He is a huge talent.

This is one of those rare book finds: a really good anthology, from start to finish. Times are tough, I know, so if you can't splurge on this one, pick it up and read Dan Simmons' opening story in the bookstore.

I'm enjoying this a lot. It's rather Dickensian -- and for me that means good.

A good and gripping book. Full of creepiness. I'll be looking for the sequel.

Not stunningly good, but any Dalziel and Pascoe is better than no Dalziel and Pascoe. The long sections of italics (as Dalziel speaks into a mini-recorder) and bold face type (email of one of the characters) are sort of hard to take.

If anybody reads this, I need to know what you think about the social worker and the wheelchair. Please.

Where else but silver-age comics can you find the wonder of a time-traveling boomerang?

I'm getting a surprisingly big kick out of the fact that Barack Obama and I are reading the same book.

Wrapped this up yesterday. Let's just say I liked it a WHOLE lot more than Michiko Kakutani did.

Turned the last page tonight on this satisfying read. Sarah, I'll be sending it your way; it think it could be a cuppa for you.