The Darkest Child

This book was similar in the vein of The Help, but much more raw and gritty. This book has scenes in that I will never forget. They were shocking and harsh. The characters all had a lot of depth to them. They grew and they changed. I enjoy books about this period in American history. This was a great addition to it. It was really well written and I would love to read anything else that Delores Phillips has to offer

The Girls of Riyadh

This book was pretty much fluff, even though I admit it kept me entertained. It was pretty much chick-lit about Saudi women. On the back it says, "Imagine Sex and the City if the city in question were Riyadh," and that is exactly what this book was. I admit, I am a fan of Sex and the City, so I could even picture of which of the four women in the book compared to the characters in Sex in the City. Again, not much too this book -- but it kept me entertained until the end.

Half and Life -- Darin Strauss

The book packed a powerful punch being so short. A lot of people spend time thinking about the actual victim in a tragedy like this, along with the family. This book turned it around and focused on the survivor turned victim of the tragedy. It's quite powerful really to think and see the other side of the coin. The one incident utterly and completely changed the life of Darin Strauss. From that day on a day didn't pass when Celine, a person her hardly knew before that day. He hid this fact from the world very well, but it was eating at him every single day. It's funny to think how many people are walking around out there with something similar eating at them that they think no one else would be able to understand. The sad thing is, that just isn't true. People are living with tragedies just like this, or illness that changed their lives, even though now it seems that there is nothing wrong with them. I am sure this book will help many people cope and hopefully encourage them to find someone else out there to talk to about it.

The Zigzag Way

This book was interesting. I absolutely love the style of writing. It was vivid and really beautiful. It had a magical realism touch to it, which I loved. The story on the other hand seemed to mirror it's title. It zig-zagged all over the place. I understand what the author was getting at, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if the story just focused on one set of characters instead of the three. Or, if the book was longer had more time to focus on the characters. There was a lot of depth for the characters in such a short bit of text! But I could have kept on reading about each of them long after the story stopped. I was particularly intrigued by the character of Dona Vera. I loved her! I wish there was a whole book just based on her.

Night -- Elie Wiesel

It's taken me a few days to digest this book. I have been meaning to read this for sometime and I finally sat down and read it in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. Stunning and upsetting all in one. I know other people have probably said this before, but one of the most powerful books about the Holocaust that I have read. This one is going to sit with me for a long time. I am now interested in reading this follow up called All Rivers Run to the Sea to see what his life was like after the war.

Nomad -- Ayaan Hirsi Ali

I have mixed feeling about Hirsi Ali and this book. I really enjoyed Infidel and it was eye opening. This book on the other hand, I feel like was her recaping Infidel and then adding in all her opinions on Muslims and how they should change or other countries should change. I agree with a few things she states in this book, but on the other hand I don't agree in many aspects. I work with Muslims on daily basis and I see many of the things she refers too, but I have also met many men and women who were able to assimilate just fine. Though she brings up many very interesting points, sometime I cannot relate to her way of thinking.

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down

What a stunning book. I absolutely loved this one. I work with refugees and immigrants on a daily basis and this one really hit home. I always knew that the medical systems was very difficult for them to navigate, but this book pointed out many things that had never crossed my mind. One thing I particularly liked was how the doctors vulnerability really showed through. I think so many people think that doctors just know everything and can work magic, but this book shows that this isn't the case. I was also interested in the history of the Hmong. Fadiman really did an amazing job with this book.