The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

The use of an adolescent female German (as opposed to Jewish -- Anne Frank, Hannah, etc) protagonist offered a different perspective on WW2. The narrator's (Death) humour juxtaposed to the internal dialogue of the young girl was deliberately and effectively disturbing. I found the Liesel's attempts to deal with repeated loss overwhelmingly sad. This is a novel which will stay with me for a long time.

The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls

This is a tough book to read -- not because of its language or style -- rather because of its content. It is a story of survival, courage and hope. I don't know if I will read it again as it is just so tragic it breaks my heart.

The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield

While normally I do not really enjoy mysteries, I was drawn into the twists and turns of this novel. I will probably read it again as I am sure that I have missed many of the parallels suggested not only by the multiple twins but the act of a novel within a novel. So many good books, so little time....

Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

Although this novel includes a time travel element, its story is timeless--girl and boy fall in love, their love is exceptional but there's a problem. The writing style is detailed and realistic, embroidered with allusions to art, music, poetry and mythology. A lovely story, well told, but not terribly innovative or thought provoking.

The Abortionist's Daughter - Elisabeth Hyde

Despite the title, I found this book to be a light read. Rather than delve into the arguments and issues surrounding the Right to Life/Abortion debate, Elisabeth Hyde presents the reader with a murder at the beginning of the novel. The victim's relationships and the lives of her family are revealed --and, of course, the mystery solved. This book is a well-written page-turner, not a fierce intellectual discussion.

Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett

While not being the biggest fan of Historical Fiction but having read many of Ken Follett's novels as a teenager and knowing that the man could write, I began this book thinking...hmmm, this is an Oprah book, hmmm, this was recommended to me by a highly intelligent friend, hmmm, this is about churches, hmmm, I don't think I am going to like this and it looks really really long. In a nutshell, I was ambivalent. However, holding this heavy tome in my hands quickly became no chore to me as I became swept up in the plot and the characters. I loved this book! Would I recommend it? For sure...all 973 pages.

Things I've Been Silent About - Azar Nafisi

I loved this book! I found that Nafisi doesn't pull punches when discussing her private life and the secrets of mysterious Iran. Her storytelling skills make this a much easier read than her other book, Reading Lolita In Tehran. Things I've Been Silent About reveals intimate details of an important, well-connected family as well as the moral struggles of young intellectuals squeezed by political times. Absolutely mesmerizing and informative.