. Thanks Ashley... I am finally reading this.And this turned into quite a gripping book. She captures the voice of the young woman that she is. Also, as she describes the slippery slope into alcohol abuse during her college years, she paints a picture to which many young women can relate. Some of the story's content is extremely mature, but the reader experiences the escapades which arise when a drunken encounter goes bad. One point that truly struck me was the beauty with which she writes. The book is painted with literary allusions and wonderful references obviously the result of an intelligent young woman. All in all a striking book. I look forward to more from the author

. Living in Cape May, this tells a very real story of which most of us are at least tangentially aware. He intertwines his mothers newspaper stories with his interpretations of those events. As he tells the story it becomes fascinating watching events pan out and seeing how often misfortune brings rather surprising events that can in fact have a positive spin. Some of the episodes have a warm ring while others tell a painful heartfelt story. All in all a poignant tribute to his mother quite along the lines of Tuesdays with Morrie.

. This provides a wonderful glimpse inside the writer's mind as he composes the great AMerican novel. You must be a Steinbeck fan to enjoy this as it covers both the spectacular and the mundane. However, it is fascinating to listen to his doubts regarding the hope for success in this book. Also, he undergoes house repairs and construction during the writing and listening to his frustration made me feel comfortable as I am undergoing the same right now. Just to experience his thinking process as he writes makes working days a must read. As a companion for The Grapes of Wrath, I cannot think of a better book. If you invested ( or invested) the time to read The Grapes of Wrath then take the time to read Working Days.

.While Callahan's book might not present the greatest writing style, he does offer insight into a rampant problem in academia and society in general. He examines the nature of cheating and how society has accepted a whatever it takes mentality to get ahead. He traces the instances of Sears and how they have pushed their mechanics to cheat consumers. He spends some time also looking at colleges and how the students do not look at cheating to gain an advantage. Too much of the book does not tie together and I did not see a blending of the concepts from this book. Still, For the information and anyone involved in education will find this book extremely enlightening. Overall I found this to be a worthwhile read and would recommend the book to anyone interested in cultural changes.

A light-hearted look at Taoism through the lens of Star Wars. Easy enough to read, this books 128 pages looks at the fundamental principles of taoist philosophy and finds characters in the STar Wars series that embody those characteristics. I found this to be similar to Benjamin Hoff's The Tao of Pooh, but offering a more modern sense to the information. You can easily read this book in one day; however, I would recommend a slower read in which you digest each of the key points and think about how these points can apply to your life. Take time to sit down and savor this. Perhaps allow the first read to be a one day read, but after that go back and digest some of the key elements.

Wow, I was quite impressed with this book. A fantastic collection of essays examining how elements in star wars can explain classic philosophers views. Additionally, this collection looks at how we can examine social issues through a philosophic lens. For instance, do droids have the same rights as humans? What exactly defines us as human? Teaching philosophy in my Advanced Placement English Language class, this book will be a most read for some of the articles. I am most impressed with a reading of Plato's Republic using the Jedi order as a means to understand exactly the forms of government that Plato was advocating. Absolutely a brilliant read that brings to light many of the points Plato was making. Overall, almost all of these essays are worth the read and can actually stem further questions to go from this point.

I came across this book when my brother was reading it. He informed me that Fleming traces the history of his father's relationship with Frank Hague in Jersey City. Furthermore, it helps that this is not only set in the same city but also in the same district as my grandfather and father grew up. Through this telling account of his father and the politics of Jersey City, we read an account of how Irish politicians dealt with the power plays and how Frank Hague managed to ascertain power. In many ways Thomas Fleming recounts the admiration that a son has watching his father through the years. Fleming has a tremendous style and tells an engaging story that keeps your reading. If you have any interest in Jersey City, Irish-American culture, or politics in general this is a must read. This was one of my surprise hits that came this summer.

While I never have been a lifeguard, growing up in Wildwood Crest I was surrounded by friends who worked on the beach and attending parties with various lifeguard friends. This book encapsulates the life of about thirty lifeguards from 1940 to present day. The book recounts wonderful stories but at times comes across disjointed and awkward. I had a hard time following the shifts that were made. Gordan Hesse admittedly states that he leaves the stories in the lifeguards own words. If nothing else this offers a perspective on the fun and stress involved in those men and women sitting on the red and white stands. Overall, a light read that can be put down and picked up when ever you hope to continue the story.

After reading Atonement, I looked forward to another boof by McEwan. Thankfully, the wait paid off. This book looks at one Saturday in the life of London neurosurgeon Henry Perowne. From waking up at 4:00 a.m. seeing a plane descending wildly into Heathrow, Henry's day spins out of control. McEwan amazingly balances the delicate story with a sensational character development. Understanding how caught up in life Perowne has become. McEwan maintains even the slightest element of the plot and manages to blend each of these components in a sensational denouement. The interaction of characters brings the essence of each personality to its fullest. This is a book to be savored.

An absolutely joyful read. I cannot state enough about Russo's ability to create a character. His novels do not expand from what happens as much as how the characters deal with what happens. The story of Sully, Rub, Wirf, the one-legged lawyer, and Carl as they encounter the ups and downs of living in Bath. I have savored much of this book but also I have been caught in the middle of construction and my wife has said "I have never seen you take so long to finish a book." The amazing thing is Russo paints the images so vividly that even with a delay in reading I still have managed to stay on top of the book. Russo brings the book to a beautiful close. You can really identify with the heart of Donald Sullivan as he attempts to be a good person. Russo show perhaps the strongest ability to develop character traits and make his characters fully believable. An amazing read that will keep you laughing as you go.

From the author of About a Boy and High Fidelity, comes the unlikely story of a quartet brought together in the unlikeliest of circumstances. Somehow, the thought of suicide and a half hearted attempt at jumping bonds these four characters. As they each take a turn at telling their story, Hornby artistically holds the voices as distinct yet interacting from the previous narrators point. From Maureen's overwhelming lack of a life due to caring for a retarded child to Jess's carefree almost spoiled outlook we see diverse characters bounce through a shaky development until the almost dues ex machina like ending. overall a fun light read. While the book provides wonderful insights into human nature it requires little deep reading.

Carlos Eire provides a tremendous insight into the lives of the airlifted children from Cuba. As the child of wealthy parents, his perspective translates into a unique perspective. He maintains a childlike narrative that often does not even attempt to interpret events but merely account how things have transpired. All of this is eloquently penned in a hypnotic often magical voice. In many way the magical realism of Gabriel Garcia Marequez comes through in this account. It comes off as very rooted in the cuban tradition in style and content. This accounts for a must read for any and all revolutionaries as an account of the fallout. Eires provides a poignant and heartfelt novel.

Blink is about the first two seconds of looking--the decisive glance that knows in an instant. Gladwell, the best-selling author of The Tipping Point, campaigns for snap judgments and mind reading with a gift for translating research into splendid storytelling. Building his case with scenes from a marriage, heart attack triage, speed dating, choking on the golf course, selling cars, and military maneuvers, he persuades readers to think small and focus on the meaning of "thin slices" of behavior. The key is to rely on our "adaptive unconscious"--a 24/7 mental valet--that provides us with instant and sophisticated information to warn of danger, read a stranger, or react to a new idea.
Gladwell includes caveats about leaping to conclusions: marketers can manipulate our first impressions, high arousal moments make us "mind blind," focusing on the wrong cue leaves us vulnerable to "the Warren Harding Effect" (i.e., voting for a handsome but hapless president). In a provocative chapter that exposes the "dark side of blink," he illuminates the failure of rapid cognition in the tragic stakeout and murder of Amadou Diallo in the Bronx. He underlines studies about autism, facial reading and cardio uptick to urge training that enhances high-stakes decision-making. In this brilliant, cage-rattling book, one can only wish for a thicker slice of Gladwell's ideas about what Blink Camp might look like. --Barbara Mackoff

I stumbled upon this from a review in Time Magazine about the top 25 books. A graphic novel topping a list of books surprised me, but I know from my youthful Silver Surfer reading days they can contain some good information. Apparently, this was the comic series which changed the face of comics. No longer were super heroes pure do gooders. Suddenly, they had issues and grappled with their own anger and relationships. We see a world in which super heroes have all but retired when one of these masked avengers is murdered. Now, a group of reluctant hereos bonds together to get to the root of the problem. Throughout this novel echoes a sub plot regarding the U.S. relationship with the Soviet Union and the aftermath of an extended Nixon administration. The Watchmen poses some interesting questions and asks the reader to look inside themselves living in a world which can be darker than we realize.

Just started last night so ask me in 1032 pages... . Well. Mailer becomes fairly accessible in this disturbing piece that takes you in the mind of a killer. In a blunt tell all we hear from each of those involved in a power journalistic account. I do not know if I can say you sympathize, but clearly we are taken in minds that can make us quite uncomfortable. The story, that off Gary Gilmore and Nicole Baker, looks at the love and tragedy that followed their relationship. The book touches off healthy questions about prison, the death penalty, and the judicial system. Mailer has a home run in The Executioners Song.

And we officially kick off the L.C.M.R. teacher's book club. Something that has been sought for so long comes to fruition and McCourt's book was the inaugural choice. Another memoir in the line of Angela's Ashes and Tis. This time we explore the time McCourt spent teaching in the New York. One aspect that was pointed out to me was this book uses teacher as an adjective. It is more the story of a journey to Manhood through his experience teaching than a story about teachers. He captures that same Irish storytelling ability that ran through the previous two memoirs and pulls the reader powerfully along. If you are looking for insight into the teacher's experience and the growth that follows read Pat Conroy's The Water is Wide. If you loved his other books than this book is for you as well.

L.C.M.R. book choice number two. It is February 7 and I need to both start and finish the novel by February 19th. I will let you know