So Yesterday

So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld is about the world of cool hunting. Hunter is one such cool hunter which means he finds Innovators, people who come up with new ways to be cool, and steals their style in order to spread the new idea of cool. When Hunter meets the Innovator, Jen, his world gets turned upside down as he is led on a chase to find his missing boss, discover the origin of some mysterious shoes, and uncover a conspiracy that goes deeper than he thought. While the beginning of the story seems somewhat interesting, the end of the story is anticlimactic and unimaginative.  In general, the book is a giant disappointment from an author who shows promise in his other books. Read this book if you like letdowns, if you are interested in weird worlds that make you roll your eyes, or if you like predictable, boring reads. I give it a 2 out of 10.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith is the first in a series about Precious Ramotswe, the first lady detective in all of Botswana, Africa. After Precious lost her father, she used her inheritance to buy a home and a business. She doubts whether or not she will be able to stay open and have enough business to pay her bills, but she somehow manages to keep a steady flow of clients who seek her advice and detective skills. Several cases are solved in this first book, and the reader gains several bits of knowledge about Precious' life. Precious is such an endearing and honest character, that I couldn't help but fall in love with her and root for her along the way. Read this book if you enjoy detective stories, if you like stories with great main characters, or if you have seen the HBO series and want to read the fun, easy, and fast inspiration. I give it a 9 out of 10.

Go Ask Alice

Go Ask Alice is a supposed real life diary of a fifteen year old girl and her descent into the world of drugs. Speaking to her "one true friend" (her diary) the teenager confesses that she enters into the world of drugs accidentally when slipped some acid at a party. From that point forward, the girl is hooked on various types of drugs that she gets from new friends. The journey follows her from her home to San Francisco and back. The words sometimes seem to come straight from the mouth of a teenager, while other times I started to wonder what teenager ever spoke with such eloquence. After reading some of the controversy online, I truly believe that this was never a real life diary. Find out for yourself, but beware the outdated feel of the book as it's from the 1960s. Read this book if you like diaries, if you enjoy reading teen fiction about drug use, or if you want to see for yourself if you think it's authentic. I give it a 6 out of 10.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson is a thriller surrounding Mikael Blomkvist, a financial journalist who has recently dealt with a major blow to his career. He is asked to write the family history of a wealthy Swedish business family. However, the head of the family asks Mikael to secretly uncover the mystery of the disappearance of his favorite niece some forty years prior. With the help of Lisbeth Salandar (the girl whom the book is titled for), Mikael uncovers a strange world of family corruption and secrecy.  The best parts of this thriller are those that surround the family and the parts involving Lisbeth. The frame story of Mikael dealing with legal trouble in the business world, quite frankly, is unnecessary and dull. Read this book if you like thrillers, if you're interested in the business world, or if you want a quick and dirty read. I give it a 6.5 out of 10.

When You are Engulfed in Flames

When You are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris is a humorous collection of essays that pertain to death or dying. David recalls tales from his life and the people who have been a part of his life. The stories seem disconnected at first, but Sedaris seems to hold his stories together by a string of humor. My favorite story was the one about his cranky old lady neighbor. I also particularly enjoyed his recollection of his struggle to stop smoking. Read this book if you enjoy David Sedaris, you like humorous essays, or if you want to read quick and easy sections of a book. I give it a 7 out of 10.

Brisingr

Brisingr by Christopher Paolini is the third book in the Inheritance Cycle. It follows Eragon's and Saphira's journey after their success during Battle of The Burning Plains. Eragon is faced with several choices as he struggles to fulfill the several duties and oaths he has taken on in the last two books. First, he must help his cousin, Roran, save Katrina from the Ra'zac. Then, he must follow Nasuada's demands for what she feels is right for the Varden. Eragon must decide who he is faithful to and what he must do in order to help bring down the evil king Galbatorix. The book was very well written and leaves the reader wanting to find out how the cycle ends in the fourth book (yet to be titled or released). Read this book if you like fantasy, if you read the first two books, or if you're interested in young adult fiction. I give it a 9 out of 10.

The Hours

The Hours by Michael Cunningham follows the lives of three women during three different time periods. In 1920s London, Virginia Woolf begins thinking about writing her later famous novel Mrs. Dalloway. In 1949 Los Angeles, Laura Brown reads the novel while trying to come to terms with her suburban life that she can't seem to settle into. In present day New York, Clarissa Vaughan is planning a party for a dear friend. The book starts a little slow, but picks up when you want to discover how these three women are connected. Laura Brown's story, for me, was the most intriguing, but the end of the book really tied up loose ends that might have left me wondering. Read this book if you like books about women, if you like interconnected narratives, or if you're interested in books that are turning into films. I give it an 9 out of 10.