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.
is a strange trip into the world of teenage drugs and sex in New York. The book is a series of narratives that follow characters that eventually end up connecting in an interesting way. The book reads quick and mostly follows White Mike, a clean drug dealing teen who experiences a lot in the few days that the book takes place. Read this book if you like quick reads, if you're interested in rough teen stories, or if you want a shock. I give it a 7.5 out of 10.
is a retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. It takes place in 16th century Tuscany and follows a loose historical reference to a family named Borgia. Bianca serves as Snow White, a beautiful girl who is left along on her father's estate when he is asked to go on an impossible mission for the Borgia family. The Borgia sister soon becomes jealous of Bianca and asks a hunter to kill her. The basic story of Snow White is here, but the history and the strange magical dwarves tend to bog the story down. Definitely not as good as 
is his memoir of his times with Nathaniel Ayers, a homeless man who has an amazing musical talent. Lopez is a columnist for the LA Times when he meets Ayers playing a broken violin on the streets of LA. Ayers pushes a full shopping cart around LA and practices his violin when he can. After some research, Lopez discovers that Ayers was a student at Juliard before being diagnosed with schizophrenia. Lopez begins a friendship with Ayers which is challenging and difficult most of the time, but very rewarding as well. Read this book if you like memoirs, if you like stories of friendship, or if you're interested in the 
. I give it an 8 out of 10.
is about Janie Crawford, an African-American woman living in 1930s Florida. Janie tells the story of her life to her friend Phoeby, a story that involves three husbands. Only Janie's third husband, Tea Cake, shows her the true meaning of love and loss. Janie tells Phoeby in the end that one must ultimately know herself in order to know the world. The book includes heavy dialect that may be difficult for some to understand at first, but it's truly an intriguing story. Read this book if you enjoy Harlem Renaissance literature, if you want to read a story about a strong woman, or if you are interested in reading an American Literature classic. I give it a 9 out of 10.
is a story about young love told from two alternating perspectives: Cal and Eliot. Cal is fifteen and travels with her mom, a wench at Renaissance Fairs, from job-to-job. Eliot is fifteen and lives with his parents on a Christian fat camp for kids. When the two meet, they find that their love for each other can help them deal with their odd parents and strange circumstances. However, those very same things they need to deal with might keep the two of them apart. Read this book if you like teen romance, if you want a quick read, or if you like stories told from more than one perspective. I give it a 7 out of 10.
is her memoir about the year following her husband's death. Joan and John were married several years when John died instantly of heart failure. At the same time, their grown daughter, Quintana, lies in a hospital bed with a serious illness. Joan describes this strange time when she must come to terms with her husband's absence. She reflects greatly on their marriage, their daughter, and the mysteries of grief. Read this book if you've lost a loved one, if you like books that follow the stream of consciousness, or if you want something depressing. I give it a 6 out of 10.