Book Reviews by Today, I Read…

As I look back at the books I read in 2009, I’m lost in a swirl of emotions—mostly good, but some less so. There were many books I loved, but only a few made the top of my “books I’m glad I read” list. (I tried to narrow it down to five, but it just wasn’t working for me.)

Revisiting Childhood

• Island of the Blue Dolphin by Scott O’Dell: This was a book I read as a child and has great sentimental value to me. Reading it again was like traveling back in time.
• The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle: The movie was something I loved and learning that there was a book left me breathless. I only wish I could have continued the journey. (review)
• Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes: All I will say about this is I cried again.
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis: Ah, the memories. This book was the inspiration for my magical closet under the stairs which would transport me to my own little world.

Books I Should Have Read Sooner, But Didn’t

• Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen: It’s amazing how much presumption can cloud one’s judgment. This book made me want to fall in love. (book notes)
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte: Where to begin? This book was a wild ride. Especially when you consider that everyone was bat**** crazy. Corrupted love spanning generations…what could be better? (teaser, sunday sketch)
• The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan: This book was pure unadulterated fun to read. Somehow everything just clicked—the emotions, the adventure, the humor.

Books That Stayed With Me

• The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett: The lengths to which someone would go for love of a good book. Read more like a novelized memoir of Hoover discovering the world of book antiquities rather than the memoir of a man who loved books too much.
• The Miles Between by Mary Pearson: A book must connect with me on a deep level to draw tears. This book did just that…and it made me cackle in the same breath. A sweet fairytale that deals with a tough subject. (sunday sketch)

There’s still quite a few books that I’ve yet to review, but would like to. That will probably take up most of the early weeks. And although I’m a little sad to see 2009 go, I look forward to discovering some wonderful titles in 2010.

Recent Arrivals chronicles the books that have made their way onto the Today, I Read… bookshelf. Here’s the latest arrival: The Autobiography of an Execution by David R. Dow

First line: If you knew at precisely what time on exactly what day you [...]

Initial thoughts:

I have mixed feelings about this book.

When it comes to the legal system, I have quite an interest. When it comes to capital punishment, I tend to lean toward the "don’t do it" camp…then I hear about some grisly and heinous act and I think "maybe just this once."

The other reason I have reservations about this book is because I tend to be rather empathetic while reading. The mere thought of getting up close and personal with someone sitting on Death Row waiting for the minutes to shuffle by so that someone can declare him dead just made my head spin.

But (isn’t there always a but?) I’m intrigued. What actually goes on? How many lives are affected? Think about the butterfly effect…

I’ve already read the first few pages and I have two thoughts: 1) the writing style will take some getting used to; and 2) this isn’t going to be light reading.

Book description:

As a lawyer, David R. Dow has represented over 100 death row cases. Many of his clients have died. Most were guilty. Some might have been innocent. The Autobiography of an Execution is his deeply personal story about justice, death penalty, and a lawyer’s life.

It is a chronicle of a life lived at paradoxical extremes: Witnessing executions and then coming home to the loving embrace of his wife and young son, who inquire about his day. Waging moral battles on behalf of people who have committed abhorrent crimes. Fighting for life in America’s death penalty capital, within a criminal justice system full of indifferent and ineffectual judges. Racing against time on behalf of clients who have no more time.

Book Details: 288 pages; Twelve; Pub. February 3, 2010

Learn more:

• official website

I’ve missed the Sunday Sketch feature and today, I was sketching up a storm. Unfortunately, I spent most of the day sketching random ideas that popped into my head rather than a scene or character from one of my current reads…which is why today’s Sunday Sketch is unfinished.

I decided to stop and post it up before the clock officially struck midnight so that it would still qualify as a Sunday Sketch.

Initially I planned to do a scene from Oscar Wilde’s The Selfish Giant fairytale—there was a scene that I thought would be perfect—but  I couldn’t quite get what was in my head onto paper, so I ended up going with something that was yelling to be sketched: a stolen embrace between Destiny and Seth from The Miles Between.

Although they never truly kiss, they had such a lovely low-key romance blossoming through the story that it warms my heart just thinking about it.

When I do finish it, I’ll post that up too. For now, I hope you enjoy what’s done so far.

I know it’s been a while since I’ve updated, but that’s because my nose has been either in:

1. a book
2. mountains of wrapping paper
3. ink
4. prior obligations

But I wanted to suspend this brief hiatus to wish you all a wonderful holiday season. Once everything calms down a bit, I’ll be back in full force and I have some great things planned (especially for newsletter subscribers). So on a parting note: eat, drink, be merry (and above all, safe)!

Recent Arrivals chronicles the books that have made their way onto the Today, I Read… bookshelf. Here’s the latest arrival: Numbers by Rachel Ward

First line: There are places kids like me go. Sad kids, bad kids, [...]

Initial thoughts:  I can’t remember the name of the blog, but I remember reading a synopsis of the book and thinking to myself, I want to read that book.

Then lo and behold, the book fairy delivered a copy to me (OK, it was really the publisher via the postal lady) and I did a little happy dance.

It’s about a girl who can look into someone’s eyes and see the date of their death. There’s a bit more to it, but that’s the gist.

The premise just sounds intriguing, no? Right up my alley.

Book description:

By the Numbers…

"Listen, Jem." The words came spitting out of her face. "I don’t need this today, so just…shut…up." Syllables stinging like angry wasps, her venom fizzing all around me. And all the time, as we sat eye-to-eye, her number was there, stamped on the inside of my skull: 10102001.

Four years later, I watched a man in a scruffy suit write it down on a piece of paper:

Date of Death: 10/10/2001

Book Details: 336 pages; Chicken House; Pub. February 2010