Under the Tuscan Sun :

I started off really enjoying this book. It was as if I was right there with them fixing up the house and I was almost relieved when they (Frances Mayes and her significant other) could finally enjoy their new home and all the responsibilities that came along with it. Mostly the book kept getting me hungry (she constantly talked about food) and became a little dull near the end of the book, which was unexpected since I had enjoyed it so much in the beginning. I would still recommend this book, though, especially if you love cooking (I do), gardening, and fixing things up

The Chosen:

This book made me laugh and cry out of sheer warmness and happiness. This book is about two young men, Reuven Malter and Danny Saunders. They are two Jewish boys, growing up in New York during WWII. They start off hating each other because of their differences, but later become best friends. Their friendship was depicted so sincerely and so humanly that I have no words to describe it. This books is wonderful, because it doesn't just teach you about family and friendship, but also gives you an insight into Judaism, seeing as Danny is a Hasidim, while Reuven isn't. Though they are both Jewish, they are brought up very differently. Yet they find a common ground. I highly recommend this book!!!! If you want to know more about the author, Chaim Potok, click on his picture:

The Promise:

This book was a follow-up to "The Chosen." As someone who is very interested in Psychology, this book was a marvel. Potok has the strange ability to make the reader want to meet his characters, especially Danny Saunders and Reuven Malter. Danny Saunders, the young Hasidim who gave up his position in his community to study Psychology is faced with a tough case in young Michael Gordon, the son of a famous scholar. The story of Michael's healing is beautiful and teaches the reader about human nature.

Tara Road:

A great summer/beach read. It took me two days to read this 600+ pages and it was simply a delicious read. It's mostly about life on Tara Road in Dublin. It is about all those things that constitute life. Family, love, betrayal, spousal abuse, friendship, kindness, and grief. It made me laugh, cry, grimace and smile. It's really a wonderful read and I recommend it to everyone, although I believe that those of the female persuasion will especially enjoy it:)

Interviews::

Julia Alvarez

Isabel Allende

Article::

J.D. Salinger

Born Confused:

This book reminded me a lot of the movie, "Bend it Like Beckham." The story is about an Indian girl, living in suburban New Jersey with her family. Through her cousin and a nice, suitable Indian boy (of course, introduced to her by her parents) she gets reintroduced to her own culture. It's a funny, coming-of-age story!

Evening Class:

Another fun and easy read by Maeve Binchy. In a very "Magnolia" manner, she shows us how people are connected to each other without even realizing it. This book is filled with diverse characters, yet the author finds a creative way of getting them all together.

My Name is Asher Lev:

Chaim Potok in his usual brilliance gives us an amazin character in Asher Lev. This is a story about a young Hasid, who grows up in a very religious family in Brooklyn. There is one thing that is quite different about him, though. He is a talented artist. From a very young age all Asher is interested in is drawing. When his parents realize that this is not just a passing phase, they go to their Rebbe (spiritual leader) for advice. The Rebbe decides that Asher will study under another Jewish artist. Asher becomes torn between his art and his religion. Not wanting to forsake one for the other. Eventually he is asked to leave Brooklyn because of his art. This book was wonderful. Filled with raw human emotions and vivid imagery.

The Gift of Asher Lev:

We get to learn more about the elusive Asher Lev in this follow-up to "My Name is ASher Lev." The boy we once read about has turned into a man. Asher Lev is married, has two children and is living in France. After the death of his uncle, he sees himself obligated to return to Brooklyn. The planned week turns into a a months-long stay. This time the Rebbe asks something of Asher that is almost unimaginable. I'd rather not give any of it away...Just read it!!!!

Mi Pais Inventado: Un Paseo Nostalgico Por Chile :

This book is an okay read, especially for those who have been away from home for a while. It's strange how your memories get distorted over time. Things and places get frozen in your mind. This was, in my opinion, not one of Allende's best works....It had its charm, but it was very hard to get into at times.

The Book of Lights:

This book was very different from the other Potok books that I've read...yet it was the same. There was an undertone of isolation, uncertainty, and ambiguity. This book is about a young seminarian and Kaballah student, Gershon Loran, who gets sent to Korea as a Chaplain. He leaves behind his only family (an aunt and an uncle) and his girlfriend, Karen. In the desolate landscape of Korea, the beauty of Japan, and the death of one of his friends, we learn a lot about human nature and see Gershon Loran find his way out of darkness and into the light.

The Jews of Silence:

This book was Elie Wiesel's personal account of Russian Jewry. During his visit to various part of the then Soviet Union (including the Ukraine, Georgia, Moscow, etc.) he encounters a remarkable amount of fear amongst the Jews in Russia. Destalinization has taken place, yet the Jewish people were looked upon as foreigners, different. I got interested in knowing more (both historically and currently) about Russian Jewry after finding out that many Jewish Russians are still treated as second-class citizens. He helped to make the world aware of the plight of Jewish people attempting to survive in the Soviet Union. He has been seen by many as a pioneer in the liberation of Soviet Jews.

Interview::

Elie Wiesel

The Things They Carried:

In my freshamn year of college I took multicultural English from a Vietnam Vet. He was a published writer and he let us read some of his stories. Ever since then, I have been very interested in the Vietnam War and therefore also what has been written about it (especially novels). Naturally, I had to read Tim O'Brien's work. It was a great book. Gruesome at times, detached, grotesque even. It made me understand a lot of things better, though. I highly recommend this book!