false 9 59 58 true 5671194 read 0 true 4648850 currently-reading 1 true 4648849 to-read <![CDATA[Leslie added 'Eragon']]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/54852127 to: Eragon (Inheritance, #1) by Christopher Paolini
meh. I borrowed this book from a friend a long time ago and felt bad about not having returned it yet so I got down to business and finally read it. It's a lot of rehash of ideas already out there. The read was slow going at first but in the end I started to be more into the story. Again, I say "meh". ]]> <![CDATA[Leslie added 'Cut']]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78955396 to: Cut (Paperback) by Patricia McCormick
It was an interesting look into the mind of a person who engages in self-mutilation. Having worked with young females with issues this brought back some "lovely" memories. ]]> <![CDATA[Leslie added 'Paula Deen: It Ain't All About the Cookin'']]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77768744 to: Paula Deen: It Ain't All About the Cookin' (Hardcover) by Paula Deen
This lady is definitely a character. I enjoyed learning more about her life and how she ended up where she is today. Someday I'll go back and look a little harder at the recipes she put in the book. I'm in the queasy stage of pregnancy so food doesn't have quite the same appeal to me as it usually does. It sure does make me sad that I don't have a whole lot of cooking heritage in my own family. I guess I'm going to have to create some of my own. ]]> <![CDATA[Leslie added 'Kafka on the Shore']]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/49839523 to: Kafka on the Shore (Paperback) by Haruki Murakami
Murakami's novels are definitely mind-bending, but I just do not love his voice. It's way to "male" for my tastes. I start enjoying the fantastical elements and then penises start running amok and it's all over for me. ]]> <![CDATA[Leslie added 'Catching Fire']]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/76160117 to: Catching Fire (Hunger Games, #2) by Suzanne Collins
This has been a really enjoyable young adult series for me. I don't like that I'm going to have to wait awhile for the final book in the trilogy. ]]> <![CDATA[Leslie added 'Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary']]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75264593 to: Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary (Fablehaven, #4) by Brandon Mull
]]> <![CDATA[Leslie added 'Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague']]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/73476442 to: Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague (Fablehaven, #3) by Brandon Mull
I am happy to report that the series has not fallen back, but remains enjoyable in the 3rd book. It's still not the greatest writing in a children's book, but the story has got me hooked. ]]> <![CDATA[Leslie added 'Gilead: A Novel']]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/69857558 to: Gilead: A Novel (Paperback) by Marilynne Robinson
This is the second time I read this book and it's just as good the second time around. I can't say enough good about Marilynne Robinson and her writing. Not only does she jam pack her novels full of nuggets of wisdom, but also she manages a beauty of expression that is awe-inspiring. Her characters in Gilead are religious and realistically flawed, but redeemable for the struggle they make to be better. It was hard to make it through the book because I had to stop every other page to make a note of something I liked. I can't imagine someone reading this book and not liking it, but if you read it and don't - keep it to yourself because I don't want to have to verbally pummel you into acknowledging this books awesomeness. :) ]]> <![CDATA[Leslie added 'Go Ask Your Father: One Man's Obsession with Finding His Origins Through DNA Testing']]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/70373200 to: Go Ask Your Father: One Man's Obsession with Finding His Origins Through DNA Testing (Kindle Edition) by Lennard J. Davis
I first heard about this book on the This American Life podcast. I passed the book by chance at the library and decided to read it. The suspense was largely missing since I knew how the story turned out from the podcast. I did learn quite a bit about the history of artificial insemination and that was definitely fascinating. Overall the book was interesting. My one complaint was that at times the narrative became too medical and scientific. I understand that some explanation may have been necessary, but at times I felt I had somehow stumbled into a textbook and was no longer reading a narrative story. Although, if I must admit the truth - the nerd in me kind likes textbooks (just not sneak attack textbooks). ]]> <![CDATA[Leslie is on page 135 of Go Ask Your Father:... ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/70373200 Leslie is on page 135 of 240 of Go Ask Your Father: One Man's Obsession with Finding His Origins Through DNA Testing ]]>