Astronomy, by Dinah L. Moche

Comments: Very informative. Lots of interesting information. Maybe a bit more focused on "look what you can see" than I would've liked. Still interesting though. A bit dense at times. I could only read so much before I'd get tired of trying to absorb information.

Absent in the Spring, by Mary Westmacott, aka Agatha Christie

Summary: As Joan is travelling home from Baghdad, she is stranded in an out-of-the-way railroad station for several days with nothing to do. And in the process learns something about herself and her life.

Comments: First, this most definately is not a mystery, much as I migh has expected after seeing "Agatha Christie" written in big letters across the top. Second, Joan annoyed me a lot. But I guess she was meant to be annoying. But still, the book being a journey of self-discovery of a person I didn't much like, didn't interest me very much. But I guess it was a nice reminder that once in awhile one should take an unbiased look at one's self and one's life to see if it really is as one thinks.

Secrets of the Wee Free men and Discworld, by Carrie Pyykkonen and Linda Washington

Comments: I didn't think it was that great of a book, to tell you the truth. Sure there were some amusing comments, but I didn't care that much. I think it sounded more interesting than it actually was

2061: Odyssey Three, by Arthur C. Clarke

Summary: Another tale of adventure in a universe almost like our own in a semi-distant future. I'm not sure I can say anything more without giving away plot elements.

Commnets: First, let me say that the edition I was reading should've been proof-read a little better. Mostly just little spelling/grammer mistakes, but also there seemed to be a difference of opinion on Rose's last name, which made it confusing because I wasn't sure if they were meant to be the same person. That aside, I really enjoyed the book. As I said in my summary, a tale of adventure--exciting, thrilling, gripping, etc. And of course loose ends left to be (hopefully) tied up in book 4. Which I haven't managed to find so far.

The Professor and the Madman, by Simon Winchester

subtitle: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary

Summary: follows the the lives of the two men most involved in the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary, as well as the actual tale of the dictionary itself.

Comments: I really enjoyed this book. It's first and foremost a story, but it's also a work of non-fiction (ie it reads almost like a novel, but it's all true). Not only is it a captivating story, but it's also informative. Now I'm tempted to read some of WInchester's other books, just to see if they're as interesting.

rob&sara.com, by P.J. Petersen and Ivy Ruckman

Summary: After meeting randomly on a message board, Rob and Sara start exchanging e-mails. This is the story of their e-relationship.

2010: odyssey two, by Arthur C. Clarke

Summary: The sequel to 2001: a space odyssey, this story continues the saga of the mysterious black monoliths. In this case, the story focuses on the crew that was sent to retrieve the Discovery.

Comments: I feel like I've forgotten important details from the first book, but other than that, I enoyed the book immensely. Clarke weaves an excellent story full of complex yet believable characters, an exciting story that leaves one wanting to know what will happen to the aforementioned characters. And also leaves questions to be answered in the third and fourth books. But just large questions. The lives of the characters get neatly wrapped up. In some ways, this reminds me of the Time Odyssey trilogy, with its alien minds up to something that remained to be identified until late in the last book.

The Year of Living Biblically, by A.J. Jacobs

subtitled One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible

Comments: It was an interesting read. Maybe a little slow in the middle, but interesting nonetheless. I liked how he exemplified the idea that behavior can change thoughts (ie if you act in a certain way, that becomes part of who you are or how you feel). And I feel like there were some profound thoughts lurking on the edge of my mind just waiting to be thought only I didn't give them a chance.