Quickie Book Review

Here's some quick thoughts on a bunch of books I read lately.

Americana by Don DeLillo - Hated it. What a pointless piece of crap. He's obviously a gifted writer, but this book lost direction quicker than a blind man without a cane.

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai - Fantastic. The story jumps between India and America flawlessly, and shows the struggle of all nations, all races, and all people simultaneously. Sometimes very funny, sometimes heartbreakingly sad, this is by all means a touching read. Her use of the English language is on par with some of the best writers in this country. I highly recommend this book to everyone! Read it now!

Tomcat in Love by Tim O'Brien - O'Brien is quite possibly my favorite current American author. Not only does he tell stories with amazing beauty and ease, but he truly understands how important it is to tell them. This book, while not as stirring or stunning as some of his more popular works (i.e. Going After Cacciato, The Things they Carried, In the Lake of the Woods), is a fun and easy read. Very well written, and one worth checking out.

What is the What by Dave Eggars - This book floored me. It's about one of the Lost Boys of Sudan and what he endured during that long civil war. I could go on for hours about this book, but I'll sum it up quickly. This book is an epic that spans many years. It's told with grace, humility and restraint. Eggers did a wonderful job portraying the hardship and turmoil these poor children went through. This book sticks with you long after you're done reading it. Highly recommended.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy - McCarthy could right about a steaming pile of dog crap and make me cry. He really is one of the masters of the English language. This book feels like a gift from him to you - you feel honored that he would even allow to glance at such beauty, such talent, and such emotion. This is very short (you can kill it in a day) and quite a page turner. His vision is complete, his scope breath-taking, and his writing is nothing short of pure brilliance. Read it now.

Lamb (The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal) by Christopher Moore - Frickin' hilarious. One of the funniest books I've ever read. It dragged towards the end, but all in all it was a really fun read. Moore actually wrote very tenderly about Jesus, and it was surprisingly not very sacrilegious at all. I can't wait to read his other books.