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Disclaimer: The following books have all been read by yours truly over the years and the opinions stated within are my own. If you don’t like them or don’t agree with me, fine. We all have different tastes. But if you do like them, please let me know. I would love to talk about them with you. Read long and prosper...have fun!

All right.....here it is....due to popular demand my reading list is back! Here is a list of some of my favorite books. Hopefully they will become some of your favorites as well.

[ ]  indicates new books (10.19.03)

>> FICTION

>> Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh (fiction)

A hilarious book about a group of guys (and girls) from the schemes in Edinburgh, told from their various points of view. In my opinion, Welsh is an amazing author. And anything by him is wonderful. However, his style is a bit difficult, a lot of his books are written in Scottish dialect and it takes a little getting use to. Trainspotting is probably his most accessible book, not as troubling or insane as some of his others, but it does contain a lot of drugs and dirty sex. His characters are great and he is a true storyteller.

>> How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez (Dominican/fiction)

Julia Alvarez is both an amazing woman and author. I have had the pleasure of meeting her twice and I am always inspired by her. She is from the Dominican Republic and her books are usually set there. Garcia Girls is a wonderful story about four girls (sisters) from the Dominican Republic who are trying to acclimate themselves into American society. Yo! is the sequel, when they are adults, and Butterflies is the story of four sisters caught in the revolution and how they fight for their freedom and the freedom of others at any and all costs.  (also by Julia Alvarez: Yo! sequel to Garcia Girls; In the Time of the Butterflies)

>> I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb (realistic fiction)

The main story here is of Dominick who had to grow up dealing with his passive mother, and abusive stepfather and a crazy twin brother. He must deal with his anger and guilt of being the normal one of the two, with the backdrop of finding out the real story of his Italian grandfather and his family’s troubling past. One of the best books I’ve ever read, and if you have siblings it’s a must in my opinion. It is long, but worth it.

>> Requiem for a Dream by Hubert Selby, Jr. (realistic fiction)

An amazing tale of drug addiction and how far people will go to find happiness. This is a tragic tale, definitely not a walk in the park. The other challenge is Selby’s writing. He rarely uses punctuation and it’s difficult to follow who is speaking at times. But I loved it. Watching the film made following the story a bit easier for me.

>> The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (historical fiction)

The Poisonwood Bible is definitely on of the best books I’ve ever read. Once I got into it I couldn’t put it down and I spent one evening reading for 6 hours straight. This is the story of a missionary who drags his reluctant family (his wife and four daughters) to the African Congo at the end of the 1950s. Kingsolver tells this tale mainly from the daughters’ point’s of view and sometimes you can’t believe there is only one author because each voice is so distinctive. It’s a little slow at first, but once you get into it, it’s just amazing.   (also: Prodigal Summer)

>> Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi (historical fiction)

This story takes place in Germany and begins before WWII, taking us through the war and the Nazi occupation in a small town. The book it being told from Trudi’s POV. She is a zwerg- a dwarf-and her and her father end up hiding Jews during the war. It’s about her coming to terms with being different, a great parallel with the plight of the Jews.

>> Locas by Yxta Maya Murray (realistic fiction)

Awesome book about cholas in East L.A. and how they deal with being girlfriends, gang members, mothers and life itself. Great read!

>> L.A. Confidential by James Ellroy (crime)

Excellent true crime novel. Ellroy is a great writer. If you like true crime, this is for you. And the cool thing is it’s set in Los Angeles during the 1950s and they use a lot of real names from the times. And definitely look out for the Walt Disney disguised character, Raymond Deiterling.

>> The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy (true crime)

Ok, Ellroy has done it again...wait, this came out before L.A. confidential so figure that one out. Anyway, this is, in my opinion, his best novel. Based on the true accounts of the Black Dahlia murder, with a Long beach connection to boot, Ellroy once again makes readers keep turning those pages. This book is gruesome and graphic, just they way I like them. Set in old Los Angeles, The Black Dahlia winds through many leads on the killer, with many surprises along the way. Awesome read.

>> Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk (fiction)

This book is told very matter of factly. It is brutal, but not excessive. If you liked the film then you will like the book. If you didn’t see the film, then read it. It’s a great book and a quick read. Awesome take on life and how much people abuse materialism and mistake it for happiness.

>> Dracula by Bram Stoker (classic literature)

Always a classic and one of my all-time favorites. The language is beautiful and the story is mesmerizing. Read this wonderful gothic horror tale at some point in your life.

>> Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (fantasy)

This is not just for kids! I repeat, this is not just for kids! Rowling is a great storyteller and the Harry Potter books are great fun. If you like fantasy then these stories are for you. Do yourself a favor and read them. Harry is the perfect underdog, appealing to the so-called nerd in us all. They are just so much fun and wonderfully told.

>> The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tam (Chinese-American/fiction)

Anything by Tan has been a joy to read. The Joy Luck Club is a great mother-daughter tale. You will laugh, cry and everything in between. I also loved all her other books. TKGW was awesome, but I spent most of the book in tears. If you’ve never read her, do yourself a favor.  (also: The Kitchen God’s Wife; Hundred Secret Senses; The Bonesetter’s Daughter)

>> Coffee Will Make You Black by April Sinclair (African-American/realistic fiction)

Great coming of age story about a young black girl from the South dealing with racism and discovering her sexuality. Beautifully told. I stumbled upon this book by accident and I just loved it. (Ain’t Gonna be the Same Fool Twice is the sequel). Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg (fiction) Awesome movie, awesome book. Great, funny and just told wonderfully. Quick, fun read.

>> Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flag (fiction) 

Awesome movie, awesome book.  Great, funny and just told wonderfully.  Quick, fun read.

>> Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden (fiction)

It’s hard to believe this book was actually written by a man and that it’s essentially a work of fiction. It tells the tale of two sisters who get separated after a tragic incident and how one ends up learning the art of becoming a geisha. Great book, great characters. Awesome read.

>> Geek Love by Katherine Dunn (bizarre fiction)

The bizarre tale of a circus freak family. Enough said. Grotesque, magical, strange, you name it, but amazing. I had a friend who stopped on page 103 because he just couldn’t finish it. But none of my other friends had that problem. Read if you dare.

>> Chicana Falsa by Michelle Serros (fiction/autobiographical/Hispanic)

Down to Earth amazing author of both poetry and prose. Her poems talk about realistic issues like how her aunt told her she’s never become a writer, to her choking on pork rinds and almost dying. She is funny, sarcastic and one of my favorite contemporary poets. Both books worth reading. No question! I had students who hated to read, but loved reading her books.  (also: How to be a Chicana Role Model)

>> Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (science fiction)

The world will end in a week and it’s up to both God and The Devil to do something. Hysterically funny, dry English humor.

>> The Death of Vishnu by Manil Suri (fiction/India) 

Vishnu, by birthright, lives on the stairs of an apartment complex in Bombay, India, doing odd jobs for the cast of characters who dwell there.  Aside from all the fights, and religious enlightenment plaguing the inhabitants, Vishnu lays dying on the landing with his life flashing before his eyes.  Named for the Hindu god, Vishnu's hallucinations go deep into the realm of the mythical and magical.  This is Suri's first novel, and it is wonderfully told with so many distinct voices.  You find yourself hating and loving the characters at the same time.  It also depicts Indian culture, complete with a glossary in the back and enough Indian food references to make you want to run to the nearest place for that Chicken Tikka Masala and naan.

>> Bee Season by Myla Goldberg (fiction/Jewish) 

The first novel by Myla Goldberg tells the tale of a dysfunctional Jewish family whose daughter, Eliza, finally discovers what she can do best: Spell.  Living in the shadow of her brother, Aaron, who is about to follow blindly in the footsteps of his Rabbinical father, Eliza struggles to gain her father's acceptance and attention, which she equates with love.  Once Eliza wins her first spelling bee, she becomes her father's new project, leaving Aaron to find his own path, while their obsessive mother deals with her own issues.  This is a great book that hit a little too close to home for me with the whole wanting-your-father's-acceptance thing.  And anyone who has ever wanted to please someone they love will connect with this book.

>> Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland (fiction/art) 

This book contains short pieces that follow the path of a painting and its various owners by the Dutch painter, Vermeer.  If you have ever seen the movie, The Red Violin, you can get the idea.  I was so oddly drawn to this book, I couldn't put it down.  I was so engrossed in finding out about all the owners of this painting as it changed hands throughout the years, how they came into contact with it, and how or why it left them to move onto the next person.  After I was finished, I promptly got on the internet and looked up all his paintings, enthralled by his detail, which is commented on throughout the book, down to the very brush stroke of his technique.  Distinct voices and beautifully written.  As Vermeer has a way with paint, Vreeland has a way with words, crafting lovely, detailed images that have stayed with me.

>> Wicked:  The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire (fiction/fantasy) 

Ok, you will never look at the Wizard of Oz the same way again.  And after reading this, I find it hard to take anything that only tells one side of the story as gospel.  And for those of you out there like me who like to root for the "bad guy" because you know they are just misunderstood, you will love this book.  Recommended to me by a listener, once I started it, I found it extremely difficult to put it down.  All I wanted to do was read this book.  It cleverly tells the back story of the Wicked Witch of the West and how she came to be, starting with her birth all the way to her demise.  Awesome illustrations and excellent details in the realm of magical realism bring this book to life, with rich, colorful, three-dimensional characters with superbly distinctive voices all within the backdrop of the land of Oz.  A little verbose at times, but not enough to take away from how incredible I found it to be.  Maguire also penned the other side of Cinderella with Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister which I am also looking forward to reading.

>> NON-FICTION / BIO / MEMOIR

>> Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom (memoir)

A great book about appreciating life while you’re actually alive. A quick read. Even my 9th graders liked it.

>> My Dark Places by James Ellroy (memoir)

A creepy, dark account of the life of crime writer, James Ellroy as told by the author himself. He recounts his obsessiveness with murder after the murder of his own mother, growing up with his neglecting father and living on the streets doing drugs and what not. After reading this book it’s a wonder he ever stayed alive, let alone wrote any novels. The title speaks for itself.

>> Stupid White Men and other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation by Michael Moore (political/satire/humor)

Awesome book. Terribly real, terribly funny, unless you offend easy. I think everyone should read this book. Michael Moore is a genius.

>> Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser (non-fiction)

If you really want to know what is in that burger and fries combo meal you are enjoying (and even if you don’t) read this book! Some say after reading this book they will never eat fast food, or meat, for that matter, ever again. What can I say, I still eat meat. But I didn’t for a while after reading it. Not only does it discuss the dark side of the American meal, it also describes the hazards of working in the meat packing industry, meat and grain monopolies driving small farmers out of business as well as the business practices of your favorite fast food franchises. Scary but informative reading.

>> When I was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago (memoir)

Wonderfully touching memoir of a young Puerto Rican girl and what it’s like to grow up in poverty. Yes, it’s a bit of a downer, but these are things we should know. I loved this book.

>> Rain of Gold by Victor Villasenor (memoir/Hispanic)

One of the best books I’ve ever read. It reads like fiction as Villasenor describes the lives of his father and mother separately, and their lives together once they meet. His mother alone, with her courage and gratitude for being allowed to live another day in their violent world makes the reader forget all their petty problems. After reading this book, I wanted to start it all over again. Inspiring and amazing. Do yourself a favor, read it!

>> Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang days in L.A. by Luis J. Rodriguez (memoir/Hispanic)

Rodriguez wrote this book for his son to deter him from joining a gang. Rodriguez talks about his life in a gang and the steps he took to leave that world behind and become a writer.

>> Makes Me Wanna Holler by Nathan McCall (autobiography/African-American)

Brutally real, McCall takes you through his life showing readers what it’s like to grow up black surrounded by a rich, white community. We see his resentment toward whites grow to utter hatred, and how he acts upon his anger, to time spend in prison, to where he becomes a writer for the Washington Post. A definite eye-opener for me.

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