The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I finally jumped on the band wagon and read this one over Thanksgiving weekend, somewhat prompted by the fact that my non-reader son asked for the book for Christmas. After watching the trailer for the upcoming movie at lunch with my colleagues who teach this book to sophomores, I was convinced I would certainly need to read the book before seeing the movie. I wasn't disappointed and will probably read the rest of the series.

Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day

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The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt by Caroline Preston

What a unique book. Frankie Pratt's story is told through a series of colorful scrapbook pages detailing her early love life after graduating from Vassar through the travels to Paris where she meets literary legends. I was especially surprised by the archival photographs and connections with Edna St. Vincent Millay and Sylvia Beach's Shakespeare and Co. I had read Gatsby's Girl by Preston a few years back, but this book is a visual as well as literary journey
Caroline Preston Website

Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

This book came onto my radar because it was a finalist for the National Book Award. It is pure poetry. I read the whole thing while waiting for a doctors appointment.

The Visible Man by Chuck Klosterman

This book creeped my out. Just watch the You Tube trailer and you will already be creeped out. The main character of this disturbing novel is a therapist named Vicky Vick (silly name) who is counseling a patient who spies on people in their homes in order to test the invisibility suit he has developed. The format - unpublished notes, phone messages, and recorded transcripts of therapy sessions - was annoying too. High school students might enjoy the reality TV qualities of the book, as well as the references to drugs, but I don't have many friends I will be sharing this one with.