The Marble Faun

The Marble Faun
By Nathaniel Hawthorne
0486434117 291p

Eh. Ok until the last 3 chapters, then it just ends. Little explanation.
7/10

Lisey's Story

Lisey's Story
By Steven King
9780743289412 512p

Was expecting a different ending, this being Steven King. Couldn't put it down once I started reading, yet never pulled me in as some books do. I always knew this was just a story, the characters were never totally real to me. Beautiful story though, the story really of a marriage. I read this because someone called me "Big Sissa Amanda Bunny" and I didn't understand the reference. Halfway though, I was slightly offended to have been called that. By the end, had more respect for her and I wish King had went more in depth into the rest of Amanda's story.
9/10

The India Fan

The India Fan
By victoria Holt
0449216977 396p

Quite Euro-centric in the views on India and Indians. I've read this before, don't know if I noticed it before. Good characters, even the secondary and tertiary characters are interesting, with storylines that are well thought out and arresting- like Miriam. Very good.
8/10

Duchess in Love

Duchess in Love
By Eloise James
0060508108

Better than I expected! Laughed at many parts, very good characters. But there were so many of them! It was hard to keep track at times of the subplots, being that all the women had similar stories. Also wish more had been said about their childhood, would have liked some fleshing out of that part of the story. And the journal, would have liked more done with that revelation.
8/10

The Da Vinci Code: A Quest for Answers

The Da Vinci Code: A Quest for Answers
By Josh McDowell
1932587802 99p

Good. Nothing too new, but I like that it went through the book in order, breaking it down chapter by chapter basically.
8/10

The Naked Consumer

The Naked Consumer
By Erik Larson
0140233032 239p

My company deals with Nielsen, so that was kind of cool. Overall, well written, interesting, good sense of humor. A bit scary but not over-the-top, no fear-mongering. Balanced and fair.
9/10

Speeches that Changed the World

Speeches that Changed the World
0753712520 189p

Favorite passage:
"What constitutes an American? Not color nor race nor religion. Not the pedigree of his family nor the place of his birth. Not the coincidence of his citizenship. Not his social status nor his bank account. Not his trade nor his profession. An American is one who loves justice and believes in the dignity of man. An American is one who will fight for his freedom and that of his neighbor. An American is one who will sacrifice property, ease and security in order that he and his children may retain the rights of free men. An American is one in whose heart is engraved the immortal second sentence of the Declaration of Independence.

Americans have always known how to fight for their rights and their way of life. Americans are not afraid to fight. They fight joyously in a just cause.

We Americans know that freedom, like peace, is indivisible. We cannot retain our liberty if three-fourths of the world is enslaved. Brutality, injustice and slavery, if practiced as dictators would have them, universally and systematically, in the long run would destroy us as surely as a fire raging in our nearby neighbor's house would burn ours if we didn't help to put out his."
-Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes, 1941
8/10