thecutepolice

#8 Sex on the Brain: the biological differences between men and women, by Deborah Blum. 327 pages (1997)

This book appealed to the science dork in me with its (actually very readable) combination of neurology, anthropology, biology and animal behavior used to illustrate how men and women actually do things slightly different on a chemical level and postulate on why from an evolutionary/reproductive level. It's interesting to me that hormones and brain chemistry actually has such an effect on interpersonal relationships and actions, and vice versa. Like for example, testosterone falls in men when their significant other gives birth to their child... something not directly related to their body chemistry at all. But, while the book was full of interesting facts like that one, ultimately it didnt' have many answers in putting it all together in a big "so what does it all mean?"

#9 Dracula, by Bram Stoker. 400 pages (1897)

Pure genius. Everyone basically knows the "legend" of Count Dracula, but I wish I had known a lot sooner that that was no reason to skip reading the original. It was completely riveting, I actually got so into this that I nearly missed my stop on the train for the first time ever, I didn't call my boyfriend, ignored people on instant messenger, left it on my desk at work just in case I had a moment to read more. The journal/letter format has been imitated in countless books with varying levels of success, but I can't think of one that could compete with the use of it by Stoker. Which makes me wonder: why are none of his other books more famous?

#10. Touching Darkness (Midnighters 2), by Scott Westerfeld. 439 pages (2004)

I think Touching Darkness was even better than the first book in the Midnighters series, but that may just be because it's been a while since I read it and my memory of it is a little bit fuzzy. I actually think this world is put together much better than Westerfeld's Uglies series, I like the characters more, and it's actually all around more believable.

#11. Girls in Trucks, by Katie Crouch. 241 pages (2008)

From dysfunctional relationships with men to learning to understand your mother, this book was pretty much standard chick lit, from the modern southern belle lens. It wasn't the best chick lit I've ever read, and was too disjointed at times, but certain descriptions really hit a chord.

#12. Ozma of Oz, by L. Frank Baum. 270 pages (1907)

I was so happy to find this book on the clearance table at B&N. It brought back memories of watching the movie "Return to Oz" as a child (and I was happy to see that so much of the movie came from the book).

12 / 50 books. 24% done!

4607 / 15000 pages. 31% done!