"Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck is one of the preeminent American authors and it's easy to understand why. He shows you his characters in such a specific manner you can't help but visualize them as the the action unfolds. This book was far shorter than I expected and it was not as good as I hoped. I could be spoiled by knowing how the story ends but, regardless, I felt certain aspects of Lenny's character were heavy handed. I can say it is the one aspect of his writing I don't enjoy. The characters, flow of the story, and assessment of the human condition are models to aspire to. If he is, at times, overtly obvious about the theme it was probably called for by the period in which it was written. Not unlike the nomadic Okies in "The Grapes of Wrath" getting no breaks in attempting to better their lives, George and Lenny are victims of their circumstance and, try as they may, are unable to extricate themselves from the subservient status. I'm not in a hurry to find another Steinbeck but I'll be happy to read him again in the future.

"The Professor and the Madman" by Simon Winchester

I have read this novel twice in the past ten years because the first time I read it I wasn't blogging so I didn't retain as clear a picture of what transpired between it's covers. It was as entertaining the second time through as it was in the first time reading. It follows the stories of two men, one, an early and important editor of the Oxford English dictionary and, the other, a psychologically challenged primary contributor lending to the success of the dictionary's printing. Imagining the undertaking this all-encompassing dissection of the English language becomes easier through the description Winchester provides. The manner in which he details the circumstances of our two protagonists also brings the reader closer to the magnanimity of the work they both contributed. It's a great, knowledgeable read.

"The Martian" by Any Weir

Granted, I had some free time but I didn't expect to whip through this book in one day. I knocked out 40 pages the night before and found few reasons to put it down on the day. This book was well thought out and, in almost all cases, written clearly in an entertaining and concise manner. The central character finds himself, by an unbelievable turn of events, stranded on Mars with enough food to last a small percentage of the time he'll be forced to survive. Weir writes a snarky, funny, intelligent perspective of a man facing down the most dire of circumstances and surviving despite it all. This movie comes out in two weeks. Great timing.

"Collected Short Stories" by James Salter

This was the first work I've read by James Salter. I am eager to read more. This piece was a collection of short stories and I had trouble putting the book down between them. The way Salter can describe a person so simply but so completely like "she had a down turned mouth and nice breasts" is a marvel to me. It cuts to the core of what we recognize about people and how we can best identify them. I enjoyed all the stories, in particular those which showed the true nature and internal fantasies we all play out in our heads. Salter truly captures the waves of life with the ebb and flow of our internal desires and impulses in a way I've never seen. Next I will be reading one of his full novels.

"Fifty Shades of Grey" by E.L. James

This book has received a lot of buzz. I bought it for my roommate two years ago and she never cracked the cover so I figured someone better get the money's worth out of it. I wasn't tortured by it. It was engaging enough to keep reading. It was somewhat erotic but not as kinky as the world would make you believe. My first problem with the book was setting it in Seattle. The author is British. No amount of research necessary to figure that out. The language, verbiage and manner of communication screams England and I was put off by the premise of Christian and Anna being two American bred characters. My second qualm lies in the abrupt and unsatisfying conclusion. Perhaps the book was completed as a three part series and later broken into three pieces but the finish of the first book came across as very unrealistic and incomplete. I guess that's what makes people pick up number two so who am I to say. Regardless, i am unlikely to seek out the second installment but if it finds its way into my hands someday, I'll give it a look.

"The Story" by Max Lucado and Randy Frazee

The bible is not an easy read, nor is it enticing. This book did a splendid job of making it comprehensible and able to be more easily retained

Roosevelt: The lion and the fox by James macgregor burns

this book took me over a year to finish. From putting it down and reading something else multiple times, probably two. I have read several presidential biographies but this was, by far, the most difficult to be passionate about reading. I can see what an interesting and unique life Roosevelt lead but, after so many pages of it, I care less now than I ever did before. Burns gave a very academic look at the life, times and actions of FDR. This book would have felt at home in a college level history class. Not the kind of exciting leisure I was hoping it would be. FDR rose easily through the ranks in part because of his family and inherited station and, in greater part, through his innate social and manipulative skills. He was inspirational, brilliant and conniving and we all treasure him for how he used the system he was given.