2006 Books 76 - 80

76. Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins - Young Adult Fiction - A simple, sweet het coming of age story with much deeper characterizations than most of this genre. It was strange and interesting reading this book so soon after reading Closer. They're both about young adults searching for some one or some thing to make them feel special, but with very different approaches to that goal.

77. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - What can I say? I feel like a total Epsilon Semi-Moron for waiting so long to read this book. Amazing.

78. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse - The appreciation of this book most likely depends entirely on where the reader is spiritually in their journey through this life. I liked it.

79. The World of Christopher Marlowe by David Riggs - Riggs uses the New Historical approach in this biography and critical analysis. That works extremely well for a literary figure like Marlowe, a man who's life (and death) story is told more often through legend than fact. Even if you're not interested in the mechanics of Marlowe's writing, the documented details about the time, place, and people that made up Marlowe's world are fascinating.

80. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield - A story within a story about a fledgling biographer being given the opportunity of a life time to record the untold life story of a famous author. The author's story is a good read - twisted, a little spooky, very gothic; but the biographer's story seemed contrived to me - too spot on for its purpose of connecting the two narrators.