The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (by Steig Larssen)

This book is the third and final book in Steig Larssen's series. And what a good series it was! The third book was my favorite. It might be because everything comes to a climax and resolutions, and it also might be because it seemed to read at a faster pace. Once again, as with all his books, there is a lot of description of everything - such as "now we are drinking coffee", "he walked up the stairs", etc. If you have read these books then you know what I am talking about. This particular book deals with the protection of Zalachenko, Salander's dad, and the secret section of the Security Police who used every tactic it could to protect itself and Zalachenko, to the detriment of Salander. This book was interesting because it got a little Bourne-y - spies, stalkers, crime, murder, etc. I enjoyed this book, and like I said it was a good conclusion to this series. I recommend it!

Up next: Winter Garden (by Kristin Hannah) - I think this book has been on my "to read" list for about 6 months.

After that - if anyone has an good recommends let me know!

Just Don't Call Me Ma'am: How I Ditched the South, Forgot My Manners, and Managed to Survive My Twenties with (Most of) My Dignity Still Intact (by Anna Mitchael)

I read this book in less than 24 hours. It was just that good. This is a non-fiction memoir about a chick named Anna (the author). She is in her late twenties. It was very witty and relatable. At times I felt like I was reading about my own life. She's a Texan, from Houston who moved from Boston to Seattle to New York. The book starts in her apartment in Brooklyn, and at the end of a relationship, and continues on from there. Its an introspective look at the mind of a late twenties woman who is forging on through adulthood. I thoroughly thoroughly enjoyed it, and cannot wait to discuss it at book club in a month!

Up next: Still reading The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, keep getting sidetracked, but plan on finishing it up soon!

A Space Between Us (by Thrity Umbrigar)

I just read this book for my June book club meeting. It took me a while to get through it, but it was interesting nonetheless. This book is set in India, Mumbai to be exact. This book is centered around two main characters - Bhima and Serabai. Bhima is a maid for Serabai and lives in the slums with her granddaughter Maya, and Serabai is a member of the middle class and lives in an apartment in a high rise building in Mumbai. The book details the two women's lives and how they intersect and effect one another. I learned a great deal in this book about the Indian culture and the class system. This book also deals with the power of ignorance in your life and how it can mold who you are and the decisions you make in your life. It also deal with the issue of prejudice, and how even if you care about someone so much, the prejudice you feel towards their class of people overrides any care you might feel for them. This is not a happy book. Its realistic and deals with difficult topics, including abortion (just to forewarn ya).

I won't lie and say that I didn't skim it the last 100 pages, mostly because I had only read half the day of our book club. But it is a good book, well written, and worthy of your time if you are looking for a more serious book.

Up next: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Next (by Steig Larssen)

The Carrie Diaries (by Candace Bushnell)

I was given this book by a best friend of mine, and I took it with me to read while on vacation in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. That was the best decision! This was a perfect "beach read". It's an easy read - I read it in 3 days (much of which were interrupted by floating on a raft in a pool and drinking Pina Coladas, among other things). This book is a prequel if you will of the Sex and the City book by the same author. In this book, you read about Carrie Bradshaw's senior year of high school and all the antics, drama, romance that comes along with it. I really enjoyed it. It was entertaining and read fast. I learned all about Carrie's senior year - her friends in high school, the boys she dated, her decision to become a writer, and why she ended up in NYC. I definitely recommed this book if you are a fan of Sex and the City, gives ya a glimpse of Carrie pre NYC. Still the same spunky girl though as she is on the show! I wouldn't mind reading a book like this about Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha. A little back story is always good, and I hear in the upcoming movie (to be released this week!) we get a glimpse of the ladies back in the Eighties!

Up next: The Host (by Stephanie Meyer) - about 1/4 in right now, AND The Shack (by William Young) - about 1/2 through.

Little Bee (by Chris Cleave)

What an interesting book. This one did not take me long to get through. I won't divulge too much of what this book is about because it'll ruin it for you and I don't want to do that. But, what I will tell you is this - read it. This book is not "easy" emotionally. Its not a romantic book. It is a love story though. This book centers around a character named "Little Bee" who is a Nigerian Refugee and a British woman named Sarah and how their lives impact each other's lives. This book will take you through the emotions of anger, fear, compassion, gratitude, frustration and happiness. That's all I will tell you about it thought - I definitely recommend you read this one for yourself! And then let me know what you think!

Up Next: The Shack (William P. Young)

In the Woods (by Tana French)

I just finished this book for book club (which meets tonight). This is a mystery novel, similar in a way to Steig Larrsons "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". I enjoyed this book, although it took me a while to get through (it might have been more of my busyness at work, then the book itself). It takes place in Ireland (Dublin and Knocknaree - a small town in Ireland). It was interesting to learn a lot about Ireland and the fictional police force that the author made up. This book follows two Murder Squad detectives, Cassie and "Rob" Ryan, as the seek to uncover who murdered a teenage girl in what is called "The Woods" located in Knocknaree Estate. Knocknaree also happens to be where "Rob" Ryan (the quoatation marks are added because his real name is Adam, which plays a key part in the book) grew up and was part of a disappearance of two of his best friends back in the 80s, a crime that is still unsolved. The book was a little heavily worded at times for my taste (I did some skimming of descriptions of things), but the dialogue was well written between the characters. The author does a good job of exploring the dynamics of a "partnership" between Rob and Cassie, and the role this partnership plays in each of their lives, and how one incident can cause repercussions for the rest of your life. I'm excited to discuss this book tonight at book club, and I recommend it to all those mystery lovers out there. The ending will surprise you and surely lead to discussions. I have mixed feelings about the ending, just to put that out there. Let me know what you think!

Rating: Could put down but enjoyed it while i was reading it.

Up next: Little Bee (by Chris Cleave)

The Monster of Florence (by Douglas Preston)

This books was good in many ways and not so good in many ways. This books is non-fiction and details the story of "The Monster of Florence" - a person who killed couples as they messed around in cars in the Florence country-side. The book is very descriptive about the crimes and the investigations concerning the crimes. This book follows Douglas Preston - a journalist who moves to Florence and meets Mario Spezi (another journalist in Florence who had been following the Monster of Florence case from the beginning). The author describes Mario Spezi's investigation and personal dealings with the Monster of Florence. The book also beautifully describes the Florence country-side and gives you a glimpse into Italian culture, police work, and societal norms. That part was very interesting. The part which became a little tedious was the descriptions of the on-going investigations and false accusations that ran rampant during the 30 year pendency of the case (which remains unsolved). As far as historical non-fiction goes it was pretty enlightening, other than the slow parts which were easliy skimmable.

Rating: Good

Up next: Columbine (by Dave Cullen) and In the Woods (by Tana French - for book club!)