Infinity Beach by Jack McDevitt

Ehh. It was okay, but there were some plot holes you could drive trucks through. And I didn't like the characters (or the tone of the novel, for that matter) as much as I liked some of McDevitt's other novels.

Semper Mars by Ian Douglas

Quite satisfying military SF.

The Dog Says How by Kevin Kling

Very enjoyable essays about the absurdities of life. Kling is a commentator for NPR and a storyteller, which is apparent in the grace with which he tells these stories.

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

Another excellent read from Laurie Halse Anderson. Raw and vivid and truthful about what it is like to be a teenager.

Friday Nights by Joanna Trollope

I usually enjoy Joanna Trollope but this book did not grab me. Within the first few chapters the author had switched perspective among the four main characters several times, and I never felt a sense of attachment to any of them because each time I got close, she'd switch to writing from a different person's perspective. Not my thing.

When Science Goes Wrong by Simon LeVay

When Science Goes Wrong: Twelve Tales from the Dark Side of Discovery is a fascinating book. I saw the author a few weeks ago on Jon Stewart, which got me interested enough to check out the book. In these essays he describes what science looks like when it doesn't work the way you expect it, or when something goes awry. Really interesting stuff, and well-written, too.

Practically Perfect by Katie Fforde

A very enjoyable escapist read! The best I've read from Katie Fforde in several years.

Rocket Science (movie)

Hard to describe... but I did enjoy it.

The Wedding Date (movie)

I don't know why this is true, but even sappy romantic comedies with weak storylines sound better when half the actors have British accents.

Power Play by Joseph Finder

How awesome is this? I downloaded the first chapter (for free) onto my Kindle, decided that I liked it, and downloaded the entire book in about 5 seconds while sitting in a meeting.

 

I have never read Joseph Finder before but I enjoy him -- he does a good thriller.

Chindi by Jack McDevitt

Pretty good -- but I didn't enjoy it quite as much as some of the others that he's written featuring Priscilla Hutchins.

The Foreshadowing by Marcus Sedgewick

The first book I read on my Kindle! It was pretty good. So was reading it on the Kindle. :)

Odyssey by Jack McDevitt

Another fantastic, gripping, interesting, terrific sci fi novel by the amazing Jack McDevitt. What a writer. And he has really strong female characters too, which is of course something I think is incredibly important. I couldn't put this book down. I highly recommend it.

Killing Floor by Lee Child

I can see why so many people enjoy Lee Child's "Jack Reacher" novels. This guy is a good writer, keeps you on the edge of your seat. I almost blew off a dinner engagement because I just wanted to stay home and keep reading this, which is the first of the series (but I doubt they really have to be read in order).

Pizza, Pigs and Poetry by Jack Prelutsky

Quite enjoyable!

Enchanted (movie)

Charming! Very enjoyable.

Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson

Not bad. But I enjoyed her others better.

Helvetica (documentary)

A fascinating look at the world of typography and graphic design. No, I'm not kidding -- it's really good! Take a look at what IMDB says: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0847817/ -- then do yourself a favor and go rent it.

Murder at Madingley Grange by Caroline Graham

A modern, funny twist on the English country-house murder genre. I had never heard of this author till I found this book languishing on the giveaway shelf at a nearby Starbucks. I really enjoyed it! Can't wait to read more by this author.

Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely

A fascinating look at human behavior. Ariely, a "behavioral economist," says that we are wrong when we expect people to behave in rational ways. Not only are we irrational in the ways we make our decisions, but we are predictable in our irrationality. This book provided a lot of food for thought, was written well, and was entertaining as well as educational. How much better could things get? I would highly recommend it.