Getting Interactive (Well, a Little)

A blog reader (ok, she's my sister and she almost HAS to read the blog because, well, SHE'S MY SISTER!) suggested that I do a "blog review" of books recently discussed on the blog in case somebody wanted to refer back to the posts.  I'm going to do that here, and I'm also going to list some books that are "on my list."

Readers (to the extent they exist) of this blog know that the first Daniel Suarez Virtual Book Club selection, Anathem by Neal Stephenson, is my current read.  I crossed the 300 page threshold over the weekend and am picking up steam.  This will still take a minimum of another week--more likely closer to two.  I WILL BE FINISHED BY THE TIME THAT MY COPY OF UNDER THE DOME ARRIVES!

On to the recap. . .

Recent Blog Posts for Recommended Reads:

Adderall Diaries (September 25)
Zeitoun (September 8)
This is Where I Leave You (August 21)
Shadow of the Wind and Angel's Game (August 13)
Girl Who Played with Fire (August 10)

Recent Blog Posts for Reads that I Couldn't Exactly Recommend:

American Pastoral (October 10; enjoyed the book but felt that I couldn't add anything to the Pulitzer committee stamp of approval)
Blindness (September 19; enjoyed the book but found it a read that would not be enjoyed by all)

Recent Blog Posts for Non-Fiction Reads that Require Special Interests:

The Machine (September 29; if you love the Reds and grew up in the late 80s, read it; if you grew up in the mid-70s or before, there's nothing new here)
Blood in the Cage (August 20; about ultimate fighting)
Joker One (August 19; about a marine platoon in Iraq)

Recent Blog Posts for Reads You Should Skip:

South of Broad (August 29; read only if you've read everything else Pat Conroy has written and can't resist reading his new one.

On my list:

Anybody who has read the blog knows that after Anathem, my next two books are Under the Dome and Superfreakonomics.

While I expect these three books to take me close to Thanksgiving, here are some current books which are on my list, and I'm interested if anyone has read any of them:

Wolf Hall - I've said before that historical fiction isn't my thing, but this looks enticing to me.  The book just on The Man Booker Prize as well, but I have to tell you, I don't know what the hell The Man Booker Prize is exactly.

Here are the 2009 National Book Award finalists.  Of these, Far North interests me the most.  Far North is apparently compared to The Road, and I've referred to The Road and two other post-apocalyptic novels--The Stand by Stephen King and Swan Song by Robert McCammon--in prior blog posts.  American Salvage looks good, too, but also looks depressing (which is ok).  Let the World Spin looks like something I'd like as well.  Of the other two, one is apparently a "coming of age" novel and interests me very little without an independent recommendation.  The last finalist takes place in feudal times and sounds a little too historical fiction-y for me.

Remember, RIF.