Reading Round-Up: Names, Vampires and Potato Peel Pies

The last book I reviewed was New Moon from the Twilight series nearly three months ago (see post).  Needless to say, it's time to catch up on which books I've been reading.  In lieu of long, tedious critiques, here's a quick round-up of my latest adventures in literature (including some light lit as well).

1. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri: In a word, wonderful!  Lahiri is a master storyteller who has an eye for detail and quirky observations.  The story of Gogol Ganguli feels very real because it mixes the right amount of humor, heartache and cultural confusion.  I highly recommend The Namesake, which is Lahiri's only full-length novel (her other two books are collections of short stories).  The film version staring Kal Penn is quite good, but not as great as the novel.

2. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris: Book one of the Sookie Stackhouse novels, which spawned the hit HBO series, "True Blood," is a wonky combination of sci-fi and mystery.  Although Harris' writing reads like your typical paperback novel, the plot— a telepathic waitress falls for the lone vampire in a small Louisiana town amidst a string of grisly murders— is enough to keep your interest.  Will I read any more Sookie Stackhouse books?  Maybe.  Will I tune in for the second season of "True Blood"?  Definitely.

3. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows: A novel written as a series of letters— brilliant!  Set in 1946, the story follows a London writer's correspondence with residents on the island of Guernsey.  At first the sheer number of letter-senders and recipients is confusing, but it soon becomes apparent who the main characters are.  This book has all the warmth and sweetness of an English tea party: overall, a cozy little novel.

4. Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer: It's hard for me to give an objective review of the third book in the Twilight Saga since I've become one of their starstruck fans.  The unexpected plot twists of the previous two novels give way to a more introspective story in Eclipse, which focuses on relationships.  What the book lacks in climactic tension it more than makes up for with character development and romantic tangles.  No wonder it's many readers' favorite.

Alright, that's my two cents on these four books.  In case you missed my new gadget on the left, I'm currently reading Salman Rushdie's The Enchantress of Florence.  It took about 60 pages for me to get used to Rushdie's writing style, but now I'm enjoying it.  I'll give you the final verdict when I finish.