A Thousand Splended Suns by Khaled Hosseini

This book was a little harder for me to get into than 'The Kite Runner'. It is about two women and their struggles before and during the wars in Afghanistan and the surrounding areas. The brutality and torture, the rules and hardships are pretty hard to take. There is a part of my brain that has a hard time believing that there are places like this that treat people this way. Both of the women in this story are very strong and you have to admire how they get along and continue. I don't know how I would be in the situations that they were in and can only hope that I could be half a strong as they were. -- In reading both of Housseini's books it makes me want to learn more about that part of the country. How it got the way it is, how people live and what they feel their future is. It is a totally different culture and way of life that is so far outside of what I know it is hard to get these attitudes and behaviors to sink in that people really do live that way.

It's Not About the Bike by Lance Armstrong

Sub-title: My Journey Back to Life -- I was curious about this book and have always enjoyed reading about athletes and what they go through. He is a really tough guy on many levels. His book was very touching in spots when he was dealing with the cancer, I even teared up a few times. I don't think I could ever work with the man because he is very demanding and very much a perfectionist. If you wanted to know what makes this man tick this was a very good view into him and this part of his life.

All My Patients are Under the Bed by Dr. Louis J. Camuti

Sub-title: Memoirs of a Cat Doctor -- What a fun book. A cat doctor who makes house calls in the New York City area. He found that it was less stressful for the animal if he came to them. All of his little stories and antidotes were fun. I laughed a lot and wish that I could have been a fly on the wall when he was making some of these house calls. A very enjoyable and fun read.

Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner

Enjoyable, yet painful at times. It seemed to jump around a lot from the past to the present and it was not always clear. The story is about two friends who grew up together, had problems fitting in and hurt each other but are brought back together by an accident. They have to work through their differences and do come out ahead in the end. Some of Weiner's other books were much better, but this was a good book when it comes to looking at the dynamics of friendship.

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

Picoult really has a way to make you think. She gives you situations that can make you uncomfortable and make you question how you would handle the situation. She presents to you a family with a child that has Asperger's. There is also a younger brother and of course the mom. Picoult takes you through each of the characters and brings you into their world. -- There is a murder and the child with Asperger's is under question. Because of his interest in forensics and his relationship with the victim it is even hard for his mom to not think that he had done this. The younger brother has always had to act as the older one and has acted out in his own ways, unknown to his family. Watching Picoult unfold all of the feelings of pain, confusion, anger and love is amazing. She is a master with words and always leaves me wondering and questioning.