This was not a book that I expected to like, but, as it was our January book club pick, I tried it anyway. And, to my surprise, I liked it.
Now, I would not say this is a well-written masterpiece. Or really literature. And I spent the entire book confused about whether or not I was reading a young adult novel. But I liked it.
Ready Player One is the boy-video-gamer equivalent of chick lit. In an America of the not-too-distant future, reality has become so unbearable that the world has submerged itself in a virtual reality called OASIS. When the creator of OASIS dies, he leaves his entire fortune and empire (Willy Wonka-style) to the player who can locate a hidden easter egg located somewhere in the game. When teenage trailer-park-resident Wade Watts finds the firt clue — after the world has spent five fruitless years searching — chaos and virtual adventure ensues.
In spite of the fact that this novel revolves around video games, I found it interesting enough to keep reading. And I read it pretty quickly. Though I don’t think Cline meant it to be a young adult novel, it plays to that audience. If nothing else, I’m glad I read this book because I have already recommended it to several students who loved it.
Cline certainly doesn’t need my approval — or anyone else’s. There was a bidding war among publishers for the novel, and the following day the rights were sold for a film. Before the book even hit the shelves. Amazon listed it as one of the top books of 2011. For me, there is nothing deep or literary about this book, and it falls squarely in the domain of beach reading, but it is an interesting read.
In 2011, I discovered a new favorite genre: Memoiresque Essay Collections by Comedy Writers Who Went to Prestigous Universities. 
Hey, remember me? I used to blog here. In fact, I even used to read books from time to time!
This is an absolutely beautiful book. Technically a thriller, Mandel’s novel defies simple categorization. The story is complicated; the characters are nuanced. It’s part travel novel, part mystery, part post-9/11 social commentary. Can you tell? I loved it.
I was super-excited to receive French Lessons in the mail. “Ah,” thought I, “a book about Paris. The perfect, bookish way to release post-school year stress.” Sadly, I was disappointed. Disappointed to the point of barely forcing myself to finish it.
I have been dying to read Bossypants but have been equally reluctant to shell out $25 for the hardcover. Since my local library doesn’t have it either, I resorted to borrowing it from a student. It was well worth the borrow.
I love, love, love Jen Lancaster! Such a Pretty Fat is the first book I ever laughed out loud at in my whole life. She’s just one of those writers whom I will always read whether or not I’m interested in the book at face value. But I was nervous when I heard she was writing her first novel and making the jump to fiction. (Perhaps it’s just book snobbery — if it’s a memoir, it’s okay if I read it. If it’s a novel, then I really am reading chick lit.)
Elderly Marylou Ahearn moves from Memphis to Florida with one goal in mind: to murder Dr. Wilson Spriggs. 
Finally, after a little more than three months of serious reading, I have finished Wolf Hall. And this was my second attempt!
While I continue to crawl (in the most wonderful way) through Wolf Hall at home, I picked up John Boyne’s newest, Noah Barleywater Runs Away, at school while my students silently read. Reading the cover, I wasn’t immediately drawn to the young adult (very young?) novel. The blurb reads:
