So many books . . .

The Original Sin is an amazing family saga spanning three generations of women, beginning in Spain during the Spanish Civil War and climaxing in 1970s Arizona. It is a tale of family secrets, tragedy, war, passion, obsession, addiction, kidnapping, love, money, shame and redemption. This is the book that made me a Marius Gabriel fan. The first time I read it, in my late teens 10+ years ago, it utterly blew me away. This time around, too, I didn’t want it to end. It’s a shame that Mr. Gabriel is no longer writing novels.

Rating: 5/5 Further reading: Marius Gabriel (wiki)

 

Wow! Twilight sucked me in (no pun intended) from page 1 and didn't let go.

17-year-old Isabella (Bella) moves from her mother's home in Phoenix to live with her dad in rural Forks, WA. She has little trouble making friends in her new town, with the exception of her peculiar but dazzling lab partner Edward, who alternately expresses aloofness, interest and hatred (not necessarily in that order) toward her. Intrigued and unable to resist the mystery, Bella studies and attempts to befriend Edward, ultimately confirming her growing suspicions that he isn't exactly a normal teenager - and is very possibly dangerous.

Twilight is clearly a book written with teens in mind, but can be enjoyed by readers of any age. There were just a few things that didn't chime quite right with me: Bella was a little too perfect a student in school, and her father seemed a oddly apathetic. The book's climax wasn't nearly as interesting to me as the prior buildup, but overall it was a very fun time.

Rating: 5/5 Further reading: Meyer's homepage Stephenie Meyer (wiki)