Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel

by Jeff Kinney
PRMS paperback 217 pages
genre: YA humor

I don't know why I keep reading these. Greg Heffley is such an egocentric jerk. But in some weird way, it's entertaining. Greg tries to get a date to the dance. He ends up going with Rowley and a girl, trying to leave Rowley out of it.

The Last Investigation

by Gaeton Fonzi
Hennepin County Library hardcover 400+ pages
genre: non-fiction Kennedy assassination

I couldn't finish this. There's just too much going on in my life right now. After the sensationalized Bill O'Reilly book, I really wanted a more academic and scholarly take on the Kennedy assassination. It is definitely more dense reading than the O'Reilly book, but also much more enlightening. I'll have to pick this one up at a later date. I don't think I even got to page 100. Had an infuriating conversation with my father-in-law, though.

The Book of Three

The Prydain Chronicles, book 1
by Lloyd Alexander
Hennepin County Library audiobook 4 discs
genre: children's fantasy adventure

Taran is the Assistant Pig-Keeper at Caer Dallben along with enchanter Dallben and retired soldier Coll. When Hen Wen, the prophesying pig escapes, Taran follows her and embarks upon a grand adventure. The Horned King is scary and on the move. Gwydion, the crown prince; Gurgi, Eilonwy, and others people Taran's world as he grows up (a little) and struggles with his choices.

Interesting, but I'm not sure I want to continue reading this series. It was a fine way to pass time on our drive through Iowa.

We Wish to Inform You that Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families: Stories from Rwanda

By Philip Gourevitch
Hennepin County Library paperback
genre: non-fiction genocide

I only got through chapter four. The book was due back, on hold for someone else, and I'm too busy right now anyhow. It is a chapter of recent history about which I am woefully ignorant. (I was taking care of little children in 1994 and not aware of much outside my home.) I am horrified by the murders, and fascinated by the history of the Hutus and Tutsis. I need to learn more and may get this book again later.

Throne of Glass

by Sarah J. Maas
Hennepin County Library hardcover 404 pages
genre: fantasy adventure romance

Ceaena Sardothien is an 18-year-old deadly assassin who has been in the prison hell-hole of Endovier. Crown Prince Dorian and Captain of the Guard Chaol come there to invite her to compete to be the king's Champion. The king - who has murdered her people, sent her to prison, and has the power of life and death over her.

At times, this book bugged me with its amateurish feel. I finished it in two days, however, because I wanted to know which guy she would end up with, who was the source of the evil, what Princess Nehemia was up to . . .

Again, I'm not in the mood to blog tonight. I enjoyed the book and am curious about what the author is working on for a sequel. Not going to be a highly recommended by me, though. It just wasn't stunning enough.

Hope Was Here

by Joan Bauer
PRMS paperback ? pages
genre: realistic fiction, coming-of-age

Hmmm. This was a re-read and I was just going to add some notes to my original post. But I cannot find an original post. Darn! I don't really feel like blogging.

Synopsis: Hope Yancey was left by her mother with her aunt Addie as an infant. She's never known a father and her mother drifts into her life sporadically, calling her "Tulip," a name given her at birth but which she shed on her twelfth birthday. Hope is an excellent waitress (like her mother) and makes a great duo with her aunt who is a marvelous cook. Their lives have moved them across the country, but Hope loves Brooklyn and her friends. Until they are double-crossed by a "friend" who takes their money and runs off with the night waitress and their trust. And so they move to a small town in Wisconsin to help G.T. run his restaurant. Dealing with leukemia, G.T. needs them. And the more they get to know him and others in town, the more they need him.

Eddie Braverman - young cook who didn't go to college because he's supporting his mother and sisters.
Deputy ??? - I can't remember her name. Tough cop from Minneapolis who isn't afraid of the crime in town.
Mayor Millhouse(?) - lying lowdown skunk
Sheriff - also a dirty dog

Some nice romance, great civics lessons, wonderful story. Won a Newbery Honor award.