 | Title: Jane Eyre
Author: Charlotte Bronte
First publication: 1847
Comments: I enjoyed reading the book. Some of its elements are interesting. It mixes gothic novel,
fairy tales and incredibly modern element. I like to compare Jane Eyre with Elinor of
Sense and Sensibility as a way to understand the woman conditions in England. I like also
the character of the first Mr Rochester wife, that can be seen as an avatar of the hidden
Jane, everything that Jane does not want to show because it is not proper...
Started: December 22nd, 2003 Finished: January the 6th, 2004 |
 | Title: Angels in America (part I and II)
Author: Tony Kushner
First publication: 1992/1995
Comments: A very interesting play... I like the Louis character and its inability to face the disease of the person he loves... I like the way parallel threads of the story are intervened and they are placed on the different side of the stage... Powerful, touching, intense.
Started: January 6th, 2004 Finished: January the 7th, early in the morning, 2004 |
 | Title: Code to zero
Author: Ken Follett
First publication: 2000
Comments: It is an easy reading, entertaining, probably historically and scientifically accurate.
Nothing more than that...
Started: January 7th, 2004 Finished: January the 12th, 2004 |
 | Title: Pride and Prejudice
Author: Jane Austen
First publication: 1813
Comments: So far the best Austen's novel I ever read.
Started: January the 7th, 2004 Finished: January the 24th, 2004 |
 | Title: Wuthering Heights
Author: Emily Bronte
First publication: 1847
Comments: I had high expectations on this book. I remember I read small part of it when I was at high
school. It is a story that shows the bad side of love, and how passion can turn into a curse.
Started: January the 24th, 2004 Finished: February the 9th, 2004 |
 | Title: The blackwater lightship
Author: Colm Toibin
First publication: 1999
Comments: This is an amazing book. It is the story of three women, grandmother, mother and daughter. It is the story of two sick men that are going to die, father and son. Death and sickness are the main catalyst of the plot, which is centered in the complex emotions of the three women at war with themselves.
Started: February the 9th, 2004 Finished: February the 15th, 2004 |
 | Title: Jackdaws
Author: Ken Follet
First publication: 2001
Comments: This is the third Follett's book I read and do far the best one. It is as fast paced, enjoyable
and historical grounded as usual but... this time the characters and their inter-relationships
are more interesting.
Started: February the 15th, 2004 Finished: February the 21st, 2004 |
 | Title: The picture of Dorian Gray
Author: Oscar Wilde
First publication: 1890
Comments: I read this book translated in Italian many years ago and I did not like it at all.
I guess I was too young or the translation was poor. I read it in English and I have
been surprised: the book is full of wit! Many authors has hitherto wrote
that moral is often moralism. Dorian is the man that free himself from the moralistic
preconceptions of society. But he cannot handle such a freedom and he lose himself.
Started: February the 22nd, 2004 Finished: February the 28th, 2004 |
 | Title: Magic's pawn
Author: Mercedes Lackey
First publication: 1989
Comments: I have always loved fantasy, and this book is no exception. Moreover, it is
interesting to have main characters that are gay for once.
Started: February the 28th, 2004 Finished: March the 3rd, 2004 |
 | Title: A Tale of two Cities
Author: Charles Dickens
First publication: 1859
Comments: Interesting book. The author seems to report events almost unconnected and then
suddenly all the pieces come together.
Started: March the 4th, 2004 Finished: April the 7th 2004 |
 | Title: Deception Point
Author: Dan Brown
First publication: 2001
Comments: Reading the book is like watching a fast-paced suspense sci-fi movie. The plot is intriguing and it reserve continue surprises to the reader.
Started: April the 9th, 2004 Finished: April the 15th 2004 |
 | Title: Little Women
Author: Louisa May Alcott
First publication: 1868
Comments: I found this book fascinating. I like that, at that time, people were able to sacrifice and improve themselves and the world around them using the strength of their morality. Nowadays
, on the contrary, moralism is used to spread hate and prejudice.
I found disconcerting the condition of the women at that time. Austen's book gave me an idea of
the situation, but the English writer at least was condemning the situation. On the contrary
Louisa seems to believe in a society where the goal of a woman is to get married and where young
girl should spend their time to prepare for the duties of the marriage.
Started: April the 16th, 2004 Finished: April the 30th 2004 |
 | Title: Arrows of the queen
Author: Mercedes Lackey
First publication: 1987
Comments: I have always loved fantasy, and this book is no exception. Moreover, it is
interesting to have gay characters in the plot.
Started: April the 30th, 2004 Finished: May the 2nd 2004 |
 | Title: The Little Prince
Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupery
First publication: 1943
Comments: This book was given me as a present by an ex of mine. He gave it to me shortly before breaking up and leaving
for France. I was hurt and I barely read the first chapters. I did not understand why we spend time dating if
it was going to finish like that... I then left it at my parent's home when I went back in Italy that summer. This summer Donato, a friends of mine, start speaking about that book. And I decided to finish it. And I finally
understood why my ex gave to me. I am sorry I did not understood it before. And thanks Keith, that was one of the
most appropriate and thoughtful present I ever received.
Started: January 2000 Finished: August 2004 |
 | Title: Dark rivers of the heart
Author: Dean Koontz
First publication: 1994
Comments: I had a Dan Brown book saved for the intercontinental trip to Italy but, when I was at the check in
I realized I forgot it home. I run to the closest book shop at SFO to get something else... and with my
horror they had only a couple of extremely uninteresting books. Well... bad choice. The only interesting thing
is the "big brother" theme toward the end.
Started: August 2004 Finished: 00:06, October the 18th, 2004 |
 | Title: Uncle Tom's cabin
Author: Harriet Beecher Stowe
First publication: 1852
Comments: I start reading this book in May, then I moved to my new place, I had my prelims, I travel to Italy and I end up not
reading at all for months. Well Finally I am done and well... this is really a masterpiece. It is powerful and moving,
intense and breathtaking. It made me understand how important freedom is and how much we take for granted every day.
It made me understand this country better.
Started: May the 4th, 2004 Finished: November the 11th, 2004 |
 | Title: Digital Fortress
Author: Dan Brown
First publication: 1998
Comments: Another fast-paced intriguing book from Dan Brown. I find it less interesting than the other two DB books I read before.
I think I am getting used to his style and his books are starting to repeat a little bit... By the way I liked the last
coded greeting. It toke a little bit to crack it but... it is just a cesar box code, and the numbers can be substituted with
letters (hint: use chapter numbers).
Started: November the 11th, 2004 Finished: November the 22nd, 2004 |
 | Title: A room with a view
Author: E.M. Forster
First publication: 1908
Comments: I started this book when I was moving to my new place on Rose street. I had to stop reading because of the chaos
I was suddenly living in. The book is amazing. I loved to see Leonora waking up inside Lucy. I loved to see the struggle
between the Victorian "being proper" and the Italian "living your feeling". I loved this book!
Started: June, 2004 Finished: Dec 7th 2004, berkeley |
 | Title: Midnight in the garden of good and evil
Author: John Berendt
First publication: 1994
Comments: An original "non-fiction" book. It starts as a diary, a Savannah city guide,
a travel book. Soon it turns into dirty-linned airing and mystery book. A
surprising and interesting book.
Started: Atlanta , December 18th, 2004 Finished: Berkeley, December 29th 2004 |
 | Title: Arrow's Flight
Author: Mercedes Lackey
First publication: 1987
Comments: I have always loved fantasy, and this book is no exception. Moreover, it is
interesting to have gay characters in the plot.
Started: Berkeley , December 8th, 2004 Finished: Berkeley, December 31st, 2004 |
