 | Title: Lovely Bones
Author: Alice Sebold
First publication: 2002
Comments: Amazing, this is one of the most powerful and touching book I ever read. The first part is such a powerful punch in the stomach to make you breathless. The last part is strikingly less impressive,
but it is still a must-read!
Started: Anahaim, Jan 2005 Finished: Berkeley, Jan 28th 2005 |
 | Title: Mansfield Park
Author: Jane Austen
First publication: 1814
Comments: With Mansfield park, Austen reaches her maturity. It is an enjoyable reading, but the most striking element of her previous books is gone. Her previous character came to realize
that public morality is just moralism used to justify convenience. The author appears liberal and
feminist there. In here... she plays the same themes, but with a conservative attitude. The society
is following convenience, morality has been forgotten. Fanny is almost as far from a feminist character
can be. Let's see how her following books are...
Started: Berkeley, Dec 2004 Finished: Berkeley, Feb 19th 2005 |
 | Title: Harry Potter and the order of the phoenix
Author: J. K. Rowling
First publication: 2004
Comments: I loved Harry Potter's first book but I had been disappointed by the following books.
This last volume, on the contrary, is far from disappointing. It is the best one I have
read so far, I could not put it down! The character dark side grows stronger and more
interesting.
Started: Berkeley, March 2005 Finished: Berkeley, Apr 9th 2005 |
 | Title: Solitudini imperfette
Author: Andrea Mancinelli
First publication: 1998
Comments: Questo libro mi fu donato la scorsa estate da Matteo, che vide in questo libro molto del nostro rapporto.
Attesi un anno esatto prima di cimentarmi in questa lettura, un po' per paura di cosa ci avrei trovato dentro...
Started: Berkeley, Apr 13 2005 Finished: Berkeley, Apr 17 2005 |
 | Title: Mrs. Dalloway
Author: Virginia Woolf
First publication: 1925
Comments: I understand the importance of this novel in revolutionizing fiction. I understand how original
is the storytelling style. I am fascinated by the way the story switch smoothly and seamlessly from
character to character but... the novel fails in being entertaining. I did not enjoy the reading at all.
Started: Berkeley, June 2004 Finished: Berkeley, Apr 27 2005 |
 | Title: Emma
Author: Jane Austen
First publication: 1925
Comments: I started it before one of the busiest period of my life. I'll remember summer 2005 as one of the most stresssul summer ever. By the way I finished this book while I was deep into my
PhD quals and it helped me a lot to escape from the reality for a while. Emma is a great book,
but I really prefer the first Austen. In her first work I could sense her rage and disapointment
over society. On her latest book she seems to be more cinical, and she seems to smile and laugh
over it.
Started: Berkeley, Apr 2004 Finished: San Francisco, August 21st 2004 |
 | Title: The Da Vinci Code
Author: Dan Brown
First publication: 2003
Comments: Another fast-paced intriguing book from Dan Brown. I have to say this is one of the best he wrote, but he is kinda repeating after a while. The conclusion fail the crescendo and the "secret" about
Mary Magdalene should have been kept for later in the book. Anyway this book kept me company while
I was preparing for my quals and help me escape from the stressful reality for a while! This book was a present
given to me by Mark for my 29th birthday.
Started: Aug 22, 2005 Finished: San Francisco, Aug 25, 00:30 AM, 2005 |
 | Title: Hornet Flight
Author: Ken Follett
First publication: 2002
Comments: It is strange, I have read many books from Ken Follet even if he is not one of my favorite writers. I enjoyed the book, exactly what I need to relax after my PhD quals and before my talk at the EmSoft conference!
Started: August 2005, San Francisco Finished: Newark (NY), August 19th 2005 |
 | Title: Holy Fools
Author: Joanne Harris
First publication: 2005
Comments: Another great book from Joanne Harris, one of my favorite writers. Even if not as powerful and magic as five quarters of the orange, the book is a little masterpiece.
The clash between the barren hypocritical church and an ancient sensual
and wise superstition play a similar role as in Chocolat, but in here there is a
strong attraction between this two opposites...
Started: August 21st 2005, Newark (NY) Finished: August 25th 2005, Stinson Beach (CA) |
 | Title: Arrow's fall
Author: Mercedes Lackey
First publication: 1988
Comments: This is the last volume of the Heralds of Valdemar series. Honestly it is just a fun reading, but a nice break from "Walden" that I am struggling to finish desperately!
Started: December the 1st, 2005 Finished: December the 2nd, 2005 |
 | Title: Brokeback Mountain
Author: Annie Proulx
First publication: 19**
Comments: David borrowed me the book after we saw the movie. A powerful, great book. It is amazing how sometimes
you end up ruining your life, losing what you love just because your afraid of it and of losing it.
Started: December 2005 Finished: December 2005 |
