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Archive for October, 2009

The Valet’s Reading List as of 10/2 – Poll Numéro Deux

Oct 2

Posted by The Valet in Other | 6 Comments

So, if you recall I posted a poll (a link to a poll actually) along with my last reading list asking you to help me decide what to read next. Winning, with a whopping three votes, was Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead. For those of you who would like to read my review of it stay tuned and expect to see it sometime next week.

It is time once again for me to ask for your help. Of course I could just choose a book but it’s more fun to see what you all think I should be reading or what you’d like to see me review. I’ve limited my reading list/poll to 20 titles, which is actually quite a lot, and have also eliminated from it some of the longer behemoth books such as Infinite Jest cause I’m kind of tired of lugging around 5 pound books (The Power Broker and The Fountainhead). I’ve also made it easy for you to vote, no more clicking on a link, instead the poll is right here on the post! Pretty exciting huh? I think so, cause it took me awhile to figure out how to do it. Anyways, check out the poll below and help me decide what to read. The poll will run for one week, from Friday to Friday (ending at 8am PST) and I’ll be sure to announce the winning book that day. Vote away!

What should I read next?

  • Uglies by Scott Westerfield (7%, 2 Votes)
  • Ghost Soldiers by Hamption Sides (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Forever by Pete Hamill (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Zeitoun by Dave Eggers (14%, 4 Votes)
  • Six Suspects by Vikas Swarup (4%, 1 Votes)
  • Naked Airport by Alastair Gordon (7%, 2 Votes)
  • Couch by Benjamin Parzybok (4%, 1 Votes)
  • Lost City of Z by David Grann (11%, 3 Votes)
  • Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (7%, 2 Votes)
  • A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry (4%, 1 Votes)
  • Tattoo Machine by Jeff Johnson (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Big Machine: A Novel by Victor LaVelle (4%, 1 Votes)
  • Voss by Patrick White (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Planet of Slums by Mike Davis (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Wrestling with Moses by Anthony Flint (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson (14%, 4 Votes)
  • The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs (11%, 3 Votes)
  • Generation Kill by Evan Wright (7%, 2 Votes)
  • Nobody Move by Denis Johnson (6%, 2 Votes)

Total Voters: 28

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Little Bee by Chris Cleave

Oct 1

Posted by The Valet in Fiction, Lady Book | 3 Comments

Little Bee by Chris Cleeve

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

For some reason, which I haven’t quite figured out yet, my mother wanted me to read this book. When my mom recommends a book to me I usually skip all pretenses and read it, besides the rest of my family, who knows me best? I think her exact sentence was “I want to know what you think?” Well mom, here is what I think.

First off, I’ve categorized this as a “lady book” because the story centers around two women who are struggling to get passed the past and live life now. I don’t know if I would or could call them strong women but they are both righteous in their own ways. The men in this story, minus “batman,” are not so righteous and provide the reader with an overpowering sense of weakness of character in each of them, which does of course empower the women all the more.

This is actually a very difficult book to review in that I don’t want to give anything away and by saying to much there will be nothing for you, yourself, to discover or learn when you pick it up. I will say this, it was an enjoyable read and without having any idea as to what will happen or being able to foresee what is going to happen the reader is pretty much engaged from the beginning.

If the little train could do it, so can you, keep reading…

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