Light Boxes

Book #182 (Unique books)
Book #38 in 2012

 Light Boxes

by Shane Jones

 "In Light Boxes, the inhabitants of one closely-knit town are experiencing perpetual February. It turns out that a god-like spirit who lives in the sky, named February, is punishing the town for flying, and bans flight of all kind, including hot air balloons and even children's kites. It's February who makes the sun nothing but a faint memory, who blankets the ground with snow, who freezes the rivers and the lakes. As endless February continues, children go missing and more and more adults become nearly catatonic with depression. But others find the strength to fight back, waging war on February."

October 27th to 29th - 3 days - 149 pages

Watchmen

Book #181 (Unique books)
Book #37 in 2012

 Watchmen

by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons

"This Hugo Award-winning graphic novel chronicles the fall from grace of a group of super-heroes plagued by all-too-human failings. Along the way, the concept of the super-hero is dissected as the heroes are stalked by an unknown assassin.
One of the most influential graphic novels of all time and a perennial bestseller, WATCHMEN has been studied on college campuses across the nation and is considered a gateway title, leading readers to other graphic novels such as V FOR VENDETTA, BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS and THE SANDMAN series."

October 19th to 26th -  1 week - 408 pages

Notes:

I do not like this book and I do not understand why it is such a big deal and so popular and apparently influential. This is not my type of book. I don't even know why I finished it, but there you go. At least now I am only 3 books behind.

The Catcher in the Rye

Book #180 (Unique books)
Book #36 in 2012

 The Catcher in the Rye

by J. D. Salinger

 "The hero-narrator of THE CATCHER IN THE RYE is an ancient child of sixteen, a native New Yorker named Holden Caulfield. Through circumstances that tend to preclude adult, secondhand description, he leaves his prep school in Pennsylvania and goes underground in New York City for three days. The boy himself is at once too simple and too complex for us to make any final comment about him or his story. Perhaps the safest thing we can say about Holden is that he was born in the world not just strongly attracted to beauty but, almost, hopelessly impaled on it. There are many voices in this novel: children's voices, adult voices, underground voices-but Holden's voice is the most eloquent of all. Transcending his own vernacular, yet remaining marvelously faithful to it, he issues a perfectly articulated cry of mixed pain and pleasure. However, like most lovers and clowns and poets of the higher orders, he keeps most of the pain to, and for, himself. The pleasure he gives away, or sets aside, with all his heart. It is there for the reader who can handle it to keep."

October 14th to 19th -  6 days - 277 pages

Notes:

I loved this book.

John Green talks about The Catcher in the Rye:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqfThmVIIAc&feature=fvwp&NR=1

Part 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&NR=1&v=QUnQ-wOPGUE

M is for Magic

Book #179 (Unique books)
Book #35 in 2012

 M is for Magic

by Neil Gaiman

"Stories to delight, enchant, and surprise you.

Bestselling author and master storyteller Neil Gaiman here presents a breathtaking collection of tales that may chill or amuse readers—but always embrace the unexpected."

October 10th to 14th - 4 1/2 days - 260 pages

Notes:

Favorite stories:

The Case of Four and Twenty Blackbirds

Troll Bridge

Chivalry

Instructions

The Mysterious Benedict Society

Book #178 (Unique books)
Book #34 in 2012

 The Mysterious Benedict Society

by Trenton Lee Stewart

 "'Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?'

When this peculiar ad appears in the newspaper, dozens of children enroll to take a series of mysterious, mind-bending tests. (And you, dear reader, can test your wits right alongside them.) But in the end just four very special children will succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and resourceful children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules.

As our heroes face physical and mental trials beyond their wildest imaginations, they have no choice but to turn to each other for support. But with their newfound friendship at stake, will they be able to pass the most important test of all?

Welcome to the Mysterious Benedict Society."

September 29th to October 9th -  11 days - 485 pages