Sweet Tooth: A Memoir by Tim AndersonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
As if being a closeted gay teenager wasn't hard enough, Tim Anderson is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. In this laugh-out-loud memoir, Tim puts a humorous twist on his painful experiences growing up in the 1980s. If you are into humour, this candid memoir is not to be missed.
Silent House by Orhan PamukMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Orhan Pamuk's second novel is set in a seaside town in the months before the 1980 military coup in Turkey. Written in 1983 and translated in English only a few years ago, "Silent House" is ostensibly about an old woman visited by her grandchildren during one summer, but there is an undercurrent of political and cultural tension. Pamuk's technique of having the novel's chapters narrated from the point of view of alternating characters is highly effective. Recommended.
The Book Thief by Markus ZusakMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a memorable book about an orphan girl in Nazi Germany. And despite Death making an appearance as the narrator, this is not a morbid read. This is a novel about hope, and the first one set against the backdrop of World War II that I have read from a German point of view. Highly recommended.
Naked by David SedarisMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
David Sedaris is one of the funniest writers alive, and this collection of autobiographical essays is no exception. The 'Naked' in the title comes from the last essay in the book -- about his visit to a nudist colony. Beware! Sedaris can find humour in the most tragic events - his mother’s cancer and some pretty scary experiences while hitchhiking. As long as he can make me smile or laugh out loud, I’m OK with that. Recommended.
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