*The following information applies to the English hardcover edition. (the novel was originally published in Japanese in 2009/2010).* Author: Haruki MurakamiTranslator: Jay Rubin (Books 1 and 2) and Phillip Gabriel (Book 3) Title: 1Q84 Published: October 2011 Publisher: Knopf Length: 925 pages Genre: Post-modern surrealism Target age: AdultWhy I picked it up: Fan of the author, massively hypedRating: 2 stars Buy: Chapters | IndieBound | Check your local bookstore! Weehoo, I […]

Author: Michael Pollan Title: In Defense of Food Published: January 1 2008 Publisher: Penguin Press Length: 201 pages Genre: Non-fiction Why I picked it up: Interested in Pollan’s writing Rating: 3.5 stars Challenges: Foodie’s | 100+ This is the follow-up book to The Omnivore’s Dilemma. While The Omnivore’s Dilemma examined where our food can and does come from, In Defense of Food presents Pollan’s opinion on what food we should […]

Author: Jaclyn Moriarty Title: The Ghosts of Ashbury High (Dreaming of Amelia in Australia) Published: June 2010 Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books Length: 480 pages Genre: YA fiction Why I picked it up: Love the series Rating: 4 stars Challenges: Global | 100+ It is always a rare treat to find a YA novel that I can enjoy and devour. There are a very few YA authors that I love. […]

 Author: Sylvia Plath Title: The Bell Jar Published: 1963 Publisher: Heinemann Length: 244 pages Genre: Semi-autobiographical fiction Why I picked it up: A ‘classic’, sounded goodRating: 4 stars Challenges: 100+   Buy: IndieBound | Chapters | Check your local bookstore! I sometimes wonder if I might ever loose my grounding or go crazy or have a nervous breakdown. I think everyone does. What struck me about this book was how well […]