Books 4,5,6, and 7 (Spring Break edition)
Bringing Down the House, by Ben Mezrich
About a blackjack team of MIT students who devised a system to turn the slight statistical advantage of card counting into their favor. Easy, quick read--it rather reminded me of The DaVinci Code in the author's style of writing and story structure. Engaging 'cause hey, who doesn't want to be a high roller in Vegas? Excellent brain candy, but I would bring another book with you on vacation if you read as fast as I do.
House of Sand and Fog, by Andre Dubus III
Sad story of the struggle between a woman wrongly forced out of her home and the Persian family who purchases it at county auction. Very well written and compelling story, highly recommend.
The Queen's Fool, by Philippa Gregory
Bought this in Madrid (for way too much) to read on the way home, since I loved the author's first book (thanks, Robini!) about the era, The Other Boleyn Girl. This one deals with the next period of time in English history and tells the story of Hannah, a Jewish girl who fled the Inquisition to England and is now hiding her past and her true identity to everyone, including herself. Definitely enjoyable, and substantial enough to last through a 10-hour flight, but I liked the first one better (though that won't stop me from reading the newest one, The Virgin's Lover)--slightly less cheesy.
Rick Steves' Spain 2005, by Rick Steves
Bought this after reading numerous reviews on Amazon trying to decide which guidebook to purchase. And yes, I really did read it cover to cover, even for the areas that we didn't visit! Overall, it was an excellent guide, and much better than the Frommer's guide I also bought. He writes with a very personal voice, as though he were actually telling you about something while you were standing in front of it, so it was great for the background. Excellent hotel and mostly good food recommendations. Good maps, although color ones of the Metro systems in Barcelona and Madrid would have been nice. I will definitely purchase his guides for other European destinations.
About a blackjack team of MIT students who devised a system to turn the slight statistical advantage of card counting into their favor. Easy, quick read--it rather reminded me of The DaVinci Code in the author's style of writing and story structure. Engaging 'cause hey, who doesn't want to be a high roller in Vegas? Excellent brain candy, but I would bring another book with you on vacation if you read as fast as I do.
House of Sand and Fog, by Andre Dubus III
Sad story of the struggle between a woman wrongly forced out of her home and the Persian family who purchases it at county auction. Very well written and compelling story, highly recommend.
The Queen's Fool, by Philippa Gregory
Bought this in Madrid (for way too much) to read on the way home, since I loved the author's first book (thanks, Robini!) about the era, The Other Boleyn Girl. This one deals with the next period of time in English history and tells the story of Hannah, a Jewish girl who fled the Inquisition to England and is now hiding her past and her true identity to everyone, including herself. Definitely enjoyable, and substantial enough to last through a 10-hour flight, but I liked the first one better (though that won't stop me from reading the newest one, The Virgin's Lover)--slightly less cheesy.
Rick Steves' Spain 2005, by Rick Steves
Bought this after reading numerous reviews on Amazon trying to decide which guidebook to purchase. And yes, I really did read it cover to cover, even for the areas that we didn't visit! Overall, it was an excellent guide, and much better than the Frommer's guide I also bought. He writes with a very personal voice, as though he were actually telling you about something while you were standing in front of it, so it was great for the background. Excellent hotel and mostly good food recommendations. Good maps, although color ones of the Metro systems in Barcelona and Madrid would have been nice. I will definitely purchase his guides for other European destinations.