Book #2: In Cold Blood by Capote

In Cold Blood, the famous and revolutionary book of the 'non-fiction novel' genre. Capote uses this style to create the masterpiece of a book. He has interviewed murderers of a prominent family in a small town in Kansas, with no enemies. He chronicles their many mishaps and thoughts throughout their vicious killings and even instills within the reader a sympathy for these killers. Through his creative and descriptive prose, the reader can truly put themselves in the place of the main characters of Perry Smith and Dick Hickock. This recounting places you in the thought and exact situations and peril of the two, accomplishing this will flying colors. I recommend this book to any and all, even those who do not enjoy non-fiction typically. The book even questions my thinking in the death penalty, which in my mind shows its true power and achievement in literature.

9/10.

Book Numero Uno: "I Love You, Beth Cooper" by Larry Doyle

I highly recommend this funny, brilliant book about the single-night coming of age of Denis Cooverman. Denis, high school valedictorian, persuaded by his close and only friend Rich Munsch, a gay (which he denies) movie buff who constantly quotes movies, decides to deliver a graduation speech to remember; he confesses his love for beautiful, sexy head cheerleader Beth Cooper. Not only does Doyle, in his debut novel, expertly craft the characters and their multiple dimensions that make the book near-impossible one to put down, but he also creates hilarious dialogue and situations the situations of Denis ("The Coove" as per his friend Rich) all in one night. Right from Denis, "all my memories from high school are from tonight". This book, soon to be a movie, is a you-can't-miss-it and is great for any teen girls or guys, even infrequent readers.

10 stars out of 10.

Some funny lines:

"Denis thrust his hands back into the closet, praying they would reappear holding anything resembling a weapon. A loaded revolver would be ideal, though unlikely (his mother felt hunters should be tried for war crimes and his father drove a Prius)."

"Valli Woolly invited no one [to her party]. She had disinvited just enough people ('I have to keep it small') for word to get around. She wanted everybody to be crashing, so that they would all feel unworthy and she could eject anyone at any time. She was that much of a bitch."

Here's to a beginning!

Well I figured I ought to try this...so here goes nothing.

Hope anyone who reads enjoys or gets something out of this =)


-AndrewC