I read a lot. I know you do, too. But what amazes me is that rarely, if ever, do our lists intersect.

I read mostly contemporary fiction with a list heavy with emerging authors. I *belong* to Goodreads, which is a fabulous website for tracking and reviewing and discovering. I encourage you to join.

Below is a partial list of recent reads. (I tend to stack books around the house. You might recall that I recently had a bad spill when my oxygen leash nabbed my feet that then collided with a stack of books.)

The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett (fabulous novella regarding the merits of reading)

The Round House by Louise Erdrich*

The Book Thief by Zusak (this is considered a Young Adult book, but should be read by everyone. This is one of the best books I've ever, ever read. Ever. Ever. Death is the narrator. This might sound grim, but one quickly realizes death is compassionate and merciful. The story takes place in Nazi Germany. I plan to read this book many times over. It's REALLY that amazing.

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher (again, another Young Adult selection. I'm not quite certain why I picked this up except the premise is pure genius regarding suicide and how the protagonist chooses to reveal her reasons)

Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz (this was an Oprah selection and lacking, terribly)

Who will Run the Frog Hospital by Lorrie Moore (quirky and fun)

The Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton (amazingly fabulous)

Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum (very good not great - Germans surviving in Nazi Germany)

When we were Strangers by Pamela Schoenewaldt (meh - a bit contrived, but a good immigrant story of late 1800s)

Singing Mary's Song by John Stroman (a well written Advent story for the lay person)

Lord of the Flies by William Golding (excellento)

The Light between the Oceans by M.L. Stedman (this book received so much hype and is pure crap)

The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane** (perfect)

Life is a Trip by Judith Fein (loved this book because I know the author well and heard her every inflection and swooned)

*Erdrich was married to Michael Dorris who was one of my most favorite authors. He wrote Yellow Raft in Blue Water, which is required reading for many high schoolers. I swooned over this book. Raved about this book. Marveled over this book. Was stunned that this man knew women so well. Michael Dorris committed suicide shortly before it was going to be disclosed that he was sexually and physically abusing his children. It has also been widely speculated that his wife, Louise Erdrich, was actually the author of Yellow Raft in Blue Water. I read Round House only because my book club selected it, otherwise I probably would not have. There's something about these two authors that soils my sensibilities.

**Stephen Crane's book Red Badge of Courage was the first book written that didn't glorify war. Amen.