Diary: A Novel

I am DONE with Chuck!
This is the craziest book I have ever read! While ordinarily that would be a GOOD thing, I think I know why it's NOT. This story totally turned whack-a-doo three quarters of the way into the book. I wasn't prepared for that. I resisted it, and I did not enjoy being messed with like that. I'm not really sure why, but I think I would've appreciated the plot twist more if I had been eased into it, rather than having it smash me in the head like a sledgehammer on page 200 of a 261 page book.

That said, I'm not even going to try to summarize. Read the back cover of the book, and if that piques your interest, give it a whirl. It's a quick read, and it will make you think.

Lincoln's Grave Robbers

One of my advanced fifth grade social studies students introduced me to Lincoln's Grave Robbers by Steve Sheinkin. With a lexile level of 930 and high interest subject matter, this book is a great nonfiction choice for strong readers who also enjoy history. The plot revolves around a crazy scheme hatched by a group of counterfeiters in the 1870s to steal the remains of Abraham Lincoln from a memorial in Springfield, Illinois and hold them for ransom. It details the efforts of the newly formed Secret Service agency to thwart the plan.

Choke

Choke is an interesting and disturbing book by the author of Fight Club, Chuck Palahniuk (Paula-nick). While I have no interest in the premise behind Fight Club, my daughter convinced me to read a different Chuck book because of his unusual writing style and odd characters. Choke centers on a med school dropout/sexaholic character who makes money by pretending to choke at fancy restaurants. The story did hold my interest, spun out of control in the middle, and ultimately I was disappointed by the over-the-top ending. I will try another Chuck book; however, maybe Invisible Monsters or Lullaby.