Book Review Roundup

Over the last couple months, I've racked up a lot of hours either on the road or in the kitchen. As much as possible, I've been stuffing those hours with audiobooks since reading time has otherwise been fairly rare. There have been some great finds, and a few duds, and I thought I'd take a minute to share about them in case anyone is looking to stock up on reading material before the cold weather properly sets in! 

Fiction

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett

This is hysterical in a dry, British humor sort of way. The misadventures of two long-time friends, one an angel and the other a demon, seeking to avert the apocalypse because they rather enjoy living on earth. The plan seems to be working... until they lose the Antichrist.

Conversion by Katherine Howe

You know a book is good when you can almost feel the character's headaches, panic, and exhaustion because the story has sucked you in so deeply it's like you're actually there beside them. 

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

Beautiful and complex, like all of Morton's works. The ending was superb. 

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

Lush and enchanting, with a tragic undertone. A very good read. 

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

My least favorite of her books so far, I think, but still quite good. 

The Apple Orchard by Susan Wiggs

Beautifully written and intriguing. Fair warning: it's the first book in an as-yet unfinished series, and the second book isn't as good as the first. As a read-alone, though, it's great!

Non-Ficton

Toxic Charity by Robert Lupton

This book should be required reading by anyone and everyone who gives to charity, volunteers with charities, or works with the non-profit, development, municipal management, government or church sectors of life. 

A Disease CalledChildhood: Why ADHD Became an American Epidemic by Marilyn Wedge

A very well done exploration of the social, physical and nutritional aspects of how and why the rates of ADHD have skyrocketed, and what we can do about it.

Books to Avoid

The Misfit Economy (Sounds promising, but doesn't deliver.)

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat (Ditto) 

Five Questions of Christmas  (Seems like an interesting idea, but had serious issues with flow/cohesiveness and didn't really relate to Christmas.)

What have you been reading?