Geek Love - Katherine Dunn

This book made me shake my head and go WTF so many times it can't possibly be a bad book. The back of the book says it all: "the story of the Binewskis, a carny family whose mater- and paterfamilias set out–with the help of amphetamine, arsenic, and radioisotopes–to breed their own exhibit of human oddities." The book was just as weird as it sounds. Really well written and it made you genuinely care for the genetic freaks and take sides in the family feud. You will laugh with them, you will laugh at them, and they will make you want to cry (from pity most likely). I would recommend this book if you like weird books or family sagas and don't mind a bit of weirdness. (also not recommended if you are sensitive about anything at all or easily offended and/or don't like being offended)

7/10 (umm... Family Saga I guess...)

If you enjoyed this you are just as disturbed as me and I have no recommendations because I have never read anything like it. I'm sorry. 

Night After Day - Anita Diamant

This novel introduced me to an new aspect of an era I have read a lot about. I had very little idea about what life was like for holocaust survivors fleeing to Palestine, I knew that many had gone there after the war hoping for a better life but had no idea what happened once they got there. As I grew to care for the characters I wanted to know more about them that Anita Diamant wrote in the novel. I think it would have been a stronger story if she had included more of the back story of the main characters rather than the rough sketches she gave (I also would totally read a follow up book if one was ever written to find out what happened to the girls after the end of the story as it wasn't really the end, rather just a new beginning...which also annoyed me a bit). Still she did a very good job of showing how the camps were run as well as the Kibbutz and made me want to know more about this subject. If you have interest in WWII and don't recognize the word Kibbutz I recommend this book, also if you are interested in Jewish history or just are looking for a good post-war story.

7/10 (Historical - Post-WWII Palestine Internment Camp)

If you enjoyed this book I would recommend:

Night - Elie Wiesle (warning: you will cry WWII biography)
The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd (strong female relationships)
The Magdalene Line Series - Kathleen McGowan (this one I am not sure about, has strong female lead, Christianity and controversy...not sure but I liked it and I normally thumb my nose at religious stuff so I am going out on a limb with this recommendation...)

Mysteria Nights - P. C. Cast, MaryJanice Davidson, Susan Grant & Gena Showalter

This is a collection of 8 short stories by 4 of the leading paranormal romance writers out there. I enjoyed all of the stories with The Nanny from Hell and A Tawdry Affair being the best of the bunch. Mysteria is a town where paranormal beings are drawn and live with their powers out in the open, it is an interesting concept. The stories intersect with characters from one playing bit parts in the other. All in all I would say it was an all right read, but if you like the genre it is worth picking up.

(As an aside it has the stories of "Mysteria" and "Mysteria Lane" in it, so if you have already read those you do not want to read this as it will be a repeat or if you already have Mysteria Nights do not get the other two anthologies as you already have the stories.)

5/10 (Trashy Paranormal Romance in Short Story Form)
9/10

If you enjoyed this check out:

Bite - Laurell K Hamilton et al

My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding - P. N. Elrod

Cupid Cats - Katie MacAlister et al 

The Help - Kathryn Stockett

This was a wonderful (and depressing) read. Kathryn Stockett brought to life a very difficult time in Americas history. A lot of American readers hated this book and the reviews show it but I think that is because it made them so darn uncomfortable. The story is told using rather stock characters but that only makes the book stronger in my opinion  using stereotypes to illustrate the way people treat each other seems like the right thing to do, everyone knows that bitchy white girl who never had to work a day in her life, that girl everyone mocks for wanting different things than everyone else and I imagine in 1960 Mississippi that outspoken black woman and her counterpart the quiet scared one. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

8.5/10 (Historical - USA South 1960s Civil Rights Movement)
7/10 (The coming of age aspect of this would appeal to teenage girls, High School)

If you Enjoyed this book check out:

To Kill a Mocking Bird - Harper Lee
The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

the Milkweed Triptych - Ian Tregillis

Bitter Seeds (Book 1)

In this novel the Allied forces of WWII are aided by Warlocks and the Axis is aided by super-humans created by Nazi Scientists. The family dynamics are well executed on both sides of the war with characters you care about fighting each other. The author did an amazing job of drawing out the fictional story and the detail of real world history to add a gritty feel to the setting he put his characters in. Basically a well written fantasy that draws you in and leaves you wanting more. If you enjoy speculative fiction, I would recommend this novel.

8/10 (Fantasy / Alternate History)

If you enjoyed this book you may also like:

The Dresden Files - Jim Butcher
Thursday Next Series - Jasper Fforde (light funny alternate histories)
Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter - Seth Grahame-Smith

World War Z - Max Brooks

When I read this book I will admit my expectations were really low, it was very popular at the time and usually the more popular the book the less I like it. However, I was surprised with the quality of story telling and before I knew it it was 3 am and I was done the book. Max Brooks did a very good job of making you care about the characters in short passages, the novel is laid out as a series of interviews so you learn about the war in a very unusual way, in small bursts of personal anecdotes.  

8/10 stars (Apocalypse / Zombies / Fantasy)

If you enjoyed this you may also enjoy:

The Walking Dead Graphic Novels - Robert Kirkman et. al.
The Passage - Justin Cronin
The Road - Cormic McCarthy