#11 Odd Thomas

by Dean Koontz

What a creatively written book! It was thrilling and funny. The main character, a 20 year old guy named Odd Thomas, is such an interesting and loveable character. The book deals with his gift of being able to see dead people; which he wishes he didn't have because of all the complications it brings. He feels compelled/obligated to use his gift to help others. He simplifies every other part of his life to try to balance his rational and paramormal lives. I really enjoyed the fact that Elvis's ghost visits him often. I think this book is excellent, and I would recommend it strongly. You may not like paranormal things, but this isn't your run of the mill paranormal novel. I would have probably never chosen to read a book about someone who sees dead people (my mom recommended it), but Dean Koontz does such an excellent job that I found myslef engulfed in the story. Thanks mom for the great recommendation!!

#10 I Heard the Owl Call My Name

by Margaret Craven

It took me a little longer to get into this book than some others. It is a slower moving book, but this story wouldn't work at a faster pace. The reader learns about the traditions and lives of a remote tribe of indians, the Kwakiutl, through the eyes of a terminally ill vicar who is sent to serve amoung them. The vicar doesn't know he is terminally ill, but the bishop does. The bishop sends the vicar to this assignment knowing that he will learn the most in the short time he has left. He learns of lonliness, sadness, and the tribe's traditions by living with the indians. He is accepted by them as family. He also learns of death. In the tribe it is an accepted part of life. They are sad when they lose someone they love, but they accept it as part of the cycle of life. One of their beliefs is that the owl will call your name when your time is close. There is a lot of meaningful quotes in this book, but one stood out the most.

A girl named Keetah has just returned from the white man's world. She went to school for a short time in that world, but returned because it wasn't the world she knew. The boy she was bethroved to, Gordon, also was going to school in that world. He was changed by this experience, and she knew that he would stay there and not return to the village. Of this she says, "I have lost my sister to death. I have lost Gordon to life, and this is harder."

#9 A Bad Beginning

First book in A Series of Unfortunate Events
by Lemony Snicket

I've been wanting to read at least one book in this series. Unfortunately, I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. I think if I would have read the book before seeing the movie my reaction would probably have been different. However, I saw the movie a while ago. I think they did an excellent job on the movie and I found it to be very entertaining. The book was good, but I think I'll just wait and watch the movies from now on.