March Books of the Month

Here's my list of books I read this month:

Left Neglected by Lisa Genova. I read her touching first book, Still Alice, so was excited to read the latest. It's the story of a career woman/mom whose multitasking lands her in an automobile accident. She's left with a rare condition called "left neglect" in which she is unaware of the left side of her body. I was fascinated with her accident and rehab, but then the book became a little too pat. Interesting but not nearly as good as Still Alice.

Rescue by Nicholas Sparks. Typical melodramatic Sparks--what the Wall Street Journal calls Vic Lit (I guess the book above fits that category as well). Single mom with a four-year-old language imapaired son is rescued after a car crash by a handsome fireman who has a secret in his past. OMG, as a speech pathologist, I wanted to slap this mother (and Sparks, too) upside the head. Imagine working with your child by strapping him in a chair for 4 hours a day and making him repeat words. I kept reading because I wanted to see what other stupid things this mom would do. Obviously, I don't recommend this book.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. The final book of the Hunger Games trilogy, it follows Katmiss and her friends (and enemies) as she becomes the symbol of the rebellion against the tyrannical Captiol. Better than the second book, not as good as the first, but has some twists at the end.

Emma by Jane Austen. The social mores of a small town in Austen's time period, centered around Emma, who unsuccessfully plays matchmaker. Fun read, great social commentary. I read this for my book club.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Another book club read. Bradbury's futuristic tale of censorship and the fireman who fights it. Worth reading and re-reading.