Paradise, by Toni Morrison.  This is a phenomenal story by one of my favorite- though challenging, authors.  This story begins with the ending, then goes about giving details and little vignettes of people in the community which eventually lead back to the ending, explaining it.  By the time I reached the ending though, I had gotten so wrapped up in the story, I forgot what had happened.  Read it when you've got some time to ponder, and perhaps even read it more than once, as Morrison gets better w/ each reading- you'll find things you've missed and be happy you went back.
The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisiterhood, by Rebecca Wells.  Although I got this book for my birthday in July, I didn't have a chance to read it until this winter break.  It turned aout to be one of the best stories I've ever read about the pain, loyalty and love inherent in friendship.  This was my savior after work, or play, every night.  I would stay up until all hours because I could NOT put this book down.  When I finally finished it I had laughed and cried- no joke, and slept soundly, though the next day when I realized I had finished it I was actually sad that I didn't have that nice, enveloping refuge anymore. Read this book and give it to your best friend- my copy is making the rounds right now.
Rabbit, Run, by John Updike.  I read this book for my American Contemporary Fiction class, here at AU, with Kermit Moyer.  This book also had the ability to capture my attention so I didn't want to put it down.  Since I'm finishing my lit. minor this spring, I'm reading at least 3 books per week, and this book was a kind of easy read- something to come back to after Emerson and DuBois.  The main character's ability to completely piss you off while still keep you guessing is Updike's genious, whcih enabled him to write a series of books about Rabbit.  If you're ever in the mood for an early mid-life crisis, or an escape- just jump into Rabbit's voyage and that should suffice.
If You Give A Pig A Pancake, by Laura Numeroff.  This is the third in an adorable series of children's books by Laura Numeroff.  The first book, If You Give A Moose A Muffin was a good start, though I have to say she gets progressively better in her next book, If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, which was my first true love.  But, because of a special friend's inscription and my bias towards piggies, this third book wins my vote.  Either read alone, or in succession, this are just really fun books to add to anyone's library (but especially a favorite little friends.)
Guess How Much I Love You, by Sam McBratney.  Ok.  When I was a Senior in high school I came down with a nasty case of Mono around the same time of a huge snowstorm which caused my town to lose power for a few days. I went to Nicole's house because she had power and we had to wrok on our psychology project which was to evaluate the signifigance and morals in children's literature.  We borrowed some of Sonya's books, including this one.  Reading this simple tale of little nutbrown hare and big nutbrown hare (who can either be a mom or a dad,) and the lengths they go to to show each other how much they love each other was a
 
 

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