So much to say...so much to say....(FINALLY #'s 27, 28, 29 and 30).

There is no excuse, but I have been far too swamped to update lately, so I haven't. I have finished quite a few books, and I will first list, and then 'review', if you will.

1. The Abstinence Teacher by Tom Perrotta
2. The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
3. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
4. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

In 'The Abstinence Teacher', Perrotta weaves a tale predominantly involving two characters in the suburb of Stonewood Heights, single mother Ruth Ramsay, the sex ed teacher at the local high school, and Tim, a reformed drug addict belonging to the Tabernacle of the Gospel Truth. Ramsey's liberal beliefs as she espouses them in her sex ed class are vilified by the Tabernacle members and they wage a pseudo crusade against Ruth. As seems to be the case these days around suburbs throughout our fair country, the school agrees to an abstinence curriculum and forces Ruth to adopt the same. Ruth struggles between adopting these antiquated, conservative and somewhat harmful lessons whilst trying to contend with the religious fervor spreading throughout the school and even infecting her daughter's soccer team. Tim's struggle to remain sober and a strong member of the church make him a sympathetic and interesting character all at once. Both characters are intense and multi-dimensional, so their eventual relationship (whatever it may turn into) is somewhat predictable in its surprising flavor. I found the book to be scary, interesting, frustrating and humorous. Definitely an interesting read for those with an open mind and a liberal spirit.

On to 'The Bean Trees'.... I cannot seem to say enough about Ms. Kingsolver. She has a talent for telling a story quite unlike any author I have ever come into contact with. She takes the most outlandish characters and events and makes them instantly likable and easy to relate to. She does this through wit, with intelligence and a ton of heart. Taylor, one of the main characters, leaves Kentucky to escape a life plagued with babies and tires...only to find herself a baby and a job with tires. Taylor finds herself in Tucson, Arizona at an outfit called Jesus Is Lord Used Tires, run by a woman named Mattie. Along for the ride in Taylor's beat-up VW Bug is Turtle, an abandoned Cherokee child who has clearly been abused and neglected. It isn't far into the novel when we meet Lou Ann, Taylor's neurotic but lovable neighbor who also ran away from Kentucky, only to find herself pregnant with a dead beat husband. I laughed out loud several times while reading this book and found myself utterly charmed with how Turtle and Lou Ann change and shape Taylor's life; teaching her powerful lessons along the way. Ms. Kingsolver has a way of taking simple vocabulary and complex characters and making an unforgettable and life changing story. I enjoyed every last word and was absolutely heart broken to reach the end. A must read!

I can clearly review 'Catching Fire' and 'Mockingjay' together. I am wary to review these books as I do not want to take away any one's delight in reading these pieces of young adult fiction. If you are not reading this series (The Hunger Games series) because of the 'young adult' category, then you are surely missing out on something really wonderful. Ms. Collins uses science fiction and fanciful tales to illustrate a story that is laden with social and political implications. She is absolutely brilliant, no question. These books have so much to say about media, government, protection of the people, racism, discrimination, sexism, and, of course...love. Each book is exciting and note worthy on its own and leaves you hungering for more (no pun intended)...even the last of the series. I was disappointed when it ended not because it wasn't told to a seriously good finale, but because I yearned for more. If you are turned off by the YA status...I implore you to 'get over yourself' and go for it...you will not be let down.

I am currently finishing the 'Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' series and 'Incendiary'...