Numbers Challenge Wrap-Up

Wow. I need to do a better job of keeping track of my books and challenges. Especially of reviewing books right after I read them... and not say... 3 months later. Or so.

For example, I finished the Numbers Challenge quite awhile ago and really that calls for some sort of announcement or celebration, right? My first completed challenge!

My Selection:
1. Six of One by Rita Mae Brown (review here)
2. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom (review here)
3. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (review here)
4. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut (review here)
5. One Hundred Years of Solitute by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (review here)

Favorite: Probably Slaughterhouse-Five. I don't know why it took me so long to read it.

Least Favorite: The Five People You Meet in Heaven. I knew it was a bad idea, but sometimes peer pressure gets to the best of us.

Thanks to Callista for hosting a great challenge!

When I Was Elena

I came across When I was Elena by Ellen Urbani Hiltebrand this spring when my mother's friend passed it along to me. She had heard the author speak and thought I would enjoy the story. Feeling like I was under pressure to return the book, I moved it straight to the top of my pile. It just so happened it coincided nicely with the Non-Fiction Five Challenge.

When I Was Elena is the story of Hiltebrand's experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer during the early 1990s in Guatemala. In addition to describing the adventures in her life, she also includes several chapters told from the perspective of Guatemalan women, women without voices.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read. Hiltebrand was faced with some amazing challenges... all of which fueled a little anxiety I took with me to Peru. However, I did find myself more and more curious about the details of her Peace Corps assignment, which are sprinkled through the pages sparingly.

Recommendation: If you like to read about adventure from the safety of your own home, When I Was Elena offers plenty.

Note: I wish I could give a more detailed review. I read this book several months ago and returned it to the original owner. I'm working on pure memory.

Boy Meets Boy

I'd seen Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan pop up in middle schools and high schools over the past year. The Young Adult Challenge gave me an excuse to read it. I'm glad I did.

Welcome to the bizarre world of Paul, a gay sophomore in high school. At Paul's school the cheerleaders ride motorcycles, the debate team simultaneously bowls, the quarterback is a guy turned girl, and homosexuality is embraced and heartily represented. Nothing like my school where maybe 3 people were openly gay... a few we found out about later. In short, it is a school where everyone fits in... not very believable. But it fits the story, so all is forgiven.

Boy Meets Boy details the drama of life when you're in high school and everyone is discovering who they are, who they love, and who to trust. Paul meets Noah and it's a perfect match... but when Paul's ex Kyle steps back in the picture, things get confusing. On top of that, a rumor surfaces that Paul is secreting dating his best friend Tony... which relationship will Paul pursue, or will he ruin it all? His fellow students are placing their bets.

Recommendation: For a unique take on high school love, Boy Meets Boy presents a nearly fantastic background for real world problems.