The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin

Joanna Eberhart moves to Stepford with her husband and two kids. Leaving the city, they look forward to bonding and growing as a closer-knit family in the slower-paced suburbs. They settle in quite nicely. Joanna makes new friends and dives into her love of photography. Walter commutes to the city to work, but joins Stepfords' Men's Association, where he spends the majority of his nights. The neighbors are friendly, but sadly outdated. The women are very tedious about their housework and always look gorgeous; perfect figure with large boobs and hair doused in hairspray. They look forward to cooking and tending to their husbands, leaving no time for hobbies or interests of their own. Joanna starts to become suspicious when her closest friend succumbs to the Stepford lifestyle, a woman who was quite anti-Stepford beforehand.

I first fell in love with Ira Levin's writing when I read Rosemary's Baby a few years back. The Stepford Wives only makes me love Levin even more. This anti-Utopian novel is fun to read, yet eerily possible. Admittedly, I first watched the movie when it came out in 2004 (with Nicole Kidman and Matthew Broderick), and was terribly disappointed. Thankfully, the novel is nothing like the movie. I should have known better, so shame on me. If you are looking for a quick read that is easy to get lost in, I would highly recommend The Stepford Wives.

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

I chose Oryx and Crake for my first Atwood novel based on a friends recommendation. I have to say, I was not in the least bit disappointed. If Atwood writes every novel with this much originality, creativity, and intrigue, then I am forever hooked. Oryx and Crake is set in the future and is told by the character Jimmy, who also goes by Snowman. Snowman is the present and Jimmy, the past. The reader is thrown into a civilization that has been demolished and re-created. The story is narrated by Snowman, who explains the chain of events that lead to this new civilization by retelling his childhood bit by bit. The reader is along for the ride as Snowman retells his entire life, up to present day.

Admittedly, it is slow to begin. However, the more I read about Snowman/Jimmy's past, the more difficult it was to set this novel down. Atwood certainly did her research. The future she paints is very believable, and quite frightening. The story ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger. I am almost certain that Atwood does this for a reason. However, it does leave the possibility for a sequel. Oryx and Crake was a remarkable read, and I definitely would read it again.

Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk

Reporter Carl Streator is investigating a series of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) for an article, when he discovers a common factor. It's called a culling song...an African "lullaby" used to send the listener into a swift, painless death. Culling songs are often used on suffering elderly, starving children, or during plagues. One particular culling song has found it's way into a poem anthology in America, causing an outbreak of death and despair. Streator takes it upon himself to journey across America in effort to destroy every copy of said anthology, a most daunting, and seemingly impossible task.

Palahniuk draws in the reader into his twisted world once again. The beginning is slightly confusing as it passes from person to person, but once the storyline stabilizes, it is pretty easy to follow. Before long you are swept into the journey, craving more. So far, I definitely think that this is Palahniuk's best piece. Much better than the highly acclaimed Survivor. I was able to polish off this book in just a few sittings. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking to get lost in a quick journey into the twisted world of Chuck Palahnuik.

The Eyes of The Dragon by Stephen King

Last night I finished The Eyes of the Dragon, beautifully told by the master storyteller himself, Stephen King. King has shown his versatility yet again in this fairytale of old. It is the classic tale of good vs. evil. A must read for anyone who enjoys fantasy or who is looking to get lost in a world of kings, magicians, and dragons. When King Roland is poisoned, next-in-line Prince Peter is convicted of said crime and sentenced to spend the rest of his life atop the "needle" tower. Roland's second born son, Tommy, takes the throne at the age of eleven. The kingdom is thrown into chaos, but at the hand of an evil mastermind.

I LOVE LOVED this book. I read it like it was candy. It reminds me of a cross between Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, but on a much less complex level, so to speak. Easy to read and wonderful to get lost in, I highly recommend The Eyes of the Dragon to anyone who is looking to get lost in a good story. Up next is Chuck Palahniuk's Lullaby.

Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk

Before I watched Fight Club, I had never heard of Chuck Palaniuk. While I loved the movie, I was unsure if I would like the book. So I started with a book that has not (yet) been made into a movie. Survivor begins on page 289 and counts down to page 1 as narrator Tender Branson tells his life story into the black box of an airplane that is flying over that Pacific Ocean, about to crash into the Australian Outback. What makes Branson unique is that he is the sole surviving member of a religious cult. Branson takes you on a journey like no other, from his cultist upbringing to his unplanned demise.

What might you have in common with a ex-cult member who is hijacking a plane, you ask? More than you can possibly imagine. Though you may not agree with everything that Branson does, it is easy to relate and feel for him, on some level at the very least. The only complaint that I have is that the ending is somewhat anti-climatic/somewhat cliffhanger. I imagine Palaniuk did that on purpose, but I find it takes away from the story. I would definitely recommend Survivor and plan to read other novels by Palaniuck in the very near future!