BREAKING DAWN (Stephenie Meyer) - August 24/09

The Twilight saga comes to a close in a fitting, satisfying, yet slightly bloated tale that ensures happy endings are received by all the primary characters. My one complaint with the novel is that it often moves at a pace that's perhaps a little too leisurely, but this is something that's easy to forgive (and anticipate), as Meyer - knowing that this is the last story to feature her characters - shares her reluctance to let Bella and Edward go with the reader. As for the complaints others have had (ie the grisly birth), I had no such problems and I thought the final confrontation between the Cullens and the Volturi was especially well done (particularly with Bella discovering her newfound power to protect those under her purview). The end, in which Bella allows Edward to read her thoughts for the very first time, was just about perfect. I'm sad to have reached the end, but I'm glad I took a chance and lost myself in Bella and Edward's admittedly idealized romance. ***1/2 out of ****

THE STRAIN (Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan) - August 16/09

This first part in a trilogy is certainly an entertaining read from start to finish, but it's impossible to overlook the feeling that - most likely - the entire trilogy could've been condensed into one book. It's consequently not surprising to note that the events in the novel are overdescribed to an almost absurd extent, and there are also plenty of absolutely superfluous sequences and interludes spread throughout (ie everyone watching the eclipse). It's also worth noting that the authors never explain just how the vampire is able to take out an entire plane's worth of victims INSTANTANEOUSLY. (And then he can't take out three vampire killers?? Really?) Still, an entertaining enough effort that will hopefully improve as the series progresses. *** out of ****

THE HUNGER GAMES (Suzanne Collins) - August 9/09

This fantastic first installment of a trilogy moves at an exceedingly brisk pace and features a number of genuinely thrilling action sequences. But it's the characters that ultimately capture and sustain the reader's interest, with the book's heroine certainly ranking right up there with some of the best and most interesting protagonists I've encountered in quite some time. Can't wait for book two... **** out of ****

THERESE RAQUIN (Emile Zola) - August 2/09

Though it boasts a surprisingly contemporary writing style (which could admittedly be a result of the translation) and an unabashedly sinister storyline, Therese Raquin eventually wore me out and lost my interest thanks to its relentlessly repetitive final 100 pages or so. Once the murder is committed and Therese and Laurent start to go crazy, Zola essentially offers up page after page of the exact same thing. There's nothing new or fresh within this portion of the book, as Zola hammers home the point over and over again. It's maddening, really. ** out of ****