Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone.  I hope 2011 has been good to all of you and that you are looking forward to plenty of good reading in 2012.  I returned from Hawaii, which was a fantastic trip (photos to be posted later) and rushed forward into the Christmas holidays and getting back to work.  I've been absent from my blog (obviously) but have had the chance to begin catching up on my Google Reader so some of you have no doubt been noticing that I have been commenting again.

I didn't do a lot of reading in Hawaii because we were outside swimming, kayaking, golfing, and hiking.  This trip seemed to be more about activity and not as much about relaxing downtime.  I managed to finish only one book which was The Post American World by Fareed Zakaria.  I know this seems like a heavy read for a Hawaiian vacation but what can I say?  I get into moods where the only thing that satisfies me is a good non-fiction read.   If you wonder about the future of America as world power or which countries are emerging as economic leaders, this is the book for you.  I found it fascinating since I was aware that China and India are both countries that are emerging and growing like crazy but I was completely ignorant about countries like Brazil and their economic role.  Anyway, I realize this sort of book isn't for everyone but I really loved it.

I've neglected to write my review of We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver and now feel like too much time has passed for me to get my head around everything I wanted to say about the book after I finished it.  I'll just say that the book absolutely floored me and made me think about the whole nature vs. nurture thing and how children grow up to be monsters.  What role do parents play in forming an evil human being who becomes a mass murderer?  Are people born bad or are they raised to be bad?   I really loved that Ms. Shriver set the book up as a letter that the mother of Kevin was writing to her husband to explain what she felt her role was in Kevin's outcome and all of the mistakes that she and Kevin's father might have made.  Of course things are never this simple and the book does a brilliant job of taking the reader down a path and then switching things up at the end.  I know the movie is out right now and I do want to see it but might need some time to get into the right mindset.  I can't imagine how powerful the film might be, after reading the novel.

For 2012 I am planning to post more and read more.  I guess I say that every year but I do feel like if I don't post more there is no point to my keeping this blog and I'd really like to keep the dialogue about books going!