Swamplandia! by Karen Russell

– Tremendously engaging read, really upset me toward the end.

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain

– One of the best books I’ve read in years – unforgettable account of a young soldier on a brief hiatus from war. Ecstatic that this is going to be a big-time movie directed by Ang Lee.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

– Seduced by the lovely writing until I realized that the plot is plain silly; the book has annoyed me ever since.

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

– The book is a collection of linked stories that tell a grander tale; I manfully soldiered on until the end, but really book seemed like some kind of writing exercise.