I've been frustrated lately over my inability to find a book I really really loved. But then I read the first of this list, and it blew my mind. There's always a book out there...it's just a matter of finding it.

The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson
This book is completely stupendous. The author managed to magically create an entire North Korean universe out of the tiny shards of information we are allowed. It's a feat of true genius.

The Lives of Dwarfs by Betty M. Adelson
Yeah, now I know a lot about dwarfs. Like, for example, that I'm about 2 inches shy of BEING ONE.

Vaclav & Lena by Haley Tanner
Maybe a tiny bit slight, but very sweet nonetheless.

Big Girl Small by Rachel DeWoskin
Here's what I don't understand. A lovely novel like this goes totally unremarked upon, but that over-rated, pretentious and ultimately pointless Tiger's Wife is treated like the second coming of the Lord. WTF?

Masquerade by Tivadar Soros
Well, he's not as gifted a writer as his son is at making money, but the history is interesting.

The Testing of Luther Albright by MacKenzie Bezos
Beautifully written.

The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard
MAN, is she ever a good writer!

History of a Pleasure Seeker by Richard Mason
Enjoyable, but didn't stick much.

The Siege of Krishnapur by J.G. Farrell
SO INCREDIBLY GREAT. Hilarious and tragic. Plus, you learn something!

At Last by Edward St. Aubyn
Mother's Milk is still my favorite, but this is good.

Would it Kill You to Stop Doing That by Henry Alford
Hilariously delightful.

Lucy Jim by Kingsley Amis
Gah, British academia. What a snake pit!

The Vanishers by Heidi Julavits
Yes, she's my friend. But still. This book is GREAT.

Horrors. I've gone so long between logging sessions that I've misplaced all the books I read. This entry will be woefully incomplete. This is the first time this has happened to me in the years I've been keeping this book log, and I'm furious with myself. But this summer I was working frantically to finish a draft of my novel (I did it, and now I'm rewriting, which is fun but hard), and now I've got pilots due (2), and a musical hanging over my head like a Guillotine. Here goes nothing:

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
This is a lovely novel, and there are so many marvelous things about it. But...SPOILER COMING. SERIOUSLY. STOP READING IF YOU DON'T WANT THE ENDING SPOILED...there was a deep logical flaw with the premise. There is no woman on earth who would voluntarily consume a substance that would keep her pumping out a baby every year from the time she was a teenager until she was an octogenarian. After kid 5, 10, or 15 she would just STOP eating the damn tree bark. I just don't accept an entire civilization of Michelle Duggars.

I Married for Happiness by Lily Tuck
I appreciate spare, but so much of this was so good I really wished for more.

Blackout by Connie Willis
I found the writing uninteresting by and large, and the book endless, but the research was amazing.

An Unsuitable Attachment by Barbara Pym
I love Barbara Pym so much. Almost as much as I love Jane Gardam, who reminds me a bit of her.

Bird In Hand by Christina Baker Kline
Great summer reading.

Maine by Courtney Sullivan
I was desperately afraid this book would be like Red Hook Road. But no...the only share the setting.

Children and Fire by Ursula Hegi
I loved Stones from the River. This one not so much.

Operation Shylock by Philip Roth
Still one of his best.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Awesome. Seriously. AWESOME.

The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje
Nah nah, nah nah nah, I got to read this incredibly wonderful book before you did!

The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey
Jane Eyre! By one of my favorite novelists! I read this ALL NIGHT LONG. I was up until dawn. LOVE.

There are so many more! But I have no idea what they are. I'm such a complete ASS.

It's Mother's Day and we have big Book Sorting plans, so I have to log what's been piling up on the shelves. Horribly, my cleaning service dusted the books and reordered everything, so I have to go by memory. I'm sure I'll forget 2/3 of what I read. ARG.

Beaufort by Ron Leshem
I'm on an Israeli novel kick. This one, about the war in Lebanon, is great. The movie was pretty terrific, too.

The Tragedy of Arthur by Arthur Phillips
I liked this novel so much, even though I know nothing about Shakespeare and so missed all the best stuff.

Between Silk & Cyanide by Leo MarksCould NOT have been more fun.

The Free Worlds by David Bezmozgis
This is a fabulous novel. Bezmozgis is the best of the current crop of Fine Young Russians.

Half a Life by Darin Strauss
I cried and cried.

Shop Talk by Phillip Roth
I found these fascinating, but I can't help but feel that Roth is a total dick.

Homesick by Eshkol Nevo
Another decent Israeli novel.

Almost Dead by Assaf Gavron
Now this one I really liked.

The Uncoupling by Meg Wolitzer
MAN, she's a good writer.

Dr. Neruda's Cure for Evil by Rafael Yglesias
I love Rafael, and this novel!

The 188th Crybaby Brigade by Joel Chasnoff
Very useful for my novel. I'll just steal huge parts of it, I think.

A Place of My Own by Michael Pollan
I am building a studio, and this book is an inspiration and a guide.

Mr. Mani by A.B. YehoshuaThis novel is simply glorious.

Life With a Star by Jiri Weil
Ripped my heart out, stomped it to nothing.

I don't remember when I've gone 4 months without logging. I'm a degenerate. In my defense, I've been crazy busy with kid stuff and with procrastinating. (I had intended to writing 'working' but decided to just be honest for once.)

Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell
This is a very good novel, but the movie was so out of this world that it almost paled by comparison.

Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada
Fantastic, grim grim grim novel about Germany during the war.

The Windup Girl by Palo BacigaliupiI liked this SF novel. Fun, weird, prescient.

The Best American Essays 2010 by Christopher Hitchens
A little heavily weighted toward the Conservative.

The Queen of the Tambourine by Jane Gardam
I adore Jane Gardam. Lovely novel.

Forbidden Bodies by Cynthia Ozickn
Great writer. Somewhat slight, though only when compared to her other work.

When Nietzsche Wept by Irvin D. Yalom
Surely a great therapist and writer of case studies, but as a novelist, somewhat limited.

The Ministry of Fear by Graham Greene
Far far more than an "entertainment."

The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
A little coincidenc-y.

Dr. Neruda's Cure for Evil by Rafael Yglesias
I love Rafael, and this novel!

The Alienist by Caleb Carr
He is a TERRIBLE writer.

The Road to Wellville by T.C. Boyle
I adore this novel.

Riven Rock by T.C. BoyleThis is not his best but still he's so good.

Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
I love this novel! I only read it because it was a historical, but ended up loving it.

By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham
My memory is so appalling that even though I read this book no more than a couple of months ago, I can remember nothing about it.

I know there must be more, but I can't figure out where I've put them! Damn it...