A number of people (mostly male) kept telling me that I had to read something by Ayn Rand. Finally, I relented and started with “The Fountainhead.”

Set in the United States before World War II, “The Fountainhead” begins when Howard Roark, the main protagonist, gets expelled from architecture school for failing to adhere to the school’s antiquated beliefs as to what architecture should look like. Through the novel, we follow Roark and a classmate of his, Peter Keating (who just happens to be the complete opposite of Roark) on their career paths. After leaving architecture school, both men go to New York to begin their careers. Roark seeks employment with Henry Cameron, a once great architect who is on his way down. Keating starts work at a prestigious and famous architecture firm run by Guy Francon, a well-respected and admired architect. Keating becomes partner; Cameron goes out of business forcing Roark to open his own shop. But Roark’s refusal to compromise his designs, even at the request of his customers, forces him to close his doors and work at a granite quarry.

What makes “The Fountainhead” interesting is not the plot but how Rand uses the characters as symbols to support her beliefs. For example, Roark embodies everything Rand finds good and commendable in the world. He stands by his beliefs at all costs and refuses to compromise regardless of the repercussions. Keating on the other hand embodies everything Rand finds despicable. He is completely mediocre and lives for the approval of others.

Rand’s overarching premise — the collective is evil; individualism is what we all should strive for — may be correct, but she is way too extreme. To Rand, compromising your beliefs is akin to murder. Whatever your political views may be, you can’t deny Rand’s writing is amazing. While I didn’t necessarily agree with Rand’s premise, when I finished “The Fountainhead” I wanted to read more by Rand so I picked up “Anthem.” This little novella is interesting and at only a 107 pages, it is less of a commitment that the 800-plus-page “The Fountainhead” yet it still gives the reader a slice of what makes Rand’s writing so interesting.

Now I can finally say I’ve read Ayn Rand. Give her a shot. She offers something different from today’s authors, and I think you’ll find her books a good “waste” of your time.

– NATALIE

— NATALIE

Some weeks I don’t read many books. But I’ve noticed that it’s not because I’m not reading. It’s just that a lot of my reading time is spent on the Internet. Yep, I’m getting sucked in for hours at a time by blogs. These cursed little gems of reading fun cart me from corner to corner of the world wide web.

So, rather than guiltily wonder why I haven’t read a book this week, I thought I’d share some of the other reading I’ve been doing:

• www.stumptuous.com

Krista’s blog about weightlifting for women is one of my absolute favorites. She doesn’t update much, but when she does, it’s always worth it. She scorns the pink rubber dumbbells made for women. Instead, she recommends, with much humor, that women “butch up” and lift some real weights. She’s solely responsible for my third-trimester pregnant self busting out some Olympic lifts in my basement on occasion. Beware ladies, you’ll get major pull-up envy if you spend too much time on her site.

• http://mimismartypants.com

The everyday observations of this Chicago dwelling medical journal editor are always hilarious. Her exploits on the public transportation in Chicago give a real flavor for the Urban Crazy. Smart and smart-alecky, she’s good for everything from a quick laugh to a book recommendation.

• http://deadspin.com

OK, I’ll admit, I only read this sports blog on occasion when my husband tells me to, but I didn’t want the guys to feel left out. But, seriously, this blog is a riot. The language can be, well, flavorful, and the content, um, a bit irreverent but it walks that fine line that Jon Stewart has perfected — hilarious while still being informative.

• http://thepioneeerwoman.com

What would a list of some of my favorite blogs be if I didn’t include something about food? Unfortunately, food blogs are almost too numerous to pick a favorite. For lots of all around amazing recipes, I keep going back to Thepioneerwoman.com. She’s a self-deprecating rural housewife/mother who ain’t shy about using loads of real butter in her cooking. Most of her stuff is simple and made with real ingredients. I’ve made her carrot cake about a hundred times. Her step by step guide to making the perfect steak has also served me well. People with limited free time, beware: her blog contains a lot more than just recipes.
— CAITLIN

“The Help” by Kathryn Stockett was absolutely wonderful. The plot is generally about the life and times of black domestic servants in the Southern United States in the 1960s. But trust me, it is SO much more. Stockett confronts some touchy racial issues through the eyes of three women — Skitter, Aibileen and Minny — and somehow manages to inject humor and hope into what could be an overwhelming and heavy topic.

Eugenia “Sketter” Phelan just graduated from college and returns home to start her career (or, if she adhered to tradition, to find a husband and attend social gatherings). It all begins when a friend makes an issue out of letting the black help use the same restroom as the rest of the household. Skeeter is not necessarily appalled by her friend’s racist attitude but more bothered and decides to write a book about the lives of black domestic servants in her community. But she finds the black women are less than willing to talk to her for fear of possible retribution even though she agrees to change the names of all involved. Finally, one after another she finds a number of women willing to tell their stories.

Minny and Aibileen are the first black servants willing to share their stories and, after a series of unfortunate events, are able to convince other women in the community to follow suit.

Aibileen is kindhearted and cares deeply about the children she cares for even though she knows they will likely break her heart in the end.

Minny, Aibileen’s best-friend, is a sassy, troublesome woman who is constantly getting fired by her white employers because she can’t manage to bite her tongue. After making an enemy of the wrong white woman, Minny is unable to find a job as a domestic servant until Aibileen helps her essentially trick a newcomer to town into hiring her. Minny is known not only for her sassy mouth but also for her cooking. She turns her cooking skills into a particularly hilarious and advantageous act of revenge. Trust me, it’s classic!

One of the things I liked most about “The Help” is how Stockett conveys the story. Each of the three narrators has a different voice and when you read “The Help” you can actually “hear” the characters speak and their personalities jump off the page. As the book progressed I developed a friendship with and appreciation for each of the three women. Minny’s sarcasm is perfect. Aibileen’s love for the families she cares for is heart-wrenching. And Sketter’s naivete and individualism commendable. The other characters we meet in “The Help” are equally as vibrant and emotion provoking. Some I wanted to hug and others I wanted to hit.

I truly can’t say enough about “The Help.” It is Stockett’s first novel. What a
way to start!
— NATALIE

I’m so excited to read this book that I’m going to write about it before I read it. First, its title, “Lies My Teacher Told Me,” screams from the shelves and practically forces you to buy it. So maybe the subtitle, “Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong” is a little more boring and actually explains what the book is about, but … BOOM! Lies! How could you not pick it up?

I’m sure the author, James Loewen was not out to disparage our long-suffering high school history teachers, but it does sound like he takes the status quo version of history to task. I’m looking forward to reading Chapter Two — 1493: the True Importance of Christopher Columbus. I think he might tell us that Christopher Columbus wasn’t an American hero, but I’m just guessing. That chapter is followed by Chapter Three — The Truth About the First Thanksgiving. Perhaps it was not the peaceful exchange of turkey and corn I learned about in
first grade?

From the Civil War to Vietnam to the Gulf War, I’ll probably think more about war than I normally do (never). But I’m curious to hear Loewen’s take. Having war as part of most of my adult years, I’m now in a position to hear about the non-sanitized version of these wars with an understanding that the purpose and strategy may not always have been clear, even to those in charge.

I think it’s good to question what we learned in school. I don’t do this just for the sake of disagreement, but to examine the context. In the same way I think it’s important to consider who is paying for a particular scientific or health study, thinking about who wrote history can help find bias. I suspect that many of the spotlighted lies in the book are lies of omission.

Finally, Loewen claims that he set out to examine why students just aren’t interested in history. It sounds like he thinks it may be the fault of the textbook writers.

Well, let my re-education begin. I’d love to know what I missed.

— CAITLIN

“Take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying.
A scar means I survived.” — Little Bee

The inside cover of “Little Bee,” a novel by Chris Cleave, says “We don’t want to tell you what happens in this book. It is truly a special story and we don’t want to spoil it. Once you’ve read it, you’ll want to tell your friends about it. When you do, please don’t tell them what happens. The magic is
in how the story unfolds.”

I have to agree.

I came across this book completely by accident. I recently joined a book club and the organizer asked everyone to suggest a book for the group. I did a quick look on Oprah’s Website (seriously, her book recommendations are usually pretty good), saw “Little Bee” and sent an e-mail with my recommendation. After a quick group vote, we decided “Little Bee” was our first book. This made me a little nervous; if it wasn’t any good my credibility among my group would be shot. Thankfully, once I started reading I knew my credibility would remain in tact (at least for now). I couldn’t put it down.

The story is about two women from very different sides of the world. When the novel opens, Little Bee, a Nigerian refuge, finds herself in an immigrant detention center. Before becoming a refuge, her path crossed that of the novel’s other protagonist, a British woman named Sarah O’Rourke. The two women lead very different lives that intertwine in a beautiful, yet tragic, way. In telling the story, Cleave alternates between the two woman’s points of view.

Both women are truly genuine and Cleave does an excellent job of capturing the struggles each
woman faces.

Little Bee appears to have the worst of it. After “escaping” from the detention center, she remains on the run from the authorities. Little Bee is so terrified of the authorities that when she enters a new environment, her initial instinct is to determine how she can end her life if she is discovered. She has no money, no family and nowhere to go. She can, however, speak perfect English, having taught herself the language during her two years in the detention center.

Contrast Little Bee with Sarah O’Rourke, the woman who, on the outside has it all. A good husband, a beautiful son and a great job. But dig a little deeper, and it is clear that Sarah is suffering from her own set of demons. Her seemingly perfect marriage is anything but (think affair and husband suffering from depression), and an unexpected tragedy leaves her trying to handle her 3-year old son all on her own.

What I really loved about Little Bee was that the women, while seemingly so different, were both struggling in their own way. Little Bee’s struggle came across as calm. She seemed to accept her life and what she was faced with. Sarah, on the other hand, came across as constantly frenzied and unable to accept where she was in life. This is interesting because arguably Sarah created her problems, while Little Bee had little choice.

Little Bee is the best book I’ve read in a long time.

If you aren’t in the mood for a tragic, though heartwarming tale, try “The Murder Room” by P.D. James. This is a classic who-done-it novel that I just started. So far, I’m into murder number one …

— NATALIE

The beginning of a New Year is a great time to set a reading list. Here are a few on mine:

“The Help” by Kathryn Stockett
This is one I’ve been meaning to read for the past few months. It’s set in the 1960s in the southern U.S. and told from the point of view of several different women. These women are black housekeepers for white households at a time when racial consciousness is awakening. I’m intrigued by reviews that say it covers an old theme in a new way.

“I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell” by Tucker Max
What do I have in common with a drunken, male college student? Nothing. But I still want to read this book, if only to see what I avoided. I have trouble imagining what he could have done that would surprise me, but sometimes reading about other people’s debauchery can be better than participating in your own. Plus, the introduction: “I am Tucker Max and I am an asshole,” is a heck of a literary hook.

“Run” by Ann Patchett
Ever since reading “Bel Canto” several years ago, I’ve meant to spend more time with Ann Patchett. That book was one of the more unique stories I’ve read. I’m hoping that “Run” is the same way. I know very little of its plot, only that it’s a family drama involving a father and his sons and an accident. Sometimes, though, knowing less is more fun. It increases the surprise.

“Eating the Dinosaur” by Chuck Klosterman
I thoroughly enjoyed Chuck Klosterman’s lengthy dissection of things like “Saved By the Bell,” the Celtics vs. Lakers, and why youth soccer is lame in his enticingly titled, “Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs.” Knowing his sardonic point of view, I can only imagine that “Eating the Dinosaur” is similar. With updated pop culture references like Garth Brooks, Mad Men and football, I’m hoping for “Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs” all over again.

— CAITLIN

I recently finished two books that couldn’t be more different.

The first, “Tropic of Cancer” by Henry Miller is an oldie but a goody. Tropic of Cancer follows a struggling writer (Miller) during his time in Paris. Initially published in Europe in 1934, the book was banned in the United States until 1961 for being sexually immoral. There is something that intrigues me about a banned book, which is why I don’t know how I got to this point in my life without having read Henry Miller. Well, needless to say, I am extremely glad I finally took the leap.

Miller is a remarkable writer. “Tropic of Cancer” is a page turner, but not because you want to find out what happens next; rather because you want to find out how Henry Miller tells you what happens next. He has the ability to describe emotions and situations using prose that wouldn’t cross my mind in a million years. For example, he writes: “Were there a Christian so faithful to his God as I was to her we would all be Jesus Christs today.” His is a writing-style that reveals an author extremely attuned to the human condition. It is so beautiful that I found myself rereading certain passages over and over again. I highly recommend that if you have yet to read “Tropic of Cancer,” that you take some time to indulge in this classic of modern literature. I will forewarn you that the book’s reputation for being sexually immoral is well-deserved; so be prepared for some racy and perhaps offensive passages (the “c-word” appears rather frequently).

Now compare “Tropic of Cancer” to “One Fifth Avenue” by Candace Bushnell. Actually, I’m not sure a comparison is even possible. “One Fifth Avenue” is about a group of New Yorkers living in an uppity apartment building

(One Fifth Avenue) in modern New York City. There is the usual cast of character — the rich actress, the struggling writer, the old lady with money and the young attractive girl essentially sleeping her way to the top. I did not find anything beautiful about Bushnell’s writing style. There was minimal character development, and, to the extent I did want to keep reading, it was because I wanted to find out what happened next. Having said that, “One Fifth Avenue” was entertaining, in a mindless sort of way. But there is little to differentiate “One Fifth Avenue” from the hundreds of other commercial novels out there.

So in the battle between a classic and a chick lit novel, in my opinion at least, “Tropic of Cancer is the clear winner. But it all depends on the reader.

— NATALIE

Still shopping at the last minute for those hard-to-buy-for friends and relatives? Think they’ll believe it got lost in the mail? As Natalie suggested last week, the bookstore is a great, one-stop-shop for everyone. In a pinch, always choose a book with a pretty cover. If you need a shopping list, try the books below:

For that loving Grandmother

Tim Russert’s books are a fail-safe choice. Try “Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters From Daughters and Sons” or “Big Russ And Me. Father And Son: Lessons From Life” are the two that come to mind. And, of course, there’s always “The Greatest Generation” by Tom Brokaw. This classic book about the World War II generation is well loved for its discussion of veterans, their families and how the war years shaped an entire generation. Your grandma may also enjoy a wide variety of biographies. Choose one based on her interests.

Foodie

You’re lucky if you’re still shopping for your foodie friend or relative. The choices abound. In the year of the movie, “Julie and Julia,” it only seems fitting to make sure the cooks you love own “Mastering the Art of French Cooking: Volume I” by Julia Child. If you have a bigger budget, throw in Volume II. If your culinary bestie would also enjoy a tablespoon of wacky sarcasm and instructions for art projects that can be made with pantyhose, then the perfect book is out there: “I Like You: Hospitality Under The Influence” by Amy Sedaris. Ok, so this isn’t really a “foodie” book, but a cook with a sense of humor will love reading through it before they get to the homemade cake and fried chicken recipes.

Football Fanatic

Show your football fanatic friend or brother that a book is always better than the movie and pick him up a copy of “The Blind Side.” This movie may be a blockbuster right now, but I’m guessing the book will be more memorable. If you want to get another book to make the package bigger, you can’t go wrong with “Friday Night Lights.” Detailing the insane high school football college of the country, er, I mean, state of Texas, this book will make anyone grateful for their childhood of participation ribbons and good sportsmanship awards.

Intellectual

For your bespeckled friends, award winning books are a good bet. Check out this year’s Nobel Prize for Literature Laureate: Herta Müller. I haven’t yet, but it’s safe to assume she can write. This Romanian writer has had several of her books published in English, including: “The Passport,” “The Land of Green Plums” and “The Appointment.” The Pulitzer Prize winners can turn up another gold mine of options: “Olive Kitterage,” by Elizabeth Strout was this year’s fiction winner.

— CAITLIN

Short on time? Try some short stories.

The holidays are upon us. That means errands to run, cleaning to do, gifts to wrap and parties to attend. With the constant hustle and bustle, there is little time to sit down and indulge in a good book, and if you try, you are sure to face constant interruptions. So why not try some short stories? One of the many benefits of shorts is that they range anywhere from one paragraph to fifty pages, so you can finish one in the few short minutes between holiday hoopla. Plus there are so many excellent short stories out there, you are guaranteed to find some to your liking. Below are three collections of shorts to get you started.

“After the Plague” by T.C. Boyle. As is par for the course with T.C. Boyle, the 16 stories included in the collection touch on complicated, sensitive and controversial issues. For example, “Killing Babies” addresses abortion issues, “Rust” takes us into the life of an elderly couple concerned with end of life issues and “The Love of My Life” explores the consequences of young love. Maybe not the most uplifting set of short stories, but interesting all the same. Plus, they give you a feel for T.C. Boyle’s writing so you’ll know whether to take the plunge into one of his many, many novels.

“Selected Stories” by Andre Dubus. This collection includes 23 of Dubus’ short stories, including “Killings” which was the basis of the movie In the Bedroom staring Marisa Tomei and Sissy Spacek. Most of Dubus’ shorts are dark and fairly depressing, but skillfully written and enjoyable. He draws you in with engaging characters and story lines but leaves enough to the imagination that you can’t put the story out of your mind when you’ve finished reading. I highly recommend spending a few minutes with Dubus during this busy time of year.

“The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway” by Ernest Hemingway. Ernest Hemingway, author of “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “The Old Man and the Sea,” is also the author of countless shorts — some extremely good, some not so much. The collection includes more than 50 previously published shorts as well as seven unpublished works. A couple of Hemingway’s stories left me wondering what was the point (“One Reader Writes”). But others, like “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” and “A Day’s Wait” left me curious, compelled and longing for more.

Don’t stop with these three. Many extremely well-known authors are also short story writers: John Updike, Stephen King, Ray Bradbury and J.D. Salinger (just to name a few). So take a break during this busy time of year to indulge in some short stories.

— NATALIE

Nicholas Sparks fans beware, you may want to skip a few paragraphs. Against my better judgment, I
decided to indulge in some serious chick-lit and read
“The Choice” by Nicholas Sparks. Bad, horrible, dumb idea.

The premise (spoiler alert): Travis Parker falls in love with his neighbor, Gabby. They get married, have two beautiful daughters and proceed to lead a perfect life. Until one night when Travis and Gabby have a car accident, which is Travis’s fault (of course), and Gabby goes into a coma. Travis’s choice is whether to pull the plug and let Gabby die or keep her alive. He decides not to pull the plug, Gabby awakens from her coma and life is wonderful once again.

The problem: The plot line was so predictable and unrealistic it made me nauseous.  But I should have known what I was getting into. If I wanted realistic,
I shouldn’t have read Nicholas Sparks. I know that I am far too jaded to accept any of his romantic nonsense.
If you like that sort of thing, “The Choice” is a, well, perfect choice.
If you want something with a little more realism yet still chick-lit and totally light, try “How To Be Single” by Liz Tuccillo (the author responsible for “He’s Just Not That Into You.”) “How To Be Single” focuses on five single women fighting their way through New York City and the world.

The story is told by Julie Jenson who, after a night out on the town with her single friends, decides to travel the world to see if anyone out there has figured out how to be single. On her journey, Julie falls in love, gets her heart broken, has good times, has bad times and ends up right where she started: single in New York City. “How To Be Single” is painfully honest and hilarious. A quick, easy read sure to keep you from leaving your house until the final page.
— NATALIE