Far from Xanadu, Peters (Y)
Very well written, but I wanted to never stop slapping the heroine. Also is a love letter to rural living, which is not really my bag, baby. Two stars for hot lesbian plumbing action.

Mormonism for Dummies, Riess
Written by two believers, one with degrees in religion, this covers a huge amount of ground, including some topics that have previously seemed taboo to discuss, and gives lots of detail. Some touchy subjects are soft-pedaled, but only slightly, overall very impressive! I learned a lot. Four stars.

Looking for Alaska, Green (Y)
Another book that I’m reading for a mock award, so again it’s very well written, but didn’t really grab me at all. It was just some stuff happening to some people. Two stars for using your words well.

47, Mosley (Y)
Yet another mock award nominee, but one that I was going to read anyway. Not as amazing as other books by Mosley that I have read, but bonus points for premise: young slave meets alien, becomes potential savior of the universe. Very secret-origins-of. Three stars.

Black Juice, Lanagan (Y)
I’m really racking up the mock award nominees this month: this one was a “meh.” Excellent description, use of language, and premises (it’s short stories) but no payoff. Meh. Two stars, but a reluctant two.

Invisible Allies: Microbes That Shape Our Lives, Farrell (Y)
A review book for me, this is a follow-up to Invisible Enemies. I love this sort of non-fiction: conversational, full of pertinent detail, and not dumbed down. Major chapters cover cheese, bread, chocolate, intestines, and sewage. Three stars!