Look at Me

Look at Me (2001) by Jennifer Egan. A beautiful model, her career in decline, gets in a car accident during a visit to her childhood home. The damage done to her face is severe enough that people who knew her can no longer recognize her. This book tells the strange and curiously contemporary story of how she sheds her former life and reclaims herself. Grade: B+

Winkie

Winkie (2006) by Clifford Chase. An old Teddy bear, who has been passed down through generations in one family, comes to life and goes on the lam. After various adventures and a sojourn in the forest, Winkie is apprehended by the authorities and charged with numerous crimes -- all of which he is innocent of. The life of a Teddy bear has never seemed so grim. Grade: B

The Beatles

The Beatles: The Biography (2005) by Bob Spitz. A tremendous amount of research and seven years of effort went into the writing of this 850-page book, and it was all worth it. Although the whole truth about the Beatles may never be known, this telling comes about as close as can reasonably be expected. For anyone who grew up with the Beatles as the soundtrack of their life, this book will prove fascinating, if a bit long. Grade: A-

The Lincoln Lawyer

The Lincoln Lawyer (2005) by Michael Connelly. Mickey Haller is a criminal defense lawyer who does most of his business out of the back seat of his Lincoln Town Car. He's been in the business long enough that he doesn't even think about the guilt or innocence of his clients. He's more concerned about whether they can pay or not. Then he comes face-to-face with true evil, and his response will determine the future course of his life. Grade: B+