The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

I never read this book as a child because I watched the PBS TV show and hated it.  I was not a fantasy fan.  With the books that are available for pre-teens today, that is almost an impossibility.  My oldest son loves fantasy and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, so my exposure to the genre has been greatly increased and I no longer dislike it so much.  I still wouldn't have read this book, except it appears on the "Big Read."  It was really quite good, even if fantasy isn't your favorite.  It is also a super easy read.  I am a fast reader, but I finished it in about two hours.

This book tells the story of four siblings who are sent to the country during the London blitz to keep them safe.  They stay in a large house with the Professor.  While exploring the discover a spare room with a large wardrobe.  The youngest hides in the wardrobe and finds it to be the door to a magical land called Narnia.  The older kids eventually come with her, too, and they all have many adventures in Narnia.  There are magical creatures like fauns and centaurs as well as a great many talking animals.  Even the villain is part giantess.  It is definitely fantasy.

This book is safe for all readers.  There is violence, but it isn't gory, and those who are killed are all miraculously brought back to life.  It's very clean and even teaches without being preachy.  It is a quick read and easily worth the time.

Birdsong by Sebastian Faulk

When I started this book, I very quickly considered quitting.  The first "part" has a few descriptive sex scenes.  Since that isn't something I enjoy reading, I skipped them and wondered if I really wanted to finish the book.  I was sure, however, that it was supposed to be a book about World War I.  Since the war hadn't appeared, I persevered.  And I was rewarded when I reached part 2!  There were no more sex scenes in the book, and the war dominated the story.

Stephen Wraysford is a young man who visits France about ten years before the war to inspect factories.  He then returns to France during the war and is involved in a great deal of fighting at the front for many years.  There are also a couple brief parts in the book that deal with his descendant.  I have read war books before, but not very many dealing with the first world war.  I learned interesting things and realized what I knew more fully (like the miners who dug tunnels through the war to blow mines under the enemy and the huge loss of life due to poor information and decisions).  I felt much more of a connection to that time and a greater appreciation for the experience of the men who fought.

This is definitely not a book for young readers.  In addition to the earlier mentioned sex, the war scenes are very violent and gory.  (They are very realistic.)  It can also be a bit disgusting, since the conditions at the front are very unsanitary.  This book is worth the time, in spite of the first part, which I didn't enjoy.  Just man up and get past it, and the rest of the book is very enjoyable!