"The Day of the Locust" by Nathanael West

Published in 1939, this book is by some standards one of the great novels of the 20th century. There's certainly lots of room for interpretation, if you're in to that sort of thing. I was excellent at it when I was in school, but I now find it doesn't really interest me. I read a book, and am usually satisfied with an overall impression. This book gave me the feeling of living a dream, perhaps a nightmare. The characters were more archetypes than real people, and the entire setting and events were described in a very surreal fashion. I guess I would say it was an interesting read, but I wouldn't read this author again. One interesting tidbit. The name of one of the characters in the book is Homer Simpson. The things you find out. P.S. I came across this book in the book cart of the Royal Ottawa Hospital. The main reason I read it is that I'm interested in life in Hollywood.

"A Storm of Swords" by George R.R. Margin

Book three of "A Song of Ice and Fire. This was a very lengthy book, but the numerous and unexpected plot twists made it well worth the read. Now that I have resigned myself to the fact that people die, I am quite enjoying participating in George R.R. Martin's world. Its level of detail is mind boggling.