The good news: This book has lots of great editing tips to improve my story, with good examples and applicable action steps.

The bad news: It showed that my novel (currently in its third draft) needs more revision than I had thought.

If you're a fiction writer, this is a must-read.

An odd book in that not a whole lot happens but you're still in a constant state of tension wondering what will happen next. VanderMeer builds great mystery while answering few of the questions that he raises.

If you've seen the movie, this is quite different.

The “vampire” novel that inspired all of the zombie stories of our culture. But mostly it's about loneliness and the things people will do to survive, even if it seems there's really nothing to live for. A great, fast read.

Interesting read. Stoker's decision to tell the story in letters and journal entries allowed you to get into the head of many different characters, but I feel like that took away a lot of the suspense. Not one of my favorites but it was cool to see the origin of the iconic characters.

Some of the best prose that's ever been written and some very well-written characters that you truly come to care about help the novel overcome its few shortcomings. I've never read anything by Steinbeck that I haven't loved.

An excellent book that doesn't quite live up to the hype. The prose is fantastic, evocative, and engaging, but the story is hindered by a meandering plot and characters that are difficult to like, especially the super creepy Florentino Ariza.

A powerful romantic tragedy set during the persecution of Emperor Nero. It's a bit too long but a fascinating page-turner with some profound themes.

A powerful tale of brokenness and grace in the face of oppression.

A modern classic. One of the best novels I've read in recent memory. Interesting characters, a bit of mystery, and Atwood's pristine prose are enough to carry a book with minimal plot.