Been a long time book reviews-part 1

I know it's been awhile since I did any reviews.  And I have read a lot since then.  So here goes - we'll work in categories...
Book Club reads over the last half of the year and what "we" thought about it:

The Princess Bride by William Goldman - No Pit of Despair.  It's the Zoo of Terror or something crazy like that.  No "Plato, Aristotle, Socrates...Morons!"  Buttercup was a complete ditz.  Does Stephen King really have ancestors from Florin?  And does he know that Goldman stuck him in this book?  So, as to be expected, it didn't live up to the movie.  That said...it was still funny in its own right.  Goldman's diversions were sometimes randomly witty and sometimes uncomfortable in a Michael Scott sort of way.  Could have done with less of Goldman and more brains for Buttercup...as well as some more of the dialog he wrote for the movie.  6

The Twelfth Imam by Joel Rosenberg - What is one to think when one's 16 year old son opens up a book and after a few minutes says, "Read the first paragraph and tell me what's wrong."  Not a good sign.  Aside from writing that seemed to pour forth from a jr. high English student, the story felt contrived, the characters flat, and just a little bit shallow.  The theology of the 12th Imam was interesting - I believe Rosenberg is known for knowing his stuff.  He is widely respected in journalistic and Christian cultural commentary circles.  So... that's good....  3

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - Yes.  Yes.  One of those "if you have not read this book yet, please run to your nearest bookstore or library and grab it because you will not be disappointed."  I don't want to say anymore - might ruin it.  If that's even possible.
So there.  10

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt - I apologize in advance if this is your favorite book.  I couldn't even barely make it through before I just wanted to crawl under a rock.  Yes, it is miserably sad - and I have no problem with sad books.  Life can be sad and I have found that there are times I need a sad book as a sort of catharsis for my own emotions.  I actually really like sad stories becasue they tend to have great depth.  But I really like hope too and there wasn't any in Angela's poor ashes.  That I could see at least.  Maybe I was so far down in that pit I totally missed it.  It's definitely possible.  And I will say this - brilliantly written - the whole thing is written as if a child is telling you what happened to him today.  I was totally drawn in at first by the perspective.  And then I just had to go find some sunshine...somewhere.  Mixed feelings for sure about this one.  5

The Help by Kathern Stockett - We haven't actually discussed this one yet, but I did write about it here last year when I first read it.  But I can't figure out how to get back to that post to link it, so...sorry.    I will say I do like this one - I love hearing that Jackson accent in my head as I read.  I find myself talkin' like that right after I done readin'.  Love me some Aibileen.  That woman knows how to love people well.  So that's all I'll say about that.  8