1. Washington, D.C.

2. Seattle, WA

3. Minneapolis, MN

4. Atlanta, GA

5. Boston, MA

6. Pittsburgh, PA

7. Cincinnati, OH

8. St. Louis, MO

9. San Francisco, CA

10. Denver, CO

Bakersfield, CA was ranked 75th and last.  The full report can be viewed at http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=11111.

The Booklover’s Rating:  ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I either love Umberto Eco’s novels or I hate them and don’t even attept to finish them.  For example, I loved The Name of the Rose and  Foucault’s Pendumlum.  I hated Baudolino.  So what about  The Prague Cemetary, you ask?  Loved it!

The Prague Cemetery is a story in which all the characters except one—the main character—really existed. Even the protagonist’s grandfather, the author of a mysterious actual letter that triggered modern anti- Semitism, is historical.

The only made up character is completely despicable and you will learn this on page one.  Simonini (and his alter ego Abbe Piccola) is not a nice person.  In fairness, you might expect that people engaged in intelligence work might not have the same scruples that others do.  They are often asked to do things that are simply abhorrent to the rest of us and Simonini does these things and more.

The Prague Cemetary can be difficult reading.  The plot revolves around the creation of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.  If you are not familiar with this particular conspiracy theory, check it out online before you read Eco’s novel  Also,  I suggest you consult the chapter guide Eco included at the end of the novel prior to beginning the book.  This will make the plot somewhat easier to follow.

The mystery surrounding the creation of the protocols makes this story for me – I do love a good conspiracy theory!  Eco’s use of the historical facts as a  basis for his novel makes it VERY interesting and only made me want to research the information more (if only there were more hours in the day).  I loved this book, but as I read this novel, Goldman Sachs and its global activities were in the back of my mind.  But it’s just a conspiracy theory — right?

Book Details:  Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Trade (November 8, 2011), 464 pages, ISBN:  0547577532

This book made quite an impression on me.  I can’t think of a single other novel set in North Korea, so I was excited to read the book.  It confirmed everything I suspected about communism and North Koreans.  Communism creates cruel and/or desperate people.  This novel confirms for me that free market capitalism is the best path to prosperity and freedom.

The story centers around Pak Jun Do, who begins the story with his own identity.  In the second part of the novel Pak Jun Do assumes the identity of a “yangban” (elite) of North Korea, boldly walking into the “yangban’s” home and assuming the role of husband and father.  The most interesting aspect of Johnson’s portrayal of Pak Jun Do is that we spend an entire novel reading about this man, but never truly know him.  I think Johnson’s point is, “Can anyone really know anyone else in such a place?”  This is also evident in the story of the interrogator who cares for his parents, but paranoia and fear of the state permeate the family.

This is a book I will read again some day and one of my three favorite books read in 2011 (although this book will not be published until early 2012).  I like it that much.  I would also like to see it read in high school and college literature classes.  Adam Johnson’s novel is sure to become a classic.  Don’t let this scare you away though - it is a must read!

Book Details:   Published by Random House (January 10, 2012), 464 pages, ISBN: 0812992792.

I received an advanced reader’s edition of this book free from Random House.  I was not required to write a review (positive or otherwise) and the opinions I have expressed are my own.