"The Breath of God" by Jeffrey Small

If you liked The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, you will probably enjoy this novel by Jeffrey Small. The plot is based on a myth according to which a 19th century Russian explorer discovered records in the Himalayas that confirmed Jesus' travels through the region. The story follows a modern day doctorate student who retraces the steps of the Russian explorer in search of truth about historic Jesus. The book is filled with suspense, travels to exotic places, high-paced chases and unexpected twists. Apart from writing a thriller, Small attempts to demonstrate that ultimately all religions teach the same truth about God. Human misconceptions distort the pure message about the divine, but its essence is always there. I think this book is a good choice for a long train or airplane ride or for a trip to the beach. It will not only keep you entertained but will also spark your curiosity about comparative religion and maybe even prompt you to look into further study of the subject.

"Biocentrism" by Robert Lanza, MD

Dr. Lanza in his book Biocentrism puts forward a theory according to which human consciousness plays a huge (if not the main) role in forming what we perceive as reality. Let me immediately state that the book is not meant exclusively for scientists. It is very readable and clearly meant for a wide audience of readers. Dr. Lanza explains the basics of quantum physics, according to which particles behave differently depending on the expectations (!) of observers. He then comes to the conclusion that human consciousness basically forms the reality of everything we see around us. To be sure, this is not a new concept. Hegel and others have taken a similar view two centuries ago. However, where 18th century philosophers mostly theorized, Dr. Lanza uses the latest scientific discoveries to back up his theory. I think this book will challenge you to re-examine the very notion of what is real. To make this totally absurd - when you leave your kitchen (i.e. no one is there to observe its existence), is it still there? Enjoy! It is a fascinating read.

"A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" by Dave Eggers

This book is another favorite of mine. It is a heartfelt story of a young man,  who loses both of his parents to cancer, and ends up being the sole caretaker of his eight-year old brother. Eggers is a brilliant writer. He is able to express his emotions with such precision that I found myself nodding in agreement more than a few times, knowing exactly how he must have felt. The thing that I liked the most is the way Eggers describes the feelings and thoughts of a new parent. Here is this young man who is still in college and has not figured out his own life, and all of a sudden he has the responsibility of taking care of a young child. He experiences all the fears and insecurities of first-time parents which a lot of us can relate to.

This book is the story of the two brothers' journey of learning to cope with the loss of their parents and trying to find their way in this world. It also asks the question of what constitutes a real family. Does every family have to have a mom, a dad and a kid? When my daughter was little I used to tell her: families are different, it can be a mom and a child, or a dad and a child, or grandparents and a child. In this story, the family is the two brothers. What matters is that they love and take care of each other.

"The Pilot's Wife" by Anita Shreve

I borrowed this book from the library knowing nothing about it. I had read another book by Anita Shreve (A Wedding in December) and really liked her writing style and the candor of the plot, so decided to try this one. This book will move you to tears. It is about heartbreak and betrayal. The main heroine (Kathryn) receives the terrible news that her husband's plane crashed near the coast of Ireland. Trying to cope with grief, she focuses on recalling the details of how they first met, fell in love and built a home together. At the same time, she starts discovering little secrets that her husband (Jack) apparently kept from her. Little by little, she finds out that he led a double life, which she knew nothing about. Her search for answers brings her to Europe, where she learns more about Jack's secret life and realizes that she never really knew her husband... It's a great read, and a very moving story. It will make you question whether it is ever possible to really know another person.

"The Bastard of Istanbul" by Elif Shafak

Elif Shafak's The Bastard of Istanbul is a story of two seemingly unconnected families: a Turkish family in Istanbul and an Armenian family in the United States. The plot revolves around the lives of four sisters of the Kazanci family, and their estranged brother who lives in Arizona. The brother's wife has an Armenian daughter from her previous marriage, and thus the story of unexpected connections begins.

Shafak candidly talks about the Armenian genocide in Turkey, and at the same time explores the lives of individual women who were touched by this horrific past. The novel also has an unexpected family secret (which I did not see coming at all), and which unravels when several of the main characters finally all get together in Turkey. The novel also zeros in on two young women of the new generation: a Turkish girl named Asiya and an Armenian-American Armanoush. Both of them yearn to know more about the past of their families and search for their own identity.

Shafak skillfully weaves the stories of several generations of the two families into one amazing tapestry of unlikely friendships and unexpected twists and turns. Her characters are bold and interesting. You cannot help but get attached to them. Her style is that of an experienced story-teller, who draws you in from the very start and whose voice stays with you long after the book is over. Reading this book is an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend it.

"The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant

I loved this book. It offers a new and much more personal perspective on the Biblical story of Jacob, Joseph and his brothers, and - most importantly - their sister Dinah, who gets only a passing mention in the Bible. If you are familiar with the book of Genesis, you cannot help but have a reaction to this novel. The portraits of Joseph and Jacob might totally shock you to the point that you won't be able to recognize the familiar Biblical stories. But what the novel really does brilliantly is examine the fate of Biblical women. The red tent is the place where women went during their menstrual period, illness or when giving birth, in order to stay separate during the time when they were unclean. This is the story about the women of Jacob's family: their love, struggles, pain and survival. I highly recommend this book. It showed me the familiar Bible stories in a completely new light and made Biblical characters very real.

"The Day the Falls Stood Still" by Cathy Buchanan

I picked up this novel from a bargain rack at one of the bookstores. The title caught my attention and the book cover said it was about Niagara Falls. So I decided to get it. And what a find this turned out to be! This is not the type of book you read in one sitting. This is the kind you savor bit by bit, and then keep thinking about it long after you turn the last page. It has everything: a gorgeous setting - think turn of the century Canadian town whose life centers around the Falls; a love story; a war; and a supernatural family legend. Buchanan is a great story-teller and I truly enjoyed reading this book.

"Cleopatra: A Life" by Stacy Schiff

Let me begin by saying that I was always fascinated by Cleopatra as a historical figure, although granted, everything I knew about her I learned from the popular culture. Cleopatra is normally presented as a powerful and proud queen, who was loved by both Julius Ceasar and Mark Antony, and who famously took her own life rather than surrender to Romans.

If you are looking for a quick-paced novel about Cleopatra, this book is not for you. This is not fiction, it is a biography. It is very well researched and based on historical facts. To be sure, the author examines popular myths and misconceptions, but this book is for those who want to learn about the real historical figure rather than read a historic fiction.

To be honest, even though very interesting and engaging, this book was a slow read for me. It gets a bit dry in places and well... reads like a well-researched biography. So I would say as long as this is what you are looking for, you will not be disappointed!

"Lean In" by Sheryl Sandberg

I started reading Lean In by the Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg. My first reaction is: Mothers, read this book and get your daughter to read it. Fathers, brothers and sons - you should at least try reading it.

I think every woman whether she is a stay-at-home mom or a powerful executive will learn something about herself by reading this book. Ms. Sandberg uses her own experience and experiences of women she's interacted with to show how different societal expectations program women to behave differently from men in the same professional and academic situations. She has a powerful message to girls and women everywhere, think about what you would do if you were not afraid?

I would encourage everyone not to pass this title by. It is truly inspiring and will motivate you to re-examine how you see yourself and what internal barriers you set up that limit your potential.