Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini This was a pleasant surprise.  I haven't read much fiction lately, and a friend loaned me this when I was laid up for a while after some minor surgery.  I won't attempt to summarize the plot here (you can see all that on the Amazon page), but just want to enthusiastically recommend it for one simple reason:  we are being fed a one-dimensional view of Middle Eastern folks by the infotainment that passes as news.  This book, set mostly in Afghanistan, leaves rich and poignant impressions of a deep and passionate culture.  It's also a damn good story that quickly gets under the skin... and leaves a lasting impression.  A must-read.

Cruising Chef Cookbook by Michael Greenwald This book is simply wonderful.   Much more than a collection of boatable recipes, it helps you with provisioning and planning... but most important, it teaches concepts.  That's really the only way to cook effectively, especially without a well-equipped kitchen and Deep Inventory.  The typical cruising scenario involves a minimalist galley, along with a mix of long-term stores and opportunistic treats from sea or shore excursion.  Greenwald helps you deal flexibly with this, and the results here in our text kitchen have been excellent.

A few I recommend... haven't had time to do reviews: