Laura's First Two Books: The Yacoubian Building, and Ex Libris

I just finished my first two books for this challenge:

• The Yacoubian Building, by Alaa Al-Aswany. This was an interesting account of contemporary Egyptian culture. I recommend it for a more balanced view of middle eastern people. You can read the full review on my blog.
• Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader, by Anne Fadiman. This is a "book about books," a delightful collection of essays which I thoroughly enjoyed. Here's my review.

It's unlike me to read more than one book at a time, but it worked for me with Ex Libris. As a collection of essays, I found it more enjoyable to read just a few at a time and really savor them, and contemplate them for a day or two, before reading more.