I started Monica Ali's newest book Alejento Blue.

It was okay but not great.  Authors who have a huge hit with their first book often have a weak follow up.  I assume this is because the publisher rushes them into publishing a second novel.  This book felt like there was a couple of good short stories that got worked into a novel.

I heard an interview with Nick Hornby on Writers and Company.  He talked about how people too often keep reading books that they don't enjoy but that they think they "should" read.  I was reminded, again, that its okay to put down a book.

I also started Dionne Brand's novel At the Full and Change of the Moon.
It was very good but alas due back to the library before I could finish it.  It was a richly written novel and so took me longer to read.  I will definitely be reading more novels by Brand.