The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson
Recommend: Yes
To whom: Everyone (although be warned, full of grisly details)
Why: Just a damn good story about a large, powerful family with unspeakable secrets and a turbulent past.

More TK.

Do your homework before applying for a congressional internship

The House: The History of the House of Representatives, by Robert V. Remini
Recommend: Yes
To whom: History enthusiasts
Why: Learn inner workings of the House from 1789 to present, and consequently the entire history of the U.S. Those early Congressmen weren't as civilized as many of us may have thought!

I checked this book out because I was considering applying for an internship in my Congressman's office. I thought it would be a good idea to truly understand the role of the House of Representatives before a potential interview.

Commissioned by the Library of Congress to write The House, Remini became the official historian of the House of Representatives as a result. While he worked on the book, he was provided with his own office in the Library of Congress and access to all of its materials. Personally, I think this sounds like a wonderful job! And I actually hear that it's about to open up: Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on June 11 that Remini will be retiring on August 31.

Anyhow, because it was LOC-commissioned, the book is intended for all interested readers, not just scholars. While I agree that the book is readable, it takes a most dedicated and engaged reader to get through it cover to cover. That's why I recommend it only to history enthusiasts. However, those that stick with it won't be disappointed. The book is full of first-hand accounts from Congressmen throughout the centuries, and incredible stories of duels, filibusters, and impeachment. Wonder how various House committees work? You'll learn more than you'll ever need to know. Throughout the book, Remini examines the evolution of the role of Speaker.

Well, I decided not to apply for a congressional internship (and for reasons that have nothing to do with this book), but I sure learned a lot about the legislative branch of government!

For more information about the House historian, visit http://historian.house.gov/.