Monday, October 8, 2012

Book 23, 2012 - The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick

Wow - I really needed a quick-moving, super book right about now... and thanks to my fabulous book club, I got it!  This book was chosen because it is going to be released as a movie before year's end.... and it stars Bradley Cooper.  That is always going to be enough reason for me!  In any event, the book's main character is what's the right word..... slightly 'off' somehow.... and you aren't entirely sure why he is the way he is.  You get the feeling that a traumatic event has caused him to be far different than he used to be.  You spend a lot of time wondering what happened to him in his past.  He spends a lot of time with a woman who is a bit in the same boat as he, and the two develop a complicated friendship.  It would really ruin the book to give too much away, so I won't.  Let me just say I found this book tragic, heartwarming, funny, and sad all in one.  Great read.

Did I like it?  So very much.  Would I recommend?  Without a doubt.  Rating?  5 stars. Just great.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Book 22, 2012 - The Playdate by Louise Millar

I've never bothered to put a loan request at the library for a review that was so-so from People magazine book reviews, but some thing about that article intrigued me enough to want to be the very first to read this book, apparently.  Good Lord.  With so many fabulous pieces of works out there, why did I bother? 

This book is set in London, and is primarily about a couple of woman friends who have children and suffer through the often daily monotony of child rearing together.  A next door neighbor that seems "off" and quirky becomes someone the women decide should not be around their children.  Surprise, surprise, not everyone is as they seem, blah blah blah.  If this book was supposed to be some sort of psychological thriller, I must be an absolute genius because my 8 year old could've figured out the ending early on.  I read a brief acknowledgement by the author at the end that stated this book took a couple of years to write, and I couldn't help but wonder...HOW?

Not good-  no need to spend more time on this one.  Can I please read a book next that will blow me away????   I need one!

Did I like it?  Not really.  Would I recommend it?  No sir.  Rating 1.5 out of 5.

Book 21, 2012 - One Day by David Nicholls

The plot of this book intrigued me -- checking in on a couple from the night they meet in college, to what they are doing every day that year for a couple of decades.  I assumed wrongly that they planned to be together on that day going forward just as an anniversary thing.  The premise seemed great -- which is why I am not entirely sure why this book didn't do much for me.  The man of this couple, Dex, is such a turd of an individual, I didn't really care what he was up to for the majority of the book.  The female, Emma, was fine... but having a hard time letting her personality come through. 

Bottom line is I know they've already made this into a movie, (one I thought I'd want to see), but can't imagine how it could possibly be very good.  I really like Anne Hathaway who is playing Emma, which may be the reason I went back to read the book!  I guess I've learned  - that's not a good enough reason to pick it up.   This book was overall, just a really flat read for me... a bit on the boring side.

Did I like it?  Eh... it was ok.  Would I recommend it?  Not really - too many great books out there to suffer through the so-so variety.  Rating?  2.5 out of 5.