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.

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.

Book 20, 2012 - Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

I am so conflicted with regards to how I feel about this book!  I finished this book several weeks ago and find myself still thinking about it... which must mean it's worth something, right?  I wanted to read this because I'm a huge sucker for books that are best-sellers or 'what everyone is reading'.  I'm surprised this is so captivating, to be honest.

This book tells the story of two very messed-up individuals who happen to marry each other.  I never blog what the story is about, because anyone can look on Amazon for that.  What I'll say about this is when the book is finished, you don't leave with that conclusion as to how things wrapped up.  I guess I sort of like that-- books that feel truly finished when I'm done reading it, unless of course, it's part of a series.  This book doesn't feel like it will become more than a stand-alone book, which begs the question, what the heck happened at the end!?!?!?  I'm not a spoiler, so I won't go into the end to bug others, but the first thing I did when finishing the book was search the internet for theories on what others believed.   I thought the pace of the book ebbed and flowed, but overall, I did like the way the author writes.  I'm not a prude, but I'll say some of the profanity got in the way of the story.  Please, Gillian Flynn... no woman I know uses those words.  You know the words I mean.  The REALLY bad ones.

Hmmmm....  Did I like it?  I think so!?  Would I recommend it?  Maybe - you have to be ready for a book that may not keep you in your 'happy place'.  Rating?   3.5 out of 5.

Book 19, 2012 - The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

You're probably thinking I haven't had time to post anything since it's taken so long to add anything to this blog.  Actually, no.  This book was so incredibly tedious and dull that it actually took the bulk of me to finish it.  Could it be that it was just a long book?  Actually, no again.  It was an average sized book that took a less than average time to fall asleep every time I picked it up.  I haven't felt this lousy about a book in a long time, and this in a year where I've read a lot of garbage.  I was really excited to read the book slated to be the "next Harry Potter."  Really?  I kept thinking that this book was going to get better....  not even close.  It got worse and worse and worse.  This story is really about magic and a contest between two old rival enemies, and honestly, I have never stared at my Kindle's percentage of completion bar in the bottom so much.  Only 8% of the way through?  15%?  20%?  After that, it was just something I had to persevere to finish.  Wow, was that awful.  Do you catch my drift?

Did I like it?  Heck no.  Would I recommend it?  If you're having trouble sleeping, this is surefire.  Rating?  1 star, just for the descriptions of the circus.  BORING!

Book 18, 2012 - The Secrets She Left Behind by Diane Chamberlain

This book was the sequel to Before the Storm that I had just finished.  I actually finished this a couple of weeks ago, but realized I never posted it!  I think it says a lot about the quality of an author's writing if when a book is finished, you immediately pick up its follow-up.  (But then again, I did read the Twilight series even though I hated it.... but I digress).  Regardless, I certainly enjoyed the second book in this drama.  The book focused on some of the secondary characters from the first book and it helped piece the whole story together.  I did not like it as much, which is how I feel about most sequels, but certainly found it worthwhile, and hard to put down. 

I'm realizing I have fallen woefully behind on my 52 weeks/ 52 books challenge, but have learned that travelling baseball teams, adorable four-year-olds, and keeping my sons happy has been a far bigger challenge.  I won't meet the goal this year, but it is so much fun keeping track of what I am accomplishing in spite of my outside responsiblities.  I should probably choose some shorter books, but ....  ah... this is supposed to be fun and I don't want to think too much... (why I always choose fiction books!).   :)

Did I like it?  Yes.  Would I recommend it?  Yes -- but definitely read Before the Storm first.  Rating?  4 out of 5

Book 17 , 2012 - Before the Storm by Diane Chamberlain

I just finished this book today, and I will be moving on to the sequel pronto.  I've read a couple others by Diane Chamberlain before, and this book reminded me why I like her so much.  If you like Jodi Picoult, you'll like Diane Chamberlain....  very similar style and the type of book that makes you think a bit about "What would you do?"  I never like to give the synopsis of a book because anyone can look that up, but I will say I didn't know anything about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and this educated me a bit.  There is a bit of a whodunit quality to this, and I didn't figure it out... what David Baldacci couldn't do. 

I have just started the second book which picks up where the last book left off, about 8 months later.  A great story, and I'm interested and invested in the characters enough to want to know.

Did I like it?  Finally -- YES!  Would I recommend it?  Definitely.  Rating?  4.5 out of 5.