Sharp indeed

Just finished Gillian Flynn's "Sharp Objects". Wow. I need some time to digest it. Just like her previous book "Gone Girl" this is a twisting thrill ride that sometimes makes you sick. I had trouble with some of the content from the get-go, but I couldn't put it down. Can't say much without giving it away...if you want a mind blow, check this one out. 

Page turner

As soon as I finished my first Liane Moriarty book I put as many of her other ones on hold at the library as I could. This one does not disappoint! Told from three different points of view, the premise of this story is that Cecelia finds a letter in her attic that her husband who is still alive has written. She is to open it after his death. He is away on a business trip and she mentions the letter to him and is begged not to open it... Will she open it? What will it say? 

Incredibly addictive, this book is impossible to put down. It is magical how Moriarty weaves several stories together and ties in every last detail. Get this one ASAP! 

So much potential

This book had so much potential! Set in the 1930s in depression era Florida, Thea is sent to an exclusive riding camp for girls for a year as a consequence for bringing shame to her family. 

I was hoping this story would engage me with tales of horses and girls bonding at camp. What this story does in reality is dangle the reason for why Thea was sent away in front of you for hundreds of pages so that you can't put it down just because you need to know! Thea is not a very likeable character and instead of fun stories of camp bonding there is promiscuity and whining. Promiscuity has its place but I didn't like it in this story! Give this one a miss. 

Rip Roaring Bio

After hearing Martin Short being interviewed on Q ( the last Q podcast I would ever listen to after the whole J.G. scandal), I added his biography to my holiday wish list. I was pretty happy to find it under the tree!

Short shares tales of his childhood and family and recounts how some tragedies shaped him at a young age. He discusses his relationship with Gilda Radner and give some great inside stories into the 70s theatre and comedy lifestyle in Canada. I really enjoyed his annecdotes about the celebrities that he is friends with like Tom Hanks and Steve Martin. I felt like I got to know all of them as people.

The stories of Martin's family are what really stick with you after reading this book, and I dare you to get to the last page without getting a lump in your throat!! This book is also full of laughs and inspired me to look up many old SNL and SCTV skits on youtube so that I could appreciate the back story behind them. Two thumbs up! 

End of year reads

My second Liane Moriarty book did not disappoint! Huge page turner yet again and this book got me through a long flight in a jiffy! This is the story of Alice who gets a form of amnesia and thinks that she is ten years in the past, still in love with the husband she is now divorcing. This story throws you for several loops and you are not sure exactly which ending to hope for. Read this one! 

I got this book in a discount bin at Chapter's to bring on a flight. It took me more than a few chapters to get into and had I been able to access another book, I would have! This is a spy thriller type story with a man trying to uncover the mysterious death of a former girlfriend. The narrator's quirky personality and narrative did eventually hook me in, but I would pass on this book unless you are stuck on a plane!

Got this one in the same discount bin at Chapters. I don't usually read Sparks' books but thought this one sounded good. This is a story where different characters are woven together through flashbacks and it works quite well. I really enjoyed the cowboy, rodeo and ranching setting as it is not something that I am familiar with. A cute little love story. I am looking forward to the upcoming movie version of the book. 

I picked up this paperback at the airport on the return. I had heard that the movie was really good so I thought this could be a good pre-movie read. The story is fast paced and set on Earth in the bleak future. The Earth is a dusty place where corn is the only viable crop. Scientists are searching for ways to save the human race, and space may be an option. Great adventure story, but with some heavy scientific themes. Can't wait for someone else to read it so that they can explain some of the technical stuff to me! Two thumbs up!

To the lighthouse!

Set in Australia after the first world war, this story takes place mostly on a lonely island where a light house keeper and his wife have been living a lie. When their story unravels, there are many suspenseful moments! I don't want to give too much away! Story worth reading.

Absolutely Great Read

My latest YA foray. Saw this in the Scholastic catalogue and it sounded good. Peppered with cartoons throughout, this book tells the story of Junior who lives on a reservation in Spokane. The author loosely based the story on his own experience as being the only non-white student at his high school. This book somehow makes you laugh through some tough subject matter such as poverty and alcoholism. Read this book!

How did I plow through this one?

Usually when I have having difficulty getting through a book, I give it two chapters and then I put it down for good. This was one of those non-pageturners but for some reason I kept going and finished it.   The jacket write up describes this book as astonishing. It just didn't do it for me. The story takes place on Cape Cod, which I love, and combines flashback and present day scenes. It involves a murder, infidelity, a nanny and a mother with PPD. I just couldn't buy into the main character's supposed sex appeal and allure. Too many cheesy make out scenes as well. I still can't believe I finished this! Give this one a miss. 

Secrets galore

Liane Moriarty's "Big Little Lies" kept me up past my bedtime on more than one school night! Interesting, relatable characters mixed with mystery and flashback scenes combine to create an easily flowing story. Set in an Australian beach town, the story follows women of various social classes as all of their children enter kindergarten at the local school. When one mother accuses another's child of bullying, the class moms are pitted against eachother. In the background are husbands, kids and possibly murder... Check this book out only if you are looking to lose sleep! 

Back to the blog!

 Dear multitude of readers,

I am returning to the blog! I am disappointed that I stopped posting. I keep remembering flashes of books that I have read in the past year, but since I haven't been keeping track of them on here, I can't remember a lot of the titles. I am committing to being back on here again. Thanks for your warm welcome. 

Goodnight June I read in the summer, but I thought I'd add it in. Not quite as pageturning as Jio's previous books, but a cute, set in Seattle story nonetheless. I was drawn to this story as it is a Jio book, but also because of my childhood connection to " Goodnight Moon." This story imagines the story behind the classic children's book. Worth checking out. 

I randomly came across this book on the shelf in the teen section. I must admit I liked the cover! This is a retelling of the Cinderella story. A poverty stricken wood dwelling family gains a stepfather and step sister. There is a ball and a glass slipper, but this is not your usual Cinderella story. 

I have been waiting for a while on the library list to get this book. It was well worth the wait! I could not put this YA novel down, and finished in within hours. Auggie is a boy entering junior high for the first time ever as he has been homeschooled. This is extra scary for him as he has a severe facial deformity. This book is told from several points view. I found myself loving the main character and he is really sticking with me. One of those powerful books that will most likely change your life. Put yourself on the waitlist now!!

More mermaids but darker this time

Almost as good as the first one

If I was actually doing a TPGP this year, these books would be on it.

Grown up Harry Potter

Southern tale

Insite into adoption

Another futuristic teen read

Page turner

Lord of the Flies meets X-Men

Good one!