Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (#3, Fiction)

I loved this book.  In a quick, beach read, hooked from the minute I read the back to the second I snapped it shut 28 hours later type way. 

My guilty pleasure for sure.  It's another dark, twisted story that leaves you much more satisfied and less angry than Gone Girl.

4 out of 5 (per guilty pleasure category, not literary category)

The Round House by Louise Erdrich (#2, Fiction, North Dakota (2))

Second book from the Brooklyn Magazine list.  Great book.  As I read the book I kept imagining that the time frame of events took place much farther in the past.  It's sad that so many issues continue to exist between Indians on reservations and the whites nearby.  But, I shouldn't be surprised, I've been in a state (South Dakota) where the kids regularly referred to "The Res" in an extremely derogatory way.

4 out of 5

Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen (#1, Fiction)

I found this book extremely thought provoking and a bit superficial at the same time.  I've only read one Anna Quindlen book, and that was years ago, so I'm not sure what her regular style is, but I was very taken by the narration.  She switches back and forth between the characters narrating to some greater being who knows the past/present/future narrating.  I really liked it.  I could hear the narrator in my head. It was James Earl Jones. 

It's a sad, but happy story. Finding the right balance for me between not being a total downer ending and not being a too easily wrapped up happily ever after ending is very difficult.  This book veered more towards the happily ever after in my opinion, but there was some serious tragedy along with it.  But somehow the author wasn't able to capture the relationship between Jim and his sister enough for me to have anything but a very minor reaction.

But the thoughts of a dog?  That gets me every time.

3.5 out of 5

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer (#15, Nonfiction, Alaska)

Steph, Spoon and I have started a new book challenge. Near the end of 2014 Brooklyn Magazine came out with a list titled, The Literary United States: A Map of the Best Book for Every State.  I didn't even have to look at the list to say "Challenge Accepted."

I actually read Into the Wild many years ago.  I went through a Jon Krakauer phase sometime shortly post college.  Initially, I planned to skip this one and just read the books I hadn't previously read.  But whatever whim caused me to pick it up at the library I am thankful for! His writing is so great.  Generally I'm not a fan of the telling of stories not directly related to the story at hand, so when Krakauer went on his "other adventurer" chapters I started to skim. But at some point during my skimming I realized I was reading every word, and not only reading them, but enjoying these tangential stories!

He's such a great writer and I'm so happy I've been reminded of his extreme talent and plan to pick up a new Krakauer very soon.

4.5 out of 5

Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns by Lauren Weisberger (#14, Fiction)

I need to start mixing in some quality reads with all these guilty pleasures.

This book felt thin. Throughout you can sort of guess how things are going to shake out at the end, but you're not really sure why, or the motivations, or why things are happening or happened. It's very fairy tale, then messy, and finally fairy tale again, with a twist of simplicity for extremely complicated circumstances.  She basically uses huge gaps in time to explain away the complication... a bit lazy? 

A disappointment after the first book.

2.5 out of 5.

Hush by Kate White (#13, Fiction)

I told you I would read all she has! This one was even better than The Sixes.

3.5 out of 5.

The Sixes by Kate White (#12, Fiction)

I've always been a sucker for a mystery, starting way back when with my trusty Christopher Pike books.  Now, 20+ years later it's still my go-to. Kate White is exactly what I need when I want a guilty pleasure book.  I will read all she's got.

3.5 out of 5.

One Last Thing Before I Go by Jonathan Tropper (#11, Fiction)

I went to the library after This Is Where I Leave You was highly recommended to me. Unfortunately, the hold list was weeks long, so instead I went for another Jonathan Tropper novel.  I'm guessing that Jonathan Tropper has a very distinct voice.  Sort of a more casual, poor man's Jonathan Franzen. The characters are extremely flawed and the story is depressing overall, with humor weaved in for relief.

3.5 out of 5.

Broken Harbor by Tana French (#10, Fiction)

I'm still waiting for the mystery from Tana French's first book, In the Woods, to be solved.  But, in the meantime, I'll enjoy her other mysteries. Not the best, nor the worst of her murder squad series. It was a very dark read touching on the pressures of family life and how things unraveled for a previously happy family when the recession hit Ireland.

4 out of 5.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell (#9, Fiction)

A book club pick. I tore through this book (my first post Teddy read... I didn't think I would ever read again!).  It was a very easy read and I was happy to ease back in, but it left me unsatisfied.  Upon reflection it felt like I had read a lesser version of a John Hughes movie. Meh.

2 out of 5.

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn (#8, Fiction)

Two years ago I left you with my scathing review of Gone Girl. It took another Gone Girl hater to suggest this book was as much a page-turner and far less infuriating.  I liked this one.  The characters certainly aren't loveable, but it's a messed up story that weaves and winds to an unexpected, but palatable conclusion.

3.5 out of 5.

The Billionaire's Vinegar by Benjamin Wallace (#7, Nonfiction)

I like wine. I like France. I like Thomas Jefferson. I like the idea of a secret stash of centuries old wine being found.  This book, I did not like.  It read like nonfiction for the majority of the time and the list of players and stories became too convoluted and long-winded.  It took me a LONG time to finish this one. Unless you are an extreme wine expert, especially old wine, I wouldn't recommend it.

2 out of 5.

Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos (#6, Fiction)

This was a page-turning, hard to believe, it all ends peachy peachy book.

2 out of 5

The True Story of Hansel and Gretel: A novel of war and survival by Louise Murphy (#5, Fiction)

Another World War II, Nazi book.  Obviously sad, but worth the read.

3.5 out of 5

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter (#4, Fiction)

The best part about this book is that it made me want to spend more time in Italy.  Just look at that cover!  Who wouldn't want to go back?

The story had promise, the writing was well done.  But I just didn't love some of the characters and felt the ending was a bit too perfectly put together. 

But, a good book to read on the beach, or for a quick read to get you back into the swing of reading!

2.5 out of 5.

What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship & Love by Carole Radziwill (#3, Nonfiction)

A book club pick.  As the opposite of a fan of the Real Housewives shows I was a bit skeptical to hear that the author is currently on the Real Housewives of New York.

Luckily, Carole is actually a very good writer.  Her story unfolded quickly and was definitely one worth telling.  But, that said, oh my god it was sooooo sad. 

3 out of 5.

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (#2, Fiction)

I was really excited to read this book.  People had been talking about it for months, and I'd been searching the library for it every week until I gave in and just bought it.  For a long vacation this was at the top of the list and I couldn't wait.

I was disappointed.  It took me much longer to get pulled in to the story than I expected, and while I really like the idea of the "sliding doors" plot, it was pretty confusing.  That all being said, I still liked the book but I think my expectations were just way too high. 

And, of course somehow another book choice revolves around WWII, that theme seems to be the most popular in all my book choices lately.

Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes, most likely.  But mostly because I want to discuss with them all the things I'm still confused about!

3 out of 5.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz (#1, Fiction)

I'm a bit delinquent in posting my books for 2014 so far.  I have also been pretty bad about reading regularly, but with my one book a week during Lent challenge I am hoping to get back into the reading swing of things.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao was complex.  There are just so many characters and so many plot lines that weave in and out of the novel that it's hard to characterize simply.  A combination of a coming of age, mixed with folklore and history, with a twist of love all tied together with the supernatural, and ultimately foreshadowed tragedy.

I feel a bit out of line in saying that I didn't love it.  The reviews were great, it won a Pulitzer, it was recommended with glowing praise, all the right ingredients for a five star read.  At the end of the day I think it just wasn't my cup of tea.  I liked it, I get why it was considered great, the writing is fantastic, but I guess I have to accept that just because something is highly acclaimed doesn't mean I also have to love it.  I can see it for what it is, and move on and be glad that I expanded my novel knowledge.

4 out of 5 stars.

The Land of Mango Sunsets by Dorothea Benton Frank (#30, Fiction)

I had extremely low expectations for this book.  It seemed like it would be a lousy beach read, and I wasn't even on the beach.  But, I was pleasantly surprised.  No prize winning writing found here, but the characters and plot were definitely more complex and interesting than I anticipated.

2.5 out of 5.

That officially closes out 2013.  I will certainly not be finishing the behemoth of a novel I've recently started before the stroke of midnight tonight.  In 2014 I'd like to continue reading a variety of books, and keep the quality and quantity to high levels.  Happy New Year!

Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson (#29, Fiction)

Talk about a page-turner.  Before I Go To Sleep came highly recommended by a trusted reader friend.  Even when she compared it to Gone Girl (a book that I was not a fan of) I went ahead took the chance. 

I loved it.  It took me less than 24 hours to finish and I was all in from the start.  Because my friend did tell me it was "like" Gone Girl, I think I was reading it with an extra critical eye.  Who was the culprit? Who was the bad guy? No one was free of my questions, very similar to that of the narrator, Christine, who wakes up every day with no recollection of the previous day, week, year, decade--neither she nor I knew or trusted anyone.

I highly recommend this one.  It's an easy read, but also well-written and has a nice conclusion, which I feel often fall short in page-turner type books.

4.5 out of 5.