The Host ~ Stephenie Meyer

I've always found it interesting when an author takes a chance of sorts by departing from their "typical" format.  Stephenie Meyer's "typical" format, or at the least the work she is most well-known for, is the teenage vampire love story.  While The Host is also a love story, it is uniquely different from the Twilight Saga.  I will admit that it took me a little while to get into the story, but once I became attached to the characters (and trust me, you will become attached), I couldn't put it down.

The basic premise is simple - an alien life form, which survives as a parasite by taking over the body of its host, has landed on Earth and has begun taking over the human race.  The human soul is simply overshadowed by the parasite soul.  But what if a human soul had something to fight for?  Something to remain for?  Ms. Meyer transforms the parasite soul into a being that we can relate to, that we can root for.

Gone Girl ~ Gillian Flynn

There are three sides to every story...yours, mine & the truth. In Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn explores both sides of a common story.  A woman disappears & her husband stands accused of murder.  Elliott Dunne may not be a stellar husband, but does that mean he killed his wife?  Do you believe the story as written in her journal?  Do you believe the story as told by her husband?  Ms. Flynn alternates between the story of a young couple first meeting, as told by Amy Dunne, and the story of a husband looking for his lost wife, as told by Elliott Dunne.

The psychological insight into a troubled marriage is astounding.  Ms. Flynn captures the excitement of young love and the demise of a marriage.  The characters are easily, if not frighteningly, recognizable.  The plot, with all of its manipulation and twists and turns, is amazingly laid out.  I devoured this book, literally unable to put it down.  By the end you aren't sure who to believe & who you are being manipulated by.

Here we go again...

I managed to read over 50 books in 2012, so this year I'm upping my game & shooting for 75.  I'll begin on January 1 & start listing every book I finish.  Ideally I will be better about updating the posts with some opinions since I was a little lax last year.  At any rate, here we go again...

Keeping Faith ~ Jodi Piccoult

What if your child suddenly began hearing voices and developed unexplained wounds?  What would you think?  What would you do?  Jodi Piccoult explores these questions in Keeping Faith.  Following an unexpected divorce, Mariah seeks to succumb once again to depression.  Her daughter, Faith, seeks solace in her "Guard."  A gathering of true believers and skeptics gathers on the front lawn of the previously a-religious family and intense media scrutiny begins when Faith begins exhibiting healing powers and then suffers unexplainable wounds on her hands.

Ms. Piccoult tenderly examines the struggles which Mariah undergoes she attempts to keep her daughter sheltered while trying to determine the cause of Faith's symptoms.  Only when Marish appears at a breaking point does Faith's father enter the picture again, beginning a custody battle. 

I was most compelled by the way in which Ms. Piccoult examines the idea of "faith" without making a definitive statement on the subject.  As Ms. Piccoult has said, she "wanted to look not at religion...but at belief."   She leaves enough room for the reader to come to her own conclusions.  Is Faith a prophet or a troubled little girl? To me, the answer wasn't nearly as important as the journey to it.

The Hunger Games Trilogy ~ Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games Trilogy is comprised of: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, & Mockingjay.  The novels take place in an undefined future period in which North America has become the totalitarian state of "Panem."  Panem is divided into 13 districts, though District 13 was all but destroyed following its rebellion against the Capitol.  As further punishment for rebellion, and as reminder that the Capitol controls all, two children from each district are chosed to compete in the Hunger Games.  The Games are a televised fight-to-the-death between the 24 "lucky" competitors. 

The first novel follows Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year-old girl from the poorest district, as she takes the place of her younger sister as the District 12 tribute.  She is removed from her home and taken to the Capitol for training and styling before her entry into the arena.  The second novel follows Katniss and Peeta as they struggle to deal with the consequences of their disobedience.  As a result, the Capitol has decided that the Quarter Quell Games should pit victors from each district against each other.  The third novel does not deal with the Games, but follows Katniss and the others from District 13 as they rebel against the Capitol in a final attempt at freedom. 

In these novels, Ms. Collins combines an interest in ancient mythology, the gladiator games, and our society's current interest in reality tv.  The story brings up important questions, such as how much freedom are we willing to give up the government?  Do we live in a society that values violence and cruelty? 

Ms. Collins paints a heart-wrenching picture of where a lack of personal freedoms can end up.  She also makes a powerful statement through the Capitol's fascination and enjoyment in the slaughter of the Games.  It is shocking to see the disparity between the opulence of the Capitol and the devastation of District 12.  It is even more shocking to realize that these disparities exist within our own society.

If you read & enjoyed the Hunger Games, try these 25 Series to Read or 15 Others to Try.

I'll Walk Alone ~ Mary Higgins Clark

Mary Higgins Clark may be the queen of suspense and mystery.  Her extensive career (42 novels) began with the publication of a short story in 1956.  She has said that she often begins work by asking "what if" and "why."  A recent novel, I'll Walk Alone, she explores an increasing common fear in our increasingly paperless world...identity theft.

The novel follows "Zan" Moreland as she struggles to deal with the aftermath of her child's kidnapping.  Two years prior, Zan's son was kidnapped in broad daylight after his babysitter fell asleep.  On his fifth birthday, a photo surfaces that seems to show Zan taking the boy.

The real mystery begins when Zan discovers what the reader already knows, that someone is posing as Zan in an attempt to destroy her career and reputation.  There is no shortage of suspects. Zan's ex-husband blames her for the disappearance and is in serious financial distress.  Zan's former business partner is vindicitave and out to ruin her new business.  However, even Zan herself begins to doubt her sanity.  Could she have blacked out, kidnapped her child & not remember it?

There are clues along the way, but as in most of her novels, Ms. Higgins Clark keeps the reader in suspense until the very end.  And, as in most of her novels, the plot moves along at break-neck speed.  This is a novel that kept me reading late into the night.

All She Ever Wanted ~ Barbara Freethy

Do you believe in second chances?  Do you believe that the truth, no matter how hidden, will eventually be revealed?  Ten years ago Emily fell to her death from the roof of the sorority house where she lived with her three best friends.  Her death was ruled a suicide and the surviving friends & family were left to wonder why a bright, vibrant young woman would have killed herself.  That is, until a novel emerges which eerily mirrors the lives of the four friends and places the blame for Emily's death at the feet of her roommate Natalie.  The women are reuinited by their struggle to deal with the guilt over Emily's death they've tried to hide from and find out what really happened that night. 

Much like Nora Roberts, Barbara Freethy strikes the balance between romance and suspense.  She keeps you rooting for her characters, while allowing in a little doubt...could one of the girls have wanted Emily dead?  Ms. Freethy's characters are true to life, each dealing with her own guilt in a different way.  While each girl has her faults, you're left sympathizing with them and watching as their friendships are rekindled.  I was reminded how amazing & rare it is to have friendships that last a lifetime. 

Starvation Heights ~ Gregg Olsen

Starvation Heights is based upon the true story of "Dr" Linda Hazzard's Washington sanitorium.  To say that what occurred in 1911 in Olalla Washington was disturbing may be an understatement.  Linda Hazzard was a pioneer in the "fasting treatment," which she used to prey upon the wealthy and sick.  In 1911 two sisters came to Ms. Hazzard for treatment. The women soon became emaciated shells of their former selves.  One died after being fasted for several months.  Luckily for the surviving sister, help came and she was able to escape.  With the aid of her former nanny and a sympathtic lawyer, she was able to bring Linda Hazzard to justice.

What disturbed me the most about this story was the ego of Ms. Hazzard, coupled with her ability to manipulate these impressionable young women.  Throughout her trial, Ms. Hazzard stood by her methodology, which included starving patients for up to 50 days.  She also stood by her story that Claire Williamson, who died during treatment, left her significant fortune to the Hazzards.  It is almost difficult to remember, while reading this story of greed and malice, that it actually occurred.  Olalla, Washington is a real place (incidently the author lives there) and there is a series of death records which attribute death to starvation at the hands of Ms. Hazzard.  To me, this story serves as an important reminder to be wary of easy fixes and untested treatments.  It is astonishing what a so-called healer can be capable of and how easily people may be swayed to trust them.

5/8/12 Update: Just in case you think that something like this could never happen in our modern world, a Swiss woman died after following a diet in which she attempted to survive on light alone after viewing a documentary supporting such a possibility.  The practice, in which you survive on spiritual intake rather than food, is known as breatharianism.  At least four deaths have been linked to the practice.

Two Truths and A Lie - Sara Shephard

Two Truths & A Lie is the third installment in the Lying Games series.  I started reading the series because I enjoyed Shephard's Pretty Little Liars series.  Both of these series have now become hit TV series, which are loosely based upon the books.  I say loosely because, if you've read the books or seen the shows, you'll still be in for some surprises when you view/read the other. 

The premise of the Lying Games series is simple... twins separated at birth & soon to be reunited.  One sister has grown up in the foster system, while the other has grown up in luxury.  Just as Emma, the foster child, arrives to meet her twin, Sutton, for the first time Sutton is murdered.  Emma steps into her twin's life in order to protect herself & solve the murder.  True to form, Shephard provides enough plot twists and potential suspects to keep the mystery going.  The story is told by Sutton, who shadows her sister & only has brief memories of her former life, allowing Shephard to let the reader in on secrets that even Emma can't uncover.

Merrick - Anne Rice

I finished Merrick last week. My apologies for just getting around to posting this.

Merrick is a crossover novel that combines the world of Anne Rice’s vampires with that of the Mayfair witches. When I first began reading, I said that I wish that I had re-read, or at least read summaries of, the Vampire Chronicles and the Mayfair novels. However, as the novel progressed, the details of those books came back to me. Any details that were necessary to this plot were reviewed and explained.

The novel centers around the relationship between Merrick, a powerful witch descended from the Mayfair clan, and David Talbot, newly made vampire & companion to Louis. Their long relationship, told through David’s flashbacks, began when young Merrick was brought into the folds of the Talamasca. David’s obsession with the beautiful young witch was immediate. Their adventures span from the mysterious beauty of New Orleans to the lush jungles of South America.

David is forced to seek out his old protege, Merrick, when Louis asks him to gain her help in contacting the ghost of Claudia, Louis’s vampire child. Though hesitant to drag Merrick into the tempting world of the vampires, David contacts her. The novel ends with the appearance of Claudia, which leads to the revelation of Merrick’s great plan and the re-emergence of Anne Rice’s greatest vampire, Lestat.

This installment is typical Anne Rice, full of multi-dimensional characters and lush landscapes. It is easy to fall in love with the world that Anne Rice has created.

Next up...the third installment of The Lying Games, Two Truths & A Lie.

What If...

In his memoir, On Writing, Stephen King opines that any work (specifically his) can be boiled down to one question...what if?  From his work...what if you were stuck in a car with a rabid dog outside?  If you're Stephen King, you have Cujo.  For the rest of us, it works for every piece of literature that we read.  You can boil it down to the simple question...what if?  What if the person you loved unconditionally asked the unthinkable?  What if you could trade your life for someone else's?  What would you give up for "true love"?  How far would you go to chase a dream?  The questions are limitless, and many of us will never have the opportunity ask, much less answer, them.  Which is why I find literature so amazing.  For a short period of time, we get to experience the unthinkable, we get to look into lives that we can't imagine, and we get to step outside ourselves and ask...what if?

The Pact ~ Jodi Piccoult

“Oscar Wilde said that the pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple.  Truth, you see is in the eye of the beholder.”

I finished reading The Pact, by Jodi Piccoult, last night.  True to form, Ms. Piccoult left me with plenty of room for discussion.  The story begins with a jolt, the seeming suicide of a bright young woman.  But, was it suicide?  Her lifelong companion, and boyfriend, survives the suicide pact, leaving a detective to with too many questions.  With an attention to detail, Ms. Piccoult traces the emotional journey that both families take.  The Golds deal with the death of their daughter; allegedly at the hands of a boy they considered family.  The Hartes are left to deal with a son accused of murdering the only girl he’s ever loved. 

Throughout the story are woven the relationships among the parents, once deep friends but now torn apart by the tragedy; the relationship between Emily and Chris, soul mates since birth and dependent upon one another; the relationships between parents and children, leaving the reader to question how well you can truly know your children.  Ms. Piccoult tackles these relationships with her usual compassion and honesty. 

The narrative, which jumps from the present to the past and back, allows the reader to discover Emily’s thoughts and motivations in steps, rather than by revealing everything at once.  It creates suspense as the reader tries to figure out why she would want to cut her promising life short.  And Ms. Piccoult does not disappoint.  By the final courtroom showdown, we know.  And we are left with one question: How far would you go for the person you love?

Next, I am reading Anne Rice's Merrick.  It is a crossover novel that combines the world of her vampires with that of the Mayfair witches.  After beginning the novel, I wish that I had re-read, or at least read summaries of, the Vampire Chronicles and the Mayfair novels.  If you're interested, here's all of them in order.

Top Ten Made-up Literary Couples

Today I found a Huffington Post article on the Top Ten Made-Up Literary Couples.  Great read!  I will admit that I am not familiar with all of the characters, so I've managed to add a few books to my list. 

50 books this year?

So, I am taking the Goodreads book challenge & attempting to read 50 books this year.  To make it interesting, that is 50 previously unread books.  I'll keep you posted.  If you're on Goodreads you can track my progress there!

My first is Jodi Piccoult's The Pact.  This is one of her early novels, published in 1998, and was a turning point in her writing career.  She discusses this in an interview on her website. I love hearing from an author about what inspired them or what their process is. I'm about halfway through & so far The Pact is just as compelling as her other books.  It deals with relationships between parents & children, relationships between childhood friends & soulmates, relationships between friends.  Questions I'm left contemplating right now are: how well do we really know our friends & family?  how far would you go for someone you love?

Here we go...

I have been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. My bookcases are overflowing and am often reading several things at once. My collection includes "chick lit," biographies, mysteries, fantasy, and historical fiction. Through this blog I plan to discuss whatever book I happen to be reading at the time. Between finishing books, I'll include some reviews and some analysis of things I've already read. I welcome any comments or reading suggestions. I'll also provide some links to great book sites that I've found. You can start with http://www.flashlightworthybooks.com/, a site that has tons of great book lists.