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...