Book Club

American Sniper- Chris Kyle

Also soon to be made into a movie (with Bradley Cooper!) is American Sniper.  Brad is reading this right now and loving it! Stay tuned for my thoughts!

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The Maze Runner- James Dashner

True to my obsession with reading books before they come out as movies, I recently finished The Maze Runner (in theatres now).  While I always enjoy a good post-apocalyptic thriller, I have to be honest in saying that I felt it fell short of similar power houses in its genre (i.e Hunger Games, Divergent).  While it kept my attention and its characters pulled at my heart strings, in the end I felt it was too drawn out and left the reader only wanting more so that there would be some conclusion.  In the end I felt there was no real resolution just a cliff hanger to entice you to finish the trilogy (which I did – and was not overly wowed).

The Husband’s Secret – Liane Moriarty

Wow, wow, wow! This is a MUST read! I just finished The Husband’s Secret and literally could pick it up and read it again. Moriarty tells the story of 3 women, who are all incredibly relatable and you could find in your personal circles. She crafts her characters with forethought and an in-depth understanding of human emotion and vulnerability. Entwined within her expertly crafted characters, is a deep secret that plagues all the women in different ways. In the end, you are left questioning yourself, and what you would do in their situations. The ultimate question Moriarty is truly asking her readers, is how far would you go for someone you love?

Where’d You Go Bernadette – Maria Semple

Where’d You Go Bernadette is currently taking book clubs by storm, and rightly so! I just finished this quirky and hilarious tale of a genius architect who becomes plagued by everyday life. Semple takes the readers on a journey of battling ostentatious soccer moms and ones own inner demons. This story finds a creative way to both discuss and laugh at all that is wrong with American life. I truly enjoyed Semple’s depiction of family dysfunction and the lengths parents will go to for their children.

 

Serena – Ron Rash

While this story started off a bit slow, I have to say this was a great read! Rash has a outstanding eye for detail and takes great care to build the landscape of his story. Once you are fully immersed in the 1920’s setting, his story takes on a whole new element of surprise, violence, betrayal, and in a very odd way love. Serena is a dynamic and incredibly complex character who I flip-flopped between love and hate for the entire story. Oh and by the way, the ending will knock you off your feet!

 

Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn

This suspenseful crime thriller is number one on by list right now. It has been out awhile, but with the movie version coming out in Summer 2014 now is the time to check this one off the list. Gillian Flynn has an addictive writing style and creates a story that you will be unable to put down. You hear this story from two points of view, Nick and Amy Dunne, a seemingly happy couple whose relationship quickly turns tragic. With unimaginable twists and turns this story will only leave you wanting more.

 

The Night Circus – Erin Morgenstern

This book came out in 2011 and is still flying a bit under the radar. Erin is a Massachusetts based author and this is her debut novel. The story follows a travelling circus, based in Victorian London, that opens from sunset to sunrise. The details and intricacies that Erin evokes in her writing is truly magical, as are some of the characters in her story. Summit Entertainment has bought the rights to the story, so keep an eye out for an upcoming movie!

 

 

Dark Places – Gillian Flynn

Another crime thriller from Gillian Flynn, Dark Places is an earlier book by this stunning and adaptive author. While Gone Girl is still my favorite, Dark Places takes the reader to an even deeper and dark place in this tragic tale of a murdered family and the people left behind. Gillian is able to yet again, draw in her readers with a story so intricately woven it makes it nearly impossible to put down.

 

 

The Spectacular Now – Tim Tharp

Recently made into an indie film, The Spectacular Now follows two young teens through the trials and tribulations of a tumultuous high school. Drinking, drugs, and family squabbles play a major role in both characters’ lives. This is not your average feel good story about teens coming out on top. It paints a very real picture of the culture of high school today and the path that many students are taking.

 

 

Enders Game – Orson Scott Card

I will come right out and say this book is not for everyone. That is not to say I didn’t enjoy it, it just is very different from the book club norm shall we say. I came across Ender’s Game in a LinkedIn article referencing good reads for people looking to better their management and leadership skills. It is a military science fiction novel set in Earth’s future. It follows the story of a young boy named Ender, who is in tactical training to become a military prodigy. The military uses “games” as training sequences to teach children how to better prepare for military strikes. The end has a shocking twist that reveals the deception of the government and the true skill Ender has developed. It is an interesting read that I really enjoyed. It was also very different from the norm, and I always enjoy throwing something a bit different into the mix.