Tell us the title:

Cutting for Stone

Who penned this work?:

Abraham Verghese

How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?:

A coworker recommended this story, and lent it to me.

Number of pages:

658

Time passed from start to finish?:

About a week

Describe the cover:

In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?:

Fiction

Summary of the basic plot:

"Marion and Shiva Stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful Indian nun and a brash British surgeon.  Orphaned by their mother's death and their father's disappearance, bound together by a preternatural connection and a shared fascination with medicine, the twins come of age as Ethiopia hovers on the brink of revolution.  Moving from Addis Ababa to New York City and back again, Cutting for Stone is an unforgettable story of love and betrayal, medicine and ordinary miracles -- and two brothers whose fates are forever intertwined." (from back cover)

What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it):

At first I dragged my feet on opening this book and starting it.  It didn't sound interesting to me, and I don't typically read fiction stories that are about real life.  A few chapters in, however, and I found myself hooked.  I had to keep reminding myself that this was in fact fiction, as it seemed so real and so possible.  A captivating story combined with beautiful writing made for quite a journey.

Which page was your favorite? Share why:

I would say that my favorite page was the first one with a quote that stopped me in my tracks: "Her skills were so rare, so needed for the poorest of the poor, and even at times in the royal palace, that she felt valued.  Wasn't that the definition of home?  Not where you are from, but where you are wanted?"

If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?

I don't even have the remotest clue.  I do hope that it is made into a movie, though!

Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why:

Where do I begin?

Page 141: "Ignorance was just as dynamic as knowledge, and it grew in the same proportion.  Still, each generation of physicians imagined that ignorance was the special provenance of their elders."

Page 236: "I stood firm.  I didn't trust Hema's motivation: guilt leads to righteous action, but rarely is the the right action.  Besides, I had planned a special parade of my Dinky Toys in a weaving path I had carved out on a low embankment next to the house.  Her timing was terrible."  (this made me laugh out loud, and remember once when I wrote in my diary how upset I was that my own mother had thrown out some candy wrappers I had been saving.  Oh, the dramas of childhood...)

Page 332: "I knew what I'd say to him: You're much too late.  We went ahead with our lives without you."  (this one struck me for personal reasons)

Page 351: "In order to start to get rid of your slippers, you have to admit they are yours, and if you do, then they will get rid of themselves...I hope one day you see this as clearly as I did...The key to your happiness is to own your slippers, own who you are, own how you look, own your family, own the talents you have, own the ones you don't.  If you keep saying your slippers aren't yours, then you'll die searching, you'll die bitter, always feeling you were promised more.  Not only our actions, but also our omissions, become our destiny."

Page 434: "My VIP patients often regret so many things on their deathbeds.  They regret the bitterness they'll leave in people's hearts.  They realize that no money, no church service, no eulogy, no funeral procession no matter how elaborate, can remove the legacy of a mean spirit."

Choose your rating:
          - Changed. My. Life.
          - I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
          - A definite page-turner
          - Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
          - Why did I waste my weekend on this?
          - A disgrace to paper everywhere

Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page. 

 "At that moment, though none of them quite realized it, Missing officially reopened for business."

As soldiers really live it

Tell us the title:

War

Who penned this work?:

Sebastian Junger
How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?:

This book was given to me for free at a library convention as an advance reading copy.  Which I did not read until long after the book was officially published.
Number of pages:

268
Time passed from start to finish?:

About 4 days
Describe the cover:

In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?:

Nonfiction, Current Events
Summary of the basic plot:

This story follows a single platoon in the most dangerous valley in Afghanistan during their 15-month deployment.
Background information on the story/author:

Sebastian Junger is a journalist who also wrote The Perfect Storm.
What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it):

This was nothing like what I expected.  I put off reading this again and again because I didn't think it would be interesting.  When I actually began reading, I was sucked in for days.  I became attached to all of the soldiers, and my mind strained to pretend this was fiction when people died.  It was a different experience than any I've had with nonfiction books.  After I finished, someone told me about the documentary about the same men (created by the author) -- called Restrepo.  I then watched that one afternoon.  It was very compelling, as I already knew the stories of the men, and I was putting faces to names, making it that much more in your face.  These are real men, not characters in a story. 
Which page was your favorite? Share why:

I don't know that I would call any of the pages "favorites," but I did find it very interesting when Junger discussed the biology of war.  He talks about what occurs in your body during war-time experiences such as firefights and attacks, and how those biological responses sometimes produce the opposite effect of what you need to be doing, bringing in the element of self-control.  He discusses what makes men good soldiers, how much of that is innate.  He also talks about how war is so much different now than it was historically, and how we have not evolved to survive automatic weapons (our reactions times cannot respond faster than bullets can fly). 
If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?

This story can never effectively be a cinematic movie with people pretending to be these men. I recommend watching Restrepo.
Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why:

(Pretty self-explanatory, I feel):

"Civilians balk at recognizing that one of the most traumatic things about combat is having to give it up.  War is so obviously evil and wrong that the idea there could be anything good to it almost feels like a profanity.  And yet throughout history, men like Mac and Rice and O'Byrne have come home to find themselves desperately missing what should have been the worst experience of their lives.  To a combat vet, the civilian world can seem frivolous and dull, with very little at stake and all the wrong people in power.  These men come home and quickly find themselves getting berated by a rear-base major who's never seen combat or arguing with their girlfriend about some domestic issue they don't even understand.  When men say they miss combat, it's not that they actually miss getting shot at -- you'd have to be deranged -- it's that they miss being in a world where everything is important and nothing is taken for granted.  They miss being in a world where human relations are entirely governed by whether you can trust the other person with your life. 

It's such a pure, clean standard that men can completely remake themselves in war.  You could be anything back home -- shy, ugly, rich, poor, unpopular -- and it won't matter because it's of no consequence in a firefight, and therefore of no consequence, period."
Choose your rating:
Changed. My. Life.
I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
A definite page-turner
Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
Why did I waste my weekend on this?
A disgrace to paper everywhere
Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page. 

"Toward the end of their tour they'd go through entire firefights in nothing but gym shorts and unlaced boots, cigarettes hanging out of their lips."

It Takes A Graveyard To Raise A Child

Tell us the title: 

The Graveyard Book
Who penned this work?: 

Neil Gaiman.  You're shocked, I know. 

How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?: 

Powell's had it on sale, and I figured it was time to move on to his children's books
Number of pages: 

313
Time passed from start to finish?: 

2 days
Describe the cover:

 
In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?:

Children's fiction, Powell's best sellers shelf (even though it was published in 2008)
Summary of the basic plot:

(from the back cover): "Nobody Owens, known as Bod, is a normal boy.  He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a graveyard, being raised by ghosts, with a guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor the dead.  There are adventures in the graveyard for a boy -- an ancient Indigo Man, a gateway to the abandoned city of ghouls, the strange and terrible Sleer.  But if Bod leaves the graveyard, he will be in danger from the man Jack -- who has already killed Bod's family.
Background information on the story/author:

Neil Gaiman will be the favorite author of my personal lifetime.  Please consider reading everything he has ever written.  Also, The Graveyard Book has won both the Newbery (US) and Carnegie (UK) medals. 
What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it):

Only in Neil Gaiman's world can a story be so dark yet make you laugh hysterically and walk away at the end a better person for the lessons you have learned.  This is the first of his stories I've read that contains illustrations...and I'm not sure how I felt about it.  The illustrations are wonderfully done, but I didn't love the way they altered the images I had created in my head.  This may be a good stepping stone into his graphic novels.
Which page was your favorite? Share why:

Page 206, where Mistress Owens finishes the last lines of her song, one tale ends, and many others begin.
If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?

My brain cannot even begin to fathom that.  I can only see the characters in my head, and no actors can do those justice.
Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why:

(from page 70, for the reason that it made me laugh hysterically): 

"Name the different kinds of people," said Miss Lupescu.  "Now."

Bod thought for a moment.  "The living," he said.  "Er.  The dead."  He stopped.  Then, ". . .Cats?" he offered, uncertainly.
Choose your rating:

Changed. My. Life. 

I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
A definite page-turner
Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
Why did I waste my weekend on this?
A disgrace to paper everywhere

Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page. 

"A screech of brakes as the car stopped, and the ginger policeman began to swear under his breath."

"A comedy of ill-mannered gods and bad-hearted mortals..."

Tell us the title:

Anansi Boys
 

Who penned this work?:

Neil Gaiman

How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?:

Anything with Neil Gaiman's name on it will eventually find its way onto my reading list.  Pretty sure I've read all the adult-aimed novels now.  I was holding on to this one, saving it for a lull in my passion for reading, for I knew it would spark me back up!

Number of pages:

400, if I get to count the excerpt from another book at the end, which I have already read but of course read again. 

Time passed from start to finish?:

Since I had to go to work during the week....about a week.  AKA about a day and a half.

Describe the cover:

Three men's shadows appear against a red-orange sky, with spider web cast about the background.  One man appears to have a lovely umbrella.

In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?:

For reasons I may never actually understand, science fiction.  I guess since there's not a section called "best stuff ever".

Summary of the basic plot:

From the back: "Far Charlie Nancy's normal life ended the moment his father dropped dead on a Florida karaoke stage.  Charlie didn't know his dad was a god.  And he never knew he had a brother..."

Background information on the story/author:

Neil Gaiman is the best writer ever.  Done.

What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it):

I loved it, just like I love every story by Neil Gaiman.  If you're hoping to fall in love with his stories, I'm not sure I would start with this one, but if you're already convinced of his awesomeness, read on, my friend.  As always, a tale is weaved (woven?) when you're not even looking, and those pesky little life lessons pop out at the end in ridiculously non-obvious-yet-completely-apparent ways.

Which page was your favorite? Share why:

Apparently I didn't mark such a page, so I can't give a number...although that would be a bit of a spoiler for anyone who wanted to read ahead anyway.  My favorite page was when Fat Charlie finally realized the truth about his brother.  And that statement is exactly as cryptic as I wanted it to be.

Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why:
 For once not a funny one:
"Each person who ever was or is or will be has a song.  It isn't a song that anybody else wrote.  It has its own melody, it has its own words.  Very few people get to sing their own song.  Most of us fear that we cannot do it justice with our voices, or that our words are too foolish or too honest, or too odd.  So people live their songs instead."


Choose your rating:

- Changed. My. Life.
- I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it 
- A definite page-turner
 - Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
 - Why did I waste my weekend on this?
 - A disgrace to paper everywhere

Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page:

"Only..."

The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex

Tell us the title:

Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex

Who penned this work?:

Mary Roach

How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?:

I picked it up at Barnes & Noble after reading 3 pages in the store and laughing hysterically.  To be forewarned: If you buy this in person in a small conservative town, the clerk will look at you like you are a heathen. 

Number of pages:

303

Time passed from start to finish?:

About a week and a half

Describe the cover:

Light blue background with a microscope looped through the word "bonk" in bright yellow letters.  There are also two small people making out in the tray of the microscope. 

In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?:

Ooh good question!  Non-fiction... science, humor, relationship advice? (sort of kidding on the last one)

Summary of the basic plot:

An in-depth look at the science of sex, essentially.  Mary Roach covers a variety of topics, many of them common arguments or misconceptions, and uses science to try to gain answers.  She provides references from a wide variety of texts and interviews, and even volunteers for a study or two herself!

Background information on the story/author:

Roach is also the author of Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers and Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife.

What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it):

I really loved the author's open and blunt honesty, as well as her use of wit and humor to make it easier to discuss topics that typically make people rather uncomfortable.  Roach uses a tremendous amount of footnotes to sneak in her humorous tidbits, which makes me feel like we're watching a film about the topic and she keeps leaning over to whisper her thoughts.  She's a great writer, so the whole things flows smoothly.  I laughed a lot, but I also learned a lot and didn't have to feel awkward about it.  

Which page was your favorite? Share why:

Impossible to choose!

If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?

Yeah...not that much of a relevant question here, but I guess that the plot line of her researching all of this could be made into a pretty funny movie.  I'd cast Cameron Diaz as the author. And Jason Bateman as her husband, who continues to get roped into her experiments. Actually that would be a great movie!

Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why:

"Unattached hiccuppers were advised that 'masturbation might be tried.' *Or, if they are followers of sixteenth-century naturalist Li Shih-chen, sun-dried, powdered wolf epiglottis.  Li's hiccup remedy, found in the Chinese Materia Medica, is probably quite effective, for in the time it takes to track a wolf and sun-dry its epiglottis, even the most stubborn case of hiccups will invariably have passed."

            Choose your rating:
          - Changed. My. Life.
          - I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
          - A definite page-turner
          - Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
          - Why did I waste my weekend on this?
          - A disgrace to paper everywhere

 Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page: 

"My point is that if you want to understand human sexual response, then studying animals is probably not the most productive way to go about it."

Before Liz Lemon...

Tell us the title: Bossypants

Who penned this work?: Tina Fey

How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?: While listlessly roaming through Costco, I saw this book and snuck it into the cart, under some bread.

Number of pages: 275

Time passed from start to finish?: About 3 seconds

Describe the cover: A lovely picture of Tina herself with hairy man-arms and a nice blue background.

In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?: Biography, humor

Summary of the basic plot: Tina Fey's life story, essentially... told with the tone you would expect...utter hilarity.  On a more serious note, however, I was actually really impressed with the honesty she presented in terms of herself as a mother and a woman in the showbiz industry, an industry where it is hard to be either of those.

Background information on the story/author: Bossypants essentially explains how Tina Fey got to where she is, the dues she paid, the awkwardness of who she really is, and the underlying reasons why we all love her :)

What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it): I loved it!  Except maybe for the outbursts of laughter in public places while reading it, but that's just because I don't like when people think I'm crazy.  It provided a good amount of *dishing* that we all desire from celebrity biographies, plenty of humor, and a nice dose of honesty that was refreshing.  Also, I'm just fond of women who curse a lot, because it makes me feel less alone in that tendency.

Which page was your favorite? Share why: Actually, the entire 3-page chapter entitled "The Mother's Prayer for Its Daughter", including the stanza: 

"And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, 

Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends,

For I will not have that Shit.  I will not have it."

If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?: Sarah Palin clearly would have to play Tina Fey.  Otherwise, since most of her friends are celebrities anyway, let's just have them play themselves.

Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why: Oh please, where do I begin?  

1. "As weird as the night's events had been, I couldn't help but be excited by the fact that I had climbed a mountain.  I never would have thought I could do that.  I think someone should design exercise machines that reward people with sex at the end of their workouts, because people will perform superhuman feats for even the faint hope of that."

2. "So my unsolicited advice to women in the workplace is this.  When faced with sexism or ageism or lookism or even really aggressive Buddhism, as yourself the following question: 'Is this person in between me and what I want to do?' If the answer is no, ignore it and move on.  Your energy is better used doing your work and outpacing people that way.  Then, when you're in charge, don't hire the people who were jerky to you."

3. "I feel about Photoshop the way some people feel about abortion.  It is appalling and a tragic reflection on the moral decay of our society...unless I need it, in which case, everybody be cool."

Choose your rating:
          - Changed. My. Life.
          - I laughed, I cried laughed some more, I want you to read it
          - A definite page-turner
            -Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
            - Why did I waste my weekend on this?
            - A disgrace to paper everywhere

Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page: "Did we dare disappoint Frank the Doorman and Robert De Niro?"

A memoir of survival in Darfur

Tell us the title: 

Tears of the Desert

Who penned this work?: 

Halima Bashir (with Damien Lewis)

How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?: 

It was a Christmas gift from my lovely sister

Number of pages: 

313

Time passed from start to finish?: 

About a week

Describe the cover: 

An earthy deep red frames a pensive and reflective picture of the author.

In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?: 

Memoir/Biography

Summary of the basic plot: 

This is the memoir of a young woman and her unique childhood and life experience with the war in Sudan.

Background information on the story/author:

Halima was the daughter of a cattle herder in the Zaghawa tribe in the Sudanese desert.  Her family was relatively wealthy, and she therefore had the opportunity to receive a formal education and become a doctor.  Having to flee the country because of her involvement in the conflict, she now lives in England with her husband and son. 

What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it):

You can't read a story like this and not be moved by it, in my opinion.  This woman was born the same year as my sister, and in her lifetime she experienced a brutal war, vicious rape, discrimination, the loss of family, isolation, and the emotional trauma of being a refugee.  I'm constantly amazed at the way people like Halima, who have experienced such intense situations at such young ages, continue to persevere, and their ability to present their stories without self-pity.  She is many things worth admiring and standing in awe of: a woman, a doctor, a mother, a survivor... 

Apart from this, there were a few things I found interesting.  First, as always surprises me, is the way that the local people from these small villages and remote areas treat each other.  Halima's father had a vehicle, and as he was driving her to town to attend school, he *of course* gave as many people as possible a ride so they would not have to walk.  This seemed to be pretty customary, to offer help like that.  On one such trip, they got a flat tire.  Halima tells how before they could even make a move, the male passengers were removing the tire and replacing it.  They wouldn't even allow Halima's father to help.  I always have to wonder: would that happen here?  I'd say no for the US as a whole, but yes for the town/state where I'm from.

Another fascinating part of Halima's story was her journey to become a physician.  In her village, people believed very strongly in traditional medicine, spiritual healing, and medicinal herbs and plants.  It was very interesting to read about her experience in blending these traditional treatments and beliefs with the traditional hard science of modern medicine.  There were things she realized weren't valid, and other beliefs she held to very strongly.  I can see how the combination of these approaches could make her a very good physician both in her home country but also abroad.  Medicine in the US is very hard, angular, and ruled by logic and science, leaving little room for the spiritual, natural, mystical.  Perhaps that is a pitfall? 

Which page was your favorite? Share why:

I didn't appear to mark the page or pages involved with this part of the story, but when Halima was in school in the city she experienced a lot of discrimination for being a black African in a school primarily filled with Arab girls.  One particular instance, she was punished unfairly for something another girl was responsible for.  Despite extreme punishment, verbal attacks, physical lashings, and much condescending talk, she stood up for herself.  I loved the visual of this young girl standing up for herself in the face of adults, with no one to back her up at the time.  That took amazing strength and resoluteness of character, and perhaps those traits helped prepare her for survival later in life.  

If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?

I have No. Idea.  Stories like this I can't really make those calls.  The only person I see as the main characters are the people themselves.  It's hard to cast a person in the role of a real individual.

Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why:

I have two of them:

 "'If it wasn't for us black Africans the Arabs couldn't feel so superior,' I fumed.  'They need us -- they need someone to keep down, to keep under them.'"

This is something Halima said, and I was struck by the truth of it.  Not just in the context of the conflict in Sudan, but world-wide.  Go to any country and you will see groups of people cast into conflict over superiority of one race or religion or appearance or background over another.  Why humans do this I'm not sure, but it happens the world over, in every different dynamic possible.  We appear to feel some need to not only define ourselves by different groups we fit into, but then to rank those.  Is it possible we're all just horribly insecure? 

[upon returning to her village after it was suddenly raided and her family members were either killed or had fled]  

"I returned to our yard as if I were in a dream.  I dug up the valuables from where I knew they were hidden and stuffed them into my pocket.  I took a black plastic carrier bag, loaded into it a handful of dried dates, a spare tope, and a thick robe.  Then I said my goodbyes to Kadiga's uncle.  I took one last look at my childhood home, turned away, and started walking.  I knew in my heart that I would never be returning to this place again."

This is all Halima took with her as she said goodbye to her childhood home for the unforeseeable future.  I felt it was such a striking moment, as she set off all alone, with no idea where she would end up or if she would ever see her family again.  It makes that bad day at work not seem like such a valid complaint.

Choose your rating:

Changed. My. Life.

I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it

A definite page-turner
  Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
Why did I waste my weekend on this?
A disgrace to paper everywhere

~ Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page. 

"There's no way we're leaving empty-handed."

One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia.

The title: 

Eat Pray Love

Who penned this work?:

Elizabeth Gilbert

How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?:

Well, I first started reading it when I picked it up at Powell's for my boyfriend.  Then I got addicted to it (and half way through it) exactly at the time when I had to send it to him.  Luckily, my sister also received it as a gift for her birthday, so I may or may not have sneakily swiped it from her room for a week.  Pretty sure she had no idea, although now she knows. And now she'll say she knew the whole time. 

Number of pages:

334

Time passed from start to finish?:

About two weeks
 

Describe the cover:

'eat' written in pasta, 'pray' written in prayer beads, and 'love' written in flowers.  Not much else going on.

In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?:

Based on my experience, Travel Writing.  Also sometimes in biography.
 

Summary of the basic plot:

(from the back): In her early thirties, Elizabeth Gilbert had everything a modern American woman was supposed to want - husband, country home, successful career - but instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she felt consumed by panic and confusion.  This wise and rapturous book is the story of how she left behind all these outwards marks of success, and of what she found in their place.  Following a divorce and a crushing depression, Gilbert set out to examine three different aspects of her nature, set against the backdrop of three different cultures: pleasure in Italy, devotion in India, and on the Indonesian island of Bali, a balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence.

Background information on the story/author:

Um, pretty sure the summary covered some of that.  The author is an award-winning writer, and in 2008 was named by Times magazine one of the one hundred most influential people in the world.  Basically, everyone loves her book and wants to be her friend.  And I don't blame them.
 

What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it):

I understand why this book has been so popular, I really do.  The author is honest and open with us and herself, sometimes brutally so.  There's nothing preachy or didactic about this story...it truly is HER story and that's the reason she wrote it. I think the appeal is that she speaks to undeniable truths we all struggle with and want to understand.  She also speaks to the imperfect person we all feel like we are.  I love the way the book was laid out (with purpose and meaning), as well as the way she realized retrospectively some of the significant meaning behind numbers and letters involved in her journey.  I definitely want to read it again.  And of course, I'm now trying to figure out what My Word is.  (you'll see)
 

Which page was your favorite? Share why:

Page 274.  This is where we realize (or rather, the author realizes) the largest lesson of them all (a very cyclical one at that)...and someone else has to point it out to her.  By setting out to help yourself, you end up helping Tutti.  (you'll see)
 

If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?

Kinda beat me to the punch there, didn't ya, movie industry?  I haven't seen the movie so I can't really speak to how well they cast the characters.  I can easily see Julia Roberts being a good fit, however. 
 

Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why:

"Sofie is Swedish and in her late twenties and so damn cute you could put her on a hook and use her as bait to catch men of all different nationalities and ages."  (made me laugh)

"How many people have I heard claim their children as the greatest accomplishment and comfort of their lives?  It's the thing they can always lean on during a metaphysical crisis, or a moment of doubt about their relevancy -- If I have done nothing else in this life, then at least I have raised my children well."  (reminded me of many significant people in my life)

"There's a cat who lives here who is enormously affectionate to me for the half hour every day before I feed him, then moans crazily the rest of the time like he's having Vietnam War flashbacks.  Oddly, I don't mind this."  (made me laugh)

"Before dawn the roosters for miles around announce how freaking cool it is to be roosters ('We are ROOSTERS!' they holler.  'We are the only ones who get to be ROOSTERS!')"  (made me laugh)

"And then I remember a story my friend Deborah the psychologist told me once.  Back in the 1980's, she was asked by the city of Philadelphia if she could volunteer to offer psychological counseling to a group of Cambodian refugees - boat people - who had recently arrived in the city.  Deborah is an exceptional psychologist, but she was terribly daunted by this task.  These Cambodians had suffered the worst of what humans can inflict on each other - genocide, rape, torture, starvation, the murder of their relatives before their eyes, then long years in refugee camps and dangerous boat trips to the West where people died and corpses were fed to sharks - what could Deborah offer these people in terms of help?  How could she possibly relate to their suffering?

'But don't you know,' Deborah reported to me, 'what all these people wanted to talk about, once they could see a counselor?'

It was all: I met this guy when I was living in the refugee camp, and we fell in love.  I thought he really loved me, but then we were separated on different boats, and he took up with my cousin.  Now he's married to her, but he says he really loves me, and he keeps calling me, and I know I should tell him to go away, but I still love him and I can't stop thinking about him.  And I don't know what to do...

This is what we are like.  Collectively, as a species, this is our emotional landscape.  I met an old lady once, almost one hundred years old, and she told me, 'There are only two questions that human beings have ever fought over, all through history.  How much do you love me? And Who's in charge?'  Everything else is somehow manageable."  (made me think, plus an interesting return to the start of my learning about people and the world through books)

           Choose your rating:

          - Changed. My. Life.
          - I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
          - A definite page-turner
          - Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
          - Why did I waste my weekend on this?
          - A disgrace to paper everywhere

Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page. 

"My thoughts have become like old neighbors, kind of bothersome but ultimately rather endearing -- Mr. and Mrs. Yakkity-Yak and their three dumb children, Blah, Blah and Blah."

"The Apocalypse has never been funnier."

~ Tell us the title: GOOD OMENS

~ Who penned this work?: NEIL GAIMAN & TERRY PRATCHETT

~ How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?: I DISCOVERED IT HIDING IN THE SHELVES AT BARNES & NOBLE AND REALIZED IT WAS ONE OF NEIL GAIMAN'S BOOKS THAT I DIDN'T ALREADY OWN (VERY RARE)

~ Number of pages: 412

~ Time passed from start to finish?: I READ THIS ONE SLOWLY, SIPPING IT LIKE A NICE WINE.  EVEN AT THAT, I'D SAY NO MORE THAN 2 WEEKS

~ Describe the cover: WHITE BACKGROUND WITH RED WRITING, AND A NICE HANDSOME DEMON LOUNGING AROUND.

~ In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?: SCI-FI, APPARENTLY. 
~ Summary of the basic plot: "ACCORDING TO THE NICE AND ACCURATE PROPHECIES OF AGNES NUTTER, WITCH (THE WORLD'S ONLY COMPLETELY ACCURATE BOOK OF PROPHECIES, WRITTEN IN 1655, BEFORE SHE EXPLODED), THE WORLD WILL END ON A SATURDAY.  NEXT SATURDAY, IN FACT.  JUST BEFORE DINNER.  SO THE ARMIES OF GOOD AND EVIL ARE AMASSING.  ATLANTIS IS RISING, FROGS ARE FALLING, TEMPERS ARE FLARING.  EVERYTHING APPEARS TO BE GOING ACCORDING TO DIVINE PLAN.  EXCEPT A SOMEWHAT FUSSY ANGEL AND A FAST-LIVING DEMON - BOTH OF WHOM HAVE LIVED AMONGST EARTH'S MORTALS SINCE THE BEGINNING AND HAVE GROWN RATHER FOND OF THE LIFESTYLE - ARE NOT ACTUALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE COMING RAPTURE.  AND SOMEONE SEEMS TO HAVE MISPLACED THE ANTICHRIST..."

~ Background information on the story/author: THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THESE TWO WROTE A BOOK TOGETHER.  TERRY PRATCHETT I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH, BUT HE APPEARS TO BE A MORE HUMOR-INCLINED AUTHOR.  I'M CERTAIN HE BROUGHT MANY OF THE LAUGH OUT LOUD MOMENTS TO THE BOOK.  COMBINED WITH GAIMAN'S MASTERY OF WORDS, IT WAS AWESOME!

 
~ What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it): I LOVED IT!!  I HAVE YET TO DISLIKE A NEIL GAIMAN BOOK, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE TOP THREE EASILY (IF YOU CAN COUNT THE INTRODUCTION TO 'FRAGILE THINGS' A BOOK).  A PERFECT BALANCE OF HUMOR, WHIMSY, DRAMA, AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING IDEAS.

~ Which page was your favorite? Share why: THIS IS SO HARD!  WHEN I READ, IF I FIND A PAGE I LOVE, I EARMARK THE BOTTOM PAGE OF THE BOOK.  I CAN HARDLY CLOSE THIS ONE ANYMORE, SINCE NEARLY EVERY PAGE IS FOLDED OVER.  I'M GOING TO PICK ONE, AND GO WITH PAGE 56, WHERE CROWLEY IS REMINDING AZIRAPHALE JUST HOW LONG ETERNITY IS IN HEAVEN, (HAVING TO WATCH 'THE SOUND OF MUSIC' FOR ALL OF IT)

~ If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters? CROWLEY IS GEORGE CLOONEY.  OR MAYBE HUGH LAURIE.  AZIRAPHALE IS MATT DAMON? MAYBE (THINKING OF HIM IN THE INFORMANT).  ANATHEMA IS BRITTANY MURPHY (SAD, SORRY, BUT SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT IN THAT ROLE).  AND... ADAM I HAVE NO IDEA. NEWT IS SOMEONE LIKE OWEN WILSON PERHAPS.

~ Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why: I'M JUST GOING TO SHARE A FEW I LOVED... AND FOR YOUR SAKE, I'LL GET RID OF THE CAPS (SORRY, IT WAS A BAD IDEA, BUT ONCE I WAS HALFWAY THROUGH THIS REVIEW, I WASN'T GOING TO GO BACK AND CHANGE IT) 

"Anathema tried every method of search she could think of.  There was the methodical quartering of the ground.  There was the slapdash poking at the bracken by the roadside.  There was the nonchalant sidling up to it and looking out of the side of her eye.  She even tried the one which every romantic nerve in  her body insisted should work, which consisted of theatrically giving up, sitting down, and letting her glance fall naturally on a patch of earth which, if she had been in any decent narrative, should have contained the book."

(On Newt Pulsifer's crazy Japanese car, the Wasabi):

    "Newt had never actually seen another one on the road, despite his best efforts.  For years, and without much conviction, he'd enthused to his friends about its economy and efficiency in the desperate hope that one of them might buy one, because misery loves company.

    In vain did he point out its 823cc engine, its three-speed gearbox, its incredible safety devices like the balloons which inflated on dangerous occasions such as when you were doing 45 mph on a straight dry road but were about to crash because a huge safety balloon had just obscured the view.  He'd also wax slightly lyrical about the Korean-made radio, which picked up Radio Pyongyang incredibly well, and the simulated electronic voice which warned you about not wearing a seatbelt even when you were; it had been programmed by someone who not only didn't understand English, but didn't understand Japanese either.  It was state of the art, he said.  

    The art in this case was probably pottery."

"As he stared over the top of his map, a door in the saucer slid aside with a satisfying whoosh, revealing a gleaming walkway which extended automatically down to the road.  Brilliant blue light shone out, outlining three alien shapes.  They walked down the ramp.  At least, two of them walked.  The one that looked like a pepper pot just skidded down it, and fell over at the bottom."

~ Choose your rating:
          - Changed. My. Life.
          - I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
          - A definite page-turner
          - Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
          - Why did I waste my weekend on this?
          - A disgrace to paper everywhere

~ Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page."The crowd drew nearer, one or two of its members a little uncertain as to whether they'd done the right thing, now they came to think about it."

Of All Time

~ Tell us the title:  

Stardust

~ Who penned this work?:

The astounding Neil Gaiman

~ How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?:

It was a recommended book on the B&N table, and I bought it on a whim.  I'm not sure it ever made it to my nightstand, however, once I cracked the cover.

~ Number of pages:

248

~ Time passed from start to finish?:

8 hours at the most

~ Describe the cover:

A whimsical swirl of blue vines accented with some gold scroll-like text boxes

~ In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?:

Is 'amazing' a section?  No?  Well them I would tend to say Fantasy or Fiction perhaps, but I know that B&N always puts Neil in the Sci-Fi section, for reasons I don't entirely understand.

~ Summary of the basic plot:

From the cover: Young Tristan Thorn will do anything to win the cold heart of beautiful Victoria -- even fetch her the star they watch fall from the night sky.  But to do so, he must enter the unexplored lands on the other side of the ancient wall that gives their tiny village its name.  Beyond that old stone wall, Tristan learns, lies Faerie -- where nothing, not even a fallen star, is what he imagined.

~ Background information on the story/author:

From the cover: Neil Gaiman is the critically acclaimed, award-winning creator of the Sandman series of graphic novels; author of the novels Anansi Boys, American Gods, Neverwhere, and Coraline; the short fiction collections Smoke and Mirros and the upcoming [it's released now] Fragile Things; and the bestselling children's books The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish and The Wolves in the Walls. 

From my mind: My favorite author of all time.  Greatly under-appreciated in the greater public awareness of literature.  Creator of my greatest verbal intoxication.

~ What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it):

I can't say enough.  This is my favorite story and favorite author...ever?  I can't really say that because I certainly haven't read every book there is on the planet, but for my first twenty-five years this certainly wins the prize.  I LOVE THIS BOOK!  The story is so simple, yet the most utterly romantic concept EVER, with of course a beautifully unexpected twist and ending.  His style of writing mesmerizes me... it's at once stunningly simple (I hate when writers think an excess of adjectives creates beautiful writing), yet flows and melds and twists and twirls (much like the visual on the cover of the book) to create a delicious collection of text.  It just blows me away, and my own writing skills simply can't do it justice. 

~ Which page was your favorite? Share why:

Page 68-69, whereupon a star falls from the sky. You simply have to read it to understand :)

~ If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?

Don't even get me started on the movie.  It already was made into a movie, and though the movie was pretty good, it did very little justice to the story.  Claire Danes should NOT have been the star.

~ Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why:

"He stared up at the stars: and it seemed to him then that they were dancers, stately and graceful, performing a dance almost infinite in its complexity.  He imagined he could see the very faces of the stars; pale, they were, and smiling gently, as if they had spent so much time above the world, watching the scrambling and the joy and the pain of the people below them, that they could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does."  (I don't feel I need to explain why)

Choose your rating:

- Changed. My. Life.

-I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it

-A definite page-turner
  - Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
- Why did I waste my weekend on this?
- A disgrace to paper everywhere

~ Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page.

"The snowdrop chimed in his hand."

Meditations on Mortality from the Human Anatomy Lab

~ Tell us the title:  Body of Work

~ Who penned this work?: Christine Montross

~ How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?: It called out to me from the shelf at Book Warehouse.  For only $4.99, I couldn't NOT get it...

~ Number of pages: 292

~ Time passed from start to finish?: I'd say about 3 days

~ Describe the cover: A strange vaguely tinted shade of greenish blue and a faint image of a cadaver covered in gauze.

~ In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?: Biography/memoir, maybe medical or health

~ Summary of the basic plot: A woman who went to medical school reflects on her experience with human cadaver dissection and what she learned from the process.

~ Background information on the story/author: From the inside: Dr. Christina Montross is a resident in psychiatry at Brown University.  She received her master's of fine arts in poetry from the University of Michigan and has had several poems published in literary journals.  While compiling this book, she traveled to anatomical theaters, sought out holy relics, and dissected three arms, a leg, and an entire human body.  She lives in Rhode Island with her partner, Deborah, and their one-year-old daughter, Maude. 

~ What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it): I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I found it really interesting that she had a fine art degree and then went on to medical school -- I think it gave both her experiences in medical school and the stories she shared about them a unique perspective for the reader.  This wasn't a woman who was all about science her whole life, she was about as sensitive as they get (a poet, I mean, come on) and yet she survived dissecting a human being. 

~ Which page was your favorite? Share why: Page 121.  The author shares how strange it is that even a few weeks into medical school, people automatically assume she can answer every question about every ailment they have, friends and family members included.  How so quickly, with just putting on a lab coat, people completely expose themselves physically and emotionally to these 'doctors', not realizing that they know little more than their patients at that point.

~ If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters? No. Idea.
~ Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why: "Dissection, we discover, is in part a process of beginning to name parts of our own bodies whose names we have never known.  We find a structure beneath our skin, a place we have toweled dry perhaps ten thousand times and never noticed, and then we uncover it in our cadaver, feel the shape of it, learn its purpose."  I just found this interesting (as something I can relate to, having done dissections), but also rather poetically put.  There were a lot of quotes like that in the book. 

~ Choose your rating:
          - Changed. My. Life.
          - I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
          - A definite page-turner
          - Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
          - Why did I waste my weekend on this?
          - A disgrace to paper everywhere

~ Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page."Two types of forceps are available, one with thin, blunt ends and one with a 'rat tooth' -- a metal V on one end that fits into a corresponding notch on the other -- to grasp and pick away extraneous matter."

Memoirs of a boy soldier

~ Tell us the title: A Long Way Gone

~ Who penned this work?: Ishmael Beah

 
~ How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?: My sister gave it to me for my 25th birthday.  It got lost in boxes during my packing and moving, and patiently waited for my eyeballs to see it again.  

~ Number of pages: 229

~ Time passed from start to finish?: Three days

~ Describe the cover: A small boy walks, staring at the ground, on a dirt road, wearing green flip flops with holes in the soles and a gun slung over his shoulder.

~ In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?: Memoir, Biography

~ Summary of the basic plot: From back cover: At the age of twelve, Ishmael Beah fled attacking rebels in Sierra Leone and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence.  By thirteen, he'd been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts.  At sixteen, he was removed from fighting by UNICEF, and through the help of the staff at this rehabilitation center, he learned how to forgive himself, to regain his humanity, and, finally, to heal. 

~ Background information on the story/author: From inside: Ishmael Beah was born in Sierra Leone in 1980.  He moved to the United States in 1998 and finished his last two years of high school at the United Nations International School in New York.  He graduated from Oberlin College in 2004.  He is a member of the Human Rights Watch Children's Rights Division Advisory Committee and has spoken before the United Nations, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Center for Emerging Threats and Opportunities (CETO) at the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, and many other NGO panels on children affected by war.  He is also the head of the Ishmael Beah Foundation, which is dedicated to helping former child soldiers reintegrate into society and improve their lives.  His work has appeared in VespertinePress and LIT magazine.  He lives in Brooklyn. 

~ What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it): Wow. Yet again, a memoir written by a child of war has blown me away.  This book, like many others, includes a map in the front, which really helps to put the story in context for me.  Only 4 years older than me, I can relate much better to the timeline and cultural references as well.  There is also a list at the back of the book with a succinct history of the country.  I have learned more about world history from reading memoirs such as this than I ever learned in school.  Several things stand out to me that I wasn't expecting.  First, the writing is clear & concise, yet beautiful & evocative.  Much of the story is written with the voice of the child he was at the time, which I find notable.  He didn't write the story as an adult looking back, but rather as the part of him that's still that child, remembering things as they happened.  I was blown away by the things Ishmael experienced.  It's incomprehensible, especially when you consider the parallels in time.  It's easy to think of these stories as happening far in the past, in a wholly different place and time, but Ishmael was killing his first person when I was learning about Lewis and Clark in 4th grade.  He was completely robbed of his childhood, and the unfairness in that is striking.  For some reason, I assumed that his rehabilitation had taken place in the US (shame on me for that), and was surprised that it took place in his own country.  After the joy of realizing that he had an uncle in Freetown that would take him in, I was furious with what became of the situation a few years later, feeling that Ishmael had simply been through too much already.  I also felt slightly angry at the intro, where it calmly states that he moved to the US in 1998, when in fact he fled from war for the second time, constantly in fear and unsure whether he would survive. 

~ Which page was your favorite? Share why: Page 200.  Ishmael was selected to come to the United States to speak about his experiences, and found a group of fellow children and adults who cared for him and became very close with him.  As he is leaving, everyone bursts into tears and says goodbye.  The closing to the page weighed on my mind.  He said: "I was sad to leave, but I was also pleased to have met people outside of Sierra Leone.  Because if I was to get killed upon my return, I knew that a memory of my existence was alive somewhere in the world."

~ If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?  I have no idea. 

~ Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why: "I walked behind the coffin, the sound of my footsteps clinging to my heart."   During the time period when Ishmael was a soldier, the children soldiers were drugged with cocaine and other drugs (another thing I was completely shocked by) to keep them energized and numb their emotions.  The contrast between that time of his life and how much he FELT when this quote happened was astounding.

~ Choose your rating:
          - Changed. My. Life.
          - I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
          - A definite page-turner
          - Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
          - Why did I waste my weekend on this?
          - A disgrace to paper everywhere

~ Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page: "But on the first day of school in Freetown, all the students sat apart from us, as if Mohamed and I were going to snap any minute and kill someone."

Politics, paranoia, and country music

~ Tell us the title: The Liar's Lullaby

~ Who penned this work?: Meg Gardiner

~ How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?: Library Convention

~ Number of pages: 388

~ Time passed from start to finish?: About 3 days

~ Describe the cover: Black background with orange and white text, a cut off image of a woman's face and the city in the background.

~ In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?: Fiction, Murder Mystery, Thriller

~ Summary of the basic plot: From the back: Forensic psychiatrist Jo Beckett is called upon to investigate a celebrity's shocking death in hopes of averting a national catastrophe.

~ What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it): It was another page-turning story by Ms. Gardiner.  The plot line in this book was a little less interesting than her first two books with Jo Beckett, but was still a good read.  There were less dramatic twists, which I was pleased about, and instead the twists were completely unexpected. 

~ Which page was your favorite? Share why: In this book, President McFarland (President of the US) is from Montana.  About dang time!

~ If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters? Dr. Beckett is the same as in previous reviews.  President McFarland is probably Bill Pullman, and for crazy Tasia I think of Heidi Montag.

~ Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why: "Her guardian angel shot her a salute and said, Good luck with that, honey.  You're on your own."  I just thought it was funny.

~ Choose your rating:
          - Changed. My. Life.
          - I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
          - A definite page-turner
          - Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
          - Why did I waste my weekend on this?
          - A disgrace to paper everywhere

~ Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page: "Mark."

Words to live by

The title: The Other 90%: How to unlock your vast untapped potential for leadership and life

Who penned this work?: Robert K. Cooper

How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?: I like to wander down the aisles at the library. Seriously. I saw it and picked it up, thinking it would be a cheesy self-help book about sports or something. Flipped it open and read a page, realized I was wrong, checked it out, read half of it, and then my mom ordered me my own copy.

Number of pages: 273

Time passed from start to finish?: Hmm, that's hard to say. I started it back in November I think. Read it off and on. I'd say maybe about a month of consistent reading. I read one chapter per day when I got into the swing of things, and that worked out beautifully -- gave me a chance to reflect on what I read before moving on. It's not the type of book you can read in one sitting.

Describe the cover: Nice and cheesy. A picture of a mountain peak, with big bold lettering proclaiming the title.

In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?: Business, self-help

Summary of the basic plot: The author supposedly provides you with directions to become a more efficient self that conquers the world and becomes an awesome business person. (according to the back). In reality, I saw it as his advice on life. Not a promise to fix yourself. Just a list of things he's learned about life from the people he has known. He divides the book into what he calls the Four Keystones: Trust, Energy, Farsightedness, and Nerve. He includes several stories and snippets of wisdom from his life and his mentors (especially his two grandfathers), as well as stories about extraordinary people to emphasize his points. He not only gives advice, he offers practical suggestions for putting those ideas into action.

What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it): I really enjoyed it. In fact, I took notes, which I found helped. Distilling the information into an outline as I read allows me to go back later and reflect on his suggestions and ideas. I liked the structure (although I don't know if the four keystones were necessary), and liked that he included suggestions that were both idealistic (champion at least one underdog each day) and practical (exercises for improving posture). It rarely ran into the cheesy realm, and was unimposing...I never felt like he was speaking down to his readers.

Which page was your favorite? Share why: 89-91. The story about Art Tatum, a young boy in the early 1900s who loved music, though he was blind. He couldn't afford music lessons, so someone walked him down to saloons to practice on the player pianos. He learned music by feeling the keys move under his fingers, and eventually learned to play. What he didn't know is that when they created the rolls of paper music they used two pianists. Because he didn't know, and no one told him it was impossible, he was the first (and only?) person to learn to play FOUR hands of piano music.

Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why: Where do I start? He includes a lot of quotes from other people, which I enjoyed. There was at least one quote to go with each chapter. One of my favorites was by Thoreau (shocking): "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away."

Choose your rating:
- Changed. My. Life.
- I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
- A definite page-turner
- Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
- Why did I waste my weekend on this?
- A disgrace to paper everywhere

Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page: "He looked very old when I first saw him; I found out later he was fifty-nine."

Slick

~ Tell us the title: THE MEMORY COLLECTOR

~ Who penned this work?: MEG GARDINER

~ How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?: LIBRARY CONVENTION

~ Number of pages: 354

~ Time passed from start to finish?: 2 OR 3 DAYS

~ Describe the cover: BRIGHT PRIMARY YELLOW WITH BLACK CAPS TEXT AND A FAINT OUTLINE IMAGE OF THE CITY

~ In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?: THRILLER, MURDER MYSTERY, FICTION

~ Summary of the basic plot: JO BECKETT, THE CHARACTER ALSO FROM THE DIRTY SECRETS CLUB, IS CALLED IN TO ASSIST WITH AN AIRLINE PASSENGER GONE CRAZY. HE APPEARS TO BE SUFFERING FROM SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS, BUT THE REASONS TURN OUT TO BE QUITE SINISTER.

~ Background information on the story/author: THIS IS THE SECOND IN A 'SERIES' IF YOU WILL FEATURING THE CHARACTER JO BECKETT. EACH BOOK INVOLVES A DIFFERENT STORY LINE, BUT A CONSISTENT SMALL CAST OF CHARACTERS.

~ What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it): IT WAS GOOD, A VERY INTERESTING PLOT LINE. THE CHARACTERS WEREN'T QUITE AS ENGAGING AS IN HER LAST BOOK, AND ALTHOUGH YOU NEED NOT HAVE READ THE FIRST, IT CERTAINLY HELPED TO KNOW WHO THE MAIN CHARACTERS WERE GOING INTO IT. AGAIN, THERE WERE A LOT OF TWISTS IN THE STORY LINE, A LITTLE TOO MANY FOR MY TASTE, BUT THEY DEFINITELY WEREN'T PREDICTABLE.

~ If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters? SEE POST ON 'THE DIRTY SECRETS CLUB'

~ Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why: I DIDN'T NOTE ANY QUOTES AS I READ. THE STORY ISN'T REALLY A STOP-AND-THINK STORY QUITE AS MUCH AS IT IS A CAN'T-PUT-IT-DOWN SORT OF TALE. I READ IT VERY FAST AND IT WENT BY SMOOTHLY WHICH SAYS GOOD THINGS ABOUT HER WRITING STYLE (SINCE THAT'S THE AIM FOR THIS TYPE OF BOOK, NO?).

~ Choose your rating:

- Changed. My. Life.
- I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
- A DEFINITE PAGE-TURNER
- Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
- Why did I waste my weekend on this?
- A disgrace to paper everywhere

~ Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page: "BUT IF THIS CHECKPOINT HAD BEEN A PERSON, IT WOULD HAVE OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER."

Welcome to the Dirty Secrets Club

~ Tell us the title:
The Dirty Secrets Club

~ Who penned this work?:
Meg Gardiner

~ How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?:
Library Convention

~ Number of pages:
394

~ Time passed from start to finish?:
2 days

~ Describe the cover:
Shiny deep red with bold black letters

~ In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?:
Fiction, thriller, murder mystery

~ Summary of the basic plot:
Forensic psychiatrist Jo Beckett is hired by the SFPD to help solve a string of mysterious deaths.

~ Background information on the story/author:
This is the first in a series of novels involving Jo Beckett.

~ What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it):
It was a nice quick read, definitely unique in the world of 'thriller' stories. The main characters were fleshed out pretty well, and all really likable. There were a LOT of twists, especially at the end, and to be honest it felt like one too many. A few is a pleasant surprise, but by the end of the story I kept saying 'seriously??? Another one?' It was also nice to read a story with current references (Ms. Gardiner is younger than the typical thriller writer), but they also went a little too far and it felt like she was emphasizing them just a touch too much. All in all an enjoyable read, though.

~ If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?
Jo Beckett would be played by Yolanthe Cabau van Kasbergen. Yes, she's a dutch soap opera star, and I just googled brown curly hair actress and she popped up, but she actually looks exactly like I imagine that the character does.

~ Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why:
The author really likes to use ridiculous analogies, which I kind of enjoyed. For example "He was so clean and so sober that you could scrub him against a brick wall and scrape off graffiti."

~ Choose your rating:

- Changed. My. Life.
- I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
- A definite page-turner
- Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
- Why did I waste my weekend on this?
- A disgrace to paper everywhere

~ Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page.
"Bodies, clothing, jewelry, lives -- all went horribly awry in the milliseconds of impact."