December's Reads
Just realized I haven't posted December's reads!
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn 12/8/2014
Good Fiction - 422 pages Print
Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears and Nick is the main suspect. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? (adapted from Amazon summary)
What to say about Gone Girl without giving spoilers? This is a book that stayed with me, but was oddly unsatisfying. That may have been the way Flynn intended it. I'm not sorry I read it, though.
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak 12/12/2014
Excellent Young Adult - 574 pages Audio 13 hours and 56 minutes
RE-READ In 1939 Nazi Germany, young Liesel Meminger lives with her accordion-playing foster father and rough-talking foster mother... and the Jewish man hidden in the basement.
The Book Thief was polarizing at book club. People loved it or hated it. No middle ground. I have read it twice and love the beauty of the language and I appreciated the voice of the narrator and the poignancy of the story. I loved the film as well which was very well-cast.
Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer 12/21/2014
Good Young Adult - 368 pages Print
"Teenage Delilah prefers spending her time with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. Then one day Oliver actually speaks to Delilah. Turns out, Oliver feels trapped by his literary existence and is sure there’s more for him out there in the real world. (condensed from Amazon.com summary) "
I enjoyed this creative tale by Jodi Picoult and her teenage daughter. Characters in a book interacting with the reader? Yes, please! (I should note that this book is nothing like Picoult's other novels, at least the ones I've read.)
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain 12/27/2014
Excellent Non-fiction - 370 pages Kindle
In Quiet, Susan Cain argues that we dramatically undervalue introverts and shows how much we lose in doing so. She charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal throughout the twentieth century and explores how deeply it has come to permeate our culture. She also introduces us to successful introverts—from a witty, high-octane public speaker who recharges in solitude after his talks, to a record-breaking salesman who quietly taps into the power of questions. (Amazon.com summary)
This really is a must-read.
Praying God's Word Day by Day by Beth Moore 12/31/2014
Good Non-fiction - 382 pages Kindle
An inspirational thought and a prayer for each day of the year
I read this throughout 2014.
Believing God Day by Day: Growing Your Faith All Year Long by Beth Moore 12/31/2014
Excellent Non-fiction - 394 pages Kindle
Believing God, a powerful study of Isaiah 43 and Hebrews 11, is now available in a convenient day-by-day reading format, reminding us time and again that God is bigger than we can imagine and faithful to be who He says He is, do what He says He can do, and help us be who He says we are. Believe it! (condensed from Amazon.com summary)
I liked this one better than the prayer one and read it throughout 2014.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn 12/8/2014
Good Fiction - 422 pages Print
Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears and Nick is the main suspect. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? (adapted from Amazon summary)
What to say about Gone Girl without giving spoilers? This is a book that stayed with me, but was oddly unsatisfying. That may have been the way Flynn intended it. I'm not sorry I read it, though.
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak 12/12/2014
Excellent Young Adult - 574 pages Audio 13 hours and 56 minutes
RE-READ In 1939 Nazi Germany, young Liesel Meminger lives with her accordion-playing foster father and rough-talking foster mother... and the Jewish man hidden in the basement.
The Book Thief was polarizing at book club. People loved it or hated it. No middle ground. I have read it twice and love the beauty of the language and I appreciated the voice of the narrator and the poignancy of the story. I loved the film as well which was very well-cast.
Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer 12/21/2014
Good Young Adult - 368 pages Print
"Teenage Delilah prefers spending her time with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. Then one day Oliver actually speaks to Delilah. Turns out, Oliver feels trapped by his literary existence and is sure there’s more for him out there in the real world. (condensed from Amazon.com summary) "
I enjoyed this creative tale by Jodi Picoult and her teenage daughter. Characters in a book interacting with the reader? Yes, please! (I should note that this book is nothing like Picoult's other novels, at least the ones I've read.)
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain 12/27/2014
Excellent Non-fiction - 370 pages Kindle
In Quiet, Susan Cain argues that we dramatically undervalue introverts and shows how much we lose in doing so. She charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal throughout the twentieth century and explores how deeply it has come to permeate our culture. She also introduces us to successful introverts—from a witty, high-octane public speaker who recharges in solitude after his talks, to a record-breaking salesman who quietly taps into the power of questions. (Amazon.com summary)
This really is a must-read.
Praying God's Word Day by Day by Beth Moore 12/31/2014
Good Non-fiction - 382 pages Kindle
An inspirational thought and a prayer for each day of the year
I read this throughout 2014.
Believing God Day by Day: Growing Your Faith All Year Long by Beth Moore 12/31/2014
Excellent Non-fiction - 394 pages Kindle
Believing God, a powerful study of Isaiah 43 and Hebrews 11, is now available in a convenient day-by-day reading format, reminding us time and again that God is bigger than we can imagine and faithful to be who He says He is, do what He says He can do, and help us be who He says we are. Believe it! (condensed from Amazon.com summary)
I liked this one better than the prayer one and read it throughout 2014.
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