The Little Giant of Aberdeen County

Truly Plaice is the "little giant" in question. After her mother died in childbirth with her, her father was left with Truly and her older sister Serena Jane. After a very unsatisfying childhood marked with taunts and jeers about her size (height as well as weight), Truly begins her adult life still in the shadow of her beautiful sister. Truly is a beautiful person and the relationships between her and her two closest friends, Amelia and Marcus are the best parts of the book. There are mysterious aspects laced into the book, but these do not drive the plot. This was a very enjoyable book that spans several decades, including the Vietnam War, helping the reader to grow up with Truly as she matures.

Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk

The title is a little striking and definitely warrants investigation. So I took the bait and ordered it from my book club. Main character Gabe is an only child growing up as a Jehovah's Witness in the early 80s. His parents converted after they were married (shotgun wedding) and now his dad is an elder in their congregation. Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk takes us from middle school through Gabe's high school graduation. His teen years are marred by embarrassment and confusion about his religion and his constant thoughts of sex. Mostly, this book is about the tragic times of puberty set in the life of a Jehovah's Witness. Writer Tony DuShane dips his foot into the pool of exposing the fraudulent aspects of Kingdom Hall activity in the latter half of the book, but only to add drama to the conflict that Gabe is feeling. There are a lot of references to music from the 80's and San Francisco, which are really fun.

The Likeness

The Likeness is the second novel by Tana French in a "sort of series" about Dublin detectives. This one follows a few weeks in the life of Cassie Maddox, the work partner of Rob Ryan from the first book In The Woods. Cassie receives an urgent call from a murder detective about a dead girl who looks exactly like Cassie and has been using an alias that Cassie previously used while undercover. While assisting with the case Cassie finds herself entangled in the girl's life and leaving her own. I read this novel very quickly because I was on vacation and had a lot of time, but also because I enjoyed it so much. The characters are written well, the plot moves at the perfect pace, and the ending is satisfying. Cassie is a great character (smart, courageous, sensitive) and I mourn losing her.

The Pillars of the Earth

I love historical fiction and the back cover of this book made it seem interesting. There were recommendations for it everywhere I looked. So I thought I'd give it a try. In a word: boring. I kept wondering where Ken Follett's editor was hiding. It's a long book and drags on. There was one scene in which the outcome of a character's wanderings had an obvious outcome. Yet the reader has to endure page after page of the character pulling on doors and walking down corridors. Torture. The plot covers several decades in the building of a cathedral during England's dark times. The main characters include a monk, the cathedral's head builder and his family. They are likable and written well. If the book were at least half its size it could have been better. Great idea. Poor follow through.

The Hunger Games

As I've delved into young adult fiction the past year or so I have had The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins on my radar. A few months ago I took the plunge and read it, much to my satisfaction. Excellent-original-captivating! I couldn't put it down. It did not feel like I was reading a book meant for teenagers. I applaud Ms. Collins for expecting much more from her readers and not dumbing down the themes. The book is set in a futuristic Earth where people are separated into districts. The districts waged a coup on the mysterious Capitol and lost many years before the book opens. Part of the punishment is the annual Hunger Games. Each district holds a lottery and sends two young people to the Capitol as participants. Unfortunately, these games are to the death. Our girl Katniss has grown up in the poorest of the districts and volunteers to go when her younger sister's name is called. Katniss' adventure is related in an intelligent thrilling form that draws the reader in completely. By the end of the Games I didn't know what was going to happen. Unpredictability in story is very important to me so I loved this! You don't have to be under 20 to read this book so go do it now.

Water for Elephants

Jacob Jankowski ran away from his life the week of his final exams in veterinary school after his parents die in a car accident. He jumped a train and found himself working for the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. As Jacob worked out his grief on the circus he met the most horrible and wonderful creatures, from Blackie (the working man who throws people off the train) to Rosie (the stubborn and intelligent elephant). Jacob found himself attracted to Marlena, the wife of the crazy head animal trainer, and simultaneously sought her out and avoided her. His struggle to grieve, find his passion, and maintain his sense of morals with Marlene and the animals makes Jacob a compassionate character. Throughout the book I found myself just wanting his life to work out well. The movie version of Water For Elephants opens in April with the wonderful Reese Witherspoon playing Marlena. I'm sure it will be a fine movie, but read the book first.

Her Fearful Symmetry

Who knew that being a twin could be so difficult? In Audrey Niffenegger's latest novel she takes the reader into the lives of Julia and Valentina Poole. An aunt they've never met (their mother's twin sister) has died of cancer and left all of her money and her flat in London to the girls under the condition that their parents will never set foot into the loft. So the twins leave their Chicago suburb and move to London for a year. They have just turned 21 years old. They explore London, meet the other curious residents of their building, including Robert, the boyfriend of their aunt, and experience a supernatural mystery.

I adored The Time Traveler's Wife, but I think Niffenegger wasn't quite as authentically inspired for this latest novel. The characters are drawn almost in black in white in comparison. The story piqued my interest during the first couple of chapters, but took a long plateau in the middle. The end of the plot was easily foreseen more then halfway through, but Niffenegger did a good job of making me question motives and wonder what the future would hold for the characters.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

I think I've detected a pattern in my reading for the last year....mysteries. I've never been attracted to them because I thought they only came in the form of poorly written and cheaply bound grocery store novels. Yesterday I finished The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and it was wonderful. The protagonist is Flavia de Luce, an 11 year old girl living in post WWII England. She lives in the very large home, Buckshaw, that has been in her family for generations with her two older sisters and her father. Flavia's love is chemistry with an extra interest in poisons. She inherited the lab of one of her deceased uncles and experiments with concoctions to torture her sisters Ophelia and Daphne. Flavia is intelligent, quick-witted, and very curious about the world. She is also lonely and longing for a family bond that doesn't openly exist. When she stumbles upon a murdered man in her family's cucumber patch, she is drawn to discover the killer and rides Gladys (her bicycle) around the English countryside finding answers. Apparently this is Alan Bradley's first novel and he intends to continue with more about Flavia. Oh I dear hope so!