A Million Little Pieces, by James Frey

Average Rating: 8.1

Molly: 8 - good, too long
Dana: 7 - good, doesn't know who she would recommend it to; empathetic
Rebecca: 7.5 - interesting; recommended to sister because she had liked a similar book; concerned it may be bad for alcoholics to read
Molly R: 8.5 - not a big believer in 12 step program; liked that he succeeded; shared his belief about 12 steps - thinks replacing the addiction with another
Tina: 9 - really liked it; sees point about problem with replacing one addiction for another; wouldn't give book to alcoholic
Becky: 9 - likes autobiographies; shares Molly's belief about addiction; does believe that in moderation some addictions are good.
Anne: 8 - liked book; raw account; couldn't believe it was true; liked "the fury"; liked that you could see that alcoholism affects everyone

The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger

Average Rating: 8.3

Dana: 9 - Liked the characters, "too much sex" though; the bond was phenomenal between them
Dija: 9 - Very different from before, other books
Tina: 8.5 - Was very confused about the purpose of Gomez; very hard from Charisses's point of view
Erica: 7.5 - Took a long time to get interested; getting pregnant was intriguing point; knowing the ending = bias
Rebecca: 8 - Problems with knowing the ending; some events didn't make sense; some inconsistencies
Becky: 7.5 - (half-way through) thinking "What's the plot?" Then realized that time was the plot; Upset about issues...but was more about Clare - liked that
Molly: 8 - Thought it read quickly; some events/pages not necessary; Henry was favorite character;Liked the ending - old Clare
Anne: 8.5 - Like the book because of the love story; Put herself in Clare's position and couldn't imagine how she dealt with it

My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Piccoult

Average Rating: 9.2

Anne: 9 - family dynamics
Becky: 9.3 - one of the best books. What would you give up for someone else?
Tina: 9.5 - the sister bond - hard to read about kidney failure
Molly: 8.5 - didn't like the brother - good conversation starter
Rebecca: 9 - read the ending first - didn't like the way it was written
Dana: 10 - couldn't imagine not reading it - best book so far - watching the parenting style

The Tortilla Curtain, By T.C Boyle

Average Rating: 7.5

Jess: 9 - liked the way important themes were explored; some characters weren't always believable
Tina: 7 - likes it; thinks ending is anticlimactic
Rebecca: 6.5 - upset that they didn't meet sooner; why did Delaney hate Candido so much? Why not more contact at ending?
Dana: 9 - didn't like the ending; disliked Kyra - like Annette Bening character in "American Beauty" - conflicting feelings
Anne: 7.5 - ("I like halves") - difficult to figure out Delaney; liked class structure/hierarchy
Molly: 7 - liked beginning and portrayal of Delaney's hypocrisy; didn't like ending of the book - contrived
Becky: 6.5 - liked different sides, luck and choices - you don't do anything unless you really want to

The Feast of Love, by Charles Baxter

Average Rating: 8.0

Molly: (did not finish)
Anne: 7.5 - liked how life experiences were intertwined and how chapters began (did not finish)
Becky: 7.5 - very real, liked varying perspectives on one story (did not finish)
Jess: 9 - liked writing style, how stories intertwined (did not finish)
Dana: 7 - liked every "relationship has one really good day" (did not finish)
Rebecca: 9 - loved writing style, how characters were built
Tina: 8 - great character development. Liked how as the book went on, it felt like you got to know the people. (did not finish)

*** RATING CHANGED FROM 5 POINT SCALE TO 10 POINT SCALE ***

The Five People You Meet in Heaven, by Mitch Albom

Average Rating: 3.9

Molly: 3.6 - expected more, wasn't as good as Tuesdays w/Morrie
Becky: 4 - happier view of after-life than Tuesdays w/Morrie
Dana: 4 - also liked beginning, soothing after Q died
Rebecca: 4 - loved first 50 pages (through 1st person), captain section was too long
Anne: 3.75 - wanted to get through book
Tina: 4 - liked writing style

Monster, by Kody Scott

Average Rating: 2.7
Menu: Dessert of individ pudding pies with red/blue fruit toppings

Becky: 6 - different perspective, learned from it but not great writing
Anne: 6 - did not take responsibility, did not change, was very defensive
Molly: 5 - everything was someone else's fault
Dana: 4 - didn't like character, bragged a lot
Rebecca: 5 - he didn't learn anything at end of story, rating is reflective of him
Tina: 6 - agree w/Becky
Jess: 5 - wasn't a great writer, did not have natural gift for writing. Got off on tangents, but had good story to tell. Was not an empathetic character.

Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk

Average Rating: 3.6
Menu: Fried Chicken

Anne: 4 - liked characters
Becky: 3 - predictable, reverse racism
Dana: 3.75 - liked Mary, mother figure, predictable
Jessica: 4 - liked Lily's character, good themes: Black Madonna
Rebecca: 3.5 - fun, easy to read, predictable
Tina: 3.5 - good, easy read, but kinda fluffy
Molly: 4 - not as good as expected

Overall - Discussion was kind of slow. Story did not provoke as much thought as past stories we've read.