The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

Average Rating: 9.4
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Dana: 10 - Read the first one and downloaded the second already. She wants to know who Katniss chooses. Thinks she is honorable for stepping up for her sister and thinks we would all do the same, given the chance, and that it would happen more in the story of the book. Liked the characters and wants to read more for closure. 

Rebecca: 9 - Interesting and easy to read. Great plot. Doesn't remember the minor complaints of the book as the true feeling of the book took over. Expected not to put it down, but was able to. Only read the LAST page this time. :-)  Don't feel the need to read 2 and 3, but might anyway.

Tina: 9.5 - Loved the book and read all 3. Wanted more.  Very interesting premise. Thought the capitol parts were cool - dying the skin, etc. Excited about the movie (3/23/12) and casting of it. Liked the fantasy world part of like - like Harry Potter. Sad it's over.

Anne: 9.5 - Really enjoyed the book. Read one year ago (friends fifth grader was reading it for school). Enjoyed the story and kept thinking the main character was a boy. Enjoyed her strength, character and courage.

Rachel: 9 - Read it in one sitting. Envisioning kids read this book bothered her - so deep to fight to the death. The book felt like it was set in the 1600s. Good character development and characters you wanted to root for.

Jennifer: 9.5 - Was into the beginning and end of chapters - not so much the middles. Expected them to be early 19-20 year olds - disturbed by their ages. Thought she was sometimes rude to the others, ie Peta. Liked the second book, bored by the third.

Becky: 9.5 - Love all three of the books, but thought the first and second were the best. Was unable to put them down and kept finding time to read more....more. Actually found it hard to find something interesting to read after the trilogy. Hard to tell other what this is about without it sounding morbid and too serious for kids. Although, its a very good read. Very excited for the movie to come out on Madelyn's first birthday (although won't see that day).

Angie: 9 - (remote) Read this book (actually entire series) awhile back and was hooked. Thought the basis of the story like was very creative. Was hesitant in the beginning as she didn't understand where the story was going to go, but once the Hunger Games started, she couldn't put it down. Really liked reading about the Capitol and how the people were so different with their wild and crazy styles. Wasn't so much interested in the love story between Peta and Katniss but more about what was going to happen in the games.

This Beautiful Life, Helen Schulman

Average Rating: 5.6
Menu: PF Chang's Extravaganza! 


Angie: 6 - Really only read about 60% of the book and skimmed the rest.  Was more sexual than expected.  Relavant topic, but not well written.


Rebecca: 6 - Interesting story but could have been executed better.  Didn't like writing style.  Tried too hard to write "golden sentences" but didn't work well.


Dana: 5.5 - Character development was inconsistent making it difficult to grasp characters' personalities except for the youngest daughter.  Important topic for parents, but seemed like student writing.


Anne: 5 - Character development was poor.  Felt ending was not tied up and had too many loose ends.  Difficult to relate to characters over long term with lots of tangents and inconsistency in characters' actions and decisions.  Important topic, but didn't feel there was a concise message or lesson.  Not well written.


Tina: 5 - Intrigued by topic but was not well executed at all.  Storyline and character development felt very choppy and inconsistent.  Perhaps this is realistic to how people would react to such a difficult situation, but it did not make for a good story.


Jennifer: 6.5 - The book started our slowly and did not grab my attention.  It seemed semi unrealistic how the Daisy parents were acting before the incident and completely out of her life.    It did show though how easy it is just to forward 1 e-mail or message on and how it can spread so quickly.  It is important to watch what you write down because it might be sent off anywhere. 


Becky: 5.5 - Unfortunately, I kept waiting for it to get interesting.  I wanted more from it.  I liked the overall message of the book, just felt it could have been told in about 200 less pages.  I think it was the authors intent, but I liked the characters less as the book went on.  Perhaps its one that I will think of later....which usually indicates a good book.

Before I Go to Sleep, S. J. Watson

Average Rating:8
Menu: Shish-ka-bobs, chocolate-covered strawberries
Rebecca (9): Intense and fun to read, skimmed the ending 2x. Some minor details didn't make sense.
Jennifer (9.5): Fairly scared at the end. Felt sorry for "husband"--and frustrated by him.
Angie (8.5): Beginning felt slow, she figured out the story's ending pretty early.
Tina (7): Wanted to know what was going to happen--interested and hooked but didn't particularily enjoy the book.
Anne (9.5): Noticed similarities to "Still Alice" novel. Wondered where her family was, hotel scene at the end was scary.
Dana (9): Intriqued by the memory loss aspect and the journal progression of the story. The real fear exists in waking up every morning not knowing who she was.

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Amy Chua

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Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer

Average Rating: 7

Becky – 5.5 He is an interesting kid, but I am not finding his adventure as intriguing as he does. The picture aren’t adding as much as I thought they would. I am only though ½ done
Rebecca – 8.5 The story kept me interested, I liked the kid. At times you couldn’t tell who was talking. I am not sure why the mother was not more involved in his life, but the kid was endearing and heart breaking.
Dana – Was busy so didn’t have time to read. The kids are in swimming lessons now
Anne – 6.0 I found the story very annoying, I wanted to connect but couldn’t’ sympathize with them. Hard to head on the kindle with all of the pictures and writing. It brought me back to 9/11, tragedy
Tina – 7.0 – When reading it was interesting but doesn’t stick with you. It made you reflective on 9/11 and hot it effects other vs just myself
Jennifer – 7.5 – It could have been heartbreaking but it was not. The pictures do not anything to the book. It was hard to get into the book but it got much better in the 2nd 1/2 .

Little Bee, Chris Cleave

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The Art of Racing in the Rain, Garth Stein

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Garden Spells, Sarah Addison Allen

Average Rating: 9.2

Menu: Greek apps, Lasagna, Bread, Salad, Mousse and cookies

Dana: 10.0 - Liked it. (Had to leave early due to sick child)

Jennifer: 9.5 - Listened to it in two sittings. Drawn in by apple tree. Liked how the author made the tree have a personality.

Anne: 8.5 - Easy read. Sister dynamic was interesting. Claire got annoying due to her neurosis. She should have taken accountability. Who is on the cover??

Becky: 9.0 - Perfect following of Still Alice. Breath of fresh air. Made me feel younger. Thought it may turn into vampire fiction, but didn't. Liked that they embraced themselves.

Angie: 9.0 - Started on Monday, finished this evening. Evanelle was my favorite. Like how they didn't make a big deal about the magic, very casual.

Tina: 9.0 - Liked the book. Good, easy, fun read. Went at a good pace. Liked Evanelle. Sydney kind of bugged me, was very immature.

Rebecca: 9.0 - Good overall read. Though the mixing of ingredients and their effects was fun and interesting. Wished Claire grew more.

Still Alice, Lisa Genova

Average Rating: 8.3

Menu: Spaghetti, Salad, Bread, Cheesecake for Anne's Birthday

Anne: 8.0 - Easy to read. Premise of the book was heartbreaking. Felt badly for the family and for her. Emotional story. Felt badly for the husband.

Rebecca: 8.0 - Good, interesting, and easy. Talked about Harvard too much. Expected it to be more depressing. Done well to make it less emotional than probably in real life making it easier to grasp what is going on. Being told in Alice's point of view made one feel less attachment and sadness than if told from a family member's point of view. Kept simplifying the Butterfly File answers. Thought the husband was frustrating - and it had to be been so frustrating.

Dana: 9.0 - Very cognizant about personal behavior while reading this. More aware of our brain. Recommended this to her other book club. Powerful read (Alzheimer's Association picked this book up). Sad how Alzheimer's home was all older women. The relationship with her husband was awkward. The story was scary. Glad it was written from her perspective.

Jennifer: 7.5 - Liked the beginning and end, but thought the middle was boring with the doctor's appointments. Liked that she started a support group. Thought the Butterfly File would send her to the hospital in the end. hated the husband and thought he was selfish. They were like two beings just living in the same area.

Tina: 8.5 - Liked the story from Alice's perspective. Not fan of the husband, but came around with him in the end. They probably got married because they inspired each other and for their minds, not for love. Thought the oldest daughter was snooty and annoying. Remembered the part where the children were tested for Alzheimer's the most. Her voice and the beginning and the end are totally different people - good evolution of writing.

Rachel: (N/A) - Wants to start, but hard to with grandparent with Alzheimer's.

Becky: 8.5 - Picked the book because her grandmother has Alzheimer's and is progressing quickly. Felt more positive about it all once read the ending and Alice speaking about how her life isn't over - even if she isn't remembering it, doesn't mean she isn't living for each moment. Learned a lot more about being in her shoes and the perspective of others. Others around those with Alzheimer's can be very selfish about their needs and wants.