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.