The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

Average Rating: 9.4
Menu:

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.

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.

The Other Boleyn Girl, by Phillipa Gregory

Average Rating: 9.2
Menu: French Dip w/pickles and chips, Dessert of cookies and ice cream.

Angie: 9.0 - Read it really quickly. Intrigued by the whole book. Surprised homosexuality was talked about. Watched the movie but was upset about how Mary's loyalty to the queen was not portrayed.

Jennifer: 9.9 - Liked learning about history; and it was a quick read.

Tina: 9.0 - Loved the story, but found certain things dragged out. It was like reading a soap opera. Appalled by the family ambition. Interesting that the book starts and ends with an execution.

Dana: 10.0 (11) - Loved the book! Actually gave it an 11.0. Took notes in the back of the book. Intriguing and mesmerizing. Liked the family dynamics and rivalry between sisters. Called out the bond between mother and child. Surprised they let Mary go.

Rachel: 9.0 - Read first 100 and last 10 pages, plus watched the movie. Liked the language - it wasn't Old English. Interested in sister bond, how women were viewed, and that women were powerful, but it wasn't outwardly obvious.

Anne: 9.5 - Love it! Like a soap opera. Interested in the difference between the classes. Intrigued by the evilness of Anne - especially about the babies.

Rebecca: 8.75 - Total Juicy! Was looking for more meat - kept her interested! Found out ending before she finished. Did not like the movie.

Becky: 9.0 - Thought about the book a lot. Had dreams from those times. Liked the historical fiction! Scared at the end - though Mary was screwed. Sickened by the father and mother. Made her want a farm house and true love forever. Book taught the importance of keeping ambition in check.

The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant

Average Rating: 9.0

Erika: 8.5 - Liked character development, author involved the readers, didn't rush the parts.

Dija: 9.0 - Too much blood and baby deliveries and pregnancies. Easy to read; Dinah and her relationships with her moms...liked this. She is happy that she didn't live in those times.

Tina: 7.0 - (pg. 67) Thought it was hard to read...right before the juicy part! It was gross - a lot of parts, interested to get to the rest of it.

Sara: 9.5 - Excellent job of giving a beautiful story - completely engrossed in the story. A story you couldn't put down...Dinah was an excellent narrator - strange to read about Polygamy and the dynamics.

Rebecca: 8.5 - Book is all about birthing and the experience. Despite all of that, the book was good - these parts were necessary for the story and shows how pregnancy consumes a community and the women. Liked how the story was told by Dinah made her link the Bible stories to this story.

Anne: 10 - Loved it...thought initially it would be hard to read. Easily could connect the people. Liked the stories and history told in the Red Tent, bond between the women. Dinah's story was tragic and contained a lot of dynamic.

Dana: 10 - Loved it...the relationship of sisterhood between Dinah's mother was very interesting. The relationships and history of Dinah and Brother Joseph reminds me of my relationship my my brother Benno.

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