Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

 

Oh my god, this book is a mindfuck.  Excuse the term.  I was reading away, thinking I didn't like Nick very much and something seemed really off about him...but it seems too easy for him to be the murderer...and I'm reading, and it's good but not great, and then in the middle BAM!  Mindfuck.  I can't tell you what happens, obviously, it will give it away.  But it is written so well, and so thought out.  It's fantastic!  Left me in awe.

So the basic storyline is there is this couple and one day (actually the day of their five year anniversary) Nick comes home to find that his wife (Amy) has been kidnapped.  Or that is what it looks like.  So the cops get involved and the whole thing just throws you for a loop.  Now, we only get to hear about Amy from her diary entries.  So you want to know what the hell is going on, something isn't quite right....and I just advise you to read the book.

A Walk Across the Sun by Corban Addison

 

Wow, this book was fantastic.  I'd recommend it; at the very least read the summary of what it's all about here.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Boy did it take me forever to get through this book.  It just seemed to go on and on and I never really wanted to pick it up.  I'm glad I've finally finished it, there is a sequel but I don't plan on reading it.  I didn't like the book very much.  I think it was too long for what happened in the story. 

Sounding Line by Anne DeGrace

This was picked for book club at work.  Anne's brother works at our office and mentioned his sister was a writer.  I liked the book but it was hard to get into.  Another one of those books that leaves no desire to be picked up at home.  I did learn that it was based on an incident that actually happened in Nova Scotia. 

See her other books here.

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich

I read this book because a member of my book club has been raving how funny this series is since our book club started.  A few months ago while I was looking through a list of movies, I’d noticed this book had been produced with Katherine Heigl acting as the main character.  Since I’d already been thinking of reading this book, that sold me.

I didn’t find it laugh out loud funny as I’d been anticipating due to the hype from my fellow book club member; however there were parts that were pretty funny.  Stephanie Plum is a bounty hunter.  She has no money and needs cash fast, so she sets her sights on this guy that has a $10,000 pay off if she brings him in.  She has a few unsuccessful encounters with him, and decides she needs to try an easier catch for cash.  The story involves a murder, a psycho boxer, an ex cop, and Stephanie.  The tale is interesting, not too farfetched and should make a fantastic film.

Fifty Shades Freed by E. L. James

Finished the trilogy on the weekend.  This book was like one and two combined.  The first half started out with a lot of sex and the second half had substance with a good storyline.  Action and finding out the pieces of Christian's past.  Everything gets tied together nicely, however it is left open for more books to be written.  I wasn't as involved in this book, didn't care to pick it up.  After the first two it was just more of the same, but I wanted to know what happened.  Now I shall wait for them to be made into movies.  I'm interested in the casting.  

Children in the Morning by Anne Emery

This is the second book I've read by Anne.  The first was "The Sign of the Cross" which was also a mystery.  This book actually had the same main characters in it.  And it's also set in Halifax.  It even mentions Blockhouse!  It's neat to read books that talk about an area I can picture.  So anyway, this woman dies, and her husband looks guilty and it goes to trial.  He's found not guilty and then we find out about his childhood, and other events that happened a few years ago.  After that you may like him, you may not. 

This is How, Help for the Self by Augusten Burroughs

I read this for myself, obviously.  I'm not really good at reading self help books; they're boring.  This one isn't.  It is insightful and covered with truth and life examples.  It was very enjoyable.  I'd like my own copy to highlight and re-read a lot of points until they stick in my head.  One thing that stuck out was about quitting smoking.  He said that it's easy; it's just uncomfortable.  Or maybe that was about quitting drinking....anyway, it's funny.  If you think it might be good for you, just google the book and see if it might be for you.

The Gift by Danielle Steel

This was a cutesy story.  A girl lives in a little town and she is smart and good and her father isn't very nice and she goes to a dance with a date, leaves the dance with another, has a one night stand and gets pregnant.  Her father says she disgraced the family and sends her away to another town with nuns to have the baby.  She quickly discovers she doesn't like the house of the nuns and gets herself a job in another town, and a place to live.  She meets this boy who lost his little sister and they help one another, fall in love, etc.  I won't ruin the end of the story.  I think I liked it, it just started out as "oh please nothing is THIS perfect."

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

This was a pretty good book.  Any dog lover will appreciate it..  Any race fanatic will also appreciate it.  I don't know anything about racing or care about it, but from Enzo's perspective it sounds like one of life's wonders of the world!  Enzo is a dog, this story is told from his view.  It is very interesting in places, the things he makes the reader think of.  The fact that he understands and can't reply.  Gestures are all he has.  He'd love to have thumbs.  Makes you think of the things we may take for granted.  It's a quick read.  Try it out.

Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson

I picked this book randomly, although the author was not random.  She is friends with John Green, and you know how much I love John.  So I thought I'd give her a try.  I didn't enjoy this book very much, but I think I will eventually read another by her and see if I like it better.  It wasn't the writing I disliked, it was the storyline.  Scarlett lives in a hotel, doesn't have a lot of money, and has two sisters and a brother.  And parents.  In the beginning the book is about a boy she likes, Eric, who I guess broke her heart.  She works for an agent (AAA), an acting agency consiting of one woman who overworks her.  Anyway it focuses on her going to school and working for this woman with side stories involving her brother who is an actor and her sisters.  Then a girl named Chelsea who becomes a client gets involved and that tangles up Chelsea's brother into the story.  And the book ends just when I was becoming involved.  Seemed like another few chapters could have summed some things up nicely.  But I found the ending abrupt. 

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

This is the second book I've read by this author.  I enjoyed the first one better (Anna and the French Kiss), this one was still cute, and had Anna and St. Clair as minor characters.  Lola is ...well Lola.  I don't know how to sum her up.  She has a wild, hot rocker boyfriend, dresses in a different outfit everyday which are always crafty, and as the title hints, is involved with the boy next door.  Cricket.  I love his name and character.  This was basically a teenage drama / romance.  I enjoyed it.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Finally finished the trilogy!  After a long-ish wait for book three from the library.  It's action packed, intense, and had my heart racing.  It actually made me anxious!  But I do tend to get involved...anyway, loved all three books!  So much happens in this one.  And the ending!  I'm not sure what I think about it.  It wasn't disappointing, it wasn't all roses and sunshine either.  It was just...right, I think.  Carefully considered after everything that Katniss has lived through.  Can't wait for the movie!

Fifty Shades Darker by E. L. James

I was happy to discover book two has a bit more storyline to it.  It's better.  Still a lot of sex.  There are a couple of events that draw you in.  This book ends better (happy) and I kept wondering how they were going to set it up for a third, because it seemed like everything was resolved.  The last two pages set up for book three nicely.  I'm hoping book three will be different from the first two and a pleasant surprise.  Time will tell. 

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Waiting for book club books, I had picked this out and decided it was finally time for me to see what it was all about.  I could summarize the book fairly easily.  Not a lot happens in the beginning, just typical going to a new school, fitting in, making new friends...and then falling in love with a vampire.  That develops and at the end of the book there is finally something exciting going on, it gets a bit intense, resolves, and leaves the reader wanting to pick up book two.  Of course, I am now in love with Edward Cullen.  This other guy, Jacob, he is younger and a very minor character in this book.  My friend informed me this book was about Edward and Jacob will have a larger role in the next book.

I plan to read them all eventually.  Once I read the first in a series, I like to continue on.  Unless I hate the book...but I don't encounter those often.

I'm very excited to watch the movie.  Usually I like books better.  I have the feeling this won't be the case here.

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

I am waiting for the third book in the Hunger Games trilogy and the second Book in the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy at the library so I decided to pick something different to tide me over in the meantime.  (Also members of my book club at work hadn't picked books for the upcoming months yet, so I was a little desperate for a book to read).  I wasn't sure I'd like this book and after finishing it I'm still uncertain what my opinion is (that is if I liked it or not). 

Parts of this book made me really anxious; this woman spends, spends, spends and she doesn't have the money and her credit cards are in overdrafts and her banks are sending letters wanting payment.  And she BUYS MORE STUFF to make her feel better.  I couldn't take those parts.  I don't match that style.  Anyway, so because of this the whole thing it's like watching a train wreck, because she is also pretty much a compulsory liar IMO.  I just had to keep reading to see what would happen next.  I was happy with the ending when things work out for her.

The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff

This is this month's book club book.  I found it hard to enjoy.  There is a lot of history in between the story-line.  I think there are actually two 19th wives and I got them mixed up--couldn't keep them straight.  The ending is rather abrupt.  Overall it took me a long time to read (the full three weeks the library allowed me to loan it) and I didn't have any desire to pick it up in the evenings at home or on the weekends.  Just not my style of book. 

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

I read this on Saturday.  That was most of my day, I didn't want to stop.  I had to know what happened.  And when I got to the end...I wanted book three to start right away.  Now I have to wait for TWELVE people to read it at the library before I get to.  Boo-urns!  So it doesn't pick up RIGHT where book one left off, it is a couple months past, but it refers to what happened in the end / general idea of what happened in book one.  So in case you didn't read book one, you'll still have the gist of what happened.  Most of the book...has exciting developments!  Two big things, but I can't tell you about them because they are surprising and it will ruin that element if I divulge any more information.  Of course, again, I recommend this to everyone!  I love them and can't wait for Mocking Jay!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Another express read...this was by far one of the best books I've read in a long time.  Captivating.  Not at all what I was expecting, couldn't put it down, absolutely loved it.  I can't wait for the next one.  It isn't gory.  A lot happens....I don't know what to tell you about it!  There are 12 Districts and in each district a girl and a boy's name is drawn to participate in the hunger games; until there is one human left.  So they are forced to kill each other.  They are taken to an arena where the temperature is controlled and even their water sources, weather, etc. is controlled.  So basically they make it as miserable as possible, and if not much action is happening they force the participants together and hope for a good show with bloodshed.  Oh yeah, because they are TELEVISED.  They happen every year, it's a big event to remind everyone how powerless they are.  Anyway, highly recommend it to everyone!

Wicked Business by Janet Evanovich

This is second in the series.  I wanted to read it; will probably keep going with this series as they come out.  I'm waiting for the end to see if Lizzy and Diesel get together.  This one was just as crazy as the first.  Lots of "magic" and adventure.  I really like that she works at a bakery.  Must go start my next book as it is another express loan!

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

I read this after "Handle with Care" but apparently forgot to post it.  I had wanted to read it because I know it was talked about years ago when I was in school but I wasn't as big on reading then as I am now.  And a friend recommended it to me, so I tried it out.  It is very imaginative.  At times depressing.  The ending is...I suppose good, but not what I wanted.  Mainly, the tiger takes off and I wanted him to be a sort of pet for life after the journey they have together.  Anyway, it was ok.  Didn't love it.

Secret Diary of a Call Girl by Anonymous

My sister gave me this book to read.  Not something I'd have picked.  It was random.  That's really my only thought about it.

Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James

I read this in a couple of days; it was an express loan at the library because it's very popular.  These are my thoughts on the book.  The storyline wasn't very interesting.  They don't get into the sex until about 100 pages in.  Christian is demanding and controlling but it's obviously hot for his character.  Ana is way too god damn innocent...the number of times she says "jeeze" and "there" annoyed me endlessly.  And there is a lot of description for the foreplay areas, but not much when it comes to the actual act.  What I liked best about the book is that Ana has an inner goddess and inner...something else, but these are given life as if they are two other women who glare at Ana or jump up and down, etc. depending on what Ana is doing / thinking.  And of course, the end of the book is writen in such a way to make to want to read the second, all loose ends and hanging in the air. 

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

I really enjoyed this book.  This is a Young Adult novel, which is also the type of books John Green writes, and I've decided that I really like reading this type of novel.  I get all caught up in the teenage drama, and of course the romance.  Anyway, this book made me wonder where my Etienne St. Clair is.  He is adorable and swoon-worthy.  Anna is shipped off to Paris by her dad, to go to school.  She doesn't like being torn away from her family and friends / comfortable / known life.  But she eventually grows fond of Paris and what it has to offer:  the food, the theaters, and St. Clair.  I'm already in line for the next book by Stephanie Perkins! 

Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult

I think this will go in my top faves of Jodi's books.  I'm don't feel like saying anything about it so I'll put in a synopsis here: 

"As the family struggles to make ends meet to cover Willow’s medical expenses, Charlotte thinks she has found an answer. If she files a wrongful birth lawsuit against her ob/gyn for not telling her in advance that her child would be born severely disabled, the monetary payouts might ensure a lifetime of care for Willow. But it means that Charlotte has to get up in a court of law and say in public that she would have terminated the pregnancy if she’d known about the disability in advance – words that her husband can’t abide, that Willow will hear, and that Charlotte cannot reconcile. And the ob/gyn she’s suing isn’t just her physician – it’s her best friend.
Handle With Care explores the knotty tangle of medical ethics and personal morality. When faced with the reality of a fetus who will be disabled, at which point should an OB counsel termination? Should a parent have the right to make that choice? How disabled is TOO disabled? And as a parent, how far would you go to take care of someone you love? Would you alienate the rest of your family? Would you be willing to lie to your friends, to your spouse, to a court? And perhaps most difficult of all – would you admit to yourself that you might not actually be lying"  Which can be found on Jodi's site here.

Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich

 

This was a very fast read.  It appears to be the first in a series.  I would use the show "Charmed" to describe this book.  There is a good guy (Diesel), a bad guy (Wulf), and some people that are trying to lead normal lives that get roped into the middle of a situation.  Namely finding the stones that represent the seven deadly sins.  The stone they are looking for in this book represents gluttony.  It's funny and interesting and Diesel is very appealing.  Lizzy is the main character that gets roped into the situation.  She is a cupcake maker.  She works for a bakery and makes perfect cupcakes.  It's a gift.  Her friend / co-worker, Glo, buys a spell book from a shop in town and tries to cast several spells that go awry which adds elements of humor to the novel.  It's definitely entertaining and I will most likely read the next book in the series, if not all.  Eventually!  So many books, so little time....

First Among Equals by Jeffrey Archer

I didn't love this book.  It's political.  I think that says enough.  Not my style.  It was written well, and would be a good read for anyone who enjoys the workings of politics.  That's just not me.  The ending is sort of a cliffhanger.  Which made me angry because I like things to be resolved, and I will not be reading whatever book is next.  So...that is all I have to say.

Before I go to Sleep by S. J. Watson

Ok, so I have been book deprived because I hadn't had anything to read after I finished Will Grayson, Will Grayson....well I had a book to read but I couldn't bring myself to get beyond page four...so I basically had none to read.  And then last Monday a co-worker let me borrow this months book club book, which I have to say I'm also having a hard time reading but since it is a book club book I am putting in more effort into reading it...only time will tell if I make it through.

ANYWAY, all this to say, yesterday, I read this book.  I got about 50 pages in on Saturday and then spent most of my Sunday reading the rest of this book.  I didn't want to put it down.  It is brilliant.  This is Watson's debut novel, and I will be looking forward to reading his next novel (and hoping it is soon!).  I read the inside sleeve and the first two paragraph's as I was leaving our town's library and waiting to cross the street.  That is all it took to make me hooked.

So it's about this woman, Christine, who is forty something and every time she goes to sleep her brain erases everything that happened that day, she cannot retain any memories, and she only remembers certain things from her past up to the time of the accident responsible for this happening.  So every morning she wakes up she doesn't know who she is, where she is, or even how old she is; she thinks she is still in her twenty's, or sometimes even a child.  Her husband has to explain who he is, show her pictures of them, etc...Every.  Day.  It looks like from the author's blog that it will eventually be a movie.  I will want to watch it!  So, it is very well written...and of course there is a twist!  And the ending didn't piss me off!  Hahaha.  I recommend you read this book!  Or at least check it out, here:  Excerpt

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

I finished this book on Monday.  It is for young readers, like teenagers, as is all the books I've read by John Green, so far.  But it again is funny, made me smile a lot, and laugh out loud.  I think the characters in this book are awesome.  It's about this guy named Will Grayson, and the first chapter talks about his life and about his best friend, Tiny Cooper who is very large and very gay.  The second chapter is about this other Will Grayson and he doesn't really have many friends and the chapters go back and forth between the Will Grayson's until *SPOILER ALERT* they meet in the middle of the book.  Completely random, couldn't have been timed better.  Anyway then the stories kind of integrate a bit (too much of a spoiler to say how) and throughout the book Tiny Cooper is working on this musical of his life, and the book ends with the musical, which is a hit, and it's a good book.  :)  I know I'm not the best at writing these summaries but they are for me to try and jog my memory about a book and what I felt about it in case I ever want to recommend it to anyone!

A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley

I finished this book on Saturday.  I believe it is similar to the other two books he has written.  Very detailed.  I didn't enjoy this book as much as I remember enjoying the first but that could be for a couple reasons.  Number one, I didn't want to read this book.  I was waiting for three books to come into the library and needed something to read while I waited.  And number two, I may just not like this style of book anymore.  Flavia is cute, and I love her interest in chemistry and crime, but I didn't love the book.  It follows another mystery of course and Flavia is right on the trail of figuring out what happened and gets into some trouble, etc.  I'm not sure if I will read the next book or not.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

I started this book Saturday and finished it today.  Ok.  I'd like to say, that I already loved John.  I found him on YouTube when my all time favorite YouTube star and major crush, Julia Nunes mentioned the Vlogbrothers on her YouTube channel.  I hadn't read any of John's books until ...2010 or 2009, I'd been watching his videos faithfully before that.  But now this is the third book I've read by him and I think it might be my favorite.  I'm already waiting for another of his novels to arrive at the library, and plan to read all of his books eventually.  They go by very quickly.  They are great books to read in between my required reading --book club books. 

Ok so this story is about a genius named Colin, although he doesn't think he is a genius, just a child prodigy.  He has dated nineteen Katherines.  It starts out with him being heartbroken because Katherine XIX just broke up with him.  His best friend takes him on a road trip, or rather decides they need to go on a road trip and Colin takes them because it is his car.  They end up in some town, score a job, meet new people, and have an adventure.  Anyway, Colin is very loveable, obsessed with anagrams, and trying to determine a formula for relationships.  The only thing I dislike about the book is the ending snuck up on me.  There was a slew of pages left, and I was ready for more story...but that isn't what they contained.  Anyway, needless to say my love for John grows.  And the best part is, I've listened to all of his vlogs, so when I was reading the book, it was like he was reading it to me.  I could hear him perfectly.  And I love that too.  DFTBA.  <3

The Birth House by Ami McKay

I had trouble really getting into this book.  When I read the summary about what it was about, I thought, this isn't a book I'm really going to like.  It isn't a book I would have picked on my own.  It's this month's book club book.  I finished it this past Saturday.  I didn't find it exciting or wanting to pick it up to see what was going to happen.  I was disappointed with the life the main character chose for herself, and even more disappointed with the end of the book.  Her husband treated her like crap and she didn't experience love with him.  All she ever wanted was a baby of her own and she doesn't even end up having birth to her own.  Just helps out with the babies being born in the village.  So I didn't really like this book at all. 

The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult

Ok back to promising books by Jodi.  This one didn't disappoint like the last one did.  It is about this teenage girl who gets raped by her ex boyfriend.  Her father has a past that catches up with him after he spent so long reinventing himself as a picture perfect dad and husband.  There is a side storyline of her mom in there too, which brings it altogether.  There are several twists in the book, and the ending doesn't disappoint.  It stops rather abruptly, but all in all I was very happy with this book and the ending. 

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

I just finished this book at lunch.  I loved it!  It's about this boy, Jacob.  It goes between his life when he is 23 and his present life when he is 93.  It is set up so you can know what is going on now, he is in a nursing home, and he is funny!  Anyway, then he will drift off and be back at the circus when he is 23.  It tells how he comes across and joins the circus, his daily work, and the inner workings of the circus.  There is a small love story on the side; the book is full of adventure and it's a vivid tale.  I wanted to pick up the book any time I could to see where the story was going.  I highly recommend this book!  It will take no time to read.  And now I can watch the movie and compare the two.  Books are always better.

Mercy by Jodi Picoult

I finished this book this week.  As far as this book goes, I must say it has been my least favorite by Jodi.  I didn't like it much at all, but I want to read all of her books.  It took a while to get into, and even then it just wasn't great.  It's about this man who kills his wife, but he did it because she asked him to.  So it goes through his trial.  And there really wasn't a twist...unusual I think.  I don't have much else to say about it.

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

So I read this book yesterday.  All of it.  Not that it is a long book.  It did take quite a bit of my day to read it, but I didn't want to put it down.  Once I started I had to keep going.  It was a very good book, an easy read.  It's about this sixteen year old girl who has cancer, and she is in a support group where she meets this very cute boy.  It goes on to tell their story, they have a small adventure, and there is a slight twist in the book that you can tell is coming.  It's very sad in places, but the writing is spectacular.  It's funny too, made me laugh out loud.  I also read Papertowns by John, but I like this book a lot more.  Obviously, I read it in a day.  It made me smile a lot too.

Sign of the Cross by Anne Emery

This is this month's book club book.  I finished it yesterday.  I didn't think I would like it based on the title, and assuming it would be way too churchy.  I was wrong, I loved it.  It is a murder mystery.  Two women are killed (a bit apart) and a priest is accused.  The main story is about the priest's lawyer; what you learn about the priest is in bits and pieces as the book progresses.  What makes it more interesting is that it is set locally, in Halifax, and mentions Chester a few times.  The mystery keeps you guessing as to who the killer is.  I changed my theory a bunch of times and couldn't settle on who did it.  There are other books after this one and it is easy to tell the end is setting the reader up for the next book.  I think I will eventually come back to this author.  I enjoyed her writing style. 

A Dangerous Fortune by Ken Follett

I had to interrupt "Voyager" to read this book for this month's book club.  This is not the type of book I would have picked on my own to read.  It was interesting enough, however I didn't find any of the characters very likable.  And a lot of them were plain mean.  And the mean ones were the ones who always came out on top, and all the scheming they did directly affected the one (of two) nicer character who was trying very, very hard to just be successful.  Anyway, there are a lot of shocking events.  It's mostly about a family bank and how it's run, and follows the stories of that family.  I guess I was partially satisfied with the ending.  I think worse could have happened to one particular mean character, who is actually just a bitch.  Anyway.  I'm happy it's done so I can return to Voyager!

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

I started this book Friday (book three in the Outlander series), and am only 100 pages in so far.  These books are huge but I'd just like to note, I wish I didn't need to work all week, so that I could do nothing but read this book.  I think this series will be my all time favorite.  Diana is a FANTASTIC writer.  It helps that Jamie is gorgeous.

March 13 Edit - I finished this book a week or two ago, after having to stop several times to read a total of three books in between.  So.  Most of the story takes place at sea on ships.  I can't really tell you what happens because it'll ruin the other books.  I still liked this book but not as much as I like the first two.  There are a lot of strange characters introduced in this book, and one character returns...which is quite unexpected for reasons I cannot divulge.  I'm not really sure how I felt about the end of this book.  At the end of the other two it was like I wish I had the next one right away to see what happens next.  This one was more..."oh.  Ok."  It didn't leave me with the same want.  I will of course read the next one at some point, but unless something happens to get me back into it, I may not read the fifth...

Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler

I read this book because one of my co-workers read it and said it was hilarious.  That gave me high expectations for the book, and I didn't enjoy it as much as I was hoping.  I was picturing a laughing fit, for every few pages.  It gave me a few giggles but nothing more.  Apparently this woman is a stand up comic IRL.  The book is different parts of her life (assuming real parts of her lifel), thrown together into different chapters.  I didn't find the book had a flow to it, it was just choppy of events in her life.  It is a quick, light read.  I don't think I'd recommend it to my friends.  But then again, my sense of humor is completely different from a lot of people.  

Sarah's Key by Tatiana deRosnay

I read this book over my Christmas break.  It was interesting and had a good story line.  It's about the Vel’ d’ Hiv’ roundup (a French-led “round-up” of more than 13,000 Parisian Jews (mostly women and children) under order of the Nazis.)  Sarah is a little girl when she experiences this unfortunate event.  It goes between her life and the life of a woman who lives in the area "now", who is asked to write about it for the paper she works for.  Eventually the two stories reach a point where the woman searches to discover what happened to Sarah / the rest of her story.  It's the kind of book you don't want to put down because you want to know what happened, and so you keep reading.  I liked it.