Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult

Another Jodi Picoult book.  This is the book I am currently reading.  I had started another book but couldn't take it on my trip with me, so it got interrupted by Marley & Me, and then this one.  I'm close to being finished.  This book is different from her other books in the sense that it is following chapter by chapter as opposed to her usual character style.  I find all her books the same in that they always contain lawyers and a case and then some kind of family problem.  It is still interesting and she has still captivated me to want to know the outcome.  I have my own theory, but won't know if I'm correct until I get to the end.  I don't think this is one of her best.  But it won't stop me from reading her life works.

Ok, update - I finished this a while ago...it did NOT end how I thought it was going to.  Totally caught me by surprise.  I couldn't believe it, Jodi totally led me in a different direction thinking the crime was committed by someone, who ended up being entirely innocent, and then the kicker; someone I thought was innocent, wasn't!  I stand by my previous statement, this bood was ok, but Jodi's written way better.

Marley & Me by John Grogan

My friend bought me this book for my birthday because I fell asleep during part of the movie.  From what I can recall, the book isn't an exact replica of the movie.  As always, I believe the book is better.  And it is a cute story.

A Place Called Freedom by Ken Follett

Again, another very good book.  This was our book club book for March.  I read it in a week.  I couldn't put it down.  It's about slaves who work in the coal mines.  The main character doesn't agree with how they are treated, and it tell of his journey.  Too many things have been happening in my reading world for me to recall more than that.  It left a great impression though, I recommend this book.

Remember Me by Lesley Pearse

I've gotten very behind again.  I'm just going to give a quick blurb for each book.  I loved this book.  I found it a little slow to start, but the main character gets caught stealing in the olden days, and she is then shipped off to a secluded spot with a bunch of other prisoners and they have to start a new life, build what they need and survive off the land.  The hardships this woman goes through again and again is unimaginable.  Great story line.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Oh my god it's been TOO long since I've posted.  But here is why:  I started this book on January 6th and just finished it last week.  It was a BIG book.  850 pages big.  It still shouldn't have taken me as long as it did to read.  I just have to accept that I don't have as much time as I used to or as I'd like to, to read.  But if you haven't read this book yet, you have to go get it right now.  It's AMAZING.  Every woman is going to want a James Fraser.  He is firey hot and everything a woman could want in a man!  If you don't fall for him, let me know, because every lady in my book club melted for him! 

Ok, a little bit about the book.  It's set in Scotland (YES, James is Scottish!), and starts in modern time....but Claire (the main character) accidentally time travels and is set back to some time in the 1700s.  It continues about her journey and has a lot of accurate history in the storyline as well.  There is battle, there is romance, there is a bit of humor, there is pain, there is absolute brutality...disturbingly so.  But it is SO good.  I can't tell you how good, you just HAVE to read it.  I myself will go on to read at least the second book.  This book is the first in a series of eight.  Only seven are available right now, I think the eighth is set to come out next year.  I could give you a summary, but seriously, you need to read the book.  And then we'll chat about it because SOMEONE in my book club gave away something from book two that I was lead to believe wasn't so, and now I'm enraged.  But so hooked ;)

GO TO THE LIBRARY RIGHT NOW AND GET THIS BOOK!

<3

The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

I just finished this book.  When I started it, I thought it was going to be a lot like the movie Julie & Julia.  I didn't like the beginning....until about the first 30 pages were finished, then it started to get more interesting.  Basically this book is based around a cooking class, and goes through short stories of the students and what lead them to the class, and at the end of the book they all become a part of one anothers lives.  It was a good light read, something different than I usually read.  I don't think I'd have read it though unless it was part of my bookclub list (it's January's book).  That's really all I have to say about this book.

The Bridges of Madison County & A Thousand Country Roads by Robert James Waller

Ok.  I read "The Bridges of Madison County" in October.  I'm late posting, but I wanted to wait until I had read the epilogue, "A Thousand Country Roads", which I read in November, so I'm still late posting.  The first book I read all in one night.  It was pretty good.  It had to be for me to sit and read for three plus hours.  But it was a short book.  And I had the time.  I did enjoy the book.  I thought maybe it would have ended differently.  It's about a man who travels the world due to his career in photography.  On one trip he meets a woman, falls in love, and then I won't give away the ending, but they don't stay together.  It all happens in the course of four days. 

The second book, took me much longer to read, even though it about the same in length.  I didn't enjoy the second book.  There is a twist thrown in there that I view as unnecessary.  Basically it was written to satisfy people about the untold story of the main character.  And his life after meeting the woman he fell in love with.  I would not recommend reading the second book.  If you want a summary look it up, or I'd be happy to share.  It just gives you hope that maybe the end of the last book wasn't "the end" for the two in love.  But it was.

I've been extremely busy and haven't had much time to read (mostly due to my lunch hour being cut in half to accumulate time to take off over Christmas), but I am still trying to finish "Silent in the Grave" which I am still very thoroughly enjoying.  I shall post when it is completed, and hopefully get a few more books read over the break, before our book club starts up again in January (we took December off for a break due to the stress and hustle of Christmas).  Cheers!